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    Benihana - San Francisco

    2.9 (2k reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

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    BENIHANA - SAN FRANCISCO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Touristy
    Loud
    Dogs allowed
    Happy hour specials

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    Our table's meals.. can't wait
    Jasmine M.

    We had great service. The guy was a little short at first but he warmed up. I think he was overwhelmed by the amount of people on his first day back. He didn't know about the Memorial Day special for veterans. So he had to talk to the manager. Our meals were excellent and made exactly as we requested. We tipped big because of this. The chef was super entertaining and enthusiastic. Loved the personality of Roberto! Parking is only in the mall or street. We walked from our resort and it took us about 25-30 minutes. We also made a reservation ahead of time. Hibachi steak dinner is sooo yummy.

    SPICY CHICKEN GYOZA DUMPLINGS
    Tracy B.

    Good food. Fun environment. Love coming here to celebrate anything. Plus it's so close to where I live.

    Andrew H.

    The restaurant was completely filled Friday night. From the bar, to the private room, to the main dining area. It did take longer to get seated than expected. Service wasn't perfect, but I finished the Crispy Rice appetizer and my Surfside meal completely. Seafood was cooked perfectly and I love the Fried Rice with garlic butter.

    HIBACHI STEAK with Zucchini, mushrooms, onions and shrimp.
    Mody M.

    The place had quite a crowd and busy Teppanyaki chefs. Soup was warm and bland. The steaks we ordered were delicious. Just a bit on the salty side. The place could use some aesthetic work.

    Way overbooked - an hour wait from reservation time.
    Dave M.

    I hadn't been to Benihana in many many years and have never been to the San Francisco location. I made a reservation, yes shame on me Saturday night. For my family and I. Parking is atrocious in a very busy area - Japantown. We arrived early, parked in a local garage after circling for quite some time. Entering the restaurant, we passed through mobs of people. Literally one of the loudest environments I've ever had at a restaurant, and the most busy check-in desk anywhere. It appears that this restaurant chooses to overbook so that once you are in for your reservation, you wait at least another hour. The management passed out hors d'oeuvres samples - gyoza and California Roll pieces. That's thoughtful. But the truth is - a restaurant needs to know its limitations of bookings. It's just disrespectful and unpleasant to navigate. Additionally when they checked us in, we were told to wait and they'll call us when their table is ready. They did NOT say that it would be 60-90 minutes from the time of our actual reservation. We finally sat after about 80 minutes. Then we waited another 10-20 minutes to get water and have our orders taken. The menu is not for the faint of heart; each meal is upwards of $50 - plus add ons and beverages. The waitress was kind and engaging and although busy was smiling whole time. Although the place wasn't necessarily dirty, it definitely has seen better days. The dining areas with the hibachi table grills are old and dilapidated. The cooktops in many cases are distorted and quite aged. First the "experience". It's all about the showmanship of the chef as he makes your food. The routine is the same at every station by every chef. It is entertaining and engaging. Yes kids love it. They try to say funny things, but you can't hear it because it's so damn loud. As far as the food goes, it has potential to be delicious. But then again, if you add a slab of butter and douse everything in salt and pepper - everything has a certain flavor to it. Again, I knew this going into it. So it shouldn't be a shock. But I just sit here after the dining experience and wonder how much more delicious it would be if the food was created in any more reasonable manner? You really don't need a half cup of butter on a filet mignon. Nor do you need 3 tablespoons of salt. The steak itself tastes just fine when properly prepared. The chicken fried rice is delicious, although I would hold back on the soy sauce a little bit. The vegetable vegetables - zucchini and onions - same thing. Salt, pepper, garlic butter, sesame seeds, and tons of soy sauce. Safe to say, I am detoxing the salt today! I could get into more food details, but frankly it's not about the food here. The experience was chaotic, noisy, and took an eternity. I wasn't necessarily in a hurry. But I don't like to eat my dinner at 9-10 o'clock typically. I guess people go to Benihana for the spectacle of it all. It's disappointing. I would enjoy a hibachi grill cooking experience where the food was a tad healthier and delicious, the energy was more calm, I didn't feel like I was at a train station, and my time was respected. I may actually pay a little more for that. Instead, it's a low class spectacle masking itself in a pretender aura of being something next level.

    worst onion tower ever
    Yan L.

    This place was horrible. Spent over three hours here because it took over 30 minutes to get seated WITH reservations and then even longer to get the food. Not only that but we paid over $120 for inedible "A5 wagyu" + drinks, which everyone already knows about Benihanas, but the worst part was the show which is why people actually come here to suffer through the low quality meat. We had absolutely no enthusiasm or energy from our chef. And there were no tricks or interactions for the table other than a measly volcano onion tower, which only had four layers to it. And then set a little on fire like the most pathetic trick that they can get away with. The decor is tacky, the chef had a dirty apron on that looked like he was wearing it for a week, and the service is very, very, slow. Actually got food poisoning right as I came home from it and shat myself for 45 minutes. The A5 wagyu was all fat and no meat, also poorly cooked. They really push the fried rice on you (even when you ask for white) so they can up charge you $7

    Christiane F.

    We stopped at Benihana for an early dinner on a Saturday at 4:30pm. The place wasn't too crowded which was great. There was only two of us but we had a good time. I do think Benihana is more suited for big groups, your experience can differ depending on who's at your table. The food was good, not amazing but good. Our chef was amazing, was very interactive and happily answered questions. It was great watching him cook. Overall good experience, would return with a group.

    Maria Z.

    Really disappointed in this restaurant. Everytime I come I have to wait almost 2 hours. Today I made a reservation at 8 and it was 9:30 and they still haven't cooked anything. They gave us sushie for the delay but are you serious ? 1 hour and half and still nothing.? I left I was super upset about this. I have a baby and he was not having it. I don't recommend it. 3 times they do this. I'm so upset. Now I have to get food a

    HIBACHI CHICKEN
    Andrew M.

    Benihana is straight nostalgia for me now. It was a place I grew up going to for very special occasions. Though I don't go as often now their food is still just as good as I remember. It's hard finding a chain that's been around for a long time to still have great food and great service at that. If pricing wasn't as high as it is I think I would find myself going more.

    Will C.

    This to me is still the BEST Benihana , it just has a different feel to it . The front desk is always friendly, anytime you make a reservation they are on time . The cooks at Benihana SF are always friendly and skilled . I definitely recommend this location if you want the Benihana experience. I only have it 4 stars because sometimes the parking can be a headache , otherwise it's 5 stars food , service and clean .

    BENIHANA TRIO (left) & WAGYU - A5 JAPANESE TOKYO BROIL (5OZ) (right) | IG: @nomwithelaine
    Elaine N.

    I've been wanting to go to this restaurant for awhile now and I finally recently visited it! I went here around 4:11pm on a Sunday and I was surprised by how there wasn't a long wait. Anyways, we were quickly seated with another group of people at the grill area. Everyone's meal comes with soup, salad, fried rice or rice, and vegetables along with their choice of meat they want. We ordered the A5 Japanese Tokyo Broil and also the Benihana Trio for our entree items. Most people at my table ordered the same item, such as the Benihana Trio, but I ordered the A5 Japanese Tokyo Broil from their special menu. Anyways, since I was the only one who ordered from their special menu, I was given a black plate with a leaf. Everyone's entrees came with soup, salad, veggies, fried rice, a shrimp appetizer, and dessert too! That meal was so filling! I'd recommend this place! This place is a fun dining experience! They have a chef cooking everyone's meals in the center and made a show out of it too. Also, all the food tasted good and was filling, BUT the portion size here isn't as large as other teppanyaki type restaurants I've been to.

    Brayan putting on a show!
    Liz B.

    Brayan put on an amazing show tonight! It was such a fantastic dinner!! Food was so good!

    LAND 'N SEA
    Franchesca L.

    We walked into Benihana on a Thursday night around 6:30pm and we were seated right away. When we walked in, our server was already introducing their new Wagyu options to the others at our table. When it came time to order, the restaurant was so loud that I couldn't even hear our server. I would say that the service was not amazing the whole night. Our chef was great and it was only his fourth week working there. I could tell he was trying his best. However, our server paid minimal attention to us and seemed annoyed the whole night. When she came over to ask others for their dessert preferences, I asked if I could order after we finished our meal. She then told us our meal didn't come with dessert anyways, which was not the point. She then checked and realized our meals did come with dessert and brought over our ice cream before we were done with the man course. Of course, the ice cream melted. Overall, the food was ok, but definitely overpriced. The filet mignon quality was average. The chicken fried rice barely had any chicken and it was a $9 add on. I definitely wouldn't recommend going for dinner, but they did have some specials that seemed like a better deal if you want to sit at the bar. Maybe that would be better.

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    Benihana - San Francisco Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Benihana - San Francisco

    Is there a hotel or motel next to Benihana?

    I believe there's something close Kabuki on Post St… 

    What's the max amount of people at a table? I have a reservation for 10.

    There are typically 8 seats at one table, but I believe they can fit up to 10

    Do you need a vaccination card to eat here?

    No, you don't need a vaccination card.

    Are they cooking in front of us again?

    Yes. I was there just last Monday. Chef was wearing mask

    Are they actually that strict on the dress code? Want to come here with friends for dinner but saying no spaghetti straps seems excessive? It's like a junior high dress code.

    You can wear whatever you want :) the only rule is "no shoes, no shirt, no service"

    How many people can they sit max to a table?

    Had a birthday dinner tonight and we were able to sit 10

    Is Benihana open for in house dining now?

    Yes

    I have a birthday coupon. I got an email saying that it is now valid for take out orders. Can you confirm if it is valid for take out orders on ANY day or just Monday-Thursday?

    Do I get any free dinner on birthday?

    You do! Just sign up for their rewards program before your birthday and then you will get a coupon for free $30 for your dinner. You just have to come with someone who will buy a dinner as well. You can use it in your birthday month, but I think… 

    Is the onion soup vegetarian or does it have a chicken broth base?

    Chicken broth.

    Why my steak was over cooked? N why our waitress ask for more tips??

    You know what? Yes they cook it in front of you. But they also have it written down! And you're there to enjoy your meal and watch the show! Also...how TF are you supposed to know exactly what steak is yours!? Don't be as$h0les people! Come TF… 

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    Marufuku Ramen - San Francisco - MARUFUKU RAMEN PROUDLY SERVES THE AUTHENTIC HAKATA-STYLE TONKOTSU RAMEN--A RICH AND MILKY, PREMIUM TONKOTSU BROTH COOKED FOR OVER 20 HOURS.

    Marufuku Ramen - San Francisco

    4.5(6.1k reviews)
    0.1 miLower Pacific Heights, Japantown
    $$
    Happy hour specials
    Kid friendly

    Marufuku Ramen was an absolute breath of fresh air. I put my name down on their waitlist and spent…read morethe wait browsing the mall instead of standing outside in the heat, such a simple, thoughtful system that makes the whole experience smoother and more enjoyable. When my table was ready, I walked right in with zero stress. The staff were warm, attentive, and genuinely welcoming from the moment I sat down. The food was amazing. The ramen was rich and flavorful, the toppings were perfect, and everything came out beautifully prepared. The space itself is well put together: clean, stylish, and comfortable, making it a genuinely nice establishment to relax and enjoy a meal. Marufuku gets every detail right, and it shows. Five stars all the way.

    So the day starts wrapped in a soft, silvery fog, locally called Karl, that blankets San Francisco…read moreas the night cools. The air is damp, temperatures are hovering in the 50s, and Karl the Fog clings to the Golden Gate Bridge and waterfront, creating a misty, almost ethereal scene...And that, ladies and gentlemen, is a SIGN FOR RAMEN. Where else? Marufuku Ramen - San Francisco in Japantown for some authentic Hakata-style Tonkotsu ramen. Because when San Francisco decides to turn a summer evening into a refrigerated fog chamber, you don't argue with Mother Nature. You order soup. And not just any soup. RAMEN. We ordered the Hakata Tonkotsu DX, and from the moment that bowl arrived, I knew the evening was going to end well. The broth was rich, deeply simmered, creamy, savory, and incredibly comforting...the kind of broth that seems to have one job in life...Make you forget that you're cold. Mission accomplished. Then came the supporting cast...Seasoned Soft-Boiled Egg, perfectly tender and adding another layer of richness. Green Onions bringing freshness and a little aromatic bite. Kikurage Mushrooms adding that wonderful chewy, slightly crunchy texture. Bean Sprouts providing a crisp counterpoint to all that luxurious broth. And then...Buta Kakuni aka braised thick pork belly. Now we're talking. Tender, succulent, deeply flavored pork belly that practically surrendered to the chopsticks. Rich without being overwhelming, it added that slow-braised goodness that makes you suddenly question why all pork belly isn't served this way. Then came corn for little bursts of sweetness and nori seaweed for that subtle oceanic umami. Everything had a purpose. Everything had a place. And everything somehow ended up in my belly. This wasn't simply ramen...this was soul-soothing culinary therapy. The kind of meal that melts away the evening San Francisco chill one slurp at a time. But apparently ramen wasn't enough...because we also ordered the Chicken Karaage. And OH BOY... That golden-brown, ultra-crispy exterior gives way to tender, juicy, deeply flavored chicken inside, creating that beautiful combination of crunch and tenderness that is both satisfying and dangerously addictive. One piece becomes another. Then another and suddenly you're negotiating with yourself. "I should probably save some for later", however, your hand reaches for another piece. Apparently, self-control was not invited to dinner. The combination was perfect. Hot ramen. Crispy chicken. Rich broth. Tender pork belly. Crunchy vegetables. And Karl the Fog doing his best impression of a giant refrigerator outside. This is where I started thinking about Japanese minimalism. It reflects ideas of discipline, respect, mindfulness, simplicity, and harmony, with a deep connection to nature and tradition. Marufuku Ramen hits on all points. The ingredients are thoughtfully composed. The textures have purpose. The flavors are balanced. Nothing feels unnecessary. Nothing feels like it's trying too hard. It's simply a beautiful bowl of ramen and some seriously good karaage doing exactly what they were meant to do. And perhaps that's the beauty of it. In a city where everything seems to move at 100 miles an hour, you sit down with a bowl of ramen, pick up your chopsticks, take that first sip of broth... And for a few minutes...You slow down. Karl can wait. The Golden Gate Bridge can wait. The rest of San Francisco can wait. Dinner comes first. Overall: 5 stars. The Hakata Tonkotsu DX was rich, savory, comforting, and loaded with wonderful textures. The Buta Kakuni was tender and deeply satisfying, while the seasoned egg, kikurage mushrooms, bean sprouts, green onions, corn, and nori created a beautifully balanced bowl. And the Chicken Karaage? Crispy. Juicy. Flavorful. Basically...fried chicken therapy with a Japanese passport. Come hungry...and Go Big!!!

    Photos
    Marufuku Ramen - San Francisco - "HAKATA TONKOTSU DX" Hakata Style Ramen with Rich Pork Broth
 Regular toppings (chashu pork (simmered pork belly), seasoned soft boiled eg

    "HAKATA TONKOTSU DX" Hakata Style Ramen with Rich Pork Broth Regular toppings (chashu pork (simmered pork belly), seasoned soft boiled eg

    Marufuku Ramen - San Francisco
    Marufuku Ramen - San Francisco - VEGETABLE RAMEN,CHICKEN PAITAN,HAKATA TONKOTSU DX

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    VEGETABLE RAMEN,CHICKEN PAITAN,HAKATA TONKOTSU DX

    Super Pan - 16. Super Steak Rib Eye

    Super Pan

    4.0(445 reviews)
    2.5 miInner Richmond
    $$

    I came here because my friend was really in the mood for omelette rice, and this was the only place…read morein SF on Yelp that showed they had this. The service was good, and the ambiance seemed to be well put together. My friend said that the omelet rice was good, and I really enjoyed the medicinal hot pot that they served. The lamb, the main protein, was well sliced, and the hot pot had a good amount of veggies

    Amazing service. Made sure everyone was taken care of. Whatever we needed we just asked. I got the…read morechicken wings Thai style but made it with sweet chili sauce because I didn't want spice. It's not fried chicken but it's still good! The kimchi beef with curry on the side delicious Make sure you cook the meat fast lol Kimchi I heated it up and it was great with the rice and beef. Good portion of meat and rice and kimchi you won't go hungry I ordered organic black tea with salted crema. Not sure if it was my favorite. I asked for 75 percent sugar and when I drank it it was sweet enough in the sense it is between two categories. It would be too sweet in the Chinese asian palate but just a hint of sweetness in the American standard. Also, I don't know what type of crema sugar they use but it might have something to do with tropical or coconut type sugar? Because the tea itself is only mildly flavored bitterness if it was tea on the regular right? Idk the tropical or crema flavored taste overpowered the tea flavor. Ambiance no frills only a few tables and it was not busy on Monday lunch time so no worries on not having a table to sit in. Again. The gentleman that was there was super helpful and made sure we had everything we needed. The food was good. The drink itself has enough sweetness that I was good with. I go for the more sweeter side of things. I appreciate the hospitality!

    Photos
    Super Pan - Indoor ambiance

    Indoor ambiance

    Super Pan - Appetizer - complimentary

    Appetizer - complimentary

    Super Pan - 16. Super Steak Rib Eye /comes sizzling on the HOT plate.

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    16. Super Steak Rib Eye /comes sizzling on the HOT plate.

    On the Bridge - Pork cutlet with curry and rice

    On the Bridge

    3.4(1.4k reviews)
    0.0 miJapantown, Lower Pacific Heights
    $$

    This place is literally on the bridge, connecting the Japantown shopping centers. So it's pretty…read moresmall and narrow. Not really accessible if you have a wheelchair. It was kind of difficult already with my husbands crutches. A wheelchair could be possible if they sit you at the very front entrance. We wanted to go because they have napolitan and we were very happy that we went. The staff were nice. They keep to themselves and check in on you just enough. There's anime on the shelves if you want to read and relax. Love that they had a warning that some of them may not be suitable for kids. They don't split bills, so heads up if you're going with multiple people. Our boys really liked their curry and katsu. They were able to make it not really spicy and it was just right for them. Napolitan was so good. The serving size was just right. At first I thought it might be too big, but because it was so good, I scarfed that thing down. This will definitely be our spot to go back to when we're in Japantown.

    Overall, this is a decent restaurant. One of its biggest selling points is its location on the…read morebridge in Japantown, which offers a unique dining experience. The menu leans more toward Western-style Japanese cuisine, with a large selection of pasta dishes as well as a few rice bowls. I ordered the omurice, oyako don, and a pasta dish. Unfortunately, they had sold out of pasta, so they substituted soba noodles instead. The prices are a bit on the expensive side, but the portions are generous, especially when it comes to the amount of meat, so it still feels like good value. That said, I found the chicken to be a little tough. On the bright side, the takoyaki pancake was surprisingly good. Although the restaurant is somewhat pricey overall, the ingredients are generous and satisfying. My only real complaint is that it's almost impossible to find a server whenever you need one. 中規中矩的餐廳,在日本城的橋上是一個很不錯的賣點,食物比較偏向歐美風格的日本食物,很多義大利麵的選擇,還有些丼飯的選擇。我點了蛋包飯、Oyako Don、義大利麵,不過麵都賣完了,他們用蕎麥麵給我做。價格感覺有點偏貴,不過肉都放很多,很實惠,但是雞肉偏硬。另外,它的章魚燒餅還不錯。儘管整體價格偏貴,但是食料挺紮實的。唯一的缺點是永遠找不到服務員。

    Photos
    On the Bridge - 03.02.24 entrance to restaurant located on the West Mall

    03.02.24 entrance to restaurant located on the West Mall

    On the Bridge - Japanese Seafood Spaghetti

    Japanese Seafood Spaghetti

    On the Bridge - Menchi Katsu with tonkatsu sauce

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    Menchi Katsu with tonkatsu sauce

    Kippu Japanese Cuisine - Sushi Combination A @whaevaeats

    Kippu Japanese Cuisine

    3.1(545 reviews)
    0.1 miJapantown, Lower Pacific Heights
    $$

    In the search for sushi there are many places and almost in any neighborhood to grab a sushi roll…read morein the city of San Francisco. In Japantown there are lots of restaurants offering sushi rolls. I been fortunate to try the majority of the different restaurants in Japantown serving sushi. There is one place I really have procrastinated to go to because I had my regular spots in Japantown and I didn't want gamble on something new to me which may not be worth it. So I went to Kippu and I gave it a whirl. Walking on Post street and Buchanan I landed at Kippu. Inside there is plenty of seating and a sushi bar. The menu has all types of Japanese cuisine with Bento Boxes , Donburi, Udon, and Sashimi. They even have the cone hand rolls with salmon. I came here for the sushi rolls with names like the Cherry blossom, Chuck Norris roll, AI roll, Titanic roll and Kings ( who says there was no kings?). I got the rainbow roll and it was delicious and it had good flavor . I also got the dragon roll and it was tasty. This is a good spot to dine if are not entering the Japan Center and are on Buchanan street side of Japantown. Come take a stroll on the streets Japantown to Kippu and get some chicken "teriyaki "and try some "Saba Shioyaki"and share some "Sukiyaki"and then go after to the Japan Center and get the different flavors of " Pocky" Go to Kippu for cuisine of the land of the rising sun before Spring is "gone "with different Japanese dishes like Donburi "Niku Don" and "Nabeyaki Udon" there are so many different plates and bowls to try for the cool" Don Juan"

    Came here with friends on a Saturday right when dinner time hours came. We were seated quickly…read more Server gave us menus. Didn't give us enough time to review and order. We asked for more time and soon after, the server came again. They constantly gave and finally they just stood there until we ordered something. Later when we were nearing the end of finishing, they brought our receipt without checking if we needed anything else. Felt extremely rushed. It wasn't even busy for them to rush us out in that way. Food wise- it was decent and got full with my bento box. Would I come again? Nope.

    Photos
    Kippu Japanese Cuisine - This is what is looks like from outside

    This is what is looks like from outside

    Kippu Japanese Cuisine - 30. Mendocino Roll

    30. Mendocino Roll

    Kippu Japanese Cuisine - Special Boat Set B

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    Special Boat Set B

    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

    3.8(398 reviews)
    1.5 miSoMa
    $$$

    As a self identifying Gyu-Kaku enthusiast, this is the most tasty one out of the ones I've been to…read morein Cupertino and San Mateo. I came on Labor day 9/7 around 6PM and they had seats for us without needing a reservation. Service was quick, but you can tell the waiters were busy since they were running around. Parking wasn't too bad and I found one in front of the restaurant. They offer AYCE starting at $58 and are one of the few Gyu-Kaku places to do so! I ordered a Value meal and a hangar steak, and I swear the meat just tastes...better. The portions are all the same, but our grill's flames were on high and cooked everything really fast. Being a hungry diner, I'm glad I didn't have to wait 2-3 minutes for a piece of meat to cook, and instead it was more like 1min. The meats are tender and juicy, and the high heat only added to the sear and "fire" taste. I guess my one complaint would be that the self serve sauce bottles were a little clogged and you really had to shake them. This place is a little different from my other Gyu-Kaku experiences in that it feels more upscale, and that they don't oil up the grill before you start cooking. I believe these grills are stainless steel compared to your other aluminum ones since the table fire was already on and the grill already hot when I got there and they never offered a grill change (we didn't really need one anyways). This is probably why I'll only be going to this one from now on!

    Food: 5/10 Service: 5/10…read more The food was pretty mid and the servers were nice but slow. It took forever for the food to come out. We only had 90 minutes to eat, but because everything came out so slowly, we were only able to order around 2-3 rounds. It was also hard to get a server whenever we needed something. The prices were already pretty high, and on top of that, they charged an SF Mandate fee, which honestly didn't make sense to me. I'm already paying for the food, tax, and then an additional fee related to employee benefits/healthcare? If the food was better, came out faster, and the service was better, I honestly wouldn't complain about the price. But for the experience we had, I don't think it was worth the price at all.

    Photos
    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ
    Gyu-Kaku Japanese BBQ

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    The Public Izakaya - Classic Chirashi

    The Public Izakaya

    4.2(749 reviews)
    0.9 miLower Nob Hill
    $$

    Love this spot for all the things! High quality food and a nice vibe, two of my favorite attributes…read moreof a five star restaurant. Everything I have had here has been delicious. Current favs: 1) beef bulgogi- super generous portion and great flavor. Make sure to soak up all that sauce! 2) karage & gyoza: I love both these items for a starter and hate choosing. This combo gives a little bit of each and I appreciate it. Sauce has a little kick and is delightful. 3) wagyu and pineapple skewers- just.say.yes! 4) beans with wok you sauce. More please! The Kyoto matcha beer has a great flavor and is a nice treat. Have you been? If not, slide on down to The Public Izakaya and put your name on the sign in sheet. Wait patiently and enjoy a fantastic meal!

    * Who: friend, partner, & I * What: late night dinner…read more* When: Saturday * Why: Pride weekend & needed to refuel after the night * Space/Decor: decent sized & more rectangular. Decor was cute & helped with the vibe w/o being too much. This would be a cute date spot or grabbing food to go. * Service: was OK/decent. My 1/2 challenge was the wait was really long & they didn't really communicate on actual wait time. The 2/2 challenge was at the end they also took a long time to check on us & give us the check. * Food: I don't mean to be a broken record but it was also OK haha. Like the tempura was crispy-ish. The sausage didn't really have a flavor. My partner did say the udon hit the spot ‍ * Final Thoughts: cute & busy Izakaya that can work for a romantic date or meet-up with friends, with a standard menu & to be expected flavor. I'd recommend & would return, though if it was between here or exploring a different spot, I'd go with explore. * Final Grade: B+ or 8.5/10

    Photos
    The Public Izakaya - Halloween celebration

    Halloween celebration

    The Public Izakaya - Blistered Shishito

    Blistered Shishito

    The Public Izakaya - Chicken thigh skewers, chicken skin skewers

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    Chicken thigh skewers, chicken skin skewers

    Sanraku

    Sanraku

    3.9(2k reviews)
    1.0 miLower Nob Hill
    $$

    the reviews about the food brought me to Sanraku, But what…read moremade me love eating there was the service. A+

    According to what I wrote on Yelp, I had a decent meal at their sister restaurant in the Metreon…read morewell before it shuttered, like over a decade ago. My meal apparently wasn't memorable enough to motivate me to visit this location, that is, until quite recently. I decided to have lunch here after a nearby medical appointment. It wasn't crowded at all. Only a couple of solo diners and a loud senior couple. I wasn't in a sushi mood and thought I'd go healthy with the saba shioyaki. However, at the last minute, I went with the $19 Ika Yaki, a whole BBQ squid sliced and saturated in teriyaki sauce with a dab of shichimi mayo (Photo 8). The portion was generous and the texture was firm with enough elasticity. Unfortunately the teriyaki sauce did nothing to enhance the dish, and I wished they served it on the side. I also ordered the $8 Agedashi Tofu, usually a foolproof appetizer for me. It certainly looked right (Photo 9), but I was unpleasantly surprised how tongue-burning hot it was. The cubes of tofu must've just come right out of the deep fryer. The dashi broth helped calm the heat down but a little too late. I'm sure glad I sprung for the $3 bowl of Rice (Photo 10). That calmed what was left of my tongue down. FOOD - 3 stars...execution errors mar the dishes here AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...spacious enough since it was empty, sushi bar seating was available SERVICE - 3.5 stars...attentive enough TOTAL - 3 stars...not my favorite Japanese spot RELATED - Exploring the Tenderloin? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/hu44dWMabs

    Photos
    Sanraku
    Sanraku
    Sanraku

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    Benihana - San Francisco - teppanyaki - Updated September 2026

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