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Wakuriya San Mateo Reviews
What a beautiful experience.
Especially special when shared with friends. The restaurant outside is unassuming when the parking lot is shared with a Safeway and CVS. My husband had to call at midnight a month in advance to leave a message for reservations. As to you enter the r
Finally made it here after many years of wanting to come
Finally made it here after many years of wanting to come here since I heard about their Michelin recognition. Truly delightful place. Wonderful people with pitch perfect service and amazing, creative and delicious food. Who would have thought there w
The best Japanese restaurant in San Mateo
We have been trying to return to one of our favorite restaurants (Wakuriya Japanese Kitchen, one-star in the Michelin guide) for three years, and finally, we were delighted to receive a return phone call from the chef’s wife for our reservation. Th
We have been trying to return to one of our favorite
We have been trying to return to one of our favorite restaurants (Wakuriya Japanese Kitchen, one-star in the Michelin guide) for three years, and finally, we were delighted to receive a return phone call from the chef's wife for our reservation.
(Tom Cruise voiceover) The vibe is exclusive haute
(Tom Cruise voiceover) The vibe is exclusive haute japonais dining experience! Felt like I entered the finest restaurant in Ginza. We were warmly greeted by a young lady! She is fantastic! The dishes were a melange of textures, nuanced flavors, an
I surprised my husband on his birthday with a dinner
I surprised my husband on his birthday with a dinner reservation at Wakuriya. This 1 Michelin star restaurant has been on our list for the longest time but we never had a chance to dine in. I was very lucky and was able to get through after calling 4
Amazing service and fantastic culinary creations.
My friends took me for my birthday and the ambience was really nice. We had great conversations with lovely interaction with our server.
FOOD: 5 SERVICE: 5 AMBIANCE: 5 VALUE: 5 Yes, we are back
FOOD: 5 SERVICE: 5 AMBIANCE: 5 VALUE: 5 Yes, we are back celebrating my wife's birthday. Again, chef Katsuhiro has outdone himself again. It seems like his cuisine is bordering on Michelin 2-star level! Yes, Wakuriya is our favorite Japanese
I had despaired that I would ever be able to try this place
I had despaired that I would ever be able to try this place because I'm never awake at midnight to call, but my friend very kindly offered to call for me and got me and my husband a reservation! We came on a Wednesday night and had a great time.
The best of the best
Wakuriya has never let me down, no matter how many times I’ve visited. This time was no exception—every dish was beautifully presented and tasted absolutely excellent. The attention to detail in both flavor and presentation truly sets this place
Great food, great service and nice Michelin restaurant.
A nice omakase restaurant, that we tried for the first time.
One of the best Michelin restaurants in Northern CA.
Reservations are made 30 days in advance, by phone call only at 12AM. If they don't pick up, leave your name, the date and time you would like to book, and a best call back number. If your preferred date/time isn't available, they'll o
Literally the stupidest shit ever Having to make a call at
Literally the stupidest shit ever Having to make a call at midnight ruins some people's sleep schedule and is SO anxiety inducing And then the system most of the time is blocked by other callers all trying to call the restaurant so it's lit
kaiseki
If you’re a fan of Japanese cuisine, this Michelin 1-star gem is a must-try—and I can confidently say it’s worth every bit of effort required to secure a reservation. With food quality, service, and presentation that transcend expectations, thi
The food is fantastic, and the service is outstanding.
Each course of the nine they served us was tasty, delicately crafted with good-quality ingredients, and both put together and presented with expert care. The three hours of our dinner was made a very comfortable and enjoyable experience.
I don't know if I can fully describe each plate and do it
I don't know if I can fully describe each plate and do it justice. The combination of flavors were just perfection! And it was a perfect balance and ratio in every bite. It was a good mix of textures too- from cold dishes to warm, to soups and fried
Fantastic kaiseki dinner and wonderful service from a small
Fantastic kaiseki dinner and wonderful service from a small business. Have been here several times and have never been disappointed. Food is high quality and always delicious. Definitely won't leave hungry either with the number of dishes being se
The food is good but the ambiance is subpar.
The worst thing though is how they handle reservation requests. It's like some demented lottery. You leave a message and hope they have the courtesy to call you back. And good luck trying to get any meaningful information off their website.
It's difficult to book an appointment but it's
It's difficult to book an appointment but it's understandable because they are a Michelin star restaurant. I had a great experience here. Their dishes have quite creative decorations and equally unique flavors.
We finally were able to reserve a spot for dinner! It's a
We finally were able to reserve a spot for dinner! It's a very small place with 12 diners per night. The chef makes all the item by himself while his wife serves it- they are both from Japan and very nice and humble people. I recommend the sake pairi
I feel sad writing this because I really had such high
I feel sad writing this because I really had such high expectations. I've been dying to go here for years but the near impossible way you have to make reservations prevented me from trying it. My angel of a husband finally got a reservation after
Food was outstanding.
Incredibly creative dishes with a classic, traditional Japanese flair. The server was top notch, giving a nice presentation for every dish that was served. Save some room for the dessert as it was exquisite! Yes, the reservation process is a bit of
Came by for dinner the other night and it was a world class
Came by for dinner the other night and it was a world class experience. Wakuriya is a Japanese kaiseki restaurant with a Michelin 1 star located inside a casual strip mall in San Mateo, next to the freeway. Parking is plentiful in the private lot or
The restaurant located in a plaza with cvs and Safeway in
The restaurant located in a plaza with cvs and Safeway in it. Lots of parking , at least when we got there Saturday 6pm. Definitely convenient location , there is clear sign outdoor and looks very cozy inside. There are only four tables inside( proba
What an amazing meal! Went here with the wifey for an early
What an amazing meal! Went here with the wifey for an early Valentine's. From the outside, it doesn't feel like you're stepping into a Michelin Star restaurant. It's located in a shopping plaza with a CVS and Safeway. But really who cares it's the fo
Michelin star worthy for sure.
Every dish was scrumptious. Well worth the visit and planning ahead for the reservation.
All I can say is.
Go and you'll be happy you did. I'm so happy my wife can get the reservation for our family meal of 5. I wish I can get the reservations there every month even though it's a hour trip from East Bay. Worth every penny.
Excellent Restaurant and a must try for an authentic
Excellent Restaurant and a must try for an authentic Japanese Kaiseki meal. Wakuriya is authentic and true to the Japanese culture in every way, from the excellent food, dishes, serving style, and even the (painful) reservation making process...
Food: Intricate Service: Homely Ambiance: Intimate My
Food: Intricate Service: Homely Ambiance: Intimate My partner took me here for my birthday in January 2023, but he got the reservation for it in December. When he explained to me the reservation process I genuinely thought he was joking with me. Bu
Michelin Longevity.
Wakuriya, an unassuming restaurant in a non-descript strip mall, will soon be celebrating their 15th year anniversary.I was fortunate to make a return visit after almost 15 years and reservations are still as coveted as when they first opened and the
I have been to Wakuriya multiple times (as in multiples of
I have been to Wakuriya multiple times (as in multiples of 10) over the past ~10 years. It is, hands down, the best Japanese restaurant in the Bay Area. It is in fact one of the best restaurant in any gastronomic style. Both Katsuhiro and Mayumi (own
Wahhh this Michelin star Japanese Kaiseki restaurant was
Wahhh this Michelin star Japanese Kaiseki restaurant was definitely an experience to remember. The attention to detail on these 9 courses were beautifully executed. The small dishes, utensils and presentation made the dining experience elegant and
One of my favorite Michelin-starred dining experiences to
One of my favorite Michelin-starred dining experiences to date! It's definitely tricky to get a reservation (we tried on several different days!), but once you secure the reservation, it's worth it! Wakuriya offers a multi-course kaiseki menu that co
There's a reason why it's so hard to get a reservation of
There's a reason why it's so hard to get a reservation of this place - this Kaiseki restaurant is amazing.Their attention to detail make your experience great once you step into the restaurant. All the dishes are executed to perfection and their seas
My favorite restaurant in Bay Area.
Have visited here 7 times this year and I could never get tired of it. The menu changes monthly except December since they are now on vacation and will be back on January.Menu provides classic kaseiki with a modern twist. I have to say chef is really
Of all the Japanese restaurants I've been to in the Bay
Of all the Japanese restaurants I've been to in the Bay Area that specialize in kaiseki, this one is my favorite. It's not easy to book a reservation here. The restaurant is small and it's always fully booked a month in advance. I don't particularly
Not everything is a smash hit here but it's so cool to have
Not everything is a smash hit here but it's so cool to have a Michelin-starred kaiseki restaurant in a strip mall next to a CVS and a pediatric dentist.
Wow. The Bay Area is spoiled to have amazing Japanese
Wow. The Bay Area is spoiled to have amazing Japanese dining experiences and Wakuriya is one of the tops for me. The exclusivity of getting a reservation may perhaps turn people away but I can guarantee it's worth it. Short and simple: 30 days prior
Connect with users posting reservations for Wakuriya San Mateo
AppointmentTrader is a community-driven platform where users can exchange their reservations or leverage their personal relationships with Wakuriya San Mateo. Buyers can make informed decisions using automated seller ratings, which reflect past transactions and reliability.
Each posting on AppointmentTrader shows you which user submitted it and along with that provides a trackrecord of that user which indicates how much experience
the user has and how many percent of their transactions resulted in them issuing a refund.
If there is no user posting that fits your schedule, you can bid on your preferred time.
Let's say Peter has a great morning and decides to take his three friends to Wakuriya San Mateo at 6 PM the same day.
He checks the restaurant's website and sees that no reservations are available. He then looks at the Wakuriya San Mateo page on AppointmentTrader, but finds that there are no user postings either.
That's where the community-driven bid process comes in.
Peter can place a bid on AppointmentTrader, which serves as a reward for any community member who chooses to work on securing the reservation. AT then notifies experienced users who may be able to help.
Step-by-Step Process
1.) Setting a Reward (Bid)
* AppointmentTrader uses historical data to recommend a reasonable reward amount for securing a reservation - let's say $100.
* Peter really wants to go, so he increases the bid (or reward) to $200.
* At this stage, the reservation does not exist yet.
2.) A Community User Picks Up the Bid
* PerceptiveWash44, an experienced AT user, has a strong track record of successfully securing reservations and low refund requests, they receive a notification about Peter's $200 bid.
* PerceptiveWash44 picks up the bid, meaning they will now work on securing the reservation.
* Peter can now talk to PerceptiveWash44 for any questions Peter may have as PerceptiveWash44 user fills the bid.
3.) Finding the Reservation
* PerceptiveWash44 now uses their connections at Wakuriya San Mateo to secure the table.
* If they successfully get the 6 PM table for four, Peter receives a confirmation that the reservation has been secured.
* If PerceptiveWash44 fails to secure the reservation, the bid is returned to the pool so another user can try.
4.) Payment & Protection
* Once the reservation is secured, PerceptiveWash44 receives the $200 reward which is credited to PerceptiveWash44's AT balance, where users manage their own funds and can withdraw via available payout options such as bank transfer, PayPal, or Zelle.
* Peter can now enjoy the dinner with his friends at Wakuriya San Mateo!
* As with all transactions on AT, disputes and no-show fees are handled through the platform's community-driven resolution system. Users with a strong track record are incentivized to fulfill bids successfully, and community members can report issues to maintain trust in the marketplace.
