Had an excellent experience for dinner, 5pm Friday night. The staff operates seamlessly, & efficiently. I had the 4 roll set, the nori was perfectly crisp, the sushi rice was also noticeably precise. The real wasabi is also worth the small up-charge, in my opinion. The restaurant was quite full with customers and parties waiting by 6pm. But the seats seemed to turn over quickly. It’s worth the slight wait!
Parking: Super accessible by public transit
Kid-friendliness: Saw a few kids there, not sure if the kids were friendly.
Wheelchair accessibility: Yes there was an accessible table available & ample room in the restroom.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Handroll, Miso Soup
Tokki Mandoo
2025 Feb Edit: Visited again and still great!
Japanese Uni is a must.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christina
I’ve lived in Russian Hill for *20* years (eeeep), and I FINALLY experienced Saru this February of 2025.
First time was takeout - it was a learning curve (since I like to pick and choose what I want), but the Hand-rolls were worth it.
The second time (less than two weeks later) I dined at the restaurant. It was lovely. The team and management treated me so well, and the food was so good. I told them I was a local and they really treated me well. They really showed their genuine character - stellar cuisine and care for their patrons.
3rd time in was tonight with a dear friend. We had a blast. The food was fabulous. The manager (Juun), was so kind and generous— we got complimentary sake and snacks. It’s nice to be a local and support a local business that cares about fostering their clientele.
Wish I didn’t wait so long to give this place a try. It is worth it 🙏🫶. Enjoy 💖
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi Combo, Hand Rolls, Handroll, Salmon Roll, Shrimp Tempura, Real Wasabi, Spicy Tuna
Jaz C
Such good handrolls. They charcoal grill their unagi (eel), one of the most perfect bites. Service was prompt and super friendly. Although after I went to KazuNori in LA and paid half price for the uni roll there it’s hard to justify why they charge $34 here for theirs 😭
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Martin
Their place is phenomenal. It’s just clean and delicious hand rolls. The owner is a delight and the other staff is amazing as well. Make sure to try their sweet shrimp and spicy tuna.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hand Rolls, Handroll, Miso Soup
L Won
Great atmosphere and service bar sitting. Well decorated and hooks back of seats to purse hanging. Rolls. Everything is fresh.
Obsessed. First of all, fatty tuna and caviar. Insane. Raw scallops. Delish. I can’t wait to go back and try more. Super cute place, low key vibes. Very modern, minimalist, efficient and easy service. Nice sake selection. Notice it gets pretty busy at dinner, we arrived a bit before the dinner crowd.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Handroll
Andrew K
Walked in for dinner. The staff were friendly, the drinks and the rolls were great! Good vibes and easy going atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Erwann Millon
Very good
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jonny Haviv
Good Food, Terrible Service
As a business owner myself it’s pretty hard for me to write this review but i feel like it’s important, I visited “saru” recently While the food was quite good, the service was extremely disappointing. The server Keren, was rude and unprofessional.Her attitude really dampened the whole experience. what could have been a nice meal but was ruined by the aloof and snub attitude that Karen exhibited. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t recommend this place unless they improve their customer service:[
The atmosphere, the customer service, and the sake selection were fantastic! The only con for me was that the food was lovely but there were limited gluten free options. I wish there were a few more, but I was very happy with our dinner!
Vegetarian options: They have avocado hand rolls and some vegetarian side dishes
Dietary restrictions: They have some items that are gluten free and they're clearly marked on the menu
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hand Rolls, Handroll
Jason Xie
Saru Handroll Bar is an absolute gem! I absolutely love this place – it’s amazing and truly wonderful. From the moment I walked in, the space felt cool and inviting. It’s big enough to feel comfortable and offers a relaxed vibe, perfect for sitting down with friends and enjoying good food and great conversation.🤩🤩🤩
The food here is incredible. I’ve tried a variety of items on the menu, and everything exceeded my expectations. The handrolls, in particular, are a standout. The rice is warm, perfectly seasoned, and easily the best I’ve had in San Francisco – it adds a whole new level of flavor to the handrolls. The salmon handroll is my favorite! The fish is cut beautifully, with small, tender pieces that are full of flavor. Each bite was perfection.🥳🥳🥳
The soup is another highlight. It’s not overly salty, just balanced and comforting. I couldn’t resist finishing the entire bowl. There are still so many other dishes on the menu that I can’t wait to try, and I know they’ll be just as fantastic.🥰🥰🥰
If you’re looking for a place with exceptional food, a relaxed atmosphere, and top-notch service, Saru Handroll Bar is it. Highly recommended – I’ll definitely be coming back for more!🤗🤗🤗
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Grace Song
My favorite sushi handroll in the city! The toasted nori and super fresh fish is what keeps me coming back!
I usually get the shrimp tempura set and add on the spicy tuna, miso soup, and fresh wasabi. Unlimited ginger too.
I’ve been able to get a seat without waiting every time I go with a friend.
Had an excellent experience for dinner, 5pm Friday night. The staff operates seamlessly, & efficiently. I had the 4 roll set, the nori was perfectly crisp, the sushi rice was also noticeably precise. The real wasabi is also worth the small up-charge, in my opinion.
The restaurant was quite full with customers and parties waiting by 6pm. But the seats seemed to turn over quickly. It’s worth the slight wait!
Parking: Super accessible by public transit
Kid-friendliness: Saw a few kids there, not sure if the kids were friendly.
Wheelchair accessibility: Yes there was an accessible table available & ample room in the restroom.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Handroll, Miso Soup
2025 Feb Edit: Visited again and still great!
Japanese Uni is a must.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I’ve lived in Russian Hill for *20* years (eeeep), and I FINALLY experienced Saru this February of 2025.
First time was takeout - it was a learning curve (since I like to pick and choose what I want), but the Hand-rolls were worth it.
The second time (less than two weeks later) I dined at the restaurant. It was lovely. The team and management treated me so well, and the food was so good. I told them I was a local and they really treated me well. They really showed their genuine character - stellar cuisine and care for their patrons.
3rd time in was tonight with a dear friend. We had a blast. The food was fabulous. The manager (Juun), was so kind and generous— we got complimentary sake and snacks. It’s nice to be a local and support a local business that cares about fostering their clientele.
Wish I didn’t wait so long to give this place a try. It is worth it 🙏🫶. Enjoy 💖
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi Combo, Hand Rolls, Handroll, Salmon Roll, Shrimp Tempura, Real Wasabi, Spicy Tuna
Such good handrolls. They charcoal grill their unagi (eel), one of the most perfect bites. Service was prompt and super friendly. Although after I went to KazuNori in LA and paid half price for the uni roll there it’s hard to justify why they charge $34 here for theirs 😭
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Their place is phenomenal. It’s just clean and delicious hand rolls. The owner is a delight and the other staff is amazing as well. Make sure to try their sweet shrimp and spicy tuna.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hand Rolls, Handroll, Miso Soup
Great atmosphere and service bar sitting. Well decorated and hooks back of seats to purse hanging. Rolls. Everything is fresh.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi Combo, Hand Rolls, Tempura, Miso Soup, Shrimp Tempura
Obsessed. First of all, fatty tuna and caviar. Insane. Raw scallops. Delish. I can’t wait to go back and try more. Super cute place, low key vibes. Very modern, minimalist, efficient and easy service. Nice sake selection. Notice it gets pretty busy at dinner, we arrived a bit before the dinner crowd.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Handroll
Walked in for dinner. The staff were friendly, the drinks and the rolls were great! Good vibes and easy going atmosphere.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very good
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Good Food, Terrible Service
As a business owner myself it’s pretty hard for me to write this review but i feel like it’s important,
I visited “saru” recently While the food was quite good, the service was extremely disappointing. The server Keren, was rude and unprofessional.Her attitude really dampened the whole experience.
what could have been a nice meal but was ruined by the aloof and snub attitude that Karen exhibited. Unfortunately, I wouldn’t recommend this place unless they improve their customer service:[
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 5
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
The atmosphere, the customer service, and the sake selection were fantastic! The only con for me was that the food was lovely but there were limited gluten free options. I wish there were a few more, but I was very happy with our dinner!
Vegetarian options: They have avocado hand rolls and some vegetarian side dishes
Dietary restrictions: They have some items that are gluten free and they're clearly marked on the menu
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Hand Rolls, Handroll
Saru Handroll Bar is an absolute gem! I absolutely love this place – it’s amazing and truly wonderful. From the moment I walked in, the space felt cool and inviting. It’s big enough to feel comfortable and offers a relaxed vibe, perfect for sitting down with friends and enjoying good food and great conversation.🤩🤩🤩
The food here is incredible. I’ve tried a variety of items on the menu, and everything exceeded my expectations. The handrolls, in particular, are a standout. The rice is warm, perfectly seasoned, and easily the best I’ve had in San Francisco – it adds a whole new level of flavor to the handrolls. The salmon handroll is my favorite! The fish is cut beautifully, with small, tender pieces that are full of flavor. Each bite was perfection.🥳🥳🥳
The soup is another highlight. It’s not overly salty, just balanced and comforting. I couldn’t resist finishing the entire bowl. There are still so many other dishes on the menu that I can’t wait to try, and I know they’ll be just as fantastic.🥰🥰🥰
If you’re looking for a place with exceptional food, a relaxed atmosphere, and top-notch service, Saru Handroll Bar is it. Highly recommended – I’ll definitely be coming back for more!🤗🤗🤗
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My favorite sushi handroll in the city! The toasted nori and super fresh fish is what keeps me coming back!
I usually get the shrimp tempura set and add on the spicy tuna, miso soup, and fresh wasabi. Unlimited ginger too.
I’ve been able to get a seat without waiting every time I go with a friend.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Handroll
Employees is to much rude ?I didn’t fell good ?
Incredible.
Loading...