Rather disappointing if you expect a Japanese omakasa experience. I'm not sure why others rated this restaurant so high. Maybe the Chinese subtitle of the menu was a give away (see photo). We got the 18 course omakasa menu. The first few servings were interesting but then it started to get boring. Almost everything was cooked and drizzled with citrus. Their uni was bitter and once combined with a scallop. I'm all for exploring new flavor profiles but certain things do not work and I expect chefs that serve up $200 meals to know. Half way through the menu we didn't even finish the courses and were waiting for it to be done. At the end of the night I was craving for some really good raw sashimi or nigiri. Never again.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 5
Patti
We had the 18 course Omikase and it is fantastic! I would go every day if I could! Highly recommend and don't tell your friends!
John de Souza
My favorite Japanese restaurant in SF. Every dish is made thoughtfully and is delicious. The tastes are subtle but delicious, delicate and authentic. The Nigata sake was a perfect complement, clean and dry. Really amazing place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Isgr
In short, food was truly incredible, service was top notch. One of the best meals I've had in awhile. Worth every penny!
Asif Khan
We celebrated a close friend’s bachelor party at Kusakabe with a dinner for nine. While the evening offered some incredible highlights, there were also a few unfortunate aspects that left us with mixed feelings about the experience.
The food was truly exceptional. Every dish was carefully crafted and elegantly presented, offering a range of delicate flavors and textures that impressed everyone in our group. The omakase journey was memorable, with standout courses like the uni that melted in the mouth and sparked admiration even from those in our party who are typically hesitant about raw seafood. The attention to detail in the preparation was evident, and the kitchen’s talent shined through in every bite.
We also want to acknowledge the excellent service. Our group was significantly delayed due to travel complications, but the staff welcomed us with grace and understanding. They held our reservation without issue, served us with warmth and professionalism, and allowed us to enjoy the meal at our own pace. Their hospitality made us feel genuinely cared for.
However, there were two major issues that deeply affected our overall impression. First, one of the sushi pieces contained a bone. This was both surprising and disappointing, particularly in a restaurant where precision is expected and the cost per person exceeds $200 before tax and gratuity. It disrupted the experience in a way that was hard to ignore.
The second and more disturbing issue was the presence of a cockroach on the wall behind our table. In any dining environment, this would be unacceptable. In a fine dining setting that charges premium prices and prides itself on offering a refined atmosphere, it was shocking. The sight of a cockroach near our table dampened what was otherwise a thoughtfully curated and beautifully served meal. We chose not to make a scene, but the image stayed with us for the rest of the night.
Despite these setbacks, we had a wonderful evening in terms of the company, conversation, and culinary adventure. It was a joyful gathering that brought us closer together, and there were moments that we will fondly remember for years to come.
Kusakabe has remarkable food and a kind, accommodating staff. But fine dining is about more than what is served on the plate. We hope the restaurant takes this feedback seriously, because the potential for a flawless experience is certainly there, and it would be a shame for preventable issues to overshadow such culinary excellence.
The pictures of the bones and the cockroach is attached.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 4
Victor Wang
Surprisingly reasonably priced omakase experience with amazing ingredients, impeccable service, and make same-day reservations.All the fish and items were beautifully presented and ultra fresh.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
T Gatz
Sushi melts in your mouth. Pricey but well worth it. Fish didn’t taste like fish at all. They were fresh, smooth and exquisitely curated.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jingyuan Li
Somewhat strange experience. Not my first time here and the food is good in general. However one big issue I can see is that there is a big gap between the experience when dining in a table vs. dining in the chef’s counter. And because there is no guarantee that you got the seat at chefs counter, I won’t recommend anyone who is celebrating anything to come here, because of the potential variance in the experience. Some points I noticed. 1. You won’t be able to chat with the chef about the sushi and see how they made it, which from my pov is what makes an omakase experience different. 2. The lighting in the table is worse, which really makes the experience feel cheap. (like a creepy sushi restaurant 3. There is a process where the Sushi needs to be brought from the kitchen to the table, and the sushi does fall apart sometimes, again cheap! It would be better that the restaurant set different prices explicitly for table experience during reservations, even if that means the chefs counter seat becomes more expensive, so that proper expectations are set. No one is going to pay $300 dollars for a regular sushi restaurant.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 1
Anthony Lucia
This was our first experience at an omakase restaurant, and the bar has been set exceedingly high. We sat at the counter, directly across from Patrick--who is the sweetest, most approachable, and knowledgeable craftsman one could score to lead our experience. The food was meticulously assembled, and we loved the textures and flavors. Nothing but praise for the kitchen to the servers to every detail put into the experience. Check out the Transamerica Pyramid Redwood Park on your way!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
T
WOW! Best meal of the year! The quality ingredients were so fresh and clean, flavors were a fun adventure, and the service was impeccable and welcoming. I can't recommend this place enough!
Hands down the BEST omakase restaurant I’ve ever had, no doubt. Our chef Mika was very kind and professional, so were the waiters and waitresses. The whole course was delicate, delicious and absolutely an amazing experience. 10/10 would come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Simon
Everything here is beyond incredible — the food is amazing. Truly appreciate all the staff. Thank you!
Leo
We had a fantastic anniversary. We were really well taken care of by both Shinji and Mika, who added lots of smiles and positive energy to our night. The omakase and appetizers were delicious and complex, and I couldn't help but smile with each piece of sushi. I would highly recommend this establishment and will certainly be back for special occasions.
Donny Pusawong
I simply can not rave about this restaurant enough. It was my first time here and it defintetly not be my last!
From the moment you walk in and get greeted by the staff and sushi chefs, to the servers meticuosly clearing dishes and plates, you feel very welcomed.
The food was so well prepared, fresh, and simply delicious. It was definelty one of the best sushi i've eaten in San Francisco and the Bay Area! 18 dishes came out and i was very full. About 200 dollars for the omakaze but well worth every dollar! I can't wait to return!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
chloe wei
petite omakase had the perfect amount of food. can add more (wagyu was really good) nigiri good, kaiseki starters good, matcha ice cream and mochi dessert were excellent too. try the iced matcha drink also mika was so sweet!!
Rather disappointing if you expect a Japanese omakasa experience. I'm not sure why others rated this restaurant so high. Maybe the Chinese subtitle of the menu was a give away (see photo). We got the 18 course omakasa menu. The first few servings were interesting but then it started to get boring. Almost everything was cooked and drizzled with citrus. Their uni was bitter and once combined with a scallop. I'm all for exploring new flavor profiles but certain things do not work and I expect chefs that serve up $200 meals to know. Half way through the menu we didn't even finish the courses and were waiting for it to be done. At the end of the night I was craving for some really good raw sashimi or nigiri. Never again.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 5
We had the 18 course Omikase and it is fantastic! I would go every day if I could! Highly recommend and don't tell your friends!
My favorite Japanese restaurant in SF. Every dish is made thoughtfully and is delicious. The tastes are subtle but delicious, delicate and authentic. The Nigata sake was a perfect complement, clean and dry. Really amazing place.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
In short, food was truly incredible, service was top notch. One of the best meals I've had in awhile. Worth every penny!
We celebrated a close friend’s bachelor party at Kusakabe with a dinner for nine. While the evening offered some incredible highlights, there were also a few unfortunate aspects that left us with mixed feelings about the experience.
The food was truly exceptional. Every dish was carefully crafted and elegantly presented, offering a range of delicate flavors and textures that impressed everyone in our group. The omakase journey was memorable, with standout courses like the uni that melted in the mouth and sparked admiration even from those in our party who are typically hesitant about raw seafood. The attention to detail in the preparation was evident, and the kitchen’s talent shined through in every bite.
We also want to acknowledge the excellent service. Our group was significantly delayed due to travel complications, but the staff welcomed us with grace and understanding. They held our reservation without issue, served us with warmth and professionalism, and allowed us to enjoy the meal at our own pace. Their hospitality made us feel genuinely cared for.
However, there were two major issues that deeply affected our overall impression. First, one of the sushi pieces contained a bone. This was both surprising and disappointing, particularly in a restaurant where precision is expected and the cost per person exceeds $200 before tax and gratuity. It disrupted the experience in a way that was hard to ignore.
The second and more disturbing issue was the presence of a cockroach on the wall behind our table. In any dining environment, this would be unacceptable. In a fine dining setting that charges premium prices and prides itself on offering a refined atmosphere, it was shocking. The sight of a cockroach near our table dampened what was otherwise a thoughtfully curated and beautifully served meal. We chose not to make a scene, but the image stayed with us for the rest of the night.
Despite these setbacks, we had a wonderful evening in terms of the company, conversation, and culinary adventure. It was a joyful gathering that brought us closer together, and there were moments that we will fondly remember for years to come.
Kusakabe has remarkable food and a kind, accommodating staff. But fine dining is about more than what is served on the plate. We hope the restaurant takes this feedback seriously, because the potential for a flawless experience is certainly there, and it would be a shame for preventable issues to overshadow such culinary excellence.
The pictures of the bones and the cockroach is attached.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 4
Surprisingly reasonably priced omakase experience with amazing ingredients, impeccable service, and make same-day reservations.All the fish and items were beautifully presented and ultra fresh.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sushi melts in your mouth. Pricey but well worth it. Fish didn’t taste like fish at all. They were fresh, smooth and exquisitely curated.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Somewhat strange experience.
Not my first time here and the food is good in general. However one big issue I can see is that there is a big gap between the experience when dining in a table vs. dining in the chef’s counter. And because there is no guarantee that you got the seat at chefs counter, I won’t recommend anyone who is celebrating anything to come here, because of the potential variance in the experience. Some points I noticed.
1. You won’t be able to chat with the chef about the sushi and see how they made it, which from my pov is what makes an omakase experience different.
2. The lighting in the table is worse, which really makes the experience feel cheap. (like a creepy sushi restaurant
3. There is a process where the Sushi needs to be brought from the kitchen to the table, and the sushi does fall apart sometimes, again cheap!
It would be better that the restaurant set different prices explicitly for table experience during reservations, even if that means the chefs counter seat becomes more expensive, so that proper expectations are set. No one is going to pay $300 dollars for a regular sushi restaurant.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 5
Service: 1
This was our first experience at an omakase restaurant, and the bar has been set exceedingly high. We sat at the counter, directly across from Patrick--who is the sweetest, most approachable, and knowledgeable craftsman one could score to lead our experience. The food was meticulously assembled, and we loved the textures and flavors. Nothing but praise for the kitchen to the servers to every detail put into the experience. Check out the Transamerica Pyramid Redwood Park on your way!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
WOW! Best meal of the year! The quality ingredients were so fresh and clean, flavors were a fun adventure, and the service was impeccable and welcoming. I can't recommend this place enough!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Hands down the BEST omakase restaurant I’ve ever had, no doubt. Our chef Mika was very kind and professional, so were the waiters and waitresses. The whole course was delicate, delicious and absolutely an amazing experience. 10/10 would come back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Everything here is beyond incredible — the food is amazing. Truly appreciate all the staff. Thank you!
We had a fantastic anniversary. We were really well taken care of by both Shinji and Mika, who added lots of smiles and positive energy to our night. The omakase and appetizers were delicious and complex, and I couldn't help but smile with each piece of sushi. I would highly recommend this establishment and will certainly be back for special occasions.
I simply can not rave about this restaurant enough. It was my first time here and it defintetly not be my last!
From the moment you walk in and get greeted by the staff and sushi chefs, to the servers meticuosly clearing dishes and plates, you feel very welcomed.
The food was so well prepared, fresh, and simply delicious. It was definelty one of the best sushi i've eaten in San Francisco and the Bay Area! 18 dishes came out and i was very full. About 200 dollars for the omakaze but well worth every dollar! I can't wait to return!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
petite omakase had the perfect amount of food. can add more (wagyu was really good)
nigiri good, kaiseki starters good, matcha ice cream and mochi dessert were excellent too. try the iced matcha drink
also mika was so sweet!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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