Gombei Japanese Restaurant

I ordered a $9 set meal. They ripped me off by slipping a $2.71 charge for a small bowl of rice. I am never going back. The quality of their food is nothing to shout about. You can find are far better Japanese cuisine in Castro Street, Mountain Vi ... more

I ordered a $9 set meal. They ripped me off by slipping a $2.71 charge for a small bowl of rice. I am never going back. The quality of their food is nothing to shout about. You can find are far better Japanese cuisine in Castro Street, Mountain View. less

Not a place if you're looking for atmosphere, but one of the best for a good home-style Japanese meal cooked by a real Japanese oyaji. The Sanbin Teishoku (on the specials menu) is the best, but most of what's on the menu is good. Try the Unagi ... more

Not a place if you're looking for atmosphere, but one of the best for a good home-style Japanese meal cooked by a real Japanese oyaji. The Sanbin Teishoku (on the specials menu) is the best, but most of what's on the menu is good. Try the Unagi Don for a special treat! Don't forget to bring cash; no credit cards are accepted. less

This is the best Japanese restaurant on the peninsula in this price range. For under $10 you can get a bowl of excellent teriyaki chicken or beef, Japanese salad, a bowl of miso soup, a large piece of broiled salmon or tuna, a six piece California ... more

This is the best Japanese restaurant on the peninsula in this price range. For under $10 you can get a bowl of excellent teriyaki chicken or beef, Japanese salad, a bowl of miso soup, a large piece of broiled salmon or tuna, a six piece California roll, and a bowl of rice. I have been eating at Gombei for over 6 years now and the quality has always been consistently high. The service can at times be a bit abrasive, but I don't think it detracts from the overall dining experience. less

I've been here several times. The place is not good, but it's not bad. The whole atmosphere is average. Yes. The food is similar to standard fare in a cheap restaurant in Japan. I never did like that cheap-o stuff in Japan (although the price of ... more

I've been here several times. The place is not good, but it's not bad. The whole atmosphere is average. Yes. The food is similar to standard fare in a cheap restaurant in Japan. I never did like that cheap-o stuff in Japan (although the price of cheap-o in Japan is equivalent to the price of medium-o/expensive-o in the USA). There seem to be several variations on the teriyaki theme--chicken teriyaki, salmon teriyaki, etc. Also, the saba shioyaki does not taste as good as the saba shioyaki at 1 well-known place in Sunnyvale or another well-known place in Menlo Park. Finally, the place seems to be overloaded with sodium, specifically soy-sauce. The broth in the udon/soba soup appears to be soy-based, not fish-stock-based. Watch that blood pressure! What I liked least is the lack of a Japanese atmosphere. None of the waiters/waitresses seemed to speak Japanese. less

Disappointment. The prices were very reasonable, the cook- ing skill was very good, the portions generous. Why did I leave after dinner feeling so unsatisfied? I believe it was because the dishes were not creative enough. I got the impression the sta ... more

Disappointment. The prices were very reasonable, the cook- ing skill was very good, the portions generous. Why did I leave after dinner feeling so unsatisfied? I believe it was because the dishes were not creative enough. I got the impression the staff was bored with the food and their own jobs. The taste of the food was boring. The service at the restaurant was very poor. I also noticed the place was not packed at 7:40pm on a Monday. What's up, was it just me! Oh, one bright spot. The Natto was excellent! less