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- Hours:
Tue-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Tue-Sun 6 pm - 12 am
- Delivery:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Sun, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Pauline Y. said: "love this place, super authentic Japanese restaurant! people/ service were super friendly and kind! I came here almost every Friday with family for lunch, their special is always the best, sashimi over rice(chilashi) and udon combo…" read more »
609 reviews for Izakaya Mai
Review Highlights
"I loved the spicy crab salad and seaweed salad."
(in 18 reviews)
"I loved my champon, it was so delicious and filling."
(in 106 reviews)
"And the yaki onigiri was delicious in all its simplicity."
(in 29 reviews)
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609 reviews in English
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Review from JD B.
San Mateo, CA
2/8/2012
Came here last night with my lovely fiance. This place is awesome, it's not your typical American style "Japanese" restaurant that you see everywhere. It's super casual, and they serve alot of traditional Japanese meals you normally wouldn't have the option too.
Again, I'm a big fan of that homestyle cooking and this place has that feel to it. You get your normal options of Bento Boxes and rolls and sashimi but a cooler, more chill experience. And they have the SUNTORY SINGLE MALT beer. It's excellent!
There were a group of about ten Japanese guys when i came in, all speaking Japanese and hitting the sake hard. I loved the cheering and the morale in there. I would totally pregame it in there before headed out to partayyyyyyy.
Hit it late. -
Review from Tracy C.
Cupertino, CA
1/29/2012
I won't go into a lot of detail since there are already so many reviews that describe dishes and ambiance well. Just want to say that this place nailed it for me. Asahi draft was very good and the prices are more than reasonable.
Also, good for singles, friends and families alike. Very popular so expect a wait or go early. -
Review from Steve L.
After all of these years living in San Mateo, I finally was able to check this place out, not just once, but twice in a two weeks. Yea, there's over 600 reviews for this place already, but I'll add mine anyway.
We'd pass by this place many times, but with the crowds waiting outside to be seated, we always end up going somewhere else to eat. The first time was lunch with just the wife. The second time, it was with the kids.
Table turnover faster around lunch time, so it wasn't a problem getting seated. On a Friday night however, this place will be packed. Fortunately for us, we arrived before 6PM before the crowds started coming in.
It's a small restaurant. Although the tables are pretty tightly packed, we didn't feel claustrophobic because of the partitions set up around the tables. There are many servers, so food moves efficiently the between the kitchen and tables. There's pictures of some of the featured item menus, as well as pictures from customers, as well as drawings from kids
In no particular order, here's what we ordered in our two visits:
-Takoyaki (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): Freshly made, and properly hot with each bite. Five custardy, slightly doughy bake balls filled with bits of octopus, and topped with a sauce and bonito shavings.
-49er Roll (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): Unagi roll topped with salmon.
-Lion King Roll (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): crab and avocado roll topped with baked salmon.
(Yes, the above two are Jive-Ass rolls, but they were good)
-Saba Shioyaki (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): Came with a potato salad, rice and shredded cabbage. Nicely salted and broiled, and nice crispy edges. Perfect with rice.
-Pork Katsu Curry Rice (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): Curry was on the thin side, but still very tasty. Not too spicy. Perfect for that cold evening.
-Small Beef Don (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): Nicely sized portion if you're planning on ordering lots of small plates. Braised beef and egg, topped with nori and ginger. My oldest gave it a thumbs up?
-Agedashi Tofu (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): Lightly battered on the outside, hot and custardy on the inside. Very good.
-Okonomi-Yaki (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): A thick pancake filled with shrimp, mushrooms, onions, and crab. Topped with a Japanese mayonnaise sauce. Very hearty, very rich, very filling.
-Gyoza (http://www.yelp.com/bi...): Nice ginger taste with the pork mixture. Thin skin, but held everything inside well.
Great place to order a bunch of small plates to share with everyone in the table. As mentioned earlier, service was efficient, but friendly.
We'll be back!Listed in: Local Eats Along the Peninsula
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Review from Athena S.
1/19/2012
RECOMMENDED!
Aside from too many pictures on the walls, fish was very fresh and service was very friendly and not pushy which can happen at some Japanese places when the Gaijin come in.
Round 1:
Agedashi tofu ($5, done right)
Grilled Calamari Steak ($6.50 - perfect texture, will order 2 time)
Lambada Roll ($5ish- yummy)
Oregon Roll ($5ish- not too special)
Round 2:
Assorted sashimi ($18 generous amount but the bf is a big boy so he could've killed another one of those)
Round 3:
Beef Tataki Sashimi ($9) (fcuken bomb, btw)
Crazy Monkey Roll ($8ish, crazy good)
Everything we shared was awesome and well worth priced for the portions.
I'd considering returning just to do the Udon as our neighbors seemed to seriously be enjoying theirs.
4 solid stars and one shiny extra for being one of the ONLY restaurants opened past 9:45 pm on a weeknight. Yes, this is how we arrived at Izakaya Mai and glad we had.
Other restaurants that allegedly close at 10 or 11 really close at 9:30 when business is slow. Lame, wake up San Mateo and remember you have some neighbors that aren't tucking their kids in bed and bored with their spouses at that hour.
So good job and thank you Izayaka Mai. You're appreciated. Seriously. -
Review from Felicia K.
Irvine, CA
1/26/2012
Izakaya Mai got me hooked on japanese tapas!! Izakaya will forever be my fave tapas spot.
Use to work at hotaru down the street and the coworkers and i would always come to this place after work for some food and drinks :)
Love loveeeee lav the spicy crab salad!!!! It was a must to order this :)
Grilled squid is always good, rolls werent their forte so stick with the tapas!
Japanese black pork sausage is grilled perfectly and the tamago is perfectly sweetened.
YUMMMM.
I miss this place sooo much. The workers here are always sweet and upbeat. Interior is really neat and cozy!! Check check check it outtttttt -
Review from Jia min C.
San Francisco, CA
1/25/2012
I had a quick lunch in here today because I happened to be in downtown San Mateo. Due to my lack of smartphone, I went into this place blind, drawn only by my craving for noodles (either of the ramen or pho variety) and the word Izakaya. The storefront is definitely of the no-frills variety, but sometimes you strike gold with exactly those kinds of places. I definitely did here.
I got there a little before 12:30 and was seated immediately. They brought me piping hot tea and a menu. Aside from the regular menu, there is a helpful placard with pictures of various sushi rolls. I was very tempted by, well, all of them, but I was intent on ramen so I ordered the pork ramen (one of three choices on the menu-- the other two were shoyu and miso, which in all honesty I have no idea what shoyu is even though I've gotten it quite a bit). I don't usually (or ever) go for pork dishes unless I have no choice or the pork is bacon, but I was feeling like something new because I'd been reading Anthony Bourdain's book. I also ordered the Oregon roll, having been drawn by my love of salmon, avocado, and Oregon.
The Oregon roll arrived first and I quickly scarfed it down. The salmon was fresh and tasty, though I do feel a little bit like they skimped on the avocado. Nonetheless, very good roll.
The ramen was delicious as well. The noodles were nice and chewy; the broth was rich, but not too rich; the pork was yummy though I wish it were just a tiny bit more tender; and the kamaboko always makes things look cute and pretty. (Confession: I just googled "what is that white and pink swirly thing in japanese food" to find out that it is called kamaboko." I definitely google like an idiot, not a smart person...). There was also fresh seaweed and green onions in the ramen. A very simple, but awesome meal.
The service is efficient and friendly. I liked this place a lot and will definitely keep it in mind for the next time I'm in town. -
Review from Andrew M.
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Kind of quaint atmosphere. Definitely tightly packed, homey, and traditional Japanese-y.
The menu provides pretty legit options. And lots of them too. Definitely not one of them stylish and trendy places you whippersnappers go to that up-sell you on style and then offer you 10 different kinds of beef teriyaki. Bleh.
Things to try:
- Things off the grill! Delicious charred and smokey flavors.
- Specials they have! If you see something only in Japanese and you can't read it, don't be afraid to ask about them.
....
Heck, mostly everything I tried here was good. Just choose something and go already. -
Review from Ena Y.
San Mateo, CA
1/7/2012
This is my favorite izakaya in San Mateo.
I always order the same things:
-agedashi tofu
-hamachi sashimi
-hokke
-hamachi kama
-maguro yamakake
-miso eggplant
I'm Japanese so I'm not into the fancy rolls as much, but if you'd like to experience an izakaya atmosphere with small side dishes, drinking, good food, and a lively atmosphere, I highly recommend it!
Service is good, but expect a wait since it's a popular place (unless you've made reservations or come right when the store opens.) -
Review from Matt W.
Hillsborough, CA
1/24/2012
I've been coming here ever since it opened. It has been thoroughly solid throughout the years. Probably the best place to grab sashimi in San Mateo for its freshness. Talking to the owner throughout the years has gotten me not only acquainted with him, but with what he aims to do and his cooking morals. Both of which are of good intention- he simply wants to provide a decent, clean, high quality meal. Though his ambition may not come through every time I go, Izakaya Mai has been a staple for me. Quality over quantity for sure, unlike that of the neighboring Old Town Sushi...where quantity beats quality. Disgusting quality for Japanese food is a pretty serious issue in my opinion, and Izakaya Mai has out shined many, if not all the Japanese restaurants in Downtown San Mateo that I know of.
Staff are friendly here. Service might be slow at times, but definitely not unbearable. It's a busy Izakaya. Would recommend their signature Champon Ramen, you won't be let down with this hearty kick. :)
Cheers.
-Matt -
Review from Leslie P.
12/28/2011 6 photos
Three of us easily grabbed seats at the sushi bar on a weeknight. We ordered the following six dishes:
Hamachi sashimi (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
Okonomiyaki (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
Ika sugata (grilled squid) (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
Beef tripe (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
Rainbow roll (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
Oysters (http://www.yelp.com/bi...)
The hamachi sashimi and oysters on the half shells were excellent. They were fresh and definitely did not have the taste of an ocean. The grilled squid was also good and tender, but the sauce it was in, was too salty. The okonomiyaki was too thick, so it was creamy and a bit doughy. It would have been better if it was half its thickness so you get a nice crisp on the edges. The beef tripe was tough and was drenched in extremely salty teriyaki sauce. It was more salty than the sauce with the grilled squid. I did not eat too much of this one. I also did not try the rainbow roll because my small stomach ran out of room. From the looks of it, this 'rainbow' roll lacked colour (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), but I was told it was still good.
Overall, an okay place, but I'd rather go to Izakaya (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) in San Jose, where everything we ordered was excellent. -
Review from A. S.
San Mateo, CA
2/8/2012
this is our top choice restaurant for a late night dinner. we love the food, and the service. the owner is always friendly, particularly towards kids.
our favorite dishes are champon ramon, the caterpillar roll, and yaki udon. my husband loves their sashimi. -
Review from Amy D.
Updated - 12/21/2011
A friend from Vancouver had a 2.5 hour layover at SFO on his way to JFK last week. I brought him to Izakaya Mai for a quick dinner to satisfy his craving for Japanese curry. Apparently, in Vancouver, the Japanese restaurants are all Chinese-owned, and the curry just isn't the same. Ain't that a shame? I'm lucky. San Mateo has a high density of Japanese restaurants, and almost all of them (at least the Japanese-owned ones) are pretty good.
I burnt my tongue eating too fast because I didn't want my noodles to grow (men ga nobiru).
http://www.youtube.com...1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/22/2008
If you're easily disgusted, don't watch TV while eating dinner here! They have satellite Japanese TV… Read more »
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Review from James L.
Mountain View, CA
1/28/2012
Seriously authentic Japanese food, authentic atmosphere, really made me feel like I was in Japan. Fantastic Crazy Monkey Roll. They give you nice big pieces of sashimi which are really fresh.
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Review from Anita L.
Fremont, CA
1/20/2012
In Japan, this would be a common place for local businessmen to come and unwind after hours with coworkers. Convenient location, free parking after 6pm on the street, and the interior of the restaurant gives off a familiar feeling of an alleyway in Osaka, one easily accessible for ducking inside to take shelter from the cold wind nipping at your exposed extremities.
I consider Izakaya's to be the equivalent to a tapas bar where you can come by yourself or with a large group of friends to order a couple beers and try out their endless selection of small tasters to large entrees. Pictures of each and every dish are on the menu making for a simple visual decision, unless you're anything like I am. I had to turn away the waitress three times because I kept finding something else I wanted to try. Curse the stars for making me a Libra.
Started off by toasting with a Sapporo and Kirin beers, we shared a Spicy Tuna Salad which was a perfect portion. We joked about how the greens looked exactly like the mix you find at Costco topped with large but thin slices of Tuna on layed down on a bed of white onion dressed with light house mayo.
Next came our Salmon and Tuna don (over rice) with Nagaimo on Shiso. That is the mysterious white mush many have rejected. I love it. Most are repelled by its slimy texture. There is an island in Japan where this Japanese mountain yam is grown well-known for the women who all have beautiful skin and rich black hair claiming that this yam keeps them looking young.
Our third dish was the Crazy Monkey. Fantastic if not unconventional for a traditional Izakaya.
Lastly we cleansed palates in between dishes with slices of grilled calamari which had great texture.
Four dishes was perfect for two. We'll be back to try many more! -
Review from Carolyn A.
Palo Alto, CA
1/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Hungry late at night? This is the place. The food is pretty good, but I only ever eat here when all other places have closed by 10pm. Usually have the soba with tempura and an avocado roll. The agedashi tofu is my favorite.
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Review from Steven S.
Mountain View, CA
12/8/2011
I went here with friends for dinner and they say that the sushi was decent. I got ramen which was actually pretty bad.
The broth was flavorless, noodles were pretty tough, and the meat was not tender. Just don't go here if you want ramen. They did have a nice atmosphere though. -
Review from Andie R.
Fresno, CA
10/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yes, the place is tiny and overcrowded but who cares, the service is excellent and food is even better! Holy soba, I love their soup and sushi :)
I will visit this place every time I'm in the city. -
Review from Daniel B.
San Francisco, CA
11/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
This restaurant's sure got plenty of decorations and stuffed animals, and it's even got a toy train lapping a track near the ceiling. All they need are huge piano keys across the floor and they can do a Japanese remake of Tom Hanks' "Big"*.
We found the offerings here to be equally expressive. My friend got beef tongue and octopus, truly a land 'n' sea meal. I got a rice and roe soup. But instead of broth or stock, the liquid in my soup was tea. No salt, no stuff sprinkled in, just tea like you'd be served in a pot to drink alongside your meal. It was a clean and sobering experience from the heavy tastes of other dishes, and I liked it. I think the server told me an extra cultural tidbit or two behind it.
They have a populated beverage selection as well as enough food items to make you want to keep going back to spelunk the menu. The no-reservations, clipboard waiting list seating can put a little slo-mo into your trip here, especially if you've come from way out of town just to eat. But once you get in, you might be treated to a sea lion and killer whale show as the backdrop to your meal, if you sit near the TV like we did.
After eating, treat yourself to their dessert of a fat bowl of shaved ice plopped with ice cream and some assorted goodies. Our server described it as a nod to the Philippines (and Korea, and whatever other countries have a sweet tooth). If you're lucky, you could also get... a donut. A plain glazed donut.
*"Big": http://youtu.be/rKrZid... -
Review from Katherine L.
Burlingame, CA
11/30/2011
MY FAVORITE japanese restaurant by far. They offer a great spicy salmon salad and all the rolls are delicious. My parents also agree that they offer the best raw fish they've tasted!
The staff is very nice and the food comes at a reasonable pace! -
Review from Melissa W.
San Francisco, CA
11/11/2011
Affordable prices - especially with their sushi!
Had the negihama roll and the USA roll, which were both top notch. They weren't stingy with the fish.
Had two hamachi nigiri, which were buttery and smooth.
Had the kimchi chanpon which was filled with seafoody goodness including oysters, squid, and fishcake. Could have had more noodles. The broth was super tasty and just the right amount of kimchi spiciness.
All of this and a coke came out to $33. So worth it!
There are two tables that are traditional Japanese tables with seating on the floor with pillows, as opposed to chairs. You must take off your shoes to sit here. -
Review from Andrea L.
San Mateo, CA
10/24/2011
I went here with a friend a few weeks ago. That was my first time going there so I didn't know what to expect. We were seated by the hallway near the "bar". The place was definitely smaller than I expected it to be. There are tons of decorations including stuffed toys. The staff was nice and attentive. This place has a very friendly atmosphere. On top of that, prices are reasonable.
The reason I'm giving it 3 stars is that the water tasted weird. I usually have water when I eat out and I could tell the water here was different. Not sure if it's me, but it kinda tasted rusty. I mean, if it's tap water, it still shouldn't taste that rusty. Another reason is that the shrimp tempura roll could have been better. The rice was dry and I wasn't crazy with the yellow wrapping instead of the dark green nori. The agedashi tofu was more on the oily side and it wasn't the same as the ones I've had from other Japanese restaurants. However, I did like my shrimp tempura donburi. It was tasty enough and I was more than full afterwards. I would order that one again.
I would go back if someone suggested it, but I personally wouldn't choose it for myself. -
Review from Mark K.
Palo Alto, CA
1/2/2012
The owner's really friendly and the food's delicious! Izakaya Mai has great Chanpon (kinda like ramen noodles) and authentic side plates as well as their sushi and main dishes. I took my friends from Texas here; it was the first time they've actually eaten Japanese food at a restaurant, and they loved it! I I had recommended them to try Oyakodon and Chicken Teriyaki and I made them try my Karaage. If you want a taste of real Japanese food, this is the place. It may seem a little cramped and crowded, but the tight space and the television running TV JAPAN makes for a comfortable local mom-and-pop vibe and realistic Japanese atmosphere. Oh, and the okonomiyaki is a favorite there, too. Try everything!
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Review from Danny K.
10/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I've tried Izakaya restaurants all over the Bay but I think I've finally found my favorite spot! Izakaya Mai serves up the best small Japanese dishes around! Located in downtown San Mateo, Izakaya Mai is a very small and busy restaurant. It probably seats about 20-30 people max (this is cramming them all into a small space).
As usually the two of us ordered WAY too much food and crammed as much of it down our throats!
What did we have:
Oyako Don - a donburi dish - served over rice. Basically this is a chicken and eggs over rice dish. Probably my least favorite. It wasn't anything special - how special can it get, chicken and eggs over rice =|
Now on to the good stuff!
Steamed Mussels were obviously terrific. A little overcooked and it could have used some additional flavors but overall I enjoyed the dish! A perfect appetizer!
Pork and Eggplant - this dish isn't for everyone. Definitely a bit on the salty side but this was my kind of dish. First of all, I live pork and eggplants so it was a perfect combination for me. I have to admit, I had to grab several spoon full of rice from the Oyako Don because this dish was a little too salty but I loved the overall flavor.
Grilled Squid - another great appetizer and it comes in a hearty serving. Grilled to perfection with a little sprinkle of pepper. I could just eat this dish with a nice cold glass of beer =)
Kimchi Champon - last but definitely not least! This was truly the best dish that EVERYONE should order! A hearty dish but not overly heavy - it was full of flavor and every scoop of broth and every bite of noodles was extremely flavorful! I could definitely eat this dish by itself. -
Review from Helen L.
San Francisco, CA
9/25/2011
I was immediately greeted upon entering on a busy weekday night and was pleased when we were seated right along the window at the only "underground" table at the restaurant. The cute little Japanese man told us to take our shoes off and make ourselves comfortable. I loved the authenticity of this place already!
We ordered:
Crab Salad: A MUST!! A mountain of fresh crabmeat, tobiko, pickled onions, and house dressing on a bed of fresh greens. Extremely fresh and a great start to our meal.
Miso Cod: Perfectly cooked. Melt-in-your-mouth deliciousness.
Kimchi Udon: We got a mini size to share and boy, do they mean mini! We were able to finish the little bowl in about 6 spoonfuls. Considering the size, it is a little overpriced but is nicely portioned if you want to save your appetite for all the other items on their menu.
Potato Salad: All I could taste was mayonnaise.
Maguro Misozuke Sashimi: Fresh. Yum.
This place is the real deal. You know you're eating authentic Japanese food if all the workers are Japanese and the majority of patrons are Japanese. You don't see that often nowadays. -
Review from Lil L.
San Bruno, CA
12/25/2011
Came here with some coworkers who are not that familiar with izakaya fare. And let's just say no one was impressed. I can't blame them. The good: fun atmosphere/ decor, fairly priced alcohol, special rolls (dragon roll, lion king, etc) were well-made. The bad: grilled items were dry and overdone, toro sushi was sliced too thin, poke salad was just salad with a few pieces of sashimi thrown in. I might come back and try some of the other dishes I missed on their huge menu and have a few drinks.
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Review from Christopher L.
Millbrae, CA
10/4/2011 1 photo
LEGIT combo A deal! $9.95 gets you miso soup, tempura (2 shrimp and assortment of veggies), 4 pieces of tuna sashimi, 3 pieces of california roll, 1 shrimp nigiri, 1 salmon nigiri, 1 mackerel nigiri, side salad, and 1 slice of watermelon. This was enough for two of us to share. We forced ourselves to down the katsu donburi, which was OK, but nothing special.
I know we walked in at 1:15 and they close at 2, but no need to say, "Order fast, talk later!" when we're discussing what to order =[ Minus 1 star for poor customer service. -
Review from Ken K.
9/6/2011
Re-run from a year++ ago
Konichiwa, it's me with with some chopsticks!
awww yea
O / / \ NAGASAKI /
/| // \ CHAMPON /
| | \_______ __/
Sure, Izakaya Mai has a menu that reads like a Denny's. And you can get virtually any common Japanese food item dish all under one roof.
But not everything here is good.
One sure fire thing that will hit the home run, is the Nagasaki Champon (written as chanpon on the menu).
Known variants include its crazy sexy HOT lethal spice K-girl cousin Jjampong (Korean spicy seafood noodle soup), sometimes going by Cham-pon, or Zam-Pong.
Or its cantankerous obscure brother, Hai Sien Chao Ma Mien (spicy northern Chinese seafood la mien, of which places can also put it in soup), found at some Shandong/Korean/Chinese kind of places (e.g. Fremont and Santa Clara and that one other place maybe in Campbell and San Ho)
Mai offers their champon in three versions (or toppings rather), regular, kimuchi (with kimchi) or with spicy cod roe.
The standard bowl is $9+ and comes with
- a ton of cabbage
- julienne carrots
- julienne fishcake
- squid
- octopus
- baby mussels (but they looked fugly enough to be baby oysters)
- tiny shrimplets
- porky chunks of meat that were quite decent
- and finally slightly thickish chewy but decent yellow noodles
- all in a light pork broth
From a glance, this bowl looks like something your mom (assuming she's A$N) would whip together for you, because your lame a$$ only wants to eat sushi or tempura every time you hit up a JPN run joint. Heck this looks like something I'd piece together with some leftovers too.
Aside from that, the moment you start eating, this bowl does wonders to the body, especially on cold wet nipple hardening wintery weather.
There a fugload of cabbage in here. So eat it all first. Then take the ramen gosho (pepper) and sprinkle just a wee bit, and you're set.
Good shit this is. It also tastes like some momma's kitchen in the burbs. It was like that evil French restaurant critic having some Ratatouille, then suddenly but for a brief moment he became a kid again. The sensation was close, except it was champontouille, I remained an adult throughout the experience, and to a lesser extent, still an evil Chinese restaurant critic.
And once you start slurpin' and munchin' away, the whole world inside the restaurant floods your mind as you process a ton of things around you:
- people talking loudly
- the chef behind the counter making all sorts of crazy jive ass rolls
- you start looking at the specials menu and see stuff like whoa...how is this possible, $1.25 per nigiri of either saba, izumidai, scallop, and $1.50 per nigiri piece for salmon, maguro, hamachi, $2.50 for mirugai, $4.50 for toro? What's that pearly white fish....WTF ESCOLAR? ANAL LEAKAGE? Then you realize that's a distraction to keep you and your champon off course
- $4.75 anmitsu house dessert that contains red bean paste, ice cream, canned fruit, and looks almost like an overkill sundae
- whoa they have takoyaki? Should I make room for this shit?
- it's almost 11 pm, what's that 2 year old doing in here, whining louder than the drunken Japanese businessman?
- slurp slurp, damn it's getting hot in herrrr should I take off all my clothes?
- the young Hong Kong couple next to you, the dude looks like a doofus with his thick black framed spectacles that's so 1990s, is he trying to look exactly like William So?
http://en.wikipedia.or...
and next thing you know him and his over masacara'd Canto GF are SHARING a chirashi straight outta the bowl, and the dood is like racing to eat his share.
BURP!
Damn that was some good champon. -
Review from J L.
Sunnyvale, CA
10/4/2011
Wasn't a fan. Went with a friend for an early dinner on a Sunday night. The place was nearly empty, but they still seated us in a tight hallway hidden in the back of the restaurant. It was really hot back there, so I asked if we could be seated in the main dining room and was told that other customers would be coming... uh... but we're already here and there are tons of other tables available... awkward pause.... uh... "they are taken"... what.. by invisible people?? Was it because my friend is brown that we're not allowed to be seen at the front of the house? WTH... it made absolutely no sense. Whatever, we were good sports about it and just let it go.
We ordered a bunch of stuff because i pretty much always order a bunch of stuff.
They served beer in a chipped glass, no apologies. They forgot two of our dishes, no apologies. Even though we were literally right next to the kitchen like we were the servant help, we got the crappiest service and had the hardest time flagging anyone down for refills of water or beer. They finally served one of our no-show orders super late, we ended up cancelling the other one and still, no apologies. Th last straw: they dropped our check off before we were done eating as though we were holding them up.
All in all, bad experience. Won't go back. -
Review from R K.
San Mateo, CA
Updated - 12/29/2011
Love them. I just got some take out from them. I must have waited about 30 minutes before I ate it at home and it was still warm and just yummy.
I bought the same exact thing from Shiki in laurelwood, just terrible and it was the same exact price, down to the cent but izakaya Mai was wayyyyyy better!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/27/2010
This place is sooo good and fresh. best sushi ever. love the fried squid , cannot get enough of… Read more »
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Review from renee s.
San Mateo, CA
12/6/2011
although i appreciate their late hours i didnt think this spot was all that.
edemame was hella old, dry tasting and the rolls were kinda watever but i see other people enjoyed it so i guess we'll give it another shot on of these days when joy sushi is closed. -
Review from Traumeri L.
Burlingame, CA
12/27/2011
Great Chanpon (ramen varietal) that's my go-to at this place. It is not a ramen shop instead it is izakaya style. The small plates range for okay to good, and I'm still trying out new things every time I go there. The train layout is a hit with the kids, the atmosphere is relaxed, and the staff is very friendly.
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Review from Joe N.
San Francisco, CA
9/9/2011
Good place to grab a bowl of ramen, especially on a cold day. IMHO, it's not the best ramen in the area, but it's pretty good and it beats waiting an hour for Ramen Dojo or Santa Ramen.
Also, one of the waitresses look like the girl from "The Last Samurai", you know, the Tom Cruise movie. Go and see for yourself and tell me if I'm delusional or not. I don't think I am. -
Review from Huntting B.
Washington, DC
8/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Man oh Meh
I didn't have a lot of selection, but I will say this:
The sushi here left a LOT to be desired. My guess is that is because this is not a sushi place. I couldn't tell you for sure, but my bet would be that the other japanese food is tasty...but the sushi...SHE BLOWS! -
Review from Billy B.
Millbrae, CA
10/11/2011
The owner of Izakaya Mai is a ninja. Seriously, the guy is on top of his business and strives to make everything work like clockwork. The staff are incredibly good and always friendly and helpful.
Now for the good stuff - the food. This is the best sushi on the peninsula. Their menu is huge and I havn't had an item from it that I didn't thoroughly enjoy. Order their Dragon roll and take a look at the unagi on top - it's like a python with the amount of fresh eel sitting there - It puts every other sushi restaurant to shame.
I love it but don't go there because I want to get a seat next time I stop by. -
Review from Abby S.
7/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Man, oh man, I've been saving up to write this review - 'cause every time I think about this meal I start salivating. Yes, it is that good and yes, you should absolutely go here.
As Dennis O so eloquently put it, this is like an Asian TGI Friday's. But in a good way. Both have a ton of crap on the walls (my favorite decor) and offer all sorts of guilty pleasure food that you can't stop eating.
Menu items worth mentioning:
- Ika Sugata(Grilled Squid w/Teriyaki Sauce)
- Okonomi Yaki (seafood cake)
- Spider roll
- Miso Cod
We ate ourselves sick here and yet, I still want to go back! What's wrong with me???Listed in: Asian Persuasion, My 'Hood, Stuff on the Walls
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Review from Shawn S.
San Francisco, CA
10/10/2011
A friend of mine invited me to this place which was very lively and very rustic.
If you've been to a Izakaya in Japan then this is closer to it than most I've been to in this area.
I had more alcohol than foodies since I had already dined with someone prior to this get-together so I can not say much for the food just yet but the people here were pleasant as was the crowd.
I wouldn't mind coming here again for drinks w/ friends. -
Review from Steven F.
San Francisco, CA
7/27/2011
This place was one huge disappointment especially with all the great ratings...
i dunno how the avg rating is 4 stars....
Service was good. Food came out quick. Just the quality of the food was disappointing. Nothing was excellent.
Hamachi sashimi- this was good.
Croquette - this was good.
Ikura-don - mediocre
Oyaku -don - mediocre
Baked Ika legs - mediocre
Tsunami Roll - mediocre, but i don't really like any sushi roll.
Chicken Karaage - mediocre
Pork and Eggplant - sauce was good, meat was junk
Agedashi Tofu- junk
Beef Tongue- Junk
Beef Tataki - Junk -
Review from Jamie C.
8/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Really cool underground seating. Perfect for those days when you don't want to be seated in a crowded space. There's a vast menu for all your needs. I ordered the katsu curry. Can't go wrong with that. Really close to Sweat Breams, so get your Taiyaki on if you want a nice dessert.
Perfect serving size, not too much, not too little. Price is fair. I'd go here again anytime I'm in the area. -
Review from Tiffany L.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 11/18/2011
We were graving for Mai and wanted to get take out instead going there to eat. We've gone there late nights and ordered take out numerous times. When I just called, I was rejected. Yes, you heard it right, rejected. The guy who answered the phone that I can come in to order my take out since they have a lot of people who called and don't pick up. Then he hung up. Wow, wow, wow. I know they are always busy and just don't need another order. Which is fine by me. I will never come here again.
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/19/2008
Opens super late (midnight or even 1am) even on a weeknight. I liked the Agedashi Tofu and the… Read more »
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Review from Jamie S.
San Mateo, CA
7/25/2011
Yum! I love Izakaya Mai! Great food and good service! We always get a pitcher of beer and like 100 hot sake.
Must eats-
Ika sugata with teriyaki
Beef tataki
Miso pork
Hamachi kama
Beef tongue
Black miso cod
Oh man.. I need to go back soon. I love it!
