Rantei Japanese Cuisine

I guess I had too much expectations. First of all, I was most dissatisfied that I couldn't make a reservation. The quality of the food was not bad, but it didn't look very good to stack plates removed from the table on the side of a restaurant that sells uncooked sashimi. If I paid more attention to cleanliness, I think it could be a better restaurant. I ordered scallop sashimi, but I couldn't order any more when I saw the serving person dusting the plates with his hands. That is very unfortunate. The fried shrimp was good.

Visited 2 months ago

Great range of items on the menu. We ordered a few appetizers and like everything. I ordered an Omagase sashimi set and it was good for the price. I don't expect it to be the same as real Omagase experience as it's not, but this is not bad for this price range. The ambience is also not bad. Plenty of tables. We couldn't make a reservation so decided to walk in for early dinner and got seated within 10 min. Noted: one person in our group had a food poisoning next day and she suspected it might be the oyster.

Visited 2 months ago

Met a friend visiting from Guam here on a random Wednesday. No resi but for two at the bar took 5 minutes.

They forgot our ikura order (it was punched in never came out til we asked after we finished our food) but we were catching up enjoying a kirin and large hot sake.

Delicious cuts
Decent size to price
Great ambiance.

About $55 a person with
Large hot sake shared
Garlic edamame
Hamachi toro sashimi (4pc)
Gyoza
Warriors roll
Ikura roll
1 kirin each

Visited 6 months ago

Everything that I ordered so fresh and delicious! Must check out this place if you’re sushi maniac. The menu prices are reasonable, not over price. The staff are nice too.

Visited 4 months ago

Came here with my friends for dinner, and I ordered this pretty sashimi plate. We also got this sake bottle, and it was good. Sashimi was good and would've been even better if they were fresh. Felt like it has been out for some time, but again, we did come there for dinner.

Visited 4 months ago

Nestled in a rather unremarkable and almost hidden corner of Santa Clara, Rantei Japanese Cuisine could easily be overlooked by passersby. The exterior is far from flashy and the surrounding area feels a bit incongruous for such a gem of a restaurant. Despite the less-than-ideal location, stepping inside reveals an ambiance that is both inviting and authentically Japanese, a stark contrast to the nondescript façade.

My dining experience began with their impressive 8-piece omakase set. Each piece was meticulously crafted, showcasing the chef's impeccable attention to detail and mastery of traditional Japanese techniques. The variety and freshness of the seafood were outstanding, each bite offering a new and delightful flavor profile. It was evident that high-quality ingredients and culinary precision were at the heart of the omakase, making it a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable feast.

Adding to the delightful experience, Rantei’s soba noodles were nothing short of extraordinary. Made in-house, they boasted a perfect texture and a subtle, nuanced flavor that was enhanced by the delicate broth they were served in. The soba was a testament to the restaurant's dedication to authenticity and quality. Despite the initial impression given by its location, the culinary experience at Rantei was sublime, and I wouldn't hesitate to return for another meal that transports you straight to Japan.

Visited 7 months ago

Rantei is definitely worth the hype and wait! The 16-piece omakase sashimi set & kaisen don is a must try on their menu. Their fish is imported from Japan and tastes incredibly fresh and clean. The chef's skillful preparation showcases the best cuts of fish and a perfect balance of flavors and texture. Every dish in the omakase set feels like a work of art. The kaisen don was also one of our favorites, especially the ikura and scallops!

What truly sets this experience apart is the private tatami dining setting. The traditional tatami mat, quiet ambiance, and attentive service literally felt like I was transported to Japan.

Visited 3 months ago

Tried Nigiris in my second visit. The engawa and tai are my favorite. All nigiris are fresh and well seasoned.
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Chirashi don and hand roll I tried today are tasty, worth the price. But the ambience of the restaurant could be improved. Right now feels too crowded and noisy.

Visited 8 months ago

We love their sushi omakase. It's so fresh and everything is delicious at a reasonable price.

Visited a month ago

I have never seen such a bad restaurant in my life! This restaurant has really bad employers.

Visited a month ago

Visited 2 months ago

Great range of items on the menu. We ordered a few appetizers and like everything. I ordered an Omagase sashimi set and it was good for the price. I don't expect it to be the same as real Omagase experience as it's not, but this is not bad for this price range. The ambience is also not bad. Plenty of tables. We couldn't make a reservation so decided to walk in for early dinner and got seated within 10 min. Noted: one person in our group had a food poisoning next day and she suspected it might be the oyster.

Visited 2 months ago

Visited 2 months ago

Visited 2 months ago

進門很溫馨的氣氛，延續老奶奶傳承經營希望給人們好的用餐氛圍

Visited 2 months ago

I guess I had too much expectations. First of all, I was most dissatisfied that I couldn't make a reservation. The quality of the food was not bad, but it didn't look very good to stack plates removed from the table on the side of a restaurant that sells uncooked sashimi. If I paid more attention to cleanliness, I think it could be a better restaurant. I ordered scallop sashimi, but I couldn't order any more when I saw the serving person dusting the plates with his hands. That is very unfortunate. The fried shrimp was good.

Visited 2 months ago

Excellent!!!

Visited 2 months ago

Me and my friend had went to go use the restroom for one second door was wide open and my friend walked into the bathroom and as soon as he did I hal 6 people run up to me yelling at me and getting aggressive in my face I had said we were only merely using the restroom and that’s it and then they continued saying I will call the cops as they are spitting and getting in my face I was trying to leave and they were still getting in my face but when my “white” friend walks out he just gets asked to leave peacefully I don’t think this is right at all and I would not recommend this place if you are a minority

Visited 3 months ago

Buen lugar

Visited 3 months ago

Rantei is definitely worth the hype and wait! The 16-piece omakase sashimi set & kaisen don is a must try on their menu. Their fish is imported from Japan and tastes incredibly fresh and clean. The chef's skillful preparation showcases the best cuts of fish and a perfect balance of flavors and texture. Every dish in the omakase set feels like a work of art. The kaisen don was also one of our favorites, especially the ikura and scallops!

What truly sets this experience apart is the private tatami dining setting. The traditional tatami mat, quiet ambiance, and attentive service literally felt like I was transported to Japan.

Visited 3 months ago

Visited 3 months ago

Visited 4 months ago

Came here with my friends for dinner, and I ordered this pretty sashimi plate. We also got this sake bottle, and it was good. Sashimi was good and would've been even better if they were fresh. Felt like it has been out for some time, but again, we did come there for dinner.

Visited 4 months ago

Overpriced sushi signature rolls. Food was ok. Seating took a long time. Not worth the wait.

Visited 4 months ago

Everything that I ordered so fresh and delicious! Must check out this place if you’re sushi maniac. The menu prices are reasonable, not over price. The staff are nice too.

Visited 4 months ago

Visited 4 months ago

Visited 4 months ago

Visited 4 months ago

Visited the restaurant exactly when they opened—stayed for around half an hour. The restaurant wasn’t busy at that time and it was very peaceful. The servers were incredibly kind and the food was amazing too. Great experience overall—will definitely visit again!

Visited 4 months ago

Small but fantastic spot for high quality Japanese food!

Visited 4 months ago

Fresh, high-quality slices of fish with excellent presentation, combined with the attentive service and Japanese ambiance, add a level of authenticity I haven't found anywhere else.

Visited 4 months ago

This place is definitely aesthetic, in fact I found them on Instagram. I really wanted to try the 8 dish omakase, this was $65. It was a good experience with good flavors, small portion size. It was really busy when I went and the wait was about a half hour, but that's a sign that people are really enjoying themselves.

Visited 4 months ago

Tried Nigiris in my second visit. The engawa and tai are my favorite. All nigiris are fresh and well seasoned.
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Chirashi don and hand roll I tried today are tasty, worth the price. But the ambience of the restaurant could be improved. Right now feels too crowded and noisy.

Visited 4 months ago

Visited 5 months ago

Visited 5 months ago

It's good. Really good. It's kind of bougy sushi. Maybe a little on the pricey side.

We had two items. First was Kaisen Don:
Uni, Hotate, Blue FinToro, Kani, ikura over Rice. Comes in a beautiful wooden box with spoons. Excellent. $63

Second was the Lion King roll: crab meat, Avocado, Topped w/ Baked salmon, Green Onion, Tobiko, Spicy Mayo, Eel Sauce, Sesame seeds. Even more excellent than the Kaisen Don!! $17

I'm going back to try more of their delicious dishes!

Update: Came back and enjoyed the Lion roll again as well as the Rantei roll. So good!

Update: Chirashi Don Deluxe >> Kaisen Don.

Update: Hamachi carpaccio is excellent! Rainbow roll is okay. Didn’t particularly like the Rantei roll due to too much sauce.

Update: They have fresh wasabi. Try it. It’s not as hot as the putty stuff but has that nice flavor. And my new favorite I’d the Chirashi Don Deluxe!

Update: I love this place. The baked mussels are a great appetizer. My only gripe is they're consumed in mere moments! I also like the fried Agedashi tofu appetizer, which comes out piping hot! And the hamachi carpaccio? Already so good, but then with a little red onion on top? Wowsers! And for the first time... California roll! Obviously not Japanese authentic, but somehow they made them seem more authentic. :)

Visited 5 months ago

Met a friend visiting from Guam here on a random Wednesday. No resi but for two at the bar took 5 minutes.

They forgot our ikura order (it was punched in never came out til we asked after we finished our food) but we were catching up enjoying a kirin and large hot sake.

Delicious cuts
Decent size to price
Great ambiance.

About $55 a person with
Large hot sake shared
Garlic edamame
Hamachi toro sashimi (4pc)
Gyoza
Warriors roll
Ikura roll
1 kirin each

Visited 6 months ago

Service was 10 stars ⭐️ 🌟!!! Big shout out to Alan, Kristine, and Henry. The whole team and staff and omg! The food was amazing! Made it love 💕

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

Extremely flavorful! Some of the best Japanese I’ve had!

Visited 6 months ago

Great sushi place tucked away in a small strip mall in Santa Clara. They really know to handle their fish and you can tell that the chef’s know what they are doing. I loved this place!!!

Visited 6 months ago

Surprisingly decent sushi in the South Bay. Uni was good, otoro was good, even the ikura wasn't overly salted. The omakase had seasonal variance.

Visited 6 months ago

This place has really great sushi! It's very popular so you may wait awhile for seats but that depends on the time of day. It's kinda pricey but if that doesn't matter to you for good sushi then this is the place to be.

Visited 6 months ago

very slow and bad customer service

Visited 6 months ago

九宫格和生鱼饭都来吃啦 生鱼饭的海胆有点苦 单点的海胆还蛮好吃的 算是湾区性价比比较高的日料

Visited 6 months ago

Super delicious and good quality! I was off put by the so so reviews but honestly the food is really good. Period.

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

It was pretty busy and didn’t disappoint. I opted for the omakase sashimi; loved the shrimp, lobster and oyster. We had the cold Dassai Sake and that was a hit. Service was attentive and food was delicious, I’ll recommend/return

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Pretty good sushi restaurant overall. I would expect better quality fish and service for the price, as both my wife and myself felt they could have stepped up a bit more. The chef deluxe sashimi pieces were large, but outside of the Yellowtail/hamachi pieces, the sashimi was underwhelming. The negi hama and spicy scallop roll was great. spicy tuna was way too spicy to be enjoyable. Still, a good restaurant all around, and we will be back.

Visited 7 months ago

Visited 7 months ago

Nestled in a rather unremarkable and almost hidden corner of Santa Clara, Rantei Japanese Cuisine could easily be overlooked by passersby. The exterior is far from flashy and the surrounding area feels a bit incongruous for such a gem of a restaurant. Despite the less-than-ideal location, stepping inside reveals an ambiance that is both inviting and authentically Japanese, a stark contrast to the nondescript façade.

My dining experience began with their impressive 8-piece omakase set. Each piece was meticulously crafted, showcasing the chef's impeccable attention to detail and mastery of traditional Japanese techniques. The variety and freshness of the seafood were outstanding, each bite offering a new and delightful flavor profile. It was evident that high-quality ingredients and culinary precision were at the heart of the omakase, making it a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable feast.

Adding to the delightful experience, Rantei’s soba noodles were nothing short of extraordinary. Made in-house, they boasted a perfect texture and a subtle, nuanced flavor that was enhanced by the delicate broth they were served in. The soba was a testament to the restaurant's dedication to authenticity and quality. Despite the initial impression given by its location, the culinary experience at Rantei was sublime, and I wouldn't hesitate to return for another meal that transports you straight to Japan.

Visited 7 months ago

Used to be one of the favorites. But uni from last visit was not fresh and super fishy.... Shiitake mushroom over grilled and charred ... Would probably think twice before a return visit...

Visited 8 months ago

Delicious sushi, friendly service, and an amazing dinner experience! This is the best spot to go to for sushi and don't forget to try some of the skewers! Raymond has helped us out on several of our adventures here and he has always been very kind and efficient!

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

The service was fantastic but the food fell short. It was also quite expensive, especially for the low quality of the fish. The akami, toro, uni, and albacore were subpar. The scallops and salmon were solid. Not worth the $200 we spent there. Definitely don't get the sushi don, omakase, or kaisen don. The smaller, cooked dishes are better here.

Visited 8 months ago

We have come here many times - for the sushi and not for the service.

There is one server who is fairly unfriendly, however our most recent visit we had kind friendly servers but on person in our party had to wait 10 minutes for their food while we had ours.

I really wish they improved their services because the sushi and food is amazing! I love the chirashi don and the hand rolls.

Visited 8 months ago

local scene and loved by everyone.
love this noisy restaurant and their sashimi plates
prices were reasonable
overall - rolls were awesome
fish was fresh and just delish
we ate everything and I love this boisterous food scene.

I forgot about this plaza after Covid and was not sure which restaurant is still open but sooooo happy to hear that this restaurant is still thriving❣️

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

Excellent food. However wait in line for 4 was a bit long.

Visited 8 months ago

Abit pricy but food was good. For reservation, minimum is $250

Visited 9 months ago

Agedashi tofu is too salty

Chef's roll is not very fresh

wait time is long

Visited 9 months ago

Very small portions

Visited 9 months ago

Rantei has been my go to for the past few years since they opened.
Must haves:
Rantei Box - toro, snow crab, ikura, hotate. The hotate and crab are so sweet just like Japan. And the toro does range from chu toro to otoro cuts.
Nigiris - salmon and seared salmon

They also have yakitori, sashimi dishes, and other Japanese style dishes that have not missed the mark.

They definitely have gained in popularity due to social media and their quality of food. The prices have also increased but I still think it’s worth it.
If you can get through to a live person and not their overfilled VM, I recommend getting reservations and the tatami rooms are nice to experience in the back.

Visited 9 months ago

생선의 퀄리티가 떨어지는 건지 아님 싱싱하지 않은건지… 베이에서 먹은 스시중에 제일 별로였어요. 모든 사시미 식감이 퍼석퍼석해요. 새우 조차도ㅠ 그래도 인스타 올리기 좋게 예쁘게 나오긴 하는데 사시미랑 스시가 정말 맛이 없어서 1/3 남겼어요. 가격이 비싸진 않지만 가격대비도 못하는 느낌. 왜 줄서서 먹는지 이해가 안가요🥲

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

The food is alright (or good by Bay Area standards). But the problem is that their takeout box has a lid with the edge that is so sharp that cut a deep wound on my finger easily

Visited 10 months ago

Great food, and atmosphere!

Visited 10 months ago

I thought the sashimi and nigiri were pretty bland tasting. One of the nigiri pieces had an extremely chewy texture which was very offputing. Service wise, the shrimp tempura appetizer came last, even though it was an appetizer.

Visited 10 months ago

Visited 10 months ago

3.5 star
We sat at the bar alone, but the hostess should have asked us if we wanted to. Because on a date, it would be better to sit face to face.
The quality of the sushi is pretty good, I ordered the nigihama roll, bay scallops roll, and crunchy Cal roll.
For yakitori , chicken cartilage is great , but bacon mochi and wings just ok , especially the wings is not grill I think they fired it .

Visited 10 months ago

Visited 10 months ago

Excellent food with fresh wasabi on request. I highly recommend it.

Visited 10 months ago

Visited 10 months ago

Quickand efficient staff. I don't normally eat sushi but I really really liked the fried CA roll. I would stay away from the short ribs as an appetizer it's 12$ and they bring u a small bowl withabout 2 strips of short ribs cut into little pieces. Most of them were mostly bones. Not worth the price. All there sushi looked amazing and my sushi loving husband was si happy and he absolutely LOVED the sushi.

Visited a year ago

I’ve frequented this place many times (twice this week even). The food is usually really good. However, when ordering takeout, the staff is quite rude and ignores me while I wait to pick up my order. After placing an online order, one of the workers rudely ignored me and then said it would be at least 10-15 minutes more. I’m okay with waiting but my order wasn’t ready until 40 minutes after the estimated time. I’m only leaving this review because this is the third occurrence of this after an online order. I recommend dining in person if you want better service and better sushi.

Visited a year ago

2nd time here and in my opinion doesn't live up to the hype.

Kaisen don ⭐️⭐️⭐️: the uni was fresh and scallops and crab were decent. My biggest gripe was my toro was half frozen with the middle pieces being almost completely frozen. It ruined the texture of the fish as it was crunchy instead of soft and melty. With how much they charge ($64) they really shouldn't miss such a big thing.

Visited a year ago

We had the Kaisen don and Omakase sashimi. So fresh! My wife said the salmon was so fresh it melts in your mouth.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Hidden Sushi
.
Quality options for sushi are more challenging to find in the South Bay so I’m always on the lookout for spots
.
Rantei Sushi, in a quiet strip mall in Santa Clara, is known locally for their sushi donburi
.
I stopped by on a quiet weeknight for a very early dinner and happily ordered a few of their most popular items
.
I loved the ikura don, salmon belly, and Housemade ankimo
.
For those down in this area, it’s a solid spot if you’re not able to go to options further North in the SF Bay Area
.
Service was quick and they have a very extensive menu. I sampled some nigiri but feel your best bets are the Sushi & Sashimi Combination
.
📷 Housemade Ankimo / Omakase Sashimi $63.95 ~ Chef’s Choice of Special Fish in eight mini bowls (16 pieces) includes one ikura mini don / Kaisen Don $63.95 ~ Uni, Hotate, Bluefin Tuna, Kani, Ikura over Sushi Rice / Cold Soba $13.95
.
📍Rantei Sushi (Santa Clara, CA)
.
#japanesefood #santaclaraeats #siliconvalleyeats #donburi #sashimi#seafood #eatersf #feedfeed #topfoodnews #topcitybites #foodsharinggroup

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

We were disappointed with the service and, most importantly, the mandatory 20% service charge which wasn’t worth what we experienced. Nevertheless, the food was good overall except the omakase sushi didn’t quite meet our expectations.

We reserved a table beforehand and we dined with a baby. We were seated at a table in a tatami room, which wasn’t expected but made sense, though. We were warned nicely by the host to not make a mess from the baby otherwise they would charge us 25% tip. We knew and we realized it; the room was small and it would be difficult to clean. I saw the sign saying the use of this room requires 18% tip.

The dining experience was OK except the speed of service and the time it took for additional dishes we ordered. It was understandable; the restaurant was super busy.

We had to leave early so we asked for a check. It took them a long time (15m?) to give us the check. We were sure to clean the place well; I myself did pick up all the spills under the table, which was very little. The room though, we cleaned it. The baby was fed with my own jacket laid underneath their seat. So there’s little to clean. We were certain.

After the long wait, the check was given with 20% service charge already included. We think that weren’t fair, especially with quality of the service we received, which didn’t meet my expectations from this charge.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Great food and service!

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

다다미 방도 있고 음식도 맛있고. 콜키지도 합리적.

Visited a year ago

Delicious! At first it was tough to find at night since the plaza is not very illuminated. We got seated at the sushi bar. The staff was polite & attentive. The food was brought out in no longer than 5min. We enjoyed the Volcano Roll a lot! Sake was great, the menu was full of interesting items. There are rooms for bigger parties to dine in for a traditional sitting style. The sushi was VERY fresh!

Visited a year ago

I order the chriashu don deluxe Everytime I visit. Pretty good price to quality ratio.

Visited a year ago

Great Japanese food. Their fresh wasabi is extra charge, but worth it. Everything on the menu is delicious and I would get the most expensive item to try at least once. As for wait time, best to have reservations ahead of time during busy times!

Visited a year ago

The restaurant interior and the food and the plating LOOKS good, but the sushi itself tastes awful. The place that existed here previously ( Hatcho) was far superior. I also suspect that they are paying to filter / remove genuine bad reviews ( on yelp and google ) because the people who dined with me (who share the same opinion ) left critical reviews and they are all gone.
If you're someone that doesn't eat sushi much and hasn't tried good Japanese food, you might enjoy this place. If you care more about posting impressive pictures for social media , than having a satisfying meal, go here. But for those of us who LOVE Japanese food and know what good Japanese food tastes like, you won't like this place.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

The ingredients were very fresh. They kaisen don and omakase sushi were superb!

The torched salmon simply melted in the mouth.

Atmosphere is also very nice. We got seated into one of the Japanese style room and had good privacy.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Best sushi 🍣 in towns.

Visited a year ago

I’ve been wanting to try @ranteisushi ‘s infamous Kaisen Don for almost a year now. So I was super excited, and it did NOT disappoint, so delicious! Each bite just melts in your mouth.

The Omakase Sashimi was beautifully presented, with all different assortment of sashimi. The chicken skewers were so tender, while the bacon mochi skewers had the perfect chewiness to it. The Dragon and Lion rolls were delicious and so creamy.

The best part was, having our own private Japanese tatami-style dining room! It was so intimate, memorable, and fun. Awesome customer service too! Can’t wait to bring my family here.

Visited a year ago

Surprisingly short wait on a Friday night. Got seated at the bar. Sushi chefs were constantly busy. Got the bay scallops roll, rantei roll and omakase sashimi. Rolls were delicious. Fish had lots of flavor. Omakase was okay. Loved the fresh Wasabi.

Visited a year ago

Great food and service! We were seated in in the tatami room and ordered the Kaisen Don and Omakase Sashimi. The pieces of fish melt in your mouth! Would definitely go again!

Visited a year ago

Ordered food for pickup. Waited 50 minutes, order was incorrect and packaged sloppily. You can do better, Rantei.

Visited a year ago

First off, what fantastic service! They seated us promptly and were very quick clearing and maintaining the table as dishes were brought and finished. The staff was very friendly and polite. Now the food was was next level excellent! Each dish was prepared perfectly and the tastes were great. I will definitely be coming back and bringing more friends along for the experience! Highly recommended.

Visited a year ago

Wanted to make a reservation based on a friend’s recommendation. Trying to book online since they put a website on Google Map yet apparently they don’t offer the service. Tried to make a call and didn’t know that it has to be more than 6 to make a reservation. The staff is very rude and the background noise is making the call not very easy yet she’s very impatient.
No need to pay $50-$100 to put up with this kind of service.

Visited a year ago

Ideally, I'd give Rantei 3.5/5. Nestled in the heart of Santa Clara, Rantei Japanese Cuisine promises an authentic Japanese dining experience. The restaurant's ambiance is inviting, with its warm lighting, soft wooden accents, and tranquil Zen-like atmosphere. The staff was friendly, but we definitely struggled to get their attention when it comes to service. attentive. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience.
Rantei fell short of achieving its full potential. While some dishes were delectable, others were underwhelming.
I tried their omakase sushi. The sushi pieces were visually appealing, showcasing fresh and vibrant ingredients. However, the flavors of the sushi were inconsistent. Some pieces were bursting with umami and freshness, while others were bland and unmemorable. The rice was slightly overcooked, losing its ideal sticky and slightly vinegared texture.
Our overall dining experience at Rantei Japanese Cuisine was pleasant.

Visited a year ago

The meat is very fresh and the service is warm and thoughtful

Visited a year ago

Ordered Rantei roll, Omakase with 16 pieces in bowls, chicken thigh and beef yakitori.

Roll was good, fresh fish. Spicy mayo did not go well with the roll though.
Chicken thigh and beef yakitori were good, on the sweet side for tare.
Omakase, very disappointed. Fish slice were super tiny, and some has skin on. The cut was so bad. Ikura marinate is like eating syrup, way too sweet. They put siracha on salmon sashimi and monk fish liver. Only 1 oyster to share lol so we had only 15 pieces.

This place probably is not owned by a Japanese.

Visited a year ago

Service was good and food was delicious. Ordered one kaison don and came out very good so ordered another one. Definitely will come back again to have sashimi

Visited a year ago

Wonderful sushi! I love eating here and I’m very picky.

Visited a year ago

Food was good, not anymore

Takoyaki is not fresh made, it’s hard to chewy, sashimi is not fresh.

Visited a year ago

Overall good sushi at a good price so I would go back.

Pros - servers and managers were really nice. Atmosphere is nice. Food is pretty and delicious. Unique rolls that tasted fresh. There was a mistake and they fixed it quickly. Sakura roll was my favorite! Salmon and eel on the inside.

Cons - Service was slow, you need to flag them down if you need anything, if you have a group expect things to come out as soon as it's ready and not all together. It was an hour wait but I waited for 2 hours at Kura sushi conveyor belt and this sushi was definitely higher quality then Kura.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Rolls were a bit too small for the price.

Visited a year ago

Great omakase and yakitori. I love that they dress the sushi so you’re not having to dip it into soy sauce.

Visited a year ago

I've visited Rantei for more than a dozen of times, however, in the recent two visits I noticed the quality of the food has decreased. I always order fried dishes and I noticed the appearance and taste have changed. Really sad to see this unpleasant change, might not come again

Visited a year ago

We just want to come here for togo foods , but at the end we decided to stay eat . Tried Kaison Don $62 just ok because no vegies & Lobster 🦞 Don was so good 45$ .

Lobster don better 🥰

Good foods & Nice service

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Expensive - mediocre food at best. Slow service. Soft shell crab was cold and bland.

Would not recommend. 😞

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

A long wait, which was expected. Seafood was all very fresh and worth the wait. Special mention is the uni (sea urchin). Probably the best uni I’ve ever tasted, smooth, creamy, buttery texture. As someone who lived in Japan, I miss how fresh fish and seafood is there, and Rantei does not disappoint!

Also, if you’ve never had fresh wasabi, try theirs. The omakase comes with a small dish but you can purchase more. :)

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

This place is excellent, definitely stop by if you are in the area. The Kaisen Don was amazing, my favorite part was the Ikura, it’s marinated perfectly. The entire thing was incredibly delicious and fresh, they had lemon zest on the Hotate that also puts it over the top. The Baked Mussels were delicious and the Jalapeño Boom is delicious and a large portion. We ended with the Volcano Roll and it did not disappoint either. We stopped by here before a concert at SAP Center around 5pm on Thursday and had no wait, we sat at the bar and had plenty of time to make our show. I cannot wait to go back and try more things on the menu. I love sushi and this is now one of my favorite spots.

Visited a year ago

Food is really good! The place is very busy, better to go when it opens

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

The Omakase experience left me underwhelmed, with the food falling short of my expectations. Additionally, the service was lacking, which further contributed to my disappointment. I've decided to explore other dining options in the future.

Visited a year ago

Great food, great service.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

We've been here twice already, great food, this is our new go to Japanese place in the Bay Area!

Visited a year ago

Long wait if you arrive after 5:30pm. Ours was about an hour. Food was ok, but nothing was remarkable. The wait staff were good, but flag them down whenever you need something or they'll just rush by. Service is slow, and needed to be reminded that some of our orders were not served. Next time for us, there are better choices for a sushi joint.

Visited a year ago

Worst service in years! One dish, omakase sushi was almost forgotten (came only after the server asked us if we wanted anything else, and we asked where is the dish we ordered. It was seen he forgot but lied it’s coming). But oookay.. we also ordered drinks which never came. We wondered why they don’t come before food, but okay. Then we forgot too. At the end they didn’t bring it, but they did include it in the check. Like really?
The server was always somewhere else, food came very very slow for simple sushi 🤦🏻‍♀️
The food… not bad, but not spectacular either, especially for the price. Sushi are tiny. Tempura oil has some bitterness. Meh

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

We came here as a family of four intending to go to a different restaurant nearby, but ended up here due to the fact that it was busy, like waaaaay busier than any other restaurant nearby. We were early (about 5:30pm on a weekday) and got a table immediately. Service was a bit slow, they are clearly understaffed, but I won’t knock off as star for that because the food was awesome! We had shrimp teriyaki, beef teriyaki and a bunch of sushi rolls, can’t remember the names but they were all great. Reasonably priced. Run don’t walk! Do get here early!!!!!

Update: I remembered that the menu was dirty and I had to ask for another one. In the age of Covid, please take away the paper menu and do a QR code, it’s gross touching the (dirty)menu and then eating. Took off a star for this.

Update: August 2023. Came on a Saturday night, big mistake. Waited for an hour for a table of four. Not their fault of course. However they were understaffed and the food came out in a weird order, we all watched one person eat their sushi for 20 minutes before any other food came and the appetizers came at the end. Food was good, but not phenomenal. Not a very good experience this time. Service is inconsistent.

Visited a year ago

Visited 2 years ago

You know we had to try out this hype restaurant. We waited 45 minutes until we got in and man, lots of people come here for dinner. So be warned if you plan on coming here, expect to wait for a while or make early reservations.

We were meh on the food. For starters, we got the grilled whole squid which was delicious. Grilled to perfection, simple, and tasty with the lemon/mayo sauce.

We waited quite a bit for the Omakase Sashimi. Some parts were tasty like the sake (salmon) and mini-ikura don. Unfortunetly the cooked items were cold and not tasty.

Lastly, we finally received our White Dragon Roll. It tasted fine, a little too much spicy mayo and couldn't really taste the overall roll. However, we thought it was a fun and creative dish.

Be prepared to still be hungry after the meal after spending more than $100. Beautifully presented sushi and overall was a good experience. We enjoyed our experience and will come back for special occasions, but nothing special about the sushi.

Visited 2 years ago

delicate & delicious

Visited 2 years ago

The food was fine, our sashimi pieces were very thick and too cold, however. The rolls were also ok but not impressive. Miso soup was subpar, tasted like an instant miso.
Got seated in the corner next to the kitchen so I heard a lot of yelling coming from there. Service was rushed since it was near closing time. Couldn’t enjoy the food because the floor cleaner smell overpowered the area where we sat. No one came check on us. Heard the servers talked trash about the tips someone (or maybe us) left on my way out.

Visited 2 years ago

I don't live in the area, but I was on my way back from San Jose to Sacramento, and this place came highly recommended by a colleague, specifically the Kaisen Don, a $63 box that contains uni, hotate, blue fin toro, kani, and ikuna over rice. Everything in this box is so premium, so tasty, so high quality that I forgot I'm supposed to be on a keto diet. My 4-year-old also enjoyed the squid tentacles.

The place is just slightly crowded, even though we came here right as they opened at 4:30 pm on a Sunday. However, service was good and the food was superb. I'd come back here if I ever find myself in Santa Clara again.

Visited 2 years ago

The chirashi bowls, sashimi deluxe, golden hand roll, kaisen don and karaage are superb. This place is a hidden gem for japanese food. So good we came twice in a row!

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

食物一般，地方不大等位时间很长，价格偏贵

Visited 2 years ago

There is a long wait for a reason. Despite the line, we never felt rushed and the servers were super attentive. Sushi was all on point. I would recommend for large group dinners. Very fun

Visited 2 years ago

The food was fairly good but the gyoza was soggy and when I asked for the sakura mochi, they came back with matcha and mango and no sakura.

We sat in the booths with the tables you kneel at and the seats felt very grimy and it was just a bit of a gross vibe in there. Maybe needs a remodel.

Took us a long while to get our check.

Visited 2 years ago

Came to have omakase for a sushi date. Atmosphere is warm and relaxed. We sat at the bar and the orders came out quickly. The presentation is beautiful, and the ingredients tasted fresh. Good for the price. Recommend for those who want to try omakase.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Pricey for quality. Fake O-toro. Dragging my partner here cost me 2 days no talking. Service fine though.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

We went here for a work event as a group of 10+. They only split checks 2/table which would have made expensing a challenge if our lead didn't decide to do a group meal instead. In any event, this place had great service, tasty food, good sake, and an awesome atmosphere. Area around restaurant is a bit suspect. I had a homeless person curse me out in Spanish from a distance for just standing outside the restaurant waiting on the rest of my party to arrive. I never felt unsafe...I am 225lbs all muscles though. 🙂

Visited 2 years ago

I got the chirashi don - which was fairly standard and good. Probably a little better than Tomisushi near Mitsuwa but also a little pricier. My wife got the sake uni don but was honestly a bit disappointed in that because the amount of uni was miniscule. Probably should have just called it the sake don. Redeeming factor was their ika maruyaki (grilled squid) which was crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside. I really like that appetizer and would come again just for that.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

The shrimp tempura roll was so good! I would like to try their shrimp tempura dish next time.
The presentation of sake chazuke was so cute. I really like the flavor of the tea soup, but it’s too salty. Hope they can put less salt in it next time.

Visited 2 years ago

It’s delicious!!! The Sashimi is super fresh!!!! And we tried the Katsu don and was one of the best katsu don I ever had !!!! Totally recommended !

Visited 2 years ago

Foods were good. Service was also decent. Would appreciate them to change the restrooms signs to all genders instead of men and women though.

Visited 2 years ago

I've been wanting to try this place for a while...
The Kaisan Don and the Omakase keep popping up on my IG feed
I was curious what they would be all about...
Can't say I was disappointed.

~ Kaisan Don - 5/5
I'm presuming this is their most popular dish based on the social media posts. I thoroughly enjoyed the Kaisan Don. It's not cheap, but definitely worth trying at least once. I was amazed by the amount of crab they put in there... Not the imitation either, yup the real stuff...

~ Chicken Katsu Curry - 4.5/5
The Chicken Katsu Curry was one of the best I had! Even better than half the places in Japan... I was stunned!! To be fair, this is not a dish I normally look for. We just ended up ordering it because numerous pics popped up on Yelp...seems like a popular dish, rightfully so! Glad we took the chance and ordered it.

~ Ika Maruni - 4.5/5
Just short of perfection...
I love meself some grilled squid. This did not disappoint. Grilled close to perfection...good size squid and a tasty sauce that compliments it very well. I think its Japanese Mayo based.

Looking forward to trying the other items on the menu.

Visited 2 years ago

Wow! The quality of their fish is top notch! We sat in the tatami room and had an all around great experience. Food, ambiance, and service were all fantastic! :)

Visited 2 years ago

I have been wanting to find a favorite local Japanese restaurant for some time now. I usually frequent another Japanese restaurant in Redwood City along the way home from work; however, I do find myself yearning for sushi on weekends too. And I have found this gem- Rantei - near home; so grateful the are located in Santa Clara. Tonight was actually my third time eating at Rantei. I arrived approximately 7:15 pm and can tell there were people waiting outside to be seated. There is a waiting list and I would advise parties larger than 2 to adjust your dinner time (earlier) so you don't have to wait too long for a table and enjoy your dinner a bit more before the huge dinner crowds. For tonight's meal, I order my usual- omakase sushi, tekka maki with shiso, salmon skin roll, ikura (nigiri) and toro (nigiri) with a glass of plum wine. The fish was absolute wonderful- nice smell, tender in your mouth and the shiso offers another flavor complementing the fish. The servers are all friendly and attentive during the times I have visited this restaurant. I highly recommend this place to anyone either visiting Santa Clara or any finicky consumer looking for a local favorite go-to Japanese restaurant like me. Will be adding more photos in the future...too busy enjoying my meal :-)

Visited 2 years ago

Sushi here wasn’t the freshest. Had the Omakase sashimi and some were hits and misses. Focus more on the salmon and tuna and you’ll probably be alright. Service was quick and friendly.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

그래도 산호세 근처에서 먹었곳 중 샤리가 가장 나았어요

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Great Japanese restaurant but it's competitive to get in! This place opens around 4:30 and we arrived at around 5:30 and it was already full. We had to wait around 20-30 minutes to get a table for two however as always that is representative of the quality. Arrive early to avoid disappointment! The sushi here was amazing and I thought it was good value for money too. The servers are proactive too and note they didn't accept amex cards when we were there.

Visited 2 years ago

Great food, amazing service. I didn't get his name but our server was great

Visited 2 years ago

Great sushi and a good variety of other japanese food

Visited 2 years ago

Great sashimi experience, for quality fresh fish and seafood.

Their fresh wasabi is also legit as it definitely makes the omakase experience more enjoyable.

The omakase don and the chirashi bowl makes the experience a whole lot better

Lots of parking in the area just have to walk a but if its on the street

expect $60-80 per person

Also long waits if you dont have a reservation

Visited 2 years ago

I personally ordered a tonkatsu. Others ordered some sushi and other items. They mentioned the fish was good. It definitely seemed to be on the pricier end.

We had an auto service charge for being in a bigger booth (since it was the only space available).

Tonkatsu was cooked well. Will be back to try out some of their seafood for sure!

Street parking only.

Visited 2 years ago

Brought my son for dinner after his concert and we were treated to a wonderful meal, efficiently prepared and each plate beautifully delivered and wonderfully delicious. Highly recommend trying the chef's special creations.

I had been to this restaurant before under the previous owner. Much of the charm remains, but the service is much much better now. Of course the menu has changed, but the options are excellent I'll be back and will bring friends.

Visited 2 years ago

Loved it! I was dinner with some friends. We had Takoyaki and some sushi rolls. The crunchy Philly was out of this world!

Visited 2 years ago

My in-laws, junhwa and I came, we saw, and we ATE! Thanks to their teamwork and some serious foodie dedication, we devoured all the social media famous dishes and then some. If calories weren't a thing, we'd do it all over again. Really good local spot for a family gather and you can relax and enjoy the time here.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

The very best omakase in town which is
very fresh and beautifully arranged.
There is always a queue for dinner no matter how early you are.
Love some of their rolls as well, especially the Super Dynamite one.

Visited 2 years ago

Fish!

Visited 2 years ago

heurēka!

Visited 2 years ago

The sitting strategy here has been a joke that me and friends laugh about. First of all, they always try to persuade people to sit at the sushi bar. One time, a young couple customer was led by a waiter to sit at a 4-person table next to us, which was the only available table at the time. Later, when the couple has already half way finishing their food, a waitress approached them and asked them to move to a 2-people table that just became available. Just by hearing the waitress’s request and watching her half force the young couple to move, myself felt the awkwardness already. The waitress even said: “this is a 4 people table, you should NOT have been seated here to begin with”. Very rude.

Visited 2 years ago

Called them to ask if there’s a wait to get a table, got a “no” like 3 times, upon arrival 7 minutes later there’s a line with 25 people…
We drove here with a baby.
Our first and very last time visiting this place.

Visited 2 years ago

The omakase cannot be beat within a seven-mile radius!!! When I go to a Japanese restaurant, I want to try the omakase—which is the chef special—to truly understand how amazing the culinary experience will be. No regrets with Rantei! Two people plus drinks for the upper echelon omakase experience (including tip) came to under $90, and it was a lot of food. I highly recommend this place.

Visited 2 years ago

Oh my goodness. The kaisen don is everything. Best crab meat I have ever eaten 🤤

We also ordered the hamachi carpaccio, some sashimi and a sake kama. They were all so delicious!!

Get the kaisen don and you won't be disappointed 🙃

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

We didn't order their signature dishes like the omakase or premium rolls this time but I did have a chirashi bowl and it was superb. I can't think of another place offering fresher fish than this one. The fire cracker "roll" on the other hand was a huge disappointment. Over-fried and the taste was lackluster. The restaurant looks big from the outside but seating is pretty cramped. We also decided not to order too many dishes due to the tiny table we sat on.

Visited 2 years ago

Better than Burger King.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Really good food , fresh and flavorful although on a bit on the expensive side

Visited 2 years ago

Really delicious and fresh food. The fish was excellent. The prices are a bit high for sushi in this area. Two rolls and some sake will put you around forty in March of 2023. The service was very fast and friendly. The consistency and amount of fish with good.

Visited 2 years ago

This place is so good I'm making the review while I eat here

Visited 2 years ago

A friend of ours celebrated his 30th birthday here. He reserved a semi private room where we had to take our shoes off. Ordered a bunch of items. Enjoyed the kaisen don and the unagi don very much. We also got to bring a cake. No cakeage fee.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Came here with two friends around 6 PM on a Sunday. The entire plaza looks unassuming because it's kind of grody from the outside, but I felt that the look and feel of the atmosphere inside was really nice. The place was packed and there were a couple of parties on the waiting list, although we were seated quickly.

We were seated at the sushi bar. I kind of liked that because you could see the chefs at work. The food looks amazing and they make them with care.

We all got miso soup, our own chirashi bowls, and shared the hiyashi tofu. The tofu dish was medium-firm tofu with bonito flakes and green onions on top. We dipped it in soy sauce. It's pretty simple as an appetizer.

The chirashi was delicious. All the fish was soft and felt high-quality. There was just enough rice to fish ratio. I didn't feel like they were packing a ton of fish slices on top of rice, but rather felt like it was carefully placed and curated. This was my favorite experience eating fish roe as well since it was the only time I've had it where it wasn't overly salty.

All in all, I'd come here again.

Visited 2 years ago

Great restaurant with very fresh sashimi and delicious Udon that is presented in a very beautiful way. The service is a tad bit slow and the wait is a bit long. The sake selection has both the 300ml and 700ml size ones. The beer selection is pretty standard. The restaurant has tatami room for reservation for 6 pax or more.

Visited 2 years ago

A bit expensive but good food. Long wait times so make sure you get there early to get on the waitlist

Visited 2 years ago

My favorite sushi place

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Excellent sushi place; Rantei roll was amazing. We also had shishito peppers and Soft shell crab as appetizers

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

food is delicious but sushi and sashimi are over price. Chicken katsu curry rice is super good. Around $60/per person.

Visited 2 years ago