Fresh delicious sushi. The male server was kind, and gave me a glass of water while I waited for my table. The female server was another story. I understand the need to turn tables over. I was watching the time to make sure we didn’t stay past 2 hours. After 1hr 45 min, she approached us and shouted, “THERE ARE PEOPLE WAITING FOR YOUR TABLE!” Loud enough that people turned to look. No warning, no “just so you know we’ll need this table soon,” just straight to shouting at us. Was this really necessary? We were more than willing to accommodate. There was no need to yell. Turned an otherwise nice experience to feeling like I’ll never go back.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
efe mona
The fish is so fresh and it comes out very quickly. Also, they refill your ginger multiple times which is so nice. Only thing I did not enjoy was the miso soup, it wasn’t bad but I wouldn’t order it again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi, Seared Blue Fin Toro w Chili Sesame Sauce
ayush kalani
Kibatsu's intimate ambiance and ambitious omakase drew us in, but the experience left us feeling like we had walked a tightrope - some moments exhilarating, others a little wobbly.One man show: Our entire restaurant relied on a single server. While her enthusiasm was undeniable, it stretched thin. Long waits between courses and forgotten requests detracted from the flow. It felt like a charming solo performance occasionally needing an understudy.Speed demons and sleepy snails: Dishes arrived at a puzzling pace. The melt-in-your-mouth tuna came swiftly, while the delicate wagyu languished. Some nigiri arrived lightning-fast, and others took ages, leaving us wondering if they'd gotten lost in the kitchen labyrinth.Fishy tales: The nigiri itself was a mixed bag. Some pieces were divine. Others, however, had a distinct fishiness and slightly chewy texture that left us wanting more freshness. Like a magic act, some bites disappeared in a delightful puff, while others required more chewing than anticipated.Wasabi woes: The liberal use of wasabi was another inconsistency. Some pieces had a perfect kiss of heat, while others were overpowered, drowning out the delicate flavors of the fish. Perhaps a lighter hand would allow the natural sweetness of the fish to shine through.Missed opportunity: All the uni dishes that were served missed the mark. Instead of highlighting the creamy and buttery uni flavors, the dishes were overpowered by other flavors.Course overload (in a good way): The $158 omakase was certainly generous, offering a plethora of dishes. The whole experience consisted of small plates, nigiri pieces, sashimi and a dessert.Cozy charm: Despite the service hiccups and inconsistencies, the intimate setting and warm lighting created a unique atmosphere. It's a place where you can easily get lost in conversation.Final verdict: With some attention to service consistency, pace, and flavor balance, Kibatsu has the potential to be a great dining experience. For now, it sits at a 3-star tightrope walk - charming, ambitious, but needing a few tweaks.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
Katharine Puente
RESERVE ON YELP, NOT GOOGLE. The Google reservation system is broken for this restaurant.Before I went to Kibatsu tonight, I tried to make an online reservation. I called the restaurant directly when I noticed the Google online reservation system was not working (only allowed to book for a party of 1). When I arrived at the restaurant, I confirmed with the host (Chanel) that the restaurant was not fully booked and that they had reported the problem to Google.This is one of our favorite sushi restaurants in the city. It's a hidden gem. The fish is fresh and delicious, the quality is superb, the service is impeccable, (Chanel is the BEST), and the atmosphere is cozy. Once you go, it'll become your favorite spot too.
Superb sushi, service, and ambiance. A hidden gem in SF ??
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi
Jack Brown
amazing, one of my favorite sushi meals in sf. new style salmon and tuna poke roll were both
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tuna Poke
Michael Norcia
Absolutely incredible sushi. I had a selection of fresh nigiri and the sashimi salmon special, with ginger and garlic. My favorite fish I had was the shimaaji. If you're in the area and want good sushi, go here.
Kelley S.
This place has been on my list for a while now so I decided to check it out with some friends. For the weekend I definitely recommend making a reservation, since the restaurant itself is quite small and intimate the seating is really limited. I like the vibe of the restaurant really beautiful minimalist wood decor and the plates were so pretty these used these rock crystal plates that were to die for. The food itself is good I think it is a tad overpriced for what it is. The fish quality is good and I think all the dishes with just fish were pretty good. The rolls were a bit disappointing. The rice to filling ratio wasn't great and the rice itself was not stick and easily fell apart. The service was good, it seemed like there was only was server taking care of all the tables but despite that they moved from table to table pretty fast. This is a good date night or intimate dinner spot for sure. Hopefully will be back to try out more stuff.
Michelle W.
Did the Omakase tasting menu for an anniversary celebration. Loved it! Great variety and tasty bites.
Eileen H.
Pros:The interior was very cute and cozy and the service was excellent. We got several dishes to try such as butter fish prepared 2 ways, and several rolls to share. All of the dishes were delicious. We noticed that several of the dishes we ordered only come with 3 pieces (per menu description), but they provided 4 pieces for our party. This was very thoughtful and very much appreciated!Areas of improvement:We made reservations for a group of 4 on a Friday night, but our table was not ready when we arrived and we were asked to wait a half hour. I was disappointed that some of their more interesting dishes mentioned on Yelp are not part of their regular menu. Like one of the other reviewers mentioned, I'm not sure why they charge a cleaning fee. Overall, some hits and misses as mentioned above. For the price, there was nothing that stood out enough for me to come back with the plethora of sushi restaurants in SF.
Chef Jimmy in the photo hands down the best sushi chef you can find in SF, I been to Japan but Jimmy will treat you way beyond. Recommend this place to all of my friends, family, etc.Bummers: we weren’t able to do Omakase but Jimmy had our back! They only could give us one Tamago, but again Jimmy came through to make us happy! Like i am about to sleep tonight and i will probably wake up thinking of how Jimmy was such a homie!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Marisa C
Chef Jimmy was the best! We sat at the bar and his recommendations were all so good!Super affordable too!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Andrew C.
Totally good vibes and serenity when we dined here again tonight. Ambiance was top notch as we came in. We were immediately greeted by our hostess with hospitality and although we had no reservations, she still found an extra seat at the bar to squeeze the two of us in. Food was amazing as usual. This was not my first visit but the taste, service and ambiance were the strongest reasons that brought me back!
Kurt Nelson
I finally made it in (all the way across the street from my house) for the weekday shorter omakase and was very happy. I like that it is a full Japanese menu versus just sushi, it reminded me of spots in Japan I have been to. Even if you want to go in for some simple nigiri, they carry a wide range of fish that you don't see at most places in town.The pacing was great, it was a 1.5 hour experience as a party of 1 which is about perfect and I left pleasantly full. The room is nice and intimate, I ended up chatting to the table next to me and finding out they are a co-worker. One thing I noticed which is very Japanese is that there was no music.Kid-friendliness: Multiple babies were in the room, but not good for kids who need to eat.Wheelchair accessibility: A step up to get in the door.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi
Mallory Chodos
Best sushi restaurant in sf in my opinion. Salmon nigiri is 13/10Albacore tataki is also so good.The staff is unbelievable. Totally worth a try. Not to mention their serving dishes are stunning
Fresh delicious sushi. The male server was kind, and gave me a glass of water while I waited for my table. The female server was another story. I understand the need to turn tables over. I was watching the time to make sure we didn’t stay past 2 hours. After 1hr 45 min, she approached us and shouted, “THERE ARE PEOPLE WAITING FOR YOUR TABLE!” Loud enough that people turned to look. No warning, no “just so you know we’ll need this table soon,” just straight to shouting at us. Was this really necessary? We were more than willing to accommodate. There was no need to yell. Turned an otherwise nice experience to feeling like I’ll never go back.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 4
Service: 2
The fish is so fresh and it comes out very quickly. Also, they refill your ginger multiple times which is so nice. Only thing I did not enjoy was the miso soup, it wasn’t bad but I wouldn’t order it again.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi, Seared Blue Fin Toro w Chili Sesame Sauce
Kibatsu's intimate ambiance and ambitious omakase drew us in, but the experience left us feeling like we had walked a tightrope - some moments exhilarating, others a little wobbly.One man show: Our entire restaurant relied on a single server. While her enthusiasm was undeniable, it stretched thin. Long waits between courses and forgotten requests detracted from the flow. It felt like a charming solo performance occasionally needing an understudy.Speed demons and sleepy snails: Dishes arrived at a puzzling pace. The melt-in-your-mouth tuna came swiftly, while the delicate wagyu languished. Some nigiri arrived lightning-fast, and others took ages, leaving us wondering if they'd gotten lost in the kitchen labyrinth.Fishy tales: The nigiri itself was a mixed bag. Some pieces were divine. Others, however, had a distinct fishiness and slightly chewy texture that left us wanting more freshness. Like a magic act, some bites disappeared in a delightful puff, while others required more chewing than anticipated.Wasabi woes: The liberal use of wasabi was another inconsistency. Some pieces had a perfect kiss of heat, while others were overpowered, drowning out the delicate flavors of the fish. Perhaps a lighter hand would allow the natural sweetness of the fish to shine through.Missed opportunity: All the uni dishes that were served missed the mark. Instead of highlighting the creamy and buttery uni flavors, the dishes were overpowered by other flavors.Course overload (in a good way): The $158 omakase was certainly generous, offering a plethora of dishes. The whole experience consisted of small plates, nigiri pieces, sashimi and a dessert.Cozy charm: Despite the service hiccups and inconsistencies, the intimate setting and warm lighting created a unique atmosphere. It's a place where you can easily get lost in conversation.Final verdict: With some attention to service consistency, pace, and flavor balance, Kibatsu has the potential to be a great dining experience. For now, it sits at a 3-star tightrope walk - charming, ambitious, but needing a few tweaks.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 3
RESERVE ON YELP, NOT GOOGLE. The Google reservation system is broken for this restaurant.Before I went to Kibatsu tonight, I tried to make an online reservation. I called the restaurant directly when I noticed the Google online reservation system was not working (only allowed to book for a party of 1). When I arrived at the restaurant, I confirmed with the host (Chanel) that the restaurant was not fully booked and that they had reported the problem to Google.This is one of our favorite sushi restaurants in the city. It's a hidden gem. The fish is fresh and delicious, the quality is superb, the service is impeccable, (Chanel is the BEST), and the atmosphere is cozy. Once you go, it'll become your favorite spot too.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sake Fresh, Sushi, Green Tea Ice Cream, Toro, Wagyu Beef
Superb sushi, service, and ambiance. A hidden gem in SF ??
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi
amazing, one of my favorite sushi meals in sf. new style salmon and tuna poke roll were both
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tuna Poke
Absolutely incredible sushi. I had a selection of fresh nigiri and the sashimi salmon special, with ginger and garlic. My favorite fish I had was the shimaaji. If you're in the area and want good sushi, go here.
This place has been on my list for a while now so I decided to check it out with some friends. For the weekend I definitely recommend making a reservation, since the restaurant itself is quite small and intimate the seating is really limited. I like the vibe of the restaurant really beautiful minimalist wood decor and the plates were so pretty these used these rock crystal plates that were to die for. The food itself is good I think it is a tad overpriced for what it is. The fish quality is good and I think all the dishes with just fish were pretty good. The rolls were a bit disappointing. The rice to filling ratio wasn't great and the rice itself was not stick and easily fell apart. The service was good, it seemed like there was only was server taking care of all the tables but despite that they moved from table to table pretty fast. This is a good date night or intimate dinner spot for sure. Hopefully will be back to try out more stuff.
Did the Omakase tasting menu for an anniversary celebration. Loved it! Great variety and tasty bites.
Pros:The interior was very cute and cozy and the service was excellent. We got several dishes to try such as butter fish prepared 2 ways, and several rolls to share. All of the dishes were delicious. We noticed that several of the dishes we ordered only come with 3 pieces (per menu description), but they provided 4 pieces for our party. This was very thoughtful and very much appreciated!Areas of improvement:We made reservations for a group of 4 on a Friday night, but our table was not ready when we arrived and we were asked to wait a half hour. I was disappointed that some of their more interesting dishes mentioned on Yelp are not part of their regular menu. Like one of the other reviewers mentioned, I'm not sure why they charge a cleaning fee. Overall, some hits and misses as mentioned above. For the price, there was nothing that stood out enough for me to come back with the plethora of sushi restaurants in SF.
Restaurantji Recommends
Chef Jimmy in the photo hands down the best sushi chef you can find in SF, I been to Japan but Jimmy will treat you way beyond. Recommend this place to all of my friends, family, etc.Bummers: we weren’t able to do Omakase but Jimmy had our back! They only could give us one Tamago, but again Jimmy came through to make us happy! Like i am about to sleep tonight and i will probably wake up thinking of how Jimmy was such a homie!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chef Jimmy was the best! We sat at the bar and his recommendations were all so good!Super affordable too!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Totally good vibes and serenity when we dined here again tonight. Ambiance was top notch as we came in. We were immediately greeted by our hostess with hospitality and although we had no reservations, she still found an extra seat at the bar to squeeze the two of us in. Food was amazing as usual. This was not my first visit but the taste, service and ambiance were the strongest reasons that brought me back!
I finally made it in (all the way across the street from my house) for the weekday shorter omakase and was very happy. I like that it is a full Japanese menu versus just sushi, it reminded me of spots in Japan I have been to. Even if you want to go in for some simple nigiri, they carry a wide range of fish that you don't see at most places in town.The pacing was great, it was a 1.5 hour experience as a party of 1 which is about perfect and I left pleasantly full. The room is nice and intimate, I ended up chatting to the table next to me and finding out they are a co-worker. One thing I noticed which is very Japanese is that there was no music.Kid-friendliness: Multiple babies were in the room, but not good for kids who need to eat.Wheelchair accessibility: A step up to get in the door.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sushi
Best sushi restaurant in sf in my opinion. Salmon nigiri is 13/10Albacore tataki is also so good.The staff is unbelievable. Totally worth a try. Not to mention their serving dishes are stunning
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5