Hana Izumi — Restaurant in Millbrae

Ideally, this place deserves a 4.5/5.

Nestled in the heart of Millbrae, Hana Izumi is a hidden gem that offers an experience that transcends mere dining. They have a prix fixe menu that changes every month. My friends and I went there in February. Our prix fixe menu was $98/person plus taxes. For our prix fixe menu, we had the option to pick one from the 2 entrees. You will definitely be full by the end of your meal.

Note- We were a party of 3, and our bill included a 20% tip by default.

Service: The service at Hana Izumi was good. The staff was attentive (except for the 2 times when we had to ask them to refill our hot tea) yet unobtrusive. Our host was knowledgeable and passionate, guiding us through the intricate kaiseki menu with genuine enthusiasm.

Ambiance: Restaurant's soft lighting bathes the small space, adorned with minimalist décor and natural elements, creating a tranquil atmosphere.

Food:

Kobachi 3 Ways amuse bouche was a delightful prelude, showcasing the chef's artistry and precision with 3 miniature bites brimming with diverse flavors and textures. It included goma tofu, duck, and octopus. Goma tofu topped with uni was delectable. The octopus was surprisingly not as chewy as you'd usually expect. The duck was pretty good as well. The assorted sashimi included bluefin tuna, yellowtail, and ocean trout. It was impeccably fresh, and each piece just melted in our mouths. Hirame Nanban was a revelation. The perfectly crisp halibut paired beautifully with the sweet onion vinaigrette, creating a delightful contrast. The Maezawa Wagyu Soba was a fancy indulgence. The tender Wagyu beef, simmered in a savory sukiyaki broth, melted on the tongue, while the slightly firm soba noodles provided a satisfying textural contrast. The tara shirako chawanmushi was also really good, offering a unique and delicate flavor profile with its creamy egg custard and hint of sake. For the entree, I opted for the Negitoro Chirashi Bowl, a visual masterpiece with its vibrant colors and generous portion of chopped fatty bluefin tuna. Each bite was a burst of umami, perfectly complemented by the seasoned sushi rice. My friends tried their Dungeness crab zo-sui and loved it.

This place is definitely worth a visit. The parking in the area can be hard to find, so please plan to arrive a little early. I looked for parking for 15 minutes and eventually ended up parking in the residential area...

I discovered Hana Izumi while searching for a nice restaurant to celebrate a birthday. After reading glowing reviews on Yelp and Google, I eagerly anticipated the dine-in experience. Unfortunately, the lunch left much to be desired.

We opted for the $40 lunch set with a $35 sashimi supplement and the $65 lunch set. Given its upscale branding, I was surprised to find that they didn’t serve real wasabi; all dishes featured instant wasabi, which undermined the overall quality.

$40 Lunch Set - 2.5/5

Appetizers: Soba salad and slow-cooked duck. The soba noodles were soggy, though the duck provided some redeeming flavor.

Amuse Bouche: Kobachi three ways—tempura vegetables, sweet pumpkin with meat purée, sliced roasted beef, and their special mochi. None were particularly memorable, except for the mochi, which stood out.

Steamed Dish: Savory steamed egg custard. This was the highlight, boasting a silky texture.

Entrée: BBQ eel and prawn tempura donburi bowl. While enjoyable, it didn’t offer anything exceptional compared to more affordable izakayas nearby.

Overall, the $40 set felt underwhelming and lacking sophistication. The $35 sashimi supplement featured decent cuts, but nothing extraordinary.

$65 Lunch Set - 2/5 Appetizers: Seafood sunomono. A very ordinary salad typical of sushi spots, featuring octopus, pickled mackerel, and another seafood.

Assorted Sashimi: Again, decent cuts, but the same octopus from the appetizer made a reappearance, which felt repetitive and disappointing.

Steamed Dish: Identical to the $40 course.

Entrée: Mini ikura donburi. This dish was decent, but the cheap wasabi and small portion of seafood left me unsatisfied.

In total, I spent around $190, including a 20% gratuity, which felt reasonable given the courteous staff. While I appreciated the hospitality, the food quality and creativity did not justify the price. I’m left wondering how this restaurant maintains such high ratings—perhaps I just visited...

I was super excited for Hana Izumi 's opening, and lunch today did not disappoint. Service was warm, comfortable, and at a good pace. The food was amazing and just the right portions, leaving us both full and wanting more given how delicious everything was. In fact, it looked so good I forgot to take photos for two of the four dishes.

The kaiseki lunch came with four courses:

1. Duck salad
2. Trio of Amuse Bouche
3. Seafood chawanmushi
4. Choice of shrimp ikura chirarshi or unagi tempura don

The duck was so well flavored and worked well in the salad. Every dish in the Amuse Bouche course was amazing, leaving me wanting more.

I was also impressed with the chirarshi! All the ingredients were fresh and balanced in their seasoning; the mini diced nagaimo and yellow pickled radish added another layer to the dish. The dish came with two pieces of seaweed for you to either tear into pieces to top the rice, or to make your own handroll. I do appreciate a good quality seaweed - it was tasty and crispy.

The menu does not come with dessert; it's available for an additional charge. We were fine with that, as we were both full and less sugar in the diet isn't bad.

In all, our lunch took ~70 mins which is on the short end for kaiseki and we were happy for that given my friend needed to get back for work so it all worked out. Given the positive experience, we said we'd put Hana Izumi into our rotation when we meet for lunch!

I'll be back in a couple of weeks for dinner for our sister's...