Tomo Japanese Restaurant

For those visiting Arcata, California, it’s often said that one of the first places you should go for a fantastic meal is Tomo Japanese Restaurant. After hearing that this is an iconic location and a must-see, our group decided to try it out.

About Tomo

Tomo Japanese Restaurant is in the Hotel Arcata, located on the street level, making it easy to access. It serves a menu full of sushi, bento, and a full bar. This is a fantastic place to visit for a fresh Japanese meal. Keep in mind you’ll need to plan ahead and plan to wait a bit if you’re late. They are only open Monday through Saturday from 4 to 8:30 pm, and while there’s takeout, it’s only available from 4 to 5 pm Monday through Thursday.

That makes it a bit more tricky to visit, but during our stay, we booked reservations early and were able to come in right at 4 pm to enjoy the specials.

Our Experience At Tomo

The restaurant is on the plaza that’s located in Hotel Arcata, but you can access it from outside. It’s unassuming, and you may even miss it as you walk by. When you step inside, you’ll be greeted by a friendly staff member. It’s comfortable and well-lit, making it quite inviting overall. There’s a bar area to sit in, or you can sit at one of the tables.

The details throughout the restaurant are beautiful, including the massive bar area, the beautiful wood detailing, and the appropriate cultural details on the walls. The paper lanterns help to set the tone of the space. Also refreshing is that it’s clean and well-kept. This isn’t a huge location, but it is busy.

Good to Know

If you’re looking for something with spice, just ask. They have a few dishes that are bursting with spice, but they can also make many of the dishes spicier to fit your needs.

Tomo does have a happy hour with some great discounts. It’s only from 4 to 5:30 each day, so you’ll want to get there early to take advantage of this menu.

The portions here are big, with most sushi coming with six big roles. The good news is that you can easily share, but you probably will want to get a few different items to try out because everything is so tempting and tasty. We found it to be best to try several dishes to sample it all.

What’s on the Menu at Tomo?

The menu is huge! There’s something here for just about anyone. That includes fabulous Nigiri, served in twos. Choose from options like Inari, red tuna, tobiko, and smoked salmon (our favorite). Each piece of sushi was prepared with beautiful attention to detail as if each piece was a bit of art. All of the ingredients were bright, full of flavor, and exceptional in overall quality.

It’s hard to pass up the sake. For those who love it, there are a dozen options to choose from or more. Go for something more unique or interesting, or ask them to pair a drink with your meal. You’ll find all of your favorite alcohol options available, too.

You’ll get to see them rolling sushi as well as the fresh ingredients that are available in the display. You can actually sit along the bar and watch them work if you like, much like a diner-style experience. It’s a fun way to learn a culture. Everyone was super friendly as we chatted with the employees.

The Tomo Japanese Restaurant offers a range of options, including Hoso Maki, Inside Out Rolls (we tried the Tomo Dragon, which are tempura prawns), and Futo Maki. The Rolls of the House include raw albacore, salmon dipped in tempura batter and deep fried, and red tuna. You can purchase their combination for two, which includes a shrimp Sunomono appetizer, miso soup, and rice along with tempura prawns, teriyaki (beef, chicken, or tofu), as well as one sushi roll per person. You even get to finish it off with mochi ice cream (go with the mango!)

Our Suggestions: Tomo Japanese Restaurant

Check out the cocktails. There are a number of options available, including the Lemon Ginger Drop, which has fresh lemon and ginger in it. It’s tart and tasty. They also have some white wine on the menu from local providers, including Heart’s Leap.

If you need something fast and don’t have time to visit, we highly suggest the takeout. Unlike other types of locations, they still put a lot of time and effort into creating wonderfully flavorful items that look beautiful in the to-go boxes!

If you are coming in for a meal, especially on the weekend, get reservations first. This is a popular location, and it can be packed quickly, especially since they are only open for dinner (and only 4 ½ hours!)