Karina M. | Redwood City, CA
Great food! Great service!
We had the Kanpachi nigiri on special that night, Osho roll, Umi roll?, Miso soup, Halami Beef Tataki — super fresh was our immediate reaction, tasty beyond expectation, presentation was appealing to the eye. Green Tea Tiramisu (frozen) for dessert was also good, though perhaps may be better if served a bit thawed. We sat at the bar and ogled at the sushi chefs mesmerized in their craft. Jeanette and LingLing gave us friendly, hospitable, and attentive service! Last but not least, the price is fantastic given the quality of the dishes. Excellent all-in-all. Can’t wait to be back!! Please, please, please don’t change.

Rosanne F. | San Carlos, CA
Food was AMAZING! Mouthwatering sushi and sashimi of the highest grade, delicious gyoza and curry, plus perfectly prepared tempura. The owner was a former co-owner at Hikari in Redwood City and has outdone herself in this new venue. I would run, not walk, to Soko Soko as reservations will become exceedingly hard to get.

Derek S. | San Jose, CA
Came by for dinner the other night and it was surprisingly a decent Americanized Japanese restaurant run by Cantonese-speaking staff. Made a reservation via Yelp and our table was ready upon arrival. Dining is available both indoors as well as outdoors on the patio. Most of the staff were wearing a uniform, and some front-of-house staff wore a mask while others opted to wear disposable gloves.

Ordering was done with the staff. Staff was attentive to diner allergies.

Started off with the beef tataki and it was grilled to perfection. The beef was a domestic wagyu.

The assorted tempura was also surprisingly decent. Lightly battered and served with a dipping sauce.

The Honolulu roll was tasty with soft-shell crab and real crab. The rolls were delicately made and served with some wasabi and soy sauce.

Ended the meal with the matcha tiramisu, which was also surprisingly decent.

~$75/head after tax and gratuity for dinner.

Parking was easy on the street.

Karen H. | Daly City, CA
Such a good spot. They open for lunch and dinner and take reservations on Yelp. A lot of variety and everything was so yummy. Sushi is fresh, apps were delish, and the fried stuff was so light and crispy. My husband’s beef rice bowl was a thumbs up. I can’t wait to come back and try more items! Service was really nice and attentive. Plenty of parking.
I’ll be back to try their omakase next time.

Alden C. | South San Francisco, CA
Soko Soko Japanese Cuisine has been opened for a few months at this point and I got to try it out for the first time for a birthday. It’s located in a low-key area in San Carlos, but it wasn’t hard to find. This restaurant is so good! The owner is super nice and so is all the staff. My party had to book a reservation because it is really busy and the restaurant itself is medium to small sized. It is really well designed and cozy inside!

The list of items we ordered for the table is a lot, so I’m only gonna mainly talk about the entrée that I ordered for myself, which was the Beef Sukiyaki ($24). It comes with a small stove underneath to keep it hot, although that makes it a bit too tall for me since I am vertically challenged. It was much easier to eat once I asked the staff to remove the stove and just have the pot of noodles set on the table. When it comes to this dish, this is one of the best Beef Sukiyaki that I have had. Tons of vegetables and meat with a reasonable amount of noodles. The soup base is also really flavorful and I can see it really hitting the spot during colder seasons.

My favorite aspect of this restaurant is just how personable the owner and all the staff are, which makes it even more worth coming back in the future. The staff is really accommodating and they have a really extensive menu worth exploring. I will definitely return again in the future.

Claudia H. | Foster City, CA
Tried Soko Soko on a Sunday at 7pm and it was pretty full. We got the mini donburi set, mixed tempura, and sashimi omakase. Food took a little while to come out, but it was all really fresh and good! My favorite was the mixed tempura and sashimi omakase. The donburi bowls were good too, but I also wasn’t exactly in the mood for donburi that day. I would totally come back, and the service was good as well with kind wait staff.
The plating is also so beautiful, so it’s a perfect spot to go with friends or a date!

Brandi T. | San Francisco, CA
First time trying this new spot in San Carlos and was impressed by the high quality of their fish and their exceptional service! In addition, the place is aesthetically pleasing, from their beautiful dishware and high-end chairs.

We started off with the hamachi truffle, which was delicious. The slices of hamachi were very thick. We then had the shoji oysters and the seared scallop roll — also both really solid dishes. No complaints. For the 8-piece omakase, we enjoyed the sake toro, chu toro, ama ebi, and kanpachi the most. We ordered 2 more orders of sake toro and had the spoon tasting to finish. The spoon tasting had uni, ikura, and quail egg and was only $9, which is great for the price.

Thank you to the owner for checking on us and to the waiter for the shots! The service was excellent.

Definitely looking forward to coming back!

Leatricia N. | San Jose, CA
Pretty new restaurant and it did not disappoint! I came here on Valentine’s Day and I was surprised it wasn’t more packed. The interior had a modern and elegant feel to it. I appreciated the attention to detail of how each table had a rose on it, which set the tone for a romantic vibe. My partner and I ordered 7 items and it was enough to satisfy our hunger. We ordered the following items:

• Salmon skin hand rolls
• Spoon tasting (uni, ikura, quail egg yolk, ponzu)
• Hamachi truffle (crudo)
• Toro heaven roll
• Dragon roll
• Sake toro nigiri
• Chu toro nigiri

All the fish was fresh and there wasn’t anything to complain about. I can’t wait to come back and try more items on their menu.

Highlights from dinner
The tasting spoons, hamachi truffle, and chu toro were my personal favorites out of all the dishes I tried. I enjoyed how all the fish was fresh and served to perfection. Another thing I noticed was that the hamachi truffle crudo included pine nuts, which added an earthy flavor. It’s one of my favorite nuts and I’ve never had anything like it before, which was a pleasant surprise. The food came out fast as well, and our server was so sweet and attentive. I would recommend coming here for a special occasion, date night, birthday dinner, etc.

Alan L. | CA, CA
A very cutesy and demure Japanese restaurant that’s newly opened! We went for our Valentine’s Day dinner, and it was a wonderful experience! It was pretty busy, so make sure to make a reservation beforehand to ensure that you don’t have to wait for too long.

We got the beef sukiyaki and chirashi don, and both were very good. The sashimi was really fresh and delicious, and the beef sukiyaki was well-flavored. The portion sizes are on the smaller side, but still filling! Would recommend getting two mains and a sushi roll as an appetizer. We got the Osho roll and the lotus root added a very nice crunch that complements the rich flavor of the eel and salmon!

The restaurant is a tad bit dark, but the brighter lights over the sushi bar give it a welcoming atmosphere!

Natalia L. | Redwood City, CA
My husband and I have eaten here several times before writing a review. We are very excited for Soko Soko! Having a restaurant on the 1500 block of Laurel is such a blessing, as we work very close by and are limited to about four restaurants. It being an actual good and unique Japanese restaurant is a double win! This is what San Carlos needed.

Parking is easy and you don’t have to drive around any closed streets to eat here, and the interior is beautifully remodeled and has been very clean every visit. Staff is very friendly and personable and will answer every question you have.

Worth mentioning:
My husband is allergic to fish, so this menu made us SO happy, as there are a lot of options for him other than just chicken or steak teriyaki. Sukiyaki is amazing and the wagyu roll he tried today is his new favorite. We are thankful for Soko Soko having a menu that is accommodating to those who can’t have fish, are vegetarian (lots of veggie options!), or are looking to try exploring sushi without diving in headfirst, while still offering fresh sashimi and creative sushi menu items worth trying.

Abby G. | Chico, CA
Food was incredible, came quickly, and service was impeccable. They really focus on exceptional customer service and quality.
We came in on a Friday night and it was a packed house, yet they were able to seat us in 5 minutes. Once seated, our food came surprisingly fast. Everything was so fresh and delicious. Our server Ling Ling was so sweet and helpful with recommendations and she was spot on! Favorites from what we ordered were the hamachi truffle, Warriors roll, and chu toro. Will definitely be coming back regularly!

Tiffany D. | San Carlos, CA
Delicious, fresh fish, extensive menu without it being too overwhelming or all over the place. The mini don set was a great deal, especially for kids who only need small portions but like variety! I also appreciate that you can make reservations, as this place gets busy! The last time I went for lunch the menu was much more limited. I don’t know if that will change, but I hope to have more selection also at lunch time.

Christine W. | Union City, CA
Had lunch with a friend here and was very happy with the food and service. I am surprised that they haven’t been open very long, as they definitely had their act together. The menu has a great variety of Japanese foods, from sashimi to hot foods.
We had the Kaisen Don, which was very good and had a nice variety of dishes to try. We also had the hamachi truffle and tuna tower. Definitely would like to come back to try more items! Their bowls and plates were beautiful!

Andrew P. | Palo Alto, CA
My wife and I dined at Soko Soko on a Friday night, and I highly recommend making reservations — they fill up fast! From the moment we walked in, the restaurant had a welcoming atmosphere, a clean and well-thought-out neutral color palette that created a calming environment. The service staff was friendly and attentive, and I appreciated the cohesive branding with their uniforms — it added a nice touch of professionalism.

What We Ordered:
Miso Soup – Served piping hot, just how I like it. Simple and flavorful.
Gyoza – Perfectly cooked with a delicious dipping sauce.
Shrimp Tempura – Light, crispy, and not oily. Great crunch and flakiness.
Lobster Tacos – Unique presentation and refreshing flavors. Different but delicious!
Hamachi Truffle – Fresh fish with great presentation.
Toro Heaven – A standard roll, but everything inside and on top was incredibly fresh. Solid choice.
Blue Fin Kama – A must-try! The delicate, rich meat is worth the 30-minute preparation time.
2 Arnold Palmers – Refreshing and well-balanced.

The Verdict:
Our total came to $133.44, which isn’t bad for a Friday night out, especially considering how full and satisfied we were. Soko Soko checks all the boxes — great food, attentive service, and a relaxed ambiance. We’ll definitely be back!

Cindee L. | San Jose, CA
Delicious authentic Japanese food, great service, and has outdoor seating. Highly recommended.

Margaret T. | San Mateo, CA
It’s hard to believe this Japanese restaurant opened its doors just mere weeks ago (three to be exact). We came by on a Sunday evening, and the line was out the door. Thank goodness we made reservations, so we were seated immediately upon checking in with the staff. Otherwise, there would have been a 30+ minute wait.

The inside is decorated nicely — minimalistic, chic, and not too over the top. It seemed like they were a bit understaffed, and it took a while to get our order in. However, once we did, the food came out in a timely manner. The owner was apologetic about the wait times and I overheard her apologizing to other guests.

We decided to forego the omakase and try out various other items on their menu instead. We started off with the maitake tempura mushrooms ($13) and agedashi tofu ($8). The tempura mushrooms weren’t overly battered, but I was surprised it didn’t come with a dipping sauce for more flavor. As a result, we sprinkled togarashi on it and used the broth from the agedashi tofu. The tofu was good, but the texture wasn’t very mochi-like as expected. It also fell apart VERY easily, so I think it should be served with a spoon.

For rolls, we opted for the Hull ($16), California roll ($13), and seared scallop ($18). The Hull is a nice option for those watching their carb intake. There’s no rice in this roll — instead, it’s spicy tuna wrapped with cucumber. I generally prefer a little bit of rice with my rolls, but this made me feel slightly healthier and less guilty about my rice consumption. The California roll is made with real crab and was pretty good. The sushi rice is made well and I could probably eat piece after piece without any complaints. The scallop roll was actually much better than I expected. The scallops were seared to perfection and there was a thin slice of lemon that added an unexpected burst of citrus and freshness.

We also requested a couple of pieces of nigiri (2 per order). The uni was already sold out by the time we got there — otherwise, we might have ordered it. Instead, we got the hotate/scallop ($8) and sake toro/seared salmon ($10). Both pieces tasted fresh and well-seasoned. There’s more of a Chinese flair than Japanese, though. For example, the scallop came topped with a dab of spicy chili crunch (like the Lao Gan Ma stuff, iykyk).

We thought we would leave hungry but actually left pretty content. I could see this being a go-to neighborhood sushi joint. Would love to return and give it another shot, especially since there are so many other things on the menu!

Ken T. | San Mateo, CA
Awesome place for a date or hangout! Love this place for San Carlos and the skewers and omakase were great. The wait was a bit long, but the staff was still attentive to those waiting. I also tried one of their specials in the picture, which was fun to try a little bit of everything.

Eva O. | San Francisco, CA
I couldn’t believe they were ONLY open for 5 days when I went!

Ordered

• Spoon Tasting
• Garlic Shishito
• Beef Sukiyaki
• Salmon Avocado Hand Roll
• Hamachi Truffle
• Beef Tataki
• Miso Eggplant
• Lobster Taco

Verdict
Soko Soko may have only been open for 5 days when we visited, but you wouldn’t have guessed it from the quality of the food and the buzzing atmosphere. The place was packed, the service was smooth, and every dish that hit the table was on point — this spot is already making waves in San Carlos!

Now, let’s talk about the menu — it’s only two pages long, but don’t be fooled. It’s packed with a huge variety of dishes:

• Sushi & Sashimi
• Hot & Cold Dishes
• Appetizers & Entrées
  There was so much to choose from, I almost felt overwhelmed (in the best way possible)!

Let’s just say… for two people, we definitely ordered like we were feeding five (no regrets!). And honestly? I couldn’t pick just one favorite dish because everything was spot-on — fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented.

For a brand-new restaurant, Soko Soko is already operating like a well-loved staple. If you’re in the area, do yourself a favor and go check them out ASAP!

Yuki T. | San Carlos, CA
Came in on a Thursday evening. Really nice interior and ambiance. Good for dates and families.

• Hotate skewer was okay, not great.
• Salmon tuna tower was good, but the sauce choice was weird (some sweet Vietnamese sauce).
• Bacon mochi skewer was good.
• Beef yaki udon was solid.
• Soko Soko Don (several mini dons) was excellent!

Nice rice quality, fresh ingredients, well prepared. Big menu — too big, in my opinion. Pleasant staff.

Francis M. | San Carlos, CA
Per my original review, attached are the pictures.
The omakase is tasty, fresh, and a good value meal.
See you next time!

Teara D. | San Mateo, CA
Had our Valentine’s dinner date here and wow! Such a beautiful restaurant. My husband and I were impressed with how quickly the food came to the table and all timed so that we were finishing one after the other. So fresh and so yummy!
Definitely will be back! We couldn’t believe it was only open for 2 weeks—you couldn’t tell with how well they operate.

Steve M. | Menlo Park, CA
Awesome new find! Great sushi and service at reasonable prices. Be sure not to tell anyone our secret! It’ll make it difficult to get a table.

Daisy K. | San Francisco, CA
When I stepped into the restaurant, I was amazed by the beautiful minimal Japandi interior! Our server was very friendly and we even had the chance to meet the owners, who were welcoming and kind 🙂
I really loved the Lion King roll I ordered and the salmon hand roll. The quality of the fish was great and service was quick. I will definitely come back to try more items from their large and diverse menu!

Kasey N. | San Francisco, CA
We got the beef yaki udon, 49er roll, and some hand rolls. Everything was delicious! This place is decorated nicely and the table sets and dishes were beautiful. I would definitely recommend this place for a nice date night! There is indoor and very limited outdoor seating with space heaters! Our waitstaff was able to seat us right away and were very friendly! There is plenty of street parking around the restaurant. The restaurant is on the smaller side, so seating here does fill up quickly!

Patricia M. | Redwood City, CA
So great to have a new/returning restaurant here in San Carlos. Soko Soko is a woman-owned business who had a previous restaurant nearby that was sold (we were sad). And now, how lucky we are that she took over a facility on Laurel Street and made it beautiful! This makes us very happy!!!
The food has been a joyful experience!!! The workers are delightful; service is so friendly and you will thoroughly enjoy this choice.

Tony T. | San Francisco, CA
My family is happy to have a good Japanese restaurant so close to home in San Carlos. Strong showing on the fried foods—the tempura is light and crispy. Solid selection of good fish. Well-balanced nigiri, not too much fish, not too much rice, nice bite size. The grilled skewers are good too—not too sweet, not overcooked. Stephanie is a great host as well.
Family-friendly! Our two girls loved eating here. Looking forward to seeing this establishment grow in the neighborhood.

Yanchun C. | South San Francisco, CA
宝藏店铺推荐——Soko Soko，日式料理！
简约干净的环境，出品666！！
好吃性价比高！安静的环境适合与朋友小聚！
不吃鱼生的，也很适合带小朋友吃熟食，串烧，面条，炸鸡……
很赞！

Darren M. | Redwood City, CA
I’ve come to Soko Soko a few times and the experience has always been enjoyable! The overall service, ambience, decor, and quality of food are top tier!
I’d really recommend the fatty tuna and any yakitori. Don’t be afraid to treat yourself here because it’s worth it!

Kay C. | Manhattan, NY
Best dinner while traveling to San Francisco. The food was amazing and the staff were very friendly.

Karen G. | Redwood City, CA
Freshest, most melt-in-your-mouth fish we’ve ever eaten. Lovely ambience. Attentive service. Truly excellent.

Edmund L. | Anaheim, CA
Really amazing sushi and service!! Birthday dinner with my family… a wonderful time…

Michelle L. | San Jose, CA
Our new go-to sushi place. Real crab California rolls. Fresh sashimi. It is a small intimate restaurant. Love it.

Ichiban K. | Sacramento, CA
The service was great, but the food did take a while to come. Overall, everything tasted fresh and I would definitely recommend trying this place out.

Daisy Z. | Sausalito, CA
Discovered this newly opened restaurant by chance and ordered some to-go. What a surprise, the fish used for sashimi was very fresh and the Negi Niku Don was delicious. I will definitely come back with my family.

Calvin H. | San Francisco, CA
Decided to come here on a lunch date with my wife after seeing it open up in the neighborhood. First impressions—the interior was very modern and tastefully done, which felt very comfortable. The menu was extensive, with both traditional Japanese food items as well as a brunch menu that had more fusion items like wagyu eggs benedict and soufflé pancakes. Our server was friendly and attentive, and the owner also came by to say hi and check in since they’re newly opened, which was nice.
My wife ordered the deluxe chirashi, which came with a generous amount of fish and seafood including uni and amaebi. The fish was very fresh and of high quality, and reasonably priced. I opted for the seared wagyu and sea roll, spicy scallop hand roll, and maitake mushroom tempura. Again, the sushi was very fresh and tasty, and the tempura was fried well with just the right amount of seasoning. We can’t wait to come back to try more of the menu, especially brunch!

Island B. | Redwood City, CA
First time eating at Soko Soko… what a treat for San Carlos! We ate here for Valentine’s Day and we were so impressed with the ambiance, vibe, and most importantly the food.
We started off with the negima (chicken and green onion with yakitori sauce) and buta bara (Kurobuta pork belly) skewers. The pork belly drizzled with lemon and a dash of the pepper seasoning was fantastic. Followed up with the scallop butter yaki (the little cast iron pan that it was served in was clean when we were done) and the crunchy lobster roll. Our entrees included the sushi combo and the chirashi combo… the best sashimi I’ve eaten in quite some time (the hamachi and salmon were the stars, but every piece of fish was delicious).
An added plus is the location—not near many other restaurants, so parking is easy. We will definitely be coming back (maybe our weekly sushi joint)… good luck and welcome to San Carlos!!

Laurie C. | San Francisco, CA
The chef’s choice sashimi combo was so fresh and delicious. The staff was attentive. The service was exceptional.
The inside of the store is very intimate and cute.
10/10 would go again.

Kaushik I. | Menlo Park, CA
Very friendly, with a pretty broad menu that has lots of vegetarian choices. Gorgeous plates and fresh fish (and lovely uni).
The mini don set.

Jenna H. | Kyburz, CA
Excellent service! Everyone was very kind and the food came out quickly. Everything tasted amazing—some of the freshest fish I’ve ever had 🙂

Gus I. | West Menlo Park, CA
Came in for a late night dinner and it was full, but we were accommodated and sat quickly! First off, the staff is super attentive and friendly. Our server Ling-Ling was AMAZING! She answered our questions and made recommendations. The food was DELICIOUS—we had tempura, some rolls, and katsu curry chicken. Everything tasted SO fresh! She took such good care of us and was so funny—we felt like we were with family! The atmosphere was great, had conversations with other guests, and they recommended things to try as well! WILL DEFINITELY be coming back with the fam!!

KJ Speak S. | San Carlos, CA
Great food with a really friendly staff. Plus, the owner Stephanie has chosen beautifully colored dinnerware and glassware to dine with and comfortably upholstered dining chairs, unlike many wooden and metal dining chairs that seem to be the norm in San Carlos.
I loved the skewers—they were really tasty. We also had the tempura, California roll, salads, and the signature Crunchy Lobster roll, which was delicious.
We’ll be back soon during their soft opening, because once word gets around, I’m sure they will be packed for both lunch and dinner.

Erin C. | San Francisco, CA
This new spot has hit all the marks! We have been four times and have enjoyed our experience each time. The interior is clean and trendy, and the service has always been great. Ling Ling had great recommendations—the oyster and uni were delicious!
But what really stands out is the freshness of the fish. We have tried multiple options from the raw fish, and the freshness has been on par with some of the other high-end sushi spots we go to in San Mateo. We are so excited to have this gem in San Carlos.

P K. | Atherton, CA
Try this new San Carlos little gem of a Japanese-style restaurant. The food was delicious. The service was super attentive. The atmosphere is clean and casual. It seems to get even better on every occasion. Going again this evening!

Lauren L. | San Francisco, CA
Wow! So glad this place opened up! There are plenty of good sushi restaurants in San Carlos, but this place was so cute and everything on the menu was delicious! The uni and the toro were super fresh. The bento meal is a good deal and the tonkatsu was surprisingly cooked to perfection. We will be back!

Peter H. | San Carlos, CA
Great for date night.
The food is so fresh. Sushi Chef Kyle is truly a master. The flavors and dining experience are sublime.
I recommend the 8-piece chef’s special.
Stephanie and her staff made me feel so special. I didn’t want to leave, but I was so full!
I can’t wait to go back!

Kim K. | Sunnyvale, CA
Beautiful new restaurant arisen from the previous Hikari. Great food quality and extremely friendly service. Comfortable seats and very cozy atmosphere. We are so happy we found this place.

Jacqueline J. | Belmont, CA
Great experience overall! Fish was fresh, beautiful presentation! We love this place—we will definitely be back. Ling Ling, our server, was awesome: very attentive, knowledgeable on the menu items, very personable! She was the best—so was our dining experience. Highly recommend!!

Julie H. | Sunnyvale, CA
We thoroughly enjoyed our dining experience at Soko Soko last night and will definitely be back for many more visits. Their menu offers a nice variety of cooked food, rolls, and sashimi/nigiri. All the food we ordered (and we ordered a lot) was delicious. The omakase sashimi was amazing. The uni nigiri was super fresh. Their unagi don is served clay-pot style, which added some crunchy texture to the rice, which we love. We had many other dishes and all were top-notch. Plating was also nicely done.
The staff was friendly and paid attention to detail. I dropped my chopsticks and a clean pair was brought to our table before I had a chance to ask.
The restaurant is not big. It has a wonderful cozy environment. Modern, yet not too modern. There was no loud music blasting, which is an A+ in my opinion. It’s the perfect place for get-togethers, date nights, and family meals.

Michelle V. | San Francisco, CA
Had a great experience at this new sushi spot. Friendly and attentive staff. The 8-piece omakase set is very good—fresh fish and good sushi rice that was well-seasoned. The interior of the restaurant is modern and clean. A must-visit for sushi lovers in San Carlos.

Nathan L. | San Carlos, CA
The food was very high quality. The sushi was fresh and had a perfect combination of softness and flavor. I would recommend ordering the Warriors Roll if you come here, but make sure to make a reservation beforehand.