Sumika - Los Altos

4.6 (27)

$30 and under

Japanese

236 Central Plz, Los Altos, CA 94022

Make a booking

Sumika - Los Altos

4.6

$30 and under

Japanese

Palo Alto

Make a booking

2 people

8 Nov 2026

7:00 pm

Booked 8 times today

About this restaurant

Charming
Neighbourhood gem
Romantic

Relish the taste of Japanese cuisine at Sumika Grill. Its calligraphy and warm-colored décor create an atmosphere that makes guests feel as if they are dining in a classic izakaya restaurant in Japan. Customers can choose to sit by the open kitchen and watch food being prepared. Outdoor seating is available as well. For lunch reservations, please call our restaurant at 1-650-917-1822 during business hours.

Sumika Grill's menu features kushiyaki (Japanese charcoal grilled skewers) and oyakodon with soft runny eggs over rice, as well as tuna sashimi tempura with sesame soy sauce over rice. There is also salad with miso and tukemono. Some of its main entrées are organic fried chicken cutlet with miso soup and rice, as well as warm udon noodles with vegetable tempura. Visitors can also enjoy Sumika Grill's selection of beers and sakes.

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Japanese
Hours of Operation
Lunch Daily 11:30–14:00 Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 17:30–20:00 Fri, Sat 17:30–21:00
Phone number
(650) 917-1822
Website
http://sumikagrill.com/
Dress code
Business Casual
Catering
Please email us at ogikucorporation@gmail.com for catering inquiries. Visit our website at sumikagrill.com/catering to view a sample catering menu.

Location
236 Central Plz, Los Altos, CA 94022
Area
Palo Alto
Parking Details
Public Parking
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Non-Smoking, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Momo (Thigh)USD 4.80
Mune (Breast) with WasabiUSD 4.80
Tsukune Meat BallUSD 4.80
Momo with Green OnionUSD 4.80
Mune Ume (Plum Sauce)USD 4.80
Tsukune with CheeseUSD 5.20
Momo with Spicy SauceUSD 5.00
Mune with Cheddar CheeseUSD 5.00
Teba 2 pc (Wings)USD 5.40
Mune with Yuzu MustardUSD 5.20
Hiza Nankotsu (Knee Cartilage)USD 4.80

Kobe Style Beef / Black Pork Skewers

American Wagyu Beef with Apple Onion Steak SauceUSD 7.50
Asparagus Roll Wrapped in Black Pork SliceUSD 4.80
Pork Belly with Garlic SauceUSD 4.90

Seafood / Rice Ball

Shrimp SkewerUSD 5.70
Grilled Rice Ball (1pc)USD 6.80

Vegetarian Skewers

Cherry TomatoesUSD 4.00
Shishito PepperUSD 4.00
Zucchini with Olive OilUSD 4.00
Quail EggsUSD 5.00
Shiitake MushroomsUSD 4.00

Appetizers

6 Pc KaraageUSD 14.00
Fried Chicken
- Spicy MayoUSD 1.00
- MayoUSD 1.00
Spicy KaraageUSD 17.00
Agedashi TofuUSD 12.00
Deep fried tofu with bonito broth
Fried GarlicUSD 10.00
Tako Wasa (Raw Octopus with Wasabi)USD 9.00
EdamameUSD 8.00

Donburi Set

with soup, salad, pickle and small cooked veggie

Oyako-Don TrayUSD 22.00
Chicken thigh and eggs cooked in a special SUMIKA sauce
Maguro-Don (Tuna) TrayUSD 22.00
Sashimi tempura with sesame soy sauce
Beef Steak Don TrayUSD 22.00
Grilled Beef with lemon garlic sauce
Pork CutletUSD 23.00
American Wagyu Sirloin Steak TrayUSD 26.00

Bento Box

with dashimaki tamago egg, potato salad, cooked veggie and pickled veggie

Bento BoxUSD 20.00
Chicken Cutlet
Salmon Fry
Karaage Chicken
Spicy Mayo - $1, Mayo - $1
Aji (Fish) Fry
Grilled Chicken
Grilled Mackerel

UDON NOODLE

KAKIAGE UDON TRAYUSD 19.00
Warm Udon with vegetable tempura
SUMIKA UDON TRAYUSD 19.00
Warm udon with Charcoal Grilled Chicken

SOUP / SALAD

SUMIKA SALADUSD 16.00
vegetarian option available (tofu)
CLAM MISO SOUPUSD 5.70

DESSERT

HOMEMADE ICE CREAMUSD 5.00
Ask for today's flavor
BLACK SESAME PANNA COTTAUSD 7.00

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Sumika - Los Altos.

4.6

(27)

4.5Food
4.5Service
4.2Ambience
4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

27 Reviews

C
Chen
California Central Coast6 reviews
5.0
Dined on 25 October 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Good and average.. Love this place. Hope can keep quality.
Is this helpful?
A
Aaron
San Francisco Bay Area1 review
5.0
Dined on 17 October 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Good good good! dafdfsfdsfgdsfdsfdsfdsfdsfdsfsfdsfsdfdsfsdfsd
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C
Calvin Gold
San Francisco Bay Area21 reviews
5.0
Dined on 1 August 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Great food Great service been a here before. Now is better
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M
Mary
San Francisco Bay Area1 review
3.0
Dined on 12 July 2026
1. Overall 3
2. Food 1
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
I arrived late for my reservation, and the staff still seated me right away, which I appreciated. Unfortunately, the food didn’t live up to the reviews. I ordered the roasted eggplant, which was a generous portion and perfectly cooked, but it was covered with a thick, very sweet miso paste that overwhelmed the dish. I would have enjoyed it much more if the topping had been lighter or caramelized instead of so heavy and sweet. I also ordered the chicken skin skewer, but the skin wasn’t fully crisp. Since crispy skin is the entire appeal of the dish, the texture was disappointing. I only ate a few bites of both dishes. When my plates were cleared, no one asked how the meal was or why I had barely touched my food. I wasn’t looking for a discount or a free meal, but a simple check-in would have shown that they cared about the dining experience. Given all the glowing reviews, I expected much more. Unfortunately, the food and the lack of follow-up left me disappointed, and I don’t plan to return.
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H
Helen Gold
San Francisco Bay Area99 reviews
5.0
Dined on 12 July 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Sumika has been a favorite for a long time. I brought 7 family members here who had never been in the area before, everyone enjoyed dinner very much. Service was efficient and responsive but never intrusive. Favorites were the wagyu steak, pork belly skewers, grilled squid, asparagus pork and the frozen custard.
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K
Kano
San Francisco Bay Area1 review
1.0
Dined on 2 July 2026
1. Overall 1
2. Food 2
3. Service 1
4. Ambience 1
They forgot our food and shut the grill. We left the restaurant still being hungry. Disappointed
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A
Alan
San Francisco Bay Area1 review
2.0
Dined on 11 May 2026
1. Overall 2
2. Food 2
3. Service 3
4. Ambience 3
Skewers had little or no flavor and some of the meat was burned. Poor quality and value overall.
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L
Lindy
Pittsburgh / Western PA3 reviews
5.0
Dined on 21 April 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The food was delicious. The service was impeccable. I will certainly be going back.
Is this helpful?
N
Nathale
San Francisco Bay Area3 reviews
5.0
Dined on 6 April 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Always a pleasure to dine at Sumika. We were a group of 6, including two teenagers. We all loved the food, the sake selection and desserts. We will be back soon! Thank you!
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R
Rakesh Gold
Fort Lauderdale1 review
5.0
Dined on 10 February 2026
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 3
It’s all about the traditional home style Japanese food!
Is this helpful?

Additional information

Dining style
Casual Dining
Price
$30 and under
Cuisines
Japanese
Hours of Operation
Lunch Daily 11:30–14:00 Dinner Mon–Thu, Sun 17:30–20:00 Fri, Sat 17:30–21:00
Phone number
(650) 917-1822
Website
http://sumikagrill.com/
Dress code
Business Casual
Catering
Please email us at ogikucorporation@gmail.com for catering inquiries. Visit our website at sumikagrill.com/catering to view a sample catering menu.

Location
236 Central Plz, Los Altos, CA 94022
Area
Palo Alto
Parking Details
Public Parking
Additional
Beer, Cocktails, Non-Smoking, Takeaway, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

14 September 2026
Best Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area
The guide describes Sumika in Los Altos as an elegant, grill-centric pub, highlighting its binchotan-grilled skewers and smoky chicken oyakodon as a must-try dish.
Published in San Francisco Chronicle

FAQs

Yes, there are clear vegetarian choices, including the Sumika Salad (vegetarian option available with tofu), Vegetable Tempura, and a Vegetarian Skewers section (okra, shishito pepper, cherry tomatoes, zucchini, shiitake).

Some dishes can be quite generous, one guest described the roasted eggplant as a "generous portion, " and another praised the six-piece karaage as large and filling.

Yes, Sumika’s warm, izakaya-style dining room and cozy atmosphere, plus multiple positive anniversary and birthday visits, make it a lovely choice for a special evening.

The oyako-don is a frequent standout, guests praise the oyako-don and it appears on Sumika’s current menu.

Business casual is the guide, aim for neat, put-together attire that's comfortable rather than formal.

For a calmer visit, aim for opening, reviewers say arriving right at lunch or dinner opening is best, since the small izakaya fills up quickly after about 6:30pm, especially on weekends.

Yes, families do dine here: reviewers describe visits with children and teenagers and praise friendly service during those family meals.

Yes, Sumika offers an alcoholic drinks selection, including beers, multiple sakes and shochu, plus cocktails like shochu sours.

How FAQ content is generated

Make a booking

Sumika - Los Altos

4.6

$30 and under

Japanese

Palo Alto

Make a booking

2 people

8 Nov 2026

7:00 pm

Booked 8 times today

Sumika - Los Altos

Make a booking

Sumika - Los Altos

Make a booking

About this restaurant

Additional information

Free-Range Chicken Yakitori

Momo (Thigh)USD 4.80

Mune (Breast) with WasabiUSD 4.80

Tsukune Meat BallUSD 4.80

Momo with Green OnionUSD 4.80

Mune Ume (Plum Sauce)USD 4.80

Tsukune with CheeseUSD 5.20

Momo with Spicy SauceUSD 5.00

Mune with Cheddar CheeseUSD 5.00

Teba 2 pc (Wings)USD 5.40

Mune with Yuzu MustardUSD 5.20

Hiza Nankotsu (Knee Cartilage)USD 4.80

Kobe Style Beef / Black Pork Skewers

American Wagyu Beef with Apple Onion Steak SauceUSD 7.50

Asparagus Roll Wrapped in Black Pork SliceUSD 4.80

Pork Belly with Garlic SauceUSD 4.90

Seafood / Rice Ball

Shrimp SkewerUSD 5.70

Grilled Rice Ball (1pc)USD 6.80

Vegetarian Skewers

Cherry TomatoesUSD 4.00

Shishito PepperUSD 4.00

Zucchini with Olive OilUSD 4.00

Quail EggsUSD 5.00

Shiitake MushroomsUSD 4.00

Appetizers

6 Pc KaraageUSD 14.00

Spicy KaraageUSD 17.00

Agedashi TofuUSD 12.00

Fried GarlicUSD 10.00

Tako Wasa (Raw Octopus with Wasabi)USD 9.00

EdamameUSD 8.00

Donburi Set

Oyako-Don TrayUSD 22.00

Maguro-Don (Tuna) TrayUSD 22.00

Beef Steak Don TrayUSD 22.00

Pork CutletUSD 23.00

American Wagyu Sirloin Steak TrayUSD 26.00

Bento Box

Bento BoxUSD 20.00

Chicken Cutlet

Salmon Fry

Karaage Chicken

Aji (Fish) Fry

Grilled Chicken

Grilled Mackerel

UDON NOODLE

KAKIAGE UDON TRAYUSD 19.00

SUMIKA UDON TRAYUSD 19.00

SOUP / SALAD

SUMIKA SALADUSD 16.00

CLAM MISO SOUPUSD 5.70

DESSERT

HOMEMADE ICE CREAMUSD 5.00

BLACK SESAME PANNA COTTAUSD 7.00

Additional information

Best Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area

FAQs

Does this restaurant have vegan/vegetarian, gluten-free or other dietary options?

What are the portion sizes like at this restaurant?

Is this a good pick for date night?

What is this restaurant's stand-out or favorite dish?

What is the dress code for Sumika - Los Altos?

When is the best time to go to Sumika - Los Altos?

Is this restaurant kid-friendly?

Does this restaurant serve alcohol?

Make a booking

Sumika - Los Altos

Make a booking