TANTO Japanese Restaurant

Tanto is a cozy izakaya with an extensive menu of Japanese dishes less common in the Bay Area - perfect for groups who want to share and explore. Beyond the food, our waiter provided excellent service, carefully verifying which dishes could accommodate a fish and crustacean allergy despite the menu's complexity. Ankimo was the gentlest introduction to organ meat I've experienced. Served with lemon, spring onions, shiso leaf, ponzu, and grated daikon, it's clear the intention was to offset any metallic or earthy notes from the liver, even though it was actually quite delicate. The hotaruika, marinated firefly squid, was soft in the spoon but had a satisfying bounce when biting through the skin, with the tentacles, body, and head of the squid having their own unique crunch. It’s a little too briny on its own for me but worked well with the mild, sweet kyabetsu cabbage salad. The buta kakuni braised pork belly (ordered as a rice bowl) was a comforting dish with seasoning on the milder side. The tori karaage fried chicken came out hot and crispy and the larger pieces of chicken kept the flesh juicy. This one is best enjoyed right away as unfortunately the skin became less crispy towards the end of the night, and became a little too oily. The renkon kinpira, with its unassuming description “thin sliced lotus root” was one of the highlights of the evening for me. Much more than that, it consists of two slices of lotus root with a mayo crab filling, all deep-fried. I did think that if the lotus root was sliced to half as thin, ie ~3mm instead of ~6mm, that would balance out the flavors a little more. With all the fried and salty dishes we had on the table the kyabetsu cabbage salad with mayo miso dressing on the side was a refreshing palate cleanser. I did think more sliced tomatoes and less cabbage would have made the dish a little more refreshing and varied. I also thought the cabbage leaves could have been cleanly separated instead of remaining in wedges. Next to arrive was the preserved plum yaki onigiri fried rice cake, with ikura salmon roe and green onions on the side. I found the crust to be really crispy but it had a little too much salt, with the plum and the ikura already providing lots of flavor. The garlic beef was the saltiest dish of all. This needed to be paired with a rice dish like the chazuke or the buta kakuni. We all agreed the kamo tataki seared rare duck was the best dish of the night. All five basic tastes were represented along with multiple textures. There was slight smoky char leaving a touch of bitterness, soft and tender duck with the perfect amount of chew and give, crunchy sweet red onion, and lightly acidic dressing. All the flavors - sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami - were in balance, there were both crunchy and soft textures, and the plating was attractive. Definitely order this one. The unagi chazuke was a no-frills dish. Rice, light dashi broth, and eel - it tasted like a light home-cooked meal with simple and clean flavors. Last up was the shingen vanilla ice cream with rice cakes and kinako soy bean powder. The serving size was generous! However I think the presentation has room for improvement. I think a layer of whipped cream at the bottom would have elevated the dessert literally and figuratively. It would also have helped insulate the ice cream a little so that it doesn’t melt as quickly especially since a large portion like this may take longer to finish. Next I would add the brown sugar syrup on the whipped cream instead of the ice cream, again to prevent premature melting. The ice cream should get scooped on top of the syrup next. Kinako can then be dusted on top next through a sieve to remove clumps. Finally I would arrange the rice cakes in a row along the side so that attention is drawn to them. Tanto stands out for it’s wide variety of unique dishes but some of the ones we ordered were on the salty side. It’s a fun place for a group and I recommend the renkon kinpara deep-fried lotus root and kamo tataki seared rare duck in particular.

We just moved back to the area and glad to see that Tanto’s still doing good and now serving LUNCH even! Went for lunch today and the food and service was excellent. The food was fresh and you can tell everything was made with intention. I like that Tanto gives classic Japanese food vibes and it feels like you’re transported to Japan for a nice comfort meal. Can’t wait to try more items on their menu.

We got here at 5:45 PM on 5/13/2025.  We did not have a reservation so we arrived before the opening time of 6:00 PM.  We had no problem of getting a table since there was only a party of 8 before us.  Easy parking.  The restaurant was small.  The food was delicious.  Service was excellent.  The price was fair.  The only thing was that there was a little piece of shell in the soup that I bite into it.

Garlic beef was too fatty. They didn’t give us a nice cut. I was just eating chunks of fat tofu was bland and cold. The rice balls and pasta was the best I have not had better. Soups were OK. I wish they had more flavor, but they pass. Squid was fresh. The tempura was a bit soggy. They could’ve fried it a little bit longer.

All I can say is, this is authentic Japanese cuisine that you typically find in the alleyways of Tokyo.

Authentic Japanese food with some unique selection of sake. Sushi, sashimi, rolls, fried, pot, pan fried, you have all the options to pick from. The portion is on the small side. It is ideal to have 4 people so that you could share the varieties of food. Restaurant is small, so it is a crowded. Do make reservations ahead of time, the restaurant is a pretty popular spot.

I went to try the new lunch menu at Tanto Izakaya in Sunnyvale that started last week. I’m a huge fan of Tanto and their authentic Japanese menu, so when I saw they had new lunch set meals, I just had to go right away. I tried the Bara chirashi set meal for $33 and while it seems pricy, it is worth the price due to the huge portions and I left feeling very full. Times have changed, this is the economy we are in for prices. Portion wise, I think it’s even enough to share. Come hungry! The presentation is like a chirashi bowl I had in Hokkaido earlier this year. If you love Japanese food, I highly recommend a try. Service is quite fast. I was the first customer at opening. They have been around 25 years, so the vibe is always good and nostalgic.

The biggest difference compared to izakayas in Japan? Last call is at 8:30 PM -- way too early! Most izakayas in Japan stay open until midnight or later, so this felt a bit rushed. That said, overall it was a solid experience, and the bill was lower than I expected for the amount and quality of food. I'll definitely be back -- just a bit earlier next time!

I went to try the new lunch menu at Tanto Izakaya in Sunnyvale that started last week. I'm a huge fan of Tanto and their authentic Japanese menu, so when I saw they had new lunch set meals, I just had to go right away. I tried the Bara chirashi set meal for $33 and while it seems pricy, it is worth the price due to the huge portions and I left feeling very full. Times have changed, this is the economy we are in for prices. Portion wise, I think it's even enough to share. Come hungry! The presentation is like a chirashi bowl I had in Hokkaido earlier this year. If you love Japanese food, I highly recommend a try. Service is quite fast. I was the first customer at opening. They have been around 25 years, so the vibe is always good.

Just an average japanese restaurant. Tiny dining area and kind of dark inside the restaurant. We had: Yaki Onigiri - not a big fan of roe and thick rice roll. Sashimi Salad - quite refreshing. Umaki tamago - rolled omelet with eel. my favorite so far. Asari ramen - clam ramen. The noodle was not springy. Lot of noodle and less soup. sashimi - very thin slices. agedashi tofu and tempura - just okay Shingen ice cream - come with mochi which was so hard to chew. Service was okay.

Tanto is a well known and popular Japanese restaurant in the South Bay. It's only open for dinner & weekends can get pretty hard to get in, if you don't have a reservation. Unless you don't mind waiting. The menu is very authentic not just sushi, but good variety of small Japanese dishes you can share and sample. It's the kind of place that's perfect for hanging out with friends after work. You don't see many kids here, and it's usually lively and bustling. The servers are decent, and the food is fresh and flavorful. Parking can be a bit of a hassle, especially on weekends. The interior could use some updating, and the ventilation isn't great you can sometimes see light smoke hanging in the air and catch strong food smells. Overall, Tanto is loved by many, especially among the tech crowd. It's easy to see why authentic flavors, great atmosphere, and a fun dining experience.

I came here with a friend on a weekday evening after the gym. She recommended it and had been here before. We got an array of dishes to try and share. My favorites were the gindara- miso cod, sashimi, and mentai pasta. We also tried a spicy cold potato salad dish and some grilled rice balls with salmon. They were fun to try, but I wouldn't order them again. The grilled rice triangles had a nice texture on the outside, but would have appreciated more flavor on the inside was mostly plain rice with very little salmon. The spicy cold potato salad was nice with a beer, but not the most delicious dish. When we were there there was a very large party of about 12 that was very, very loud. The space inside is small, and the noise carries, so it made it a bit difficult to talk. Overall enjoyed my visit and I will be back!

5 stars for the yaki onigiri!! My absolute favorite dish from Tanto! It's such a simple dish, but they do it so so so well. Tanto is a local gem that always has a line out the door, so expect to wait a considerable amount of time unless you arrive before they open. Our party of 5 waited about an hour or so to get seated, and I love that they have tatami seating. We ordered (obviously) the yaki onigiri, dashimaki tamago, grilled saba, chicken karaage, mentaiko pasta, and the ika meshi. Everything tasted so homey and comforting - almost as if I had been transported to a house in the countryside of Japan. The service was extremely attentive and friendly, and I'll definitely be back!

Tanto was just OK. I had heard a lot about their beef tongue since it's one of their popular dishes, and while it wasn't bad, it didn't really blow me away either. We also tried the Yaki Onigiri and the Sashimi Salad, and both were pretty average. It feels like this place used to be better--I remember hearing rave reviews before. The fact that it was easy to get a reservation on a weekend kind of says a lot. Service was fine, but overall, it just didn't have that "wow" factor I was hoping for.

Came by with my friend and old teacher to catch up and have a couple of small dishes on a Monday evening. Service was great as they were very patient with us and also kept refilling our water. We stayed until closing time to chat and they didn't rush us out (we weren't the last ones at least). Foodwise, I really enjoyed their mentaiko pasta and yaki onigiri. I'd come back for those two items for sure! We also had the steamed pork belly and grilled squid which were alright but not amazing. Overall I had a pleasant experience & I can't believe it took me this long to try out Tanto!

Tanto has been a super popular place in the area and we finally get a chance to stop by. On a week day 6pm open time, the place is already packed and need wait-list. Highly recommend a reservation ahead of time . We ordered hot sake, beer, hamachi Kama, chicken KaraAge, squid rice, mintaiki pasta. The taste of food are awesome and the sashimi fishes are fresh too. Ambience wise, it is average as the place is not big. But hey the food is awesome!

The food is amazing, and staff are super nice and friendly. It seems like they are now open in the morning. Parking is alright, but be sure to come early in case of the wait list.

WOW this place was beyond amazing! Came here for my birthday on a Tuesday night at 6pm and got seated right away without a reservation. Seats definitely filled shortly after thought so I would recommend coming right at opening to avoid a wait. Yaki onigiri- 5/5 so crispy and nicely flavored! Super satisfying appetizer, would definitely order again! Agedashi tofu- 3.5/5 exactly what you would expect. Nothing crazy special though so probably would pass the next time, but definitely still a solid dish. I just felt there might've been other dishes that would be more exciting to try :)) Daikon salad- 4.5/5 super light and refreshing and I was blown away by the portion size! Definitely a good amount of food and very well flavored Butashabu salad- 5/5 SO impressed by this one! They were super generous with the amount of pork and portion size in general! I thought it was super worth. Sauce was very well balanced and light! Possibly one of my favorite restaurant salads I've had!! Grilled squid - 4.5/5 I usually don't really care for squid but the texture of this was really on point. Not super rubbery Grilled beef tongue - 4/5 also super yummy grilled dish! Not too tough and a good bite! I personally do not think this is a must order but happy with it either way! Clam ramen - 4.5/5 broth was super flavorful and light at the same time. Very well balanced! Noodles were nice and bouncy too :)) one of the favorite of the night! Unagi hitumabushi - 4/5 very yummy and satisfying dish. Unagi was melt in your mouth and the pairing of the tea with the rice and fish and wasabi was great! Personally feel like I don't need to order it again especially bc it is a bit pricey but it was very yummy regardless especially if you enjoy unagi ! Overall super great restaurant with good service. I was impressed by the quality of each of the dishes and felt it was well worth the price. I would say it is pretty affordable given the quality! Can't wait to come back again!! New favorite local Japanese restaurant :))

Tanto is one of the best izakaya spots in the Bay! The vibe is cozy and intimate--great for a date night or a relaxed dinner with friends over sake. Here's what I ordered: Ika Meshi (Stuffed Squid) - rich and creamy, such a unique surprise! Kani Tamago (Crab Omelette) - fluffy, light, and full of crab flavor Mentaiko Pasta - creamy, savory, and perfectly umami Meat Potato Croquettes - crispy outside, warm and comforting inside Sashimi Salad - super fresh and balanced out the meal nicely Service was friendly and attentive, and the food came out at a nice pace for sharing. If you want authentic izakaya-style dishes in the Bay, Tanto is a must-try!

The food was excellent. . The service was good. The ambiance was very pleasant. Would recommend to family and friends.

Ryota was my server. Kid looked like he stepped straight out of '90s Mortal Kombat. Patient, passionate, and knew the menu like the back of his hand. It was lively on a weekday night. There's a waitlist you can write your name on--I was third and waited maybe ten minutes. The staff is friendly and organized. Everything looked clean, and although it was crowded, I didn't feel cramped or encroached upon once seated. I ordered a lot. Sometimes I'm just in a mood and want to get the full picture of a place. I went for the rice and cheese pot, sashimi six ways, garlic steak, spicy cucumbers, burdock salad, avocado rolls, salmon spring rolls, and sake served in a bottle with a fox's face. No, this wasn't a food-eating competition--this was genuine excitement after watching dish after dish come out of the kitchen and get devoured by the room. Families, solo diners, small groups--mostly Japanese. The food? Excellent. My bill was a bit high, but that's on me. This is easily a spot where you could grab a beer and some beautiful fish and get out for under fifty bucks. I just happened to order like a family of eight. I'll be back--with friends in tow. Thanks, Tanto. In a sea of the mundane, you delivered a level of solid-to-excellent izakaya comfort I didn't even know I needed.

Tanto is such a gem for how all of their foods all well prepared and presented. I really enjoyed the salmon sashimi, beef tongue, and spicy cod roe pasta. The unagi rice bowl was such a surprise too because I didn't expect to get fish roe on top, and it made eating everything so delicious. I came 10 minutes before opening on Wednesday and was able to be seated right away! There was still plenty of space but once the restaurant opened, all of the spots were filled immediately.

It gets busy so come when they open! Wonderful and reasonably priced food. Everything I fresh and delicious. All the dishes remain simple but are soooo tasty. Depending on the crowd it can be quiet dining or loud drinking and conversing. They have booths and tables. Not much to say other than it's one of my favorite places to get Japanese tapas!

We went to Tanto on a Friday night, and this cozy little izakaya was packed! The low ceilings, tightly arranged tables, and lively conversations instantly transported me back to Japan. It's loud, bustling, and full of energy -- exactly what you'd expect from a traditional izakaya. We ordered a bunch of small plates, and the portions were actually generous enough to share. Here's the rundown: Favorites: * Fried oysters -- crispy and juicy * Crab creamy gratin -- rich and comforting * Daikon salad -- refreshing with a nice crunch * Yaki onigiri (grilled rice ball) -- simple but satisfying Also good: * Miso cod * Grilled smelt * Chicken karaage * Satoimo kimchi * Ebimayo Skip next time: * Mentaiko egg omelet -- a bit too mushy and underwhelming The biggest difference compared to izakayas in Japan? Last call is at 8:30 PM -- way too early! Most izakayas in Japan stay open until midnight or later, so this felt a bit rushed. That said, overall it was a solid experience, and the bill was lower than I expected for the amount and quality of food. I'll definitely be back -- just a bit earlier next time!

I'm so glad we made a reservation. We arrived a couple minutes before they opened and the restaurant was already packed. The four of us ordered a variety of dishes to share. The good: -Yaki Onigiri w/ salmon- The grilled rice was super crispy. We had two orders of this (4 pieces), thinking one for each of us. They are quite big though. -Nankotsu Karaage- The deep fried chicken cartilage was a nice crunchy snack. -Ika Maruyaki- It was something we knew we had to get. It was smaller than I expected, but the squid was good. -Hamachi Sashimi & Salmon Aburi- Both were fresh. There a nice amount of fish roe atop the salmon. -Gyu Ikura Don- The beef was grilled nicely and mixed well with the ikura and poached egg. This was a more filling dish. The meh: -Mentaiko Omelet- It was something new to try, but I didn't care for it too much. -Mentaiko Mayo Takoyaki- The most underwhelming dish of the night. The spicy cod roe mayonnaise made the takoyaki soggy.

waited maybe 5 minutes for a table of 2 on a tuesday night around 5:30! we ordered beef tongue, tempura udon, salmon sashimi, and fried chicken cartilage. our favorite was the beef tongue and sashimi this time but each of their dishes are good servers are nice and friendly but I think they forgot to give us our edamame and charged us for it (our bad for not asking or checking when paying too) more pricey for a casual dinner but knowing everything will be good quality/tasty is worth it!

Authentic Japanese comfort food :) Highly recommend 1. Egg omelette with eel : so soft and creamy 2. Eel rice pot with tea 茶泡饭 3. Grilled Beef tongue 4 . Crab meat with cheese on top (so good) Staff is very friendly, but can get crowded. You may want to join the line earlier when the store opens

Service was exceptional. I came with some friends and we had a great time. We had a booth to ourselves in the back which made for a quieter experience for our party. Tanto reminds me of izakayas in Japan (which I miss a lot) so it's a nice place to get my fill of a Japanese izakaya experience in the Bay. No complaints about the food, it was overall pretty decent. It might not be the best Japanese food I've had overall; for example, I can think of a better japanese curry restaurant than the curry here or a better place for mentaiko udon than here. But, Tanto still serves decent Japanese food for an izakaya experience.

Tasty dishes. We ordered and shared 5 dishes: Gobo Kinpira (burdock root), Daikon Radish Salad, Ebi Mayo (shrimp), Mental Pasta (cod roe noodles), and Green Tea Cheesecake. We arrived when they opened at 6pm on a Wednesday night, seated right away. Soon all tables filled up and a wait by the front door continued throughout our dinner. The restaurant isn't large, so make reservations if possible or expect a wait if you don't come at opening.

I always get food to-go and it never disappoints. Soup is hot and sushi is fresh. Service is fast. I usually don't want to dine-in because 1) parking is tough 2) people who block the entrance while waiting to be called is a huge annoyance.

Our go-to restaurant for an authentic Japanese tapas. It's a small restaurant and they accept reservations if you are lucky enough to have someone answer your call. So, we usually come 30 - 45 mins before it opens as a walk in guests. They usually are able to sit us right away. Our favorite items include salmon onigiri, gyutan, sashimi, and garlic steak. A reco restaurant if you don't mind the wait.

They don't stay open late, so it is best to go early to enjoy a variety of dishes and secure a good spot. It has a great atmosphere and delicious food.

We arrived at 6:05p and this was the first time we didn't stand in line before the doors open. We were seated promptly with some empty tables left reserved for larger parties. Food was delicious, some items are unique and specialties, and our orderscame out fast. We haven't been to this restaurant for awhile and ordered our usual dishes: - chicken karaage (accompanied with/Japanese mayo) - deep fried oysters (panko battered) - salad - eel over rice - my favorite mini chirashi! The restaurant itself is small(ish) and it looks like there are rooms for larger parties on the side. Parking was easy because we arrived early and could get crowded later in the evening. A great local restaurant to support!

Stood in line for 30 minutes before they open (6pm). Friendly and fast service. All dishes were made with care and authentic taste. Ambiance was casual and clean.

Came here for weekday dinner and fell in love with this place! Expansive menu with some items not commonly seen elsewhere. We ordered four dishes for the two of us and loved every single one. Special mentions are the Sashimi Salad, which had larger portion than we thought and the ingredients were all fresh and high quality. The monkfish liver was soft, rich and well-balanced by the ponzu-based sauce so that it's not overly gamy. We arrived ~6pm on a Wednesday and there was no wait. Good flavor, fresh ingredients, nice service, great bang for the buck. This place has made to our go-to weekday dinner list. Love!

My friends and I decided to come by here for a weekday dinner. There's a decent amount of seating, but we did wait for a while (maybe around 30-45 minutes)? Pretty surprising! I wonder if this place blew up on Instagram recently... I ordered the curry udon, which had milk in it. To be fair, the waitress warned me about it, but I assumed it would still retain some of the flavor of curry that I enjoy. However, I did not like it at all. Not the traditional curry flavor, hard to get through & too thick. I get that curry isn't supposed to be runny, but the broth was legitimately difficult to get through. Takoyaki was soggy. This seems to be a recurring issue when I read through the reviews. The bonito flakes weren't moving since there was no steam emanating off the takoyaki since the dish was cold when we received it. The sauces were good, but it wasn't crunchy and had the texture of paste inside and out. Definitely skip on this one. Salmon sashimi was nice and fresh, definitely the best dish at this location. It wasn't cut very precisely, it was a bit thicker which is good if you like bang for your buck.

Came here to celebrate a friend's birthday. Couldn't get a reservation since we tried to call to make it 3 days before our dinner night. Opens at 6pm and people were in line already. If u don't have reservation, just go when it opens and get in line. They have cute little tatami style areas where u take ur shoes off to sit but we didn't get that cos, again, we didn't have reservation. This place seems so hyped up on Yelp so we tried it out. Food was good overall. Lots of variety. A bit pricey but that's just how izakaya is usually. PARKING: A big lot outside. U can also park near the Exotic Dance Club around the corner in the same lot I didn't have trouble parking on Friday night around 6:30pm AMBIENCE: Not impressed at all. It felt a bit tight inside actually. It was quite a small restaurant actually. Not romantic. So if u trying to come for a date, make sure u book those little rooms to have a better ambience. FOOD: Overall, pretty good. Pretty fresh sashimi. Pieces were a good generous size. Grilled squid was pretty good. Definitely order that if u like squid. The Amaebi sashimi was one of my favorite, u get to eat all the crunchy fried heads. PRICE: Was it 4 dollar signs here? Not sure if I would put this place as a $$$$ for ambience. Menu price was about $$$$. I paid around $95 total for myself and splitting for our birthday friend, so it's not TOO crazy expensive but also not cheap. Overall, I give this place a 4 stars. I would bring my family back here to give it another try.

My family came with a reservation of 6 for a celebration and was seated immediately. Parking can be hard to find and I was surprised to see a walk-in wait line even though the restaurant takes reservations. Food was great and service was prompt, but I would definitely re-order some great dishes and skip on some underwhelming ones. Pass - potato salad: bland and chunky - takoyaki: raw, wet dough inside - eel omelet: bland and plain - gobo tempura: this was the worst of the dishes. Almost impossible to eat from how chewy and hard the gobo (burdock) root was. Like chewing a tree branch! - meat croquette: I've had many croquettes and this was the worst I had- like a bland hockey puck. Perhaps if it was thinner with better and a seasoned filling. Good - fried squid legs - kaki fry Great - beef tongue: so good with lemon! - ika meshi: unique with the creamy sauce and sticky rice - hamachi collar -agodashi tofu - grilled fatty salmon - braised rock cod - garlic butter steak - seared rare duck - steak bowl with poached egg and fish eggs

IG: @cv.foodies Went here on a whim when I had errands to run in Sunnyvale! Don't be alarmed by the prices as we realized too late that the dishes are sharing-sized! Everything was super filling because of all the rice we ordered Things to note is that the sides were all vegetable-based. Ishiyaki Butameshi (Rice & Braised Pork): This was their best dish and it was huge! The pork was seasoned well and tender, just a bit on the drier side. This one is definitely the most filling and packed the rest home. Salmon Seiro: The salmon is steamed so it was super soft and had great flavor. I personally really like salmon so high ratings here! The salmon roe added a good salty taste, sometimes a little too much. Chazuke Don (Dashi, rice, and toppings): I liked this soup! I was surprised it had rice, even though it said on the menu, but it definitely had a good amount of eel. I wod recommend ordering this with other things, it's good as a side.

Excellent traditional Japanese dinner place. If you just want a "sushi" restaurant, don't come here. Don't listen to negative reviews, if you have a great appreciation for simplicity of Japanese cuisine, you will like this place

If you're looking for a delicious izakaya place that won't break the bank, Tanto is a great choice! My family came here to celebrate a birthday, so I made a reservation for a Thursday night dinner about 2 weeks before. I'm glad I did because once we got there, the place was crowded with numerous parties waiting outside as well. It took awhile for the staff to seat us, but once we did, we were seated at a "private" section tucked away in the back which was nice without all the chatter/business surrounding us. For my party of 4, we ordered around 6 or 7 dishes (I forget haha) to share. Everything we ordered was fresh, delicious and perfect to share. The standout for us was definitely the Yaki Onigiri (grilled rice balls) - even though there's no filling inside the rice ball, the slight char from the grill made each bite extremely flavorful. This was definitely a pleasant surprise to my entire party because we were thinking "how good could a rice ball get?" The dish that didn't stand out to us as much was the grilled squid. It wasn't anything different from what we've tried before at other places, so if we were to ever order a similar dish, we'd get the squid stuffed with rice to try. Overall, I don't think you can go wrong with ordering anything from their menu - just depends on what you want to try and what you're in the mood for! I'd definitely come back :)

Super busy and crowded during a Wednesday night but of xmas holiday week Booked via phone for reservations for large group Menu looked authentic Japanese, had my weebo friend order haha. So many japanese words and no pictures, limited descriptions Ambiance casual dining. Tapas style, family style sharing but smaller sizes Parking lot seems small at first but was adjacent to a large lot so parking was ok Had tried Agedashi Tofu Ika Meshi - squid Mentaiko Pasta Monk Fish Liver Takoyaki Red Snapper? Unagi/ eel Rice Bowl Yaki Udon Clam asari butter style Sake large Sashimi salmon Seared Duck Breast Overall good food but pricey

Came here on a Tuesday evening with 2 friends. We had a reservation so we didn't have to wait at all. The place did look packed when we arrived though, and some people were waiting outside. We started off with chuhais, which were nice and refreshing. I didn't expect them to provide an actual fresh grapefruit, but it was fun watching my friend hand-squeeze it. We ordered: - grilled yellowtail collar - yaki onigiri (mentaiko filling) - agedashi tofu - shrimp tempura - mentai potato - garlic steak - tori karaage My favorites were the mentai potato, yellowtail collar, and yaki onigiri. The mentai potato came last, and it was super filling, so I'm glad it was the last to come out. It's like mashed potatoes with mentaiko layered in between a melted cheese layer. The seafood flavor was subtle, but paired really well with the potato. The grilled yellowtail collar was so tender and soft, and the yaki onigiri was so crunchy! The rest of the items were average. I didn't enjoy the karaage-- it was a bit too dry for me. Otherwise, I had a great time here with friends.

Made reservations for a party of 6 on a Sunday evening. Arrived early and there was already a line forming outside. We were seated immediately upon entering. Service was quick and dishes were brought out as soon as they were prepared. The menu was huge! We ordered a variety of dishes, most of which we had never tried before. I liked that they had a ton of dishes that aren't on a typical Japanese restaurant menu. It truly felt like an izakaya experience. Everything was absolutely delicious and everyone in our party was raving about the food. Food/drinks for 6 people came out to around $270 with tip. Not bad considering the amount of food ordered and the fact that we ordered a pitcher of beer and bottle of sake. Will definitely be back to try more dishes!

Tanto serves up a wide variety of Japanese dishes tapa-style; great for sharing! WAIT A friend and I dined here for dinner. They opened at 6PM. We arrived around 6:30PM and the place was already packed. We left our name on the waitlist and was seated within 15-20 minutes. AMBIANCE Cozy small restaurant. Comfy cushioned seating though. SERVICE There were 2 waitress and they were busy. Pretty efficient but service could be better with more staff; attentiveness. DISHES *Ika Maruyaki (Grilled Squid): Perfectly charred and grilled. Simple and tasty. Mayo dip if preferred. Lemon juice was enough for me. *Umaki Tamago (Eel + Egg Omelette): both component pairs well. The eel was meaty and fatty. Rich flavors. *Gyutan (Grilled Beef Tongue): thinly sliced and grilled. Seasoned lightly and tasted good. *Mentaiko Pasta (Spicy Cod Roe): This dish was interesting yet tasty. The saltiness and umami flavors shine from the roe and seaweed. Pasta cooked well. Very creamy and slightly tangy base mixed in with the pasta; luckily not soupy or wet. Perhaps, some cream cheese? However, I've noticed a lot of Yelpers mentioning it's suppose to be spicy; it was not spicy at all. Very creamy and rich. Overall, all the dishes were simple and solid. I'd definitely return to try more items on the menu.

First time visit! Came on a wednesday night at 6:30 and was seated for a party of 2 right away. The menu was a bit overwhelming with the number of selections available. Went with the most popular items on Yelp. We got the Yaki Onigiri (I think a bit overrated), Beef Tongue (personally won't be eating beef tongue again xD), and the mentai pasta was amazing!! So many items to try next time so we will be back!!

We stumbled on this restaurant by mistake. I thought it was a sushi restaurant, but it was an izakaya. The place was packed and it looked like you stepped into a warm little restaurant in Japan. Food was delicious, only wished that they had some items that were pictured by other helpers. Service was friendly, but maybe due to being close to closing and still a lot of people, we're not as attentive. They were nice and not rude at all, understandably perhaps busy. If in the neighborhood, wouldn't mind stopping by again to try other things.

Came here on a Friday evening at 6 and had to wait approximately a hour and a half for a party of two. The restaurant was fairly small, but not as small as I anticipated. This izakaya had tons of stuff to order on their menu at a fairly reasonable price as well. We ordered a few dishes to share. Yaki Onigiri (5/5): This grilled rice ball dish comes with two pieces and sprinkled with masago and scallions. These two pieces were huge, like huge. Good to share with a party of 2 or 4. This is a must-have! Tako Wasabi (4/5): This small dish contains small pieces of raw octopus drenched in wasabi. I liked how sweet it was, but it was spicier than most other tako wasabi I've had. Mini Chirashi (5/5): if you love sushi or raw fish, I definitely recommend this. This is small rice bowl with pieces of raw fish along with other vegetables in it. It serves for craving for sushi and excellent to share with your table. Mentai Pasta (5/5): This was definitely my favorite dish of the night. It is a spicy cold roe pasta. I loved how creamy and flavorful the sauce was. The sweet sauce blended so well with the mentaiko because of its fishy flavors. Gyu Ikura Don (5/5): This is also another excellent dish to try. It is sliced beef over a bed of rice with ikura and an egg in the middle. It definitely looks better than it actually is. The beef was tender and juicy. The egg popped and blended super well with the beef surprisingly. It was strange for the ikura to be in there, but I'm not complaining I will hopefully be back here again.

Got here around 5, the line was already out the door. I would recommend coming half an hour early if you do not want to wait that long. The staff was really attentive and nice as it looked like they run a pretty tight ship. Among the food we got, I would have to say that there was nothing really memorable or special. The price to the portion size was decent but some can say it is quiet small. Wasabi Octopus (5/5): if you like wasabi this is for you! was fresh and definite a great dish to pair with beer Beef Tongue (2/5): kind of dry, didnt really have much flavor besides the salt aspect. soft yet chewy Crab & Salmon Roe Rice (2/5): really really nothing special especially for the price and portion. came in a super small bowl where 2/3 of the bowl was filled with rice and a sprinkle of roe and dash of crab meat Mussels (3/5): pretty salty and could only take the mussels in portions, ate with the crab roe rice Fried lotus root (4/5): on the better side of what we ordered, felt healthy even though it was covered in batter. there was also a filling that was sandwiched between the lotus root which made it a better crunch. Yaki Onigiri (3/5): really just a onigiri with bland flavor, liked the crunch but that was about it.

Price: Portion is with the price is the first thing i noticed. $14 for a sashimi rice bowl. It's hard to beat, and you het plenty of the sashimi too! We order 2 starters , an appetizer, 2 rice bowl and a dessert and a beer. Total is $80 ish for both! Definitely a very good deal nowadays. And yes we were so fulled that we could barely walk out there Food: Octopus wasabi and chilled cucumber: 2 starters that are also my most favorite of the dinner. The octopus is fresh, and the seasoning of the wasabi are a great compliment. If you cannot handle the kick from the wasabi like I do, have it with hot rice. A spoon full of rice + octopus wasabi + chilled cucumber is bomb! Rice bowls: both of them are decent! The Sashimi is pretty fresh while the steak is cooked to rare! Both rice dish could use some more seasoning though Chicken karaage: okay! Again the portion is huge! Chicken is cooked through and juicy while batter is remains crispy. Not the best chicken karaage I've had though Dessert: excellent combination of mini rice cake and vanilla ice cream. The caramel sauce is to die for. If you have had caramel ice cream from salt and straw before, you may find the similarity here. Yet, this one is slightly more textured and earthier with an added mochi and soybean powder

One of my fav Japanese restaurants is bay area. My all time favs are beef Toung, sashimi salad, come early to avoid the wait!

*PARKING: Parking may look limited but there's a backlot with plenty of parking *EXPERIENCE: We arrived at 6:30PM and got seated at 7:30PM for a party of 2 on a Saturday. The host and servers were friendly and food came out timely. *FOOD: We ordered 6 things among the two of us to share. From the grilled section we ordered the popular items - Garlic steak and beef tongue. Both were tough and hard the chew. Somehow, both also came out lukewarm. I appreciate how much there was but the quality was too lacking. The clam ramen and black cod was also subpar. The only relatively decent thing is the yakionigiri and agedashi tofu. Overall we only liked 2/6 items and even so, the two items weren't even that memorable.

Delicious food with shareable portions! Have to get here early on a weekend; we arrived on a Saturday before it opened and there was already a short line but we made it in on the first round of seating! It was our first time here but someone in line was kind enough to give us a list of their go-to dishes, so we ordered a couple of those plus a couple of our own selections. Our favorite dish for this meal was the aburi shime saba, or quick seared mackerel! Incredibly tender with a salty leaning cure, it was delicious paired with the thinly sliced red onions and tangy sauce. The yaki onigiri was recommended to us and we loved how crispy it was. We chose the mentaiko filling which was an excellent choice, and liked that each onigiri was topped with more fish roe, green onions and these tiny fried fish. It was a perfect rice complement to the rest of the dishes. Also delicious was the gyu tan! You could taste the grill and the beef tongue was very tender and seasoned just right. Perfect with a squeeze of the accompanying lemon. We rounded out the rest of our meal with crunchy fried fresh oysters, and some ankimo with ponzu. Can't wait to go back and try more dishes!

They have so many options on the menu, tried a few, the uni was fresh and salmon chazuke was good. The service is quick and nothing to complain about.

Amazing food. Basically all the dishes were superb except the steamed egg which I didn't care for. The beef tongue and pasta were crazy good. Everything was a bit pricey but totally worth it. Service was good, and the decor looked neat.

Delicious food in a noisy, crowded environment. Service provided by friendly, competent (explained menu ingredients) staff.

We always pass by tanto and always see a line out the door. Celebrated MIL's bday here a few weeks ago. Good thing we had reservations. We arrived and were seated right away. We ordered a bunch of dishes so only going to list the ones that I really enjoyed: Snapper Carpaccio: 5/5 really fresh and yummy! Beef tongue: 4.5/5 salty! But nice and chewy. Meat croquettes: 4/5 tasty and crispy Sticky rice meat (forgot the real name): 4/5 this is really heavy and we took most of it home. It's even better as left overs. Shingen vanilla ice cream: 4/5 super sweet but it's good! Good service and good food! Happy that I finally got to try this place.