Reviews for Ranzan in Redwood City, CA
Wow, what fun! We had a twelve course meal that was elegant and delicious. Pricy, of course, but a quintessential Japanese... experience worth the special occasion. Read more
Kaiseki, washoku style restaurant. Flavours are very delicate and worship the ingredients. If you’re not used to subtle, umami... focused dishes, this may not be your jam. Read more
Kaiseiki Dreams ???? I first made reservations at Ranzan in Redwood City over two years ago. Shortly before our dinner, the... pandemic shut down indoor dining and our dinner was not meant to be. But because of that reservation, I was on Ranzan’smailing list and among the first to know of their take-out offerings. Those take-out offerings, in particular their saba sushi,became my favorite pandemic takeout item and I was lucky to order many times Flash forward to today with indoor dining at fullcapacity and strict takeout only a memory for many, I had an opportunity to return to Ranzan Ranzan specializes in Kaiseiki ora style of Japanese dining featuring numerous, small intricate dishes and popular in cities like Kyoto Hidden on an unassumingstreet in downtown, Ranzan features the full Kaiseiki experience in ways that made me reminisce about both ryokan and Kaiseikidinners I had in Japan The space is quiet and serene with high ceilings and the service is warm and friendly with the serversin full kimono both polite and happy to answer questions about every dish Having tried all of Ranzan’s takeout offerings, Iwasn’t sure what to expect but I can happily share that my meal exceeded my expectations and is one of my best meals thisyear The food is not only beautiful but a labor of love with numerous dishes featuring touches and additions that all amplifyand enhance the excellent flavors Everyone loves the A5 Miyazaki Wagyu and fresh sashimi but I found joy in even the simpleritems like corn soup, potato dumpling and asparagus jelly For those with a special occasion or who wish to be reminded ofJapan, Ranzan is very special indeed. Wakuriya and the former Kaygetsu are the best known Kaiseiki restaurants in the Bay Area,but I’d now firmly put Ranzan on that list too ???? Takao May Menu $228/pp / Asparagus Jelly / Dry Aged Cucumber and Karasumi/ Fried Baby Sweetfish, Green vegetables with tofu sauce, Nagaimo and okura / Corn soup / Sashimi ~ Kochi, Ha Read more
From the unassuming front to the subdued dining room, Ranzan hit all the marks of an outstanding kaiseki experience. You have... four options to choose from and also different sake pairings to go with your meal. I particularly like that they printed theselection you chose when reserving so that I can follow along with what is being presented. The same went with each of the sakepairings. They had the name and description printed and served along with the drink. It made it so much easier for me toremember which of the dishes and drinks I preferred. I opted for the Takao tonight but asked if I could add on the Kobe a lacarte. I'm glad that they were able to accommodate my request even though it was last minute (Thanks, Aika). But IMO the wagyusirloin steak was more flavorful (first-world problems I know). TLDR: my favorites tonight - turban shell with liver paste,simmered scallop with egg yolk, sakura sorbet, Wagyu sirloin, grilled yaki saba sushi, simmered abalone, deep-fried herring roeabs maitake mushroom, “hagama” rice, and, surprisingly, the shaved ice with strawberry (it was refreshing and had the rightamount of sweetness). The sake pairings were good but nothing stood out to me, except the warm Tatsuriki and Shichida (Thanks,Miho). They have a limited selection of wines, so I would definitely recommend BYOB. Parking could be challenging in RedwoodCity and you most likely will have to drive around a bit but Ranzan is worth the two to three extra blocks of walking. Read more
We came here to celebrate my husband’s birthday. The restaurant is not big but very well managed. The staff are super friendly... and service is top notch. Food is amazing and artistically decorated. I’ve lived in JP before and this place def reminded meof old days there. Highly recommend! Read more
We came to Ranzan for my moms birthday dinner and it was an extraordinary experience. The ambiance was very nice and elegant.... The table wares were very traditional, and the food was just phenomenal! We had the Takao Set and it was very satisfying. Eachdish was extremely well flavored and simply delicious. The chef was very good at incorporating various ingredients and theplating was just super legit! Service was excellent as well our servers were so kind and attentive to details. If you arelooking for traditional Japanese fine dining experience definitely come to Ranzan. Thank you Ranzan for this wonderfulexperience. We will be back next time! Read more
What a treat! My dear friend and ultra foodie took me here for the 13(!!!) course Takao. Every course was absolutely stunning... and a delight to the senses. Highly, highly recommend coming here for a special occasion or just because! The artistry isincredible and the entire experience is beautiful. Thank you so, so much Hitoshi-san Mihoko!!! We will be back. Read more
Excellent service and equally delightful courses that are authentically Japanese. Celebrated a birthday here recently and had a... very special evening. This place deserves Michelin recognition! Read more