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    Ariake

    4.1 (493 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Sushi Bars
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 months ago

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    ARIAKE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - Ariake

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    Reviews With Photos

    Omakase (Chef's Choice of the Day)

    This place is the best sushi and service in this price range in sf. Hands down. Staff and chefs are so incredibly nice, they came by often so we didn't have to wait for anything. Got the omakase and it blew my mind, plus it was timed perfectly. The rolls are also delicious and they have a great selection of drinks.

    Love Chirashi bowl
    Doreen C.

    Came here for dinner on a Friday night with a party of 3 and was luckily seated immediately. The inside of the restaurant reminds me of a classic local Japanese restaurant which was really cute. I ordered the love chirashi bowl for dinner and it came with miso soup which was nice! I think overall the food was decent, decent meaning the fish was fine, but nothing special or particularly good about it. (Which is why I'm giving 4 stars). The portion size was really good though which is a plus, but the prices are not cheap ($40 for the chirashi bowl). I think if it was a little cheaper for less food or slightly better quality fish I would have definitely given 5 stars. But overall solid place and nice servers!

    Interior
    Karen Y.

    Cute hole in the wall with standard Japanese fare and reasonable prices! The softshell crab is a bit dry, perhaps from it being deep fried. The amount of crab underneath the breading is a bit sparse. The monk fish liver is tender and a little chewy, as per usual for liver. The texture is a bit crumblier than I expected. However, the flavor is delicious; sweet, sour, and salty. The Ariake roll was rather unusual; the wetness of the seaweed with the rice doesn't provide much textural contrast, so it's all a mushy bite. The fish is fresh, but also a bit muted. The Sweetheart roll was good! The slices of fish were thick and fresh. The flavors are all rather light and delicate; the focus is more on ingredients, rather than flavors. The eel and cucumber roll was yummy; the eel was sweet and savory, very flavorful. The cucumber added a nice crunch and snappiness to the otherwise soft bite. Overall, this is a good spot to try.

    Chirashi
    Jenn L.

    Food is just ok. Sashimi is fresh but it's not worth as price. Service ( sorry, I can't say it's bad. However, one for server was mean and never gave us menu or water while we sat down). We just wanted to tip the one really treat us well. Ambiance: Just good for couple or adults hangout there.

    4/18/22 Menu
    Lee D.

    I guess my family craves Japanese food when we visit SF??? Kitaro is still the best, see my other Yelp review, too bad they are closed Mondays. We will probably go tomorrow as the family requests it... Quality/Quantity - It has been a long time since we have been here. I think we ordered the wrong items, next time I will do a better job. On our next visit, we will have more of the raw fish rolls/dishes because it looks so fresh, see pictures. And with sake. :) Today we got the following, none of which were with generous quantities (good thing we ordered for 3 people), or I was just hungry...? All dishes were well plated, see pictures. Salmon Teriyaki - Also good, but Kitaro has a better presentation and it comes with salad, soup, and bowl of rice Lion King Roll - Good, but no different from all the other good places we frequent. Ariake Roll - Had to try their signature dish as it has been too long. Sorry, we were not "wowed." Atmosphere - Small local family restaurant. Bar and table seating. Street parking - Good luck. Make sure you feed the meter, this is how SF makes a lot of their $$$$. Closed Sunday, see picture for business hours. Service - 3 stars, waitress seems very shy. We had to do all the asking, but she accommodated all our requests pleasantly. Price - $58.66 for 2 people, pricey especially compared to the family favorite Kitaro. Owner Suggestion - Congress to Owner and Chef, Jin, on your success. I recommend some suggestive selling, this would give more interaction with the guests and maybe increase your ticket average, although today's meal of $30 ticket average is good.

    Hope Chirashi
    Elizabeth D.

    Stopped by here on a Friday for early dinner and took a seat by the bar. The inside is very small, with only 5-6 tables huddled close together and another 8-10 seats at the bar. Chirashi is my go-to at any new sushi place and Ariake had 4 different ones to choose from, each with more premium items. I opted for the Hope Chirashi, one step up from the simplest option. It was packed full with 9 types of fish plus tamago, daikon, and pickled veggies. The fish was so fresh and clean tasting, some of the best I've ever had in the bay area. for $35 it was a great deal for the portion and quality. The ambiance was lovely and serene and the serve was extraordinarily friendly and efficient. Will definitely be coming back for more next time in Richmond

    Fresh and super clean , and tasty
    Tim C.

    Awesome little spot near the house. Good price and very fresh fish and oysters. My new go to spot mid week

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    3 years ago

    Food are good but a bit overpriced given the roll size. Few items were not available

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    5 years ago

    My favorite neighborhood gem. Fresh fish, great variety, fun staff members, and bang for the buck!

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    3 years ago

    Everything was so fresh and toro was to die for! Definitely we are coming back soon to try the rest of their special maki rolls.

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    3 years ago

    Fresh and tasty sushi that delivers 100% of your cravings and more! They have great service and a very clean dining area.

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    Page 3 of 13

    Ariake Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ariake

    Kui Shin Bo

    Kui Shin Bo

    3.8
    (1.1k reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    This place is on the second floor of the Japantown mall. Went with someone in crutches, and there's…read morea lot of stairs. Elevator is on the other corner of the center, so you do have to go a little around to get there if you need an elevator. Not too bad though. Small restaurant. Most of their tables are great for a group of 4 but I'm guessing they could just push together tables if your group is a little larger. Service was good. All our dishes were great. The sushi wraps were good but they can be a bit messy. 2 sushi wraps, 1 ramen, 1 sushi roll, seaweed salad, 2 sodas, came out to about $90. We'll be back to try more.

    Small unassuming sushi spot on second floor of Japan Center Mall. The restaurant is on the inside…read morepart of the floor, so no windows, which made it a little dark. We were seated pretty quickly on a Sunday evening, and there were a couple of other parties there. They had a sign advertising a special where you can order two items from a list and it comes with soup, salad, and rice, but we ended up just splitting two house special rolls - the Salmon Mango roll and Rock N Roll roll (tuna, avocado, spicy mayo). Both were delicious. I particularly liked the Salmon Mango roll - it was a perfect mix of sweet and savory. The rolls came with 8 pieces each and each piece was a good size, so it was plenty for two of us. I also got a Sapporo beer (bottle) to sip on. Overall, good experience - quick, efficient service and satisfying meal.

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Lunch plate: salmon teriyaki, salad, miso
    Lunch plate: salmon teriyaki, salad, miso
    Chicken Katsu Donburi

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    Chicken Katsu Donburi
    Hikari Sushi & Bar

    Hikari Sushi & Bar

    3.9
    (562 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    It is such a fun place for the whole family. The restaurant itself is situated across the main…read moreJapan town mall. Once entered, you are greeted with a cute statue, great for little ones and adults. We got seated pretty quickly at a booth. Different from traditional sushi conveyor belt place, you don't see pre-made dishes around. Instead, each table/spot comes with a screen for placing orders. You can pick up to 4 dishes each time, then added to cart. When your dish is coming, you see the light flashing, then a nice train carries your happiness over. Once unloaded, you push a button and wave bye bye to the train departing. Yes. Super fun for kids. I ordered some sashimi, tofu salad and some sushi. They are super fresh! Service is fast, consistent and friendly. My kids enjoyed goyza, soup, onion rings and some cooked sushi's. We would love coming back again. I can see this to be our go to place in Japan town.

    great location for being in japantown, and certainly a fun experience if you've never had "bullet…read moretrain sushi" where the dishes get delivered to you on a train. however the food is pretty mid for the prices. especially didn't really like the hikari train roll which had mustard on it. - Salmon Avocado Roll ($ 9.50) - Negi Hamachi Roll ($12.95) - Dragon Roll ($19.95) - Rainbow Roll ($19.95) - Hikari Train Roll ($19.95)

    Photos
    A Shinkansen delivers your sushi a few minutes after you place your order! It even sounds a little like the real deal! :)
    A Shinkansen delivers your sushi a few minutes after you place your order! It even sounds a little like the real deal! :)
    Hawaiian Roll
    Hawaiian Roll
    Green tobiko

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    Green tobiko
    Yuji

    Yuji

    4.7
    (86 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    Came here to celebrate my husband's birthday and thoroughly enjoyed our Bar Kappo experience! This…read morehas definitely made my top 3 omakases I've tried in the Bay Area so far. The restaurant can be a little hidden, but it's pretty easy to find with the instructions they send before your reservation. It's located above Fermentation Lab. Just head up the stairs and you'll find it inside the old Ichi Pub space. The restaurant is small and intimate, with only 9 seats at the counter. When you arrive, walk through the Yuji curtain and check in directly with the chef since there is no host. My biggest concern with set menus is always whether I'll feel satisfied and full afterward, but that was definitely not an issue here. My husband and I were both very satisfied after the meal. Every dish was delicious, and you could really taste the quality of each ingredient. Highlights for me were the bluefin sashimi, which was so buttery and soft that it literally melted in your mouth. The skillfish was rich and decadent, and the citrus and ginger balanced the flavors. The fried fish was another favorite as it reminded me of the savory Japanese rice crackers I loved growing up. Since it's located in Japantown, parking can be challenging. We had to loop around several times looking for street parking and even had two cars take spots we were waiting for, so definitely give yourself extra time before your reservation. I would highly recommend this place! The chef changes the menu periodically based on what's in season, so it's a great excuse to come back and try something new in the future. Total spent for 2: $462

    Really hidden spot with no signage -- we had to ask neighboring restaurants for directions, but it…read morewas absolutely worth finding. The chef was incredibly warm, smiley, welcoming, and attentive throughout the meal. Every ingredient tasted exceptionally fresh, with careful selection of only the best cuts and portions. Highlights included the otoro, wagyu beef, spot shrimp, caviar, green eye fish, and hotaru ika. The omakase was perfectly portioned and thoughtfully paced from start to finish. A truly memorable experience.

    Photos
    Bar seating
    Bar seating
    Chilean sea bass with piece of truffle and pickled ginger on top
    Chilean sea bass with piece of truffle and pickled ginger on top
    Matcha crème brulee

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    Matcha crème brulee
    Domo

    Domo

    4.0
    (1k reviews)
    2.6 mi
    $$

    Was pleasantly surprised by this place. The service was friendly, and they allow dogs; outside of…read morecourse. My group of 5 + 2 dogs needed seating, which they were able to accommodate their cozy seating right by the front door. Fortunately they have heaters running outside, so that was nice. We ordered 3 rolls - spicy tuna (5 pcs), black pearl (8 pcs), crunchy California (8-9 pcs for $15). The rolls were pretty well balanced with ingredients. Spicy tuna was a bit, but surprisingly, their crunchy California was the best. Fried absolutely perfectly with whatever batter they use, and inserted with real crab - not imitation! Anyway, enjoyed this place for what it was. It's not a large restaurant, nor do they have a large menu, but the taste was good and we enjoyed the service from our nice waiters.

    Tried this place for the first time and I loved it! I came on a Monday night at 7pm, so getting a…read moreseat wasn't a problem. It's a smaller place though so that's something to keep in mind for a day that might be busier. The service was very attentive and friendly. I'll always order salmon collar if I see it on a menu and this one was huge! It's felt like a whole salmon fillet along with the collar. The black pearl roll was my favorite. It had a good seared flavor and the dollop of truffle pate on top wasn't overwhelming. The jalapeño hamachi was also a solid choice. I'd pass on the zesty salmon tempura roll next time, but I'm also not the biggest fan of shrimp tempura in general. I'll definitely come back here. I loved the quaint atmosphere and the generous amount of fish given in each dish.

    Photos
    Domo
    Castro Special Roll @colorful.eats
    Castro Special Roll @colorful.eats
    Crab and cucumber salad

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    Crab and cucumber salad
    Tenroku Sushi

    Tenroku Sushi

    3.7
    (595 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    Fun, efficient, simple. Nothing to add…read more I've been to a few conveyor belt, boat-sushi type spots in Japantown and I always end up back at Tenroku! Is it the best sushi ever? Not quite. I think expectations are usually low when going to these types of spots but given the quality and price, it's actually pretty surprising. I usually stop by for dinner on weeknights. It can get busy sometimes but I've never waited more than 10-15 minutes. Service is quick and friendly. The goal is to get you seated and taken care of right away. Once you sit down, it's game on. Chefs are busting out all different kinds of dishes for you to try. They also take requests if there's something on the menu you'd like to try. I love not having to commit to a roll and being able to try a ton of different things. Admittedly, I keep coming back for the seared walu. The plate color lets you know the price of what you're getting. Most plates come with 2-4 pieces and run from $3 - $8. I can make this dinner as cheap or expensive as I'd like!

    First of all, this is a sushi boat spot in the Japantown Mall--so let's set expectations. You can't…read morecompare it to a Michelin-star Japanese restaurant. Sushi circles around on a conveyor belt, and some of it has clearly been riding for a while. There are also packaged, grocery-style items on the belt like cake and uni. That said, it's good and possibly fresh, and the chefs are clearly working hard. It's not creative or romantic--it is what it is. We had several solid items, left full, and that was the goal after seeing a movie. It was pretty quick, too.

    Photos
    Tenroku Sushi
    Spicy tuna
    Spicy tuna
    Shrimp Tempura Roll

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    Shrimp Tempura Roll
    Oma San Francisco Station

    Oma San Francisco Station

    4.3
    (353 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$$$

    Oma San Francisco Station is an omakase restaurant inside Japan Center in San Francisco Japantown…read more They offer 3 menus: Mizuho with 24 items, Sakura with 16, and Tsubame with 12. The location is unusual, as the restaurant is open to the mall, which is a bit disruptive. I came for the 8:30pm seating, but the previous guests were still finishing, so I had to wait until 8:45pm. The staff did not seem very concerned. Bad start. You could also hear the mall cleaning crew during dinner, which was not very pleasant. I ordered the 24-item Mizuho Menu, as did all the other guests. There were 5 guests in total (the restaurant can seat up to 8 people). Here is the menu I was served at the end of May: 1. starter: ama ebi cracker with caviar, pickled lotus root with shaved bonito, crab salad 2. nigiri 4x: isaki, iwana, myabi tai, kanpachi 3. sashimi: chutoro, hotate with caviar, umi masu, sawada 4. nigiri 8x: hirame, suzuki, inada, kurodai, shima aji, kamasu, otoro, aged A5 wagyu, kinmedai 5. hot dish: miso soup with inari and shrimp head, hokkaido uni with marinated ikura, black cod, umi masu with raw yellow egg and caviar 6. dessert: matcha ice cream with strawberry Frankly, the food was excellent. The starter was not very creative, but the nigiri were great. The sashimi selection was very nice, with some fish you do not see as often in omakase menus, such as isaki, iwana, and myabi tai, a kind of tai. Sawada was delicious and is always a good inclusion. We asked for some wasabi and received a small cup of kizami wasabi, a chopped wasabi with a slightly crunchy texture, which was a nice touch. For the nigiri, all the classics of a good omakase were present: otoro, kinmedai, shima aji, uni, hotate, and wagyu. Kamasu was also included, and it is one of my favorite fish. It is also worth noting that they age both their beef and their tuna, including the otoro that was served. A few pieces were torched, maybe a few too many. Overall, the service was not memorable, although chef Ron Au was friendly and nice. The place itself felt a bit questionable, and my expectations were not very high after the beginning of the meal. But the food was truly excellent, and for that reason I think it deserves 5 stars.

    4.5 stars round down…read more It's a really small space and I booked a reservation for my bf's birthday! It's in a part of japantown which feels a bit open (which I think is part of the vibe and definitely really fun. We got the 24 piece course which is a Lot Of Food,, and we were the only people there which was really cute. They split across more traditional nigiri dishes and some cooked dishes.The highlight was the second batch of nigiri dishes but I don't remember the exact fish. I will say that of all the omakase places I've been to, its not the best on my list so i'm curious what other places look like, but it's a really special and unique experience! My ONE GRIPE (actually there are a few) but the smoked salmon they served didn't have some of the pinbones removed which is a HUGE FUCKING NONO. i'm just putting it here because as a small institution it's important to support but there were 3 bones which was a :////

    Photos
    Oma San Francisco Station
    Starter
    Starter
    Matcha ice cream made in house

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    Matcha ice cream made in house
    Izumi Kaiten Sushi

    Izumi Kaiten Sushi

    3.6
    (271 reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    Been eating here when we are in Japantown, cute little spot- Conveyer Belt sushi place. Mostly bar…read moretype seating area, and three tables to sit. We were seated at the bar area since the tables were occupied. The waitress was very quick and fast, setting us up with waters and chopsticks. Sushi is plated and charged by the color of the plate- blue is their most pricier options, which I got a lot of so I had stop eating that option, and I went for yellow or orange! Sushi was fresh, I am a Saba fan so that's what I mostly ate. Uni was fresh, and Amaebi was good. Overall, if you want something fast, the wait wasn't long, (of course it'll change on the weekend) times would be long because of the seating, try this place out! We will be back!

    Came here on a Saturday evening for dinner. It was busy, loud, and lively. I've been to other…read moreconveyor belt sushi spots before, but this one really stood out. It was hard not to grab a bunch of plates since the sushi tasted very fresh and there was a ton of variety going around. I got a mix of rolls and a Sapporo, which paired perfectly. Staff was quick and efficient, even with how crowded it was. Prices were also very affordable for sushi, especially considering the quality. Solid spot if you want fresh conveyor belt sushi without paying too much.

    Photos
    Extra plates are seen in the background staked up on top of that fridge.   There were only 2 other groups.  Why leave more raw fish out!
    Extra plates are seen in the background staked up on top of that fridge. There were only 2 other groups. Why leave more raw fish out!
    Corn nigiri
    Corn nigiri
    Seafood Salad @whaevaeats

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    Seafood Salad @whaevaeats

    Ariake - japanese - Updated June 2026

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