We always get great sushi at Fuki Sushi in Palo Alto. It's a funky neighborhood restaurant with a kitschy Japanese theme.

If you're in the mood for something more upscale, try Kaygetsu in the Sharon Heights shopping center in Menlo Park. They offer a great kaiseki course and it's one of the best Japanese restaurants in the bay area.

Don't let the funky location (inside a small shopping mall) fool you. The restaurant received 28 out of 30 from the Zagat guide. It was also one of the top 10 restaurants reviewed by the Chronicle in 2006.