50 Best Japanese Restaurants in San Francisco

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

“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!“

“The exclusivity and attention to detail in this culinary haven were unparalleled. From the moment we walked in, it felt like an intimate gathering of food enthusiasts. The chef's omakase menu was a mesmerizing journey through sushi perfection, with rare ingredients and artistic presentations that left us in awe. The personalized service and wine pairings elevated the experience to new heights. The ambiance exuded sophistication and exclusivity. While it may be "Friends Only" in name, this is a destination worth befriending for an unforgettable dining experience.

Parking: Hard to find a street parking in the evening“

“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“

“Amazing experience. I went on a quiet evening. As expected, sushi was fantastic. I have been to Friends Only and wanted to try Akikos upon my next visit to SF. Had wonderful conversations with another guest and our chef. Sushi was tasty and attention to detail was 100%. The Toro, Zuke, Buri, and Uni were my favorite. It was so good, had to order a few more pieces. Will be back and thank you! 🙏“

“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!“

“Excellent Japanese cuisine, service and staff are wonderful and helpful“

“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!“

“This is my favorite omakase place in all of San Francisco and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a reasonably priced omakase (~$125/person) with amazing service every time you go.

I've been to Wako 5-6 times in the last 10 years, and I am never disappointed. They serve seasonal fish depending on the time of year that you visit. The chef's omakase comes with a starter, appetizer, 10 pieces of nigiri, a grilled dish, soup, and a house made dessert. You really can't find another omakase like this in the city. I think there are 2 options for either 9 or 11 piece chef omakase since the last time I visited.

My favorite nigiri from Wako are the striped jack, ink squid with uni, and of course, the blue fin tune belly. The chefs are so nice and explain every cut of fish to you as they serve it.

Be sure to make a reservation well in advance, as spots do fill up. Try to get a seat at the counter, so you can watch the chefs as they prepare the dishes.

Parking can be a little tricky in this part of town, given how many restaurants, bars, and surrounding shops there are, so be sure to arrive a little early!

Parking: Difficult to find parking during dinner time, so either take a rideshare or arrive early to find a spot!“

“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!“

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

“The sever handled a busy store opening by themselves serving very well. At least 10 tables. He would constantly check in on us. Give us descriptions of each item he served. The skewers were amazing like always and loved the ginger hot sake! Definitely will be back“

“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!“

“Delicious food and friendly staff“

“My family has been dining here every couple weeks since it opened 3 years ago. The owner Paul always greets us and does some special things for the kids: salmon sashimi in bite sized pieces and steamed tofu. Our favorites are negima, the local halibut nigiri, agedashi tofu (I would argue best in the city), grilled butter fish, and okra. All washed down with Echigo lager and our favorite sake Drunken Whale. Highly recommend for a casual but delicious meal“

“I KNOW you're sleeping on this place. It's absolutely delicious, you can truly taste the difference between other sushi spots. Everything about this place is incredible, try it out for yourself seriously.

Ladies, the bathrooms are even stocked with necessities. I felt seen.“

“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.“

“One of the Best Omakase Experience we had!“

“Good fresh comfort food, warm friendly family business“

“Unassuming- soon to be addictive. So just about the best kept Secret on Union Street- I am sure to come back, again and again and it is just hiding in plain sight! restaurant. If you can't get to Japan try this- Excellent quality, unusual rolls and exceptionally fresh- crunchy and tasty. High quality. High end details. Like the chef and his no nonsense approach. One Wish- that they would include side of wasabi though with to-go orders.“

“在美國的日本味道，這是算不錯的“

“Feels like a hole in the wall cocktail bar, super cozy on the inside. Definitely recommend getting Pear Pressure, it’s fragrant and refreshing. The Linda Linda is spirit forward but also delicious.

A great place to stop before dinner“

“Everything about Gozusf is unique. From the furnishings to the restrooms... yes the restrooms are next level. Every dish is presented as a work of art, and is filled with so much flavor it's hard to describe. You simply need to try EVERYTHING. The service is impeccable and this is an experience that should not be missed!“

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

“3.5-ish. Came here with a reservation on a weeknight and the first thing we noticed was the very strong meat grilling smell and bright fluorescent lighting. Naturally the smell would be a given with this type of restaurant but it took away from the upscale ambience a bit. Our bill came out to over $500 for two people. The meat was good and our waiter was friendly and knowledgeable, but we left wondering if we could have had a similar meal down the street at Gyu-Kaku for less than half the price.“

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

“We tried both Happy Hour and dinner in one visit—two very different experiences. Overall, the food was solid. The beer was nothing special, but the cocktails were great. Happy Hour is a better deal, while dinner prices are on the higher side.“

“Exceptional service. Delicious, artfully presented omakase at a reasonable price point.“

“awesome a must try, this is a hidden gem“

“Great sushi at reasonable prices! A few key reasons I eat here more than other sushi spots — they have more simple options, not just speciality rolls.

Their fish is SO GOOD! Just ordered some very good quality hamachi sashimi and will be back for more.

Their rolls are more standard sizes, meaning you can actually eat them in one bite. Size / price is reasonable. I think too many places load up the rolls too large and they can’t be eaten easily.“

“Fenikkusu serves some interesting dishes that you wouldn’t find at your typical Japanese restaurant. As the name says they serve tapas (ie small portion) dishes and specialize in sushi.

The mini kaisen don is the real star of the menu and is a well thought out balance of sashimi rice, aromatics and salmon roe for some brininess. The mentaiko pasta is also a really awesome dish. I would come back here for these two dishes. I also enjoyed the corn fritters and the mackerel.

I would stay away from the oxtail pot and is the main reason why I didn’t give a five star rating.“

“Itadakimasu! Boy oh boy was this place amazing. Cozy vibe with Japanese comfort food to set the mood. The lunch set had everything I could’ve asked for in a meal. Greens, proteins, and some carbs to round out the meal. Spoiled myself with the royal milk tea iced and it did not disappoint. After a night out like yesterday, this was a much needed part of the recovery. Light 9.“

“We have had a few amazing dining experiences here! The sushi is so fresh, the sake sommelier Stewart is really knowledgeable and has some great recommendations!!“

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

“My sister took me here for my first time because I'm from out of town. The head sushi chef was a great character! He knew my sister and was very engaging and treated us to some wonderful selections. I would highly recommend this place. We sat at the bar. They could have been a little quicker on the sake ? but we were pretty quickly consuming it.“

“The staff is really friendly. They work to please each customer. One of the sushi maker always ask us if it was ok to change the menu. I am coming back!!!“

“The food here is absolutely delicious - beautifully presented, fresh, interesting. The sushi burritos are great - but the rolls are really special, particularly the Toro Roll. And the beef potsticker are excellent! So thrilled to have this gem in the neighborhood.“

“9 items 🍱 bento & udon are awesome 👏“

“Dropped in last night and got two seats at the end of the bar. Channel was our server and she orchestrated the perfect sequence of food and drink for us. Loved the intimate neighborhood atmosphere and friendliness of the patrons and staff. Thank you for a wonderful evening.“

“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.“

“Wir waren zu zweit zum Abendessen dort und es hat uns sehr gut gefallen. Wir sind zuerst dran vorbei gelaufen, weil das Restaurant eher klein und unauffällig ist. Die Ramen waren sehr lecker und reichlich. Es gibt eine vielfältige Auswahl an Ramen, darunter auch ein paar ungewöhnliche Kreationen. Der Service war sehr schnell und freundlich. Wir würden aufjedenfall wiederkommen.“

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

“good food! as good as it gets especially when u compare to what you get in japan. their udon broth has a smoky bonito flavour. kaarage was done perfectly with not too much batter. sushi(especially the boston akami) hits the spot! from singapore“

“Just went here our first time on valintines day and although I did not have any noodles we had spicy spring rolls the Katsu chicken and chicken teriyaki skewers and everything tasted so good thin cuts of chicken lots of flavor all under thirty bucks we will definitely be back“

“ALWAYS a fantastic and tasty dinner. ☺️“

“I had a casual meal here at the bar on a Monday night. It was not busy, but also did have a constant stream of customers.
It is tucked away from the busy area on a quiet corner on the 3rd street. Great indoor and patio seating. Parking around here is one hour.
Food is delicious. Ask for their recommendation, it did not dispoint. If you enjoy unagi don't miss the sun dragon.“

“Walked by here while I only had about half an hour of a break and my order was ready in minutes after speaking with one of the ladies. My set was not wrapped in a handkerchief as you would see on older pictures, but the folks were super sweet so we may return to try more. Got the Omakase Nigiri Combo and it looked pretty and tasted good too. Little pricey, but it was the fastest available thing in my vicinity and I’m satisfied with my choice“