The Yummiest Sushi Bars in San Francisco

Ichika Sushi House

★★★★☆ 4.4 (907) • $$

"This place has always been on my bookmarks and I got to finally try it on Valentine's day. We got here right when they opened at 5pm, and was able to get a table inside. super cozy and romantic spot with tasteful decor. Despite it being a busy day, the servers were still attentive and provided great service.Fresh Ankimo (5/5) Some of the freshest I've had in the Bay Area. Dare I say as good as Japan? We were super happy with this dish. Highly recommend. Treasure Box (5/5) Just enough for two people, the treasure box is a must get when you come here. We got the Valentine's day box that came with abalone, uni + ikura over rice, king salmon, wagyu nigiri, Toro nigiri, Hamachi, oysters with caviar, sea bass, and a savory egg pudding dish topped with a dungeness crab. Mango Salmon Roll (4/5)salmon was fresh and the mango was sweet and complimented the roll so well.Fancy Oysters (5/5) topped with quail egg, ikura, ponzu and green onion. i really enjoyed these as well and even put some of the Ankimo on top overall, great experience for our first time. I will definitely be back!"

Wako Japanese Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.4 (828) • $$$$

"Had an amazing omakase experience here with my husband. Dinner on a week night was a full house. The service is phenomenal and the fish is high quality. We had a winter melon starter and some appetizers to begin with that the servers brought out. First time having fig tempura, but it was nice!For the nigiris, we were served by the chef directly at the counter. It was awesome to watch him carefully slice and prepare each dish. Some nigiris were lightly seared, seasoned, or accompanied by some topping. We ordered a pot of green tea which they constantly refilled throughout the night. In addition to the set menu, we ordered 2 golden eye snapper and uni nigiris. My favorites had to be the skipjack, barracuta, and the golden eye snapper. All the fish just melts in your mouth. The rice was a good temperature, the proper amount, and just the right texture. Also, the seafood egg cake had to be the best I've ever had of that. We were happy with our experience of high quality fish from Japan but close to home."

Sushi Koya

★★★★☆ 4.3 (806) • $$

"Sushi Koya is a hidden gem when it comes to Bay Area Japanese cuisine. You can tell the quality of fish is high and they really take care of their customers here. If you want to order the biggest sushi roll you have ever seen, it's on the menu called Monstar. Be sure to split with a friend, because you won't be able to finish it yourself unless you're a true whale."

Amami San Sushi

★★★★☆ 3.8 (950) • $$

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

Mr. Teriyaki Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.4 (681) • $$

"The service was efficient and the staff was kind. I had two rolls (salmon skin roll and crispy crunch roll) plus the seaweed salad. Nothing spectacular about the seaweed salad, but they have the tastiest miso soup I've had to date! The rolls were very good."

Sushi Zen

★★★★☆ 4 (813) • $$

"Kevin is a very experienced sushi chef. I met him many years ago at a different place and recently tried this sushi place in the sunset where I found out he owns. Simply put, fresh and tasty sushi at a reasonable price. Very homely restaurant where a lot of locals would frequent. Worth trying if you have not."

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..."

Sasa Japanese restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.3 (677) • $$$

"We came here on my dad's birthday lunch and overall we enjoyed the food. The server was friendly, professional and knowledgeable. We got a few omakase set and some appetizers, crudo and rolls to share. The quality of the food here was close to what I've had in Japanese restaurant in Japan/ Asia(and of course paying a premium in the US). The ambiance was cozy and I liked the slightly dim lighting in the restaurant.This restaurant is located within a small shopping mall and there's no bathroom inside the restaurant(there's one really close). I will come back !"

Amami Sushi Bistro

★★★★☆ 4.2 (705)

"Another impressive sushi dinner Never disappointed and always fresh Reservation is a must"

Okoze Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.1 (718) • $$$

"For me, Okoze is the most exceptionally well balanced sushi restaurant in SF. No hype, just great sushi, good atmosphere, and fair prices. This is one of a handful of sushi restaurants I've visited where I feel the food is equal to what I experienced in Japan. The nigiri is consistent and never disappoints. Highly recommended."

Ginza Sushi & Sake

★★★★☆ 4.2 (654) • $$

"This is one of my friend's go-to sushi spots, and I can see why! The location is super convenient, and both the sushi and service are consistently good. I tried both the sushi and meat dishes, and they were quite enjoyable. The ambiance is calm and laid-back, making it a nice place to unwind. Overall, it's a solid choice for quick and reliable Japanese food when I'm in the area."

Tokie's

★★★★☆ 3.9 (752) • $$

"On a busy Saturday night they were able to fit us in without a reservation. We waited about 10 mins and had a nice table toward the back. The interior is a nice balance of dark wood with high ceilings. Service was friendly though if there are a lot of take out orders the sushi chef can take longer. We like that there is both a sushi menu and some traditional dishes like katsu curry, which they say on the menu is homemade. It was all right, not sure if I would order again. Sushi was fresh. The spicy tuna was overwhelming spicy with no tuna taste. Negihama and also scallop nigiri were our favorites. With all of the restaurants in the area this is an okay chiice."

Kuma Sushi + Sake

★★★★☆ 4.4 (554) • $$$

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

Sushi Hon

★★★★☆ 4.4 (551) • $$$$

"I'm a firm believer in sushi rice being as important, if not more so, than the fish, and I was a big fan of how they make it at Sushi Hon. Chef Yong proudly declared that he washes the rice for an hour the night before to remove extra starch. Combined with a bold dark-light vinegar ratio, I thought that the perfectly defined rice grains and bright acid made for an incredible nigiri base.Though I am team vinegar, I could see their liberal use being a bit much for certain palates. The mozuku starter, for example, was silky seaweed strands in a sweet vinegar broth that was like a refined gut shot. And a decadent uni and chopped toro rice bowl supplement shared the stage equally with the tangy vinegar rice. No complaints from my sour-loving palate though.Let's not forget the nigiri. Some highlights for me included the hotate, or fresh scallop from Hokkaido, carefully scored to yield both a visually impressive and textured bite. Seared 14-day aged toro (fatty tuna) and A5 wagyu nigiris, perfectly melted in their respective fatty goodness. And the engawa (fluke fin) nigiri supplement had a nice snappy chew to it.After the many nigiri courses, an early summer corn tomato jelly "ceviche" was a refreshing palette cleanser. And dessert was a creamy, but not too sweet, kinako panna cotta that had a savory touch from the toasted soybean.The inviting counter service from Chef Yong also made the meal more memorable. He enthusiastically shared his sushi knowledge and preparation details, and his proud, yet humble energy was infectious. He also excitedly gave us a taste of the in-house MG rice lager.Dinner edomae omakase starts at $135 for 18 dishes, 10 of which are nigiri. And I appreciated that the omakase menu was actually printed out beforehand so you could plan and pace yourself. Sushi Hon also offers a smaller lunch omakase for $65, and they do delivery as well."

Sakana Sushi & Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (700) • $$

"Ron was our server and he was amazing! He was so patient when taking all of her orders, and explained all the dishes to us. The fish was very fresh, my favorite among all the nirigi was probably the seared salmon and the trout. Highly recommend both and the fried bananas!"

The Public Izakaya

★★★★☆ 4.2 (601) • $$

"I have been here multiple times for just casual eats or even a night out and every time is just as good. They are open super late, staff is friendly and sweet - very attentive without being overbearing. Highly recommend the pork belly skewers, fried chicken, drinks, desserts, and they have a great drink selection."

Sushi Toni

★★★★☆ 3.9 (697) • $$

"I orders takeout while on a biz trip and it was quite a lot of food! 3 rolls, salad and miso soup for $25! Very fresh."

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"

Fujiyama-Ya Japanese Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.9 (673) • $$

"Can't tell you how much I love this place and the amazing family who runs it. We used to go all the time when we lived in the outer sunset and was so happy to get back here when visiting SF recently. Great sushi always reasonably priced. The service is top notch."

Grandehos Kamekyo

★★★★☆ 4.1 (585) • $$

"Amazing sushi on Hyde! Ordered the lion king and it was amazing! Plenty of seating inside and out in the deck. Family establishment with pictures all over the walls. The waitress was extremely nice and had me seated as soon as I walked in. Highly recommend when on the north side of SF."

Chome

★★★★★ 4.5 (482) • $$$

"Came here on a Friday night with friends and there was a bit of a wait around 6:45 but we didn't have to wait long$260 for 4 people: 20% gratuity was automatically included because 4 people is considered a large party hereThis is what we ordered (not everything is pictured):- potato salad (complimentary appetizer/side that is soooo good)- dirty cauliflower (we had a veggie hater at our table who was pleasantly surprised and ended up loving it)- fried shrimp ball (one big ball with incisions for four pieces, very yummy)- 2 skewer combos (great way to sample different things but our table felt the chicken was the best)- oxtail omurice (a bit disappointed the egg didn't do the runny thing when we cut it open like traditional omurice, this was very rich and flavorful, presented very nicely but I'd get something different next time)- garlic chili tonkatsu ramen (they ran out of the pork belly and had to substitute it with more thin pieces of meat)Yes, was a bit on the pricier side but we enjoyed the ambience inside and the food was delicious. Personally I only enjoyed the skewers and I'd definitely come back to try their happy hour!"

Akira Japanese Restaurant

★★★★☆ 4.2 (541) • $$

"Sushi is really good sushi here. I was in the area and was craving sushi, so I found Akira Japanese Restaurant and was pleasantly surprised. It was nearing closing time on Saturday afternoon (3 PM), so decided to order takeout. Both items I ordered, Unagi Nigiri and Dragon Roll, were delicious."

DASH Japanese Tapas & Sushi

★★★★☆ 4.2 (536) • $$$

"Came by DASH while walking around downtown San Mateo, looking for dinner. We were seated promptly around 4:30pm. FOOD:We ordered some nigiri, Lion King roll, unagi fried rice and chicken karage. The fish tasted fresh and the roll was tasty. The chicken karage was juicy, not dry. The batter was thin, not super thick or cakey. The unagi fried rice came last, and by then, I was too full. Tasty, lots of flavor, and we had to take home the rest. SERVICE: Everyone was super friendly. Water and tea refilled when needed. Plates cleared when we needed space for more food. AMBIANCE: Cozy and warm. Overall, decent food and service."

Tokyo Sushi & Bar

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (800) • $$

"The food here is great, with generous portions for the bento box. The ramen is decent, but the crunchy sushi roll was outstanding. The interior is clean, and the staff is great!"

Ultra Sushi

★★★☆☆ 3.4 (800) • $$$

"We came here on a Thursday night around 7 and got free street parking. I saw a few garages nearby, but I think you may need to pay for parking. There was actually a good amount of people on a weekday night, but we got a table right away! The restaurant is spacious and clean. Opted in for the all-you-can-eat for $45.99, and this includes drinks. You order on a tablet and staff will take the tablet once you finish ordering and hand it back when you're ready for the next round. The sushi rolls here are a very good portion and can fill you up, so I would advise to take advantage of the sashimi and nigiri first! Our favorite was the ikura (fish roe) nigiri - although it's a bit salty, the flavor still explodes in your mouth the right way. The hand rolls were okay, we got the spicy tuna one and it didn't stand out to us and there was a lot of rice - I would probably skip out on this next time. It's rare to find AYCE sushi places now, and Ultra Sushi is definitely worth a try!"

Gintei

★★★★☆ 4.1 (541) • $$$$

"We had the omakase and it was delicious and beautiful! 10 beautiful pieces of fish, all of them with unique flavor profiles (some delicate and light, some strong and fatty- all delicious). Our wait staff was super attentive and efficient, and the atmosphere they created was fun and welcoming. The parking situation is basically street parking, we didn't have a problem finding a spot a bit down the way. We came on a cold night and got the hot tea- was perfect to accompany the meal."

Sushi Monster

★★★★☆ 3.9 (570) • $$

"good experience nice staff. My daughter loved the kids meal shrimp tempura. the edamame could use more salt but we enjoyed it. ambiance is casual and it's a small restaurant with extra parking in the back."

Yuubi Japanese Restaurant

★★★★☆ 3.8 (586) • $$

"Oh.my.god. The sushi here is amazing! I highly highly HIGHLY recommend the Lion King roll (if that's your vibe). Delicious!"

One Piece Sushi

★★★★☆ 3.9 (552) • $$

"Small shop, restaurant was almost empty. I think the ambiance could be a little better. The fish cuts were thick & the fish tasted amazing. I think it's very good value compared to other sushi spots, especially with how thick the cuts are. The rolls were great too & I love how it comes in small portions so you can try a bit of everything. My favorites were definitely the Tiger Roll & Sake Nigiri. My total came out to be $50 for 2 people & it was super filling. Much cheaper than other sushi restaurants I've been to & I enjoyed everything!"

Coco's Ramen

★★★★☆ 3.8 (576) • $$

"I've eaten at Coco's Ramen twice now and each time has been great! Their ramen is excellent; I HIGHLY recommend the pork-belly, it has a Wonderful texture and very fragrant and flavorfully marinated. They have a curry broth which I had not seen before coming to Coco's Ramen; my first visit I ordered the curry ramen + medium spice + pork belly + fresh garlic , and added corn. Noodles were nicely chewy, and the portion was perfect. 5/5! my most recent visit: my aunt got the curry ramen with pork-belly after I recommended it, & my uncle ordered seafood ramen (as he cannot consume pork). I tried the Shio broth this time, with fatty pork and corn as well. I personally prefer their curry ramen but the shio ramen was less heavy and very satisfying still. My uncle said the clams in his seafood ramen were veryy good, and my aunt had finished her curry ramen when we were still halfway through the shio & seafood ramens lol Other notables! The Hamachi Kama was delicious as well with a very smooth and buttery texture, 5/5!Ika Karaage was not bad at all but didn't stand out as much as the other foods we had, 3.5/5Service was quick; there was one waitress managing all the tables and she was impressively handling many delivery-app orders as well. I enjoy the dining space and efficiency of service, and really enjoy the food at Coco's Ramen. THEIR PORK BELLY!! is Truly SO GOOD! Will definitely be back!"

Ariake

★★★★☆ 4.1 (479) • $$

"Awesome little spot near the house. Good price and very fresh fish and oysters. My new go to spot mid week"

Akiko's Sushi Bar

★★★★☆ 3.7 (582) • $$

"Holy cow. When I ordered omakase I was not prepared for the volume of food! 15 courses of food and I was stuffed! It came with a price tag to match: $170 plus $8 for a small Sapporo plus tip and taxes came to $241.Everything was absolutely delicious. This is a great spot to eat solo. It's tiny with only 15 seats. Staff was very friendly and quickly brought out each course. The only thing that wasn't good was the chestnut cake. I just didn't like it. But maybe ask what the market rate on omakase is before you order..."

Tomo Sushi & Teriyaki

★★★★☆ 3.5 (650) • $$

"Excellent service from the time you walk in till you are finished with your meal. Thank you Angel for your expertise. Thank you Taylor for great personality and service! Presentation is spot on. Flavor was outstanding. I had mostly sashimi very tasty. The recommendation for sake was great. Oh did I say there's a IMax at the edge of the building! When in town I will be here"

Moki's Sushi & Pacific Grill

★★★★☆ 3.9 (522) • $$

"We've been coming here for years and it's still one of the few places everyone in the family loves. Sushi is always good and fresh (especially love the drum roll with mango and mint), my daughter loves the ramen and chicken karaage and baby back ribs, salads and specials are good too. Service always friendly, and I love the Hawaiian music and ambiance."

Ahisushi & Steakhouse

★★★★☆ 4 (495) • $$

"The service here is always excellent! My top pick is the seafood ramen with veggies--absolutely delicious. They also have an amazing avocado roll, and the California roll is fantastic too. I couldn't get enough of the shrimp fried rice! The prices are reasonable, making this one of my favorite lunch spots."