Rantei Japanese Cuisine - Santa Clara, California

Timothy Pak

Everything that I ordered so fresh and delicious! Must check out this place if you’re sushi maniac. The menu prices are reasonable, not over price. The staff are nice too.

Rafael DeAusen

Met a friend visiting from Guam here on a random Wednesday. No resi but for two at the bar took 5 minutes.

They forgot our ikura order (it was punched in never came out til we asked after we finished our food) but we were catching up enjoying a kirin and large hot sake.

Delicious cuts
Decent size to price
Great ambiance.

About $55 a person with
Large hot sake shared
Garlic edamame
Hamachi toro sashimi (4pc)
Gyoza
Warriors roll
Ikura roll
1 kirin each

M Do

Came here with my friends for dinner, and I ordered this pretty sashimi plate. We also got this sake bottle, and it was good. Sashimi was good and would've been even better if they were fresh. Felt like it has been out for some time, but again, we did come there for dinner.

Angela Han

Visited the restaurant exactly when they opened—stayed for around half an hour. The restaurant wasn’t busy at that time and it was very peaceful. The servers were incredibly kind and the food was amazing too. Great experience overall—will definitely visit again!

William To

Pretty good sushi restaurant overall. I would expect better quality fish and service for the price, as both my wife and myself felt they could have stepped up a bit more. The chef deluxe sashimi pieces were large, but outside of the Yellowtail/hamachi pieces, the sashimi was underwhelming. The negi hama and spicy scallop roll was great. spicy tuna was way too spicy to be enjoyable. Still, a good restaurant all around, and we will be back.

Alyssa Siddiqui

Rantei has been my go to for the past few years since they opened.
Must haves:
Rantei Box - toro, snow crab, ikura, hotate. The hotate and crab are so sweet just like Japan. And the toro does range from chu toro to otoro cuts.
Nigiris - salmon and seared salmon

They also have yakitori, sashimi dishes, and other Japanese style dishes that have not missed the mark.

They definitely have gained in popularity due to social media and their quality of food. The prices have also increased but I still think it’s worth it.
If you can get through to a live person and not their overfilled VM, I recommend getting reservations and the tatami rooms are nice to experience in the back.

Austin Zhuang

Nestled in a rather unremarkable and almost hidden corner of Santa Clara, Rantei Japanese Cuisine could easily be overlooked by passersby. The exterior is far from flashy and the surrounding area feels a bit incongruous for such a gem of a restaurant. Despite the less-than-ideal location, stepping inside reveals an ambiance that is both inviting and authentically Japanese, a stark contrast to the nondescript façade.

My dining experience began with their impressive 8-piece omakase set. Each piece was meticulously crafted, showcasing the chef's impeccable attention to detail and mastery of traditional Japanese techniques. The variety and freshness of the seafood were outstanding, each bite offering a new and delightful flavor profile. It was evident that high-quality ingredients and culinary precision were at the heart of the omakase, making it a memorable and thoroughly enjoyable feast.

Adding to the delightful experience, Rantei’s soba noodles were nothing short of extraordinary. Made in-house, they boasted a perfect texture and a subtle, nuanced flavor that was enhanced by the delicate broth they were served in. The soba was a testament to the restaurant's dedication to authenticity and quality. Despite the initial impression given by its location, the culinary experience at Rantei was sublime, and I wouldn't hesitate to return for another meal that transports you straight to Japan.

Hannah Jin

Tried Nigiris in my second visit. The engawa and tai are my favorite. All nigiris are fresh and well seasoned.
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Chirashi don and hand roll I tried today are tasty, worth the price. But the ambience of the restaurant could be improved. Right now feels too crowded and noisy.