This place is the BEST Japanese food in the Bay Area! They serve the most amazing rice consistently. Every time we take out, we always drive home with excitement and have never been disappointed! The curry is delicious, katsu is perfect and salmon teriyaki is just the right taste. I especially love their salad dressing, it’s got the right balance of sweet and tangy.The mom n pop shop is such a gem and a personal favorite.
They are OPEN!I have been missing this shop a lot. Finally came upon them today and saw they were open for takeout. Plus they support credit card now. Cut curry pork tastes as good as before.
Nestled in between a bar and a tattoo parlor, youll find Diner Japonica. Despite its location on Woodside road in Redwood City with next to no parking, this little Japanese style resto serves great food with love. Bento Boxes, Rice dishes, Sushi, Ramen, Sashimi, Beer., Sake desserts and much more. Mom and Pop style diner with essentially one nice lady taking orders and serving dishes/waiting tables. My fav is the Teriyaki Salmon, Chicken Katsu Bento. Open for lunch and dinner. Closed Sunday and Monday. Cash only!
5 stars despite being cash only and the limited parking in the plaza. A mixed tempura appetizer and chicken omirice made for a satisfying combo. As a San Mateo resident, this is a promising replacement to the now-defunct Usagi. Yes, the Peninsula is in need of more Yoshoku style options.
Very decent Japanese food! Super good and fresh! The pork cutlet was amazing and other food are also super good!
Can’t give a real review since I showed up during business hours and turns out they close up a half hour earlier now (1:30pm) but didn’t update. Also says takeout only now
Absolutely adore this family run Japanese restaurant. The unagidon is delicious and perfectly seasoned - good portion size too, and the pork katsu is incredible - light and crispy on the outside, but moist and juicy on the inside. Comfort food is absolutely on the money - I couldnt stop exclaiming how delicious everything was. The lady taking orders is incredibly sweet as well -- there arent too many restaurants like this in the area, and Im so glad it exists.
Best chicken katsu curry I’ve ever had! Love this place.
Awesome place to grab a quick hearty meal. We had the chicken katsu curry and veggie curry. The veggie curry had abundant of fresh crisp veggies with a flavorful base sauce. The owner was very kind, she gave our food quickly knowing that we were in a hurry. However not all the options on the menu were available, limited vegetarian food.
One of my favorite Japanese restaurants in the Bay. The owner is so friendly and the price is also very reasonable.
Diner Japonica is a great place that is family owned/run to have a taste of Japanese food in the bay area. If you do end up going there Id recommend getting either a bento (which you get to pick two items and get a miso soup, of dine in) or the chicken katsu curry.
Popular with familes. Dishes are simple and good. Food comes out pretty quick.
I was there to get some takeout lunch. Or I should say that I tried to... There was only a single sever holding the fort. And she was so overwhelmed that she wasnt able to take my order in 10 minutes. Not sure what was going on there. Maybe I happen to catch them on a bad day, but they seem to be severely understaffed. Thats not good for the customers, and thats not good for the existing staff either.
Love this small diner!! Family owned and authentic! I love their bento boxes and appetizers. Tried some entrees too and they were delicious! I believe theyre Cash only which I believe is due to % fee charges to the business if they took cards. Their service may be a bit slow but because hiring extra staff wont be profitable to survive the rent around here so Im understanding to be patient and enjoy my wait. If youre always in a hurry then this place might not suit you. Ive come to them for like 5 years or so since opening and never left with a bad meal ever.
This place is my favorite place. The katsu curry chicken is amazing. Im not sure what the guy mentioning the curry was so-so was expecting, but its authentic Japanese style. In fact its even better than most places in Japan. One thing to note is that its a small mom and pop place with probably 9 tables or so.
Katsu Curry Pork!!!Its not often you find a place that has solid curry (which also has a nice kick of spice) and great thick juicy to katsu.An amazing combo, well worth the trip.Be warned that parking is super limited!!
This my comfort food place for lunch. The Benton Box is my favorite.
Update: they now take credit cards and have been open for phone order takeout.Diner Japonica is still open but they are cash only and they dont take phone orders (they do not answer the phone).Still the same great Japanese comfort food. Excellent katsu curry and tonkatsu. Great service and very reasonable prices.
Cash only spot owned by a friendly couple who handle all cooking and service. The Katsu chicken curry is delicious and the bento boxes offer fresh entrees like sashimi, teriyaki, tempura, and salads with house-made dressing. Water is self serve and everything is made to order, but the food is worth the wait! Looking forward to trying more entrees.
Awesome food, good portions, and even better prices. This combo is nearly impossible to find in the Bay Area. We ordered three entrees - eeldon, tonkatsu, and the Hokkai-chirashi - for only $51, all of which were really tasty. Highly recommend!
Pretty reasonable sushi. The curry was acceptable but I wont get it again. Noodle soups are only served at lunch. Tempura was so-so. Not crowded at dinner on the weekend. They do take out. The parking lot is small and crowded.
Super high quality authentic hometown local food served with love by husband and wife team. As in all top quality places like this, you could easily miss it, hidden in a nondescript Center between a dry cleaners and a bar-bar.Don’t miss it. It will become one of your secret spots.
This place was highly recommended to me for bento and it did not disappoint! The amount of food was very generous and the taste was definitely worth it! It has many good standard teishoku and bento style foods available, and I would especially highlight the omuraisu.
Curries are OK, sashimi in the Benton box is pretty good. They only take cash. Dont try to call them. They never answer the phone. Other than that, this place is pretty decent. I go there fairly often.
Fantastic Katsu Curry at Diner Japonica. Will definitely be going back for that in the future. Reasonable prices with a really pleasant couple that run the place. A great hidden gem on the Peninsula!
Really good food. I wish they still offered a dine-in option. Its a take out only now.
The best place to eat authentic Japanese food. I would go to this restaurant even if it was in the middle of Tokyo. The chef is meticulously perfectionist about his food. The hamburg (Japanese hamburger) with ponzu sauce and kushiyaki are my go to dishes. Its always prepared perfectly, even after countless times ordering those dishes. If you get the dinner combination with sashimi, I think their sashimi is often better quality than what you would get at a nice sushi restaurant. Diner Japonica is one of the best Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area.
Made the mistake of coming here in the middle of a heat wave. Theres no AC and no cold dishes for dinner. The food was pretty average and the dinner menu is smaller than the lunch menu. Its also cash only which didnt help make the experience better luck. Can imagine the experience would be much better at lunch with extra cash
The most wonderful katsu curry in the Bay Area. The bento boxes are to die for as well. Salmon, beef, shrimp, everything I’ve tried has been heavenly.
This is fine Japanese home cooking, katsu-curry heaven. Its just a husband (cook) and wife (cashier/waitress) team, and partly self-serve. Sit, relax, and enjoy the food. The miso is often overlooked and is quite good.
Best tonkatsu Ive had outside of Japan. The salad dressing for the side salad and potato salad is pretty as well but those come with the tonkatsu automatically. Just get the tonkatsu guys.
Really good Pork Katsu Curry. Service is fast and the people are nice 🙂
Despite the casual name, this place is one of the most authentic Japanese restaurants Ive ever eaten at. Food is absolutely superb. Only downside is service can be slow, but the wait is worth it.
Nice, friendly local spot for Japanese basics such as katsu, teriyaki & tempura. Great value! Only “negatives” are cash-only and insufficient parking.
Authentic Japanese Western home cooking! The curry and tonkatsu is the best in RWC. The bento box combination is an amazing deal. Cant go wrong here.
Small and cute. Not crowded during work day lunch time. Good amount of tasty food in the bento box. Parking space is limited.
Amazing food and wonderful service. Really excited to find such a place with delicious curry and katsu. Thank you!
No Udon to Go and no miso soup to go ...only for dine in and There is No Dining in!! Lol
Great great taste and good price. Pork cutlet was splended. Crispy crusted but soft, moist and flavorful.
Love this place, family owned small dining place. They dont take phone orders though, probably the best japanese curry place since muraccis left los Altos
Its Japanese comfort food. Curry rice, bento boxes, burgers. My son comes for the chicken karage. I stick to salads or the bento. Cash only place.
It tastes better than most local casual restaurants in Japan.All the food served in the restaurant was delicious.Only cash and a small parking lot.
Greeted immediately, drinks came out fast and the food even faster and it was DELICIOUS! Our waiter was awesome as well, great job👊🏽!!!!!
One of my favorite places in Redwood City for no frills, really well-made eats. The best tonkatsu in Bay Area
Great food at a reasonable price! Also, the people there are very nice! Definitely give it a shot.
Called in to order and was told they could not take my order. Very very disappointing, Ive been coming here for 3 years. She said she called back but 8 didnt have a missed call.
Great value and awesome food. It’s a family owned type of place which gives it a unique homestyle atmosphere
Authentic Japanese comfort food. Best katsu curry place in the area.
Delicious and friendly. Small space, counter service, but very enjoyable!
Exactly as described. Japanese comfort food. Very good with kids. Cash only.
Love this place!
Delicious authentic Japanese food. Especially good for Japanese curry.
As Ive mentioned elsewhere !!! This is top japanese restaurant with exceĺlent service & fresh sashimi !!!
Love the food, it is well worth it, for lunch and dinner.
Very generous portions; bring cash as plastic is not accepted.
Good selection of comfort food, but small and kind of drab location.
Love the Bento!! Home like service...so its kinda slow.
Love this place. Great food good service
If you are looking to eat authentic Japanese home style fare, this is the place for you!
Homey Japanese food, always quick and large portions!
Good Japanese comfort food, eat in or take out. They only take cash.
Good food. Friendly service. Very casual.
Great bargain! Get the special, salmon is my favorite.
Very delicious food employees are very nice highly recommend
Wonderful foodGood peopleThis is the place
Very nice owner. Good food!
Good Japanese cuisine.
Cheap, good taste, suitable for a casual meal
Family own business good food
Best Tonkatsu Curry!!!!!!!!! If you go there you should try it!!!!
Best curry in the Bay Area.
Great food yet terribly slow service
Meh...wanted to really like it
Very original Japanese restaurant!
I like ginger pork.
Comfort food at its best!
Consistent dlecicious taste
So yummy 🤤
Authentic Japanese Family Restaurant
Will go back again and again
Really good!
Truly delicious.
Real basic plus
Good choices
Highly recommend！！！！！！
Total reviews rating 4.7
95 Reviews for Diner Japonica 2024:
Review №1
2022-12-02 20:53:50This place is seriously a hidden gem in the bay area. The food is consistently delicious, and the couple that own the place are just the nicest and most accommodating people! They are of Japanese decent and they know authentic food. My gosh, the beef is always so tender and delicious. My boyfriend and I both get it every time we visit. I hope this place gets the respect and recognition it deserves. If you stop by, make sure to try the beef, California rolls, and the chicken teriyaki. 🤤
Review №2
2023-03-19 03:27:19Delicious Japanese food tucked away in a tiny plaza with very limited parking. Both the bento special and katsu curry came with a ton of rice. The bento was really filling but I’d try something else next time. Super nice lady working the front!
Review №3
2022-10-10 04:52:42We love this place! Customer service is lovely. Food is yummy. They dont have the vegetarian bento box anymore but if youre vegetarian they can make you a rice, tofu, veggies combo that is bland (as they warned me it would be) but tasted fantastic when I added wasabi, hot sauce, and soy sauce to it.
Review №4
2023-10-08 21:41:00Hard to find old school mom and pop Japanese food these days more so that serves proper katsu! Katsu curry brings me back growing up in Japan so nostalgic taste. I’m so glad I found this place.
Review №5
2023-11-19 01:59:36Great home style Japanese food. Wish they would re-open for dine in but when the weather is nice I dont mind grabbing some and eating at a nearby park. Amazin local spot.
Review №6
2019-08-31 03:26:07Excellent place to grab some comfort food. The interior is also incredibly homey -- and the people who run the place are incredibly nice.I got a tonkatsu cutlet -- it was very juicy, with perfect breading. Id love to come back to try their curry and omelette. This is definitely a neighborhood favorite.As other comments have noted -- parking is limited and it is cash-only.Edit: I came back to try their curry. This is probably the best Japanese curry I have ever had. Simply amazing. This is now one of my favorite restaurants in the area.
Review №7
2023-08-16 14:36:03This is a gem of a spot for a simple menu of Japanese comfort food. My wife and I mainly get the salmon teriyaki, bento box, pork or chicken katsu curry. I do wish post covid we could dine here because the atmosphere seems great. I can also understand that takeout is a simpler business for the could who run this business together. Reminds me of some mom and pop restaurants my wife and I would frequent back home in Toronto. Great prices and generous portions.
Review №8
2022-11-07 09:02:53Ordered the bentos so can only comment on them. Very good portions, katsu was lightly breaded so it was mostly meat. The beef teriyaki is more steak like instead of the thinner slices most Japanese places offer. Came with a potato salad and a typical lettuce salad with sauce. Everything was well flavored and would definitely order from here again.
Review №9
2020-07-07 05:10:14They have the best Japanese curry Ive found in San Mateo county. Consistently simple but delicious. Ive included photos of their current COVID-19 take-out menu.
Review №10
2018-06-08 03:37:04This is probably the best Japanese curry we have ever had in the Bay Area. Very good food and friendly service from a mom and pop shop. We had the Pork Katsu curry and the bento . The tonkatsu was super crispy, and the curry sauce had the right amount of spice - we did ask for it to be spicier than normal. For the bento box we had sashimi, grilled salmon and beef teriyaki. All of them had very good flavor. On top of that, the miso soup appetizer and salad were very tasty as well. Overall it is now our to go place for comfort Japanese food. Highly recommended.