On a mobile device? Try our mobile site, optimized for faster browsing.
"I have such a good time strolling through this store. I keep discovering new and interesting imported items from Japan, and the prices are…" read more »
Loading...
We went to Kisaku last night for dinner because one of our friends recommended this place. The staff are very friendly (but sometimes they forgot the things that I requested, such as a spoon or refilling the hot tea.) It is a fun place that you can see the hot station and sushi bar from your seat.
We ordered a seaweed salad, spicy tuna roll, broiled yellowtail neck, clam miso soup, fried small fishes (forget its Japanese name), roasted chicken wings and a Napa Cabbage-Tofu-duck slices clear soup (Sorry forget the name again). Everything tastes great and authentic.
I didn't expect too much about the seaweed salad but the seasoning is the best I've ever had. Spicy Tuna Roll was spicier than normal ones but, the same, was seasoned very well. Although I don't eat too much spicy foods but still love it. Chicken wings and broiled yellowtail neck are the winner. It would be great if you can order some beer to eat with.
I just moved to San Mateo this week and am so glad that I tried Kisaku. Will definitely come back again! :)
My boyfriend and I found this restaurant on Yelp because the original restaurant (Sushi Sam) I wanted to go to for my birthday was closed on Sunday. The reviews seemed decent so we gave it a try. Highly disappointed.
We went early and got a seat at the sushi bar. We wanted to do the omakase but the waitress told us they did not have that option. She came back later to take our order and we told her that we'd like to order with the sushi chef. She said the chef is very busy and won't be able to take our order. I looked around the restaurant and there were only two other tables aside from us in the entire place. We went ahead and ordered the "Chef's suggestion" sushi from the menu.
The sushi was nothing special but who knows, it might be good. I ate the first couple of pieces and just as I had suspected, nothing special. By the third fish, I thought something was odd. Why is the fish warm?? It's not from the rice because the rice wasn't warm and it's not just warm as in room temperature warm..it was warm as if it sat on a hot plate for a bit. How is that possible when he took the fish out of his lil talbe top fridge?!?!
There was a total of 6 seats at the sushi bar. The hostesss had moved me to the corner because she received a reservation for a party of 4. Another lady came in and wanted to sit at the sushi bar, the hostess said "no, it's reserved." Fair enough. When we started our meal, a Japanese couple walks in and points to the sushi bar. The hostess quickly removes the "reserved" sign and sits the couple. They order a few kitchen items with the hostess and proceed to order their sushi with the sushi chef. O_O I guess the sushi chef just doesn't take orders from non Japanese customers.
We walked out of that place unsatisfied by all means. We weren't full (but how could you eat more of that warm sushi???). Next time I want good Japanese food, I will just have to suck it up and wait for a day when Sushi Sam is open.
100% Japanese.
We were 7 of us looking for a quick late night light dinner but it was already 9. But who goes to Japanese for Monday night in south city?
So the reservation was no problem.
Also 3 of us are friends with the owner.
I've never been here before because I thought the place is jackass because,........ I don't like the front blue big awning with the bold white type face sayin' "KISAKU".
I always say, " WHATTHEFXXX? Another Jiveass roll and FXXXin' bento shit in there?" every time I was walkin' by here.
I don't like that bold white type face on blue back ground like best buy and block buster video.
But It was blast.
Kusaya-no-himono, SMELLY half sun dried dried Jack mackerel
Motsu-nikomi, menudo japo version? well, it's a stew-dishes l'etuvee the internal organs of cattle, pigs and chickens.
Chiken-Tatsuta-age,
marinated chicken in mirin and soy sauce, deep-fried Chiken in the reddish color,
Btw, Kara-age is Fried chicken in flour, fried and lightly fry.
Hocke-no-hiraki
http://momo.sai-cookin...
Saba-shio-yaki
Gyu-tan, charcoal bbq sliced cow tongue
http://www.rikyu-gyuta.../
Ika-no-maruyaki, A whole bbq squid
Shime Saba
Ibo-no-ito-Kuro-obi, The best "Soumen" in Japan, nothing like it, It got to be the black belt kind.
http://www.ibonoito.or...
Soumen is Silver line noodle, one of the noodles with raw flour.
it sounds just like 'Soul Man".
http://www.youtube.com...
+ 2 pitcher of Asahi
I ate so much and we paid 35 bucks each including tax and 20% tip!!!
I'd like to say it again.
I ate so much and we paid 35 bucks each including tax and 20% tip!!!
Comin to ya KISAKU on a dusty road
Good lovin I got a truck load
And when you get it you got something
So dont worry cause Im coming
Im a soul man
Im a soul man
Im a soul man
Im a soul man
Listen
I was brought up on a side street
I learned how to " eat " before I could love
I was educated from good stock
When I start lovin I just cant stop
Im a soul man
Im a soul man
Im a soul man
Im a soul man
During my one week SFO stay, this was my favorite place.
The variety on the menu was astonishing; I felt like I was at an old school Japanese joint. None of this fusion stuff--it was the real deal.
I didn't want a full meal and since I saw so many appetizers that appealed to me, I ordered a variety of plates. My mother wanted a full meal, so she ordered the saba shioyaki. It came with miso soup, tsukemono, salad, rice and the saba. I thought the price was reasonable for the portion she got, and she enjoyed it very much, so that was all that mattered to me. I ordered the cold tofu, boiled spinach with miso, and albacore tuna (shiro maguro). The tofu was good: just a little bit of ginger to give it a kick. I loved the spinach & miso combination. The tuna was like buttah. It was so creamy good.
I could see myself going back if I was in town longer or again. It is about a 10-15 minute drive from the SFO hotels, and I would absolutely return if I had the chance.
Overall I appreciated the variety on the menu, the prices seemed reasonable for the quality I experienced, and the service was fast and professional.
I'd go crazy if I had places like this to eat where I lived.
Japanese restaurants are a dime-a-dozen in northern California and most serve the same menu with minor variations. While this eatery does excel at offering good sushi (although the selections for this are not by any means extensive) and making sure the tempura is perfectly cooked and not greasy the place where it really shines is the appetizers page. The first page of the menu is full of traditional Japanese dishes such as pork-belly and mountain yams that are addictive and delicious. The place can be crowded some nights so reservations are recommended.
Kisaku and Sushi Sam's have been my go-to sushi joints for almost 10 years now. Both good, but different. Kisaku seems much more Japanese that Sushi Sam's. The beer is cold, the waitresses are typically very good, and the sushi selection is quite good.
We went here just this past weekend when we found Sushi Sam was on vacation for two weeks (too damn successful!) and had an enjoyable dinner. The sushi was fresh, the beer was cold, and the hamachi kama was excellent.
Two gripes this weekend: the tonkatsu was overcooked, and our waitress seemed a bit overwhelmed. Thanks to her colleagues, we did not suffer much, but it was a real chore getting her back to our table. As far as the tonkatsu goes, I would have returned it, but my buddy is one of those guys who just grumbles and eats it. This is where a simple "how is everything?" would have been quite useful.
So, not a 5-star performance, but given all my previous good experiences, I am sticking with a 4-star review.
I've been here twice now and I've had two very different experiences. The first time I came in, it was very quiet and peaceful. Everything seemed very peaceful and calm and for some reason I even recall the lights were dimmer.
I was seated at the bar and ordered their sukiyaki the first time. It was OK, and they gave me LOTS of rice... which is such a plus to me. I found their sushi to be a little bit more expensive than surrounding areas. Like 5 bucks for 2 pieces, unless you didn't get fish sushi, but who wants to pay 4.50 for two pieces of egg on rice? Overall, dining experience was OK.
The second time I ordered their combination dinner. Beef katsu with sashimi. The sashimi was OK, not the most fresh that I've had. A little low on the flavor side as well. Their beef katsu definitely needs salt or something on the batter. It was very bland and chewy. I drenched it in katsu sauce. Oh, and that peanut butter looking paste they serve it with. Not a lot of flavor, but a KICK of a spice. I started choking about a minute after I ate it.
The dining experience itself was very helter skelter. They ignored us for a while when we got there and we got seated because I had written our names down on the notepad, without ever having someone nod to acknowledge we were there or say anything to us. We had to wait a while to order our food because it looked like there were only 2 people waiting for the entire restaurant that night.
All in all, it's an OK place. Clearly, the service AND food quality will vary depending on when you go. So it's a gamble on whether or not you want to try the place.
Me and my family have been going to Kisaku for the last 10 years and can say the food has always been good and the service friendly and attentive. I dont think I can remember ever having either a bad service or food day that would warrant anything lower than a three star rating.
Kisaku offers pretty standard japanese fare with a large selection of small plates. My standard is that they have the best Tempura in town. It is always light and crispy. NEVER has it been bready or limp. The sushi and sashimi is always fresh. Last Saturday I had the tokujo chirashi which had a wonderful selection of seafood including crab and uni. Contrary to another review, I thought the uni was fresh with a slight sweet aftertaste and would be something I would have ordered again.
My husband and I used to love this place - the sushi was good, the service was great, and they always used to comp us a dessert.
One evening, however, things went horribly wrong. After being served our order, our server disappeared, giving us no opportunity to order more food or ask for more tea. We waved and signaled, even sent up flares, but the best we got was a nod, as in, "I see you and I'll be right with you," accompanied by an extremely irritated expression - and we continued to be ignored.
We had finished our meal and waited, waving our arms, for over thirty minutes before my husband got fed up and stood at the cash register with his credit card in hand. We will never go back there.
Again, I find myself being a J-food Nazi when it comes to reviewing Japanese restaurants. I have to emphasize how hard it is these days to come across good genuine Japanese food. Food that really touches my heart, makes me miss my family in Japan, and most of all miss my mom's cooking.
Kisaku almost fulfilled a majority of that list. The minute I walked in, I felt as though I stepped into a restaurant in Tokyo. The kind Obasan, sat us down & offered us friendly service the entire time.
The menu offered a variety of dishes most Japanese restaurants don't offer. Nikujaga (potatoes with beef), Chawanmushi (steamed egg custard), Nametake miso shiru (Japanese mushroom miso soup), just to name a few! Jibber Jabber to you? Ok, yeah they offer the staple stuff most people eat such as teriyaki dishes, tempura, & those giant california dragon dynamite fire rolls. But lets cut the crap, that's not the real stuff ;) Although I must say the tonkatsu felt like it was right out of my mom's kitchen, and the presentation of the tempura was reminiscent of a restaurant in Japan.
I was a bit disappointed as I went for dinner & was looking forward to the donburi or some tendon type of dish, but apparently that is a lunch menu item. Word on the street is the lunch menu is fabulous & not as expensive! I must return for lunch!
There was plenty of seating, and the inside felt very hospitable & warm. I enjoyed the service, & she seemed to come by when needed. I think I sort of make an exception when it comes to Japanese service. As they do in Japan, they don't come by every minute like restaurants here do. I expect that, and in a sense I sort of like being left in peace with my heart warming food.
As for the food pricing, it isn't the cheapest, but I don't mind indulging every once in awhile. In the end, I guess you get what you pay for. In this instance, I got a heart warming almost home cooked meal. I left speaking in Japanese, hoping for one second I was with my family in the heart of Tokyo.
There seems to be a gazillion Japanese restaurants in downtown area of San Mateo.
Sadly less than a handful are really worth the bother.
And among those, maybe 6 are Japanese owned and run (if you include the ramen joint).
The rest are overun to the ground by Chinese or Korean folks, offering the generics as best as possible. Yeah there's a lot of competition, but it seems to be more like a monopoly of mediocrity. Cough cough Sushi Bistro, Maru Maru, Finding Ni-Mo, Joy Sushi, Tenka etc.
Folks in the know flock to the overrated $u$hi $am'$. Don't get me wrong, me love Sam's sushi long time since 1996 (although me love his cooked side dishes more last time, or his jive ass handrolls, more than the fu$n nigiri), but I tend to get banged more than I do bang for my buck.
Hotaru is a much cheaper alternative for generic Japanese, but their quality seems to be hit and miss (ditto for Izakaya Mai minus the champon ramen).
Kisaku looks like it has been there over 20+ years. It reminds me of a cross between Gombei San Jose in the layout, where you have tables and chairs, and 7 counter seats facing the kitchen and grill (and in addition, a 6 seater sushi bar, which Gombei does not have), and sports a menu layout somewhat similar (but smaller in variety) to Takara in San Francisco (when Takara was still owned by Sho Chiku Bai).
The good thing is that they also have a long white board of daily specials near the left end of the counter, in Japanese and English. If anything those items there seem to be the best ones to get for something less generic. Unfortunately my memory is not so good this time, only remembering inawa udon ($12), toro sushi, and various grilled, stewed, type dishes on that white board.
Nigiri here, while not super spectacular, is very decent portion wise with a nice sour accent on the vinegared sushi rice. Yep it produces the lethal sushi burp gas, which is like a sign of authenticity.
A tad bit more expensive that Hotaru, but better quality (and thus better value than Sushi Sam's).
Very decent saba, and while ikura was shio (not shoyu marination), the egg sacs were nice and round, and you could even pick them up individually. They were not clumped together and I haven't seen near perfect looking ikura like that in a while! I hate saggy schweddy ballz like ikura that are drying and shriveled up, clumping together (most of the time Nijiya sells George Costanza shrinkage ikura for like $9 a pop for some reason, never sacs that are unclumped and round).
Also a plus was that the ikura was not overly salted. Even the salmon skin inside out roll with cucumber and kaiware (with toasted sesame seeds sprinkled outside) tasted good, though a little overgrilled for the fish and skin.
The chicken udon here was also very decent, with a very enjoyable broth where you can tell they put in effort to make it. If you dare, try the udon at Sushi Bistro (who the f**k adds carrots and broccoli to udon?!) or Ni-Mo, and you will learn to love Kisaku's version (where they absolutely do not screw it up).
One mild disagreement here.....they have saba battera, which I would have tried given how nice their saba was, but HELL NO, NOT FOR $17!!!
Hopefully one day I will try their gyu tan shio, oden, and a few other appetizer dishes.
I can see why Japanese expats like it here. I can taste the authentic Japanese flavor here, even though it isn't anything unique, but at least they do the simple stuff way better than the competition (or monopoly).
This place was good sushi. I definitely enjoyed the nigiri more than the rolls which had way more horseradish than I've ever had on a roll. The miso soup was great, and I loved the green tea (it was the kind with brown rice in it too -- genmaicha). We liked the tuna, ambar jack, and mackerel. They also had Sapporo on draft which is nice. The service was nice.
I tire of reading reviews from people that have no idea what they're talking about. Just get to the point: Japanese owned restaurant with great Japanese comfort food and Izakaya style food, great service, and great pricing. For Sushi, go to Yuzu or Sushi Sam's. Good day and happy eatin'!
YOU NEED TO TRY THIS PLACE!
I thoroughly enjoyed it! So far more than any other sushi place down town San Mateo. The Sukiyaki Tempura is second to this place. I was an avid Sushi Sam go-er, but i recently shied away from them due to their terrible/unfriendly service and atmosphere.
Let's get down to biznaax - This place felt and tasted like an authentic Japanese place. The service was fast (!!!) and very friendly. I was helped by multiple people.
--I ordered Tempura as an appetizer, it was delicious and cooked to perfection.
--The Chicken Teriyaki was sooooo good. The sauce was tasty.
--We ordered the Caterpillar Roll, those left the plate in less than 3 minutes flat! it was so fresh and the avocado was sliced so well. The overall appearance of the roll was presented beautifully.
--We topped the meal off with dessert, Green Tea Ice Cream. Wow, this was my favorite part! I do not even like green tea ice cream, but Kisaku proved me wrong. It was so creamy and delicious.
Friday. 7:00PM.
Being raised for a period of my childhood in a family largely influenced by Japanese culture, I find myself particularly critical of such cuisine. I always blamed my mom for making so much delicious Japanese food, turning me into a phaaaatttty.
Aunt was in town and she was craving Japanese food - apparently, there weren't that many options in her Midwest town. Sushi Sam's, where I normally go downtown San Mateo for sushi was packed. I found Kisaku online - my mom warned that this place wasn't good but I wanted to at least give this place a chance.
Quickie:
*Always listen to Mom, especially when she's a Japanese chef. This place was disappointing - the decor was nice and the environment had a Japanese 'feel' to it but the service was subpar and the food was overcooked. There's too many good restaurants in downtown San Mateo for me to justify returning here.
-------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------
Grub [3 stars]:
*Stir fried udon with seafood and veggies
-this was the only good dish of the night
*Chicken teryaki
-chicken was overcooked, burnt
*Agedashi Tofu
-decent
*Vegetable tempura
-decent
Service [2 stars]:
*While they were able to accommodate a group of 8, the waitresses were too slow and abrupt
-asking for ice water and refills were tantamount to pulling teeth
*A lag in food output and incorrectly timed (burst of entrées came out at once, while the rest came out like 10 minutes later)
Awful, not fresh, bad service. And, expensive for what it is! Avoid this place. I know sushi (Sasabune and Nobu London is my favorite for high-end) and only really fresh and quality sushi will do and this place was simply terrible. Some of the fish wasn't even cold. I ordered toro, which was a bad mistake because it was a very low grade toro. Alsi, Unagi which is hard to mess up was rubbery and gross. Five doors down at Suruki market offers much better and reliable sushi to go.
Excellent Japanese food. You get what you pay for. It's not as cheap as the other lunch spots, but there's quality. Ask for the sushi chef's special for a nice variety of the best sashimi. Helps to know the owner and Japanese. Very authentic.
This is another Japanese restaurant like so many others your at the mercy of the moment for dining success; fortunately the other Friday night the outcome was outstanding. The atmosphere is quaint, much more comfortable than most J places in down town San Mateo. The sushi was solid good, waitress was supper, full house of people eating at dinner time affirms regulars come back, Sapporo on draft, a separate sushi bar and separate grill bar to sit at and white board that should be observers prior to ordering. Beef items are using prime rib.
Bottom line is go here and have a nice casual diner and don't feel like your eating in fast food cafeteria like most places on the peninsula.
Mmmm, a great place to grab some delicious izakaya.
beef and potato stew - Super savory with tender beef, a few large potatoes, onions, and some noodles.
agadashi tofu - pretty standard fare, but tasty nonetheless.
grilled black cod - was on the whiteboard at the back as a special. very good and modestly priced for a decent sized piece. the skin was delicious! watch out for the small bones though
sushi - ordered some tuna and yellowtail nigiri as well as a special roll called dynamite or something like that. all were very fresh and good.
service was good and prompt. prices were reasonable.
Not bad. The food came out fast, but it wasn't anything to get excited about. I thought the sushi would be a lot better than it was...
The portions were decent, but I'd tasted MUCH better Japanese food than this...
If you are looking for the freshest fish in town, look no further than Kisaku.
I've been going here for years and while it ain't the cheapest sushi in town, it's definitly the freshest.
There are plenty of cheap, mediocre sushi restaurants in town and if that's your thing then you got lots to choose from! But if you're looking for quality, Kisaku is where it's at.
Food was ok, nothing special, so would give it 2 stars.
Service left me with a bad taste. Ordered a dish and the waitress screwed up our order, so when she brought the correct order, she charged us for this as well.
This, along with it being overpriced, small portions, gets this place a 1 star.
This is our new go-to place for Japanese food. They have fresh sushi and appetizers. We especially love the grilled salmon head, pork miso soup, and dinner bento box. Great food!!
I really like this place. Solid sushi each & every time, and I've been coming here about 1-2x/month for a few years now. I always get the deluxe sushi dinner combo (yes, Miss Piggy here) and it is plenty of food, even for me. :-)
Prices are a little higher here than at other Japanese places in San Mateo, but I feel like this place is more authentic than Sushi Sam's (roll-mania... not my thing) & Hotaru (too packed, not as good, but less expensive).
Bottom line - it takes care of my sushi cravings, and I don't have to go up to the city for it!
This place was just alright for. Positives - Authentic Japanese food, good service, clean. Negatives - Portions are small, and while food tastes ok, its nothing to die for either. Given the higher cost, I would consider other options.
Truthfully, my review may be slightly biased against Japanese establishments because I am Japanese. And the quality of food that I demand from authentic Japanese resteraunts may be higher that others.
With that being said, I give this establishment 4 stars. Warning to all viewers who expect Japanese resteraunts to serve california rolls, chicken teriyaki and any other non-truthful Japanese dishes, please do not go here. I don't want you to have the wrong expectation.
When you come here, have what the specials are. They're usually written on the board near the counter area in the back.
Although I haven't been here in a while, the food is probably one of the most authentic in San Mateo. My dad (who's an extremely picky eater) loved this place and was a regular.
Hopefully this will give you a good prospective :) Enjoy!
I heart Kisaku!
Haven't been here in a while but I do know that my first time was fulfilling and memorable. Given all the good food in the area this was some really good sushi. The acquaintance that brought me here swears it's some of the best tempura but I digress the sushi is where it's at. I like the fact that it's no frills and simply about the food....don't get me wrong the staff takes care of you without all the hype and neon radiation that other venues may try to bait and switch you with - sacrificing good food for aesthetics.
Watch out for parking though and remember how to bring coins unless you're lucky enough to find parking some where around there.
Seeing this ROTD.....reminds me that I'm need of a pilgrimage back there soon...need some sushi for the soul.
Solid tasty Japanese food plus large portions equals overeating when you're not with a large group. Could get better food elsewhere, but many dishes here place a close second to others. Wait staff is efficient but not very warm.
Recommended: Buta Kakuni, Rolls
Not Bad: Chicken Karaage, Sushi
Not recommended: Ankimo
As good as japanese food gets in San Mateo.
Most of the other japanese places in the city are gimmicky.
Lots of confusing sweet/sour sauces on bad cuts of fish to appeal
to the Chad Bradman crowd.
I judge a japanese restaurant by how many japanese people actually eat there..like how many mexican people are at mexican restaurants.
Kisaku has a loyal following of japanese clients...and traditional japanese clients go ONLY for fresh fish....
That is what Kisaku is known for. Fresh fish, and great traditional japanese food.
Their toro tuna(tuna belly) and shiro maguro(albacore tuna) are some of the best I've ever had. Each bit was tender and literally melted in your mouth. For those who eat the "nitro glycerin-coming around the mountain" theme rolls...just DROP the gimmicky stuff..
Have yourself a taste of traditional soft tuna sashimi and you'll see what it's all about.
They have some of the best beef katsu around too. Very tender USDA prime beef breaded and fried to your specifications.
Their ramen is better than some others that specialize in it.
They're cooked fish dishes are awesome and the chicken karaage(fried chicken)..very soft and good.
The crowd is 80% japanese 10% korean/chinese and 10% white.
and ALL the non-japanese folks who come in here are NOT newbies and get down w/the really good raw fish.
Serious sushi eaters. That's the way to go...
Now get rid of your glow in the dark sweet/sour coming around the mountain sushi rolls and get on the real stuff!
Okay,
I'm going to cut the crap. This is going to be a serious effing review to show you and your army that I am SERIOUS about eating.
For serious.
Okay.
FOOD:
Lets start witht the appetizers:
1) Grilled whole Squid (Ika) - Anyone who likes squid is definitely going to like this. I wasn't even aware that squid are so gigantic and tasty straight grilled and sliced into pieces. Chewy but not like rubber. Good.
2) Grilled Beef Tongue w/ Lemon - I love weird stuff. I LOVE IT. And this taste so ridiculously good that I was about to sing praise in honor of the tastiness that is thinly sliced grilled beef tongue w/ lemon. Doesn't have the livery taste and texture of asian dim sum style beef tongue I've had. FABULOUS.
3) Pork Stomach - If you like tripe, and will eat "ngau jap" then this is for you! It's like the Japanese version! I LOVE stuff like this!
4) Ankimo - Monk fish liver. Creamy, easy on the tongue, smooth, fresh, and great portions. Loved it, very very good.
Rolls:
E 4th Roll - This was good. But nothing really spectacular, the fillins' seemed to be a little stingy. But it was okay tasting, though I have no say nothing really popped out at me.
Mango Roll - This was good, although I would have liked it to have more mango; the flavors worked well with each other, and the mango gave it a very nice sweet taste that complimented well with the fish, but more mango please.
Salmon Skin Roll/Handroll - Of course, I love salmon skin. However, this was alright. The skin to meat ratio was not good enough; I prefer more crisply cooked skin and some of the natural oils from the skin to mix with a slight bit of meat to make the perfect chewy, tasty mess that is salmon skin.
Spicy Scallop Roll - Packed quite a spicy kick for those who aren't expecting it; I personally liked it because it was spicy. MMM. Meaty.
Spicy Tuna Roll - See Above (pretty much the same thing).
Set Dinners:
Beef Negiyama - very good. Would have liked a little less sauce; I'd ask for it on the side, but it was still doable. Cut into manageable pieces and cooked right; not too raw.
Other:
Kisaku Chef Combo Sashimi - I have to say I was surprised by this as it came with UNI. UNI! It was a bit on the slimey side, so I'm not sure how fresh it was but it wasn't bad; it was actually pretty good, the other fish was fresh and thick cuts, and to have included UNI was very surprising.
We had some other stuff too, but I really dont remember anymore. I remember it being good; however, I think I would definitely come here more for the special appetizers and specials that they have on the board. Skip the dinners and maybe even the rolls in favor of specials on the board/appetizers.
SERVICE:
Hmm. I don't know about this one; it was nice but the lady serving us (short hair, thin) was kind of rude; she was explaining something on the menu and I said, oh really? And she retorted with "YES, REALLY" and started snickering. ..... Uh ok...b*tch.
Really. I spent a lot of money, so dont piss me off.
Four stars for the food, and...2.75 for the service (she pissed me off that much).
I have been eating here for over a decade. The service knows us at this point so I am treated a bit differently. Great sushi, great menu. I really, REALLY adore their asparagus wrapped beef. Solid meal that also is fairly cheap for the level you are getting it. for a city comparison I would say it is somewhat like inner sunset's ebisu in quality and price. A little more expensive... actually... IT IS MORE LIKE JIMISAN. so there.
So you know! JUST GO!
Better than any other local sushi joint, I think.... Sam's went downhill, and am not too sure about the one on 2nd caddy corner from the post office.
A bit pricer than the other Japanese restaurants in the area, but well worth it without driving too far away.
I tested out the Caterpillar Roll which tasted soooo good. The wasabi was fresh and the ginger, just right.
The hubby had the salmon teriyaki which was moist and full of flavor.
I'll gladly come back in a jiffy.
I love this place! The next time someone asks me for a good Japanese restaurant in the SM area, I will recommend Kisaku for it's true Japanese food and it's quick, attentive service.
I've recommended Hotaru, as well, but that place is really more for families as the bench seating and atmosphere there feel diner-ish.
Kisaku is where I'd steer my dates for some very delish sushi rolls (try the dynamite roll and the dragon rolls, for example) and a very authentic dining experience. All the waiters there seem like they were plucked right from Tokyo.
Mata ikemasu!
This place isn't worthy for a long review.
I went there with a friend who had been there multiple times. Had sashimi dinner with a Miami roll, she had a variety of appitizers.
Fish quality was OK... not amazing.
Prices were high without reason.
Only had one roll but way too much rice and almost no fish (DON"T go here for the rolls).
Don't expect good service, morose waiters.
Probably came a bit late... but if that was the fact just tell me I am too late, don't substitute poor service.
The happiest they were was when I paid.
The happiest I was is to check off another sushi place that won't get my business and move to the next restaurant.
Not sure what kind of Japanese specialty this is. Not quite tapas, not quite yakitori house, not quite ramen (or udon) and not anywhere near Tsukiji. I was amused to find anywhere with the audicity to sell Toro at $35. That being said, it is the best overall Japanese place I've been to in San Mateo. Kudos for the Hamachi Kama and a pretty good spicy Hamachi roll. I wouldn't order the radish salad again and everything else was average to slightly above average.
I'm willing to give this place another go just to try the ramen and udon plus a plethora of unique offerings. I added a star to my initial opinion for just the originality and scope of their menu. Jack of all trades, master of some.
update: after discovering other options for good sashimi, I'm dropping this place down on my value for money list as it is fairly pricey.
My friends & I were in and out of this place within 30 minutes.
-We sat down.
-Were given a MINUTE to look at the menu.
-The Server took our order.
-The food came.
-The check(s) came right after the food.
-Inhaled our food.
I felt so rushed!
This place was a little more on the expensive side for the amount of food that you get. I had the Chicken Teriyaki & Tempura for lunch; it also came with rice, miso soup & salad. My food was good but sixteen dollars later, I still left a little hungry. : (
My experience in Kisaku was beyond awful. Don't order their UNI!! First, I do know how good uni taste like. I was so shocked when I found out their uni was slimy and BITTER. It was stale and completely not edible. I almost throw up when I bite on it. So I asked our waitress and she asked the chef. They insisted that "that's how uni tasted like. They're suppose to be bitter like that." no kidding... So I asked if I can at least exchange something else and they refused.
Service was slow, and at least she was polite. But hell, there're so many nice Japanese cuisine selections in San Mateo downtown, why would I ever want to come back?
Just DON'T order uni here. I was so lucky I didn't have food poison afterwards. Scroll down to read Eugene F.'s review here, obviously, they have a history of serving the foul uni.
Kisaku was a random choice after playing tennis. Sushi sounded good after a hot day in the sun.
We tried 2 rolls:
- Miami roll ($8.50): Salmon and mango in soy paper. Pretty good but slightly smaller sized roll.
- Futomaki w/ Unagi ($14): A bit pricey given that futomaki roll on its own is $8. The amount of unagi doesn't warrant the +$6 upcharge.
Also tried the Chawan Mushi. $5 each but they make you order at least 2 of them. This is steamed egg w/ seafood, chicken, and other goodies. Delicate flavors, super good.
The restaurant itself is nice, but the prices could be a little lower given what you get.
This is one of my favorite places to go when Im in the mood for Japanese. When I come here I usually don't order the main dinners, I usually just order a bunch of the different appitizers, a few things from the board and what looks good at the sushi bar.
Some of my personal favorites...
Gyu tongue - grilled beef tongue with lemon
Agedashi tofu - fried tofu
Yaki nasu - grilled eggplant
Niku Jaga - a stewed meat and potatoes dish
Chicken karage - fried subtly seasoned bits of chicken
Ika fry - fried bits of squid
oden - just wiki it....
tororo - grated mountain yam over slices of tuna
black cod marienated with miso and grilled
I forgot what they called this one, but they take the fatty portion of the salmon and these two little pieces are grilled then imediatly served with daikon and lemon.
Lots and lots of rice.
On a cold day I believe every thursday they have some really good curry it warms me right on up. Oh and on those warm summer days I usually like to get some zaru sobu tem, (cold noodles with shimp tempura.) As for sushi depends on what is in season and what they recommend, the Uni for me has almost always been good, sometimes though, they get a very special delivery from Hokkiado and I have only been able to try that once, but man that rich custard, with a slight brine and fresh clean undertones, I was seriously in heaven that day. This service here has always been good, and the waitresses and waiters try and take care of thier customers, the sushi chefs are very skilled (you can tell from the tamago and knife work) Im usually there after work once a week...
Oh keep in mind that after 6 pm parking at the meters is free, San Mateo enforces it... Also they do have a backroom for private parties too.
I'm not a sushi expert but i do eat it a lot of it and I'd have to say Kisaku was a disappointment. We came here on a whim because we were trying to pick among the bajillion Japanese places on 3rd ave and we happened to pick this one. We got the Dragon roll and some special with chicken teriyaki, cali roll, tuna sashimi and lychee ice cream. I think the best thing we had was the lychee ice cream. They charged $16 for the Dragon which i thought was over priced for a regular roll that most places had. At first I thought maybe it was one of those humongo rolls but nope it came out regular sized.
There wasn't anything particularly memorable about the special...the tuna was okay, the chicken a little dry, the cali roll only came with three pieces which i thought was kinda amusing and of course the lychee ice cream which was the highlight of the night. We didn't get much service either, they came by to refill our tea once and never came back. It was alright to try, but I wouldn't come back.
San Mateo, CA
Category: Japanese
San Mateo, CA
Category: Japanese
San Mateo, CA
Category: Japanese
San Mateo, CA
Category: Japanese
San Mateo, CA
Category: Japanese
Some of my favorite dining destinations in the…
This list is for some of the best top places for…
These are some of the places I've been to, Good…
Some hits and some duds...take the goods with the…
My local dry cleaner, watering hole, deli, cafe,…
They do fish right ! You got to go there. Even…
Not that I'm that significant in the ROTD world,…
Check out some of these places in Millbrae,…
