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    Ariake

    4.1 (492 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Sushi Bars
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

    Order Ariake Takeout or Delivery

    Ariake Photos

    Business Info

    ARIAKE ATMOSPHERE

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

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    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

    New York roll and Tako nigiri

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    6 years ago

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

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    10 years ago

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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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    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

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    Okaeri Japanese Bistro - Interior

    Okaeri Japanese Bistro

    4.4(529 reviews)
    3.3 miMission
    $$
    Casual dining
    Family-owned & operated

    What a gem! Small, warm, unmistakably Japanese inside…read more The fish is so fresh. Rice seasoned just right, nothing hiding behind sauce. The signature uni toast is a must! Creamy, briny uni on warm crisp toast, rich without being heavy. Highly recommend! The donburis are gorgeous. Beautifully composed plates you want to photograph before you touch them, and they *deliver* on flavor. One of the best sushi spots in the Mission, and honestly in the conversation for best in the city!

    Let's start off with the most important part of this review and it's the food. Amazing quality, and…read morethe cuts were very pristine. I got the tuna donburi which definitely hit the spot while my friends got the sake donburi, and some specialty rolls. They really enjoyed it! 5/5 for food quality and taste. Now for the reason of 4/5 which I may even opted for 3.5/5 if it were available. We were the first group of 9 to come in right at opening and were told that because we had a large group everyone was required to spend $70. That's not hard to hit considering you're eating out at a sushi restaurant, but the fact that we were told to spend at least $70 a person in order to be seated is crazy! We even asked what was recommended and the seasonal donburi or sake was the most popular. So now we went for those options, but still had to make up the remaining $32 per person that went for the sake donburi. Some people that didn't even want to drink opted for beer because they already got matcha next door. Service charge was already included yet the requirement to spend $70 a person just to dine here is ridiculous. I would come back, but not with a group of more than 4. Anyone that has friends or colleagues of more than 4 go elsewhere!

    Photos
    Okaeri Japanese Bistro - Bar area

    Bar area

    Okaeri Japanese Bistro - Interior (new management/new ownership)

    Interior (new management/new ownership)

    Okaeri Japanese Bistro - Hassan omakase

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    Hassan omakase

    Rintaro - KUROBUTA TONKATSU

    Rintaro

    4.2(1.2k reviews)
    3.3 miMission
    $$$$

    I love Rintaro and it's truly some of the best and most authentic Japanese food you can get in SF…read more I started with the yosedofu which is their housemade silken tofu served with shaved katsuobushi and shitake soy sauce. It's a great cold dish to start. Then we got the oden with the mochi filled tofu purse, beef tendon and fish ball. Really yummy and the tendon is so silky soft. Then finally we shared chicken oyster skewers, chicken thigh and green onion skewers, the pork katsu and tuna don. It was really fantastic meal and good progression ending with the final rice dish. The skewers have a great charcoal taste and we loved the seaweed they give you with the tuna rice to make little wraps with. It's a really delicious combination. My only complaint would be that the back room is a but stuffy and doesn't have much air flow. I'd definitely try to sit in the front room or on the patio if the weather is nice. Can't wait to come back!

    The ambiance def looks cool. Server was very nice and gave us some recs for ordering. The bussing…read morepeople kept asking us what we ordered, it was slightly annoying like don't you know? The food is......very average. The dishes are very simple and could be made at home pretty easily. I know they make a lot of the stuff in house but the dishes itself is very simple, ingredients and cooking method. That said, it is very expensive for what they are offering. The karaage was fried well but it was very salty and sweet at the same time. Yosedofu is not my thing. Maybe I just don't like cold tofu but it's just tofu with ginger, scallions and bonito flakes. Negima was ok. A bit dry and very small piece. Tsukune was ok but they charge $3 for a sauce which is basically just an egg yolk. Tonkatsu felt like they boiled the pork chop and then fried it. Oden was very underwhelming. Thr mochi thing was unique but I didn't like it. One of the pieces was just a daikon that tasted like a daikon... Kamatama udon is just udon with the same toppings as the yosedofu. Other than the homemade udon, you can def make this at home.

    Photos
    Rintaro - Interior

    Interior

    Rintaro - My least favorite of the skewers

    My least favorite of the skewers

    Rintaro - Teba no karate

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    Teba no karate

    Izakaya Yoki - DOUBLE SALMON

    Izakaya Yoki

    4.1(738 reviews)
    3.4 miLower Nob Hill, Nob Hill
    $$$

    So glad this neighborhood finally has an AYCE sushi spot, and at a price that actually makes sense…read more For $40 a person you are getting a serious deal. One tip: get there early. The place fills up around 6pm so arriving ahead of that will save you a wait. They don't take reservations, so first come first served. The ordering experience is really smooth. Everything is done through an iPad at your table and the food comes out to you. They won't let you place a new order until your previous one has been delivered, which honestly is a smart system and helps with pacing so you don't over order right out of the gate. What sets this place apart from other AYCE spots is the variety. It's not just sushi. You can also order appetizers, salmon, teriyaki chicken and more, so there's something for people who want to mix it up beyond rolls. Delicious, easy, affordable and in the neighborhood. Highly recommend!

    -Food is just okay. 3 stars. Some good value sushi and cooked food won't be available in menu. It…read morelimited to order every single round. In average, waiting time for food is 10+ minutes each round. -Hopefully this staffs will have more training in buffet style dining. Server will give you check when there's still have available time to order in system. -Environment is just okay too. They just stuck some paper towel underneath the leg of table to balance.

    Photos
    Izakaya Yoki - Sushi bar- they churn out orders so fast!

    Sushi bar- they churn out orders so fast!

    Izakaya Yoki - ZZAM PPONG

    ZZAM PPONG

    Izakaya Yoki - Table setting

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    Table setting

    KUSAKABE

    KUSAKABE

    4.6(1.2k reviews)
    4.0 miFinancial District
    $$$$

    Finally had the chance to dine at Kusakabe for my birthday…read more My boyfriend reserved us the omakase dinner with a sake flight for me and a wine flight for him. We really enjoyed our chef Mika who was attentive, skilled, and just over all added to our experience. The waiter/busser paid attention and maintained our area with cleanliness. The fish quality was amazing, fresh, and unique. There were a few items that were prepared uniquely and differently from what I've had at other places which I appreciated! My boyfriend who can eat the same meal 100x actually enjoyed the experience. Cannot wait to go back!

    Kusakabe creates the kind of dining experience that feels carefully designed from the moment you…read moresit down. We walked into a refined but welcoming space where the sushi counter is the main focus, and the meal unfolds course by course in front of us. There is a sense of calm throughout the room, allowing the attention to stay on the chefs, the ingredients, and the details behind each dish without the distraction of a busy dining room. The omakase experience balances traditional sushi with more creative touches. Each course brings something different, from fresh sashimi and nigiri to warmer dishes like chawan mushi that add depth to the progression of the meal. The sushi highlights the quality of the fish while incorporating thoughtful flavor combinations, with dishes like scallop and the dry-aged fish courses standing out for their texture and seasoning. The sake pairing fits naturally into the experience, adding another layer without overpowering the food, and the sommelier's selections complement the progression of flavors across the meal. What makes Kusakabe memorable is the craftsmanship and pacing of the meal. The chefs take time to explain each course, making the experience feel personal rather than rushed. Sitting at the counter adds to the atmosphere because you get to see the precision and care that goes into every piece, from the way the rice is formed to the final brush of sauce on the fish. The pacing of the meal allows you to appreciate each course without feeling rushed, and the team's attention to detail creates a rhythm that keeps the meal engaging from start to finish. Kusakabe feels like a place made for special occasions, celebrations, or anyone looking for a more elevated Japanese dining experience. It combines technique, hospitality, and creativity in a way that makes the entire meal feel like an event rather than just a dinner. The balance of traditional and modern elements, along with the warmth of the service, leaves you with the sense of having experienced something complete and thoughtfully composed.

    Photos
    KUSAKABE - Zen bathroom

    Zen bathroom

    KUSAKABE - Otsumami...

    Otsumami...

    KUSAKABE - Eight Kinds of Sushi

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    Eight Kinds of Sushi

    Shoji - Cheese fries

    Shoji

    4.2(580 reviews)
    4.0 miFinancial District, SoMa
    $

    Cool place for drinks! I wish I had dressed better since the decor is so classy. It was a little…read morewarmer than anticipated inside but it may have been just that day. Service was really friendly and explained everything they brought out. I would probably only do drinks here next time, or food with a smaller group. The burger is definitely worth trying!

    I have been wanting to try Shoji for a while now, but haven't had a chance to as the buzz when they…read morefirst opened was crazy with long lines. I finally got to try it and walked in on a Saturday right at opening for a party of 2. We waited probably about 15 minutes and were sat in the back patio. The interior space was beautifully done and looked very elevated. The back patio also looked nice, but definitely gave off a different vibe. The service was great, no complaints there. Everybody was super nice and attentive. The food also came out fairly quickly. What we ordered: - Donburi ($53) - 5/5 - Pork Jowl ($28) - 4/5 - Akazu Fries ($10) - 3/5 - NA Cold noodle mocktail ($18) - 4/5 - NA Dashi Apple mocktail ($15) - 5/5 - Shoji Burger ($28) - 4/5 - Ceviche ($25) - 4/5 Total after tax/tip - $236.50 Objectively, the food and drinks were pretty good. Our favorites were the donburi (of course) and the dashi apple mocktail. Some cons: - how expensive it was for the amount of food. Some reviews mentioned the donburi was tiny (which it was) - no bigger than my hand. - Almost all the dishes we got were finger foods but kind of hard to eat. The ceviche with the nori chips would fall apart. The dark nori seasoning got all over our hands and was difficult to get off with just the cloth napkin. The shoji burger was covered in cheese which we assumed was finger food since they didn't offer any knives. The donburi was filled to the top in this bowl which was small so you have to be very careful scooping out. In addition, the seasoning from the seaweed was a bit oily as well. Maybe offering a wet wipe or napkin at the end of the meal would be a nice touch. I guess it was a bit confusing given the elevated / upscale vibe it was giving off but could improve in the small details. Not sure if I can say I recommend or not but would be willing to give it another chance. Perhaps try the experience inside instead.

    Photos
    Shoji - Instagram: TianTianEats

    Instagram: TianTianEats

    Shoji - Matcha einspanner

    Matcha einspanner

    Shoji - Uni Amaebi Don: Soy marinaded raw sweet shrimp, santa barbara uni, ikura, soy marinated yolk ($44 +$3 nori)

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    Uni Amaebi Don: Soy marinaded raw sweet shrimp, santa barbara uni, ikura, soy marinated yolk ($44 +$3 nori)

    Akikos

    Akikos

    4.0(2.1k reviews)
    4.4 miFinancial District, SoMa
    $$$$

    Nigiri Omakase 15 courses…read more Ending with Matcha Ice Cream Service is amazing, so attentive. Fish was sooo fresh, comparable to Japan. Was in sushi heaven!

    We went here for my wife's birthday. We got two nigiri omakases. They were pretty good, ambience…read morewas good and service was good as well, but for what it's worth I don't think it's worth paying +$500 for two people (two omakase nigiri sets & one drink). I would pay at max $250 for two people compared to other sushi omakases I've tried which are just as nice if not nicer in San Francisco for better price. I would've given them 4 stars at this point since it's just price, but the reason I'm giving 1 star is because I made a reservation at 8:30pm on a Monday. We were seated at by 8:32pm. We had requested counter seating so we could watch sushi being prepped and made and we got those seats. We had left the restaurant at 9:30pm, so we spend less than an hour eating which isn't the problem. The problem is that they started cleaning at 9:15am while we're still eating our last piece of nigiri. They poured a whole bucket of cleaning solution on the counters right in front of our seating, so the smell was very small. They had provided a small birthday treat while they were cleaning but we couldn't enjoy much because of the smell and cleaning going on. I just don't understand why you would allow reservations at 8:30pm but start cleaning up before customer have finished eating and giving them less than an hour for their full set nigiri omakase. We paid premium, so we had higher expectations. My suggestion to folks reading this is that there are much cheaper and nicer options for sushi or sushi omakase in San Francisco. Go to those instead.

    Photos
    Akikos
    Akikos
    Akikos

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    Ariake - japanese - Updated September 2026

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