Tancho Japanese Restaurant

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!

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.

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?

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.

My wife and I finally had the chance to check out this hidden gem of a sushi restaurant in Castro Valley called Tancho. We had heard great things from friends, and it certainly lived up to the hype. What sets Tancho apart is that it's an omakase restaurant, where the chef curates a unique, multi-course dining experience for you. This was our first omakase experience, and we're so glad we chose Tancho as our introduction.From the moment we arrived, we were warmly welcomed by the host, whose attention to detail set the tone for the evening. We chose to sit at the bar, which turned out to be the perfect spot to watch Chef Jason expertly craft each dish. He was not only skilled but also engaging, sharing the inspiration and stories behind the ingredients that went into our meal.We enjoyed a 14-course dinner, which was just the right amount. Each dish flowed seamlessly into the next, creating a cohesive and memorable dining experience. I also opted for the sake pairing, which was a delightful addition. The host thoughtfully presented each bottle, explaining the flavors and origins, making it a truly immersive experience.Overall, I would highly recommend Tancho for anyone seeking an omakase experience. The restaurant is relatively affordable for this style of dining, and you leave feeling both satisfied and impressed by the fresh, high-quality ingredients. Be sure to book ahead, as seating is limited and they often sell out. Planning in advance ensures a well-curated, unforgettable evening. Tancho is a must-visit for sushi enthusiasts!

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.

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!

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!

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 uncomfortableDon't recommend it for special meal :(

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!