Presentation on Map Reviews Nearby

Octopus Japanese Restaurant in Menlo Park

4.4 (91) 925 El Camino Real, Menlo Park, CA 94025, United States

Categories

Japanese restaurant
Sushi restaurant

Location on the map

Menlo Park, San Mateo County, California, US

Phone: +1 650-600-8794
Site: https://octopusjapanese.com/

Opening hours

Monday:5–8:45 PM
Tuesday:5–8:45 PM
Wednesday:5–8:45 PM
Thursday:5–8:45 PM
Friday:5–8:45 PM
Saturday:5–8:45 PM
Sunday:Closed

Edit info

Total reviews rating 4.4

91 Reviews for Octopus Japanese Restaurant 2024:

Review №1

2023-05-27 17:43:45

Fresh, delicious and beautiful sushi! Stopped in on Friday evening and enjoyed the Melting Albacore Special, Salmon Lover, Drunken Tiger and Octoroll. The Pinot Noir wine tasted off, the server apologized and removed it from our bill - providing excellent customer service! Atmosphere is relaxing with good music. I plan to return soon for take-out after work.

Review №2

2022-01-21 20:15:41

They have a vast amount on different kinds of sushi rolls, however what we got was not exciting compared to the cost. Also, so much PLASTIC!!! In our opinion the portions were small and overpriced. For all you see in the pictures we payed $91. We were disappointed and definitely not ordering from this place anymore.

Review №3

2021-10-02 09:02:45

Great rolls, very tasty, though each one basically had same ingredients (i.e. California roll of sorts, just in different proportions). The appetizer was alright, tasted like canned tuna salad. Price on the higher side for the value.

Review №4

2021-10-10 14:58:49

Small but really cool sushi place! The portions are huge and all the components are fresh and nicely picked for every kind of rolls. The variety of rolls is wide enough to make you scroll the menu twice to make sure you made the best choice(: My rolls were Main Man Ben’s and they exceeded my expectations. The service is good too. We got our order really quickly. Will definitely return here again

Review №5

2022-10-28 21:50:36

One of the best sushi places Ive ever been to! Their speciality rolls are out of this world - fresh and full of flavor! I wanted something spicy so I went with the Kraken (left) & Chupacabra (right) and both just hit the spot. Highly recommend dropping by.

Review №6

2022-02-13 02:21:40

We came in on a late Saturday afternoon, not busy at all, staff were friendly and courteous. So many selections especially for the rolls. Ambiance can be improved, restrooms were clean, you can scan a QR code for online menu but they gave us their menu, it was sticky atleast the one I got thise 4 stars.The food arrived fast, and were really good. Miso and salad that came with our Bento Box order were fresh and tasty not bland. Salmon sashimi was super fresh melts in your mouth kind of fresh.Our rolls —The Kraken per recommendation and the Fly boy were both good! Both are sauce-y type of rolls but very good.Most orders here are take-out. We’re definitely going back, we’ve been here in California for 2 years moved during pandemic and so far this is the best sushi place we’ve had. If you’re thinking of giving it a try you should!

Review №7

2023-10-25 01:44:20

Placed a pickup order via doordash but had to wait 15 after arriving at the store. Doordash said it should be ready between 6:08-6:18 and i arrived by 6:18, only to be told that its not ready and why did i arrive until they said its ready on the app. I left work according to the pickup placeFurther more instead of apologizing, they were telling me that its rush during evenings and were telling me its my fault that I arrived on time before checking the app, and i even showed them the app says that its time for pickup. When i asked why do they not increase their estimate on doordash, i was told that if they do that then no one will want to order from there which essentially means they would rather lie to customers and make them wait instead of giving proper estimate.

Review №8

2023-07-18 20:14:42

My review seems to be hitting the owners nerve and causing a knee-jerk reaction. For actually decent Japanese food, check out Kyosho just a block away. Menlo Park is still needing more high-quality restaurants, but this is not your only option for Japanese food.Heres the details:The sushi rolls are okay, but thats about the only thing thats okay about this restaurant. Service is incredibly slow. It took 15 minutes to get some water on our table, and I had to ask twice for it. One of the water cups were quite sticky on the outside and I was sure it was not cleaned properly. Rolls came before our cold appetizer. A bento box took 40 minutes when the restaurant wasnt packed at all. The taste of everything other than the rolls was quite bland and a bit weird if Im honest. Servers also had this numb expression on their faces. I cant tell if they have an owner thats too harsh on everyone or doesnt care. Its one of those.UPDATE: The owner made many claims about my visit, but it doesnt look like the owner actually remembers who I am, now that its been several days since my visit when I wrote the review. The owner claims that I raised my voice to the servers, which I never did. The owner also claims that the restaurant was packed when I was there, which is also not true. The owner also used the covid as an excuse for having a slow kitchen, but its been three years and its hard to imagine someone not able to adapt to a post-covid era. From the level of gaslighting the owner is doing to me, I can only imagine the same type of gaslighting the owner could be doing to its employees, blaming their own fault onto others, causing their faces to be numb. I originally gave the restaurant a two star. Im changing it to a one-star. I will also do everything I can to expose the owners malpractice from here on.

Review №9

2021-12-14 05:28:17

Sushi selection was great and the sushi we tries was good. Would have been 5 stars but they could not serve beer while we were there.

Review №10

2020-08-03 19:07:20

Best sushi rolls I’ve had in ages!Incredibly fresh and delicious rolls! Great value for money, unique rolls, and the best combination of flavor and balance that begs you to go back for morr

Review №11

2021-08-13 03:44:06

Excellent sushi, best vegetarian rolls I’ve had. My mom had the main man bens and I had the Yammy Yammy! Highly recommended you get a special roll.

Review №12

2023-05-10 22:50:04

I have been to this glorious restaurant many times. The most freshest food you can find. I love their sushi cooked rolls, beef teriyaki and chicken teriyaki dinner. Their miso soup is fantastic. Their servers are very kind. Good atmosphere and there’s plenty of parking with handicapped spots. Everything is just absolutely delicious. It’s always a night to remember when you eat at this very chic restaurant, bar none.

Review №13

2023-09-20 08:53:41

I love this restaurant. Its delicious! Its a bit cramped but other than that its incredible.

Review №14

2017-08-05 05:12:15

Awesome food! Fish quality is really good, super fresh, tasty and perfectly cut for nigiri. Since I moved to California, Ive been looking for authentic Japanese food, and this place really has it! Friendly staff and good service. Absolutely loved it!

Review №15

2022-06-18 22:42:42

This is great restaurant, and my new default go-to for sushi. If you like sushi, you should eat here- today. Ive lived in the Bay Area since 1993. Sushi Sams in San Mateo, Sushi Tomi in Mountain View are also great, but if you live in Menlo Park, or Palo Alto, thats a drive. I just discovered Octopus Japanese Restaurant a few weeks ago, and have eaten there twice - it is very good. Plus, the folks who run it and work there are really friendly and patient. Theyve made a loyal customer of me in short order. Enjoy!

Review №16

2023-02-15 04:10:02

Had a bento box with saba shioyaki, tempura, and nigiri. Also tried a piece of agedashi tofu. And a green tea.All of those things, as well as the atmosphere, were on par with Bay Area sushi places. I would say the tofu was actually better than I expected, as was the green tea.Price was in line as well - maybe even a little cheaper than Ive come to expect. It didnt blow my socks off in any dimension, but this was my first outing and I picked a pretty safe dish. I consider this a solid place to return to, and would recommend to friends.

Review №17

2022-11-01 01:04:53

Wow! This little place is such a gem! Super fresh sushi and so many choices. Plus my husband, who is not a sushi lover, enjoyed his beef teriyaki meal as well! We will definitely be coming back!

Review №18

2022-07-20 03:39:58

We were looking for a new place to try and Octopus had some great reviews/ pictures of their sushi rolls. After looking over the menu we decided to head on down. Friendly staff got us seated right away and we started with a round of appetizers.Gyoza, chicken karaage and a Toro Nigiri special started off the night and everything was delicious.Ordered 4 rolls and a bento box combo and everyone was extremely satisfied with the food.Cant wait to return and explore more of the menu

Review №19

2022-03-03 17:42:35

Very good sushi. Ive always been pleased with the portion size of the rolls. I go here almost 3x a month.Update** Recently went a few days ago. The waiter acknowledged we come frequently and treated us on our 2nd bottle of sake! Very kind!!

Review №20

2019-10-13 04:05:18

Loved the rolls! The place wasnt very busy, and our food arrived fast.

Review №21

2022-09-21 05:44:18

The rolls were with an addle crub meat. Unfortunately I ordered it to go and could not complain. Just be aware that the quality of the fish at this place can be disgusting

Review №22

2019-09-23 20:56:54

Good value quality sushi. Excellent variety in the menu.

Review №23

2019-08-25 02:49:19

Theres not much parking space with at most around 30 spots, but other than that this place is really good. The fish is fresh and good quality, the different rolls are unique and very filling since each piece of a roll is quite large. The bentos have a variety of foods on them and the udon had great flavor. The interior is somewhat small and narrow but has a warm vibe to it. Also, there are tables close to the entrance, and farther in is where they prepare the food and the bathrooms, then there are more places to be seated all the way in. The staff are very friendly and polite. There are 2 small unisex bathrooms, and it was nice that the soap, faucet, and paper towels were all close together and automatic so a person can go in then out efficiently hopefully preventing any lines. The foods are presently nicely and look pleasing to the eye, making the experience that much better.

Review №24

2018-01-29 05:48:38

Service was great. There were somebody always checking on us and if we needed smth I should have just looked at the person.The food was great. Prices are affordable.No parking, but you can park you car either on the other side or next Safeway shop and then just go on foot ca. 100 meters. (

Review №25

2018-10-08 22:23:34

-A good amount of parking in the back which is nice. Back door entrance which made it even better.-Restaurant felt and looked clean.-Bathroom was kept well - always a nice bonus.-Wait wasnt long for us as we came later in the night - this really depends on the time.-Servers were very attentive and helpful - great service.-Really interesting selection of rolls that looked good on the menu.-The rolls actually not only looked good but tasted very good and you can sense quality. We had the Sundaze and SNK roll. Both were solid. I really liked the taste of the SNK roll - the sauce was good. Their tempura is also tasty. Not too oily and the broccoli, sweet potato, etc seemed fresh. Their water taste fine/like regular drinking water. Mochi mango ice cream was delicious.-Bill came out to be reasonably priced for the quality.-We most likely will stop by again in the future.

Review №26

2017-10-10 23:09:50

Service is absolutely terrible. Youll be forgotten about on several occasions and people that were seated after will definitely get their food first before youll ever get your tea/water. They must have hired people who have never waited before. However, the sushi is really good which is why I gave it a three. The food almost makes up for the bad service

Review №27

2017-09-12 05:42:04

Amazing food, truly some of the finest Japanese cuisine in the area

Review №28

2017-11-18 02:31:38

3 stars only because the service was absolutely terrible. The food was excellent and to my complete satisfaction. However, the waitress that served us, if you can call it that, is one of the worst Ive seen in some time. Neglectful, uninformed, distracted and ill equipped for her job. As for this restaurant, Ill try it again because I live in the neighborhood, but I will probably give it a few months until this server fired, it is an inevitability. I am quite certain.

Review №29

2019-07-26 02:55:06

Octopus is amazing, high quality Japanese. A hidden gem in Menlo Park! The Fly Boy roll is unbelievably tasty and the Bento Boxes are always hot and fresh. Its not too pricey and simply delicious. Were regulars and keep going back because it never disappoints.

Review №30

2017-12-15 00:40:30

Updated.Still the best casual sushi spot in the area for the price, portion, quality (with less BS, I like that). Generous fish and avocado portions esp. on the rolls (go for the Sundaze, mo pink, Ask Jamie). Big fan of their nigiri (when Son makes it). The fresh tataki with halibut is bomb. has a lot of shiso permeating the dish which is really pleasant. Bento portions and meat quality were nice. Clean interior, but small. Sushi takes a bit longer to come out when theyre packed. Happy Hour and alcohol are finally in, wish they had tap and more premium sake, but I guess no one orders it. Chobei is really smooth and will have to do.

Review №31

2017-08-30 05:31:47

We were so sad that Akasaka closed since wed been coming there for years..until we gave Octopus a try. Its so delicious and the portions are very generous. Incredibly fresh fish and even some of the best miso Ive had.

Review №32

2019-12-12 22:20:53

Staff is friendly I went in for lunch it was very dead inside very tiny place I really didnt care for their sushi just did not have a good experience when sushi roll the chef marinated the fish and some sort of mustard seed dressing which was pretty gross and the other roll it was I forgot the name of the fish but it was a white fish and some of the skin was still on the fish usually when I go to see places its top-notch everything tastes amazing but this place was just okay nothing fancy this large sake was larger than Im used 2 that was the only thing I liked I dont recommend trying this place out

Review №33

2017-10-19 03:16:39

Great fish 🍣 quality.. good service.. recommend!Had:Ika nigiri.. good would order againFotomaki.. with unagi! YumHamachi Kama.. good, can order againWonderful roll (scallop).. great quality scallop.. would get just scallop not in roll next time!!Sunomono with tako. Good.Fried 🐙 octopus.. just ok, would skip next time

Review №34

2021-11-30 18:52:25

Good service and decent food. Sake selection is okay but the only junmai daiginjo was out of stock. The tempura was good but the prawns seemed mushy.

Review №35

2022-04-17 18:20:27

Great sushi, really enjoyed the El Camino roll. Definitely coming back for happy hour.

Review №36

2022-10-01 04:41:23

I really enjoyed this place. Great fresh fish with creative rolls.

Review №37

2022-10-10 05:58:46

It was a wonderful experience. Great food, friendly staffs and quick service!

Review №38

2019-02-28 13:53:46

We had their salmon carpaccio and firecracker and really enjoyed the sauces and presentation. Priced reasonably. Highly recommend.

Review №39

2019-06-13 18:00:12

Excellent takeout sushi. High quality fish across the board. Cost is reasonable and comparable to other options in the area.

Review №40

2019-11-02 16:34:51

Fantastic place to eat food when in a rush. The service is speedy, rates are convenient, awesome atmosphere. Keep up the good work

Review №41

2019-02-26 02:33:31

Fish that was used in sushi had a funky smell and looked old. I ordered a toro sashimi and didnt finish it- you could tell it wasnt fresh.

Review №42

2017-09-23 00:54:13

Went there today for the first time with a few friends, excellent menu really fresh fish, tasty and awesome staff highly recommend a visit!

Review №43

2019-07-02 03:16:05

Definitely some of the best sushi that Ive had. The staff is friendly and the atmosphere is casual.

Review №44

2019-08-04 04:43:10

Place seemed a bit expensive relative to value at other sushi restaurants. Also place had no air conditioner so was hot

Review №45

2017-08-05 05:00:41

Nigiri were excellent. Nice fish, cuts and presentation. I was so home sick from Japan and this restaurant took me there back there.

Review №46

2022-05-10 02:38:04

Expensive for the amount of food you get.

Review №47

2018-07-13 00:22:23

Literally so good. Sake and sushi rolls are amazing. I reccomend the Spicy Crunch roll.

Review №48

2022-12-10 04:54:38

The food was amazing and the service was great!

Review №49

2020-01-03 04:31:29

Great service, delicious snacks, friendly and well-decorated and welcoming vibe! Will definitely be back!

Review №50

2018-01-18 04:47:13

Service is excellent. Small but nice. Did not wait for my order long.

Review №51

2022-11-22 03:49:35

Good food however crowded seating

Review №52

2019-01-17 03:58:41

Good eating, the chupacabra was a winner

Review №53

2017-09-07 20:29:59

Rice isnt very sticky, sushi fell apart. The fish was fresh.

Review №54

2018-02-15 08:06:41

Ordered bento box for lunch, was delicious and fresh. Good prices for the quality

Review №55

2018-02-04 04:09:21

Delicious creative sushi, great friendly service and knowledgeable staff.

Review №56

2018-12-06 21:43:22

Three item bento box is a great value. Lots of food for the price.

Review №57

2019-03-28 20:33:03

Always a quality meal. Not a bad thing on the menu

Review №58

2022-11-08 19:51:06

Authentic and great tasting Japanese cuisine

Review №59

2019-06-02 05:11:49

My wife had a lunch there and wasnt happy of the price for such food quality

Review №60

2021-11-14 02:59:15

Really cute place, great sushi

Review №61

2018-04-26 23:51:30

Went there with my friends and we all agreed the sushi is bomb.

Review №62

2021-08-16 03:34:34

I loved the Starburst specialty roll!

Review №63

2019-05-05 04:48:40

I had the best sushi ever 😍😍😍

Review №64

2017-10-22 19:12:24

Great hamachi Kama. Great prices. Fast service

Review №65

2019-08-13 07:03:35

Very tasty, a bit pricy

Review №66

2022-01-10 00:53:11

Great food wonderful place

Review №67

2021-05-18 09:47:23

They closed earlier than whats posted. :(

Review №68

2019-01-12 16:25:31

Good food, friendly service.

Review №69

2018-06-10 18:49:41

They have a huge selection of specialty rolls.

Review №70

2018-06-05 04:47:28

Good food, reasonable prices

Review №71

2018-12-02 14:53:15

Great special rolls and octopus salad

Review №72

2022-06-02 02:01:43

Gotta try the ghost pepper roll!

Review №73

2020-11-13 07:35:50

Awesome service and delicious foods!

Review №74

2017-09-08 22:28:10

Food is OK. Service is below expectations.

Review №75

2018-07-21 01:42:59

Tasty sushi and great service

Review №76

2022-07-06 06:02:32

Best sushi in town

Review №77

2018-05-22 00:16:06

Fine food. Not fancy.

Review №78

2019-10-20 03:01:34

I don’t like the customer service

Review №79

2018-02-28 18:09:02

Great food and service

Review №80

2017-10-26 01:29:52

Good one.

Review №81

2018-02-21 04:27:05

OK food, a bit disappointing.

Review №82

2022-03-12 02:55:12

Really really good sushi!!!!!

Review №83

2022-10-29 20:03:19

Service to slow

Review №84

2017-08-08 22:54:42

Not a sushi for Japanese native.

Review №85

2020-05-25 20:10:37

Delicious rolls!

Review №86

2018-06-14 22:43:03

Great lunch

Review №87

2018-04-15 19:06:19

Excellent

Review №88

2019-08-24 04:30:15

I love Octopus.

Review №89

2023-01-08 00:46:52

The idea of the bento box is nice, so you can combine different dishes available on the menu. However the quality of the fish is not that great. The service was friendly and attentive.

Review №90

2017-10-25 22:07:23

Very good food

Review №91

2023-02-20 16:34:14

Superb sushi