Leichi

Leichi is a hidden gem in a Santa Clara strip mall that feels way more refined than it looks from the outside. The cozy space is perfect for a date night or a small group, with easy parking and the option to reserve ahead. The staff is friendly and the service efficient. Standouts are the house-made specialties—the ginger ale, silky pudding-like tofu, and refreshing cold-dipping soba. Don’t miss the comforting salmon ochazuke, perfectly crisp tempura, scallop with uni, fresh mini chirashi, and the hojicha panna cotta to finish. Everything here is a win.

Charming Japanese tapas restaurant in Santa Clara. The tables and seats are small, but the food they serve are fresh, well-seasoned, and beautifully presented. Reservation is highly recommended, as they fill up quickly and the turnover rate is not very fast. Efficient and friendly service. Large free parking lot.

The udon and tempura were absolutely delicious! I went there for lunch and it was a bit crowded, but if you go early, you can get a seat right away. They also serve soba, so if you’re craving authentic Japanese udon and soba, this is the place to go! It turns into an izakaya at night, so I’d love to come back and try that next time!

It was pricey, but I think it is typical for the quality of food that you get. Definitely make a reservation because the venue is small. I would have preferred a bit more privacy between the tables, but I understand it's hard because, again, the venue is small. I took my date here, and was conscious about the other party sitting 5 inches away from me while I was trying to have more intimate conversation

This is one of my favorite places for Japanese food, tapas style. Their menu is great, and their food rivals Japan. Highly recommend if you want special Japanese food (other than sushi, ramen, and Bento boxes.

Awesome and fresh Japanese restaurant. There were a lot of items I got to try that I’ve never really seen before. Like the Yuba and Salmon with Yum. Both had interesting textures and were cold dishes. I didn’t expect that, but it was a pleasant surprise. The sashimi was amazing. If I were to rank them, I would put the yellow fish at top and then salmon and mackerel to follow. The other 3 were also great but I liked those ones more. The duck soba was complex. It has a smokey flavor to it along with the fatty taste of duck. Highly recommend this dish. The restaurant is on the smaller side, and it can get a bit loud and crowded in there. The wait can be really long so it is best to reserve through Yelp ahead of time and even reserve earlier than your eta. You can show up for a time, and still be waiting since it is that popular.

Beautiful food. Would order everything on the menu if I can😝

A small Japanese restaurant with nice vibe and good food! This restaurant was cheaper than average bay area Japanese food places. The place wasn’t spacious but the staff were friendly and the food was great. We ordered Kamo Kunsei (hickory-smoked duck) and it came with smoke and tasted really good! The fried chicken cartilage was ok, and the grilled black cod was very well marinated and had really rich taste. I also ordered chazuke and it was good as well but I forgot to take a pic. Will def come again. Highly recommend!

Leichi is always so satisfying when I want nice Japanese cuisine! Service is very attentive, and while the restaurant is small, it's in a convenient location and cozy! Plenty of parking in the lot next to Lucky as well. Kaisendon here is spectacular 9/10 Duck soba is consistently good 8/10 Yuzu sorbet and the tofu dessert are 9.5/10 The scallop crudo style appetizer with basil oil wasn't their best work, flavors felt awkward and clashing 6/10

Came here for a late night dinner and was able to snag a spot. This place is pretty small and tight so prepare for a wait if you go during the typical dinner time. Despite it being a small space, the wall border definitely created privacy for my party. This place is like an izakaya with a lot of small fish specialties. Ikura Bowl (4/5): If you just want Ikura and love it, I definitely recommend this one. It's cheaper than by a whole box at Hmart. Hokkaidon Bowl (4/5); This bowl comes with scallop, uni, and Ikura. I thought the bowl was way too small for the price. The fish was pretty fresh though. Would not recommend sharing. Udon w/ tempura (5/5): I really thought this was the best dish the share. It was warm and cozy. Marinated Black cod (5/5): although it was small, it was packed with flavor. The sweetness just bursts as you go through the flakiness of the fish. Panna Corra (5/5): I usually never get dessert at a restaurant, but this looked too good for me not to try. I thought it wasn't too sweet and was the perfect ending to a meal. Overall I really enjoyed this place and would love to come back to try other dishes.

This happened a few months ago on May, but the experience was so unpleasant that it still sticks with me. I brought my family here for my mom's birthday celebration because we heard they serve good quality food. To be fair, the food itself was fine and met the standard, but the hospitality and cleanliness were a huge disappointment. The place is not very big, and since we had a large group, we took up a lot of space. From the hostess's expression, it felt like we were not really welcome, almost as if she thought we were being too loud. But the worst part came when we found a body hair in one of the dishes. Yes, a wavy body hair--absolutely unacceptable for any restaurant, let alone a high-end Japanese place. It was gross. All they did was replace the dish. What they should have done was waive the meal or at least show real accountability. We did not even feel comfortable continuing to eat. Thinking back, I regret not leaving right then, but since it was my mom's birthday, I did not want to cause a scene. If they respond and deny this, I have evidence. Even after months, I still remember it vividly, and I feel the need to share this to warn others. They really need to take their sanitation and hospitality seriously.

I came here on a Thursday night and it was a great spot for a date night. This was my first time having Japanese tapas like this and it was really enjoyable. We started off with some beers (a nice treat after a long work week) and ordered the hot stone beef tongue, the chawan mushi with salmon roe, and sashimi 6 ways. I've only cooked meat like this in a hot stone once so I was glad to experience it again and the quality of the meat was good. Paired with a little salt and a squeeze of lemon, I thought it was tasty. The sashimi was really delicious and the quality of fish was good. The yellowtail and salmon were our top picks and really melted in our mouths. I would come back to try some of their other menu items, like the noodles and some of the other popular dishes on Yelp. The ambiance of Leichi was like an elevated casual. Nothing too fancy but definitely a good spot for a date or like a small special hangout with friends. Plenty of parking as well. The service was pretty good. They were attentive and we were seated right away (granted we did have reservations). Overall, would recommend and would come back!

I love this place and my go to whenever craving for Japanese food! It's a hidden gem where I found my comfort food and the prices are also very reasonable. I recommend booking reservation because the tables are limited and they're almost always full for dinner. When I'm inside, I feel like I'm dining in Japan! I love that their menu is very authentic Japanese food and not just a sushi/ramen menu. They have a lot of variety in the menu and I'm sure you can find something you like. My favorites are - buri daikon, miso soup, saikyo cod and salmon belly. I also love the matcha ice cream! All are so good! People there are also nice and Japanese :) Will always be my favorite place.

This spot has been on my foodie bucket list for a minute so I knew I finally had to slide thru so here I am. I came here with my dad and we ordered a variety of items. I ordered the taco wasa, the hokkaidon, and the tongue grill. My dad got the 6 kind sashimi, harasu, and the gindara saikyo. Everything was pretty good. My dad really liked the harasu and saikyo. For me, the highlights were the hokkaidon and the tongue grill which is beef tongue cooked on this decorative tabletop grill. Our server Tuan was cool and he gave great recommendations and insight on their menu. Overall, this is a comfy Japanese spot offering a variety of high quality tapas. Try it out if you like. :)

Leichi is a hidden gem in a Santa Clara strip mall that feels way more refined than it looks from the outside. The cozy space is perfect for a date night or a small group, with easy parking and the option to reserve ahead. The staff is friendly and the service efficient. Standouts are the house-made specialties--the ginger ale, silky pudding-like tofu, and refreshing cold-dipping soba. Don't miss the comforting salmon ochazuke, perfectly crisp tempura, scallop with uni, fresh mini chirashi, and the hojicha panna cotta to finish. Everything here is a win.

Leichi is a strip mall Japanese restaurant at the shopping center with Lucky market and a run down liquor shop. The restaurant itself is small and cluttered, but we had a reservation and we got seated right away. The booth we got was ok but right under the AC so very cold. The service was friendly and quick, but it wasn't really that organized. They took the order quickly and then came back and oddly asked us if we still needed menus. They delivered hot soba instead of cold soba. The food came out quickly but they never came around to ask if we liked it or needed anything else. Anyway the food quality is pretty good. The cold soba was tasty and the tiny pieces of duck were tasty. The limited sashimi (import from Japan) was excellent. It tasted fresh and tender. The ikura bowl was good but the rice needed a tad more seasoning. The nasu denkagu was disappointing. The eggplant itself was fine but it was overpowered by a thick coating of miso or soy based sauce. The tempura was pretty good. It was served hot and was nicely cooked and breaded. It

i recommend making a reservation! there's no paper waitlist, so it's easiest for getting notified when your table is ready. it was already pretty packed on a monday evening around 8:30, but the service was smooth and the food came out very fast. i recommend the agedashi tofu, beef tongue (with the yuzu sauce), and the hamachi carpaccio. i really enjoyed the tempura that came with the soba, but i thought the soba was just ok. probably the best izakaya in the bay that i've tried so far :)

Leichi is such a cute, cozy Japanese restaurant in San Jose that I visited recently with my family. We ordered quite a few things - from favorite first: 1. Homemade tofu - this came with toppings on the side that you put on top - some green onions, salt, ginger, soy sauce. The tofu was SO fresh and had an amazing sweet taste to it even without all the toppings (had a bite first!) 10/10 - would 200% get it again next time. It's so difficult to find fresh made tofu in a restaurant! 2. Unagi bowl - this was in a tiny wooden square bowl; it was so fragrant and the sauce drenched perfectly onto the white rice. The quality of this dish reminded me of the unagi bowl I had in Japan. 10/10 3. Ikura chawanmushi - SO good?!! The egg was so soft, so fluffy and the ikura on top was perfectly salty and generous in portion. NO NOTES 10/10 4. Hamachi carpaccio - flavor was so well balanced with a bit of sweet, tangy, sour and saltiness. So buttery and fresh, 9/10 5. Hot duck udon - the broth was rich without being overwhelming. Duck meat was tasty and not too gamey. Homemade soba noodles made in house, another treat!! 9/10 6. Mini chirashi bowl - came with just two types of fish (salmon and albacore?) it was tasty but the portion was quite tiny, next time will opt for the sashimi platter instead! 8/10 I can't wait to come back to try their other dishes :) It was such a fun evening, took me right back to Japan!!

Leichi came highly recommended and it did not disappoint. It is a small, but very clean restaurant with really good service. It was lunch time and they had a nice lunch menu with a lot of good options. I had the Sashimi Bento that came with really fresh sushi that melted like butter, white rice, miso soup and some veggies. I will definitely be back and I will be getting the Katsu and curry plate that looked so good.

I have been going here since Leichi opened. This is authentic izakaya style food -- small plates, carefully prepared. They are busy, a good sign so make a reservation; Yelp is the easiest way. My experience with the food that it is on point to what I have had in Japan. They regularly fly fish in from Japan. This place is not inexpensive but I have never been disappointed in anything I was served. They also have an extensive selection of sake and shochu.

4.5 stars We tried leichi for the first time. Made reservation after my Yelp research and noted some menu items to try. We were the first to arrive at this quaint small restaurant with traditional Japanese vibes. We shared a bunch of items, ranged from good to excellent with a few standout favorites. The Hokkai Don and limited sashimi plates were both super fresh, the flavor and texture of the seafood were outstanding. Portion sizes smaller than expected. House made tofu was excellent, creamy and smooth, one of my favorite. Salmon belly was served in a more generous portion and grilled to perfection with crunchy skin and moist juicy meat; it was good to share . Another winner. Soba with tempura, we both enjoyed the al dente texture of the noodles, tempura was well executed. How we wished there was more shrimps than one. Also one of the larger portions good to share. Simmered daikon suggested by the waitress was good, more like a home cooked dish, light and comforting. Hamachi Carpaccio was creamy and tasty, pretty good but didn't stand out as much. The place filled up very quickly after 5:30, service was generally good especially at the beginning. We did feel a little pressure to leave toward the end. We did thoroughly enjoyed every item very much, still a little hungry after finishing everything. Although we wished some of the portions could be more generous, will be happy to come back and recommend to others.

Love Leichi! A solid izakaya spot in the South Bay. I've been here a couple times and everything has been great and super solid. Highlights: - yuba w/ uni - fresh tofu w/ uni - beef tongue grilled tableside - roasted beef tongue w/ truffle snow - miso black cod - hokkaidon - tempura - soba - ochazuke The restaurant is small, so it is best to make reservations.

Came here with a friend on a Monday evening. W had a reservation for two people and were seated quickly when we arrived. The restaurant recently opened and is cozy inside, with tables fairly close together. Our servers were friendly and helpful when we had questions about the fresh fish offerings. We ordered a variety of dishes to share and had a nice variety. Everything was tasty- and the miso black cod and the A5 beef that we cooked at the table on the small grill were two of the standout dishes!

"In the search for taste bud pleasure, Leichi is a hidden treasure." Everything about Leichi is unassuming. The name. The decor. The corner unit of a typical plaza in Santa Clara. Leichi quietly serves up high quality, authentic Japanese food that speaks for itself. This foodie tasted the cold soba (so refreshing), hot soba, assorted tempura and miso-marinated grilled cod (so succulent and aromatic). Each dish was masterfully prepared using fresh ingredients and was brought out in a timely manner by the professional wait staff. A reservation is highly recommended, at both lunch and dinner. True score: 9.0 / 10 Return? YES

Returned for an early lunch today. We managed to grab the second to the last table for two. Lunch sets and a la carte dinner menus were available. We ordered a chirashi sushi and salted salmon bento. Great service and delicious food just like the first time there. Give it a try - highly recommend making reservations especially if a special occasion dinner!

I haven't been here for a long time. But it is still consistent. Great food, and fresh. Service is attentive and courteous. The only problem was it seemed they were rushing us out. The food portions were a little on the small side and so value isn't as great.

Came here for the first time and not knowing what to expect in food quality. First off we ordered a bunch of appetizers and small dishes because we wanted to try almost everything on the menu. Price wise was decent. Every dish we ordered was not a disappointment. I enjoyed everything we ordered. Fish quality is very fresh. Their soy sauce is house made and tofu as well. I really loved the tongue steak with truffle powder. Not chewy and just cook right. We did not get to try their house made soba noodles. Next time.

Awesome and fresh Japanese restaurant. There were a lot of items I got to try that I've never really seen before. Like the Yuba and Salmon with Yum. Both had interesting textures and were cold dishes. I didn't expect that, but it was a pleasant surprise. The sashimi was amazing. If I were to rank them, I would put the yellow fish at top and then salmon and mackerel to follow. The other 3 were also great but I liked those ones more. The duck soba was complex. It has a smokey flavor to it along with the fatty taste of duck. Highly recommend this dish. The restaurant is on the smaller side, and it can get a bit loud and crowded in there. The wait can be really long so it is best to reserve through Yelp ahead of time and even reserve earlier than your eta. You can show up for a time, and still be waiting since it is that popular.

HOLYYYY. This restaurant blew my mind. I started salivating as soon as I opened the menu. There's so many unique options that I have never seen at a Japanese restaurant before. The prices were super reasonable so I thought everything would be tiny. But the portions are HUGE as well! The salmon belly was so buttery and the skin was crisped to perfection. The salmon with yam was such a unique dish. So fire. I also loved the hamachi carpaccio. It came with so many pieces and the quality was so so fresh. I wanna come back and try everything from their extensive menu. 11/10!!

I came here for a birthday dinner with my family. It was our first time and I'm glad we made reservation because the place was packed. Inside is spacious but the actual tables and seating area is a little tight, especially if you're sharing a side of the booth with someone. I didn't mind too much. The food came out quick and everything tasted really good! They serve small dishes that are decently priced.

Came here as a group of 2 with reservations on a Friday night. We had a reservation at 6:30pm, arrived at about 6:25pm, and waited about 10-15mins before getting seated. The restaurant was pretty small (maybe around 10 tables?) and quite busy. Definitely recommend making a reservation as it seemed like most people coming had a reservation. ~The Food~ - Tongue Grill ($15): Comes with 8 slices of fresh beef tongue and you grill it on the mini stone/grill! Was a fun dish to cook and eat. It came with fresh lemon and salt which you eat with the cooked beef tongue. - Tempura Serio ($19.50): The soba noodles were great! I love cold soba and you could really tell that the soba was fresh/homemade. I think this was the best dish of the night. The tempura was not bad, but nothing too special. Came with 1 piece of shrimp, 1 pumpkin, 2 sweet potato slices, and 1 shishito pepper. - Mushi Eel ($15): The steamed eel sushi was a bit of a disappointment. It was one smaller piece of eel and lot of rice lol. I think the ratio of eel to rice was a bit off. We also felt that the vinegar in the sushi rice was a bit too strong for our taste. - Yuba Gohan ($11): loved this one! The Yuba was so fresh and creamy and paired rlly well with the crunchy topping + ginger. - Soba pudding ($7.50): also loved this one! Not too sweet, slightly bitter caramel at the bottom. Didn't taste the buckwheat too much, but still really enjoyed this one! Would recommend! ~Parking~ Lots of parking in the plaza, so I wouldn't worry about finding a spot! ~Overall~ The ambiance is quite casual and comfy! It is a very small and packed restaurant, probably only about 10 tables and most of them are for 2 people. Although staff were pretty friendly, I found the service to be strangely inefficient. We were served by a different servers each time. While the server was handing us the check, they were speaking with the table next to us, who just got seated a few mins ago, and were asking them to get up and wait for a different table instead lol kinda strange? It was really nice of them to give us a scoop of black sesame ice cream on the house as we were celebrating a birthday! Overall, service was ok! Not sure I'd go again, but if I were, I would definitely get the soba!

Ordered the bento boxes from DoorDash. The salmon was well marinated and my husband enjoyed the beef. The beef is medium rare. The side dishes were delicious too. Came with potato salad, potato croquette, pickled veggies and a seafood salad type of side dish

We had a 11:45 reservation on a Monday holiday for 5 people and were seated right away. The restaurant filled up pretty quickly soon after. The tables are pretty small so I don't recommend coming with a large party. Parking is pretty easy since the restaurant is in a large plaza. If you like Japanese style breakfast, this is the place for you! Their bentos are a good amount of food and they offer a lot for lunch. I loved that their tempura came with green tea salt, ginger, and grated radish on the side. The ochazuke was also really filling. Everything tasted delicious. I want to come back for dinner and try their other tapas.

The best seafood I've had in a long time! Everything was so fresh and delicious. I loved the small tapas portions so we were able to try a little bit of everything. We came in with matcha drinks from another place and they were kind enough to hold onto our drinks for us in the fridge, since outside beverages are not allowed. Very happy they didn't make us throw them away or let them spoil!

SPECIAL: - Kobujime amaebi yukke (shrimp with spicy miso): 7/10 - Uni blancmange: 2/10; this was a miss for us. It was uni (which was great) over an orange jelly with a mousse below it. The mousse was the worst part - flavorless and was like eating whipped fat. I also was not a fan of the way they served it. It came in a shot glass which made it hard to eat and taste all the flavors at once STARTER - Grilled edamame (garlic): 10/10 - Housemade tofu: 10/10 - Goma Tofu: 8.5/10 - Salmon w Yum (salmon sashimi with mountain yam noodles): 6/10; sticky gooey consistency to the noodles DELICACY: - Karasumi (sun dried salted mullet roe): 4/10 - Ume suisho (shark cartilage w sour plum paste): 9/10 - Tako Wasa: 6/10 - Shiokara (marinated squid, squid liver paste): 8/10 a little salty. So much better eaten with rice SASHIMI - Sweet raw shrimp: 6/10 - Kombu cured Mackerel: 6/10 - Octopus Carpaccio: 7/10 STEAMED - Ebi Shjino: 6/10 COLD DISHES - Vinegared Scallop x Octopus: 6/10 - Mozuku cured snapper: 6/10 mostly seaweed DEEP FRIED - Nankotsu (chicken cartilage): 10/10; amazing crunch, chewiness and perfect amount of salt - Nasu Dengaku (fried eggplant): 10/10 tastes wonderful with rice - Ebi baguette: 7/10 GRILLED - Gindara Saikyo black cod: 10/10 - Tongue steak: 6/10, nicely cooked, nice chew, needs a bit more salt on top - Harasu (salmon belly w salt): 8/10 - Kamo Kunsei (smoked duck with balsamic vinegar sauce): 7/10, the smoke was great and you could really taste it. It needed a little more salt or flavor SIMMERED - Simmered Gindara (black cod simmered): 9/10 SUSHI & RICE DISHES - Chirashi (lunch menu): 8/10 - Wood pressed sushi mackerel: 9/10 COLD & HOT NOODLE DISHES - Seiro Soba: 8/10 DESSERT - Soba pudding (buckwheat flan w/ caramel): 6/10 - Panna cotta (roasted green tea): 8/10

Leichi was so underwhelming. Portions were small, dishes were pricy, and everything was just okay. The tempura breading was too thick and oily, and got soggy quickly. The beef tongue steak was gamey. The miso cod was fine. Duck was pretty good! Fatty and I liked how the balsamic vinaigrette cut through the fat. The hojicha panna cotta was not like what I saw in other photos. It was so hard (def too much gelatin added). Chawan Mushi with crab sauce and the Leichi house made tofu were the standouts for the night. However, at this price point and with the lack of service, I don't see myself coming back.

Credit where it due. Leichi has significantly improved on my last visit. The food was great, a lot of izakaya dishes that went well with sake. All the food were good to very good from sashimi, karaage, to soba noodle. Service was also fast and efficient.

Grilled Edamame 3 garlic, medium flavorful A5 Wagyu Steak 5 marinated thick pcs, medium rare, juicy, rich, melt in mouth Miso Black Cod 5 tender, juicy, slightly sweet, flavorful Simmered Gindara 4 black cod, soy dashi too salty Steamed Gindara 4 super juicy, sake flavor, ask for no mushroom Salmon Kama 4 large piece, yuzu zest, super juicy, slightly fatty Tongue Grill 4 thin slices, no seasoning Tongue Steak 5 thick pcs, medium rare, chewy, juicy, yuzu pepper soy sauce, white truffle powder, flavorful Smoked Duck 4 chewy, slightly dry/tough, medium flavorful Hamachi Carpaccio 5 Hamachi Sashimi 4 red, fishy, fresh Cured Snapper 4 white, chewy Octopus Carpaccio 4 chewy, sauce too salty Sweet Raw Shrimp 5 super fresh Hotate Uni 5 fresh Grilled Salmon Belly 4 Assorted sashimi (bluefin tuna 5, halibut 4, horse mackerel 4, cod 4) Limited sashimi 3 twelve pcs, Japan, some meat loose / soggy Snapper Eggplant w/ Dashi 3 fish slightly dry, soft eggplant, dashi broth seafood savory, salty, drinkable Fish soup 3 Vinegared Sea Cucumber 3 Curry Udon 2 Cold Dipping Sauce - Duck 3 cold soba, thin, sticked together, lukewarm sauce, mostly soy sauce flavor, 3 pcs of duck Yellowtail & Daikon 2 not good Hokkaidon Special 4 sushi rice bowl; Hokkaido uni, dark color; 4pc scallop, fresh; marinated ikura, ginger flavor; seasame; super small bowl Green Tea Panna Cotta 3 brown, roasted tea, super strong tea flavor, slightly bitter Fresh Squeezed Grapefruits Chu-hi 2 too light, taste like water

This place is a true authentic gem! I am so glad we came here to celebrate my son's birthday! We ordered salmon cooked 4 different ways, sashimi, grilled, steamed, and boiled in soup. We also got the waygu beef to cook on hot stone. Everything tasted so amazing and we were smiling throughout our dinner. The staff were super courteous and very friendly. We looking forward returning to try more items on the menu. I think we only covered 8 today. See attached photos for some of the dishes we tried.

Came in for lunch yesterday. Let me tell you, they have the freshest sashimi I've ever had. Their limited sashimi was outstanding and delicious. It was like butter that melts in your mouths. In addition, their bento's were also tasty. I got the marinated salmon and it was great. The service was fantastic, considering how busy it was. Even though there was a huge line outside, we were seated right away as scheduled by our reservation. Although it was completely pack, the waiter & and waitress did an amazing job with checking up on us every once in awhile and making sure we were doing ok. Overall, fantastic place. Loved every bit of it and will be coming back to try more goodies

Came here to celebrate birthday for a friend, and found this nice hidden gem! I first drove past it because it was not flashy nor situated next to a bunch of restaurants.. but that adds to the charm! Once I got inside, the atmosphere is very cozy, and the servers were very friendly and helpful. I was disappointed they didn't have the beef tongue curry. The server told me I could get the curry with another protein and add grilled beef tongue. I don't know why they can't just make the beef tongue curry if they have the ingredients? Anyway I decided to get pork katsu curry instead, and it was very yummy. At the table I also tried the tofu and edamame appetizers, and both did not disappoint. Will definitely come back and try their other dishes later!

a cute japanese izakaya tucked away in a fairly low-traffic plaza, my friend and i came here without a reservation and the hostess was able to seat us at a booth with the caveat that we were squeezed right before a reservation and had about an hour or less to order and eat -- definitely worked with our plans, and definitely appreciated the effort, but i can also see how being rushed under a time limit might not work for some other people. this meant service was speedy and everything came out on time, and while the servers weren't overbearing they were certainly present and friendly. i ordered the hokkaidon (a special, i'm a sucker for both uni and scallops even with the extra price); it was on the smaller side but quality was certainly there, overall enjoyable. my friend ordered one of the soba dishes (the exact one slips my mind) and was fairly satisfied with it. there was a dish with shredded yam and onsen egg that wasn't to my friend's taste, but i didn't mind it. overall, would love to go again to have the full experience with a reservation.

Biggest tip: make a reservation!! We made one two days before via Yelp. When we visited, we saw them turn away multiple parties since they were booked for the rest of the night (Friday evening). We had to wait around 10-15 minutes after our reservation time to get seated but the experience was pleasant and food came out quickly. We came as a party of 3 and ordered a variety of items. Some highlights: + Beef tongue! It was fun getting to grill it on our own. The quality was amazing - the beef wasn't too lean. Don't forget to squeeze a lemon! + 6 types of sashimi set: super fresh and we loved the variety! There wasn't a single piece that we didn't enjoy. The raw scallops were my fav! Overall, ambience seemed perfect for a date night or intimate dinner - the way the restaurant is arranged makes it feel like you're having a private dining experience. I'd definitely recommend!

This was a really nice restaurant in terms of ambiance, service, and food quality! Prices range $25-50 a person, but I would genuinely recommend this restaurant for authentic Japanese flavors. To start, the salmon with(?) yum was a unique appetizer with mountain yam "noodles" topped with salmon, but the texture was really interesting because it turned slimey as time went on, similar to natto. It could have definitely used more salmon, but it is an appetizer and was a good starter. The mini charashi, agedashi tofu, and chawanmushi were good but did not stand out. The hamachi carpaccio would be a pass next time, the fish was overpowered by the sauce. My favorite dish was the grilled black cod, it was extremely tender and juicy, but just a heads up- the portions were extremely small. Lastly, the soba pudding was pretty good! There was a surprising layer of sauce on the bottom, similar to the taste of burnt sugar/creme brulee and it was like a very nutty tofu. Overall, would come back to try the duck soba :)

Live, love, laugh, Leichi ;) This is a great spot to sample quality Japanese dishes. The restaurant gets busy quickly so I'd recommend making a reservation before stopping by. Also note that space/seating is quite small and intimate, so dining with a large party may not feel as comfortable. I've been here a few times and really enjoy their raw menu items--like the Hokkaidon and Mini Chirashi Bowl. The fish quality is always fresh and portion sizes are great for someone who doesn't eat much like myself. My boyfriend really enjoys their Salmon Chazuke, so much so that he orders three servings LOL. Service is alright--nothing outstanding. Prices are on the higher end but not too outrageous for a Japanese small plates dining experience. Overall, I think the great food compensates for anything else Leichi lacks. I'll be back to try out more menu items in the future!

Grilled salt salmon is the best lunch option in town! I am surprised there is such an authentic Japanese restaurant nearby the area. Their lunch menu definitely features some of my favorite item including grilled fishes. I have tried grilled Hokke and salmon, however, salmon is my favorite. It comes with three different side dishes. Best of all, the soup that it came with was NOT miso soup! Finally a refreshing change. At night time its a traditional Japanese izakaya.

The food here was very fresh and authentic tasting. A bit pricey (for a college student). The fried agadashi tofu was very unique compared to other agedashi I have previously had. A usual agedashi tofu would be crispy with the light dashi sauce. However, the crispy skin of this agedashi had a mochi like texture which I did not mind. It is up to preference but to me I loved the texture! It was crispy, it was chewy, the dashi was flavorful. It tasted more concentrated compared to others. A good dish overall! Bonus for the tempura oyster mushroom. The chirashi bowl was your typical chirashi bowl. All the fish tasted very fresh and soft with a subtle vinegar/tangy taste. In the rice you can really taste the roasted sesame flavor that paired well with the fish. The woodpressed sushi were unexpectedly our favorite dish out of all of our order. Especially the salmon. The mackerel did not have the fishy smell to it and tasted nice. If there was a little char to the top of the mackerel, it can definitely bring out the flavor more. The salmon was by far the best. It was dense and had a crunchy (jelly fish like) texture when chewing. It tasted very fatty and very fresh. We will definitely be reordering the salmon woodpress. Honorable mention: the house soy sauce was BOMB. It paired well with every fish. Something about that soy sauce just hit differently. Lastly, we had the chicken soba (not pictured). This was my first time trying soba and we got it hot since it was pretty cold out. My first impression of soba in general, I feel like it is not for me. I personally like thick and dense noodles. The soba was so delicate that it broke apart in my mouth very quick. It wasn't that bad though. Taste wise, I think the restaurant did well with the soba despite having no recollection of eating soba. I'm glad to have experienced my first soba here. The chicken was very soft and tender, however the broth was a bit heavy and salty for me. Despite having reservations and being there on time, we still had to wait outside for another 10-15 minutes for a table. Which kinda sucked since it was cold out and we were expecting a table upon arrival. Other than that, the waitress was very attentive to our table.

Came here close to closing (~9:30), and it was packed!! A great sign of a popular and loved place. Everything was great, except maybe the shrimp toast which only has the downside of being a bit too hard. Super cute place, nice staff, superb vibes. A real tucked away gem; don't be fooled by the liquor store next door!!

Has an amazing experience here. The spot is quite tight and the food has a small portion but everything is super fresh and aesthetically pleasing. Service is excellent and they are actively checking on you.

This place was so underwhelming. The service was terrible, not only did I make a reservation I made to include it was a birthday. Not only did they ignore us, but they actually just never checked in on us at any point in the meal. I ordered the steamed tofu with salmon roe, 15 minutes later it still didn't come out so I asked a server where it was and then another 10 minutes passed by and still nothing. I had to flag them down 3 times. The food was also really disappointing both in terms of taste, presentation, and pricing. The restaurant itself is just your standard Japanese restaurant, little small so would definitely recommend a reservation. There are so many better Japanese restaurants and sushi restaurants in the bay. Will not be coming back

Had a wonderful time at Leichi. Tucked away in a corner, it's a cozy spot for Japanese tapas and a great place to celebrate any occasion. I loved all the dishes, especially the hamachi carpaccio, duck soba noodles, and chirashi bowl. Everything was delicious. I'm mouth-watering just thinking about it. The service was quick and friendly. Would definitely return soon!

Leichi is a small shop with quality food! The shop seems more suited for intimate dining. I came as a group of 6 and it was a bit too cramped for us, as the only available seating for us at the time was booth seating. My partner and I shared their mini chirashi and washu beef steak bento. Both were of great quality and the "just-right" amount to fill you up. I will say it is on the more expensive side, however. The shop is located in a plaza so plenty of parking. The six of my party came around 12:30pm on a Sunday, and we were seated with no trouble. Seems like the lunch rush came shortly after though. I would definitely consider returning to try out their other items.

Be sure to make a reservation before hand because this place sure gets busy! Me and my friend ordered a ton of dishes because each portion is very small. My favorite is the salmon rice with dashi, it was so flavorful and the hot dashi cooked the raw salmon a bit when poured in. I also liked the soba, it was very refreshing and good portion. We also tried their house made tofu, it was pretty unique, the texture was almost kinda like cream cheese. At each table there is a small bell which you could press to call the servers so it was very convenient, the servers were very patient and when we asked, also gave us a bunch of recommendations. It could get a bit pricey since each dish is small and it builds up, but definitely worth a visit!

Came in during dinner time and it was packed! We ordered edamame, tori soba noodles, smoked duck, and the homemade tofu! Edamame was really good, especially the spicy one. Tori Soba Noodles was very savory and tasted like they added a lot of dashi! Yummy! Smoked Duck was the best thing I had tonight since it was juicy, well seasoned, and tender! Homemade Tofu was really silky and melts in your mouth. This is the app to get!! The restaurant was very busy with servers working quickly to make sure everyone is happy. Restaurant also felt very casual. Will be coming back!

Leichi is a small but delicious Japanese restaurant! We came with a party of 6 and we squeezed in a booth - I def think this is a more intimate dining experience. The service was great - they checked in on us often. The dishes here are a bit pricy but they are definitely tasty. We got the cold tempura udon and the steak Bento. We were definitely full by the end of the meal! I would want to come back and try their other dishes.

Tiny portions for high prices. I think the move would be to get the duck soba to fill up and then enjoy the tiny pieces of fish and meat. Tables are tiny and you have to order a lot of dishes to get full. They try to not bring you everything at once, since there's no way it can fit. Everything we had was delicious. The sashimi was so fresh and delicate. The grilled meats were sliced tiny and thin and tender. Duck soba had a very light broth, 3 small pieces of meat, and a reasonable amount of noodle. The various grilled fish were delicious, but I think the salmon was my favorite. Parking is easy since it's in a large grocery store parking lot. This place is very popular. We checked in with our reservation and were still left waiting outside in the cold for a while (there is not a lot of space inside to wait).

Was taken here for the first time by my wife and her coworkers for dinner. Maybe because they recommended the place from a positive previous experience, but we ended up quite disappointed with the experience. To make it quick, the dining environment was quite nice. I have no complaints about the ambiance and cleanliness. It's a quiet, comfortable restaurant. Where it went downhill was the food and service. One of our orders (for beef tongue) was so late that we had already finished our food, and I'm pretty certain it was only after we reminded them that they had brought it out eventually. The restaurant was certainly not busy that night, and the beef tongue was something we had to cook ourselves so that delay made little sense. Our biggest issue was with the food. It wasn't bad (if it was, that would be deserving of one star). It was just some of the smallest portions I'd ever seen given at a Japanese restaurant (which is saying something, considering they're usually small to begin with). I ordered something that was supposed to be something similar to a small chirashi. As you can see in the picture, it's literally one or two scallops sliced into a few pieces, a few tiny pieces of uni, and some ikura. The bowl couldn't have been more than 4 inches in diameter, and other than what you see on the surface, the rest was just rice. I really paid over $35 for a small bowl of rice with a couple pieces of seafood. I don't even think I've been to Michelin restaurants that charge that much for that quality and quantity. This was probably the single biggest ripoff at a restaurant I've experienced in a while, and that's not even including tax and tip. The crab chawanmushi was good though, and that with ambiance kept it from being given 1 star. Value is pretty important to me, and the quality and quantity of food, in addition to the poor service, really does not make the experience anywhere near the price. I don't expect to come here again.