Ordered spicy unagi onigiri ($4.80) and fruit mochi ($4.35). The onigiri was mostly plain rice with barely any unagi filling - not worth the high price. Fruit mochi tasted artificial. Despite the long lines this place gets, the quality doesn't match the hype. One disappointing visit was enough for me.
Wolf Fivousix
Good onigiris! They also come individually wrapped, just like typical Japanese konbini. Quick service and low price for a little snack. Beware it gets very busy! Came during a slow week day and even though they were churning onigiris left and right, I still waited ~10min to get mine (~10 customers before me). Super recommend!
Cynthia Lopez
I liked this place overall. We tried two rice onigiri (okaka [bonito flakes] and tenmusu [shrimp tempura]), which were pretty good and freshly made but could have used more flavor. We also tried the mochi. The berry mochi had an artificial flavor, but the the haru mochi were good.
Anastasia Tsilia
AWFUL service. You wait 30min for a tiny over priced matcha. Avoid at all costs.
Tyler Delgadillo
Do not order the Takoyaki. You may be waiting for up to 30 minutes. You may not receive a utensil.
Lisa M
Onigiri yes (the regular ones are worth their money and made fresh) Takoyaki no, way too much sauce, they were mushy and not nicely cooked Matcha no, it was just watery and bitter, not umami-bitter-sweet. Shouldn't be expensive as the specialty matcha all around other places.
Worker was friendly but poor woman was alone, so she had to take Orders and then inconveniently go around the corner to send out order through the pickup line.
Place is dirty, tables sticky, and the mall feels like a sad afterthought
Brett Elsberry
Fruit mochi was delicious, fresh and a pleasure to eat and not too sweet. Onigiri with spicy shrimp and mayo and unagi was excellent, Thank you!
Kaye Monty
After spending the afternoon eating and wandering Japantown, we wanted to bring onigiri home. Popped by and ordered some made to order onigiri home. They gave it to us warm and wrapped so that the seaweed doesn’t get soggy. Perfect for a late snack.
Adriana Lopez
Little hole in the wall, and you might walk past it but try not to miss this stand. There's a wide selection of onigiri. I personally loved the sake, beef, and spicy spam. They also have lots of great desserts to choose from.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sake Salmon Onigiri
隋东霖
I ordered 1 Iced Barley Tea and it took nearly 30 minutes.
My matcha cheese cake was served almost frozen and the mochi was very disappointing, it tasted like industrial flavored candy.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
sun hu
My go to for mochi!
Food: 5
Service: 5
Austin Zhuang
My visit to Kissako Tea in Japantown, San Francisco, was an immersion into a culinary experience that stayed with me long after I left. The moment I stepped inside, I was greeted by the warm and inviting ambiance that perfectly complemented the aromatic scent of freshly prepared tea and food. I decided to indulge in one of their most talked-about items: the onigiri. Simple yet complex, this traditional Japanese rice ball became the highlight of my savory time at Kissako Tea.
The first thing I noticed about the onigiri was the remarkable fluffiness of the rice. Each grain seemed to be cooked to perfection, achieving a delicate balance between being light and holding its shape. The texture was neither too sticky nor too loose, making it an ideal canvas for the flavorful fillings. The rice's fluffiness played a crucial role in elevating the entire onigiri experience, adding an almost ethereal quality to each bite. It was evident that great skill and care were taken to prepare the rice, indicating a commitment to authenticity and quality.
Paired with the flawlessly cooked rice was a generous amount of filling that left nothing to be desired. The ratio of rice to filling was just right, avoiding the common pitfall of skimping on the ingredients. Whether it was the savory tuna, the rich and smooth avocado, or the deliciously marinated pickled plum, each filling was packed with flavor and complemented the rice perfectly. This sufficiency of filling ensured that every bite was both satisfying and memorable. My visit to Kissako Tea was more than just a meal; it was a celebration of traditional Japanese culinary artistry, right in the heart of San Francisco.
Ordered spicy unagi onigiri ($4.80) and fruit mochi ($4.35).
The onigiri was mostly plain rice with barely any unagi filling - not worth the high price. Fruit mochi tasted artificial.
Despite the long lines this place gets, the quality doesn't match the hype. One disappointing visit was enough for me.
Good onigiris! They also come individually wrapped, just like typical Japanese konbini. Quick service and low price for a little snack. Beware it gets very busy! Came during a slow week day and even though they were churning onigiris left and right, I still waited ~10min to get mine (~10 customers before me). Super recommend!
I liked this place overall. We tried two rice onigiri (okaka [bonito flakes] and tenmusu [shrimp tempura]), which were pretty good and freshly made but could have used more flavor. We also tried the mochi. The berry mochi had an artificial flavor, but the the haru mochi were good.
AWFUL service. You wait 30min for a tiny over priced matcha. Avoid at all costs.
Do not order the Takoyaki.
You may be waiting for up to 30 minutes.
You may not receive a utensil.
Onigiri yes (the regular ones are worth their money and made fresh)
Takoyaki no, way too much sauce, they were mushy and not nicely cooked
Matcha no, it was just watery and bitter, not umami-bitter-sweet. Shouldn't be expensive as the specialty matcha all around other places.
Worker was friendly but poor woman was alone, so she had to take Orders and then inconveniently go around the corner to send out order through the pickup line.
Place is dirty, tables sticky, and the mall feels like a sad afterthought
Fruit mochi was delicious, fresh and a pleasure to eat and not too sweet. Onigiri with spicy shrimp and mayo and unagi was excellent, Thank you!
After spending the afternoon eating and wandering Japantown, we wanted to bring onigiri home. Popped by and ordered some made to order onigiri home. They gave it to us warm and wrapped so that the seaweed doesn’t get soggy. Perfect for a late snack.
Little hole in the wall, and you might walk past it but try not to miss this stand. There's a wide selection of onigiri. I personally loved the sake, beef, and spicy spam. They also have lots of great desserts to choose from.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sake Salmon Onigiri
I ordered 1 Iced Barley Tea and it took nearly 30 minutes.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
My matcha cheese cake was served almost frozen
and the mochi was very disappointing, it tasted like industrial flavored candy.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
My go to for mochi!
Food: 5
Service: 5
My visit to Kissako Tea in Japantown, San Francisco, was an immersion into a culinary experience that stayed with me long after I left. The moment I stepped inside, I was greeted by the warm and inviting ambiance that perfectly complemented the aromatic scent of freshly prepared tea and food. I decided to indulge in one of their most talked-about items: the onigiri. Simple yet complex, this traditional Japanese rice ball became the highlight of my savory time at Kissako Tea.
The first thing I noticed about the onigiri was the remarkable fluffiness of the rice. Each grain seemed to be cooked to perfection, achieving a delicate balance between being light and holding its shape. The texture was neither too sticky nor too loose, making it an ideal canvas for the flavorful fillings. The rice's fluffiness played a crucial role in elevating the entire onigiri experience, adding an almost ethereal quality to each bite. It was evident that great skill and care were taken to prepare the rice, indicating a commitment to authenticity and quality.
Paired with the flawlessly cooked rice was a generous amount of filling that left nothing to be desired. The ratio of rice to filling was just right, avoiding the common pitfall of skimping on the ingredients. Whether it was the savory tuna, the rich and smooth avocado, or the deliciously marinated pickled plum, each filling was packed with flavor and complemented the rice perfectly. This sufficiency of filling ensured that every bite was both satisfying and memorable. My visit to Kissako Tea was more than just a meal; it was a celebration of traditional Japanese culinary artistry, right in the heart of San Francisco.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Spicy Onigiri, Takoyaki, Mitarashi Dango, Matcha Mochi
So slow to get food - 20 minute wait for a small item
Fast service, solid food, daily soup set is a great deal
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Spicy Onigiri, Sakura Mochi
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