Taki Nori Hand Roll Bar — Restaurant in San Mateo

One of my favorite - not just Japanese, but any cuisine - restaurants in the Bay area. Worth the hour+ drive in traffic for me, plus now that Nori Nori closed down, I'm finding myself driving out more often. Although it's a hand roll bar and not a full sushi bar like Sushi Jin or Kaisen Don, it's also a fraction of the price, a very good deal for the area.

The hand rolls are amazing. The sashimi is also fresh, but there's nothing like being given a hand roll as soon as it's made, so that the nori is still crisp and not soggy when you bite into it.

Chefs are young and cute, and good about taking special requests like "no eel sauce." And the owner works just as hard as the employees, which is inspiring and great to see.

I have visited enough times that by now I've managed to try every roll and side dish on the menu, several times over. It is a somewhat limited menu (1 page), but that keeps the quality and variety consistent from visit to visit - no finding out something is out of season.

Everything involving raw fish is good. My favorites of those are the hamachi, salmon belly, chu toro and oh toro.

The spicy tuna can sometimes not be spicy enough, and occasionally is too spicy, but that's minor to me.

I don't love the oysters only because I'm a bit of a purist and don't like too much stuff on top of them they tasted fine, just busy, imho.

Cooked items:

Hits:

Tempura shrimp roll - served piping hot, so be careful!

Sukiyaki beef roll - hot, tender, and not too sweet, which is often my complaint with sukiyaki (it is still sweet, however, so you may want to skip it if you're diabetic).

Miso soup - piping hot, big portions, good amount of tofu, though not a lot of seaweed or green onions.

Edamame - also hot, perfectly cooked, lightly salted (you might need to ask for salt).

Yaki ramen - al dente, looks and tastes like fresh, not instant, ramen (yellow, eggy, and thick), big portions, but a bit bland (also may need to request salt for this). This dish is normally slightly sweet but it's strictly savory here.

Sushi tacos - more like sushi tostadas. Way too sweet for me but everything else about it was good: generous portion of fish, super crunchy base.

Misses:

Fried calamari - slightly sweet, it tastes like Taiwanese fried squid, which is what I want to have with boba, not in a Japanese meal, where I am expecting an ika geso-style preparation.

Fried chicken - as above, it's more like Taiwanese popcorn chicken rather than Japanese karaage.

BBQ ribs - basically LA kalbi. You're better off ordering this at a KBBQ.

Ambiance:

Pluses: the big whale mural is beautiful, and the decor feels traditional yet modern.

Minuses: just a few detail issues that could easily be addressed. Nothing that stops me from returning, but things that could elevate the experience for not a lot of elbow grease.

One, things are a little dusty for a place that serves raw food, so don't look too closely at the shelves, haha.

Also, customers are always getting marker all over their beautiful wood counter. It can easily be cleaned off with a little bit of hand sanitizer, which would go a long way to keeping the bar...

I’ve had my fair share of handroll experiences and this place is pretty good, but quite pricey for the experience. Most handroll places I’ve been to have stellar customer service — very attentive to you even when it is full house.

Reservation on Saturday at 5PM. Walked in and the seating is very limited — there seems to be only bar seating (which is totally fine and what I prefer for the experience). No one greeted us at all but my friend sat down and was early to our reservation, so we just took our spot and sat down. There was probably 4-5 other people inside so it was fairly empty on a Saturday. There was also some time where the music just stopped playing and it was so oddly quiet (the only party that was talking was my party!).

Also we had four seats but we only got two small plates of wasabi and ginger haha - not a problem since I asked for my own.

Pricing of the handroll is pricey compared to other places I’ve been to but makes sense since it the Bay Area (I’ve only been to handroll places in Japan and SoCal).

4/5 - Crab Handroll was good! It was my first time having this since I’ve only eaten blue crab, but I’d get this again since it was on the cheaper side of the menu ($8)

5/5 - Uni Toro Handroll was so good and very nicely presented! It is quite on the hefty side at $25 but gotta at least try it and plus I wanted a nice picture for my review and instagram

3/5 - Hamachi Handroll was pretty basic, but fresh!

4/5 - Uni Handroll cause they use Japanese Bafun Uni instead of bland Santa Barbara Uni haha

3/5 - Maybe I’m biased with service, but all the handroll bars I’ve been to were super attentive and I feel like they just tried to get food to us and never really followed up with us or ask how we were doing. We waited awhile to finally flag down a host/manager to get the bill.

Not a terrible experience but wasn’t up to my standards for some parts. The more expensive items were absolute fire though. I’d still come back if I’m craving a handroll spot since I’m only...

I recently had an incredible dining experience at a hidden gem of a Japanese restaurant, and I can’t stop raving about it! The moment I walked in, I was greeted with warm hospitality and an inviting ambiance that perfectly blended modern elegance with traditional Japanese charm. The attention to detail was impeccable, from the sleek wooden decor to the impeccable presentation of every dish.The highlight of my meal was the fresh, mouthwatering seafood. The oysters were a standout—served on a bed of crushed ice with a slice of lemon, they were briny, plump, and absolutely divine. The texture was flawless, and the freshness was evident in every bite. Alongside the oysters, the sushi selection was a true masterpiece. The nigiri featured a variety of fish, including melt-in-your-mouth tuna and buttery salmon, each piece adorned with a touch of wasabi and garnished with edible flowers and roe for an extra burst of flavor. The shrimp temaki with caviar was a delightful surprise, offering a perfect balance of creamy seafood and the crispness of the nori.What truly elevated this experience was the quality of the ingredients and the skill of the chefs. Every dish was a work of art, showcasing their dedication to authenticity and craftsmanship. The service was equally outstanding—attentive yet unobtrusive, with staff who were knowledgeable and passionate about the menu. The portions were just right, leaving me satisfied without feeling overwhelmed.I highly recommend this restaurant to any sushi or seafood lover. It’s a place where every bite feels like a celebration of Japanese cuisine. I’ll definitely be returning and bringing friends along to share this culinary delight. If you’re looking for an exceptional dining experience, this is the spot to visit—five stars...