Excellent services and food quality, authentic Japanese food and comfort Japanese atmosphere. We (3 persons: my friend, my wife and myself with a doll) had Katsura 桂 on Jan 2023 as fresh start of 2023. Evey disk though out the entire course just amazed us and tasted excellent. Ranzan become 1 of best restaurants in Bay Area that I will revisist again soon.

We came to Ranzan for my moms birthday dinner and it was an extraordinary experience. The ambiance was very nice and elegant. The table wares were very traditional, and the food was just phenomenal! We had the Takao Set and it was very satisfying. Each dish was extremely well flavored and simply delicious. The chef was very good at incorporating various ingredients and the plating was just super legit! Service was excellent as well our servers were so kind and attentive to details. If you are looking for traditional Japanese fine dining experience definitely come to Ranzan. Thank you Ranzan for this wonderful experience. We will be back next time!

We came here to celebrate my husband’s birthday. The restaurant is not big but very well managed. The staff are super friendly and service is top notch. Food is amazing and artistically decorated. I’ve lived in JP before and this place def reminded me of old days there. Highly recommend!

Kaiseiki Dreams 💯 I first made reservations at Ranzan in Redwood City over two years ago. Shortly before our dinner, the pandemic shut down indoor dining and our dinner was not meant to be. But because of that reservation, I was on Ranzan’s mailing list and among the first to know of their take-out offerings. Those take-out offerings, in particular their saba sushi, became my favorite pandemic takeout item and I was lucky to order many times Flash forward to today with indoor dining at full capacity and strict takeout only a memory for many, I had an opportunity to return to Ranzan Ranzan specializes in Kaiseiki or a style of Japanese dining featuring numerous, small intricate dishes and popular in cities like Kyoto Hidden on an unassuming street in downtown, Ranzan features the full Kaiseiki experience in ways that made me reminisce about both ryokan and Kaiseiki dinners I had in Japan The space is quiet and serene with high ceilings and the service is warm and friendly with the servers in full kimono both polite and happy to answer questions about every dish Having tried all of Ranzan’s takeout offerings, I wasn’t sure what to expect but I can happily share that my meal exceeded my expectations and is one of my best meals this year The food is not only beautiful but a labor of love with numerous dishes featuring touches and additions that all amplify and enhance the excellent flavors Everyone loves the A5 Miyazaki Wagyu and fresh sashimi but I found joy in even the simpler items like corn soup, potato dumpling and asparagus jelly For those with a special occasion or who wish to be reminded of Japan, Ranzan is very special indeed. Wakuriya and the former Kaygetsu are the best known Kaiseiki restaurants in the Bay Area, but I’d now firmly put Ranzan on that list too 📷 Takao May Menu $228/pp / Asparagus Jelly / Dry Aged Cucumber and Karasumi / Fried Baby Sweetfish, Green vegetables with tofu sauce, Nagaimo and okura / Corn soup / Sashimi ~ Kochi, Hamo, Shimaaji / Potato Dumpling / Ginger Sorbet / A5 Wagyu / Uni So-men / Chawanmushi English Peas / Abalone Soup / Anago tempura / Mozuku with agar jelly and scallops / Hagama rice with octopus / Miso soup with Eggplant and scallions / Minazuki 📍Ranzan (Redwood City, CA)

From the unassuming front to the subdued dining room, Ranzan hit all the marks of an outstanding kaiseki experience. You have four options to choose from and also different sake pairings to go with your meal. I particularly like that they printed the selection you chose when reserving so that I can follow along with what is being presented. The same went with each of the sake pairings. They had the name and description printed and served along with the drink. It made it so much easier for me to remember which of the dishes and drinks I preferred. I opted for the Takao tonight but asked if I could add on the Kobe a la carte. I'm glad that they were able to accommodate my request even though it was last minute (Thanks, Aika). But IMO the wagyu sirloin steak was more flavorful (first-world problems I know). TLDR: my favorites tonight - turban shell with liver paste, simmered scallop with egg yolk, sakura sorbet, Wagyu sirloin, grilled yaki saba sushi, simmered abalone, deep-fried herring roe abs maitake mushroom, “hagama” rice, and, surprisingly, the shaved ice with strawberry (it was refreshing and had the right amount of sweetness). The sake pairings were good but nothing stood out to me, except the warm Tatsuriki and Shichida (Thanks, Miho). They have a limited selection of wines, so I would definitely recommend BYOB. Parking could be challenging in Redwood City and you most likely will have to drive around a bit but Ranzan is worth the two to three extra blocks of walking.

What a treat! My dear friend and ultra foodie took me here for the 13(!!!) course Takao. Every course was absolutely stunning and a delight to the senses. Highly, highly recommend coming here for a special occasion or just because! The artistry is incredible and the entire experience is beautiful. Thank you so, so much Hitoshi-san Mihoko!!! We will be back.

1/22/23: Updated review. Upscale yet cozy spot to try a Japanese kaiseki-style meal. We had ordered from them earlier on in the pandemic when they were not open for dining in and enjoyed their food, so we came back to try a meal two years later in the restaurant. It was a great experience! The service was impeccable, and the food was well-presented and tasty, with unique dishes such as black sesame tofu (note that their menu changes every month). One of my favorite courses: the wagyu. It was so tender that it felt like it melted in my mouth. We were super stuffed by the end of the meal, even though we picked the smallest course meal. If you like Japanese food or want to have a unique dining experience, I'd highly recommend this restaurant! --- 1/2021: Amazing kaiseki-style Japanese food, with large portions and pretty presentation. A hidden gem that is definitely worth a try!

Ranzan Sushi in Redwood City is a must-visit restaurant for anyone who loves Japanese cuisine. Tucked away in a strip plaza, this intimate kaiseki fine-dining experience showcases the best seasonal ingredients from Japan. If you're looking for a hidden gem in the peninsula and cannt get a reservation at Wakuriya in san mateo , Ranzan Sushi is it. The meal we had at Ranzan Sushi was an unforgettable culinary journey. We chose “ Kibune “, which offers 14 courses, every dish was expertly prepared and beautifully presented. The delicacy of simmered sea bream roe in gelatin was a standout, as was the lotus root dumpling in a clay pot. The sashimi dish was also exceptional, featuring the freshest fish and seafood. The grilled wayu sirloin steak was a highlight of the meal, perfectly cooked with tenderness and full of flavor. The yuba chawanmushi, a steamed dish of egg custard with tofu skin, was delicate and delicious. The deep-fried shrimp and uni wrapped with dried seaweed was another standout, and the squid and mozuku with sweet vinaigrette was a refreshing palate cleanser. To accompany our meal, we tried the sake flight and were impressed with the selection and quality. The miso soup with chrysanthemum was a lovely way to finish the savory part of the meal, and the anmitsu dessert was the perfect sweet ending. Overall, we highly recommend Ranzan Sushi for anyone looking for an exceptional dining experience in the Bay Area. The food is outstanding, the service is attentive, and the atmosphere is intimate and welcoming. Don't miss out on this hidden gem!

Wow, what fun! We had a twelve course meal that was elegant and delicious. Pricy, of course, but a quintessential Japanese experience worth the special occasion.

Kaiseki, washoku style restaurant. Flavours are very delicate and worship the ingredients. If you’re not used to subtle, umami focused dishes, this may not be your jam.

Always a pleasant experience. Everything is presented well and there's always something that's a little surprising Excellent service

Excellent service and equally delightful courses that are authentically Japanese. Celebrated a birthday here recently and had a very special evening. This place deserves Michelin recognition!

It's pretty rare to find legit kaiseki style cuisine in the US, and having just come back from a ryokan in Japan that served kaiseki we had a good basis for comparison. Overall we enjoyed it and thought it was fairly authentic, from the printed menu that was clearly from a computer with Japanese as the default language. The food was high quality, service was good, and they had a great sake tasting menu to boot. I will say the decor and harsh lighting does detract from the overall experience and makes it feel less high end than it could be considering the pricing and great service. It feels a little too basic for a meal that's $150+ per person (after everything).

Incredibly authentic Japanese kaiseki. The meal was delicious and memorable (we still talk about the shiso sorbet), the ambience was quiet and upscale, and the service was impeccable. Highly recommend!