Hanabi

Stepping into this restaurant feels like stepping into a Tokyo foodstall. Which is quite an accomplishment for a restaurant on a random residential street in Burlingame.

The restaurant is small and cramped and hot. Half the space is taken up by the kitchen, which looks out over a counter onto the five or six tables.

No website, which could be a sign of authenticity, as could the all-Japanese kitchen and waitstaff. Here are some Google Image results.

The lunch special is plentiful. I had ramen, tofu curry, and gyoza (potstickers). Service was chaotic but also super-friendly.

Go for the ambience alone if you can't get to Tokyo anytime soon.

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