Not to my taste. Quality ingredients but overworked and Americanized
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Elim
As a repeat customer of Sushi Shio, it is with regret that I pen this review, reflecting a stark contrast to my initial visit. The dining experience on this occasion, possibly affected by it being a weekday or perhaps due to the staff on duty, was notably disappointing. Our party of three incurred a bill totaling $600, inclusive of tips and taxes, a sum that aligns with the expectations of fine dining. Unfortunately, the ambiance did not mirror this standard. The presence of no less than three flies persistently hovering around us as we savored our sashimi and sake significantly marred the experience. This intrusion not only detracted from the enjoyment of our meal but also diminished the otherwise delightful atmosphere that well-prepared Nigiri typically brings. On a positive note, the quality of the ingredients and the sake remained commendable, although there was a noticeable dip in the freshness compared to my previous visit. My initial experience at Sushi Shio was memorable, marked by exceptional service and a pleasant environment. This recent visit, however, fell short of those standards. I sincerely hope that the restaurant takes this feedback constructively and implements necessary improvements. As it stands, the mandatory 20% gratuity does not seem justified given the overall experience.
Charlie Liao
Went for Valentines Day, met with disappointment. Had a 9:30pm reservation, didn’t get seated until 10 (others around me had to wait up to an hour past their reservation times). Not a single one of the wait staff acknowledged the wait or apologized (first time I’ve ever experienced this kind of delay at a restaurant), had to aggressively flag people down to even check in, otherwise we were left unattended at the front (and no ETA given).The food itself was decent, 6/10 - fresh fish but inconsistencies in how they used the wasabi and some errors in the order that they plated compared to the menu list (and the staff wasn’t explaining it either). Their fatty tuna was the worst fatty tuna I’ve had at an omakase because it was sinewy, also flavor was off. The rest of the fish was fine. I was impressed by the non sushi dishes, shoutouts to the abalone risotto.TL;DR - the poor service combined with the slightly above average food quality does not justify the $125 price tag I paid. Maybe I’ll come back one day, but not willingly in this lifetime
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
toofat zh
Super disappointed. We had high hopes for the Valentine's Day dinner and we booked our reservation at 9:30pm a month ago. Arrived at the restaurant and found there were 10 people in front of us, and they all have reservations! Apparently the restaurant is very overbooked for today! WHY YOU HAVE THE RESERVATION SYSTEM IF YOU CAN'T MAKE SURE GUESTS CAN BE SEATED.The mood for the night has been ruined, let alone we spent 20+ minutes trying to find a parking spot on a rainy night!!!All I hope is they can refund my money back
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Orlando Morales
I really like this sushi restaurant, it has a good location on one of the main avenues of San Francisco such as Valencia St. It does not have parking but if you are lucky you can park on the street, the place is very nice, it has that vibe of a modern restaurant and cozy, the service is pleasant but they can improve it for a better experience, it is an expensive restaurant if I compare it with other sushi restaurants but each dish is worth it, they are very well prepared, if you order takeout you should know that it will take a while
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Annie L.
Wow! We were impressed with every item that was served to us today. From the presentation to the taste as well as the server letting you know every course that was served to us, everything was perfectly done! A 20% tip is automatically added onto the bill, but our waiter is so attentive and pleasant so he is definitely worth receiving at least a 20% tip. There is an outdoor seating area available in the back for anyone who wishes to dine outside.
Katrina Queirolo
My boyfriend and I had the premium sake tasting and the sushi shio omakase. As someone who loves sushi (eat it at least 1-2x/wk), I was really disappointed in the quality of the nigiri. Almost every bite (besides the toro) was tough and tasted fishy and old. The amberjack was so fishy I had to spit it out. Something was really off - I left feeling nauseous.The small plates were the best part of the meal, particularly the truffle yellowtail. I don’t drink a ton of sake but thought the tasting was decent. Our waiter was also very kind and attentive.Was pretty bummed as this spot has great reviews. Will not be coming back.
Ardo Kusuma
I've gotten deliveries from here, and have dined in for dinner as well.For deliveries, I got the unique bowl (forgot the dish name), basically it comes with some uni, Ikura, and some sashimi on a bed of sushi rice. It came with some kind of bamboo looking box as well. Don't know whether it's just plastic that looks like bamboo or real bamboo. Though the 2nd time I got the same item for delivery, it shows up in some kind of plastic container instead. Maybe cutting cost? Anyway, not as "presentable" as before.Then for dining in for dinner, we got some hand rolls, only hand rolls. And it was, quite disappointing. Like, all the hand rolls, all I could taste was just their cured cucumber. Whatever you get, the cured cucumber will take over the taste. And the seaweed that they use is also soggy, not crispy like specialized hand rolls restaurants.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Mark Templin
Best cama (fish cheek) I have had in a long while. And the barracuda was especially tender and unique. The hand rolls are excellent, and fitting the mission for sure. Also, the soju is exceptional: Mir 22 “dragon” is amazing. Everything I had was exceptional, and the service very well indeed. Worth every penny, in my opinion.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sashimi
Catherine Yang
Don’t order takeout / delivery from this restaurant. Definitely don’t worth the price. Really small portion comparing to dine-in and fish is not fresh (see the Uni and roe in the box) and fish cut is not even.
Came here on a Friday night, no reservations and was seated immediately. We got the nigiri sake flight, which was amazing! And a selection of nigiri. I highly recommend the chu toro and the hamachi. Service was excellent. The second we were done with a plate, someone was over to clear the table. The panna cotta was the perfect finish. Menu was very well explained and recommendations from the waiter were much appreciated. All around wonderful experience and I will be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Luna c.
Came for a dinner date, not expecting much. Turns out, their omakase completely wowed me now one of my favorites. Every bite was fresh and had this unique taste. Also, grabbed a bottle of sake that was surprisingly delish. Whether you're keeping it casual or planning a date night, they've got the vibe for both. Plus, the service was speedy, and the staff knew their stuff.
Vincent L.
Omakase experiences that cost $100 or $200 or more are common here in the gentrified West Bay, so to see a reasonably priced, decent-quality, casual, and unpretentious option like Sushi Shio is highly refreshing.In fact, this is precisely what I overheard many diners lamenting when I stopped by recently - about how it's increasingly hard to find a solid sushi experience that, although not cheap, won't break the bank as far as folks with upwardly-mobile professional incomes are concerned.For the price, I felt that the "Shio menu, in particular its breadth and depth of offerings, was a very good value. A bowl of miso soup and a scallop salad to start were satisfying ways to cleanse my palate, which was promptly challenged by a new course they were testing: a serving of monkfish liver. It certainly had a... strong, dense liver-ish flavor and texture to it, which was offset only by dousing it in the strong, sweet sauce that it came with.Next came a series of more conventionally satisfying offerings, whether servings of red snapper, akami and shima aji nigiri, or a very saucy dish of hamachi tataki. Another nigiri series that followed was especially flavorful and satisfying, whether the medium fatty tuna, ultra-tender shrimp, or super-fresh snow crab. A serving of negitoro bruschetta was an indulgent interlude before another impressive series of nigri, whether the (fishy) barracuda, king salmon, halibut, or ikura. All of which I might or might not order on an a la carte basis, but were precisely the varied, provocative, and challenging tastes and discoveries that make an omakase experience worthwhile.There were two options for supplements when I stopped by. I opted for the otoro, uni, and A5 wagyu, all of which were incredibly delicious, savory, and well worth the price. Still, a fitting way to round out a most enjoyable meal that reminded me of how I became a foodie when I first moved here to the Bay Area - and of how much things have changed since.My only nit: I would appreciate if each course was described clearly, instead of in rapid-fire fashion without any breaks or variations between words, phrases, and intonations except at the ends of each looooong sentence.
Mike Chang
I have gotten take out from this place a couple times and I can say it is legit. It’s on the pricier side of things but the fish is amazing. Need to make it in at some
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sashimi, Lunch Special Chirashi
S C
Ordered for delivery and I cannot describe how incredible the quality of the food is- 11/10. I tend to be hesitant to try new sushi places, but I took a chance and this tops everything else. Worth the price; will be dining in soon!
Not to my taste. Quality ingredients but overworked and Americanized
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
As a repeat customer of Sushi Shio, it is with regret that I pen this review, reflecting a stark contrast to my initial visit. The dining experience on this occasion, possibly affected by it being a weekday or perhaps due to the staff on duty, was notably disappointing. Our party of three incurred a bill totaling $600, inclusive of tips and taxes, a sum that aligns with the expectations of fine dining. Unfortunately, the ambiance did not mirror this standard. The presence of no less than three flies persistently hovering around us as we savored our sashimi and sake significantly marred the experience. This intrusion not only detracted from the enjoyment of our meal but also diminished the otherwise delightful atmosphere that well-prepared Nigiri typically brings. On a positive note, the quality of the ingredients and the sake remained commendable, although there was a noticeable dip in the freshness compared to my previous visit. My initial experience at Sushi Shio was memorable, marked by exceptional service and a pleasant environment. This recent visit, however, fell short of those standards. I sincerely hope that the restaurant takes this feedback constructively and implements necessary improvements. As it stands, the mandatory 20% gratuity does not seem justified given the overall experience.
Went for Valentines Day, met with disappointment. Had a 9:30pm reservation, didn’t get seated until 10 (others around me had to wait up to an hour past their reservation times). Not a single one of the wait staff acknowledged the wait or apologized (first time I’ve ever experienced this kind of delay at a restaurant), had to aggressively flag people down to even check in, otherwise we were left unattended at the front (and no ETA given).The food itself was decent, 6/10 - fresh fish but inconsistencies in how they used the wasabi and some errors in the order that they plated compared to the menu list (and the staff wasn’t explaining it either). Their fatty tuna was the worst fatty tuna I’ve had at an omakase because it was sinewy, also flavor was off. The rest of the fish was fine. I was impressed by the non sushi dishes, shoutouts to the abalone risotto.TL;DR - the poor service combined with the slightly above average food quality does not justify the $125 price tag I paid. Maybe I’ll come back one day, but not willingly in this lifetime
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 1
Super disappointed. We had high hopes for the Valentine's Day dinner and we booked our reservation at 9:30pm a month ago. Arrived at the restaurant and found there were 10 people in front of us, and they all have reservations! Apparently the restaurant is very overbooked for today! WHY YOU HAVE THE RESERVATION SYSTEM IF YOU CAN'T MAKE SURE GUESTS CAN BE SEATED.The mood for the night has been ruined, let alone we spent 20+ minutes trying to find a parking spot on a rainy night!!!All I hope is they can refund my money back
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
I really like this sushi restaurant, it has a good location on one of the main avenues of San Francisco such as Valencia St. It does not have parking but if you are lucky you can park on the street, the place is very nice, it has that vibe of a modern restaurant and cozy, the service is pleasant but they can improve it for a better experience, it is an expensive restaurant if I compare it with other sushi restaurants but each dish is worth it, they are very well prepared, if you order takeout you should know that it will take a while
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Wow! We were impressed with every item that was served to us today. From the presentation to the taste as well as the server letting you know every course that was served to us, everything was perfectly done! A 20% tip is automatically added onto the bill, but our waiter is so attentive and pleasant so he is definitely worth receiving at least a 20% tip. There is an outdoor seating area available in the back for anyone who wishes to dine outside.
My boyfriend and I had the premium sake tasting and the sushi shio omakase. As someone who loves sushi (eat it at least 1-2x/wk), I was really disappointed in the quality of the nigiri. Almost every bite (besides the toro) was tough and tasted fishy and old. The amberjack was so fishy I had to spit it out. Something was really off - I left feeling nauseous.The small plates were the best part of the meal, particularly the truffle yellowtail. I don’t drink a ton of sake but thought the tasting was decent. Our waiter was also very kind and attentive.Was pretty bummed as this spot has great reviews. Will not be coming back.
I've gotten deliveries from here, and have dined in for dinner as well.For deliveries, I got the unique bowl (forgot the dish name), basically it comes with some uni, Ikura, and some sashimi on a bed of sushi rice. It came with some kind of bamboo looking box as well. Don't know whether it's just plastic that looks like bamboo or real bamboo. Though the 2nd time I got the same item for delivery, it shows up in some kind of plastic container instead. Maybe cutting cost? Anyway, not as "presentable" as before.Then for dining in for dinner, we got some hand rolls, only hand rolls. And it was, quite disappointing. Like, all the hand rolls, all I could taste was just their cured cucumber. Whatever you get, the cured cucumber will take over the taste. And the seaweed that they use is also soggy, not crispy like specialized hand rolls restaurants.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Best cama (fish cheek) I have had in a long while. And the barracuda was especially tender and unique. The hand rolls are excellent, and fitting the mission for sure. Also, the soju is exceptional: Mir 22 “dragon” is amazing. Everything I had was exceptional, and the service very well indeed. Worth every penny, in my opinion.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sashimi
Don’t order takeout / delivery from this restaurant. Definitely don’t worth the price. Really small portion comparing to dine-in and fish is not fresh (see the Uni and roe in the box) and fish cut is not even.
Food: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
Came here on a Friday night, no reservations and was seated immediately. We got the nigiri sake flight, which was amazing! And a selection of nigiri. I highly recommend the chu toro and the hamachi. Service was excellent. The second we were done with a plate, someone was over to clear the table. The panna cotta was the perfect finish. Menu was very well explained and recommendations from the waiter were much appreciated. All around wonderful experience and I will be coming back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Came for a dinner date, not expecting much. Turns out, their omakase completely wowed me now one of my favorites. Every bite was fresh and had this unique taste. Also, grabbed a bottle of sake that was surprisingly delish. Whether you're keeping it casual or planning a date night, they've got the vibe for both. Plus, the service was speedy, and the staff knew their stuff.
Omakase experiences that cost $100 or $200 or more are common here in the gentrified West Bay, so to see a reasonably priced, decent-quality, casual, and unpretentious option like Sushi Shio is highly refreshing.In fact, this is precisely what I overheard many diners lamenting when I stopped by recently - about how it's increasingly hard to find a solid sushi experience that, although not cheap, won't break the bank as far as folks with upwardly-mobile professional incomes are concerned.For the price, I felt that the "Shio menu, in particular its breadth and depth of offerings, was a very good value. A bowl of miso soup and a scallop salad to start were satisfying ways to cleanse my palate, which was promptly challenged by a new course they were testing: a serving of monkfish liver. It certainly had a... strong, dense liver-ish flavor and texture to it, which was offset only by dousing it in the strong, sweet sauce that it came with.Next came a series of more conventionally satisfying offerings, whether servings of red snapper, akami and shima aji nigiri, or a very saucy dish of hamachi tataki. Another nigiri series that followed was especially flavorful and satisfying, whether the medium fatty tuna, ultra-tender shrimp, or super-fresh snow crab. A serving of negitoro bruschetta was an indulgent interlude before another impressive series of nigri, whether the (fishy) barracuda, king salmon, halibut, or ikura. All of which I might or might not order on an a la carte basis, but were precisely the varied, provocative, and challenging tastes and discoveries that make an omakase experience worthwhile.There were two options for supplements when I stopped by. I opted for the otoro, uni, and A5 wagyu, all of which were incredibly delicious, savory, and well worth the price. Still, a fitting way to round out a most enjoyable meal that reminded me of how I became a foodie when I first moved here to the Bay Area - and of how much things have changed since.My only nit: I would appreciate if each course was described clearly, instead of in rapid-fire fashion without any breaks or variations between words, phrases, and intonations except at the ends of each looooong sentence.
I have gotten take out from this place a couple times and I can say it is legit. It’s on the pricier side of things but the fish is amazing. Need to make it in at some
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Sashimi, Lunch Special Chirashi
Ordered for delivery and I cannot describe how incredible the quality of the food is- 11/10. I tend to be hesitant to try new sushi places, but I took a chance and this tops everything else. Worth the price; will be dining in soon!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Wagyu Beef, Sashimi, Tuna