Diners' Choice: Japanese restaurants in San Francisco

OpenTable

Updated December 05, 2024

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Japanese cuisine in San Francisco? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!

Hakashi Japanese Sushi Bar & Grill

4.8

4.8 (68)

$30 and under

Japanese

SOMA

About the restaurant

Located in the heart of San Francisco, Hakashi Japanese Sushi Bar & Grill is a chef driven restaurant that is committed to only using the finest and seasonal fish, vegetables, rice and ‘made from scratch’ sauces.

Our cuisine is simple and delicate. Our Chef, Julio, learned from his master, Norihiko Suzuki, from Fukushima Japan. Chef Julio is excellent at inspiring and hand crafting every dish from Omakese to Nigiri to Sashimi. He is also great at customizing arrangements for special occasions to achieve something that is truly a reflection of honoring the traditional Japanese Cuisine.

Come visit Hakashi Japanese Bar & Grill for an unforgettable dining experience. For Friday and Saturday reservations, please call the restaurant directly.

Top review

Greg

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

First time in this sushi restaurant. My wife and I both agreed it was the best sushi we have ever had. Period. Go.

AKIKOS

4.8

4.8 (1612)

$50 and over

Japanese

SOMA

About the restaurant

Located in the vibrant East Cut neighborhood, just a 15-minute walk from the Ferry Building, our diverse and sustainability-driven menu offers a contemporary interpretation of the traditional Omakase experience. We blend innovative takes on Japanese cuisine with local, seasonal ingredients and fish sourced from Tokyo’s renowned Toyosu Fish Market. Signature dishes, such as our Shokupan—grilled milk bread topped with toro and golden Kaluga caviar—and the aged, soy-cured bluefin tuna nigiri, showcase a harmonious fusion of premium seafood and thoughtfully curated ingredients, presented with creative flair.
Please note, we currently offer Omakase experiences exclusively for lunch and dinner, with no à la carte options available. For guests seeking to enhance their experience, additional nigiri selections are available a la carte from our nama menu after the tasting. The Omakase lunch experience is priced at $150 per guest, and the Omakase dinner experience is priced at $255 per guest.

Top review

RonaldVIP

Dined 2 days ago

I ate at Akiko’s for the lunch omekase and it was superb. I also had the sake pairings and they were original and well matched with the meal. The meal began with 5 courses of Otsumami, which were lovely small courses and not really what you would think of as sushi. They were all very tasty but the standout was the milk bread toast with toro and caviar. Then came 7 different courses of nigiri, each of one piece. They were all fresh and delicious. My favorite was the uni. But the melt in your mouth toro was the epitome of what toro should be. Even the green tea ice cream for dessert was especially good. I wasn’t cheap but I can’t wait to come back.

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4.7

4.7 (271)

$50 and over

Japanese

Marina / Cow Hollow / Presidio

About the restaurant

**Welcome to Sushi Hakko on Union St. + Fillmore St.**
We'd like to offer our tasting menu that's reflecting Chef Alex Kim and his team's pursuit of top notch sushi experience. Our approach is a harmonious crossover of authentic Edo-mae style with Western skill. From fish to rice, cooking rice to garnish prep - a true synergy of not only Californian but Japan.

**Sushi Bar Experience**
For the best experience of our tasting menu, we'd recommend the sushi bar seating, where chef will serve and explain the dish by dish, piece by piece with an extensive information of the skills and ingredients.

**Regular Tables**
Our regular tables are also available for the tasting menu and you can make a reservation at any time slot to your convenience.

*Large Group*
For any party of 7 or more, please kindly call us at 415.814.2886 or email at sushihakko@gmail.com. We will get back to you asap.

All parties will be subject to a 20% service charge.

We look forward to serving you soon.

Top review

JimVIP

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

Beautiful experience, purposefully quiet, fresh innovative and highly skilled food experience you only get if you come here. Original. We like early seatings.

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Experience

Sushi Hakko Bar Experience

Experience

Sushi Hakko Table Experience

Nisei

4.8

4.8 (76)

$50 and over

Japanese

Russian Hill

About the restaurant

Nisei presents a contemporary approach to Japanese American cuisine by combining deep Japanese flavors, refined cooking technique, and Northern California's finest ingredients. The restaurant is a personal reflection of Chef David Yoshimura's unique experience as a Michelin starred chef and second generation Japanese American, or Nisei.

Nisei can accommodate most severe allergies with advance notice, however due to the nature of the tasting menu format, we can not meet all dietary restrictions or aversions. In order to maintain the spirit of our cuisine, the following items can not be removed: Salt, sugar, soy sauce, and egg cooked into items.

All Experience prices below reflect a 20% Service Fee and 8.63% SF Sales Tax applied to the base price of each experience. This Service Fee goes towards paying our employees a livable wage as well as providing health insurance.

Top review

OpenTable Diner

Dined 6 days ago

It was a beautiful experience, so much flavor with a lovely combination of different textures and ingredients. Marvelous service they were all very sweet and nice.

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Experience

Winter Menu Reservations at Nisei

Experience

New Year's Eve at Nisei

Experience

Osechi Ryori

Mamanoko

4.8

4.8 (69)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Marina / Cow Hollow / Presidio

About the restaurant

Come enjoy fresh sushi and Japanese fare at our beautiful location in the Marina District of San Francisco.

Top review

NanciVIP

Dined 2 days ago

This was a Birthday lunch. Our lunch was absolutely delicious. Also the service was 5 star

Ozumo - San Francisco

4.7

4.7 (3402)

$50 and over

Japanese

Financial District / Embarcadero

About the restaurant

Ozumo is one of San Francisco’s most popular destinations for contemporary Japanese cuisine. Created in 2001, Ozumo was one of the first restaurants to combine sushi and robata cooking under one roof. Its captivating design, by world-renowned Japanese-based Super Potato, continues to delight diners, years after its’ inception. Ozumo introduced chilled, high-quality sake to its’ guests, by curating one of the finest collections from Japan’s most esteemed brewers.

www.ozumo.com
@ozumorestaurants

Top review

NancyVIP

Dined 2 days ago

Best sashimi in the Bay Area, and best black cod. We just can’t go anywhere else for sushi in San Francisco and the East Bay, without being disappointed.

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Okaeri Japanese Bistro

4.8

4.8 (159)

$31 to $50

Japanese

Mission District

About the restaurant

Welcome to Okaeri SF, where we showcase both traditional Japanese dishes and an innovative omakase experience. Our chefs bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the kitchen, creating a dining experience that is truly one-of-a-kind.

Our menu features a wide range of authentic Japanese dishes, including nigiri, sashimi, rolls, and tempura. We also offer a selection of unique fusion dishes that blend traditional Japanese flavors with modern culinary techniques.

Our omakase experience is a must-try for any foodie. This multi-course meal features a selection of the freshest, most flavorful ingredients, carefully chosen and prepared by our talented culinary team. Each dish is a surprise, designed to showcase the chefs' skills and creativity.

We invite you to come and experience the art of Japanese cuisine at Okaeri SF. Whether you're a fan of traditional dishes or looking to try something new, we have something for everyone. Thank you for choosing us for your dining experience.

Top review

CharlesVIP

Dined 1 day ago

Wonderful omakase dinner. Definitely will be coming back

Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ - San Francisco, CA | South of Market (SoMa)

4.6

4.6 (280)

$31 to $50

Japanese

SOMA

About the restaurant

Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Top review

Cindy

Dined 3 days ago

You can go wrong with the all you can eat bbq. Some much items to choose from. My entire party was happy

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Experience

Prix-Fixe BBQ Courses for Everyone: Starting at...

Sushi Shio

4.7

4.7 (304)

$50 and over

Japanese

Mission District

About the restaurant

Check out our new menu offerings. We are also offering Pick-up/Delivery options for your added convenience. Please search us at DoorDash.

Please kindly leave a note if you have severe food allergy or dietary restrictions.

Thank you and we look forward to serving you soon.

Top review

Lorraine

Dined on Dec 5, 2024

My friends and I felt special dining here with an affordable tasting menu that didn’t compromise on quality. The atmosphere was perfect—not too loud—so we could all enjoy our conversation.

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Experience

Sushi Shio Winter Special Tasting

Okane

4.4

4.4 (432)

$30 and under

Japanese

SOMA

About the restaurant

Okane specializes in izakaya and sushi, providing the Bay Area with an engaging new dining and drinking option that affords guests one of the City’s most authentic Japanese izakaya experiences with an emphasis on traditional dishes.

Top review

SamanthaVIP

Dined on Dec 7, 2024

Excellent, life changing Otoro. The Salmon belly was delicious.

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