Located in the heart of downtown San Mateo, Izakaya Mai is a cozy izakaya restaurant with an extensive menu of Japanese small plates, from sushi and sashimi to donburi and fried goods. The eatery is perfect for those that want to indulge in Japanese cuisine, but would like to try many different dishes. The menu is very vegetarian-friendly, with non-meat versions of tapas, sushi, donburi, noodles, and curry to choose from. Favorite dishes include the Vegetarian Curry Rice with Croquette, a sizeable portion of rice, curry sauce, vegetables, croquettes, and pickles, and the Tempura Zaru Soba, cold soba noodles with a light sauce, green onion, and real wasabi.

Inside, you’ll find a charming, quirky interior with light wooden accents, comfortable booth seating, and a real working train suspended from the ceiling. Regulars claim the service is friendly, fast, and efficient and prices are reasonable for the quality ingredients and portion size.