WAGYU TARTARE A5 wagyu. cured jidori yolk. awase miso. fish garum. house pickles. chive. lotus root chips.
YAKI FLIGHT
WABI-SABI house umeshu. veso olive vermouth. chiran teachu. kawatsuru olive junmai ginjo. moto nama
OKINAWA rum, okinawa yam, calamansi, oat milk, plum
manhattan
Santa Barbara Uni w/ sushi rice, crispy nori, uni bottarga | $8 each
Humble brag. Reddish castle.
Chicken Kara-Age
PEAR PRESSURE pear. nori. genmaicha.cristian drouin calvados. mugi hoka. yuzu sake. pear eau de vie. clarified milk
MIDDLECHILD
CRISPY NIGIRI smoked roe, cured trout, rice, nori
OKINAWA - rum, okinawa yam, calamansi, oat milk, plum
Uni w/ sushi rice, crispy nori, uni bottarga ($8 each), Raw oysters w/ sake foam, gooseberry (1/2 dozen-$24), Karaage w/ black curry ($16)
OLDBOY pandan whisky . barley tea campari . dry vermouth
side hustle cocktail special
trinadad sour
kakigori - japanese shaved ice
POP QUIZ cocktail @bar_iris_sf
Bar Iris, on Polk St between Green and Union. Headed towards the Marina.
SMALL TALK aquavit, strawberry vinegar, moscato, hazelnut, citrus
SEASONAL MOCHI mandarin, kinako, white bean
Kent L.
Feb 23, 2025
The 2 of us got a single chicken/egg bowl omakase, chicken kaarage, kosho sour, and pear pressure for $126 before tip.The omakase came with an amuse bouche of raw fish on top of a rice cracker, appetizer of assorted pickled veggies, charcoal grilled eggplant soup, the chicken and egg rice bowl; and a frozen cream cheese dessert. The omakase was $60 and while each course was extremely good, the short is that I recommend just getting the chicken and egg rice bowl for $30 by itself. The other courses were good, but I don't know if it justified an extra $30 for it. It may be worth it for a first time visitor to get an idea of the culinary range of the restaurant. Of the omakase, I particularly enjoyed the eggplant and the pickled okra. The dishes all had a depth of flavor to be expected from the kitchen of nisei. The chicken/egg bowl was amazing. The onions are so well cooked that they are both flavorful and melt in your mouth. The chicken is tender and flavorful, the rice was really saucy and cooked to perfect texture. Generous portionsThe chicken kaarage for $20 was also generous portions. The chicken was not oily at all and still very juicy. A step above most chicken kaarage out there.The pear pressure cocktail for $18 was well balanced and good. Kosho sour for $18 seemed a bit less well balanced (a bit too sweet, but was warned about this beforehand) but both very unique flavors and enjoyable.The mixology here certainly seems good, though a bit pricey starting at $18....though this is probably standard fare for Bay Area. Drinks worth trying, chicken and egg bowl must try, kaarage worth trying.Excellent service, server answers the many questions I had. Server was honest and had good recommendations. Sorry, forgot his name, but Caucasian fellow with glasses.Good atmosphere for a date or just to wind down with some friends.Would come back, would recommend!
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Hailing W.
Feb 23, 2025
周五周六虽然下午3点就开始营业厨房却依然要等到5点才运作调酒师们都保持着清高傲慢的姿态室内装潢暗黑简约更像餐厅而不是酒吧下午艳阳高照坐在户外又是另一番景象日式风格配方和技术都还可以酒精感隐隐约约温水煮青蛙似的渗透进血液里整体味型清淡且平衡OKINAWA酸甜口的山芋奶茶?!有特色的开胃酒粗略地捣碎山芋,并不为达到绵密细腻的泥状,而是特地保留了不均匀,来增加一些咀嚼感山芋本身的味道柔和平淡,却足以贯穿始终,直到最后一口也依旧散发着幽幽的清香整体属于温和的酸甜调味,酸不冲、甜不齁,接近尾声才能感受到朗姆酒的存在,这杯下肚竟觉得有些饱腹HIKARI很诧异,最突出的是味美思,温润的甜、结合草本的香与持久保存的苦,酒精的浓度只在吞咽的瞬间一闪而过PEAR PRESSURE酸甜平衡,极好入口不知是否得益于奶洗澄清液,清新、明亮、自然的酸充斥着整个口腔,只有舌尖能感受到酒精所带来的丝丝辣味,柚子清酒的用量恰到好处,偶尔以若隐若现的姿态出现,不压主角,反而更觉惊喜WAGYU TARTARE食物其实都很一般,这道鞑靼和牛算是雷品,炸藕片过硬,吸饱了油的状态着实让人承受不起生牛肉切成了小方丁,粗糙纤维、叠加筋膜感,谁吃谁知道...
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Michelle Z.
Jan 24, 2025
Incredible Japanese bar, right next to michelin- starred Nisei. I love that you have the ability to order food from Nisei's kitchen to pair with the beautiful and unique drinks. Loved the layout of the menu -- it explained the flavor profile of each drink with diagrams so you know exactly what you're getting into. I was super curious about the uni drink ($37) but ended up getting their only hot cocktail, the matcha doin'. I didn't know what to expect, but it was actually such a good drink, so warm and comforting on a cold day. The alcohol flavor was subtle and it really just tasted like a cup of hot tea! My partner got the office barrel which was much more boozy but he enjoyed it too.We shared the pumpkin cheesecake ($18) which is beautifully presented and tastes just as good. I wish the portion was bigger for the price but it was honestly worth it -- we devoured it in minutes. The interior is stunning - very dimly lit and modern feeling. The seating is very comfy and feels like you could sit there for hours. I loved that the waitstaff never rushed us; service was on the slower side but it allowed for longer conversation which is always nice. No wait on a Thursday night around 8-9pm either :) new fav bar in SF!
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Sophia C.
Feb 14, 2025
Lovely bar on Polk St, I really enjoyed their cocktails and the overall ambience of the place! Definitely a great place to chat while trying out new drinks. Their cocktail menu was extensive and had very interesting presentation and flavors. I liked all the cocktails I tried (4 in total) and they all tasted very different. My favorites were the Pear Pressure and the Kosho Sour but they were all fantastic. Would definitely come back to try more drinks!
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Grace L.
Jan 18, 2025
Super cool and stylish Japanese cocktail bar on Polk! Heard raving reviews from friends and it did not disappoint. The seating inside looked comfortable but they were full when my friends and I got there on a Friday night so we opted to sit in their outdoor seating. Although there were heaters it was still a little cold so we kept our jackets on.The drinks were amazing! One of my friends and I ordered the Linda Linda, which was light and fruity and delicious. My other friend got the Flapple and enjoyed it as well -- hers was super cute because it had a leaf clipped on and a small apple was cut out from the leaf and placed on the ice cube!The service was also great -- someone came by to let us know when seats indoors had opened up since we were sitting outside. I definitely want to come back and try not only their other drinks but also their food menu.
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Taylor K.
Nov 12, 2024
Really impressed with my experience here. The vibes were immaculate. The drinks were delicious! The service was great and fast. We came in on a Friday around 10 and got seated immediately (2). The menu has a variety of options of all flavor profiles. And the presentation is chefs KISS.
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Shelley P.
Dec 4, 2024
Big fan of Japanese cocktail bar culture creeping its way into the city! We tried: (won't list the ingredients as they are many and wonderfully complex)- Hikari: not super sweet, but delicate and smooth, a bit floral- Linda Linda: juicy and a bit of tang from the clarified milk punch vibe!- Pear Pressure: tasted exactly like a fresh tart pear- pumpkin cheesecake: cutest ginkgo tree and fluffiest cheesecake, with delicious praline crunch It's rare that I am intrigued by almost all the options on a cocktail menu - will keep this tucked away for another moody rainy day!
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Mitali A.
Dec 3, 2024
What a cozy lil Japanese bar, that blew us away by the creativity and quality of their cocktails. The Wagyu Tartare was a highlight - crispy and flavorful. Cocktail-wise, the Linda Linda was a standout, with a perfect balance of citrus flavors. The Akadama was also impressive, with a rich, whiskey-forward flavor profile. The Flapple was a bit sweet for our taste, and the Pear Pressure was overpriced for the tiny quantity.However, these minor quibbles didn't detract from our overall experience. This is a great spot for a special night out or a unique cocktail experience. The service was good too.
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Camilla M.
Oct 29, 2024
Went with a friend on Friday night around 7pm and we found easily a table. First we ordered a drink and we asked the waiter a suggestion based on our taste and she nailed it. Then we shared the shitiko and the bowl with rice and seasonal fish and it was very good. I really liked the ambiance (very comfy and fancy restaurant) and the food. Many of the plates on the menu were very interesting, so I'd love to go back and try them.
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Anna C.
Nov 19, 2024
Absolutely loved their drinks. My husband and I have been wanting to go visit bar Iris, especially after coming back from Japan. Such thoughtful drink cocktails and you can't go wrong with any of their drinks. we ordered a couple of different drinks and they were all delicious. Can't wait to come back to try their food. We came on a Saturday evening around 6:30 and got sat immediately. However folks who came shortly after, had to wait until some tables got cleared. Cute & classy bar. I believe their food comes from next door, Nesei?
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