Tanto Japanese Restaurant, San Jose

Good food but poor service!!! And also recently the quantity of food in each plate has decreased with price hikes. If service had improved, I'd rate this restaurant a 5 star.

I wasn’t impressed with their food at all. People may throw around the phrase ‘authentic food’, but it’s really not relevant, useful or appropriate nowadays. What’s more important is ‘good food’. It’s overpriced (at least $10 after tax/tip for a lunchtime bowl of rice with some chicken and egg dropped on top) and they don’t accept credit cards even though they have the usually stickers (amex, visa, mc) on both their window and door. And watch your timing: they turned away two customers who entered at 1:30pm. I certainly won’t be returning as there are many better offerings around.

Very authentic Japanese restaurant. Very good place to have a beer and eat small delicately delicious japanese dishes. Among my favorites are the oysters in butter, sashimi salad, grilled duck, fried saba w/ umeboshi and shiso, and fried rice ball. Fantastic food and some of the waiters are also attractive.

I've gone here two times and both have been great meals. I always go in not knowing what I want and the first thing that happens is I'm greeted with is a nice warm cup of roasted green tea which I'm now starting to like more than regular green tea. The staff is very friendly and they are good at pointing out what their specialties are. So the first time I went I had a combo plate of a bowl of Udon noodles and a rice plate with fresh tuna on top. I've never before had an option to have udon and fish in one plate so I thought that was a nice alternative. The Udon soup was smaller than the normal size but it tasted very fresh and good. The tuna on top of the rice what amazing, very fresh fish that melted in your mouth. The 2nd time I went I had a special Japanese soup made up of fresh noodles and clams in a broth. It was nice and hot when it was brought to the table and the broth was excellent, not fishy or too salty, and a nice portion of fresh clams in their shells. They also served it with a rice cake that was very tasty. I thought it was very inovative and different than other japanese noodle soups I've had at other places. The prices are not cheap but considering the quality and service it's worth every penny. This place has been a real find, highly recommended.

This place is not much to look at but the food is incredible. Try the red snapper fried rice.

This place serves small authenticate, delicious Japanese food, sort of like dim sum style. I've never had sushi here and think you would not come here for that either. My favorite dish is the tai meshi - red snapper on claypot rice. Optionally comes with dashi broth which I recommend. The chicken gizzard is also quite tasty.

I love TANTO. Food is good and service is excellent. If you want to feel japanese Izalkaya, here is best in SJ area.

This restaurant serves the equivalent of Japaense Tapas - small delectable dishes. I tried the roasted onigiri which was crunchy on the outside and soft on the inside. It was good, though not spectacular. I also tried their oyster with ponzu sauce and black cod both of which were excellent. The menu is filled with many esoteric dishes you won't find at the usual run-of-the-mill Japanese restaurnat. No chicken teriyaki to be found here.

real izakaya dishes, but not cheap. don't expect sushi or teriyaki, but expect good food!

One of the few places in the Bay Area that actually serve authentic isakaya dishes. I have been there several times and the food never disappoints. This place is perfect for casual gathering with friends.