Ren Omakase — Restaurant in Menlo Park

Overall an excellent experience that I can't really find any fault with. I've tried a few omakase restaurants around the area, and I think this was my favorite. The food was delicious end-to-end. Particular stand-outs for me were the kanpachi sashimi, the tamago, and the miso ice cream with yuzu ice. Mostly simple classics, impeccably executed, and a few twists here and there.

I'm no expert, but I think one of the fundamental challenges of this style of "fine dining", as opposed to other modalities, is pacing. Having one chef preparing dishes for 8-ish or more people fundamentally limits what you can serve in a reasonable timeframe, but my experience here was about as good as I think you could make it. There were pauses in between some courses, but I never minded. All in all it was 2 hours and I left having had plenty of food.

Service was top-notch. Extremely attentive, friendly, professional without being stuffy. I unwittingly came during the soft opening (I just saw some headline about Ren online, googled, clicked through to Tock and made a reservation, was greeted with "welcome to our soft opening" when I arrived). To be honest, I'm not sure exactly what a soft opening means. I thought it was sometimes a friends-and-family-of-staff-only thing, in which case I apologize if I wasn't supposed to be there! But it's not like I felt the least bit unwelcomed anyway. If it just means a more limited offering, or that there might be some operational bumps as they smooth things out, then they could have fooled me.

At the end of the meal, I was growing a little bit unsettled by having not one single negative thing to say about any component. Along with the check, I was given a gift of a pen with the restaurant's name on it, and the waitress (hostess? manager? The lady who was doing everything the chef was not) placed the box on the table upside-down. I opened it to look inside, at which point she noticed and flipped it back right-side-up. A mistake so inconsequential that I'm not sure you can even call it a mistake. But I was relieved to discover that they are indeed human here. Still, about as close to a perfect dining experience as you...

We first met Chef Wen San at Drunken Monk and were enchanted by his artistry, so when we learned he had brought his craft to Ren, we knew we had to follow. What awaited us was nothing short of magical. Each course of the omakase unfolded like a story — delicate, intricate, and full of surprise. The small dishes were jewels of flavor, and the sushi was simply divine, every piece reflecting Chef Wen San’s deep passion and extraordinary skill.

And then there is Chloe — the heart of the dining room. Her warmth and grace made us feel not only welcomed but truly cared for, as if we were guests in her home. The harmony between Wen San’s creations and Chloe’s hospitality transforms Ren into something beyond a restaurant — it is an experience, a celebration of connection, flavor, and artistry.

Whether you come for a quiet evening or a special celebration, Ren is a place where you will be transported. To sit at this table is to...

This week marked the soft opening, and it was a solid start. Every dish was thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented, with consistent quality across the board. While I forgot to capture the red miso asari clam soup, all other courses are included in my photos from a single seating.

The ambiance was calm and comfortable, and the service was attentive throughout. The team is easing into their rhythm, and the experience will only become more fluid.

Reservations were made through Tock, and the experience lasted around two hours. Course selections may vary depending on availability and guest preferences, which adds a personal touch to the meal.

A promising beginning, looking forward to seeing...