Tancho Japanese Restaurant

I actually came to Tancho about 4 years ago and to be honest, I was a bit disappointed back then. But I gave it another shot recently — and it’s like night and day. Everything has improved so much. The quality, the presentation, the flow of the meal — you can tell a lot of effort went into leveling up the experience. Weekday omakase is only $125, which is seriously one of the best deals in the Bay Area. About 90% of the fish is live and super fresh. Every bite is clean, buttery, and melts in your mouth. They use traditional Japanese techniques, but also mix in just the right amount of creativity to keep things interesting. Chef Jason has improved a lot and you can really see the growth in the dishes. He now does a $165 executive omakase menu on weekends, which is more premium and has even more special touches. But even on the $125 weekday menu, he’s been adding more of his ideas lately — and it shows. The flavors and variety are more refined than before. Super happy I gave Tancho another try. It’s now one of my go-to spots when I want quality omakase without the crazy price tag. Just hope it doesn’t blow up too much so I can still get a seat!

Good omakase in Castro valley overall. Small restaurant with very attentive service. Focus on seasonal ingredients and more unique bites. Menu is interestingly half small plates and half nigiri which was different from what we saw on the reservation page which sample menu comprised more nigiri. I did read from recent reviews they might be changing things up. Personally really enjoyed the small plates which were unique with seasonal ingredients. Favorites there were: ankimo goma shiraee (creamy ankimo texture complemented the crunchy seasonal veggies), and donburi (overall just a huge fan of donburis and hotaru ika was in season). Nigiris were quite large, which I didn’t expect. I was initially worried that 6 pc would not be enough, but because of their size, it was. Each bite was quite flavorful and prepared different from how I’ve had it. Squid was chopped up with shiso leaves which I quite liked with the textures. Raw shrimp was also chopped up for even distribution of marinade, but it lost some of the natural sweetness since the marinade was a bit overpowering. Amberjack was also more seasoned than I was used to. Overall good bites, but sometimes the strong flavoring took away from the natural flavor of the seafood that I quite enjoy. Dessert platter was unique comprising of 3 small dishes. Nothing was too sweet and were all quite enjoyable. My fav was the mochi in red bean soup. The jasmine tea jello was also delicate but had a strong tea aroma. A couple of people mentioned this but there is an added operational charge of 17% which is outside of tip. This is a bit higher than what I’ve seen in other restaurants esp when we still have to tip another 15%+. I think even if this was baked directly into the menu price, it wouldn’t raise as much of a flag, but was definitely whispered around when the check came. Overall still a pleasant dining experience with more unique bites than I am used to at omakase. Great staff and service.

A really expensive restaurant but I recommend it for at least one time. You can surprise your love by having the most exclusive dinner. Chefs and staff only for a limited number of people which means a really comfortable experience. We had a beautiful night.

An Omakase Japanese dining experience featuring 20 exquisite dishes, each a delightful celebration for the palate. Two hours of culinary magic, taking you on a journey to Japan with a talented and charismatic chef. We were thrilled, the staff radiated joy, and even the fish seemed happy. If you're in Castro Valley, Tancho Japanese Restaurant is an absolute must-visit. Their omakase is a masterpiece of flavors and artistry, paired with exceptional service and a warm, inviting atmosphere. Truly a dining experience to remember!

Had an amazing Omakase experience with Chef Jason and his team! They do an amazing job in creating a wonderful dining experience, and the food was delicious!!! A wonderful array of appetizers , nigiri, sake paring and desserts!

Excellent omakase! 10-11 course sushi meal costs about $230 per person including tips. Intimate setting especially if you get a seat at the counter. The chef does a good performance five feet in front of you while you await your next dish. The servers are attentive and friendly. And it’s always a treat to come here.

Tancho is my choice for bday dinner two years in a row. Chef Jason prepares exceptional and creative dishes. My favorite this time is the Kawahagi. p.s. I secretly like the additional attention to details this time as I am left-handed. Another guest is also left-handed, so Chef Jason positioned the nigiri for us just like my experience in Japan.

After trying other Japanese restaurants in the same price range, I would say Tancho was ok/so so. —————— Made a May 2024 appointment about two weeks in advance. Everything was good except the 20% surcharge and super bitter miso soup at the end.

Came here for an anniversary dinner and the experience was so good! The menu had a date on it so I assume the omakase set menu changes every once in a while. Everything was yummy, but a couple things that really stood out to us were the baby sea bream, the fatty tuna, salmon, and all of the dessert. Staff is nice and professional, the first couple items we got to hear about how everything was made which was super interesting! I do wish we had gotten to hear more about the preparation of everything on the menu though. Parking was really easy and the reservation process online was not stressful at all. Omakase is always a unique experience, and I'll definitely try ordering some of their bento take outs boxes as well!

Tancho has been on our hit list for a very long time. And last night we were finally able to immerse ourselves in a very intimate omakase dining experience! Boyfriend "surprised" me for our anniversary celebration with a dinner reservation at Tancho. But little did he know, I planted the seed around Valentine's Day that we should come here for our anniversary. Shh. Since we came on a Tuesday, there were only total of 6 of us dining at the bar. So you could say it was very intimate. I was so engaged with watching chef Jeffry (spelling?) prepare all the little fishes that were about to be inhaled by me. His knife skill is on point because he made it seem so seamless, like he was cutting butter! I loved the details going into slicing little lines into the barracuda fish and then blow torching it because it looked so beautiful! I was trying to be present and not have my phone out for every little item but I just HAD to get a picture of that barracuda piece. To remember forever. The whole experience was memorable for me and I will remember it in my lifetime. By the time the experience was finished, it was already dark outside. Which surprised me because I was so engaged in the show that I was unaware of how much time has gone by. Some sort of small card or souvenir gift would've really taken it over the top. But that's okay, we will have the memories in our heart. Be sure to make reservations ahead of time and come celebrate special occasions here. It will be worth it!

The best kept secret for omakase in northern California, Tancho has been ran by Chef Jason since 2019. When Chef Jason brings out his extended omakase menu on the weekends, you are definitely in for a treat. The restaurant itself is hidden in a dinky little strip mall and all the windows are covered, so the restaurant will be easy to miss. Once inside, however, and the clean interior of an serious omakase restaurant will be unmistakeable. Chef Jason is unusual in that while most omakase chefs are strict traditionalists in how they prepare the fish, he is willing to break from tradition to try new things such as dry aging fish. While it may not all be hits like a chef who has perfected making the same thing for 30 years, I give a ton of credit for the innovation he is attempting, and for the most part he hits on it super well. For example, chawanmushi (steamed egg custard) does not typically use olive oil, but the use of it here works perfectly and adds a subtle element that I did not imagine would pair so well. The thinly sliced layers of salmon, the saltwater boiled eel, and the octopus were all fantastic as well. What really stole the show for me was the akamie zuke (lean tuna) and the dessert. The lean tuna had an incredible, lightly burnt skin that added a great smokiness, and the dessert had wonderful layers of flavor. If you are looking for an excellent omakase experience that is innovative, fresh, and can always rely on incredibly fresh fish as its base, then Tancho will be exactly what you are looking for. I am looking forward to coming back and seeing what new exciting thing Chef Jason will come up with next.

Good omakase in Castro valley overall. Small restaurant with very attentive service. Focus on seasonal ingredients and more unique bites. Menu is interestingly half small plates and half nigiri which was different from what we saw on the reservation page which sample menu comprised more nigiri. I did read from recent reviews they might be changing things up. Personally really enjoyed the small plates which were unique with seasonal ingredients. Favorites there were: ankimo goma shiraee (creamy ankimo texture complemented the crunchy seasonal veggies), and donburi (overall just a huge fan of donburis and hotaru ika was in season). Nigiris were quite large, which I didn't expect. I was initially worried that 6 pc would not be enough, but because of their size, it was. Each bite was quite flavorful and prepared different from how I've had it. Squid was chopped up with shiso leaves which I quite liked with the textures. Raw shrimp was also chopped up for even distribution of marinade, but it lost some of the natural sweetness since the marinade was a bit overpowering. Amberjack was also more seasoned than I was used to. Overall good bites, but sometimes the strong flavoring took away from the natural flavor of the seafood that I quite enjoy. Dessert platter was unique comprising of 3 small dishes. Nothing was too sweet and were all quite enjoyable. My fav was the mochi in red bean soup. The jasmine tea jello was also delicate but had a strong tea aroma. A couple of people mentioned this but there is an added operational charge of 17% which is outside of tip. This is a bit higher than what I've seen in other restaurants esp when we still have to tip another 15%+. I think even if this was baked directly into the menu price, it wouldn't raise as much of a flag, but was definitely whispered around when the check came. Overall still a pleasant dining experience with more unique bites than I am used to at omakase. Great staff and service.

Came here for a birthday and it always feels like an adventure trying omakase menu. It's $150 a person. The menu consists of sashimi, nigiri and some additional surprises. I would say everything tastes better than I imagined. The sashimi was fresh and no need heavy soy sauce and wasabi. I feel I can taste a lot of the sweetness of the fish itself. The waitress is friendly and gave each dish a complete description. It's quite a treat for a special occasion.

I really wanted to love this place but overall I would rate the food 3/5; however, because the service was great, I'm adding an additional star to make up for that. We were told they were experimenting with a new menu and there were some hits but even more misses. For example, I liked Chef Jason's technique on slicing the ika and adding the shiso leaves. Some of my misses that night was the shirako (completely caught me off guard as it was just braised in miso soup), the miso soup tasted sour (even for my partner), the Chawanmushi was a soup (I would've rather they listed it on the menu as soup because it didn't hold its form at all), and lastly the dessert was too busy with only the red bean soup being good. The quality of the fish was fresh so no complaints there. My issue was more of the flavor palette. They mentioned the chef had recently gone to Japan but even these flavors were unfamiliar to me as I'm Japanese. Another ding for me personally was that there was a mandatory operational charge of 17% that was not tip. I found that odd - if it's mandatory then why not incorporate it into the price per person? We assumed it was included gratuity and we were expected to tip on top of that charge. In summary, this place did not hold up to my SF omakase standards. I'd be willing to give them another try if the menu changes since other people have raved about this spot. But until then, I'm going back to the city.

Food quality is absolute best, it's like a party in your mouth. Service is also great and the staff are knowledgeable with what the chef is serving. What I didnt like is the seating arrangement. We were seated behind the folks in the counter to see whats going on but it's basically blocked by people in front of us. If we cannot see it, rather be seated comfortably in other parts of the restaurant. Will definitely come back but will request better seating.

I actually came to Tancho about 4 years ago and to be honest, I was a bit disappointed back then. But I gave it another shot recently -- and it's like night and day. Everything has improved so much. The quality, the presentation, the flow of the meal -- you can tell a lot of effort went into leveling up the experience. Weekday omakase is only $125, which is seriously one of the best deals in the Bay Area. About 90% of the fish is live and super fresh. Every bite is clean, buttery, and melts in your mouth. They use traditional Japanese techniques, but also mix in just the right amount of creativity to keep things interesting. Chef Jason has improved a lot and you can really see the growth in the dishes. He now does a $165 executive omakase menu on weekends, which is more premium and has even more special touches. But even on the $125 weekday menu, he's been adding more of his ideas lately -- and it shows. The flavors and variety are more refined than before. Super happy I gave Tancho another try. It's now one of my go-to spots when I want quality omakase without the crazy price tag. Just hope it doesn't blow up too much so I can still get a seat!

If you are looking for a good omakase in valley area this is your place to go! No additional words needed, great service, ambience and good food quality. Great for date night, birthdays, and special occasions.

I was introduced to Tancho by a friend who bought me a take out Bento Box, the fish was very fresh and nigiri and maki piece are beautifully crafted and tasty. This is a great option for picnic or grab and go.

Ordered ahead for takeout with a time set for picking up our food (~1.5 hours later). I get having to wait a bit upon arrival, but if they haven't even started to make our food, that's a complete and utter failure and disrespect of the customer's time. @Management: if you're not able to support take out because you may be short handed on some days, pls consider removing the take out option for those days.

We came to Tancho for our anniversary dinner! Since they don't open on Sunday and Monday. We had to celebrate a day earlier. It was not easy to make reservations but during the week, a spot opened up online for that Saturday! So I snatched it! I called the restaurant to confirm and the person answered the phone was very kind and confirmed by reservation! Dinner took about 2 hrs. We didn't feel rushed or too long. It was the perfect duration! We didn't sit at the bar. We enjoyed the table and didn't feel left out. The service was top notch! Ambiance was very nice and cozy. There was only the sushi bar and 1 table occupied. All the courses were awesome. It was worth every penny spent! There were some complimentary sake . Also there was an anniversary card and complimentary dessert for anniversary! Highly recommend this place for special occasions!

My husband and I celebrated his birthday with a reservation for two at Tancho on a Friday evening. We opted for the table seating, which provided an inviting atmosphere while still offering that intimate connection with the chef's work. We were able to see and hear the artistry of the dishes being prepared, making it feel just as engaging as sitting at the sushi bar. Our waitress was attentive throughout the evening, ensuring our tea got refilled. There was a minor mistake where our order of Sapporo was forgotten, but we decided to forgo it, which didn't take away from the overall experience. Every dish was crafted and presented so well and the fish tasted so fresh! The meal lasted around 1.5 hours, which felt just right; we never felt rushed and had plenty of time to savor each course. Out of all the dishes, my husband and I thought the Chu Toro (fatty tuna) and Ishidai (barred knifejaw) were the highlights of the night. If you're looking for a new omakase spot in the East Bay, I highly recommend Tancho. It's a wonderful alternative to traveling all the way to SF for an exceptional sushi experience.

My boyfriend and I came to celebrate our 7 year anniversary. The omakase course was to DIE for! This was our first omakase experience since moving to California and it definitely set the standards high. My absolute favorite piece was the monk fish liver handroll. I've had monk fish liver before, but not like this! The chef also wrote us a nice card to help us celebrate the special occasion and provided us with several complimentary drinks and a mochi dessert! The staff members there were extremely nice and walked us through each course. They even provided recommendations for supplementary pieces. The restaurant is well decorated and provides a very high end and intimate experience. I will definitely be back to celebrate other future occasions! I highly recommend Tancho!

A long, overdue review! From 2021 to date, Tancho has evolved and delivered, ensuring that quality and service is maintained and held to the utmost standard. In every corner and space at the restaurant, solo or with company, Tancho gets me coming back! This is telling of their consistency in service and their care for their customers! Quite impressive! Each omakase I've experienced here has been unique but holds true to Japanese sushi omakase experience. Their rice, exceptional. Fish quality, exceptional. Sake variety, rises above east bay's expectation!

My first time at Tancho guaranteed I'm going to become a regular. I was lucky enough to catch Chef Wen doing his last night of a pop-up, and the experience was incredible. The service was attentive throughout, with thoughtful sake pairing and frequent tea refills. They truly made you feel they were personally happy to have you present and were focused on your experience as an individual. Chef Wen did justice to Chef Jason's restaurant, delivering delicious bites that amazed the palate. Of particular delight were the Akami, Hokkaido scallop, Chu Toro, and Uni, but every single course was scrumptious. I also especially enjoyed the chawanmushi topped with snow crab and truffle shavings, which was warm, savory, and delightful. The first thing when I got home from Tancho was start planning my next visit. You should, too!

Must try Omakase in Castro Valley Tancho restaurant truly exceeded our expectations on our latest visit! From the delightful appetizers to the nigiris main courses down to the decadent desserts, every bite was a testament to quality. The fish, freshly imported from Japan, tasted as if we were seaside. Each dish was crafted to culinary excellence. I thought we're not going to get full but the whole dinner menu was so satisfying! Coupled with the cozy ambiance, it was an experience worth every penny of the $125.

Omakase in the east bay? I've been hearing about Tancho since it came across my IG feed a year ago and finally got to try it last night to celebrate my friend's 30th birthday. Located in an unassuming plaza in Castro Valley sits Tancho amongst other restaurants and businesses with a free parking lot. We arrived at our 7:45pm reservation and were greeted with a yuzu lavender drink, then seated to start our 18 course adventure. The staff were very knowledgeable with the courses and where the ingredients were sourced and helped us select a sake for our meal as well as a surprise rare sake at the end of our meal. ill let the photos speak for themselves, but my favorites of the night were the hokkaido crab and soy sauce cured roe, the oyster chuwanmushi, and the first dish- kelp and spring roll.

My husband made a reservation for us to celebrate our wedding anniversary at Tancho Japanese Restaurant. Our reservation was for a Tuesday evening at 8pm. There was ample parking in the parking lot in front of the restaurant. Upon arrival you need to buzz in and confirm with the team that you have a reservation. We arrived close to our reservation time of 8pm, buzzed in, and were seated inside the restaurant within about 10 minutes. The restaurant space is intimate and meticulously maintained. There is thought behind every cup, dish, and plate. Chef Jason and team had a beautiful anniversary card waiting for us. This was so kind and thoughtful and a wonderful way to start the intimate dinner experience. The omakase menu was diverse and every dish was delicious. Some of my personal favorites included the Kansaki Ika, Hokkaido Uni, Ankimo Toast, and the Chu Toro. While the cost is significant, Tancho Japanese Restaurant was a beautiful experience. I would highly recommend considering this restaurant for sushi lovers to celebrate a special occasion.

Polite and attentive service, extremely professional servers and chefs. Food was 9.7/10 and absolutely delicious!! Tuna toro and uni were the highlights of the Omakase experience! Would definitely come back. Extra points for the decor and for how clean the restaurant was as well.

Simply delicious!! One of the more affordable omakases ($125 pp) in the Bay Area. I love that Tancho is located in the East Bay so I don't have to make a trip to SF whenever I want to have an omakase experience. Food: Starters were light a refreshing. I really enjoyed the chawanmushi (steamed egg) because it was so soft and flavorful. I was told that the chawanmushi takes 45 minutes to steam! All the nigiris had a perfect rice to fish ratio. Nothing too fancy but every bite was just right. Most of the fish I had that night was buttery soft and it just melts inside my mouth. I'm not a big fan of Kohada (Gizzard Shad) because it most of the time I find it too fishy but at Tancho, it's not too bad. My favorite bite was the Madai (Japanese Sea Bream) because it was the perfect first bite. Light in flavor and texture. It sets the tone for all the following pieces of nigiri. Service: Exceptional. I would recommend getting bar counter seating since you get to see the chefs make each piece and interact with them. The server was always making sure that the tea was filled and checking in to see if we enjoyed our bites. Environment: Cozy and intimate. Great place for a date or special occasion. Overall, everything was amazing! Looking forward to trying out their omakase again to see what fish they will serve.

Finally tried an omakase experience near me!! No longer need to drag my feet to SF or South Bay lol. Omakase is served at sushi restaurants in Dublin, but nothing beats watching the chef work his magic from the bar. Love watching the mastery in assembling the nigiri, cutting the fish, and grinding fresh wasabi. Omakase ($125 per person): A $50 deposit per person is required when you book your reservation, and it's refunded to you before you pay for your dinner. Our menu today was 16 courses, not including the 2 complimentary courses (a tuna belly nigiri and lavender yuzu drink) which amount to about $8 per dish. So worth it in my opinion especially for the quality!! I regret not adding a salmon ($7) or scallop ($10) supplement. Service was exceptional. A 20% service charge is automatically added to your bill, which shouldn't be a surprise since it's mentioned on the physical menu as well as the website where you make your reservation. I still tipped a little extra as a thanks to the waitress (sorry I forgot your name!!) and manager Sunny who were both so friendly. You are offered tea or water before you're served, and the tea (genmaicha or hojicha) is $5 with consistent refills. Parking was plentiful since it's located in a plaza near Castro Valley Bart. Ambiance was perfect, there was gentle instrumental music and it didn't feel noisy even with 3 occupied tables next to the bar. I would definitely come back for another special occasion! Or order one of their takeout bentos ($75) :)

Just finished dining at Tancho and really enjoyed the meal. I was in town for business and stumbled upon this nearby. Called in and Sonny was kind and accommodating to fit me into their last omakase for the night. The hostess (I forget her name) was also extremely accommodating and let me wait inside with some hot tea until my 8pm dinner group started. Ingredients and quality was really high. You can tell they put a lot of thought into how they sourced and prepared each dish, with many ingredients from Japan, even the wasabi. If I were to be critical I didn't enjoy the crispy unagi. I felt the crisp came off as chewy and was overly salty. It was one of the counter omakase items, which makes me think I'd enjoy the table omakase just fine. I do prefer to sit at the counter for full experience, but the table seating seems good value and experience as well. Everything else was either very good or exceptional with very fresh, flavorful and tender nigiri. I loved that they added pressed mackerel as an appetizer, since its one if my favorites but not as common. Uni was great as the chef combined d two different Hokkaido uni pieces and you could really taste the flavor/texture differences. I've also never had ankimo puréed/prepared that way and it was a creamy delicious flavor. I won't spoil the rest of the menu, but I could definitely review each nigiri and dish positively. Overall a very good dining experience with high quality ingredients and kind service. I would come back for a special occasion.

Their reservation time spacing should be better.. I had to rushing to finish my course as next guests were waiting right next to you. Very uncomfortable Don't recommend it for special meal :(

I took my mom here for her bday dinner last month, it was a last min decision because we were going to go elsewhere but we didn't want to drive too far out. So I was browsing around for nice restaurant for my foodie mom and found this place. I called and sunny picked up. He was sooooo helpful, and so nice, got us in last minute. I told them it's for my mom's bday and she was treated like a queen!!! She felt so special. And we had to watch the kids as my husband was either out of town or still at work. We made them be quiet because kids can't do omakase and they don't have food for little kids. It worked out somehow with iPad and headphones, and they had eaten dinner already at home (our reservation was 8pm) but we were very mindful to make as little noise as possible (though I'm sure we still made some noise so we appreciate all the customers there who were so understanding if any of them were disturbed). The food - I just kept closing my eyes because I thought it was so good. Reminds me of eating in Japan and how delicious food were there!!!! My mom was so satisfied. We both really enjoyed this amazing dining experience. Thank you sunny and bobo for the excellent service!!! We will be back!!

From the outside, Tancho looks more like a secret hideout for sushi aficionados than an actual restaurant. You half expect to knock twice and say a password to get in. And honestly, with its "always looks closed" vibe and strict reservations-only policy, you might as well treat it like a speakeasy for sashimi. Forget walk-ins--they don't just frown on spontaneity; they probably roll their eyes behind the door. But once you've secured a reservation (a triumph worth celebrating), do yourself a favor and request a seat at the bar. That's where the magic happens, courtesy of Chef Jason. He's like a sushi wizard, meticulously explaining every dish as if unveiling chapters of an epic culinary saga. Normally, I'm a "just gimme the food" type of diner, but given the price tag here, I'll take the narration. And trust me, it's worth it. The menu? A revolving door of surprises. They stick to what's freshest, which means no two visits are ever the same. The meal comes out in multiple courses, so don't expect the all-you-can-eat sushi platter to drop in front of you. It's more of a suspenseful, culinary slow burn. Oh, and if you're not a fan of preselected meals, don't worry--Chef Jason allows you to order additional items à la carte once he's shown you what he's got. It's like a sushi tasting menu *plus bonus rounds*. The staff? Next-level attentive. They ask your name and then actually use it, which feels equal parts impressive and slightly unsettling. Are they just really good at remembering names, or is this the sushi edition of Westworld? Either way, I was impressed--and maybe a little flattered. Now for the cherry on top: If you're celebrating something special, Tancho goes all out with handwritten notes and complimentary drinks. It's the kind of touch that makes you feel like you just unlocked the VIP experience, even if you're only splurging because it's payday. And then, after what feels like an evening in a sushi utopia, you step outside and--bam--you're back in the parking lot. It's a surreal, almost disorienting experience, like leaving the Twilight Zone. But instead of eerie music, you're humming with satisfaction. In short: Tancho isn't just a meal; it's an adventure. Sure, it's pricey, exclusive, and a little mysterious, but isn't that part of the charm?

This is the second time I've done Omakase, and this experience did not disappoint. Although we did not do Chef's Bar, our server was able to give us the same experience. She explained each dish and was highly attentive to our needs and dishes. She let me try two amazing drinks that weren't on the menu that I wish I was able to order! Each dish contained extremely fresh ingredients. You can taste the quality of the indigents from what the chef had produced! He even upgraded one of the nigiri pieces because it wasn't up to HIS standard. I will definitely be coming back again!

Dinner review. Omakase. OMAKASE MENU SAKIZUKE Sawara Aburi Tako Sakura-Ni Iwashi Shioyaki Takenoko Sunomono NIGIRI (PART 1) Kohada Gizzard Shad Hirame Olive Flounder Sumi Ika Spineless Cuttlefish Seiko Gani Female Snow Crab Gohan Ikura Shoyozuke NIGIRI (PART 2) Buri Wild Yellowtail Akami-Zuke - Bluefin Tuna (Lean) Tsuri Aji - Jack Mackerel Kinmedai - Golden Eye Snapper OWAN Akadashi Miso CASTELLA TAMAGO Sponge Egg Cake MIZUMONO Tofu Ice Cream SUPPLEMENT Hokkaido Bafun Uni-Sea Urchin $25 (Top Grade) O-Toro - Bluefin Tuna (Fatty) $15 Engawa - Fin Muscle of Flounder $12 (Limited) Muki Hotate - Scallop $10 Overall, "I'm a fan."

Service was excellent. Good artfully prepared dishes but upgrade options was confusing. We were ok with the overpriced sake, most restaurants overcharge. Quiet quaint restaurant. Didn't realize that single uni dish was $35 per person so we paid $70 for 2 pieces of ok uni. Personally I preferred Santa Barbara uni, more buttery. Dishes were good but small. After spending $400 on dinner hubby was still hungry and wanted to go out for BBQ.

My friend and I came here on Wednesday night and quite honestly, I wasn't sure what my expectations were. I used to spend a lot of time in Castro Valley years ago, and it wasn't the most "foodie" of places. We arrived for the second seating of the night at 8pm, and were seated at the bar. We were walked through the experience and got to watch the chef prepare everything throughout the night, which was really fun! The sushi itself was great, and the fact that it was an interactive and intimate experience made it so much better! Neither my friend nor I chose to drink, but we did get hot tea, that was refilled constantly (thank you!) and we each ordered two supplements, bringing the total to $200/person once the 20% service charge was added. I'm not complaining about the price in any way as the sushi was delicious and it's nice to have a splurge once in a while! My favorite items were: *Oddly the crab and tomato was amazing - mostly due to the tomato! *Amaebi - I always love sweet shrimp, and this was no exception! *I loved the squid because the rice came warm and it was a departure from the rest of the courses *Ikura - the little bowl of okra and rice was delicious! *Loved the chu toro - I'm not a huge fan of o-toro, but the chu toro was the perfect kind of buttery *Also loved the scallop The only thing I thought was garbage (sorry) was the avocado pudding. And I almost forgot, I loved the ginger and wasabi! That was pretty fresh and delicious and we also appreciated getting an extra "course" that was toro with liver shavings. Again, would recommend for special occasions!

I had never heard of this place until this year. And then I've had the good fortune to dine here TWICE! It's certainly a special occasion restaurant (unless you're rolling in $$$, then do make it one of your go-to spots!) The customer service is sublime. It is an ultra-cozy place that does NOT want to fill it up to the brim. Meaning, that while it is on the small side, there is plenty of space for customers because they keep occupancy to a minimum. So they absolutely know you're name, are extremely observant, and attend to all your needs. The food is DELICIOUS and, yes, expensive.

Omakase on Sunday night for my husband'a birthday dinner, clef Mo made them, they took 2 hours for those dish.

I'm torn about the rating. It would have been 5 stars but... I made reservations for a birthday a month prior and was excited to try a "Sushi Omakase", since I've seen YouTube videos from Japan about it. I was looking for an authentic experience as that was how Tancho was advertised as. However, we mostly got the experience but it wasn't from the primary chef who would normally be there. A new chef was handling the dinner that night. The food was mostly good, but it was a fusion of other cuisines from the chef's experiences at other restaurants. So that is why I am torn with the review. I was expecting a-close-to authentic Japanese Sushi Omakase. Since going, the website has changed its schedule to include the new chef, and you can choose, depending on the date, which chef. The only food item I didn't care for was the "wagyu beef". It was definitely fatty but it was tough, which is surprising since it was supposed to be the rib-cap. I might consider going back to try the other chef in the future.

We happened to be in Castro Valley around lunch time and realized that Tancho prepares sushi meals to go. I was so excited bec I've been wanting to eat here for a long time but it is too far to drive to. Anyway, we went ahead and ordered the premium omakase and chirashi and were very impressed with the quality and quantity. The fresh fish just melted in my mouth! Will definitely be coming back!!

Wonderful dinner experience with a fantastic menu and ambience. Have already booked another dinner. The food, service, and overall presentation was excellent. This is definitely a local gem and my new favorite.

We ate Tancho for my husband's birthday. The hospitality was excellent. Great service, good ambiance. The price of this omakase is on the cheaper end compared to other Bay Area restaurants. During the meal, no fish really stood out to me. I think I was even upset with the chawanmushi and tamago. The cherry on the top was the very basic coconut pudding we were given. If it's in your price range, by all means. There's always a rotating menu so I'll always acknowledge it just may not have been the night for me to enjoy. Service - 5 / Ambiance - 5 / Food - 2 / Price - 4

Small omakase place that only takes reservations. It seems like their menu changes daily. Some courses were good such as various nigiri pieces, ankimo, and the seaweed shot at the beginning. Fish is fresh, tasty, and the fresh wasabi just hits right. My miso black cod was dry and overcooked, belt fish and some other pieces were way too salty, and baby ginger did not help cleanse my palate as it was also overly salted and had no ginger flavor. My wife and I were served two different ankimo pieces, so we traded to taste the different textures. We were supposed to get Matcha Panna Cotta at the end, but they "upgraded" everyone as a "surprise" from the chef to a matcha ice cream. Don't know how this is an upgrade tbh, but tasty ice cream overall. I do find this place a little expensive for the base, as they did not give any additional "on the house" courses that omakase places usually do. Good place for occassions, but don't expect to get full!

STARS: 3.5 MENU AND FOOD: Tancho serves up a fixed omakase menu that varies daily. SERVICE AND ATMOSPHERE: Service is friendly and a bit over-attentive. Their decor is appropriate and appealing, but they do use a part of their dining room for storage, which they hide with a room divider. The front door is locked so you have to ring the doorbell on arrival. They have both bar seating and table seating, which are more easily available for reservations. PARKING: Located in a shopping plaza, they have plenty of parking. IMPRESSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This was our first omakase experience, and we were excited to have found availability on Mother's Day weekend. The menu that day consisted of 3 appetizers, 2 soups, 3 pieces of sashimi, 7 pieces of nigiri, and 2 desserts. We were seated at the table directly behind the bar and felt the chef's introduction to each of his menu items was a bit frank and underwhelming. For the 4 of us, the total came out to $687.96, which included a mandatory 20% service charge, BEFORE any additional tip. While we enjoyed the fish and food quality, the pricing, ambience, and overall experience missed the mark.

My favorite place for omakase. It's just nice food nice people and nice sake collection. Never disappointing to come here. Been here 3 times and all been very very good. Keep it up

Food was undeniably amazing, but the service could've been better. The intimate setting at the bar allowed for an engaging experience watching the chef craft his creations. The omakase menu, priced at $125 per person with a $50 deposit, offered a generous 16-course selection. The freshness of the fish was apparent in every bite, and I enjoyed the variety of flavors. We also ordered hot tea ($5), which included free refills. Halfway through the course, the chef surprised us with complimentary white grape tea. It's worth noting that there is a mandatory 20% service fee added to the bill. My favorite pieces: - Hirame - Sanma - Chu Toro - Hokkaido Uni Feedback: The service, while friendly, could have been more attentive. Our hot tea wasn't refilled as promptly as we would have liked, and there were moments when we finished our tea, waiting for a refill. Also, there was a lack of attention to detail in wiping the serving plate between each nigiri. While this didn't impact the taste, it would have added a nice touch to the presentation.

If you had told me that all places, you could find a decent omakase spot in a little strip mall in Castro Valley AND that they fly their fish in weekly from Japan, I probably wouldn't believe you. But now having gone and eaten here, I'm happy to report that it's pretty good. The fish tasted fresh (well, as fresh as week old flown in from Japan can taste); essentially there wasn't a disappointing bite across all the courses. Everything was pretty good and very much aligned with your standard omakase experience. My only feedback would be that the service felt a bit rushed and impersonal. As each dish was presented, we knew nothing about where it came from and how they were seasoned. Since they have two serving times (we went to the earlier one), perhaps that was why they it felt rushed. Don't get me wrong, they were extremely attentive with our tea refills. All in all, a really nice and relaxing vibe for dinner - would return but only for a super special occasion! A couple of things to note: -woohoo, more spots in the area for date night -you need put down a $100 refundable deposit to secure a reservation (via Tock) -additional nigiri options are available for an extra fee (we added otoro and uni)

Overall was a pretty good experience. Food was so good!! variety of small dishes. Plates were so pretty tho. Portions are small, and you may not be full; but could add extra pieces; which our bill ended up more than $500 for 2 ppl without alcohol. Service was pretty good. Everyone were frendly and attentive.

Great omakase experience at Tancho, you get a lot of varieties and the fish are very fresh, I liked it better than some of the fancy sushi restaurants in San Francisco. Service was top notch, the counter only seats 7 people and I felt like everyone got a personal wait stuff. Highly recommend.

One of the best omakase in the east bay. Or is it the only one LOL. They chose seasonal dishes and the creativity is top notch. Im Japanese and this place does well with the authentic flavors. Service is quality and very welcoming. Ambiance calm and spacious. They also have tables so it doesn't have to be counter for big party omakase.

The Food Tancho is an omakase restaurant mentioned by my friends many times, and has been meaning to try for a while. I was fortunate enough to get invited for a visit for their holiday menu. It starts off with appetizers, followed by sashimi, main of edomae sushi, then owan, and dessert. + Appetizer - Shirako Ponzu (Cod Milt): interesting texture, smooth but soft, like some internal organ - Steamed Awabi (Abalone): tender meat with very good flavor + Sashimi - Kamasu (Barracuda): refreshing shiso went nice with the fish - Seiko Gani (Snow Crab): decorative topped with uni and truffle, many flavors - Madai Shabu Shabu (Red Sea Bream): tender with very good umami flavor + Edomae Sushi - Kinmedai (Golden Eye Snapper): nice tender fish - Akami-zuke (Bluefin Tuna, Lean Flesh): even though it's a lean cut, once of the nicest lean cut I've tasted - Chu Toro (Bluefin Tuna, Medium Fat): I can quite taste the fattiness - Aji (Horse Mackerel): glisten fish with a bit of crunch topped with shiso chive - Shime Saba (Cured Mackerel): tender fish topped with thin seaweed and sweet sauce - Ikura (King Salmon Roe): good roe, not as salty as I thought - Uni (Superior Grade Hokkaido Uni): very fresh and uni - Anago (Salt-water Eel): moist with a very nice sauce - Kohada (Gizzard Shad): marinated and cured, have a bit of a chew to it + Owan - Akadashi (Red miso soup): more stewy, with variety of ingredients like small shrimp, a bit salty - Castella Style Tamagoyaki (House Made Japanese Cake): good egg flavor, more of a castella + Dessert - Hojicha Ice Cream and Macaron: ice cream was creamy, strong hojicha flavor, good macaron All the courses were very good! But the one thing that stood out to me the most was the rice, I quite enjoyed the rice. Would definitely return to try their other selection and menu item. The Miscellaneous The restaurant is within a decent sized plaza, there was ample parking. The interior is simple but clean, few tables, and a bar area that seats 7 people. The decor and ambiance is also very nice. The staff and service was excellent. We had good interaction with the chef, and the waiter cleared our plate very timely as we finished eating. They also wipe the sushi serving plate, providing nice photos :) I got a chance to try their holiday menu this time, but want to return sometime to try their normal menu.

So first things first...make a reservation now! You may wait awhile. It took us 2 months. Second...sit at the bar. Always sit at the bar if you can. This is great for a romantic night out, a special occasion or to just treat yourself. The service is exceptional. So friendly. I felt a little like a fish out of water (), but we were guided through what we were eating, what made each course special, how to properly eat it. Don't be afraid to ask questions. The food was beautiful and fresh and bright. You feel like the best ingredients were picked just for you in that moment. Everything paired so well with the Mirror of Truth sake. My hubby and I were so grateful to have this experience in our backyard in a strip mall in CV. Just crazy. The space is small and intimate. It's quiet and relaxing. The chefs were open to our questions too. They were fun to watch. So meticulous. Now I just wanna go to Japan. The bathroom was awesome! They have a toilet with a remote that does so many things. Plenty of parking. Enjoy!

I finally was able to snag a reservation for Tancho through Tock. My bf and I celebrated my belated birthday dinner here a few weeks ago. I'm glad we were able to sit at the chefs bar. While upon entering it it small and cozy. Only a few tables and few seats at the bar maybe 8. While my dinning experience was delicious and filling. I rather would of enjoyed it better without the loudness of fellow diners sitting next to us at the counter. It was sometimes hard to hear the sushi chef present the fish and items while you have a group of young adults overly loud. Overall the presentation, fish and sushi rice was perfect. My bf and I did add 3 extra supplements to our Omakase. Don't go wrong with ordering a bottle of nice sake to go with your meal. If you're not able to finish the bottle you're able to take it home. Tancho was also sweet on signing a birthday card and surprising me with a matcha green tea ice cream with red bean topped with Mochi. My favorites nigiri: Chu toro and ocean trout.

I took my husband here on Thursday for his birthday. I've been wanting to do omakase for a very long time and I'm glad I finally tried it. When I try places like this, I try it for the experience and I really pay attention to the chef whenever they explain something. When we arrived, the host was very friendly and took care of us right away. We got hot teas right away as well which was really good. This was for my husbands birthday, they had a personalize birthday card for my husband. The menu was specifically made for our dinner. I honestly enjoyed every bit of our experience and dinner. The sake we got was really good but also pricey. We wanted to experience a full omakase and since it was my husbands birthday we definitely got a bottle. Every dish was explained to us in detail and whenever we asked a question the chef answered it knowledgeably. I will definitely do this again. I honestly enjoyed everything but was very frustrated with the three ladies seated right next to us. Literally all this ladies did was gossip about their whole family and friends and they kept on talking over the chef whenever he explained the dish. It honestly became very annoying. They were very inconsiderate about everybody else around them. If you want to chat with your gfs please choose the table option instead that way your group can talk to one another. This is definitely a true definition of a hole in the wall cause you really won't know that it's there. Thank you for the experience....

The overall environment is great! I was able to make reservation in two weeks. I especially like the scallop and the first few dishes. Food and services were good, except the super bitter miso soup near the end, and the mandatory 20% surcharge.