Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Izakaya Mai in San Mateo

4.2 (199) 212 2nd Ave, San Mateo, CA 94401, United States

Categories

Izakaya restaurant
Asian restaurant
Japanese restaurant
Sushi restaurant

Location on the map

San Mateo, San Mateo County, California, US

Phone: +1 650-347-2511
Site: https://order.online/business/iz...

Opening hours

Monday:6 PM–12 AM
Tuesday:6 PM–12 AM
Wednesday:6 PM–12 AM
Thursday:6 PM–12 AM
Friday:6 PM–12 AM
Saturday:6 PM–12 AM
Sunday:6 PM–12 AM

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.2

199 Reviews for Izakaya Mai 2024:

Review №1

2023-04-10 04:53:41

Nice little Japanese restaurants located in the downtown dog San Mateo. A lot of food varieties and many different kinds of sake to choose from.The taste is quite good and the price is reasonable.

Review №2

2022-12-02 06:30:54

If you want better sushi, there are better places. If you want better ramen, there’s better too.But this restaurant has GOOD food after the GREAT restaurants are closed. Would go again, but not my top choice.Great alcohol choices tho. Highly recommend the eggplant dishes.Follow me for more fire reviews.

Review №3

2022-08-11 00:32:50

The food is delicious. The edamame is great, which is not always the case in other restaurants. Order it unsalted. I don’t mind salt, but the default level of salt on them is too much for me. Other than that it’s a great restaurant.(Although there is a Mini with the Union Jack design on the wall that is driving on the wrong side of the road.)

Review №4

2023-02-10 21:11:48

Im Japanese and I recently visited Izakaya Mai and was thoroughly impressed with their hospitality. The atmosphere was cozy and welcoming!The menu had a great variety of dishes, from classic sushi rolls to Donburis. I tried the Hokke-no-Hiraki, Champon, and Unatama-don etc. They were melt-in-your-mouth delicious!The beer glasses were cold when the beer was served. The chiefs service was top notch and very attentive and he was always paying attention to customers.Overall, I would highly recommend Izakaya Mai to anyone looking for a fantastic Japanese dining experience. The food, drinks, and service all exceeded my expectations and I cant wait to go back! They open until late night!

Review №5

2022-12-06 01:49:14

Cozy spot to chat with friends and have affordable drinks and a variety of Japanese food. Sushi pieces are generous and service is warm and courteous. Really enjoyed the eggplant and chicken katsu. It’s easy to over order!

Review №6

2023-05-13 23:12:20

Recently remodeled but a great place for Japanese tapas and ice cold beer at a good price. Authentic dishes with the standard special rolls.Best dish is Beef Tataki

Review №7

2022-01-09 05:45:40

My favorite dish was the eel donburi, big portion of eel with a nice grill and not too much sauce. The agedashi tofu was also goodThe curry was too light in flavor and the chicken katsu wasn’t very flavorful either.The sushi was just ok as well.

Review №8

2022-08-26 08:22:18

We was looking for late night dinner spot and found this place. Surprisingly, food were very delicious! We had tofu, sushi, squid and noodle. They even offered to split into two bowls for us to share. Hubby asked for extra ginger, they gave him one big dish for free. Good music too. Owner is very friendly. Will visit again.

Review №9

2018-10-08 01:48:37

I would give this place a 3.5 - it was pretty good food/not bad but nothing special and execution could be better. We ordered a bunch of food. Miso fish was probably the best dish. The croquettes were pretty good. The agedashi tofu was okay, chicken karage was just okay.

Review №10

2023-04-12 05:04:17

Its quite expensive at nearly $20 for a bowl of ramen, but they sure do pack everything in there. The broth is amazing and their seafood texture is very nice. dark atmosphere and good place to go with friends

Review №11

2022-10-12 11:54:39

I met up with some friends to this place and its great. We had a wonderful time here. Its pretty busy so I completely understand that our food and drinks didnt get to us for a while. I caution that if youre coming during busy hours, to expect some delay in services. Otherwise, pricing is on the more affordable end and the alcohol selection is superb.

Review №12

2022-03-08 09:28:42

Great San mateo treasure. This was our late spot back before pandemic, and we were glad to see it still going strong. Good drinks, solid food (amazing chicken karage) accompanied by great atmosphere makes a great night.

Review №13

2020-09-27 05:30:39

Great and really fast service. The food is really good. The sushi rolls are delicious. The Gyoza wasn’t that impressive but everything else was great. The atmosphere outside, especially at night, is really nice. They do last call at 10:15 but they remain open till 11.

Review №14

2018-12-16 04:18:23

Cute and cozy Japanese restaurant with a train running around on the ceiling! The food was amazing and the price was fair. Highly recommend the miso cod which was juicy and tender and everything I wanted! The chicken and egg don was great too but a little dry for my taste. Can’t wait to try more dishes here! But remember to make a reservation before coming. It can get crowded!

Review №15

2018-12-28 05:55:06

I think I may be the only person that doesnt agree with alot of the posts here. This place seems like a restaurant for value eaters and not for foodies. Izakaya Mai misses the mark on the details. For example, the rice that was used on the sushi and rolls were overcooked and creamy. Not much care and pride was put into plating. Seemed like the kind of food you would make at home. A big no-go for me .

Review №16

2018-07-26 02:53:08

Good place to get authentic Japanese cuisine. The menu is wide and varied. The place has a distinct ethnic outlook. I wanted to get the okanomiyaki and the curry. Both were good. Parking maybe a challenge to find as it is a busy street. Overall a good place to get the bites.

Review №17

2021-08-12 00:55:18

Food was fresh and ambience was great! Parklet dining was made comfortable with space heaters to offset the summer evening chill. Chirashi bowl deluxe was so good and I will be back again.

Review №18

2023-09-24 02:36:14

Worst experience and food, and amount for so much money. order a chicken teriyaki dinner and that the amount they give.

Review №19

2021-12-06 16:32:34

My favorite place for Japanese izakaya food in the bay area for the last 15+ years. So good and so much fun! Try the San Mateo Roll, Chanpon, and Okonomiyaki!

Review №20

2021-12-02 04:52:42

I ordered the chicken katsu curry, it is a bit watery and weirdly has steamed chicken pieces in the curry (other than the cutlet). The taste is okayish.The staff is good and they have both indoors and outdoors seating!I havent tried other items on the menu but not very satisfied with the katsu curry.

Review №21

2019-10-05 06:21:52

Popular little Japanese resto in downtown San Mateo. Busy on Friday night. But our wait to be seated was not long at all. Really friendly and fast service.We ordered the Okonomiyaki (seafood pancake), Seafood Tempura and Pork Gyoza . Small portions but filling. Food presentation was nice and the taste was good. Price was definitely within budget. $30 plus change out the door.

Review №22

2023-07-19 06:32:17

The atmosphere was great..even though the place was busy and we were on a wait list, once we were seated and ordered food, everything came out right away. Very attentive wait staff whos knowledgeable about the menu made a difference in a packed restaurant.

Review №23

2023-06-13 05:14:35

Its your typical Japanese restaurant. Small dining area. Lighting is too dark for me. Food is not good nor not bad also. Service is okay. My wife liked the sashimi plate. But the rest of the food we ordered was mediocre. Better places out there.

Review №24

2020-01-22 20:30:28

Low key but high quality at a reasonable price. Having been to Japan several times, I can confirm that the taste and quality of these dishes is really quite authentic. It may look average, but youre getting a higher-quality dish. This may be one of my new favorite places in downtown.

Review №25

2021-11-21 03:34:17

I had the tanin don and it was really good and flavorful, the miso soup served with it was some of the best Ive ever had. They have all the major Japanese beer on tap, and I loved how I was able to be served a pot of tea in the chilly evening for only 1$, everything was super well priced and authentic. A well earned 5 stars.

Review №26

2023-04-15 09:43:52

This is the best restaurant!!! 5 stars for food, service, and drink. They are so kind, we havent finished the drinks after the close time, the waiter told us to take the time. You can really enjoy the time here by chatting and drinking with your friends. I lived in the US for 7 years, and this is the only place that makes me feel the same Asian drinking culture.

Review №27

2022-05-27 03:02:24

Chicken udon and gyoza were delicious!!Crab roll was only ok, but surprised by how good the udon was.

Review №28

2023-06-08 05:08:23

Not sure if the newbies were working tonight, but our ramen and udon was pretty bad. ramen- pork belly was super overcooked and dry, seemed more like a pork chop gone wrong. didnt taste like miso broth, more like someone dropped an entire bottle of sesame oil into the bowl. my wifes udon was ok, minus the over cooked beef and the soft boiled egg that became a hard boiled one. the sushi roll was pretty good though

Review №29

2017-09-27 04:28:26

Excellent Izakaya, stands out even in San Mateo. Sashimi and Nigiri were prefect, Ika Natto was beyond excellent, good selection of sake and shochu, and broad menu fitting of a proper Izakaya. Will be coming back here as often as my schedule allows.

Review №30

2022-01-18 06:58:41

Always a good time there. The new look is fresh. Food is still delish and service is great.

Review №31

2021-09-02 05:34:23

Our waitress seated us quickly and once we ordered our food started to come out pretty quick

Review №32

2018-09-06 23:58:45

I had the miso buta don (pork over rice) and my friend had chicken katsu curry rice. When we ate the food, it was ok (except my pork didn’t taste that fresh) and we were too hungry to complain. But after a few hours both of us had stomach aches and did not feel well at all... No more details necessary.

Review №33

2023-06-02 05:32:21

Met up with friends here and it’s a great spot if you’re looking to eat a variety of Japanese small eats and sushi. Good price, decent quality food.

Review №34

2023-07-10 05:13:56

What a great selection of dishes. Was amazed at the variety. Was onl6bplace open after 9pm. What a find defnitley will be coming again.

Review №35

2019-01-26 23:43:48

Nice Japanese izakaya in downtown San Mateo. The line is always long for good reason. Everything we’ve had here is good, except maybe the agedashi mochi. You can call in to make reservations for a larger group, so make sure you do so, and you might even land one of their fancy tables where you take off your shoes and slide in!

Review №36

2023-01-29 19:54:30

Very disappointed with their service. 😕 I called an hour before to make a reservation got there, and told them that I had made a reservation( total of 6 people ). The lady told us to wait a few minutes because she was about to clean a table. Once the lady cleaned the table, the owner decided to give the table to other people without reservation; the lady tried to explain to the owner that the table was reserved, but he ignored her completely.. We still decided to wait ten more minutes. They ignored us for around 30 minutes so we ended up going somewhere else.

Review №37

2023-04-15 10:03:26

Very friendly service from the waiter. It made the dining experience extra relaxing and comfortable. The overall atmosphere of the restaurant was also cozy and welcoming. Would definitely recommend especially if you plan to include some alcohol with your meal. It’s just perfect with sakes like Sho-une junmai daiginjo and Sayuri. We ordered these and they both taste amazing.

Review №38

2018-08-20 03:03:57

As a Brown man, I always laughed at the idea of Japanese doing curry. Boy was I wrong. This was fantastic and I want to try some new ideas for my Indian home cooking. Mon dieu, Japanese masala...who knew;)

Review №39

2021-08-02 03:39:17

Food was decent and the service was decent. The interior looks old and run down.

Review №40

2023-05-06 08:11:06

The worst ramen I had in the States. I ordered 3 ramen but why only gave me 2 chopstickes? Im so mad because it tasted terrible. I never had so dry chashu pork and so disgusting ramen.

Review №41

2023-09-17 19:49:28

My friends and I always come here, we have a great experience every time!!

Review №42

2021-11-30 03:15:07

The fish quality could be more fresh3 stars fish but the pricing is 4 stars for value

Review №43

2022-10-23 06:36:35

1. Their sushi/sashimi has been very fresh every time—and we have visited *many* times.2. They carry a wide variety of Nihonshu / sakés.3. The staff are very attentive and friendly.4. They are open 6 p.m.–12 a.m. every day except employee holidays.😉

Review №44

2022-05-23 15:46:13

RATS!!!!! Me and colleagues visited for a work trip and towards the end of dinner a rat the size of a ferret darted from the dining area into the kitchen. The place had a weird smell of purple Fabulouso and dirty mop water and was quite dirty (I went to the bathroom and it was clutter and the kitchen was not kept up with at all) but I was NOT expecting to see rats. It was the only Asian food option open late so we stayed when all sanitation signs said not to. We were seated in this little nook where a cash register was and saw the rat dart across. We were traumatized and quickly left. We spent a ton of money and I wish we would have saw this rat before we began eating and paid. Absolutely disgusting!

Review №45

2023-08-17 08:55:11

Great food & fresh! Prices are really ok!

Review №46

2022-06-05 03:05:01

Delicious sushi and Japanese foods. Very fresh and would eat here again!

Review №47

2017-11-23 04:28:15

I like it. Menu is pretty diverse and you get a chance to get a mini size rather than the full size to see if you like the dish or not.Interior is pretty neat. Get a nice feel for the Japanese atmosphere and there is a little train that goes around the restaurant ceiling.If you get their big bottles of sake, they even store it for you!

Review №48

2022-04-29 02:58:12

Ordered curry don and it tasted ok. Im worried about food safety though, because the seaweed salad had the taste of mold and sanitizer and the water also had the smell of sanitizer. The restroom was dirty.

Review №49

2018-09-04 05:43:19

The food and service was great. The portions felt fair for the price. My only complaint is that the kakuni was not very fatty and was kinda dry unless it was soaking already in the juices at the bottom. Our party of 5 got there right when they opened for dinner and we had to wait a little because they had a lot of reservations. I recommend getting a reservation because this place gets packed fast.

Review №50

2021-02-09 18:08:26

OMG. Ive heard them being recommend a few times recently, and being a food conoseur, as well as a habitual eater; preferably 3 meals a day, as required to maintain a functioningl body, I thought to give it a try.I must say, their food is superb. Not a fancy looking restaurant, not fancy looking advertisement and fancy prices. Not even perticularly super spacious, but the food that I ordered and took with me was really really really good, and fresh, and hot, and yummy in every direction that I can scream it out!I love you guys! Izakaya Mai! The pork Tonkatsu, the Teriyaki Chicken, and my udon noodle soup with all the works where the best!!! And the prices absolutely reasonable! The owner even gave me 10% off, since I was paying cash and threw in an extra appetizer! Thank you so much, nice people of Izakaya Mai!And I will be back! And next time I will be bringing friends. Food this good needs to be shared! Speed the word!!!!All thumbs and stars up!!!!!

Review №51

2019-12-28 18:40:16

A quaint little Japanese joint with a very loud atmosphere, despite it being nearly empty when we went. We ordered a Titanic special roll and the Cherry Blossom, both of which Ive never seen more obviously premade. I read good things about the sushi in other reviews, but my god, this is potentially the worst sushi Ive ever had. The order came to us in about 3 minutes, the tempura shrimp in my Titanic roll was cold to the touch, and mushy as opposed to crunchy. Both dishes were very mushy and everything was the same texture, a very blatant sign that they were premade hours before, and kept in the fridge until someone ordered it.My girlfriend couldnt eat the Cherry Blossom so I figured Id give it a go, I legitimately gagged and had to wash it down with the sake we ordered. They substituted the tuna with salmon, which was a bit discolored with minor rips, there was no springiness to it: more of a mushiness, which is why the roll was so hard to get down. Also an indicator that it was not fresh. The avocado was hard (not fully ripe) and would float around as a hard ball while the rest of the roll was all mushy in your mouth. Needless to say I will never be coming back to Izakaya Mai for sushi. They have a very large menu so maybe they specialize more in some other dishes?We were also bugged about 5 times to order in the 10 minutes it took us, then when we were done we had to wait 30 minutes and eventually just ask for the check because they wouldnt come to us. At least the waiter was pleasant. The sake was good, too! Made me think that maybe thats the main point of Izakaya Mai, just get drunk on the sake and the below-par dish tastes better. I will probably be back to try other dishes, but my real love is for sushi, and Izakaya Mai has thoroughly disappointed me on that front.

Review №52

2022-07-12 02:49:07

Food is absolutely delicious! The grilled meats are my favorite..not salty. Sushi is great too. Highly recommended.

Review №53

2021-11-15 22:14:37

Mediocre Japanese food. The okonomiyaki I had was just a big pile of mushy noodles and Mayo. I was pretty disappointed with that dish.As a group, we tried a few other dishes including the katsu curry and a couple rolls. They were ok at best.

Review №54

2020-02-05 01:16:22

About the ramen:It is okay and nothing special. 3 out of fiveAll of the toppings taste like something bought from a grocery market directlyIf one wants great ramen, there are tens of better choices than Mai.About the grilled dishesA little below averageMy beef tongue was so overcooked that it takes like rubber.I will give a 2 out of fiveAbout the appetizers:4 out of 5Fried dumplings and several other dishes are impressive and tastyService is good but they are always very busy.After all, I do not think it is worth a rating of 4. The price is unreasonable based on the taste. And I doubt anyones taste if she/he rates this restaurant as a 4 out of five.The bottom line is Mai is not worth visiting unless one has a tongue as insensitive as stone.

Review №55

2021-05-24 05:47:00

Caught them on a crowded Saturday night, so it took quite a while to get served. The mackerel and the sushi dish we ordered was good and their menu of entrees, sushi and sake is so extensive that we will definitely give them another try.

Review №56

2022-03-25 23:56:39

Izakaya Mai is my go-to place for Japanese comfort food. Their champon is very satisfying after a long day, and the price is reasonable. If champon is not your thing, Izakaya Mai has a big menu with a variety of types of food.

Review №57

2019-04-25 20:51:35

OMG!!! Small hole in the wall and somewhat cluttered but it was the BEST sushi I have ever eaten! They are very inventive and use more Japanese tactics than any other sushi place I have ever been to. Keep in mind they do charge 25 cents for take out boxes and 10 cents for plastic bags, which is different.

Review №58

2021-08-26 02:22:00

Maybe I messed up by getting the bento box, but I did not enjoy this place. If I was to break it down to its individual parts, the miso soup was some of these worst, terrible rolls, and overly sweet Teryaki sauce.Maybe avoid that meal and go for a roll. Wouldn’t come back though, if ya can’t get the basics why even try.

Review №59

2020-12-06 02:07:51

Delicious food. Sampled various dishes.

Review №60

2017-10-17 14:08:01

The restaurant felt old, a little run down and not particularly clean. The sushi rice was not fresh. when we tried to dip our nigiri into soy sauce the rice would fall apart. We paid an extra $2 for real crab in our California roll. The crab did not look or taste fresh. My wife saw a noodle bowl pass by that looked good and we split one. At $10 it seemed a good value but the broth tasted like it was made from a powder. On the other hand, the toro nigiri was excellent and that one item had decent rice. The salmon collar was also excellent. The wait staff was friendly and helpful.

Review №61

2020-08-16 20:10:09

My wife and I went there last night (8/15/20). Neither of us were comfortable with the measures they put related with covid19. Waiters werent putting 6-feet. I saw that they didnt clean the menu after one table left. They didnt clean the chairs well. They cleaned the tables but then put the menu on top. They touched the menu that customers used and then cleaned the table. They should wash/disinfect their hands between collecting the plates and cleaning the table. Also, they have one table that is really close sidewalk (you cant put 6-feet). Addition to that, some tables are inside of the tent they set up on the street. I dont think its a good idea to block the air circulation like that. One side of the tent was fully closed. They put a fan but I think the fan is just pushing the air from a few tables in front of it to other tables, which increases the risk of transmission from front tables to tables in back. I know that some other restaurants also use tent approach. I think San Mateo authorities shouldnt allow that since its not totally outside if you put a tent like that.I talked so far about the lack of safety guidelines related with covid19. Lets talk about the food now. I ordered sake toro sashimi, which was supposed to be the soft part of the salmon. I didnt believe that it was the belly part since it was pretty hard even for the typical sake (no toro). I asked the waiter whether this was a really from belly part of the salmon and expressed that its not soft. He told me that toro is supposed to be _chewy_. Well, I ate toro sake in so many places, strangely enough (for him), I never ate chewy and hard one like that. If you really think that toro has to be chewy and chewy, go and eat sashimi in Sushi Maruyama. Rolls were okay, though. My wife ordered rainbow roll and she liked it.If youre like us, going out rarely nowadays because of the virus, I suggest you to think twice if you wanna go here. If youre seasoned sushi fan, I dont think youll enjoy eating nigiri or sashimi here. If youre worried about covid19, I dont think youll be comfortable. I am sorry to write this bad review, I saw that many places are not very careful about this pandemic, but that shouldnt be an excuse to provide a great service with following the guidelines of CDC and WHO. You can take this as a feedback and improve your measures and the quality, or you can just ignore it. Your call.

Review №62

2018-03-15 14:25:43

Sometimes the food is amazing and sometimes its just good. The staff could use improvement. For example I ordered a two course meal and the appetizer and both courses came out all at the same time. By the time I was finished with the appetizer, my tonkatsu was cold. No one wants cold tonkatsu.

Review №63

2022-01-09 21:46:25

Pretty horrible experience. All the grilled are bland and burnt. Cannot taste anything beside the charcoal. Any the service was not good. Forgot to give us any water. The two stars was for the patio and heat lamp.

Review №64

2019-11-24 19:01:27

TERRIBLE SERVICE!!#1: I made a reservation but we didn’t get seated until 10 mins after.#2: We order three appetizers. Two out of three appetizers didn’t come until we finished our main dishes.It was very obvious that our order got messed up, but when we checked with one of the waiters, she had the nerve to tell us that it takes a lot of time to bake the squid. Seriously?? It takes one whole hour to bake squid tails which are suppose to be appetizers?I would have appreciated more honesty from her.#3: The food overall was good, but the original champon broth was very salty and the stir fry pork and eggplant miso was very greasy.

Review №65

2020-01-03 04:17:48

Three of us ordered rolls and soup. The service was fast but lacked follow up to see if the food was ok the miso ramen soup broth was not to the taste for three of us so Id call that a fail. The chicken udon was made with soy based soup broth rather than chicken broth so it wasnt what I wanted. Both soups were short on vegitbles. Two sushi rolls were fine. Rice was good ingredients good and well priced. Id stay clear of soups and see if they are better at sushi.

Review №66

2023-07-29 06:10:20

One of a few late night dining spots near Downtown San Mateo

Review №67

2020-02-28 05:48:20

Really like that they have “mini” options for their -dons. I had a mini sake ikura don & ankimo. It was a perfect dinner size for me. Reasonably priced, casual environment, friendly service. I’ll be back when I’m in the neighborhood :)

Review №68

2018-09-23 19:11:34

After waiting approx 30 mins post order, on a busy night, I discovered that my chicken katsu curry was not up to snuff. Cutlet was only warm when plate finally reached us, the white rice was overcooked. And curry left something to be desired with it being under seasoned and just kind of basic. I had medium expectations that were ultimately let down by inferior product and long wait times, will not be returning any time soon, especially since there are so many other comparable restaurants that take this stuff seriously and dont make me wait half an hour for room temp fried chicken.

Review №69

2018-01-06 07:35:00

Delicious food. Friendly staff. Quaint decor. Reasonable prices. Enormous ramen bowl portions. The decor includes a miniature choo-choo train set that actually runs around on the ceiling - hard to explain! It’s pleasantly quirky and something you wouldn’t expect in a Japanese restaurant.We’re a party of 3. We ordered grilled squid, chicken karaage, Japanese sausage, 2 orders of potstickers, seasoned seaweed sides, a very large bowl of noodle soup that we asked to split in 3 bowls. We were full and satisfied.Space around the tables are a bit tight. Noise is medium and you can still hear the person in front of you (but the spaces between tables are tight and you can hear the next party’s conversations). Overall great for families and kids.Excellent hours - open till midnight!! Perfect place after-gym with friends! Great for casual dates, too!

Review №70

2020-02-10 22:52:41

This place is my favorite. I eat in a lot of restaurants but to this place I constantly return again and again. The stuff is very affectionate and the cuisine they offer is so good. I never miss an opportunity to have a good dinner in this restaurant. Highly recommended.

Review №71

2020-12-03 07:55:03

Shady business.1. Their portions have become smaller since Covid19 started. Just charge more if your costs have gone up but dont reduce the amount of food you used to serve.2. They charge for To-Go boxes. I ordered 3dishes and was charged $1.50. Who does that nowadays ? Just put 50 cents more per dish ?? This just leaves a bad taste like a middle finger.3. Their curry katsu rice tastes good but they fill up most of the plate with rice than katsu. You are charging 13.50 + to go box for this and you are really going cheap on the katsu by filling up on the rice ?Taste might be decent but pricing and the way they change up the amount of food is just dishonest and leaves a bad experience.

Review №72

2023-10-21 08:44:10

First time going there and I already want to return again.

Review №73

2017-02-18 02:12:32

This place is my go-to when I crave sushi. I love the titanic roll and mini chirashi bowl. Service can be slow on busy days (Thursday Friday and weekend evenings) HOWEVER they stay open till 11:30pm, so if you I dont mind eating later then it all works out!

Review №74

2022-05-17 23:59:34

Champon was good, broth was very meaty, compared to the kimchi champon where the kimchi actually tamed the taste down. Get chicken karaage for appetizer.

Review №75

2021-07-31 06:28:34

A relaxing spot with good food and plenty of drink options. We ordered some different nigiri and a roll, the spinach side and fried oysters. The fried oysters and nigiri were particularly good.

Review №76

2016-07-22 06:41:43

Lots of variety of Japanese food, from sushi to grilled items to soup noodles, they got it all. Lots of the bowls are also available as a mini portion so you can always get a good variety of stuff. I like the yaki onigiri. Prices are also very reasonable and they open late.

Review №77

2016-04-22 20:56:48

Izakaya Mai is our go-to place for beautifully presented and deliciously made Japanese cuisine. We prefer brown rice over white rice, but their sushi rice bowls are so amazing, we never wasted a grain of rice.We usually sit at a table, but during our last visit, we were too hungry to wait, so we opted for seats at the sushi bar. It was a great idea!Getting to watch the sushi chef create our premium, sashimi rice bowl with finely, crafted sashimi roses and melt-in-your-mouth sashimi chunks was really nice. It looked so good that the couple who were just seated next to us, ordered one to share.Having hiked 5+ miles from Coyote Point Park, via our apartment, we were ready to eat. Along with the large, premium sashimi rice bowl, our other orders of salmon+ahi tuna sashimi rice bowl and salmon teriyaki meal were served in reasonable time -- considering the dinner rush.The servers were busy rushing around with a full restaurant of customers, so we had to flag down our server for green tea refills. This was fine with us, as we were also busy enjoying our awesome food.

Review №78

2019-02-02 03:04:15

Decent Japanese spot. Stay away from the grilled rice balls because there’s zero filling in them. I do love the crispy rice though. Everything else is solid. Ramen, rice bowls, can’t really go too wrong here.

Review №79

2017-04-10 20:30:03

Authentic Izakaya for good (but not amazing) Japanese comfort food. Service was great, waiters kept our tea cups full. Would be back again when I visit the area.Our order:Mentaiko Chazuke (3/5): Super psyched to find Ochazuke on the menu! Nice and flavorful, mentaiko was good, but rice was too stiff and could use a lot more tea. I ended up pouring my drinking tea into it, but that diluted the flavor.Beef tatami sashimi (4/5): a few pieces were slightly overcooked and the Ponzi could be toned down a pinch, but overall was tender and tasted great.Asari sakamushi (5/5): superstar item of this meal. Huge portion (I initially thought the waiter brought us a bowl of ramen by mistake), flavorful and perfectly-cooked, fresh clams.Yakitori (4/5): decently tender and juicy.Crown roll (3/5): had to get something for the BF whos not that into traditional fare. Too spicy and lacking in real flavor for me, but the BF liked it well enough.

Review №80

2017-03-18 13:30:23

Service was slow, sushi was pretty average, there was a large pack of children with a large group who were allowed to run roughshod over the entire establishment while mommies and daddies were drunk. The couple waiting behind us was asked if they wanted to sit at the bar before us (party of 3), there were four open stools. Good squid.

Review №81

2017-03-21 18:56:28

It can be a challenge to find good vegetarian food at a Japanese restaurant, but Izakaya Mai has some pretty good options. The decor is reminiscent of some Izakaya I have visited in Tokyo. THeres a model train running around near the ceiling, which is pretty cool. The service was pretty good, but not super speedy.I mainly decided to give the place a try because they server okonomiyaki, which is not so common in the Bay Area. They usually include seafood in the okonomiyaki, but will make it vegetarian if you ask. They seem to make the Osaka style okonomiyaki, and I was pretty happy with it.They have a few vegetable options and the typical edamame and Agadashi tofu. They also have an Agadashi mochi which is interesting, but all the mochi had oozed out of the outer shell. As long as we put the mochi together with the shell, it was pretty good. The vegetarian curry was ok, but not as much flavor as I expect from a Japanese curry.All in all, it was a good experience.

Review №82

2015-06-30 22:21:40

Service is fine but you dont eat service.Got tonkotsu ramen. Too salty. The pork in it is cut too thick and really salty. The noodles and other ingredients are good but just normal.The manager is Chinese. The music played is Chinese. I would classify Thai place as California style or AKA Chinese-fief Japanese food. Tastes seem a bit more Chinese.Also got tempura and the coming is too heavy. More American/Chinese deep frying. Japanese tempura should be lighter and crisper. This is more heavy, mealy and oily.Just know what you are getting when you come and ready your expectations. It is just a normal Americanized Cali- Japanese place. Manager says welcome in Japanese when you come in but does not say it properly either.Call it Cali-Asian fusion! Enjoy.

Review №83

2017-03-24 15:44:25

Ironically, I felt the Izakaya selection here was not as big as I would expect. Regardless of the name nisnomer, I was very impressed by the chirashi bowl selection. They have mini size and regular size for their single finish chirashi! They dont do mini for the mixed one. They had plenty of other foods you would find at other Japanese restaurants like tempura, rolls, tofu, miso cod. Good all around Japanese place if youre looking for a casual dinner!

Review №84

2020-12-11 01:59:19

Katsu curry tasted way too watered down, too much rice. Quality not like before. Not worth $15Also the online menu does not state the cost of items.

Review №85

2019-04-28 16:19:34

The food was fresh and very good. The wait staff was very attentive. We were a party of 4 so we tried several of the dishes and shared. They were all so good.

Review №86

2018-12-18 05:36:12

Probably my all time favorite place to eat at in Downtown! Lots of great memories from high school and still making good ones now. Great service, great food and variety, and the environment and surroundings are prime

Review №87

2018-03-25 18:43:30

We like this place for some hamachi Kama, spider roll, hamachi sashimi, chicken karage, gomae, squid, my friends like uni and natto, hot sake, and alot of other stuff. We usually get a bunch of dishes and appetizers and all share in the shoes-off table. Its causal and relaxed, easy-going.

Review №88

2013-06-11 04:17:47

My partner loves the bento. I like the unagi don--though lately its been meh. We dont get sushi, sashimi, or rolls here because there are better places in town (like Dash, Joy Sushi, Kitcho, and Sushi Sams). Last time I was there I was chilled so I ordered a large bowl of beef udon. It was disappointing. If it had 4oz of beef I would be surprised.

Review №89

2011-08-19 20:37:28

The food in general is good here. My only complaint was that the dude who made my California rolls had nasty dirty black nails, not sure whats going on there. I wish those are seaweed, but they are not.

Review №90

2016-12-10 07:03:17

This small joint has had the best value sushi in the bay. The quality of fish they use is fantastic and the price of a mini chirashi bowl is phenomenal.

Review №91

2017-02-19 13:32:50

With a basic but sound selection of sushi, this might not be everyones idea of a Japanese restaurant, but the reason you come here is the large menu of cooked food ... Japanese pub grub. Thats what an izakaya is - the Japanese take on a pub, with a large menu of small to meal sized comfort foods.The reason I first visited this place is that I like working late, and I used to be driving back from Palo Alto to SF at 9-10PM, and there are relatively few interesting repeatable dining options on the Peninsula after 9PM. Then I discovered a Japanese restaurant open till 11PM+ ... happy day! Izakaya Mai rapidly grew on me, and since then, its been my most frequented Japanese restaurant in the Bay.Unpretentious, cozy, friendly staff that will get to know you; its a great place to become a regular. And you can have a keep bottle.By the way, if youre tired and cold and starving at 10PM, have a huge, inexpensive bowl of champon.

Review №92

2021-05-09 16:41:46

We have always eaten lunch here when hungry for Japanese food. They serve Japanese izakaya style food. Have eaten many delicious lunches. Due to Corona virus pandemic, they are only open for dinner.

Review №93

2014-10-24 18:40:38

Best price for Ikura sushi and my favorite is the $12 salmon and ikura bowl. Yummy and very reasonable price. Service is good and my 3 years old son love the choo-choo train that keeps running above his head. Nice and recommend people trying it.

Review №94

2013-08-04 23:48:40

I travel a lot for my job. Whenever Im arriving at SFO (usually late Friday evening) the first place that comes to my mind has always been Izakaya Mai. I usually just rush there straight from the airport.Its probably safe to say that this is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area. They serve tapas style Japanese food in small portions. Youll see some some dishes that arent usually available at most Japanese restaurants. Some of my favorites: Gyutan (beef tongue), Ika Sugata (grilled squid), Yaki Onigiri (grilled rice balls), Tamagoyaki (egg cake) and Okonomiyaki (Japanese style pizza).The settings and decorations are also pretty unique. It feels soothing and homely. Theres even a toy train with the tracks hanging at the ceiling.If you go here, make sure bring a lot of friends so you can try different varieties of the food. Also, avoid rush hours as the waiting lines are pretty long. They do take reservations for certain amount of people.Whenever I go alone I just order 1-2 appetizers, but its still really satisfying. I cant wait for my next trip so I have an excuse to go to this place again.

Review №95

2012-12-29 06:25:18

Oh my oh my, what happened to you Izakaya? This was my go to place when I lived in Foster City. I would go here alone. Id take dates. Id do whatever I could to get over there.Its a plain old Izakaya - meaning very simple interior. A sushi bar. Some tables. And some kitchy things around. But the food had always been good.Well, not so fast. The past year or so the food has been in constant decline. And it saddens me. Im not really sure what happened, but Ive probably had my second to last meal there. Ill give it one more go next time Im back in SF on a visit - but please Izakaya Mai - work on the quality of your fish!!!!!! You used to be so amazing.

Review №96

2012-05-31 02:15:22

Izakaya Mai is an authentic, amazing homey Japanese drinking restaurant. It is one of my favorite places of all time. The first time I went to Izakaya Mai it was an accident. I was walking down the street with my friends looking for a restaurant to go to and one of the waitresses motioned for us to come inside (a common practice in Japan). We decided, why not take the chance and were completely blown away! I got the nabeyaki udon and the flavors in it were intensely delicious. From that day on I went there at least once a week and now, after moving a few cities away, I make sure I go at least once a month. The majority of times I go with a group of people and split a bunch of dishes! Thats my favorite way to do it~My recommended dishes:ChamponNabeyaki UdonHokke (with beer :D )TakoyakiMaguronatto (not for the faint of heart)Chirashi***If you are looking to get sushi specifically- I would recommend going to Sams sushi- But if you want a homey, home cooked, and fun environment this is the place to go! It has got more character than any other place I know of! (It is a perfect date spot ;)

Review №97

2021-11-07 17:34:19

We sat outside and somehow the music and ambience brought us back to our time in Japan. They were quite busy but service was great. Will go back for sure.

Review №98

2017-07-02 02:29:05

Yummy goods and nice service!

Review №99

2021-05-23 21:29:02

I had completed my meal by the time my husbands meal (after inquiring) finally arrived. The food was OK, staff was pleasant, but service left a lot to be desired.

Review №100

2017-01-14 03:21:34

Huge menu with everything youd expect in an izakaya. I had the nabeyaki udon, which was good, some sashima, also good. Fast seating and reasonable prices too, which are sometimes hard to find on a thursday nite.

Review №101

2019-10-12 04:22:08

The sushi was good, service was disorganized. We had ordered tea, which did not come till we asked again. Same with a bowl of rice and pickles. Not at all attentive.

Review №102

2018-10-29 12:31:34

Our visit was great. From the the food presentation, the taste, to the service, the quality, and ambiance. The Japanese Restaurant Izakaya Mai was not a waste of time.

Review №103

2017-05-14 17:54:34

Amazing food and service! As a long-time customer, I have always been able to see how they always put their quality into every dish. They have never disappointed.

Review №104

2017-09-08 02:37:06

This place has a huge menu. It can be overwhelming if you are not familiar with izakaya cuisine (i.e., Japanese small plates and drinks). All of the dishes we tried were tasty.

Review №105

2019-11-21 02:01:36

Simple, honest izakaya that does a good job at everything. Not excellent, but good. The two item lunch special is a really good value, nice atmosphere, nice people.

Review №106

2013-08-08 01:32:20

Izakaya Mai is our go to place to hang out after work or dropping someone off at SFO. Izakayas are like Japanese gastropubs; they have great food and great drinks.We like to order many small dishes instead of just ordering one big dish per person. Our favorites are Nasu Dengaku (miso eggplant), fried squid and shishito peppers.They have many sakes and beers available and usually have a special. The service is very good and they will do their best to suggest drinks or food based on your tastes.

Review №107

2016-06-07 19:10:44

A simple Japanese place great for lunch. There are many options available for bento boxes. Food quality is good, selection, service also. Prices are very acceptable.

Review №108

2017-09-01 01:16:31

Pleasantly surprised to find a good place to eat while wondering arround late Sunday night after all other places had closed. Id return even if I go back to the area earlier in the day. This place reminded me of some restaurants Ive been to in Tokyo.

Review №109

2018-10-23 01:32:35

Ordered the chirashi and some sashimi. Fish didnt taste fresh, prices were average to high for the quality and quantity. Expected more.

Review №110

2022-10-21 03:26:35

Excellent place for Japanese tapas. The vibe and ambiance make me feel like I am in Tokyo.

Review №111

2023-06-03 03:28:27

Pretty good sushi rolls. Fresh sushi!

Review №112

2018-05-04 04:06:14

Love the food, hate the parking situation. I often only go here if I can find parking, as there are so many Japanese options around, I just go to whichever has closest parking available. But I love their menu, so many options.

Review №113

2017-11-15 22:22:11

Pretty good food. Has a huge selection of small plates that have a wide range of japanese foods (izakaya, noodles, sushi, etc.). Pretty fair prices for the area too.

Review №114

2012-03-11 18:18:21

Remember Mamas home cooking? Well, this is Papas home cooking Japanese style. I was fortunate to live in Japan for 12 years. Let me tell you, this is the REAL DEAL! And the photo looks just like Papa Ito. (-:

Review №115

2021-05-03 01:28:13

It was provided in microwave-type boxes (plastic lining on). This was just sad.

Review №116

2018-03-10 03:48:59

My favorite restaurant in San Mateo. Very good food and drinks, casual hang, very nice staff. And one of the very few spots in SM open late-ish.

Review №117

2018-06-03 05:08:03

Sushi is better than old town sushi for sure. Other izakaya dishes are just ok. Would I come back? Not sure, probably wont.

Review №118

2017-03-27 20:42:11

Nice variety of Japanese food items to choose from. They are open late, which is a nice bonus. Look up and wave at the miniature train as it goes by!

Review №119

2018-01-06 05:08:39

Cozy setting, great service, fantastic good. Will hold again!

Review №120

2016-04-27 06:10:18

Go to place in San Mateo for sushi and sake. Wonderful place, owners know us and we have a very good experience when we go here. have been returning customers for over 3 years.

Review №121

2021-04-11 06:24:27

Its super delicious! The place is not that fancy, but the food is fantastic! You can sit outside

Review №122

2021-06-12 02:34:02

Try: grilled mackerel. okono..agedashi tofu. chirashi. unagi don.okono.. was a mushy messfried rice triangles - didn’t like the mushy rice inside

Review №123

2022-04-06 00:48:24

Enjoyed the variety of small dishes. The server was friendly and helpful.

Review №124

2016-11-21 21:55:30

Good seatings. Kinda private.

Review №125

2018-07-17 12:06:51

Food was as expected. Prices are reasonable considering location. Service was a little weak considering how busy they were. Food tasted very good.

Review №126

2020-09-07 04:16:03

Food is great and the staff is always friendly. Theyve also built an amazing space for outdoor dining.

Review №127

2023-06-03 06:53:16

Food is mediocre and service needs improvement.

Review №128

2012-10-24 07:12:37

The food here is pretty standard fare with some bad items and some good ones. Bad: curry, gyoza. Good: Yakitori (salted, not teryiaki), Tacoyaki, grilled Squid.

Review №129

2014-04-24 06:44:11

I am a Japanese though, I think Izakaya Mais Sashimi is pretty nice!! Especially, the salmon sashimi was good I tried only Bento set though.

Review №130

2021-06-01 05:12:27

Delicious sushi!! OMG fresh and buttery. It was an expensive night for a party of one!! I deserved it :-))

Review №131

2019-12-02 19:04:49

The food was awesome! We loved the takoyaki, gyoza and the ramen! Would definitely recommend!

Review №132

2022-11-04 21:40:42

Great little sushi place. Great selection, and great service

Review №133

2019-09-28 08:17:39

This one of my favorite go to places for sushi late at night. I highly recommend it if youre having a late night sushi craving.

Review №134

2016-10-01 05:44:30

A large veriety of food to choose from, descent selection of cheap sake, and Japanese beers. Always an enjoyable place to end the night at.

Review №135

2021-07-28 02:57:45

Fun dining experience with friends. Also great playlist in the ambiance kept us entertained. #BTSARMY

Review №136

2018-03-24 18:39:28

Great rolls and killer udon, plus they are open late downtown SM. Nice setting as well.

Review №137

2018-01-24 06:32:39

Large lunch portions! Salmon sashimi was great. Fried oyster was bland.

Review №138

2012-01-18 03:15:33

The hot dishes are great. Better sushi can be had elsewhere but that is not what they specialize in.

Review №139

2021-07-16 04:55:50

Love this place!Great menu with img, a lot of syshi type :)fast service

Review №140

2021-09-04 04:23:31

The food was great. The service was not . They seemed to be short staffed after 6.

Review №141

2015-11-29 19:41:38

Great izakaya! Dont be afraid to grab the attention of any of the wait staff if you want more food/drink

Review №142

2022-09-21 04:02:29

What kind of restaurant doesn’t include utensils with a large order? Unreal…Beware

Review №143

2020-10-08 06:18:27

Excellent food ordered Sake, tnt roll salmon roll delicious 😋 great service heater outside

Review №144

2016-01-19 06:44:25

Nice staff and great food. Atmosphere is local, not fancy, but the preparation was very nice.

Review №145

2023-06-02 20:43:59

I love that it opens till midnight

Review №146

2018-06-09 00:47:04

Decent food, nice cozy atmosphere. Felt like a real Japanese restaurant.

Review №147

2022-02-13 03:58:36

Great food and drinks, friendly staff, great service. Will be coming back!

Review №148

2022-12-21 05:27:19

Miso soup, sake, good and tasty veg options

Review №149

2017-10-11 02:05:23

Dont remember what we ordered, but they are all really good. Definitely recommended!

Review №150

2015-11-15 11:35:52

Standard izakaya fare. Decent service and good portions. Lots of combo meals to choose from.

Review №151

2021-01-04 02:02:50

Best Japanese restaurant ever in my life!!!Wonderful service and very tasty!!!

Review №152

2020-12-09 05:15:15

I love this place ... the service is very good and the food has an excellent flavor.

Review №153

2015-02-26 02:59:03

We used to visit this place a lot. The quality went down a fair bit in the last couple years. Still decent, but not great.

Review №154

2021-06-02 04:13:20

Great food as always. Nice outdoor seating area.

Review №155

2013-05-13 03:04:32

Classic izakaya in San Mateo. Neatest decorative feature is the toy train that circles the room, just beneath the ceiling.

Review №156

2017-02-02 00:22:44

The place is pricey but the sushi was good but nothing special. I would still come back.

Review №157

2016-11-21 14:29:29

Best sushi i had so far, came here all the time when i stayed in the bay!

Review №158

2019-06-04 17:19:02

I always like it here! Not the same as. In any Izakaya in Japan but one of the best in San Mateo!

Review №159

2017-07-23 03:59:25

Decent restaurant but the wait for some foods are really long. There are reservations and the food is okay.

Review №160

2023-05-22 04:14:20

Great food, excellent service, diverse menu, and the convenience of mini-portions for some food options.

Review №161

2017-09-11 06:54:07

Sushi rolls were good. Chicken katsu not so much.

Review №162

2020-11-02 03:12:34

Great atmosphere fish and service! Chirashi deluxe and seared escolar were fire 🔥

Review №163

2020-01-13 22:13:28

Delicious Japanese food, huge sake selection from a knowledgeable staff.

Review №164

2017-09-16 05:39:38

Great Japanese restaurant with authentic dishes including sushi, sashimi, and noodles.

Review №165

2018-01-20 19:13:02

I love this cozy spot. It has all the Japanese comfort food I could ask for in a comfortable casual setting

Review №166

2020-03-02 00:57:24

Lots of interesting Japanese tapas style dishes and incredible value bento boxes

Review №167

2019-03-15 23:00:29

Consistently very good. Great menu. Casual atmosphere.

Review №168

2019-01-29 06:30:19

Cheerful service, cozy seating and great comfort food. Reliable and never disappoints.

Review №169

2019-11-09 04:08:05

Decent, cheap food! Not particularly special, but not bad!

Review №170

2017-05-19 23:11:58

Great atmosphere and good food. A bit overpriced for portions.

Review №171

2016-09-10 18:20:26

Great spot for lunch. Good value if you get the lunch Bento boxes.

Review №172

2018-11-17 07:28:12

Super friendly. Welcoming and good variety. Spectacular value for the dollar.

Review №173

2011-02-02 05:17:41

Great home-style Japanese food - champon noodles, takoyaki (octopus balls), donburi, you name it!

Review №174

2019-03-01 04:48:25

Service was slow, food was avg to slightly above avg. Pricing was a lil on the high side for the amount you get.

Review №175

2016-04-19 19:21:56

A local place, nothing fancy, casual. A nice selection of Japanese curry and okonomiyaki.

Review №176

2021-12-29 03:33:23

Delectable Japanese tapas, in addition to a good selection of other traditional fare.

Review №177

2017-08-02 15:21:48

Food is ok, kids love the train that runs around the restaurant.

Review №178

2016-06-28 01:49:54

So delicious and the prices were decent i will totally come back

Review №179

2019-07-01 16:17:04

Excelente price and awesome food presentation and flavor!!!!!!!! Nice servers as well!!!!

Review №180

2018-08-08 15:34:37

Good food, quite a variety on menu, almost overwhelming.

Review №181

2018-06-21 05:00:23

One of the best and most authentic Japanese restaurant in San Mateo

Review №182

2020-09-08 03:08:53

They made the food way more expensive and you get half the food now

Review №183

2016-06-29 16:47:38

Consistently good food and service. Perfect to get your izakaya fix

Review №184

2013-09-13 04:49:54

Unless youre on a tight budget, just do yourself a favor and go to Kitcho next door. Its just a different level.

Review №185

2017-11-13 08:17:17

Great food, good prices, average service.

Review №186

2022-12-25 06:39:22

Great food for affordable price

Review №187

2020-08-21 03:39:29

Great food. Outdoor seating. Dog friendly!

Review №188

2021-09-27 05:36:34

I love😍 this restaurant! Great sushi!!

Review №189

2019-07-26 06:08:54

Wasnt wowed by this place, oyako don was so-so and okonomiyaki was the same.

Review №190

2017-03-05 07:52:38

Delicious foodpacked though, you should make a reservation

Review №191

2016-11-24 21:26:10

Go to late at night place to eat at San Mateo. Like the small plates because you can get quite a variety

Review №192

2021-08-23 15:19:31

Many many choices, relaxed outdoor dining in parklet.

Review №193

2023-05-23 17:19:38

Great food!

Review №194

2019-01-13 06:40:37

Good food and you can make reservation

Review №195

2019-03-05 15:13:59

Not sure if there have been a change of management, good but can be better

Review №196

2021-12-28 15:25:09

Great food .. good price

Review №197

2020-09-08 04:10:40

Great food and great service while eating outdoors

Review №198

2023-05-13 03:37:19

Try the chirashi bowl. One of my favorites.

Review №199

2018-11-22 17:04:03

🍣 quality was good, service was decent, ambience was okay.