These 2 new Japanese food spots are thinking out of the box
Japanese food is in high demand along the Peninsula. There’s been a massive uptick in high-end omakase restaurants, a boom in matcha cafes, a steady growth of ramen shops and an increase in Japanese marketplaces.
This week, we’re spotlighting two new Peninsula businesses taking an innovative approach to Japanese cuisine.
An unassuming ghost kitchen in San Mateo is serving aesthetic to-go boxes of nigiri as well as milk bread Japanese sandos stuffed with katsu, egg salad, mixed fruit and more. A $36 box of 10 nigiri pieces (topped with caviar, uni and truffle) and four sushi roll pieces sounds unbelievably inexpensive in the Bay Area, but it’s real (I even tried it myself to confirm.)
In Burlingame, Buri Buri customers can build mix-and-match boxes of sushi rolls and nigiri, priced by the piece. Instead of committing to one whole sushi roll, you can curate your own omakase box with whatever pieces you desire.
On another note, I’m going to be a panelist at Peninsula Fresh, a free event on Monday at Skyline College focused on sustainability and the farm-to-table movement. If you’re interested in Peninsula food systems, come join from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. I’d love to meet you!
Stay tasty,
Adrienne
From mix-and-match sushi roll slices to takeaway omakase boxes, these new Peninsula businesses are redefining what a Japanese restaurant looks like
Kazu Sushi & Sando in San Mateo specializes in milk bread sandos and affordable omakase, all to go. Buri Buri Burlingame — originally a food truck specializing in eponymous donburi rice bowls — is adapting its approach with its first brick-and-mortar location, specializing in single servings of sushi rolls and bento boxes.
A new Yemeni coffee spot, what new ownership means for a 70-year-old ice cream shop and a Guy Fieri tailgate
- Yemeni coffee is becoming more prevalent in Silicon Valley. Take a look inside the new coffee shop Arwa.
- Pints of Joy has taken over ownership of Rick’s Ice Cream in Palo Alto, keeping longtime flavors while adding new options.
- The 2026 James Beard Awards semifinalists have been announced: Srijith Gopinathan and Ayesha Thapar of Ettan and Eylan are semifinalists for Outstanding Restaurateur, and Zareen Khan of Zareen’s is a semifinalist for Best Chef: California. Finalists will be announced March 31.
- Guy Fieri is hosting “America’s largest tailgate” Feb. 8 at the Cow Palace. The event will have live music, more than 10 culinary experiences and free samples.
- MiPot in Sunnyvale has been replaced with a new malatang restaurant: Cuanyue Malatang.
- Timber & Salt in Redwood City is hosting a gin tasting Feb. 7 from 4-5:15 p.m.
- Chicha’s Mehfil, a new Hyderabadi cafe and restaurant, held its grand opening in Sunnyvale on Thursday.
- Donato Enoteca is hosting a wine dinner with Cantina Marengo, an Italian Barolo producer, on Jan. 28 at 6:30 p.m.
Dinner at Timber & Salt
Timber & Salt has been in downtown Redwood City for more than a decade, specializing in juicy steaks and an impressive selection of seasonal cocktails. The restaurant is a bit on the smaller size, with the bar as the focal point and tables fairly snug.
What drew me in was the cocktail list ($17-$20), featuring ingredients such as beet tarragon dill syrup, hay liqueur, ube jam and honey oat cereal corn whiskey. For those partaking in Dry January, Timber & Salt also has a variety of equally interesting nonalcoholic cocktails ($11-$12).
That Feelin’ (burrata and goat cheese gin, dry vermouth, Suze and eggplant cucumber basil syrup) tasted like salad in a cup – it was botanical and salinic, smooth and balanced. Re-Active (jasmine tea vodka, cherry liqueur, fig brown sugar syrup and lemon) was tart, sweet, fruity and slightly floral.
For food, I ordered the 8-ounce baseball cut filet mignon, which was aged for 28 days and broiled at 1,400 degrees Fahrenheit ($54). The steak was textbook, with the seasoning and cook just to my liking. However, the chimichurri fell flat (all steaks are served with your choice of blue cheese butter, horseradish cream, herb compound butter or chimichurri.) It was bland and in much need of salt, spice, garlic and acidity.
The shareable sides I ordered were delectable. The chili crisp broccolini was flavorful, and the garlic whipped Yukon Gold potatoes were smooth and buttery. My one critique is that because all sides are designed to be shareable, a solo diner will inevitably rack up quite the bill, with each side priced at $12-$13. And even if you’re dining with another person, they may not opt for a steak (the menu also includes various comprehensive plated entrees) and therefore would not want to indulge in the sides.
I think what separates Timber & Salt from other steakhouses is their cocktails, and I’m definitely going to return to try more seasonal offerings.
Timber & Salt, 881 Middlefield Road, Redwood City; 650-362-3777, Instagram: @timberandsaltrwc. Open Tuesday to Thursday from 5-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 5-10 p.m.
Mother-daughter team opens board game cafe Plucky’s Cafe in Burlingame
Find a plethora of board games plus an extensive food and drinks menu
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