Akahana Asian Bistro — Restaurant in Belmont

I just want to share a dining experience that my husband, one of our daughters and I had yesterday at Akahana (in Belmont). I so far had loved this restaurant and bragged to my husband who has been away for a year on deployement about how great it was, so yesterday on our first date since him coming home we visited Akahana for a late lunch. We ordered sushi and he and Makenzie had Lo Mein noodles, hers were just plain noodles and chicken. When we got our food Makenzie was literally 2 bites in and says "mommy can you please get this out" I look over to something dark mixed in her food.... I picked it out thinking at first maybe it was a dark noodle.... NOPE, IT WAS A WHOLE ENTIRE SQUID LEG, SUCTION CUPS AND ALL. I about puked. I then shared the discovery with my husband and there went our appetite. We sat there in shock and completely grossed out for a minute and debated on how to handle it and not draw too much attention to it with Makenzie sitting right there because she is picky enough as it is. So I went to the front away from the table and other guests to talk to a manager, who appologized and said she would talk to the cook. She then brought us our check with a whopping $4 dollar discount. I am sorry but I do not eat sea creatures with legs much less suction cups and I dang sure do not want to find them mixed in our food, that's a nasty discovery.... And who knows what kitchen crevice that leg was hiding in and for how long to then somehow be mixed in our food. We literally had over $50 dollars worth of food sitting in front of us that we couldn't stomach to eat. When the waitress came back to collect payment I explained to her that I was sorry but that is unacceptable, we weren't going to eat now and I don't think we should be stuck with the bill. She left the table with the check and then returned to offer us simply taking the charge for the Lo Mein off the check. I am not one to ask for free things and it was embarrassing so I just paid the tab and we left. But I WILL NEVER RETURN TO THIS RESTAURANT. IF you are okay with foreign sea creatures limbs lurking in your food, or an insulting $4 dollar discount when they are found, please don't let this deter you from eating there.... But if this too grosses you out be cautious of this place please. It's not just the fact it was unexpected and the idea is gross..... Not knowing if it was cooked or a breeding ground for germs and bacteria that was then mixed in my child's food is what is...

This is a long comment, please read until the end if you want to know why it’s long! I went to the restaurant on 4/1, and I waited 20 minutes until someone came and asked for my drink. As i was having a conversation with my friend and playing on our phones. The manager (lei long) had a sensitive moment thinking that we were recording/photographing her. Based on this she called the owner. A moment later a messenger came, who was the one we knew that currently working there, told us to stop recording her and that the manager felt insecure!!! She also was threatening to call the COP on us. I went to confront her as I wanted to know why? And what’s going because we came to eat as a regular customer. Without looking she replied, “if you continue to talk, I will call the COP”. Another moment later, which was about an hour wait, no food, no waitress had come to take order even though she paid special attention to our table. The rude owner YUNG showed up and approached us saying “if we were recording the manager, we weren’t welcome to eat there”. I complained as we had waited for awhile and the food wasn’t coming. He said, “if we weren’t happy with the service we were welcome go to some place else” without an appropriate apology. What an uneducated and ignorant behavior! We were so confused and didn’t know what were going on, why everyone was so sensitive acting insane seeing 2 women and a 3 years old baby came to eat. As the night went by, the manager never stopped by to clarify what she were trying to call a cop on us for. How could a person who is lacking of basic customer service could be a manager? From the owner to the manager are rude and ignorance. Proceeding out the restaurant, we saw the owner was climbing on the ladder to look at the cameras. What a stupid childish act and there were nothing on the record. I know that the restaurant is soft opening right now but that wouldn’t be an excuse for the TERRIBLE service we...

My wife and I just moved to Belmont and Akahana is close by so we stopped in last week for sushi. We like the upscale "bistro" atmosphere, but it can get loud at times when the restaurant is packed. We got seated quickly each time and the service was excellent each time. It's not as slow as fine dining, but don't expect to be in-and-out in 15 minutes either. Enjoy the experience.

Last week we ordered the summer rolls as an appetizer, 3 different sushi rolls and a hot sake. The sake is of good quality. We are vegan, but they have many options and accommodating us was no problem. Both the appetizer and the sushi rolls were prepared fresh, were delicious and came out very quickly. No complaints! The sushi rolls were $7.45, $7.95 and $9.45 (tempura). Somewhat more than we usually pay but the quality was great and the rolls were fatter than what we get elsewhere so the value was good. A fatter roll also meant it was harder to eat it in 1 bite. My wife was forced to cut some of her slices.

Last night we stopped in for curry udon noodles (1 massaman, 1 green extra-spicy). This could be the single best udon experience in my life!! These were fresh, not frozen, high quality buckwheat udon. Great portion sizes as we were very hungry. LOTS of tofu pieces (triangles) which made us happy. The portions of onion, bell pepper, carrot and bamboo shoot were perfect for this dish. The coconut curry sauce was so incredibly delicious and there was enough of it to keep the udon from drying out without them "swimming" in sauce. No appetizer or beverage order this time. Our bill only came to $31.90 (before tax) so we left an $8 tip.

I wish they had more vegan options, but the options they do have are so amazing we will be coming back to Akahana...