Hachi Ju Hachi

The food has been amazing since we first ate there around 2012. The quality of the food is excellent, flavors are delicate and so well considered. Don't expect big, bold and loud flavors like other Japanese restaurants. The dishes here are subtle, quiet, and more like a gentle stroll through the woods with the occasional bursts of delight. They are always kind and cheerful. I wish we lived nearby so we can go more often.

Had reses for Valentine Day's and the place was busy as expected so the service was a little stressful.Yu-Dofu - this delicate silken tofu steamed with kombu and greens and served with a ponzu sauce was a nice starter on a cold day.Chawanmushi- Their version felt more like tofu then egg but still an ok dish as there were a couple of pieces of poached salmon which paired well with the softness of egg (or was it tofu?)Pressed Box Sushi- just like in Japan this style of pressed unagi over slightly warm rice was a nice surprise as this particular type of sushi is not easily available in the Bay AreaNigiri Sushi- A selection of Uni, Hotate, Snapper, Mackeral, Salmon and Ama-Ebi were all clean and very well prepared with minimal rice so each bite was well balanced.Usually when ordering Ama-Ebi the fried shrimp heads accompany the dish but when I asked about it the server said they were too busy to prepare it so disappointing to hear that excuse. Overall, the dishes are very traditional and reminiscence of joints in Japan but given the prices and the hectic service I may pass on another visit.

Hachi Ju Hachi serves really nice, light, authentic Japanese food (food.. not just sushi!) in a homey environment. They exude a family feel with their plain but warm decor, and tidy, open kitchen. It's not a busy place -- there was only one other party of 2 by the time my husband and I left at 6:30pm after an early dinner on a Saturday night.My husband and I ordered Set A, with the addition of 4 nigiris, their tempura moriawase, and shime-jake no kinuta maki. Overall, I'd say their food is very good, nicely nuanced, but has imperfect seasoning (just enough that I noticed it with almost every dish). Specific dish comments below:- Maguro Okura Yamakake (tuna sashimi and okra in wasabi soy sauce): really enjoyed this appetizer, even with the flavor being a tad strong & salty- Uzaku (eel & cucumber): good, but not special- Chawan mushi (steamed seafood egg custard): a little too much seafood, and slightly salted- Agenasu Yanagawa hu (fried eggplant and scrambled egg in a light broth): good, but not special- Yasai Yoshino Ni (cooked vegetables served in a light broth): a little too plain for my taste, and undersalted- Buri Tororo Mushi (cooked yellowtail served in a light broth): nice and light, not too fishy- Lean Tuna Nigiri: Veryy good and fresh, chef mentioned he just had it flown in from Japan!- Fatty Tuna (Toro) Nigiri: Good and fresh, but I actually liked the lean tuna more!- Tempura Moriawase (tempura medley): wasn't a huge fan - I tend to like a lighter tempura batter- Shime-Jake No Kinuta Maki (salmin sahimi wrapped in vinegared diakon): nice and refreshing!Closing thoughts: I would come back, but I'm not sure if I would recommend it to everyone. It's a little pricey for homey food & environment (as good as it is), which I don't think most folks are looking for.

A truly homey, comfort food feel, informal, artisan atmosphere. One of our party had lived in Japan for ten years and was totally impressed by the dishes, many of which cannot be found in most Japanese restaurants but what you might find in a Japanese family meal. Reasonable prices as well. Perfect for a cold winter night. Not that crowded, and deserves more customers given the unique country inn feel and excellent food.

Really wanted to like this place but quality doesn't warrant the price. Best dish was the chawanmushi imo. Yam cake in yuzu was fine but looked very easy to make at home. Steak was small and tough and not worth the $28 price tag. 8 pieces of nigiri were unfortunately all fishy. Total bill came out to ~$170 and we left hungry.

We dined here for my birthday after making a reservation a few days earlier. The food was spectacular. The best chawanmushi I've ever had! The vegetable dishes we ordered were delicate and fresh. The nigiri was buttery and the rice was the perfect amount- not too much! We enjoyed our conversation with the chef and he even personally brought out our complimentary birthday dessert and wished me a happy birthday! What a lovely meal- we cannot wait to come back!

Hachi Ju Hachi feels like a small family run place you would find on any street in Japan. Nothing blows you away but that's not a bad thing. All the flavors are delicate and nuanced so you can really taste each ingredient. The gyozas are handmade. The thinly sliced daikon roll is lightly vinegared to bring out the flavors of salmon. The katsu curry is made from scratch - not the boxed curry like most places. Probably priced a little high for what you get so this will never be a weekly go-to place for us. The nigiri/sashimi will definitely add up if you order multiple pieces like we did. But when you crave home cooked Japanese that is well prepared definitely give it a shot.

We just had Sushi Night this past Thursday and every time, his food hits the spot. He has his fish delivered fresh from Japan the night before or day of Sushi Night. Quality fish like no other. Hachi Ju Hachi has special Sushi Night every other Thursday and it's by reservation only. We also love to visit on non-Sushi nights where we get to enjoy some soul foods. My husband and I found Hachi Ju Hachi over 12 years ago after it was noted that the Chef Suzuki earned one of his several Bib Gourmands over the next years.Chef Suzuki is known for making traditional Japanese foods, foods you will not see at the "other" Japanese restaurants. He loves his trade and you can tell by how much thought and time he puts into making his dishes. The restaurant, itself, gives off lovely vibes as noted by the attentive, knowledgeable wait staff and heartfelt messages and drawn pictures left by hundreds of patrons on their walls. Chef Suzuki is the real deal and his artistry always puts us in awe, satisfies our palettes and fills our tummies. It's as if every beautiful ingredient in his meals are showcased and not blurred and subdued. We have yet to find another restaurant that equals his exceptional quality and mastery. I highly recommend this Japanese restaurant for those who are really serious about "Japanese Food" and not Americanized sushi places. Before our very first visit to Hachi Ju Hachi those many years ago, we knew this was a legit traditional Japanese restaurant. We made sure to understand how sushi and Japanese food is supposed to be eaten as it is in Japan by YouTubing it, lol. So yes, we were very intimidated and hoped we wouldn't be thrown out. So when we first walked into Chef Suzuki's restaurant, not sure what to expect, he welcomed us as if we were old friends from years past. It's been like this since we first walked and aw, we love this guy!! If he's not too busy in the kitchen, he's super fun to talk to and ask questions. He's just a really cool guy who enjoys making delicious foods. :)

Hachi Ju Hachi is a quaint Japanese restaurant in the quaint Saratoga town. Came with a reservation for a Saturday night and came with lots of excitement.The octopus appetizer, mushroom, and pork belly stew were so so good and if it were just that, I'd give this place 5 stars. The octopus was well cooked and the flavors matched the veggies and sauce. The mushroom soup was clean and the broth . The sushi was just alright, and the mackerel was actually not that good and that lowered our experience alot actually. That plus the pricing was really high for the mackerel...Overall, don't expect a sushi place, it's actually more of a Japanese other foods restaurant. And please do not get the mackerel.

Wow what a fun food adventure. I could tellImmediately that this family began the business to share their culture with you. This isn't a sushi restaurant, though they have a few rolls. They want to share traditional Japanese food with you. And to that, they prepared a "set" list of dishes for you to try based on the amount of people in your group that feature, I'm guessing, their best recommendations of their creations. And it did not disappoint. Knowing I don't know what I like or what's good, we went for that option. Two of us shared the 2 person set, and had a nice sake to go with it. They have a great little sake menu! Also not knowing what I'm into there's she had great recommendations. So many flavors I've never had and I loved every bit of it!