50 Best Japanese Restaurants in San Francisco

“What a treat! Highly recommend“

“Best non-traditional sushi that I've ever eaten“

“I went to KEN for my birthday and it was absolutely phenomenal. The fish was delicious; so many new flavors and combinations; the chef was superb - talented and entertaining, with great attention to detail. The service was impeccable. I cannot say enough good things!“

“Every dish truly amazed me!
The flavors, presentation, and attention to detail were outstanding.
I’m a huge fan of uni, and theirs was absolutely delicious — fresh, rich, and unforgettable.
The chef and staff were incredibly warm and attentive, which made the whole experience even better.
Highly recommend!“

“I've ordered delivery from here 5 times.
Solid food (except the one time I had a scale in my sushi roll). Not bad service (wish they'd be more accommodating with requests). Takes too damn long to make (~80 min ETA every time on DoorDash).

Prefer Sushi Shio. every. single. time.

P.S. will add more photos of the food if I ever order from here again.“

“Awesome awesome spot. Really incredible vibe in there and great music.

Food is clean eating and delicious, we ordered a ton and loved everything.

The mackerel, mushrooms, scallion chicken, and short rib were incredible. Got one of their highball cocktails as well which was insanely refreshing and a great balance of sweet and sour.

Highly recommend this spot! Seating is limited.“

“Best Omakase in town.“

“I cannot say I had a bad experience. Everything was my favorite“

“The ingredients, the flavors, they're all top-notch.“

“This was truly exquisite. The executive chef Shin I believe is a master at his craft and you felt this through every course. I could not have had a better first omakase experience. The wait staff was very kind and mindful. For someone who is weary of the cost I would say it was worth every penny. The quality of the fish was beyond anything I had ever seen before. The cod in one of the fist courses dissipated like melted butter in your mouth. I could not recommend Akikos more.“

“Watermelon 🍉 Roll; no rice, refreshingly good Fried seafood chips appetizer; I wanted it as a meal it’s a different yum 😋 Ice cream sandwich wow!“

“Best Japanese Curry in town !“

“Excellent Japanese cuisine, service and staff are wonderful and helpful“

“awesome a must try, this is a hidden gem“

“One of the best & true Japanese ramen joint you can find in San Francisco - hands down! I love the details they thought of into the making of every dishes that they served in front for you. Most of the dishes they made are often tied back to a story / reminder of other dishes that takes you back to the joy of home cooked meals. I also love Yoko & Clint - they’re so humble and such lovely duo, it’s always great to catch up with them even if it’s for a short period of time! I know it’s hard to find reservation here but keep trying! Definitely worth the visit!“

“Quasi-private dining experience with exquisite omakase curated with top shelf fresh seafood run by a single chef and a single waitress/hostess. Impressive culinary arts in whimsical and small dining room. Wagyu beef topped with caviar and gold flakes nigiri for the win. Improvements could include more familiar Japanese beers and sake along with allowing customer to choose tip percentage based on quality of service. (I’m not a fan of flat 20% no matter what for service fee). All in all, great dining experience and worth revisiting!“

“Delicious food and friendly staff“

“This is my favorite omakase place in all of San Francisco and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a reasonably priced omakase (~$125/person) with amazing service every time you go.

I've been to Wako 5-6 times in the last 10 years, and I am never disappointed. They serve seasonal fish depending on the time of year that you visit. The chef's omakase comes with a starter, appetizer, 10 pieces of nigiri, a grilled dish, soup, and a house made dessert. You really can't find another omakase like this in the city. I think there are 2 options for either 9 or 11 piece chef omakase since the last time I visited.

My favorite nigiri from Wako are the striped jack, ink squid with uni, and of course, the blue fin tune belly. The chefs are so nice and explain every cut of fish to you as they serve it.

Be sure to make a reservation well in advance, as spots do fill up. Try to get a seat at the counter, so you can watch the chefs as they prepare the dishes.

Parking can be a little tricky in this part of town, given how many restaurants, bars, and surrounding shops there are, so be sure to arrive a little early!

Parking: Difficult to find parking during dinner time, so either take a rideshare or arrive early to find a spot!“

“My favorite sushi spot in the city, and the service is fast and friendly!“

“The atmosphere and presentation of the food was extremely chic! The meal was delicious!!“

“The sever handled a busy store opening by themselves serving very well. At least 10 tables. He would constantly check in on us. Give us descriptions of each item he served. The skewers were amazing like always and loved the ginger hot sake! Definitely will be back“

“everything went perfectly smooth, the chef was attentive and delightful to chat with! fish was fresh and delicious, every bite was full of yummy sensations, sake pairing was lovely as well! nothing but smiles and joy and happy bellies that evening!“

“My family has been dining here every couple weeks since it opened 3 years ago. The owner Paul always greets us and does some special things for the kids: salmon sashimi in bite sized pieces and steamed tofu. Our favorites are negima, the local halibut nigiri, agedashi tofu (I would argue best in the city), grilled butter fish, and okra. All washed down with Echigo lager and our favorite sake Drunken Whale. Highly recommend for a casual but delicious meal“

“Best sushi ever. The rice tasted perfect, no soy sauce or wasabi needed. Will come back again when I have the chance.“

“在美國的日本味道，這是算不錯的“

“I seriously love this place. Will about once a week, and would eat there more if my wife would let me. The uni is flown in fresh from Japan (though sometimes they have California uni which they charge a cheaper price. The Japanese uni is sweeter tasting). The fish is fresh, and the unagi they use their own sauce which taste much better than most you will have elsewhere. They offer a nice cash discount, and while you may wait a bit to get your food, they always hand it over with such politeness and gratitude. I always find the portions to be just right (not too full, nor still hungery). The price maybe a bit steep for some, but the quality is out of this world (or at least country). The food is high quality, and demonstrates you get what you pay for.“

“The food smacks and the music they play always slaps.“

“Good fresh comfort food, warm friendly family business“

“The entire experience was great! Very pretty and creative courses! Nigiri was very delicious. The head chef is friendly, and service is elite. There are multiple servers serving you, and everyone is very welcoming. The restaurant interior is modern and new and atmosphere is very cozy and comfortable. P.s. Chef gave us a gift cake at the end!“

“The cocktails on the menu are like a culinary experience. It’s very experimental. I’m not one to love savory drinks usually but I’ll say that bar iris executed its savory drinks well. The Ninjin Sour’s coriander taste is quite on the tongue, and it feels like I’m drinking a dinner. That said, I find it a very balanced drink. The menu also has less experimental and culinary flavors. I also got the Third Wheel (pictured), which is a matcha based drink and was super refreshing. It came in with a tea cup and that made it a bit more special.“

“One of the Best Omakase Experience we had!“

“The wild sf is worth being passionate about. An unbelievably hardworking team, working in a space that prioritizes intimacy between chefs, service professionals, and the guests. You cannot sit at the counter and feel disconnected from the displays of culinary excellency happening in the space. The food is innovative and inspiring, but simultaneously grounded, connected deeply to the values of the team that prepares it. The hospitality is genuine and led by some of the most talented professionals in this industry. Stop in and experience it for yourself; my words can only go so far.“

“I love Yoma cafe, the food is amazing, great price, the owner is always so welcoming and nice to everyone.“

“A cozy but stylish place for dinner! We ordered a la cart but did get the uni Creme Brulee (which is worth) and the crispy rice with tuna; both were excellent, next time I’d love to try the crab flavor as well. The burrata is also really refreshing and the peaches works quite well. We saved room for dessert and the hojicha panne cotta was very different, but I enjoyed the mixing of all the different flavors. Servers were very friendly and attentive. I really enjoyed our meal here.“

“We tried both Happy Hour and dinner in one visit—two very different experiences. Overall, the food was solid. The beer was nothing special, but the cocktails were great. Happy Hour is a better deal, while dinner prices are on the higher side.“

“Eating is a kind of happiness, taste is a kind of interest“

“Every single meat cut was cooked to perfection!! The menu is also designed very balanced, with vegetables and steamed eggs between meat courses to balance out the flavors. Chris helped us grill the meat and he’s such a delight to chat with!“

“Great sushi at reasonable prices! A few key reasons I eat here more than other sushi spots — they have more simple options, not just speciality rolls.

Their fish is SO GOOD! Just ordered some very good quality hamachi sashimi and will be back for more.

Their rolls are more standard sizes, meaning you can actually eat them in one bite. Size / price is reasonable. I think too many places load up the rolls too large and they can’t be eaten easily.“

“Best authentic Japanese restaurant in town.“

“Always come here for their Oxtail Pot, highly recommended for any soup lovers! Nigiris are great but not that overwhelming. Compared to other Omakase places in the city, I feel that the rice is typically too seasoned with soy sauce so might be a little salty. Wouldn’t recommend the squid karage as it’s too greasy (from multiple experiences). Anyway still loving their warm, romantic vibe overall! Great for dates or catchup with friends.“

“Exceptional service. Delicious, artfully presented omakase at a reasonable price point.“

“My partner told me about this place after seeing buzz about it on TikTok. We both wanted to try it and so we dined in on a Friday night. The restaurant offers outdoor heated seating, but we opted for indoors since we brought our baby. Fortunately, the wait was not too long because it sure turned frigid fast.

As other reviewers mentioned the restaurant is quite cozy. They also have a communal high table. We were seated near the window with a high chair. We ordered the frozen beer, potstickers, chicken karaage, maguro bowl and mentai spaghetti for dinner. For dessert we had the apple tart and the Hokkaido cheesecake.

We loved the cheesecake and the spaghetti. While the other dishes were solid, the spaghetti and the cheesecake were the stars! Looking forward to coming back to try the champignon pasta.“

“The freshness of the fish enhances every bite, making it truly delicious. The exceptional service elevates the entire dining experience. It's wonderful to find such delightful food and service. This combination creates a truly memorable meal. Definitely will return next time I visit SF.“

“It has a very interesting menu, I really enjoy the food.“

“9 items 🍱 bento & udon are awesome 👏“

“I've been a fan of Kibatsu since their early days when they first opened Sugoi! on Valencia. Over the years, they've expanded to three locations and consistently deliver exceptional sushi and Japanese cuisine. Their food never disappoints—trust me, it's worth the visit every time.

In fact, I once dined here 8 days in a row because I just couldn't get enough! If you're unsure what to order, I highly recommend trying the Omakase—you'll be glad you did. Some of my favorites include Ponzu Walu, Walu, Amaebi, Wagyu, Uni, Umimatsu, Kimedai, and countless other delicious options.

If you're craving top-quality fish and authentic Japanese flavors, Kibatsu is the place to go. Don't miss out!“

“Tom and his staff is the best you can find, the sushi is to die for, always the best ingredients, presentation of food is creative and second to none. I go often as it is the best in San Francisco. Thanks Tom.“

“The food here is always good! I usually get the KO ramen, a great tonkotsu broth and packed full of meat! You get a whole rib!

This time I got the lunch special with spicy miso ramen and the gyoza. The portion was HUGE I got 5 gyoza and what looked like a full bowl of ramen for $20! This place never disappoints.“

“The food here is absolutely delicious - beautifully presented, fresh, interesting. The sushi burritos are great - but the rolls are really special, particularly the Toro Roll. And the beef potsticker are excellent! So thrilled to have this gem in the neighborhood.“

“good food! as good as it gets especially when u compare to what you get in japan. their udon broth has a smoky bonito flavour. kaarage was done perfectly with not too much batter. sushi(especially the boston akami) hits the spot! from singapore“