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Mutsu Restaurant
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- 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
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
34 reviews for Mutsu Restaurant
Review Highlights
34 reviews in English
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Review from Karen M.
Pomona, CA
Updated - 3/24/2011
Likes: Sukiyaki was sweet and meaty and overall DEE-licious. The broth was sweet, there were fat noodles AND thin glass noodles (LOVE those), lots of meat, veggies (can't avoid them greens sigh...) and it came with a bowl of rice. Shabu shabu was delicious too. Service was wonderful. The old Japanese lady is so nice and sweet! The tea kept coming and we had the free appetizers of sliced pickled cucumbers.
Dislikes: can't think of one this time.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/17/2011
Likes: cucumber slices appetizer was actually really good, maybe because I was starving when I went… Read more »
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Review from Dilip R.
San Mateo, CA
10/3/2011
I'm a bit disappointed because I wanted this place to be good. I love sushi and always want to have a favourite sushi spot that is in walking distance.
The sushi was not as good as what I've had before and the price was just too high for what I was eating. -
Review from Kimberly S.
San Mateo, CA
9/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
The bf and I went here for dinner before seeing a movie. Actually, we wanted to go to Joy's but as always, they were busy. Since we only had an hour to spare, we saw Mutsu across the street nearly empty so we took a chance (meaning we didn't do our research on Yelp).
The inside of this restaurant and sweet hostess gave the feeling that comfort food is being served here. Wanting something different, I ordered the sukiyaki. They definitely were not skimpy on the meat and veggies! Fat and thin noodles were included in this bowl with just-sweet-enough broth. Really good. Free appetizers while you wait.
Now the reason for the 3.5 stars: service was darn slow. There were only two other parties of 3 or less, yet the food took 30 minutes to come out. Don't come here for a quick meal, which is what we did - our mistake. We almost asked for them to pack up the food, but maybe they could tell we were getting antsy because the staff kept telling us the food was coming. At the end, the sweet hostess gave us a small dessert (cookies I think) because she felt bad for our wait and was very apologetic.Listed in: My New Hood - San Mateo!
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Review from Cindy N.
San Jose, CA
10/16/2010
We put off trying this place for awhile due to the mixed reviews but after getting several personal recommendations to try it we decided to give it a chance.
The first observation I make when I enter a Japanese restaurant is how many of the diners there are Japanese. Most of the Japanese people I know are very particular especially when it comes to Japanese food so if there are Japanese patrons it's usually a good sign. When we got to the restaurant, there was a big party of Japanese people there so we were optimistic.
We ordered the tuna sashimi and tempura dinners. Both were excellent. The sashimi was really fresh. I am very particular about the sashimi I eat and this was melt in your mouth goodness. The tempura was lightly battered and delicious.
It's it a little pricey but to get a good Japanese meal it's worth it for me. -
Review from Alysha M.
12/20/2010
I needed to eat something quick so me & a gf just randomly found parking where we could in San Mateo downtown. This was the first restaurant we strolled upon without any wait. At first I was a bit skeptical since there was only one couple eating there during prime time lunch (& I think they knew the workers). The outside & inside furniture & decor looked pretty hole-in-the wall-ish so I honestly wasn't expecting too much.
Let me tell you I was pleasantly surprised with the food. We ordered a bunch of sushi- rolls & nigiri. Everything was fresh & delicious. And trust me, I'm a sushi nazi & know my fish so am very picky. We also got the tempura appetizer & I loved how the veggies were sliced thin & very lightly battered.
I was very satisfied & would definitely go back again...even with so many other great food options in San Mateo downtown! -
Review from cynthia k.
San Carlos, CA
7/30/2011
BEST tempura ever! Better than any other Japanese restaurant we have frequented throughout California, New York, Osaka, Tokyo and Kobe!
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Review from lulu p.
San Francisco, CA
12/7/2005
This restaurant has been in its present location for at least 3 decades. Sadly the original owners have retired... and I've had my doubts as to whether it would ever live up to our expecations again, which is unfair because it's practically like having someone recreate mom's home cooking.
However, in my first visit back (at least 5 yrs now?!) it's great to note that they still offer the tastiest tempura in the area! It's light, fluffy, perfectly crisp, and does *not* appear with little black flecks of carbon (the telltale sign that it's time to change the oil - ewwwwwah!!!!!). My only complaint is that i miss the mutant size prawns that they used to serve.. :( but nonetheless the tempura is still quite unbeatable in perfect delicate texture!
This restaurant has always been a place for really good cooked entrees like teriyaki, chicken karaage, unajyu... so I look forward to sampling more in the future.
I ordered the beef and tempura combination for around $11.50. It's not a 6 dollar lunch, but you certainly get what you pay for!
The current owners are really nice - soooo polite, which is so refreshing! But, best of all, we did not suffer from extreme msg thirst after eating there... hence, I give them an extra star just for that! -
Review from Kazu O.
9/13/2009 1 Check-in Here
3.5 stars.. I'll round it up to 4. American-friendly Japanese food WITHOUT the American touch.
I never knew this place existed, since it's not on 3rd/4th streets like all of the other restaurants. We came here for dinner the other night, and it was pretty decent.
We started off with the ama-ebi sushi (sweet shrimp). It tasted pretty fresh. Ironically, I love the slimy feeling of the ama-ebi. The way the sushi rice was formed wasn't the most skilled I've ever seen, but it's above average for a Japanese restaurant around here for this price range. It wasn't any worse than the way-more-pricey Jinsho's sushi, actually (oooh I gotta review that place soon).
The gf had the sashimi dinner. Fish was fresh and tasty. Again, not the best fish ever, but definitely good for this price range.
I had the tempura + sukiyaki combination. I've heard good things about their tempura. It was definitely crispier, lighter, and less greasy than most places' tempura around here... but it's not worthy of a five-star rating b/c I've had way better at restaurants in LA (Inaba, Komatsu.. both in Torrance). The sukiyaki was pretty good, but I wish it had more (and better) beef in it. It's also missing some essentials like shungiku (some leafy veggie), but it's not bad and the soup tastes authentic.
I'm pretty sure this is one of those places where their lunch menu has the same content but for a cheaper price, so I would definitely come back here again for lunch since I believe it'll be a good value then. For dinner, although it's decent, it's a bit pricey.
Pretty good meal, but I think their menu caters more towards non-Japanese people. Everything is pretty comparable to Hotaru on 3rd.. but Mutsu's tempura gets the advantage. I'll have to try sashimi at Hotaru next time to see how it compares to Mutsu's. -
Review from Bryan K.
San Mateo, CA
3/20/2007
My Japanese friend wanted to try this place, a recommendation from a fellow Japanese colleague. Well that's good enough for me.
Ordered the yosenabe udon, deluxe sushi, chicken karaage. The karaage was like shoe leather, way overcooked. But the sushi was fresh... and the kani was *real* kani, not that fake playdo rubber kani crap that some misguided person invented. Wait can you say crap in a review? Anyway its been awhile since I've had the real thing, kani that is.
The seafood in the udon was very fresh and nicely cooked, not overcooked and rubbery. And it was nicely warm for this blustery cold night.
The server lady was very nice and friendly... I am sooo embarassed that I can't speak much Japanese to her. I'll have to rip those Pimsleur CDs and practice like I mean it. My grandma will be so proud, rest her soul. -
Review from Hoyman H.
San Francisco, CA
3/10/2010
The food really is excellent. The taste is authentic. You can tell when sushi is made from someone who is Japanese vs Chinese vs Korean.
Toshi the sushi chef makes the best tempura; light, crispy and not greasy at all.
Salmon skin hand roll has crispy seaweed (not soggy) wrap with crispy skin (no massive chunks of fish) and some radish and a little mint..so good!
Uni/Toro roll when available is a great combo with great synergy. Not a lot of places put it together like Toshi. If you like either then try it and you'll love it!
Kinko the owner is very accommodating as well. She'll tell you when you've ordered enough and will help you through the process whether you're new to sushi or just new to the area.
It can get a little busy but worth the wait if you like sushi.
5 star recommendation! -
Review from patrick o.
San Francisco, CA
7/9/2007
After reading some of the past reviews, I wish I had had their experience here. The food really tasted super generic and probably on par with mall Japanese food. I mean come on! Mayonnaise in my freaking salad! Are you even trying? What's up with the prices? $17 for a 2 item Bento box?
I sadly had the Teri-yaki beef, which was thin, over cooked (medium rare) and not very Teriyakish. My friend had the two item Beef/Sashimi. The sashimi portion was so small I thought he got nigiri. At least throw us 4 normal size pieces.
On top of the food, the service was like a flight to Japan, about 16 hours and in the middle I wanted to jump out of a plane. I'm pretty sure most standard Japanese restaurants don't take 2 hours to get your order and then your food. -
Review from Tony Z.
Burlingame, CA
10/13/2011
I love the lunch speical. Inexpensive and the temupra is delicious. The tonkatsu is not bad either. They also have per-person-set shabu shabu, sukiyaki and yose nabe (hot pot with seafood). However, the facility is sort of run down with smell of mold (minus two stars).
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Review from Cathy Y.
12/21/2009
4.5 stars...
At first glance, Mutsu decor is a little disheartening. The furniture looks like it hasn't been replaced in 25 years, with an inherent dinginess. However, service was wonderful and food was absolutely delicious.
The little old Japanese lady was so cute, and kept checking up on us throughout the evening. She started us off with very fresh cucumber slices in vinegar, which was refreshing. The miso soup was good, and warmed me right up.
I ordered the deluxe nigiri, and the BF had the tempur+sukiyaki combo. The nigiri was top notch. A warning though, the sushi chef is quite generous with the wasabi. I'm not wimp, but after the first mistake of nigiri (with wasabi already in it) + soy sauce with wasabi I was brought to tears. I poured myself another thing of soy sauce (no wasabi) and was content.
So, I'm a little different when it comes to sushi. I can't really tell the different tastes apart, but textures are a delight on my tongue. The nigiri I had at Mutsu practically melted in my mouth. I eat my nigiri in two bites (it lasts longer!), and the fish was noticeably smooth. I didn't need to bite it, even...I set my teeth on it and it just slipped apart.
The nigiri was definitely worth the money. Of course, at $19 it is pretty steep, but worth it.
The tempura was excellent. Not greasy at all, with a great flakiness. the Sukiyaki was great as well, with a flavorful broth (the broth makes all the difference in noodle dishes!)
We ended with complimentary fruit (clementine and persimmon) and were off on our merry way, with tummies full. -
Review from Jasmine D.
South San Francisco, CA
5/14/2008
Yes, service can be slow. They only have one server (the owner) and she's a total sweetheart. But I give four stars alone for their sukiyaki. I haven't had anything else from here, but the sukiyaki. No sushi, no sashimi, no teriyaki, no nothing else, just sukiyaki. And it's a damn good sukiyaki.
I have no idea if it tastes like a traditional sukiyaki should taste like, but what I do know is that it is delicious. It's served in a big, deep bowl. Not a low, shallow bowl like other places. The broth is so rich and flavorful. It's got this sweet and savory quality to it that I love. Tender, thin slices of beef, two kinds of noodles, and Chinese cabbage float in the broth soaking up all the amazing flavor. They serve it with a bowl of steamed rice which is perfect for getting the most distance out of the broth.
I only wish they served a raw egg on the side to dip my meat and veggies in. But now that I think about it, I've never asked if they do or don't serve that. *Note to self : Next time ask for a raw egg* -
Review from Lauren V.
San Francisco, CA
5/26/2008
growing up MUTSU was the first Japanese restaurant I ever went to.It was a weird place in the sense that I have distinct memories of it hardly ever being open even when the sign had specific hours posted. I am actually really surprised it's still open but it's like a little hidden treasure I suppose.
The sukiyaki is the bomb but super salty.Generous portion. The sushi is not their strong suit -
Review from Jeanette L.
San Francisco, CA
4/27/2010
I went for lunch today and we were the only ones there from 11:30 until 12:30. Perhaps it's a late lunch spot? The waitress was fairly attentive and the place was clean. She was very Japanese which was cute - said Hai often.
The food was just mediocre though which is why I am only giving it 2 stars. My father had a bento box and I had the oyasku (sp).
Sadly, I do not think I shall return to this restaurant with so many other options in the area. -
Review from george p.
San Francisco, CA
8/14/2007
Mutsu has absolutely outstanding fish quality. The prices are significantly higher than other nearby sushi places, but if you're into sushi it is definitely well worth the price. I definitely recommend ordering the Chirashi here (assorted sashimi over chill sushi rice) the variety is excellent and a great deal.
If you're into something than sushi, try out the tempura (awesome, crispy not greasy) or on a chilly winter evening the yosenabe (tasty seafood broth with tons of different sushi throughout).
You definitely do not want to come here if you're going to order americanized japanese food as the prices for everything reflect the quality of their best dishes. -
Review from Mang Y.
Concord, CA
Updated - 3/6/2011 5 photos
Still delicious and excellent service on a recent dinner dine.
Listed in: Fav Dining Spots, Craving Chicken Karaage
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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12/31/2009
Tried a few more items the second time round and it was as good as the first. Tempura was finely cut… Read more »
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Review from Winnie C.
San Mateo, CA
3/10/2008
I am so lucky this place is close to home for me.
Their chicken karage is good, much better than most. Just not Santa Ramen's (still rated #1 in my book).
Their sushi's always been fresh for me. But by far, my favorite is their spider rolls. THE BEST I've had, and I've tried from many places.
Restaurant's small and low key. I like sitting at the sushi bar and chatting with the friendly sushi chef.
Oh, some other reviewer mentioned all you can eat sushi lunch. That's actually a different restaurant altogether. Masu on 3rd, also in San Mateo ... but that's another review. -
Review from Amy L.
San Francisco, CA
4/12/2008
Ah, location location. They're a little off the beaten path but I recommend the walk down the road to try Mutsu. I can't remember what I had here but I do recall it was good. As for the service being slow, I would just say that they're probably understaffed. I'll definitely be back!
Times visited: 1 -
Review from Mia L.
New York, NY
3/16/2009
Decidedly OK. The staff was friendly, but we waited a bit long for our food. I was disappointed to find that there was no udon on the menu, and it wasn't readily apparent that you could order sashimi.
3 stars for fresh fish and decent service. -
Review from Amy C.
San Francisco, CA
9/17/2009
Consistently tasty and fresh food. I used to come here for the steak teriyaki because they cooked a giant steak medium rare (not the usually overcooked sliced dog meat). But, the last time I went they cooked it well done when I asked for medium rare. The last time I dined here I ordered the sashimi and it was really yummy. Overall, I recommend this joint.
Pros: fresh fish (isn't that what we go to Japanese restaurants for?)
Cons: hard to find parking. -
Review from Ronnie E.
Evans Mills, NY
11/27/2009
I'm a fan of Mutsu 1980- ~2000 before the ownership changed. If I had to pick a last meal to have, it would be from Mutsu circa 1989.
Mutsu 2009? Couldn't tell you. I tried it out after owners changed but it seemed like the torch was dropped in passing.
Maybe I'll need to give them another chance. -
Review from Kenric L.
San Bruno, CA
11/21/2007 1 Check-in Here
I don't know what Joyce M. is talking about, but there is no "all you can eat" option at Mutsu...
Mutsu is my default Japanese restaurant of choice. I've been there countless number of times... with just my wife and baby, with a small group of friends, with a large number of co-workers (do-able but not recommended). Because of that, I guess I'm considered a Regular. The obaachan knows me and gives us free baby sitting while we eat (when the place isn't too busy). She has also given our little girl toys randomly, so they feel like family at times even though I still don't know their names. Sometimes she'll throw in a free ice cream after a meal or bring all sorts of interesting Japanese candies/snacks. My guess is that she wants more time to play with the baby. Here are my tips for eating at Mutsu:
1. If the place is packed (more than 4-5 tables filled), expect a long wait for your food. Go to Hotaru for that quick and filling Japanese meal you're craving for.
2. If you only see the sushi sensei working, and don't see another guy working the hot food station, expect even MORE delays because then it's just a one man show.
3. If you order a ton of sushi (i.e. enough to fill a large platter), you're in for an even LONGER wait. The worse offenders are the rainbow roll and the caterpillar roll. The rainbow roll is a work of art but takes a friggin long time to put together.
4. The deluxe chirashi is awesome, but takes a long time as well. If the sushi sensei isn't busy at all, he'll put all sorts of neat things into it that I've never seen in other Japanese restaurants. (examples: shiso buds, daikon wrapped sake with some weird herb, all sorts of interesting pickled veggies) Every chirashi is different depending on what he thinks is good at that time.
Ok, I could go on forever I guess. Here are a quick list of hits and misses:
Hits:
chirashi
tempura (best I've had - light, not oily)
sukiyaki
chawanmushi
nabeyaki udon
sushi (the sensei is truly a master and artist, but is SLOW)
Misses:
chicken karage (really tough... go get it at Santa)
Bottom line:
Come here with friends you can talk to for a LONG time and don't expect a Hotaru-like experience. Heed my cautions above and you'll be fine. The food is really clean and flavorful and well worth the wait in my opinion. One last thing - Friday nights can be painful as family regulars sometimes take up a large portion of the restaurant and stay for hours. I made that mistake once and ended up staying at the restaurant for almost two hours. I'm taking away one star due to the slowness and upper tier prices. Even so, I still go back to get my chirashi fix every month. This place is tailored to the older Hillsborough crowd who are willing to pay an extra premium for a quiet setting and good food and to build a relationship with the staff. -
Review from Kathleen M.
San Jose, CA
8/31/2005
This is the third best place I've found in the Bay Area for beef teriyaki and tempura. It's the most expensive though at around $16.
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Review from Kit E.
Mountain View, CA
10/19/2007
Nabeyaki udon is good here, but service is so slow.
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Review from Maximillian M.
San Francisco, CA
1/19/2008
The sashimi is pretty good quality, otherwise it's standard, unexciting Japanese standards (teriyaki this and that, etc) that are probably overpriced.
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Review from N S.
Santa Clara, CA
9/28/2008
Underwhelming. The chicken teriyaki was overcooked and chewy. Everything was below average. So many better Japanese restaurants around, not sure how this one stays in business.
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Review from L. V.
Los Angeles, CA
8/19/2008
This place is bomb. Really small, but sooo good.
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Review from john c.
Burlingame, CA
11/22/2007
A great place for sashimi. Outstanding fish quality. I usually don't like raw mackerel but this place has the best mackerel sushi on earth. I also like their grilled mackerel dinner. Small place. Never crowded. very pricey.
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Review from NoIntrinsicValue I.
New York, NY
2/16/2009
There's only one chef, and everything is made by his hands, so things aren't always completely consistent, but usually close. There's also only one server, the owner, and she is very nice and polite. This is not a good place to go if you are in a rush or if there are already a lot of people, as you will wait a long time for your food in the latter instance.
The lunch bentos are an extremely good value. I also enjoy the tempura, the sashimi/sushi (they do exquisite things with the fish and it's very fresh) and the sukiyaki. The churashi is an extremely good value as well.
You'll usually be given free candies or fruit after the meal and the free green tea is delish too. :) -
Review from n h.
Palo Alto, CA
10/4/2010
Their Ten don is the only reason I would drive all the way to get here. 80' Japanese good-old-days diner type of interior makes me comfortable.
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Review from Joyce T.
Menlo Park, CA
10/7/2007
We went to Mutsu for dinner on a Monday night with a few other friends, about an hour before the restaurant closed, so there were only two other groups in an already pretty small restaurant. One of our friends had been there before and he's super picky about food, so we expected it to be pretty good. Our three friends all ordered cooked meat and fish dishes, while Eddie and I ordered sushi.
Since it was already late, we were all looking forward to dinner, and we devoured the little bowl of edamame they gave us. Then we waited, and waited, and waited, and waited. Eventually, one cooked dish came out, which our friend politely let sit on the table while we waited for the rest of the dishes to come out. Let me tell you, if he had really waited for all the dishes come out, the soup might have cooled down until it gelled into a solid. Put it this way, there was actually NOBODY behind the sushi bar. In fact, because it's such a small restaurant, there's one lady who takes the orders and one gentleman that does all the cooking, and since he was busy cooking fish for our friends, there was no time for him to make the sushi. In the meantime, we were going from hungry to hangry (angry from the hunger), and still time was ticking (although at least our teacups were being kept full).
FINALLY, after 40 minutes, after all our other friends had been sitting in front of food quickly getting cold, the chef came out and started making our sushi. We were so hungry by then, we just demolished the sushi when it arrived at our table. 50 minutes of waiting, 5 minutes of eating. I was still hungry and wanted to order more, but didn't dare because I didn't want to sit around and wait for it for another half an hour.
I think our waitress felt a bit bad (perhaps she could tell our stomachs had been so empty they were starting to digest themselves), and she gave us all sorts of little sweets after the meal (of course this means that it took more than 10 minutes for the check to come after we asked for it), but it was very kind. A little too little, too late, but very kind.
The silver lining to all this was that the food was actually pretty darn good (which has been hard to find since moving away from SF). Everything tasted fresh and not fishy at all. And that means that despite the glacier-like pace of the service, I *might* actually consider going again. However, here are the things I would try to do IF I were to go again:
1) Don't go there hungry (almost makes it seem sort of pointless to go out to eat at all, but there it is. By the time the food gets to you, you'll be hungry).
2) Make sure you order enough food to satisfy your hunger to begin with. Do NOT think, "Oh, if I'm still hungry, I'll just order more", unless you have a lot of time to kill.
3) Order appetizers. They might keep you from getting too hangry and going on some crazy rampage through te restaurant. -
Review from Jasmine M.
Burlingame, CA
3/11/2010
I really hate giving this restaurant one star but the service REALLY sucks!! I do think the food is good here. I like the beef teriyaki and tempura dishes but I refuse to go back after the owner/waitress's attitude. I go there so often so I know that the old lady is the owner. I went there for lunch and there were only one table outside. I waited for a few minutes and no one came with the menu. I decided to go use the bathroom and the owner/waitress (old lady) was in the back cutting up some fruits. I asked the owner if she could give me a menu and that we would want to order soon. She looked at me and said that if you are in a hurry than I can't help you. What the f***? Excuse me but I don't think it's rude to ask for a menu at a restaurant. In addition, there were only 2 people sitting in the restaurant. No wonder this restaurant sucks now. I've been going to Mutsu for the last 15 years. Before this owner, the last owner was super nice and super friendly. You used to have to wait for an hour at this restaurant but now, it's practically empty. With such a crappy attitude, I would expect Mutsu to go out of business.
