Tancho Japanese Restaurant

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 Stars – A Hidden Gem Worth Every Bite! We had an incredible Omakase experience at this unassuming gem in Castro Valley, and it truly exceeded all expectations. The service was a perfect 10/10 — the host was extremely attentive, warm, and made us feel genuinely taken care of throughout the evening. The food was exceptional — fresh, beautifully composed, and full of thoughtful flavors that worked harmoniously together. Each course felt intentional and elevated, showcasing top-notch quality without the pretentiousness. And the dessert? Unforgettable. The Hojicha panna cotta was an absolute standout — silky, flavorful, and the perfect ending to a phenomenal meal. Overall, this place easily gets 100 out of 100 from us. If you’re looking for amazing food, impeccable service, and a truly memorable dining experience, this is the spot. A must-visit in Castro Valley! 🍣✨

The sashimi at this restaurant is exceptionally fresh, and the service is outstanding. Chef Jeff crafts each dish with meticulous care—simple yet delicious.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

DELICIOUS! I am shocked that we are able to get this amazing food and experience in Castro Valley. The quality, taste, service, and overall experience were all on point. The menu was beautifully presented and well thought out throughout the evening. We will definitely be back. When we were leaving, we didn't realize until afterward that the chef was thanking guests as they exited, so we missed the opportunity to give our compliments in person. But thank you for an amazing meal and experience.

I went last night with my husband for my birthday and hands down it was one of the best dining experiences of my life. This was my very first omakase and it was absolutely beautiful from beginning to end. From the moment we walked in, service was impeccable. We chose the sake paring which was amazing but be careful because it creeps up on you, lol. Every bite throughout the night was packed with flavor and so fresh. Chef Jeffery is amazing at his craft. It was worth every penny. We will be back.

I would not recommend this place to anyone. Tancho is probably one of the worst omakase restaurants I've ever been to. I was so excited to try this out, an omakase place in Castro Valley would be so much easier than heading to SF. The photos on their Yelp look entirely different from what we had. Based on the reviews I'm glad to see that many people enjoyed it - but that was not my experience at all. Almost everything about our experience went way below our expectations. First off- we arrived at 6pm for our 6:15pm reservation. The host wouldn't let us sit at our table- even though all the tables were empty. She made us wait by the benches near the door, literally three feet from our table. Felt chilly while sitting there because we were right next to the door. It was only after we were sat down I realized it was just cold in the restaurant, period. They did not have the heater on. My parents were wearing their bubble jackets indoors. The waitresses didn't take notice or do anything- even after repeated comments to them regarding the temperature inside the restaurant. I finally asked them point blank to please turn on a little heat during the last dishes of our meal/ and they begrudgingly did with no apology. I literally felt like we were eating in a huge walk in refrigerator. Today was a particularly cold evening- but imagine eating while being uncomfortably cold throughout the majority of your meal. Not fun. Food: quality of fish was pretty terrible. The madai in the first courses was so fishy I couldn't swallow it. Then the baby sea bream nigiri/ same thing. Fishy. They had three of the nigiri's on their omakase menu being a type of mackerel- the cheaper of fish varieties. Now don't get me wrong. One can see how skilled a sushi chef is based on their mackerel skills - but this was not the case here. And on top of that- serving three subpar fishy mackerel nigiris out of the seven offered made it even worse. Their kaki (oyster) chawan mushi- the oysters used in it were not fresh oysters - but the frozen kind. Fishy not in a terrible way but literally cut pieces of frozen oysters (think the kind at H Mart) at the bottom of the chawan mushi bowl. Poor egg mixture on top. Steam. Serve. The egg didn't taste bad, was steamed nicely and didn't have any oyster taste. It wasn't until I got the the bottom of the bowl and ate a piece of sliced oyster when it ruined the whole experience. The shiraku/ankimo/ tasteless and very sinew-y with membrane. Also- all the nigiri were big- and not in a good way. Too much for one bite. Think Kura revolving sushi size. Sushi size matters- having it too large - at an omakase place- just isn't good. Comparable to when one eats oysters on a half shell- you want them to be of certain size. Anything too big just feels gross. The big nigiri they served wasn't as bad as that- but of similar concept. Ambience - pretty cute but freezing Service - subpar. No attention to detail in caring about the customer experience. Food - two thumbs down. We came as a party of four and all four of us don't feel too hot afterwards. The only highlight was the hojicha panna cotta dessert - which was quite delicious. I'm not a dessert person but I enjoyed it very much. Lastly ----- **** FYI**** restaurant adds a mandatory 5% service fee to the subtotal. Then, when they present tip options on your bill, (16%, 18%, and 20%), those percentages are calculated from the total AFTER the fee and tax, NOT on the food price. So if you choose to leave a 20% tip, you're actually paying about 25% TOTAL in service-related charges. It's easy to miss and can result in over-tipping unintentionally. I used to work in the industry and I was never fond of restaurants that do this to their customers.

Everything was well curated and we had a wonderful dining experience. Highly recommend. Outside is plain and non-descript but once you enter you are transported to an elegant dining room. The ambiance is peaceful and soothing There are 7 seats at the counter and a long table for four all facing Chef Jeffery quietly creating each item. The server was very knowledgeable and described each item so carefully to build anticipation. She gave instruction on how best to enjoy each one. Each item on the omakase menu was beautifully paced and presented. The nigiri was perfectly balanced with the sushi rice and the flavors increased as you chew. Some fish were marinated to enhance the flavors and reduce fishiness. All were different yet delicious. I think it was well worth the price

Behind a simple door is a hidden gem serving one of the best omakase experiences in the East Bay. Tancho delivers a 13-course omakase that left us speechless, all for $125. Every piece, from sashimi to nigiri, was prepared right in front of us with so much care and precision by Chef Jeffrey, whose passion and joy truly shnes through every bite. Love the intimate and inviting service. Whether you're celebrating something special or just treating yourself to an unforgettable dinner, Tancho is a must-try hidden gem in Castro Valley.

We made reservations for 8 PM and didn't realize that it was one of those omakase's where everyone has to go in at the same time at eight for it to start. I've only been to omakase's where you can walk in during your reservation and you and your party start when you walk in... so this was pretty unique in that sense. I do wish they communicated this in the reservation because they do lock the door and don't let you in until your reservation start time, which is fine, but it got a little confusing when the door was still locked a little past our starting time and everyone was standing outside. The service was really great though. We went there for my husband's birthday celebration and they had a cute birthday card at his seat, which was a nice touch! While we didn't do the sake pairing because we are not big drinkers, we listened in on the description of the sake's and how they paired with the different dishes, which I thought was also nice. The experience is very long, they do take their time bringing everything out and spacing out each dish. I did like that. They really took their time with the appetizers because most omakase's I feel like tend to rush the appetizers or bring it all together sometimes. The full experience was about 2.5 hours. The dishes themselves were also really good -- from the appetizers, I loved the sawara (smoky), sakura tako-ni (tender and flavorful octopus), and chawanmushi (one of our favorites that we ever tried across all omakase's). My husband really liked the seabream and marinated lean tuna. I personally loved the blue shrimp and half boiled scallop. The atmosphere is very cozy and intimate. You could tell that the way that the space was organized was designed to promote people from other parties to chat with one another. I overheard that other parties were also here to celebrate special occasions, which I thought was sweet! One downside, maybe is that compared to some other omakase's we've been to the inside wasn't as "nice" -- the bathroom could be a bit cleaner and I think the music was a bit off (it randomly went between no music and music throughout the night which I thought was a bit inconsistent). Overall, it was a great and very intimate experience with great dishes.

I have dined here about 3-4 times, but never had a chance to review until now. This was probably my favorite visit yet! My first few times, the overall meal was good but had room for improvements. This time, I feel as if they've improved on some dishes and the overall service as well. I made a reservation for 3, and you can either choose the bar or a table. Keep in mind that sometimes there may be a delay between your course at the table versus at the bar (but this ended up syncing up once everyone caught up). I actually loved our table placement, as we could see the entire bar/prep area without being right in front. For $125, I'd say this is one of the more affordable omakases, especially if you live on this side of the Bay. It's a very laid back and quiet restaurant compared to others, like Hinata in the city. All dishes were great. Some standouts were the marinated lean tuna, hojicha panna cotta, and hotate chawanmushi. You can also opt for supplements if you're still a bit hungry or want to revisit some dishes.

Came here to celebrate a friend's birthday and enjoyed their omakase. They even had a birthday card waiting at our seat. It was a small, intimate dinner with only 3 parties there. Our sushi chef delivered and everything we had was so so fresh. Our favorite pieces were the toro and uni, which we ordered in addition to the omakase. We loved everything about the omakase and would come back again

It's been a minute since I've had omakase and this place has been on my foodie bucket list for a while so thought I'd slide thru. Tancho serves a $131.25 per person omakase at the time of me making this review. It comes with 16 courses w/the opportunity to order supplements for additional cost. I opted to add on the Hokkaido Tokujyo Uni $36 to my omakase. 6 appetizers, 7 pieces of nigiri, and 3 finishing dishes. I've been to plenty of omakases and I'd have to say that this has the best appetizers. My favorite appetizers were the Katsuo tatake and the Chawanmushi. The nigiri was good also. I was surprised by how huge the nigiri was for an omakase spot. Chef Jeffrey also gave us 1 additional complimentary nigiri on the house which was pretty cool. The finishing dishes were good too. My favorite was saikyo miso pudding. It was creamy, light, and not too sweet. The service here was excellent. They have very in depth knowledge of their fish and they also checked in on us a lot to make sure we were enjoying the experience. The ambiance is very calming. Note there is limited bar seating, however they also have a few table seating as well. Overall, it was a great experience. If you like quality omakase for a more affordable price, I definitely recommend checking this spot out. Try it if you like. :)

First heard about this place from a friend, and so happy we got to try! A great local choice for those in the east Bay Area. I love the privacy and intimacy of the setting. They are timely (on the dot) and even half a doorbell to go in for dinner service. Serving staff was knowledgeable, prompt, and helpful. They made great suggestions. Onto the food - the appetizer plates really brought us back to Japan - the depth of flavor, presentation. All the bites were quite amazing. Only nit-picky thing: the rice temperature and fish together were quite different (rice was warm, fish was cold) just wish it was a little more balanced. Hopefully when you're there you get to have to chefs "special" roll. It was delicious. We wish we could've gotten more of the dessert and tamago We suggest the yuzu sparkling sake! We celebrated a birthday, and it was very sweet how they left a personal card. We also wish the chef was more interactive - but it was an art form to be watched as well. Worth the experience! Will be coming back.

Came here to celebrate our Anniversary. I let them know through Tock that we were celebrating. Upon arrival, they gave us an anniversary card. Pleasant surprise. It felt a bit odd to go to a strip mall for a high end meal, but when we stepped into the restaurant, we were whisked away to a very Japan like setting. It was very clean and organized with a very pleasant aroma. It was a Thursday, so we 2 of 6 sitting at the sushi bar. Everything was very fresh, delicately prepared and well executed. We opted for two premium sake pairings. Honestly, my wife and I should have shared one pairing as my wife could not finish the last pairings. The omakase itself was reasonably priced. Overall, I would definitely come back. Recommended for a nice intimate setting for super fresh omakase that will bring you back to Japan even if for a couple of hours.

Came here to celebrate my fiancée's birthday on a Thursday evening. There were only a few other parties there and we were the only ones seated at the chef's bar. The service was great, the host was very attentive and helpful in explaining the menu, and enjoyed chatting with the chef about the fish served to us. Food overall was delicious, the fish was very fresh and were generous cuts. Compared to other omakase's we've had around the bay area, we enjoyed the unique ways the chef prepared each fish, combining them with subtle ingredients that complemented each fish well. The appetizers served were really good as well, warm and refreshing on a rainy night. Overall, we had a great time and made my fiancée feel so special on her birthday. Highly recommend if you're looking for a classic omakase experience.

The overall experience was fantastic. We had a great time sitting at the counter and watching the chef work masterfully. Every bite was delicious and perfectly balanced. The service was fantastic despite only having one server for the entire place. They work hard to make the experience special. The location seems a bit weird at first, but it is definitely a hidden gem like everyone says. Highly recommend!

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!

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.

I've bookmarked this for quite some time and had the opportunity to finally try it. Inconspicuously located in a strip mall. Once you enter, it's a cozy space with friendly staff. My family and I enjoyed the omakase menu immensely. They accommodated last minute change and communicated easily through text. Will definitely recommend to friends and family for them to experience as well.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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 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!

It was a good experience to have the dinner course in East bay. They took our last minute reservation for 4. Their food was excellent. However, I could say some wishes if the room was warmer, and the course closing time was earlier than midnight.. Also our seats were isolated to see chef's performance so we felt waiting time between individual dishes... We'll try take out next time so that we don't need to wait so long..

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!

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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) :)

I took my husband here for his birthday and the staff were so thoughtful and provided a really cute pop-up card. Chef Jeffrey prepared such a beautiful and delicious meal from beginning to end. Some of the fish he prepared was as good or even better than some I had at ju-ni. This is now one of my favorite omakase in the Bay Area. 20/10 would recommend. I also liked how intimate it felt.

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.

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."

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 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!!

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.

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 :(

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!

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.

We had Omakase several times before, and we were excited that there was an Omakase restaurant in Castro Valley. We had a 6:15 reservation and we ended up sitting at a table because the sushi bar was filled with 5:45 reservations. The 1st dish was soup and it came out pretty fast. Then soon after, we got 3 items that was served at once, then 2 items, 3 items, then 2 and so on. We soon figured out that we were playing catch-up with the 5:45 people. We felt rushed and didn't really enjoy the meal as it kept coming so fast. We all ended up finishing at the same time. We paid over $400 total and it was not worth it, and not what we expected from an Omakase experience.

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.

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

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!

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.