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✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in
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Hours
| Friday | 4:30–9:30 PM |
| Saturday | 4:30–9:30 PM |
| Sunday | 4:30–9 PM |
| Monday | 4:30–9 PM |
| Tuesday | 4:30–9 PM |
| Wednesday | 4:30–9 PM |
| Thursday | 4:30–9 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 32 42nd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94403
Phone: (650) 315-2023
Website: https://kodawarisushi.com/
Menu Photos
Related Web Results
Kodawari Sushi San Mateo
Chrashi Don Deluxe · Premium Beef Katsu · Miso Salmon · Bacon mochi · Mi, Beef skewer · Kaisen Don.
Kodawari Japanese Cuisine (@kodawarijapanesecuisine) – Instagram
If you are looking for a new Japanese cuisines to try , you need to check out @kodawarijapanesecuisine in San Mateo! Presentation was amazing and so …
Kodawari Japanese cuisine in San Mateo, CA review – Facebook
A great selection of sake is also available to go as well. Order ahead at least one day before: https://sushi-yoshizumi.myshopify.com – at Sushi …
Reviews
Pedro IP
We had a great dining experience at Kodawari Japanese Cuisine in San Mateo. This is a more refined, creative-style Japanese restaurant where a lot of attention is paid to presentation and ingredient quality. The Inari Set was a fun twist on a classic, with sashimi, beef, and eel layered on top. The Otsumami Box was beautifully arranged and perfect for sharing, with a nice variety of sashimi, yuzu oysters, scallops, and tamago. The Kaisen Don stood out for its generous portions and excellent seafood, especially the otoro and uni. We also enjoyed the crispy rice sushi and the salmon and tuna cone, both well balanced and visually impressive. The beef katsu was tender and came with a tabletop grill so you can adjust the doneness yourself. The atmosphere is quiet and elegant, with tatami rooms that make it ideal for a relaxed dinner or special night out.
… moreCherry May
Great experience at Kodawari Japanese Cuisine in San Mateo! Food came out pretty fast, service was excellent, and the staff were very approachable and attentive. The vibe honestly made me feel like I was in Japan! Very legit.
Everything we ordered was delicious, but my favorites were the Kaisendon super fresh and flavorful and the Otsumami Box, which had a great variety of tasty bites.
Highly recommend if you’re looking for quality Japanese food in the area!
… moreEverything we ordered was delicious, but my favorites were the Kaisendon super fresh and flavorful and the Otsumami Box, which had a great variety of tasty bites.
Highly recommend if you’re looking for quality Japanese food in the area!
Joanne Worley
This restaurant is a must!! The presentation alone is a full-on feast for the eyes. The restaurant is absolutely beautiful and zen, with insane attention to detail in everything from the plating to the flavors. Portions were super generous that I left full but not guilty because the food was fresh and I ate less rice. The staff was beyond helpful as well.
Tip for the girls: wear easy shoes if you’re sitting in the booths with the pits because you’ll need to take them off before going in!
… moreTip for the girls: wear easy shoes if you’re sitting in the booths with the pits because you’ll need to take them off before going in!
Maxwell Smith
Kodawari Japanese Cuisine has a great vibe — modern, but still cozy and warm inside (perfect on a cold night).
One big heads-up: on a Saturday night, either make a reservation or be prepared to wait. We arrived around 5:30pm and still waited 2+ hours for a party of 6.
Also, if you’re on the waitlist, keep at least one person from your party inside. They weren’t calling names outside, and the digital waitlist wasn’t pinging consistently (or people missed the notifications), so multiple parties got skipped. The digital list also doesn’t account for reservations, so it can give you a false sense of “moving up.”
Small but real issue: the front door needs fixing. The heavy wooden doors are beautiful, but they slam extremely loudly every time someone enters/leaves, which is pretty distracting.
Food highlights:
Fried oysters: lightly fried and absolutely smothered in bonito flakes — tasty and a fun starter.
Dragon roll: good overall, though the rice had a distinct texture/flavor that stood out (more on that below).
Tempura udon: solid flavor and very generous tempura portions, fried well. That said, Udon Mugizo is still our favorite for udon overall.
Otsumami Box: gorgeous presentation and a great way to sample a bunch of different bites. Highly recommend.
Chirashi Don Deluxe: very fresh, good-quality fish, but served a bit differently than I’m used to — thinly sliced and layered over the rice. I just wished there was a bit more fish per slice.
The rice also surprised me: it had an almost brown-rice-like consistency (less sticky and less vinegary than I typically expect from sushi rice). That may be exactly what they’re going for, but it felt different from other sushi meals I’ve had (including in Japan). For the price, I’d probably skip this dish next time.
Overall: despite the wait logistics and a couple of distractions, we all enjoyed the meal and I’d definitely come back.
… moreOne big heads-up: on a Saturday night, either make a reservation or be prepared to wait. We arrived around 5:30pm and still waited 2+ hours for a party of 6.
Also, if you’re on the waitlist, keep at least one person from your party inside. They weren’t calling names outside, and the digital waitlist wasn’t pinging consistently (or people missed the notifications), so multiple parties got skipped. The digital list also doesn’t account for reservations, so it can give you a false sense of “moving up.”
Small but real issue: the front door needs fixing. The heavy wooden doors are beautiful, but they slam extremely loudly every time someone enters/leaves, which is pretty distracting.
Food highlights:
Fried oysters: lightly fried and absolutely smothered in bonito flakes — tasty and a fun starter.
Dragon roll: good overall, though the rice had a distinct texture/flavor that stood out (more on that below).
Tempura udon: solid flavor and very generous tempura portions, fried well. That said, Udon Mugizo is still our favorite for udon overall.
Otsumami Box: gorgeous presentation and a great way to sample a bunch of different bites. Highly recommend.
Chirashi Don Deluxe: very fresh, good-quality fish, but served a bit differently than I’m used to — thinly sliced and layered over the rice. I just wished there was a bit more fish per slice.
The rice also surprised me: it had an almost brown-rice-like consistency (less sticky and less vinegary than I typically expect from sushi rice). That may be exactly what they’re going for, but it felt different from other sushi meals I’ve had (including in Japan). For the price, I’d probably skip this dish next time.
Overall: despite the wait logistics and a couple of distractions, we all enjoyed the meal and I’d definitely come back.
Derek Wong
Hands down one of the best new Japanese restaurants on the Peninsula.
From the moment you walk in, the space feels modern, refined, and unmistakably Japanese – the décor immediately reminded me of Kyoto with its clean lines, warm tones, and elegance. It feels thoughtfully designed to serve up the right atmosphere, which sets the tone.
The uni and ikura are the real standouts. Sourced from Hokkaido, they were incredibly fresh and clean-tasting – no bitterness, no fishiness. One bite instantly brought me back to my time in Sapporo, especially wandering around Hotaru and Susukino and experiencing truly high-quality seafood there. That’s not something I say lightly.
If you’re a sushi and sashimi lover, this place is an absolute must-try. You get premium ingredients and careful execution without having to pay insane omakase prices. It strikes that rare balance of quality, value, and atmosphere.
Highly recommended, and I’ll definitely be back.
… moreFrom the moment you walk in, the space feels modern, refined, and unmistakably Japanese – the décor immediately reminded me of Kyoto with its clean lines, warm tones, and elegance. It feels thoughtfully designed to serve up the right atmosphere, which sets the tone.
The uni and ikura are the real standouts. Sourced from Hokkaido, they were incredibly fresh and clean-tasting – no bitterness, no fishiness. One bite instantly brought me back to my time in Sapporo, especially wandering around Hotaru and Susukino and experiencing truly high-quality seafood there. That’s not something I say lightly.
If you’re a sushi and sashimi lover, this place is an absolute must-try. You get premium ingredients and careful execution without having to pay insane omakase prices. It strikes that rare balance of quality, value, and atmosphere.
Highly recommended, and I’ll definitely be back.
seibun i
Amazing new Japanese spot in San Mateo! The ambiance feels like a mini Kyoto—beautiful entrance, stylish interior, and such a cozy vibe. The seafood bowl with bluefin tuna and Hokkaido uni was incredibly fresh and sweet, totally worth the trip. Loved the sushi cones, beef katsu, and ochazuke too—everything was flavorful and thoughtfully prepared. Great service, easy parking, and really good value for the quality. Highly recommend!
… moreEdgardo Martinez
Come early and put your name down on the waitlist. The food was aesthetically pleasing but somewhat of a miss. The otsumami set featured too many shellfish and not enough actual sashimi. The kaisendon was pretty good and reccommended. The quality of the actual seafood was pretty decent so it may be worth checking this spot out at least once.
… moreSam Betheil
This will be a new neighborhood spot for us. The restaurant itself is very nice and new. Everything we got was very good and fresh. We tried a few rolls, hamachi carpaccio, chicken karaage and beef katsu. We liked everything we got. We arrived around 5pm and it was already busy and by the time we left at 630 there was a wait (on a week night!). I would suggest reservations
… moreSunny
Food is good but be prepared to wait. The interior is modern and bright but with limited seating for walk-ins, and they don’t take reservations for parties <6 people. We arrived at 5:45 on a Sunday and waited over 45 minutes. I recommend going only with 2 people to get seated faster. That said, we really enjoyed the food.
… moreKatie Wong
No wait at 5pm on a Monday. Fast service, nice atmosphere, beautiful, fresh dishes. Also very impressed with the pricing as well. It’s very fair. Will definitely be back.
… more