RANZAN - Redwood City

An amazing introduction to Kaiseki dinners in the Bay Area. Couldn't have asked for a better birthday celebration. :)Ranzan is a Kaiseki style dinner with a few different options for the amount of food premium options. We ended up opting for Kibune option which was their 2nd tier out of 4. It was super delicious although we did struggle to get to the finish line because our stomachs weren't ready for the amount of food we were getting. XDSome of our favorite dishes from our particular menu included:*Wagyu sirloin steak with Japanese sansho pepper: So good. Perfectly cooked. Melted in our mouths.*Corn tofu: Just a personal preference but I really, really dug this clever play on classic tofu. Loved the texture and thought it tasted amazing.*Squash soup: This was their play on the traditional miso loved it (and love all things squash in general).*Unagi donburi: Perfect portion (this was one of the later dishes, so my +1 and I were struggling a bit at this point) and super delicious. The unagi was so flavorful with a lovely slightly sweet sauce and breadcrumb like balls.*Yes, there were a couple dishes we weren't as fond of, but still loved the way they were presented and the ideas behind them!*The pacing of the food does come out at a pretty even cadence with service being so on point.. My +1 and I got deep into our talks and sometimes fell a little behind with some of the dishes overlapping as we were still chatting but we were usually able to catch up!*The presentation was amazing and super deliberate. Loved the little touches and appreciated too the small birthday surprises at the end. Super cute.*As some other have noted, at least as of August 2023, the restaurant returns your deposit directly to you.*The ambiance of Ranzan is so soothing and relaxing. Easy to have conversations. Super minimalist.Also, I took a rideshare getting to the restaurant so didn't notice parking as much, but my +1 did park a couple blocks away.Cheers to the kind staff servers! Super lovely and memorable.

The food is good but still over priced. I think overall it's not worth it.

Basic food and a bit overpriced for what you get. Great service and presentation, but the food was meh. They charged $8 per bottle for distilled water which is ridiculous. Not even Michelin star restaurants or fast food joints charge for water. Left a bad taste in my mouth when I got the bill for it.

It's pretty rare to find legit kaiseki style cuisine in the US, and having just come back from a ryokan in Japan that served kaiseki we had a good basis for comparison. Overall we enjoyed it and thought it was fairly authentic, from the printed menu that was clearly from a computer with Japanese as the default language. The food was high quality, service was good, and they had a great sake tasting menu to boot.I will say the decor and harsh lighting does detract from the overall experience and makes it feel less high end than it could be considering the pricing and great service. It feels a little too basic for a meal that's $150+ per person (after everything).

Ranzan Sushi in Redwood City is a must-visit restaurant for anyone who loves Japanese cuisine. Tucked away in a strip plaza, this intimate kaiseki fine-dining experience showcases the best seasonal ingredients from Japan. If you're looking for a hidden gem in the peninsula and cannt get a reservation at Wakuriya in san mateo , Ranzan Sushi is it.The meal we had at Ranzan Sushi was an unforgettable culinary journey. We chose “ Kibune “, which offers 14 courses, every dish was expertly prepared and beautifully presented. The delicacy of simmered sea bream roe in gelatin was a standout, as was the lotus root dumpling in a clay pot. The sashimi dish was also exceptional, featuring the freshest fish and seafood.The grilled wayu sirloin steak was a highlight of the meal, perfectly cooked with tenderness and full of flavor. The yuba chawanmushi, a steamed dish of egg custard with tofu skin, was delicate and delicious. The deep-fried shrimp and uni wrapped with dried seaweed was another standout, and the squid and mozuku with sweet vinaigrette was a refreshing palate cleanser.To accompany our meal, we tried the sake flight and were impressed with the selection and quality. The miso soup with chrysanthemum was a lovely way to finish the savory part of the meal, and the anmitsu dessert was the perfect sweet ending.Overall, we highly recommend Ranzan Sushi for anyone looking for an exceptional dining experience in the Bay Area. The food is outstanding, the service is attentive, and the atmosphere is intimate and welcoming. Don't miss out on this hidden gem!