Family-run Japanese eatery handcrafting a variety of sushi selections in an intimate setting.
HANAZEN – Orinda
Welcome to HANAZEN … At HANAZEN, we proudly craft every meal with care, serving traditional Edomae Sushi in Orinda, CA. We are a husband-and-wife team, and …
Aaron Strout
What an amazing experience. Some of the best sushi we’ve ever had. Everything was so tender, flavorful and carefully prepared. I would highly recommend to anyone looking for an omakaze!
… moreJimmy Hooker
Very unique. The other reviews are well deserved. A husband and wife combo that serves, I believe, 8 customers a night. They have apparently been doing this for 20 years. This was a stand out experience for us, 18 pieces of sushi that were, to a piece, incredibly delicious. I have never had sushi like this in my life. Not your normal experience, we will be back!
… moreHannah Jin
Great omakase experience offering exceptional value. Initially comprising 18 pieces of exquisite nigiri sushi, additional pieces can be added after the initial serving. Each bite (almost)has its distinct texture and flavor. Standouts include the tako nigiri, smoked salmon with yuzu jelly, fluke seasoned with cherry blossom salt, nodoguro, negitoro hand roll, uni/squid hand roll, and more. They have inventive flavors and deliver a wow factor. I highly recommend sitting at the counter to talk with the chef. He is knowledgeable and kind.
… moreMichael Chang
Cozy and relaxed restaurant where the food takes center stage. We enjoyed our 18-piece omakase experience. The variety was very diverse. Aji, Tai, Tako, Ikura, Bonito, White Tuna, Amberjack, Scallop, and Uni to name a few.
The quality of the ingredients really shined. My wife and I used very little soy sauce. In fact, we only used a small amount when instructed by our wonderful hostess, Coco. The flavors were clean and subtle. Not overpowering at all.
Also, the service was outstanding. Coco walked us through each piece and told us how Chef Kenji prepared the dish.
I highly recommend giving Hanazen a try if you enjoy omakase. However, this is not the place for you if you’re looking for rolls, anything seared, or sushi covered in heavy sauce.
… moreHH
Authentic, Edo style?
Only 8 per night.
Small but good quality.
For the amount of sushi you get, the price is affordable.
… moreJustin Lee
One of the top quality sushi places in the US. It serves Edomae sushi which is more traditional sushi than that served in the usual Japanese restaurants. Fish is seasonal and is chosen by chef Kenji. The seafood is very fresh. He seasons it to perfection to highlight the uniqueness of each sushi. There is no need for any additional soy sauce or wasabi. The typical 12-piece sushi is heavenly. If you have that with drink, you should budget about $110 per person (including tax and gratuity) for a sushi quality that is rare to find elsewhere.
It is a small family restaurant run by a Japanese couple. They have been serving top-notch sushi in Orinda for 15 years. There is no walk-in. Reservation by phone well in advance is a must. I had to book my place about 4 weeks ahead. It you come on a weekday, you still should book at least 2 weeks ahead. I can tell from their expression that they are serious about making world class sushi and providing a dining experience that you can’t find elsewhere.
… moreCecilia Knapp
Best sushi ever! Such a hidden gem in Orinda. Since we moved to the area last year we’ve been searching for our go-to sushi place. We tried walking in once and were told to make a reservation. A year later we finally made a reservation and did the omikase, chef’s choice tasting menu. OMG, was it delicious. It’s a small two-person operation – literally just the sushi chef and the hostess. It’s too pricey to come weekly, so I used my friends’ birthdays to come back and they both loved it as well. All the fish is so fresh, delicious, and imported from Japan. You will not be getting California rolls and unagi here! All types of nigiri of fish I’ve never had before and not a single one that any of us disliked. Even the sushi rice is extra delicious.
… moreOlivia
Hanazen oferred some of the most delicious fish and housemade seasonings I have ever tasted. The service was incredible and the food was beyond memorable. Be sure to call and make a reservation for a meal you won’t soon forget.
… moreYeonhwa Seo
If you want truly authentic Sushi, this is the place to go!
I am so happy Hanazen is so close to us. This restaurant is truly a gem of Orinda. I hope they stay in business for a long long time haha
We went recently for my husband’s birthday and we had a blast. Each sushi was delicate and delicious, and the chef and his wife made sure to explain all the dishes to us in detail (what kind of fish it is, what kind of sauce/salt is used, etc.)
It was quite a pleasant experience overall and we will definitely going back often. They are a bit pricey but I feel like that’s expected with high quality Omakazes.
There is a parking lot in the plaza but also a lot of street parking. It’s walking distance from Safeway too so parking shouldn’t be a problem.
Just make sure to MAKE RESERVATIONS. It is a very small shop, run by the chef and his wife only. They only accept people under reservations.
… moreLixing Fu
A small restaurant but good quality sushi. Very authentic Japanese Nigiri with fresh fish shipped from Japan everyday. The price was about 70-80 dollars for the 12 piece Omakase. Very quiet and nice environment. Also make sure you arrive on time and they only accept reservation through call.
I would say compared to the Michelin restaurants in SF they are not so outstanding, but the price makes sense.
… more