Super overpriced sashimi. Service and food does not match the price. We are party of 2 and get charged for $960
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 2
Mike Chan
Really enjoyed the dinning experience here, the environment is quiet, the food is great, and I had quite a pleasant chat with the owner Steve.The quality of the food is top notch, especially the uni which is the best kind on the Japanese market. And Steve's special sauces, fresh veggies and real wasabi really brought out an unique and surprising taste to the fish, which could be a bit bland just by itself. The caviar is great on its own, but together with uni, it really gives you that WOW factor. Also the wagyu is just amazing, it really just melts in your mouth!And the most important thing, you have to try the mochi there, the freshness and sweetness really help you wake right up after the protein feast earlier lol.The owner really knows his stuff, from food to Bay Area life, he knows it all after having the restaurant here for almost 30 years. If you want, you can have conversations with him the whole time, it never gets boring.Overall 10/10 place, would recommend to anyone wanting something new from just the usual soy sauce and 'fake' wasabi Japanese restaurants.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mochi, Sashimi, Wasabi
Isaac S
This is will not be a typical restaurant or experience for you. Go to the website and read it before making a reservation. We were the only ones in the restaurant, and Steve Sawa (Chef) was the only other person present. He served us extremely well, with top quality conversation and banter. Even the "cheaper" sake was outstanding, and the sushi portions were large and very high quality. My only exception and reason for 4 stars is that some dishes had too much sauce/toppings, so I couldn't taste the fish very well. Otherwise an awesome experience!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Raw Uni Sea Urchin, Sashimi, Wasabi
Charlotte Nam
Ingredients are good but not worth it for $1600 for 4 people. You’d better go to the omakase restaurants in SF. When we asked sake list, the chef didn’t provide it but only asked us what’s our budget. That’s rude. I still don’t get it why people go this place with that service. With that budget, you would get much better service, pleasant experiences out there.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
William Miller
We're to eat here as it was one of my favorite sashimi restaurants and found they still make great sushi but changed the restaurant to reservations only and it's a 6 course dinner for 160.00 per person. I imagine it's probably worth it if you remember to make the reservation. Sorry you couldn't serve me tonight.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Henry Wang
The food presentation was attractive, but the experience was just OK. One sashimi was not fully de-thawed and some of the courses felt too salty to us. The chef isn’t quite friendly but still added 18% tip by himself. Definitely not worth $460 for two persons.
Sue J.
What you read on the reviews are all true- it's what you like I guess. I did not do my research, walked in, and was totally caught off guard. I was stiff and closed off and reading reviews frantically at the bar and was questioning my friend's choice of restaurant. After a bit of time, I put the phone away and let myself experience. I had a good time. The chef is super funny. He liked that I spoke Japanese a bit I think, and we had a lot of fun. It definitely was a different experience. A 4 star because it was so fun, but I need a bit more in my meal. I'm glad everything is super fresh and excellent- and these days, sourcing is so important. I will never forget my meal at Sawa.
Elsie Mak
The whole experience is spectacular. The food is excellent from Hokkaido. Chef is knowledgeable and he surely knows what he is doing. Enjoyed this Omakase experience. Highly recommended.
Qi C.
My go-to place in the Bay Area, love the quiet environment, love the food, love the owner Steve. The quality of the fish is top notch, if you know you know. And the combination of fish, homemade sauce and veggies, really brings you a whole new experience. But if all fish diet is not for you, might want to check with the owner first before going there. I like the cozy feeling in the restaurant, quiet room with dimmed lights, perfect for a relaxing night out. Would 100% recommend coming here!
L C.
Bad experience. Waste of money. I planned to treat my guests a nice meal. But I was embarrassed in the end. First, the setting was not comfortable. I complained about the cold temperature at the restaurant. Then, the chef turned on a portable heater which was not strong. It was a decent size place, but felt very empty since there were only two parties, altogether five patrons at this restaurant on a Thursday night. We couldn't get a reservation at other omakase places, so we settled there. It was a mistake. Second, the food/fish quality was ok to say the least. My guests and I felt awkward about the ambience and emptiness of this restaurant, I was about to leave without dining. But my guests had good faith that the food quality could compensate for other shortcomings. But it was not the case. Some fish we had were cold as they were not fully defrosted. The chef didn't introduce us to the ingredients of the dishes. We didn't know what we ate until we asked. Third, we received minimal service and it was not good. The chef was the only person serving at the restaurant we saw. We asked for hot tea. He didn't brew any tea. He just heated up tea from plastic tea bottles that we find at grocery stores and charged $5 each. When asked for water, he gave us plastic water bottles to drink out of. When it came to tips, he manually added 18% and put the amount on the credit card slip and asked me to just sign. And he said " I only added 18%." which seemed too little for him for his service!! Sickened by this kind of entitlement. This restaurant didn't earn any good tips but a negative review about our experience. Another shocking thing to see was he was holding up a knife high when he was talking to us emotionally. I've never seen any sushi chef do this in front of customers!! We spent over $800 for three. And I ended up feeling embarrassed about the choice. I've been to other similar places with similar prices, I got more out of them than this restaurant. No wonder it is so easy to get a table...
Really nice experience with Sawa today. Talked a lot about everything. Clean environment and really fresh and sweet food! Urchin is really really sweet with shrimp! Lovely chef I have ever seen! Remember to make a reservation before coming, just needs to send text to Sawa. He will response really quickly! Phone number is on sawa sushi website!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nicole S.
My husband and I went here in May of 2021 and I only just now realized I had forgotten to write a review! We've been talking about this place constantly for over a year, I feel so guilty! This place is the greatest hidden gem you can hope for. The exterior is so minimal you might think it was shady, but I cannot sing its praises enough. If you are at all into sashimi, you need to put aside any pickiness you have (allergies excluded, of course), and just let Steve take the wheel. The place is expensive, don't get me wrong, but if you're going in with an open mind and knowing it will be pricey, it's the greatest experience ever. There is no menu to order from, it's only omakase. When I say "put aside any pickiness" I really mean it. For example, I hate HATE uni. But he urged me to try his because it was shipped in from Japan THAT DAY (by the way, that's why he requires reservations), and that fresh uni is a whole different ball game. He was right, it was buttery, creamy, and delicious. His freshly made sauces to go with each course are beautifully paired. And on top of that, Steve is hysterically funny. He clearly does not care about catering to people he doesn't like, but if he likes you you will have a blast and he'll be tossing you extra food, extra sake, and fun stories. We were there from open to close, stuffed to the gills, and I could not recommend the place enough.
derek g.
No menu, no pretentiousness. Just absolutely epic food. All fish is brought in daily from points globally. Whatever is fresh is what you get. Prepared beautifully and deliciously. Worth the $$$. Best sushi ever. Also Junge is an absolute delight. I've known him for 20 years and have never once been disappointed with my experience Derek G
Dennis C.
This is not your "traditional" omakase! While most omakase joints probably focus on nigiri, Chef Sawa specializes in large cuts of sashimi paired with bold, adventurous accompaniments. The quality of the fish is top notch as it's all imported from Hokkaido, including their Hirayama Bafun Uni. Each dish is meticulously prepared with sauces and garnishes which you might think would overpower the flavor of the fish; however I found that each dish was formulaic and shone as the sum of its parts. The different preparation methods really made each dish feel unique. If you're afraid of heavy sauces, this is not the place for you! Chef Sawa is extremely personable and unapologetic. He regaled us with tales of his 40+ years living and working in the bay area. No topic is taboo. If you're expecting him to explain every dish up front--don't (in fact, I was told specifically to "eat first" and "stop talking" when being too overeager in asking about each dish before tasting LOL). I quickly learned to use my own taste and smell to discern the amazing flavors in each dish, and after that we had a great conversation about each dish. I can see why some people might be off-put by this attitude but I find it refreshing to find a Japanese chef who isn't afraid to kick a** and take names. Obviously, if you want to embark on this experience, please consider the expense up front and don't be surprised when it comes time to settle up. As a party of two, we had the 6 course meal with Uni add-on, which came out to around $600 after tax and tip.
Benjamin Laniakea
High quality ingredients you won't get anywhere else, prepared expertly and creatively by a talented chef.
Super overpriced sashimi. Service and food does not match the price. We are party of 2 and get charged for $960
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 4
Service: 2
Really enjoyed the dinning experience here, the environment is quiet, the food is great, and I had quite a pleasant chat with the owner Steve.The quality of the food is top notch, especially the uni which is the best kind on the Japanese market. And Steve's special sauces, fresh veggies and real wasabi really brought out an unique and surprising taste to the fish, which could be a bit bland just by itself. The caviar is great on its own, but together with uni, it really gives you that WOW factor. Also the wagyu is just amazing, it really just melts in your mouth!And the most important thing, you have to try the mochi there, the freshness and sweetness really help you wake right up after the protein feast earlier lol.The owner really knows his stuff, from food to Bay Area life, he knows it all after having the restaurant here for almost 30 years. If you want, you can have conversations with him the whole time, it never gets boring.Overall 10/10 place, would recommend to anyone wanting something new from just the usual soy sauce and 'fake' wasabi Japanese restaurants.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Mochi, Sashimi, Wasabi
This is will not be a typical restaurant or experience for you. Go to the website and read it before making a reservation. We were the only ones in the restaurant, and Steve Sawa (Chef) was the only other person present. He served us extremely well, with top quality conversation and banter. Even the "cheaper" sake was outstanding, and the sushi portions were large and very high quality. My only exception and reason for 4 stars is that some dishes had too much sauce/toppings, so I couldn't taste the fish very well. Otherwise an awesome experience!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Raw Uni Sea Urchin, Sashimi, Wasabi
Ingredients are good but not worth it for $1600 for 4 people. You’d better go to the omakase restaurants in SF. When we asked sake list, the chef didn’t provide it but only asked us what’s our budget. That’s rude. I still don’t get it why people go this place with that service. With that budget, you would get much better service, pleasant experiences out there.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
We're to eat here as it was one of my favorite sashimi restaurants and found they still make great sushi but changed the restaurant to reservations only and it's a 6 course dinner for 160.00 per person. I imagine it's probably worth it if you remember to make the reservation. Sorry you couldn't serve me tonight.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
The food presentation was attractive, but the experience was just OK. One sashimi was not fully de-thawed and some of the courses felt too salty to us. The chef isn’t quite friendly but still added 18% tip by himself. Definitely not worth $460 for two persons.
What you read on the reviews are all true- it's what you like I guess. I did not do my research, walked in, and was totally caught off guard. I was stiff and closed off and reading reviews frantically at the bar and was questioning my friend's choice of restaurant. After a bit of time, I put the phone away and let myself experience. I had a good time. The chef is super funny. He liked that I spoke Japanese a bit I think, and we had a lot of fun. It definitely was a different experience. A 4 star because it was so fun, but I need a bit more in my meal. I'm glad everything is super fresh and excellent- and these days, sourcing is so important. I will never forget my meal at Sawa.
The whole experience is spectacular. The food is excellent from Hokkaido. Chef is knowledgeable and he surely knows what he is doing. Enjoyed this Omakase experience. Highly recommended.
My go-to place in the Bay Area, love the quiet environment, love the food, love the owner Steve. The quality of the fish is top notch, if you know you know. And the combination of fish, homemade sauce and veggies, really brings you a whole new experience. But if all fish diet is not for you, might want to check with the owner first before going there. I like the cozy feeling in the restaurant, quiet room with dimmed lights, perfect for a relaxing night out. Would 100% recommend coming here!
Bad experience. Waste of money. I planned to treat my guests a nice meal. But I was embarrassed in the end. First, the setting was not comfortable. I complained about the cold temperature at the restaurant. Then, the chef turned on a portable heater which was not strong. It was a decent size place, but felt very empty since there were only two parties, altogether five patrons at this restaurant on a Thursday night. We couldn't get a reservation at other omakase places, so we settled there. It was a mistake. Second, the food/fish quality was ok to say the least. My guests and I felt awkward about the ambience and emptiness of this restaurant, I was about to leave without dining. But my guests had good faith that the food quality could compensate for other shortcomings. But it was not the case. Some fish we had were cold as they were not fully defrosted. The chef didn't introduce us to the ingredients of the dishes. We didn't know what we ate until we asked. Third, we received minimal service and it was not good. The chef was the only person serving at the restaurant we saw. We asked for hot tea. He didn't brew any tea. He just heated up tea from plastic tea bottles that we find at grocery stores and charged $5 each. When asked for water, he gave us plastic water bottles to drink out of. When it came to tips, he manually added 18% and put the amount on the credit card slip and asked me to just sign. And he said " I only added 18%." which seemed too little for him for his service!! Sickened by this kind of entitlement. This restaurant didn't earn any good tips but a negative review about our experience. Another shocking thing to see was he was holding up a knife high when he was talking to us emotionally. I've never seen any sushi chef do this in front of customers!! We spent over $800 for three. And I ended up feeling embarrassed about the choice. I've been to other similar places with similar prices, I got more out of them than this restaurant. No wonder it is so easy to get a table...
Restaurantji Recommends
Really nice experience with Sawa today. Talked a lot about everything. Clean environment and really fresh and sweet food! Urchin is really really sweet with shrimp! Lovely chef I have ever seen! Remember to make a reservation before coming, just needs to send text to Sawa. He will response really quickly! Phone number is on sawa sushi website!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
My husband and I went here in May of 2021 and I only just now realized I had forgotten to write a review! We've been talking about this place constantly for over a year, I feel so guilty! This place is the greatest hidden gem you can hope for. The exterior is so minimal you might think it was shady, but I cannot sing its praises enough. If you are at all into sashimi, you need to put aside any pickiness you have (allergies excluded, of course), and just let Steve take the wheel. The place is expensive, don't get me wrong, but if you're going in with an open mind and knowing it will be pricey, it's the greatest experience ever. There is no menu to order from, it's only omakase. When I say "put aside any pickiness" I really mean it. For example, I hate HATE uni. But he urged me to try his because it was shipped in from Japan THAT DAY (by the way, that's why he requires reservations), and that fresh uni is a whole different ball game. He was right, it was buttery, creamy, and delicious. His freshly made sauces to go with each course are beautifully paired. And on top of that, Steve is hysterically funny. He clearly does not care about catering to people he doesn't like, but if he likes you you will have a blast and he'll be tossing you extra food, extra sake, and fun stories. We were there from open to close, stuffed to the gills, and I could not recommend the place enough.
No menu, no pretentiousness. Just absolutely epic food. All fish is brought in daily from points globally. Whatever is fresh is what you get. Prepared beautifully and deliciously. Worth the $$$. Best sushi ever. Also Junge is an absolute delight. I've known him for 20 years and have never once been disappointed with my experience Derek G
This is not your "traditional" omakase! While most omakase joints probably focus on nigiri, Chef Sawa specializes in large cuts of sashimi paired with bold, adventurous accompaniments. The quality of the fish is top notch as it's all imported from Hokkaido, including their Hirayama Bafun Uni. Each dish is meticulously prepared with sauces and garnishes which you might think would overpower the flavor of the fish; however I found that each dish was formulaic and shone as the sum of its parts. The different preparation methods really made each dish feel unique. If you're afraid of heavy sauces, this is not the place for you! Chef Sawa is extremely personable and unapologetic. He regaled us with tales of his 40+ years living and working in the bay area. No topic is taboo. If you're expecting him to explain every dish up front--don't (in fact, I was told specifically to "eat first" and "stop talking" when being too overeager in asking about each dish before tasting LOL). I quickly learned to use my own taste and smell to discern the amazing flavors in each dish, and after that we had a great conversation about each dish. I can see why some people might be off-put by this attitude but I find it refreshing to find a Japanese chef who isn't afraid to kick a** and take names. Obviously, if you want to embark on this experience, please consider the expense up front and don't be surprised when it comes time to settle up. As a party of two, we had the 6 course meal with Uni add-on, which came out to around $600 after tax and tip.
High quality ingredients you won't get anywhere else, prepared expertly and creatively by a talented chef.