The Tastiest Japanese in San Francisco

Akagi Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.7 (582) • $$

"Let me tell you this... This is by far the most authentic Japanese with a reasonable price on the menu ever. And that's been like that for a long time. I used to come from 2003 until 2006 was my last time because I moved to a different . And recently I came back hoping the price is still reasonable and shoot.... The price is still reasonable all this time. I order a deluxe bento which includes "6 items with miso soup and salad including sushi 3 and 4 tuna sashimi" and the price $20... I can eat alot and this bento but this bent is has defeated me and is still delicious. This is the most underrated little hidden jems Japanese restaurant in the Bay Area. I'm here for the food and not the decor of the restaurant. And the service is simply good because the staff are very attentive checking what you need. There plenty of food in the menu that's reasonable! Please check this restaurant out when you are in the budget because the prices are typically between $15 - $20 for the meals. Enjoy!"

Yakiniku Shodai

★★★★★ 4.7 (104) • $$$$

"This was my first Yakiniku experience so I'm really glad I was able to experience it here before my Japan trip! I came here last night at 7:30 pm with my partner and his father to celebrate a late Father's Day dinner. We arrived a bit early and got seated immediately. The restaurant was decorated with modern decor and aesthetically beautiful wall paintings. It made the ambiance look so clean and pristine.There were two set menu options, a tasting menu and a "full version" of the tasting menu. We all decided on the tasting menu and we were so satisfied at the end of our meal.The set came with some complimentary sides like kimchi, pickled cucumbers, and seasoned bean sprouts. Whenever our side dishes were empty, it would be replenished immediately by our chef without asking.Our chef would present each piece of meat, explain the pairing of ingredients it was combined with, and prepared it on the grill right in front of us before serving it to us. It was giving "Omakase" style which I absolutely love. All the Wagyu pieces we ate were all so delicious! There were multiple cuts of Australian, American, and Japanese Wagyu. My favorites would have to be the Australian Beef Tongue, American Short Ribs and the Japanese A5 Oyster Blade. Each of these had its own unique fatty flavor that melted amazingly in my mouth. I was so happy and full towards the end. The frozen yogurt was a nice refreshing finish for dessert. It was the perfect touch to end the night."

Ox & Tiger

★★★★★ 4.9 (115) • $$$$

"Top 3 meals I've had in the city. I'm so glad I went with the pescatarian menu! Everything was absolutely delicious. It's been awhile since I've truly enjoyed every dish.Menu is simple with 3 entrees and a dessert but every dish is curated with so much thought and heart. We got the crab with mushroom as an add on. Wow so good! My favorite was the second dish that had clams, pickled cauliflower, layered potato cake with coconut broth and taro sour bread. Dipping that bread in the broth was icing on the cake. The Japanese cheesecake sitting on a bed of crumble with mushroom ice cream was a fantastic way to end the meal. Above all, I enjoyed the intimacy of the meal and interactions with chefs Hitomi Wada and EJ Macayan, the power couple who owns Ox + Tiger. The place seats 8, and the chefs do everything from cooking, prepping, and entertaining. I felt like I was enjoying comfort food from their home. My sparkling cold sake was a perfect pairing to the seafood. The chefs were so sweet to help celebrate our cousin's birthday. The reason why I chose the place. They also let us sample their Pinot Negro, a red that had notes of coffee. They rotate their menu every 8 weeks and have only repeated one dish. Can't wait to come back and try more of their creations. They're so nice and hospitable and make me want to support their business even more. Been awhile since I've come across a place I'd highly recommend, and I'd recommed Ox + Tiger without a doubt to anyone."

KUSAKABE

★★★★★ 4.6 • $$$$

"Came here for my bday, and it was sooooooooo good! We had bar seating and our sushi chef was so nice! Everything was so good and I just kept wanting more and more and more! It was so fresh and everything was seasoned so you don't need soy sauce. Would def come back for more!"

Kazoku Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.3 (156) • $$

"Always one of my favorite spots for sushi. Fresh, beautifully plated, delicious creations all around."

Naked Fish - Millbrae

★★★☆☆ 3 (488) • $$

"Absolutely amazing food! I caught them right during the lunch hour and had bar seating, service was prompt and amazing, the recommendations fell nothing short of the description."

Ebisu

★★★★☆ 4 • $$

"What a wonderful lunch in a lovely peaceful restaurant. After exploring the Botanical Garden and the Japanese Tea Garden, we were ready for lunch. It's walking distance from the two gardens. (Irving St. has limited parking, so please plan ahead.) Dreams of lunch and Miso were in my head. Ebisu opens at 11:30 and we were waiting patiently ... it's a long time favorite on Irving St. In the Sunset. It filled up within minutes! Hubbie had a fantastic roll - was it the "home run"? - really good Tuna w aioli. YUM! Tasty hot Miso soup, great California rolls (you won't want them anywhere else), so many choices. Quality ingredients, well prepared.All their food is great, bring a couple friends so you can have more variety of rolls."

Amami San Sushi

★★★★☆ 3.8 (950) • $$

"Delicious and reasonably priced food, attentive service, and bustling atmosphere. A go-to for sushi in South City."

Nara Restaurant & Sake Bar

★★★★★ 4.6 • $$$

"I've frequented Nara a couple times but went back for an anniversary dinner with the same high expectations. The sushi is still good but not the same. My 2 favorites were the worst tasting now:Don't get the Special K or the Hamachi truffle appetizer anymore. There was so much soy sauce I couldn't even taste the fish. Also, skip the calamari.I will say everything else was good. I was a super big fan of the flaming roll and the soft shell crab. Those were still up to par as the Nara I remembered!"

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

★★★★☆ 3.8 (413) • $$

"Okayyy, Onigilly just reminded me that sometimes the good stuff in life comes when you least expect it. Was looking for something healthy but quick while in Palo Alto, and I was pleasantly surprised by how good their poke bowl was. The tuna and salmon (you choose the proteins) were fresh, the white rice was perfectly cooked, the veggies fresh, and the complimentary crab salad and seaweed salad were all perfect. Oh and it comes with crunchy toppings as well as your choice of dressing. The place itself is small and clean."

Kuma Sushi + Sake

★★★★☆ 4.4 (554) • $$$

"Decent value for pretty good sushi. We tried about 5 different rolls and they were all good."

Yo Yo's

★★★★☆ 4.4 (639) • $

"Love, love, love their curry (they have curry of the day, often chicken) and the Udon (they also make it for me without the noodle when I just need the soup comfort). Friendly, hole in the wall. My ultimate yummy, casual food and so comforting!!!"

jū-ni

★★★★★ 4.6 (529) • $$$$

"FOOD: Beautifully curated pieces that taste as delectable as they look. Omakase menu of the day is presented within an envelope and an a la carte menu is available later. Certain pieces deserved to be ordered again bc they were that good, like the torched ones (done in front of you). Super fresh scallops were buttery sweet and you cannot go wrong with the fatty tuna. Monk fish was a delicate surprise with the way it was prepared and presented (no spoilers bc you gotta try for yourself).AMBIANCE: Modern minimalist vibes throughout. Lively setting but quiet enough for conversation with your party and the chef. SERVICE: Staff attentiveness 10/10. I don't think my tea cup ever dropped below the half bc they came by to check. Very personable chef who was a master at his craft. Would def recommend this place to omakase fans."

Oma Sushi

★★★★☆ 3.7 (256) • $$

"We were staying in downtown San Francisco and this restaurant was the closest one to us. The prices are fair and the quality of food seemed so-so. I can't really speak for parking since we walked. I didn't see the restrooms either. Our waitress was nice and constantly refilled waters. Apparently the head sushi chef trained with a famous sushi chef in Hawaii. I'm from the island of Maui, and that was a neat tie to hawaii, that I was not expecting.."

District Tea

★★★★☆ 4.3 (471) • $

"Service is a little slow, but the picnic deal is such a good!Also, it's the best proper hot Hong Kong style milk tea I've had in a while.Their signage is nearly invisible from the street . I had no idea they were there. I had walked past them dozens of times before realizing there was boba so close by!"

The Roll

★★★★★ 4.8 (47)

"I suddenly had a craving for raw fish when I was walking through Cow Hollow. And then the universe delivered with The Roll! I was gonna settle for Whole Foods sushi lol. I'm glad I saw this place as I was making my way to the bus. The Roll specializes in futomaki, so I got their signature roll (called The Roll). Because I got the lunch set, it came with the seaweed salad first. It's was so refreshing, especially with cucumber and this tiny but mighty tomato that packed a tomato-y punch. I added fatty tuna exclusively yubu, which is inari at the base. It was delicious and I like acidity that came from the vinegar and pickled radish. I think it overpowered the delicate tuna, but I would order it again. I like the textures between the soft tuna and the crunchy radish. The futomaki was the final dish, and it was filling! It had bluefin tuna, salmon, avocado, cucumber, fried crab stick, pickled radish, shiso, and egg. It's a symphony of flavors and textures, and adding a touch of soy sauce brought it all together. Despite all the different flavors, the fish was the star. You can taste the freshness of the tuna and salmon among the mix. Speaking of which, everything I ate was fresh and high-quality. After reading their story on their site, I totally get their concept of approachable omakase. It's a casual and inviting space where you can have an omakase-style meal without breaking the bank. My meal was $35 total and I think that's pretty good for the city. And the wait staff were really nice. It was my first time, so they explained the chef's concepts and the menu. And I particularly liked how they partnered with a brewer to create beer that compliments the menu. I didn't feel like drinking, but I want to try a glass next time. There were 10 pieces of futomaki and I was so full that I couldn't order dessert. And I usually order something sweet to finish. I am definitely coming back to try their nigiri set and dessert."

Saru Sushi Bar

★★★★☆ 4.3 • $$$$

"Wow. Not that they even need this review but they are amazing. The staff are sweet. The food is amazing. The green tea ice cream is made in house and is soooooo good. I tried halibut fin from Korea (engawa) and oh my. I had another piece as my dessert."

Umi

★★★★☆ 4 (653) • $$

"In contrast to the crowds lining outside popular neighboring restaurants, Umi seems like a quiet place at a quick glance but upon entering it has a lively and bustling atmosphere. The kitchen is immediately to the right of the entrance and the staff greet you warmly.Their menu isn't extensive but it feels curated to focus on quality, not quantity. I ordered the nigiri sampler which was one serving each of their special nigiri that night. I will definitely order this again, whatever they list as a special I will get next time. The quality was excellent and the fish was exceptional. I also ordered uni, which - for the price point, was a reasonably generous size and was a luscious burst of delicate brininess tinged with sweetness. For our small group of 3 people we ordered a couple of small plates to share: Katsu Asparagus Maki and Beef Enoki Maki. Don't miss out on these. The katsu was a perfect blend of texture and flavor combination with the crunchy breading outside and tender asparagus rolled inside. The beef was served in nine bite-size pieces that almost melt in your mouth.I love that they also had two of my favorite Japanese beers on their menu - Coedo and Echigo - along with a third beer option (Orion) and a couple of sakes. Although they have a covered patio, it's part of the restaurant itself and not one of the sidewalk structures. I don't think dogs are allowed here and that's okay. The tables are a decent size that we didn't feel cramped and it looks like a group of 6 or 8 could probably be accommodated in the main dining room. Good place for happy hour and casual dinner. I'll be back soon."

Kazan

★★★★☆ 4.3 (647) • $$

"Tasty and fresh sushi set in a dim, intimate atmosphere. Space is small but nice with very friendly service. Weekend visit during early evening for a group of 3 as a walk in. Only a couple other diners and we were sat right away. Pride (Rainbow) Roll - crab and avocado topped with tuna, salmon, hamachi, green onion. Good balance of fishes with creaminess and sweetness from avocado and crab respectively. Shishito Fries - tempura battered and fried shishito pepper. Crispy and not oily which made them enjoyable to eat."

Fugetsu - Sunnyvale

★★★★☆ 3.9 (748) • $$

"My SO loves Fugetsu and suggests it ad a choice frequently. I realized that everytime I have come by, most of their food had been sold.Today was the first time I saw all the food was stocked up and I had so many options. Their food is a good deal for most of them and I was perusing until I selected the Saba Shio Bento. The fish, croquette and karage are pretty delicious and the price is decent. They also have an extensive amount of gifts and cute items to get ~"

Furagu Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.1 (379) • $$

"We went to Fugaru for a late dinner because a nearby sushi restaurant was too busy to seat us. We ordered a bento #2 and boat #1. I liked the mackerel, it was nicely grilled, juicy, and a good amount. Everything else was just good or OK but I need to bring home the rest of the tonkatsu and chicken teriyaki. The texture of the tempura and the taste of the California roll were a little bit off. Clean, quiet restaurant. Nice servers."

Amami Sushi Bistro Geary

★★★★★ 4.8 (45)

"Let's be real, sushi can be ridic expensive. Unless it's a special occasion, spending $300++pp (after tip) for omakase if you're not rolling in OF or tech monies is not feasible for most of us. So, I'm happy to see Chef-owner Alan open another Amami location serving their ballin' on a budget omakase for $42. IMO, he's the pioneer of affordable omakase in the Bay Area when he opened his first Amami location in San Bruno in 2012. OFC, I'm not comparing this to $$$$ omakase places because the "experience" is entirely different but nonetheless, it's delicious, satisfying, and hits without making my wallet cry. Opening in early December 2024, this is Amami's 8th location in the Bay Area, and the second location in the city (took over Belly Burgers). Currently open for takeout and indoor dining.No rezzies. Walk-in only. Arrived on a Thursday night around 7:30 pm and there was no wait. M E N UJapanese cuisine with an extensive menu: Apps, soups, salad, teriyaki, udon, sashimi, rolls, and nigiri. Beer and sake available.BUT, Amami fans know you come here for Alan's 10 pc Nigiri Omakase for $42! Chef-owner Alan sources his fish from the same places higher end sushi bars do. Because of the high volume, he can pass the savings to his customers.(Chef-owner Alan was not in the house and apparently, spends most of his time at his Napa location.) F O O D* Tempura App w/ shrimp and veggies ($10): https://tinyurl.com/ynbf5pjtSolid, the shrimp tempura and veggies (sweet potato, kabocha, eggplant, broccoli, and onions) had a light, crunchy batter. Served with a dashi based dipping sauce. * 10 pc Nigiri Omakase ($42): https://tinyurl.com/4w89bje4- Toro Tartar- Ocean Trout Belly- Kanpachi: Amberjack- Shima Aji: Striped Jack- Madai: Sea Bream- Kurodai: Blackhead Sea Bream- Hamachi Toro: Yellowtail Belly- Norwegian Salmon- Baby Blue Fin Toro- Baby OtoroAdd-ons:* Hamachi Toro Nigiri (2 pc - $11.50): https://tinyurl.com/25z88cm2* Seared Toro w/ Uni (2 pc - $14): https://tinyurl.com/27rp74zk* Baby O-Toro (2 pc - $13) - Chef included an additional piece since the other two cuts of fish weren't large enough by their standards. Their signature nigiri with long slabs of neta (fish) over a tiny portion of shari (sushi rice) was on-point. Fresh, firm and buttery with each nigiri having their own little touches/seasoning. Love that they include a side of fresh wasabi and not the cheapy dry, pasty stuff. While not traditional and nigiri purists may *roll their eyes*, IMO, it's an unbeatable value for the taste and quality. And, it hits the spot all the time!S E R V I C EJason, our server was awesome. Super kind, attentive, and when served, introduced each nigiri. The two sushi chefs were friendly and efficient. They're not slammed...yet so food service was prompt. A M B I A N C EModern and casual with seven tables and eight sushi bar seats.P A R K I N GMetered street parking and there's a lot next door. Overall, Amani serves great value-driven sushi in one of the most expensive cities to live in. Their [nigiri] omakase is the way to go...every...single...time."

Sunflower Authentic Vietnamese Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.5 • $$

"This for the locals It's tasty reasonably priced food in the city! Enough said I'll spare you the pompous bulls*** some of these people are espousing who give it less than 5 stars. At this price point it can't be less.Affordable enough to make you pass on less healthy fast food for all higher quality meal all while experiencing very friendly helpful staff.10/10"

Nara

★★★★☆ 4.4 (644) • $$

"I brought my niece here for lunch and we had a great experience.I ordered the Strawberry Black Tea and absolutely loved the flavor. It was so yummy.For lunch I ordered the Spicy Ocean Roll. I was surprised over the generous portion size. Thought it was difficult for me to navigate with chopsticks, the flavor was out of this world delicious. The texture was just right, the yummy rice and the soft salmon paired well with the avocado and remaining ingredients.My niece ordered the Shrimp Tempura Gimbap and of course we shared. I thought it had a great flavor as well. I have not ever had tempura within a sushi roll and enjoyed every bite. The service was good, our service was very friendly. The space is just lovely.I'm so happy we tried this place and I'll definitely return."

Umami Sushi

★★★★★ 4.7 (44)

"Our favorite sushi spot for the last year or so. Beats out the other Richmond and sunset spots by far. Consistently great quality fish, flavors, and service. They don't skimp on the size of the cuts. I love the real marinated wasabi (you have to order). Do yourself a favor, give it a try."

Fenikkusu

★★★★★ 4.5 (162)

"Fenikkusu serves some interesting dishes that you wouldn't find at your typical Japanese restaurant. As the name says they serve tapas (ie small portion) dishes and specialize in sushi.The mini kaisen don is the real star of the menu and is a well thought out balance of sashimi rice, aromatics and salmon roe for some brininess. The mentaiko pasta is also a really awesome dish. I would come back here for these two dishes. I also enjoyed the corn fritters and the mackerel. I would stay away from the oxtail pot and is the main reason why I didn't give a five star rating."

Kiroro Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.3 (592) • $$

"Okay for reference, is this the best sushi place ever...no. It's pretty good. I give 5 stars because for me, every restaurant starts at 5 and goes down if things aren't up to par, issues occur, or I feel it's not worth the price spent. Luckily for Kiroro, none of those negative things happened. Kiroro hit all the spots. I've just been to somereally amazing sushi spots recently and so it's apples and oranges. My sushi judgement is still cloudy from my dinner at Uchi last month. I reserved a table on Yelp, recommend you do that for dinner, that time gets busy. Service was friendly and mostly attentive. I love the complimentary green tea and continuous refills. Miso soup was fine, it's miso soup. Everything had pretty good flavor. Honestly my favorite thing was my unagi. It was delicious. We ordered some pretty basic stuff so I can't say it blew me away, it was all solid. I saw other people ordering some good things. The item that looked the best but I didn't go for was the omakase plank. The pieces of fish on there looked awesome! So, you can have an excellent dinner at kiroro, if you order and spend correctly. We topped out at about $65 dollars for 2. That's really cheap and a decent deal. I enjoyed my food... I did end up having to just pull out the hamachi from the roll toward as there was too much rice hiding the fish. The mushroom tempura roll was an okay choice, not sure what we were thinking there. I'm not vegan so we should have gotten more fish lol. Dragon roll was good and they do give an option to upgrade to real crab. Didn't do it but that's nice they offer it. Overall myself and my friend, who I'm visiting, enjoyed it."

Kemuri Japanese Barú

★★★★☆ 4.1 (793) • $$$

"Food was really good, just the salmon skewer was a little bit on the drier side. Otherwise flavor and presentation is good! Karaage chicken was very juicy! Service was amazing, they took the time to explain the menu. It is a great place to meet with friends, drink and munch on some tapas."

Toyama Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.4 (545) • $$

"Ate here again with friends. They were more than pleasantly surprised and impressed the quality and quantity for the price was excellent. I love the grilled hamachi collars This is my go to place for Japanese food"

Jin Sho

★★★★☆ 3.5 (629) • $$$

"Every dish tasted incredibly fresh. I also discovered a new favorite alcohol, Kamoizumi "Umeshu," which added a delightful and unexpected highlight to the evening."

Sushi Plus

★★★★☆ 3.9 (855) • $$

"Darn, guess I was a bit off. Still a popular place. But Korean owned. Heard the owner speak Japanese before. Came here for a quick dinner and was disappointed in the taste. Nabeyaki was salty and chicken wasnt great. Had two roles and both of the salmon and mango on top was cut like a novice who didnt know how to cut. Not sure if they were training people? Wasnt the usual waitresses either... it was an ajima (older aunt, maybe the female owner) and a hispanic lady. Got the teriyaki kids meal.. was ok. Less sauce would be preferable but chicken was drenched. Yikes... perhaps this was a one off..."

Fuji Sukiyaki

★★★★☆ 3.9 (744) • $$

"Love love LOVE their sushi! It's always fresh and the portions are very generous! Highly recommend."

Japanese House

★★★★☆ 4.1 (29)

"Super easy to miss since it's next to a construction site but such a great experience! The prices were budget friendly despite being in the pricey FiDi area. They greeted us with the option of tea or water almost immediately after being seated. We then ordered on our phone which was super convenient and also came out super quick! The chicken katsu curry rice was gold, so yummy! The Chirashi bowl was also super fresh fish and the takoyaki (octopus balls) were hot and delicious.Honestly was not expecting such a great experience when I randomly chose a restaurant near me but I'll definitely be back!"

Tokyo Grill

★★★☆☆ 2.6 (140) • $

"4.5 stars. I used to love coming to this place during college, and I'm glad know it's still here. Located in the food court of the Serramonte Mall, this is a decent place to stop by for a quick bite. Prices have gone up since then, but the portions are still pretty good, enough to fill you up.My favorite dish to get is the filet of sole. The sole is super tender. I usually either get it with all noodles or half and half, just depends on what I'm feeling at the moment. The BBQ short ribs are also a favorite of mine because it's packed with flavor.Service is okay, pretty much what you'd expect for a fast food place. So far I haven't had any problems here.Since it's located in a food court, seating is abundant, though the ambience will vary depending on the day."

Noma Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.3 (290) • $$

"This place is a bit hidden, we were seated immediately after arriving on a Thursday evening. It gradually got busier and it seems like it's a popular spot for takeout.I had the beef teriyaki, chicken karaage, and my bf had the 10 piece omakase nigiri. The chicken karaage was a massive portion and delicious. My bf and I both really enjoyed our meals. My beef was a generous portion and my bf said the fish was very high quality. The service here was amazing, the older woman who served us gave us a complimentary mochi after noticing it was my bf's birthday after checking his ID for drinks. She also continuously checked on us and the younger woman who boxed up our leftovers was super sweet as well. I would definitely come back if I was in the area."