Akira Japanese Restaurant

Name: Akira Japanese Restaurant
Address: 1634 Bush St, San Francisco, California, 94109, US
Telephone: (415) 800-8498
Price range: $$
Rating: 4.5

$$ • Japanese, Sushi Bars, Pet Friendly

Hours:
1634 Bush St, San Francisco
(415) 800-8498

Menu Order Online Reserve

About Akira Japanese Restaurant

Akira Japanese Restaurant, located in the lower Pac Heights area, offers delicious Japanese cuisine with excellent quality and presentation. Guests frequently praise the fresh sashimi and Shokado Bento, as well as the bluefin tuna otoro and spicy tuna roll. The restaurant features a cozy atmosphere with a thoughtfully designed interior, making it a great spot for dining. Despite the small seating area, the good price/quality ratio and top-notch service contribute to a worthwhile experience. Specializing in chirashi and karaage, Akira ensures a satisfying meal with fresh fish, salad, and miso soup.

Visitors have highlighted the excellent sushi rolls, including favorites like the seared salmon and Spider roll, as well as the spicy mango roll and cherry blossom roll. The sushi bar is very pleasant, and the chef is responsive. Many rolls are flown in from Japan, offering unique tastes, and there is a variant of wasabi made from the root of the wasabi plant. Customers can enjoy happy hour discounts if they come before 6:30, making it a good choice for pre-theater, concert, or opera outings.

Some customers noted that the portions are small, especially the seared salmon belly roll and other dishes like chawanmushi, dobin mushi, and hamachi kama, which can be quite tiny for the price. The dobin mushi is served in a teapot with two cups, and sometimes spilling occurs during pouring, which was mentioned as a minor issue. Overall, the quality of food is high, but the small portions and perceived low value might discourage repeat visits unless for business or special occasions. Service is generally attentive and friendly, with staff like Alex providing excellent care.

Akira also offers super reasonably priced happy hour specials, and the fish is incredibly fresh. It remains a popular choice in the area for those seeking good Japanese food, especially when looking for a casual and high-quality experience.