Araki Sushi

Araki Sushi

Araki Sushi brings affordable, authentic Japanese flavor to downtown Palo Alto. Despite its small size, it is a powerhouse that cranks out delicious meals for a surprisingly large crowd of loyal patrons. But despite its apparent popularity, it maintains a humble, customer-focused attitude. The service here is good, and the prices are a good deal for the product provided.

Every last detail is considered here. From the nice pieces of Japanese artwork on the walls that give the restaurant character, to the attractive plating of the food, to the reasonably priced combos on the menu, to the balance of savory flavors in the food, everything here is done deliberately and with care to create the ultimate cozy Japanese comfort food feel.

As soon as I tasted the warm miso soup, I was hooked. The crispy, meaty fried gyoza here are to die for, but the fresh, soft, and buttery sashimi was as impressive. Meanwhile, the teriyaki chicken was cooked perfectly and smothered in a delightful teriyaki sauce.

The small details were as perfectly considered as the big ones. The rice here was fresh and sticky, like it should be, and the sushi rolls were perfectly rolled. Not to mention that the wasabi was a perfectly packed small punch of spice, and the ginger cleared my palate.

This is the perfect place for a homey, unassuming Japanese meal that you can both afford and enjoy. Everything is fresh and cooked according to tradition. It’s yummy but casual and laid back.