Cancel

Open app

Search

Common Sage

3.9 (318 reviews)
Open 10:00 am - 9:00 pm

Order Common Sage Takeout or Delivery

Common Sage Photos

Business Info

COMMON SAGE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Casual
Moderate noise
Outdoor seating

You might also consider

More like Common Sage

Recommended Reviews - Common Sage

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Vegan Ramen
Ruby R.

The service was fast but the food wasn't too impressive especially for the high price point. It's really cool they have a vegan Ramen option but they barely added veggies other than corn on top so really it felt like I was eating mostly plain noodles. I would have enjoyed it more if it came with more toppings by default given the high price point.

Chili lime shrimp chips, rice crackers with seaweed, takoyaki ball corn puffs
Lizzie S.

Solid caffeinated drinks and I really like their selection of Japanese snacks and cooking ingredients. There's often a group of older people sitting outside. They seem to be big fans and I like how they are regulars! I like grabbing snacks at Common Sage before tennis, after pilates, or before going to a show or game. They have unique items and also pretty good spam musubi and omusubi. I like their matcha, black sesame, hojicha, and Thai iced tea drinks! Service can be hit or miss.

Chashu Pork Omusubi and Spicy Tuna rice ball
Fiona T.

This is a convenient store with a tiny kitchen. I grabbed a $1.99 Konjac Jelly Yuzu. It was good. At the counter, I ordered a $4.75 Chashu Pork Omusubi and $4.45 Spicy Tuna. The chashu pork omusubi was really good! Freshly made, nice and hot, and super flavorful.

Menu
Stephanie C.

Came in after my brother sent me a link about this establishment. I lived in Honolulu for 35 years and moved back to the city in 2011. I ordered their specials and ramen. I also came back to buy some take home food items. Service is excellent and friendly. Ambiance had a vintage feeling. Tables for those that want to eat their ramen inside! Support this small business'

Salmon Omusubi Chashu Pork Omusubi
Vira P.

Yelp had an Elite event here that I sadly didn't get into. But I pass by Common Sage often and I decided to check it out when my parents were visiting. My dad ordered the full-sized ramen while my mom and I got the combo (half ramen, one onigiri of your choice). The broth is so comforting! It had deep umami and pork flavor. And splurge a little to get the egg to add to the richness of the broth. You won't regret it! The woman who took our order was the owner and she described her process on making the broth. It truly is a labor of love, which is why it's so good! The onigiri is large and pretty good. My mom got the salmon and I got the spicy tuna. They might have teriyaki sauce packets for the salmon if you want extra flavor. The spicy tuna wasn't too spicy, but still very flavorful. There's only outdoor seating, and not much of it. I think there's only 5 tables. I notice locals taking a table or two, but otherwise turnaround time is quick. There's more foot traffic on Polk, so if you want to eat with a little bit of peace, try to get a table on the Sacramento side. It's also an Asian grocery store carrying Korean and Japanese products. Common Sage is a mom-and-pop shop that provides comforting dishes and has a hometown feel. Definitely check it out and support local!

snacks
Jazlene T.

Hidden gem if you know you know, it's pretty small but they have a wide variety of options from drinks, frozen foods, instant ramen, condiments, and candy. They have a hot bar menu with omusubis, ramen, sandwiches, rice dishes, and cafe items. The lady at the counter was lowkey rude or just seemed to hate her job lol. Minus 2 stars for the service. Cash is recommended as there's a $5 minimum spend on cards. I got the spicy tuna omusubi and passion fruit iced tea, grabbed a chocolate snack. My friends got the chashu pork omusubi, spam musubi, and tuna omusubi. They favored the tuna omusubi. Spam musubi was soggy and the sauce / flavor could've been better. Overall, I'd come here on a budget or if I'm craving some Japanese snacks. Next time, I'll try the matcha and ramen. It's like a Japanese convenience store on Polk.

Judy L.

Stopped by here for a quick bite and really enjoyed the vibe and omusubi I ended up ordering. I ordered the salmon and chashu pork. They were both good but I think I enjoyed the chashu more! I do wish there was a bit more meat compared to rice ratio though! I like that there were instructions on the omusubi wrapper to inform us on how to successfully unwrap the seaweed portion to combine with the rice ball portion. The omusubi was also all made fresh and so it came out nice and warm! Staff was very nice and the store was very clean. Besides the freshly prepared food, there was also a supermarket area where you can find Japanese snacks and food items in general.

Cookies
JP S.

Natasha is a great host! She recommended options for our first time here from the Auburn (CA) area. The attention to detail and sharing her own experiences and favorites were a welcomed bonus for us as we stood looking at the board.

Omasubi salmon
Denise C.

Superette Japanese Korean with a cafe and food ...ramen meat and omusubi ..called the onigiri omusubi and the catch is u wrap the sushi triangle. .got kimchi ..fun and different ..it's been for about ten years ..the nice lady

Lunch is served! Thai tea and Onigiri
Celeste C.

Nice little Japanese-Korean bodega on Post Street. Grabbed a few salmon onigiri and a Thai tea for lunch. Glad we stumbled upon this place. Will return on my next SF visit.

Saher D.

my friend and I stumbled in while we were shopping nearby into this grocery store. we ended up ordering the spicy tuna omusubi. I will say that this one had more rice than I've head before but it was still really good!

thai tea 5/5!!
Chloe C.

Food - ordered the asian sandwich and a thai tea asian sandiwch - i'd say it was like a 3/5. i don't live too far from the place and by the time I got home, maybe less than 5 minutes, the bread wasn't crispy. the sandwich also came with a lot of sauce, so the bread felt a bit mushy and overall sauce was drippy. thai tea - 5/5 SUPER GOOD! not too sweet and it tasted super creamy. highly recommend! Service - quick and fast. Walked in, ordered, food was ready in about under 10 minutes. Ambiance - cute little spot. Kinda reminds me of a convenience store because they also sell supermarket stuff but japanese themed.

My Haul

See all

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 15
Thanks 4
Love this 16
Oh no 0
Photo of Ruby R.
233
7
10

17 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Vira P.
495
1642
2154

1 year ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 2
Love this 4
Oh no 2

4 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

13 days ago

great affordable yummy food! the salmon omusubi is the best. good matcha too. 10/10 neighborhood spot.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 2

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of JP S.
0
26
98

4 months ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 2
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Just stopped by for the first time & got a flat white. Very good strong flavor. Friendly customer service. Would go back again.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Denise C.
1623
3308
9436

1 year ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 month ago

The food was mediocre for a really high price and the environment was overall depressing.

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

3 years ago

Helpful 9
Thanks 1
Love this 3
Oh no 1
Photo of John D.
65
45
55

8 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 1
Love this 5
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Jun I.
0
26
2

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 1

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Xiu W.
94
63
126

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 2
Photo of S. D.
1
194
11

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Ayla R.
89
38
15

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

Page 1 of 8

Common Sage Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Common Sage

Do you serve chicken broth?

Our miso broth is made of pork, chicken and flying fish. Our veggie broth is made of shoyu and beans

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

You might also consider

Taishoken San Francisco

Taishoken San Francisco

4.5
(623 reviews)
2.0 mi
$$
Happy hour specials
Vegetarian friendly

Earlier today my husband and I came for dinner. About 30 minutes in, while we were enjoying the…read moredelicious food, he had what I thought was a seizure. He was unconscious, shaking, thrashing, sweating and groaning. The staff immediately came to my side (as well as customers) to help me. They called 911 at my request, and once the EMTs arrived they were helpful and truly concerned. Not just trying to get us out of the way. Shaking, I tried to hand over my credit card while the EMTs took my husband on a stretcher. The manager said "No, no.. it's fine, it's fine," with the kindest look in his eye. This would have been our third visit because the food is sooooo good. But now I'm basically going to be their cheerleader to anyone who will listen. I could not be more grateful for their grace and aid while I was in near hysteria. Kindness still exists. And so does genuinely good food. PS: it turned out to be dehydration, but it was scary AF, kids. Drink. Your. Water.

I've tried a different location before (San Mateo) for their well known dipping ramen but this time…read moreI wanted to give their normal ramen a try. The ambiance is extremely loud in there and the tables are very close together. So if you're looking for a quiet, less crammed space, this isn't it. The actual restaurant looks very nice, but not sure why the bar seats face a storage area with clear windows. As for the food, the calamari was delicious, they give you whole pieces of little squid. The ramen broth is very hearty and bold. When I was halfway through, it became a little too much. I do wish you're able to pick the thickness of noodles. I didn't like the thin noodles with the ramen. It actually reminded me of instant ramen. But to each their own with noodle thickness. I just wish there were options. I almost wish there was something else in the ramen to balance out the flavor besides more bold flavors from the pork and egg. It does the job but wasn't a huge wow factor. As for the service, they are pretty attentive. I didn't like how one of the servers kept hovering around the entire time grabbing anything they could off the table. The second we took off the wrappers of the chopsticks, they grabbed it. Usually I like the table cleared out to make space but it was the constant hovering that was awkward.

Photos
Noodle
Noodle
Fried Cauliflower   Saikyo miso glaze with mala chili sauce.
Fried Cauliflower Saikyo miso glaze with mala chili sauce.
Sake Flights

See all

Sake Flights
HINODEYA Ramen Japantown

HINODEYA Ramen Japantown

4.2
(2.3k reviews)
0.6 mi
$$

We are writing to express our strong appreciation for the exceptional Umami Creamy Tan-Tan-Men soup…read moreand to respectfully request its permanent return to the menu. This dish stands out as one of the most memorable and flavorful offerings we have experienced. The rich, creamy broth delivers a perfectly balanced umami depth, harmoniously combined with subtle heat and aromatic spices that create an indulgent yet refined dining experience. Both my partner and I were thoroughly impressed by its complexity and comforting warmth, and we have continued to crave it long after the winter season. The Umami Creamy Tan-Tan-Men soup represents a true highlight of your culinary repertoire. We believe it deserves a lasting place on the regular menu, where it can be enjoyed year-round by loyal patrons and new guests alike. Its removal has left a noticeable gap, and we are confident that reinstating it as a signature item would be met with great enthusiasm. Thank you for creating such an outstanding dish. We eagerly await its return and look forward to ordering it on our next visit.

Truly stellar ramen at Hinodeya!…read more A few friends and I were in San Francisco for the day are were carving ramen after a morning of strolling around. We were recommended a spot in the Japantown Center Mall, but settled on Hinodeya after checking Yelp. It turned out to be a great choice. We were greeted upon entering the restaurant and someone rang what to believe to be a gong?! It was a very fun addition to our experience. We were shown to a table and started browsing the menu. The interior was very clean and neat. There are plenty of options, including some for vegetarians/vegans. My two vegetarian friends ordered both of the vegan/vegetarian ramen options and were raving about them. I ordered the Hinodeya (house) ramen and it was delicious. The broth was so flavorful and the noodles were perfect. The table is set with crispy garlic or onions (can't remember) and a chili blend which were yum on top of the ramen. My friends ordered the spicy miso ramen and was satisfied despite it not being very spicy. We had great service the entire time and the prices were very reasonable. Hinodeya is a gem I will be revising on future trips to San Francisco!

Photos
Inside restaurant
Inside restaurant
Spicy Miso Ramen
Spicy Miso Ramen
Chicken Karaage and Green Gyoza

See all

Chicken Karaage and Green Gyoza
Ushi Taro Ramen

Ushi Taro Ramen

4.4
(148 reviews)
1.3 mi
$$
Locally owned & operated
LGBTQ friendly

Me and my bf found this spot when we were doing a day trip to SF from LA. It was pretty cold gloomy…read moreday so we decided to have lunch here with something warm and our favorite which is Ramen. It was our first time and we definitely chose the right spot for lunch. The inside is very cozy and warm. We were seated by the corner facing the street which kind of adds to the vibe and seeing the cloudy weather was a perfect day to eat ramen. Their ramen is so good, I believe they put truffles on it, and I love me some truffles. Even my bf who loves ramen and usually has high standards for it loved it. We both rated this spot a 9/10 from our opinion. Oh and their mushroom appetizer was good. I forgot the name but we were picking on that and finished it within minutes.

Came here on a Friday night. It's a small shop with limited seating so as a party of 4 it took some…read moretime to get seated. It's also only one person serving and hostess-ing and we could tell she was trying her best. We were sitting at the outside facing bar seats at first and appreciate the hostess for re-seating us at a table where we could actually talk to each other. It was my first time and I decided to try the hiyashi chuka as ramen is usually a bit too heavy and salty for me. The classic hiyashi chuka sauce is refreshing and sesame based. I thought it would be the classic sauce, but whatever they had tasted basically like soy sauce and water. I was not a fan, and wish they called it something else so I would not have confused it with the classic hiyashi chuka flavor. We also got the mushroom tempura to share. These were super good!! Stick to the classics! Hope to be back to try their better stuff.

Photos
Ushi Taro Ramen
Ushi Taro Ramen
Ushi Taro Ramen

See all

Ippudo San Francisco

Ippudo San Francisco

3.8
(1.6k reviews)
1.0 mi
$$

I dropped in here for lunch right before I had a flight to catch, and to be honest, I've already…read moredecided I'm coming back. Because I was in a rush, speed was everything, and they absolutely delivered - my ramen was hot and ready on the table within 5 minutes of ordering! The service was incredibly fast, and the staff was amazing throughout. Beyond the efficiency, the food itself tasted wonderful. The restaurant's location is excellent, and the interior is beautifully planned and decorated, giving it a really nice vibe. As a huge plus, they have multiple vegetarian options on the menu. This makes it an ideal spot for groups where some people want vegetarian dishes and others want non-veg options. If you need a delicious, top-tier bowl of ramen - even on a tight schedule - this is the place to go.

Came here about 45 minutes before closing and was seated within 5 minutes. I ordered a beer, the…read moreAkamaru Modern, and a side of corn. The beer was cold and crisp, and the corn was super tasty--I loved the Japanese-style seasoning on it. I don't know if it was just the long day of traveling, but the ramen really slapped. The broth was rich without being too heavy, and the meat was tender and delicious. Some ramen bowls can feel a little too rich for me, but I finished this entire bowl in 10 minutes. Loved this chain, solid location, and I'd definitely come again.

Photos
Inside. Dining room. Busy on a Sunday early afternoon.
Inside. Dining room. Busy on a Sunday early afternoon.
NIRVANA KARAKA (DD)
NIRVANA KARAKA (DD)
French fries

See all

French fries
Taniku Izakaya

Taniku Izakaya

4.7
(345 reviews)
0.4 mi
$$

Taniku Izakaya might be one of the best Japanese spots I've tried in the US. Full stop. My friend…read morewas in town and had heard about this place so naturally we go check them out. They allegedly have a few limited reservation slots but a majority of their service is first come first serve. You stand in line and wait. I would not recommend coming in large groups. In fact, I'd go as far as to say groups larger than 4 are basically contraindicated. The space inside is quite tight, think narrow, barstool-height seating and tiny tables. When my friend and I were seated after about a 40 min wait, we had spent so much time perusing the menu that we basically knew what we were going to get. Service was really kind and quick. My thoughts on the food below: Kabocha croquet: these were freshly fried and served PIPING hot. The perfectly crisp exterior and soft, non mushy interior were just the perfect textures contrasted against each other. The sweetness of the pumpkin meant that the vinegar heavy house dipping sauce was a requirement not a suggestion. The side salad also provided some freshness with each bite, not that the croquets were too greasy at all! They were well drained so just the crunch remained without the oil. Tori Tsukune: these Japanese chicken meatball skewers were HUGE and DELICIOUS. Perfectly grilled with a charred taste, relentlessly tender inside. Dipped in the accompanying soy sauce and egg yolk mixture it was simply heavenly. The yolk added a mild richness to each bite. Hotate carpaccio: this was the most unique take on scallops I've had in a while. The flavors seem strange at first glance (and first taste, if I'm being totally honest), but it took no more than two chews for me to change my tune. First off, the scallops are plump, crisply sweet, and buttery soft in the way that high quality scallops are. Next, the onion and yuzu provide a sharp yet floral aroma to each bite. The floral taste was initially jarring but became addictive. The drizzle of cream sauce on top tempered the sharpness and gave the dish a smooth finish. Truly a memorable scallop dish!! Midori udon: a scallop and pesto stir fry udon dish. This was unexpected combo when I read the menu, but it was so good! The briny and sweet little scallops were cooked to a perfect tender texture and they paired well with the mild, herbaceous pesto. The udon provided the perfect slurp. While I'm more of a soup noodle girl myself, this was an addictive and unique Japanese-Italian fusion! Niku Ramen: Taniku has a lot of inventive ramen offerings but the niku ramen stood out to me. I've had and enjoyed niku udon before, though I usually find the broth to be too sweet. This dish took all the best parts of niku udon - the mountains of tender, marinated beef, the soft boiled egg, the tender onions - and put them into a richer, heartier broth with thin ramen noodles and the outcome was fantastic. One of the most memorable bowls of ramen I've had in a while. The broth was seriously delicious. I'm such a big soup person so I keep coming back to that. It wasn't too sweet or too salty in the way that a lot of noodle soup broths are, but still managed to impart a ton of flavor. The meaty, fishy flavor was so drinkable. For the quality and quantity of food vs the price you pay, I was incredibly impressed by Taniku Izakaya!!!! Just banger after banger after banger. I saw that they have some good happy hour deals as well so I will definitely be coming back for more of their delightful apps and skewers. I cannot recommend this spot enough, there's a reason people queue for it.

We've been here maybe a handful of times at this point - the food is really good, cute cozy spot…read more However now that there is a soy allergy to account for - I can't easily neccessarily revisit my favorite spots. I've been to plenty of Japanese/Ramen spots and I've been running into the issue where I say I have a soy allegry and there is an assumption that I have a gluten issue (I do not have a gluten issue). I noticed yelp said they have soy-free options and thus called on Friday thinking it might be a bad idea as they're usually busy.. It was defintely hard for the person to hear a bit when they picked up. The staff did relay something about gluten free noodles.. Anyways, they said they could swap out any of the soy soups for salt (but soy can encompass a lot of things so I still wasn't feeling super confident but we're going to give it a go). We go and I asked which 4 of the soups I was eyeballing don't have soy - the staff said they can accomodate and replace any of the soy soups with a salt broth. After we ordered, the staff came back and checked in to make sure that my partner also didn't have an allergy. And my dish came out, they told me there was no egg as its marinated in soy - perfect to me. I'm glad that was caught as not every establishments can account for everything. - Now I have a spot to (more safely) eat ramen! - I advise that if you do have an food allergy, do talk to the staff, and address your concerns such as cross contamination etc. I had a great experience, but I do find that because its not so regulated or understood and there is lack of education amongst the food/resturant industry - you always need to advocate for yourself and there is always a risk. I'm very apperciative of the staff here.

Photos
Interior
Interior
Scallop corn chowder - FIRE !
Scallop corn chowder - FIRE !
Calamari

See all

Calamari
HINODEYA Ramen Union Square

HINODEYA Ramen Union Square

4.1
(570 reviews)
0.8 mi
$$

Came for a quick dinner before a block party nearby. It was a weekend day and was seated right…read moreaway. As usual, most ramen spots bring the food really fast. Hinodeya (5/5); Comes with two pieces of chashu. Very solid and delicious

I hopped on the BART and got off at Powell Street. I stopped by Hinodeya Ramen for a Vegan ramen…read morecalled Creamy. It was made so well, with a very flavorful broth. The veggies were endless, making each last sip enjoyable. The place was bustling with workers, but the host seemed a bit brusque. She might need a little training in good manners. Instead of welcoming us, she opened the door for herself without holding it for us, which made us hold our own door. She just left our menu without saying anything and disappeared. She could have asked the next person, who happened to be sitting side by side at a two-person table, if they were free to share. They were already done watching a video together. We had to squeeze in and awkwardly say, "Excuse me," while getting an eye roll. The host could have avoided that awkward situation by letting us know we were using the table next to them. Also, be ready to pay an automatic 5%. Tips start at 20% and go up, so at least 25% is expected. The service was okay, but the food was fantastic. The workers seemed a bit lazy and avoided us until it was time to pay. That's when they suddenly became incredibly helpful. It's surprising how tipping changes their mood so quickly. I can tell because she watches me as I select my tip, and her eyes change.

Photos
Inside
Inside
Crispy Chicken Karaage
Crispy Chicken Karaage
Warm or cold sake at Hinodeya

See all

Warm or cold sake at Hinodeya

Common Sage - beer_and_wine - Updated July 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...