50 Best Japanese Restaurants in San Francisco

“What a treat! Highly recommend“

“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!“

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

“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“

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

“My partner and I celebrated our 7-year anniversary at Wako and had an incredible experience - every bite we had was perfectly balanced and considered in the context of the meal. Everything was delicious but Chef Jin’s enthusiasm for the seasonal pike mackerel made me love it the most! Such obvious and deep respect for the food from everyone on staff, and the relaxed and cheerful vibe made it even better. We loved the staff and Chefs Jin and Ivan took care of us from the moment we stepped in the door - service was a true highlight. Friendly, funny, warm, and unpretentious, and everything you eat is explained super clearly and accessibly. Wako was the best meal I’ve had in several years, and we couldn’t have been happier to support a business run by such lovely people. Worth every penny. We’ll definitely be back!“

“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!“

“Good for lunch. Really value for your money. I had the sashimi lunch set and my wife had the chicken wing and salmon sushi set and both were really fresh and good. Will definitely come again ! Weekdays - reservations not really needed, but I've come by on weekends and you should make reservations.“

“Delicious food and friendly staff“

“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!“

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

“在美國的日本味道，這是算不錯的“

“I’ve been here since they opened, and I’ll admit I eat here once or twice a week. I even take friends and family here when they’re in town. I’ve eaten during lunch and dinner. Love getting the yakitori bento during lunch. My husband and I always try to eat here during dinner as well! The staff is always so friendly and the hostess with the beautiful silver lavender hair always greets me.

Food is always prompt and yummy. I always have to fight myself not to eat here so often lol.“

“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.“

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

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

“Good fresh comfort food, warm friendly family business“

“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.“

“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.“

“An exemplary culinary journey in a gorgeous exciting space - oysters and king crab to start, the dry aged filet and new york, the horseradish mashed potatoes, the chef's gift of the mochi cake, followed by two magnificent souffle masterpieces. Bravo.“

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

“Great celebratory dinner, our first time here. We all had the 5-course tasting menu, and added on extras (focaccia - deelish; A5 dumplings, okay) They accommodated my wifes allium allergy incredibly - although they said they would just not sauce her plates...they actually subbed in two dishes completely, to her great enjoyment as the replacements were right up her fresh vegetable alley. Pastas were really really really good. Great flavor but not overpowering. Sea bass sublime. Desserts were straightforward but excellent. Wine pairings were really really solid - with the GSM and muscato our favorites. Our server was gracious but started out a bit preoccupied. They forgot to bring our our uni creme brulee, but were very gracious in comping it later (a must order) and comping sparkling wine and extra end of the night dessert wine, which was amazing. So in the end the service really came through - overall a memorable and super fun dinner in a casually elegant atmosphere in a really interesting location!“

“It’s a small and cozy izakaya, perfect for dining alone or with a small group of 3–4 people. I ordered appetizers from the special menu. First up: Mentaiko Zucchini (so delicious! The very first bite was refreshing, followed by the rich umami saltiness of the mentaiko. A little dip in Karashi mustard made it even better—definitely a must-try! Highly recommended).

Next was Kuramaebi, tiger prawns deep-fried tempura style and topped with tartar sauce. After that, I ordered Ba-ra Kushiyaki and Kobe Kushiyaki (served 2 skewers each). I especially enjoyed the Kobe—it was grilled perfectly and went really well with Shichimi Togarashi. If it had the same green onion topping as the Ba-ra, I think it would have been absolutely perfect.😋“

“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!“

“Omg! The Ribs are amazing!“

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

“Cute little to-go sushi shop, the red dragon roll as well as the oishinbo roll are amazing!! The fish was fresh and great quality! The rolls are made right infront of you making it an absolute amazing experience! Super inviting as well as top notch customer service!“

“Until we get Japanese 7-elevens, I believe this is the closest we will come to authentic egg salad and fruit sandos. I’ve read about their lines, but we were lucky enough to stop in right at opening on a Holiday weekend and didn’t have to wait at all. Bonus, seating was available too. They have daily specials that were very tempting, but we stuck to the classics. 10/10 would come again.“

“Best authentic Japanese restaurant in town.“

“Absolutely blown away by this sushi spot. It’s a hidden gem with the perfect mix of cozy romantic ambiance and truly top tier sushi. The lighting is soft and intimate which makes it ideal for a date night or a quiet evening to treat yourself.

The nigiri is next level. Fresh, delicate, and full of flavor. I highly recommend sitting at the bar and letting the chef choose a few pieces for you if you’re open minded.

Because of the chef I discovered that I absolutely LOVE Horse Mackerel Nigiri, Kutuso, and Shima Aji. These were things I probably never would have picked on my own but now I can’t stop craving them.

Every piece felt like it was crafted with care and precision. You can really taste the passion and expertise behind each bite.
Already dreaming about my next visit. Easily one of my favorite sushi experiences in the Mission.“

“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.“

“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!“

“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.“

“Food was great but I can’t get over being seated at a table for four when we had a party of six! Table was very crowded with hot pots appetizer dishes! Finally Emily was nice enough to move us to a decent table but then we had to wait for all our food to be transferred to our new table. A big inconvenience for our surprise birthday guest. Besides that the spicy miso and regular miso broth were very delicious and fun to cook for my first experience at hot pot. Atmosphere was great and was very packed but does get quite hot inside after a while. They did have an all you can eat which is great for large groups.“

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

“Great place food is super salty tho.“

“Definitely food to be enjoyed with good company. Service was fast considering how busy it was. If I had company, I suspect it would have been perfect. The uni I had was smooth and buttery. All the sashimi and sushi had clean and distinct flavors.“

“9 items 🍱 bento & udon are awesome 👏“