This is the real authentic Japanese ramen, absolutely one of the best things I've EVER put in my mouth. Perfect balance of umami flavor, delicacy of noodles cooked perfectly & the mushrooms just slightly sweet flavor tasted almost like melting candy in your moth. The pops of sweet corn add perfect balance of textures for explosion of flavor. The black sesame latte (no coffee, just steamed soy milk) was sooo creamy and nutty absolute heaven. I want to eat here everyday!! Casual ambiance is just perfect as they have several indoor seats sureounded by journey imported dried treats and definitely this is the spot for rare & local sake selections, anything you could imagine they have here! Very impressed, I want to come here everyday! They deserve 10's Big compliments to the friendly staff and excellent service in helping me make my selection, he politely educated me on the many selections and his recommendations were so on point! Don't wait another day without trying this place!!!! read more

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I come here way too often! They have vegan ramen (just ask for the vegan noodles) and shoyu broth. Other times when I want something quick or on the go, I'll get omusabi (lots of vegan options!). I honestly don't want to think about how many of these I've eaten. Love how healthy and clean the food is - they prioritize quality of ingredients and don't use MSG. Other times I'll go just for their cold brew. It's definitely one of the better ones on Polk. Or I'll stop by to grab some wine. And then I'll circle back for omusabi... read more

Great noodle shop. My daughter loves their food, and now I agree. Good for a quick lunch if you're in the area.

Three words: Come on in! This hidden, not-so-hidden gem is perfect for filling your Japanese food cravings. The ramen/omusubi combo is my favorite and I love the Kimpira omusubi and the Miso ramen. Don't pass up on the garlic and Japanese mix they have on the tables to add to your omusubi! They are incredibly kind here and it's really hard to not buy all the Japanese snacks and beverages in their grocery store! Common Sage is worth making a regularly scheduled visit! read more

Common Sage - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

10/28/15. Lunch Stopped by to grab a sammy. They have daily special like roast turkey, roast chicken, and pork sandwiches, all for just under $7. I opted for the roast chicken, made fresh to order, on a toasty bun with mayo, grilled onions, and rotisserie chicken. It really hits the spot. They serve coffee by Sight Glass and feature local and imported groceries from Asia, predominantly Japan and Korea. They also do made-to-order omusubi (rice balls wrapped with seaweed). The corner neighborhood market is a welcoming addition to the neighborhood. The owner is friendly and is totally there to oversee the operation. read more

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Two things: Ramen + Polk St. I love ramen. I could eat ramen for every meal. Normally I have to make a little trip out of the neighborhood to get a bowl, but I was really happy to see Common Sage has it on the menu. The store has a lot going on, baked goods, fresh made onigiri, Sightglass coffee, and a good selection of imported sake and beer. Looking forward to seeing them grow into the neighborhood! I really enjoyed the cooking style on the chashu pork in my ramen, some restaurants get it a bit too dry and tough. Crowd: Multipurpose, market style with some small stool-paired tables Atmosphere: Getting there, a lot of sweet plants growing in the street-facing windows Try: Miso ramen with extra pork read more

Common Sage - Miso ramen with chashu pork - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

Cute little place for ramen and snacks. You are eating in a grocery store kind of setting so that was interesting. I enjoyed the ramen I got, and I really like ramen in general. A little salty, but I enjoyed the broth. Seems like there are some cool snacks and food in the store as well, but didn't buy it. read more

Common Sage - Ramen - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was on the hunt for new ramen in the area and my journey lead me to Common Sage on a Saturday morning. Stepping in, I wasn't too sure the ramen would be up to par- Common Sage is mostly a small wine and liquor store that specialized in Asian alcohol. There were some deli items and of course, the ramen I was looking for. I ordered up the chashu miso ramen (they only had miso broth) and was pretty surprised. For what it is (an alcohol shop that happened to carry roto chicken, Japanese sandwiches, and ramen), this place wasn't bad! The noodles and chashu were good, but the soup somehow tasted a little burnt. I don't know if I'd come here if I was in the mood for high quality ramen, but it's definitely a place I'll add to my list of restaurants I can step into for a delicious quick bite. And they do take-out ramen too! read more

I've now had ramen here twice. At least in that area at Common Sage, there's not a ton of variety, but the quality is good. All ramen bowls feature a miso broth. Their miso broth is on the rich side, which is fine given the lack of a tonkatsu broth option. There are two variants of the basic ramen: corn and spinach or extra pork. Both are worth trying. The sliced, perfectly roasted garlic in every bowl is a highlight. The cold-brew Sightglass coffee is excellent, even in a neighborhood of cold-brew options spanning most of the local roasters. I would like if they had an option for a soft-boiled egg for the soups. read more

Common Sage - Ramen and cold brew - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

Four stars for this hole in the wall deli/market. Visiting for the day, wanted to try this place for the first time. Being that my friend just rented an apartment literally across the street from this place, we naturally chose to come visit this small and quick place. There were three of us. I ordered the ramen chashu, a friend ordered the miso ramen, and another friend bought the sushi roll that comes in the shape of a triangle (don't remember what it's called). The service was great, and the perk of the store is the hooks installed under the table for eating. Figured out that this hook is for your purse/coat. Thought it was adorable. My only complaint is that the service was slow. Given that the place is really a market, it's expected that the customer service wasn't that great. Nonetheless, I will definitely visit this place the next time I'm in town. read more

Common Sage - chashu ramen - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

Well,Well,Well ,This Delightful and Market is a few blocks from my Home. It used to be another deli,which was ok...But This Establishment Common Sage has the Best Kick Butt Sandwiches I've had in ages.Soooo Good. I had the Asian sandwich. Gourmet quality Pork and killer fresh veggies with a French style devious Bread. THE Guy at the Register was So Nice and super friendly. They have a lot of Amazing Japanese liquors. Huge Killer Saki Selection and Wonderful Beers. One of the best things is,There prices are not Sky high,there drink selection fro. Freezers are WoW,kombucha,coconut waters all kinds of cool fancy drinks.which are priced average for what they are. I'm so happy they opened near me. Thank you Common Sage for the Tasty Sanwich,I'm so Happy Connie read more

Common Sage - Fabulous Asian Sandwich.im stoked - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

I am so fortunate to have this amazing spot in my neighborhood! It's a Japanese/Korean deli, wine shop, and cafe. Terrific bibimbap, omusubi, creative sandwiches, and coffee. Dozens of sakes and beers that you won't find in many places-- it's an adventure and gives me that little fix when I'm really missing Japan. Lots of tasty house-made and imported snacks; and if you feel like making your own treats at home, there's an extensive selection of easy-to-make dishes and hard-to-find seasonings and condiments from both Nihon and Korea. read more

A neighborhood deli that popped up in my old haunts. Lots of floor space that I don't think they are using efficiently (eg fancy cubbies to display single boxes of Ma po tofu mix?), but that's not a problem as a customer so long as the business remains viable! They also stock a decent wine and sake selection, and have a nice coffee bar. I could see it subbing as a cafe for lots of customers. I enjoyed the ramen - miso broth (which I generally feel lacks subtlety) was good and tasty. (Heart of the 4 stars) I was less positive on the mentaiko omusubi...found it pretty light and didn't live up to my expectations (3 stars) Next time I'll try a sandwich. read more

Common Sage - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

I like their pork belly rice balls it's my favorite. Soooo delicious. It's fun to open the rice balls too. If you aren't sure about how to open the wrapper, there's a video of how to open it on the wall of the cafe but also it's on the wrapping paper. It's really idiot proof, or it should be anyway. I've tried all of their ramen except for vegetarian one.. and you can't beat the price either. They have good wine and sake selection as well as little snacks. -I'm not a beer drinker so I'm not really sure about the kind of beer they have. I always find stuff to buy while I'm waiting for my matcha latte(so good)... read more

Common Sage - Sake and wine selection. There's more... wall full of stuff and more. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

Disclosure: this review is only for their rice balls. I was starving before a class at Uforia Studios across the street so I decided to swing by this cute shop for a quick snack. I got two pork belly rice balls which cost $3.50 each. It doesn't sound like it costs much but what I got for over $7 was pretty disappointing. There wasn't a ton of meat and the rice was kind of hard. Proportionally speaking, you're pretty much paying $7 for rice, seaweed, and a tiny bit of meat. The cashier who rung me up was super friendly and nice. It also seems their ramen might be worth trying instead so I might come back....but definitely not for the rice balls. read more

This place was a total surprise - walked in and out several times before actually eating here. Now we're regulars who come in for a weekly dose of ramen. The ramen here is amazing - best broth we've had, excellent noodles. Plus some great cha-syu (pork) floating in it. We usually go with the Common Sage Miso Ramen. It is perfection. (but would be even better if they offered a soy egg with it - hint, hint!) Other delish things here include the lattes, carefully crafted from Sightglass beans, and the brownie, which is filled with pistachios. Amazing. read more

Common Sage - Spinach & corn miso ramen - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Very cool Japanese-run shop that's part boutique grocery store, part lunch spot. I believe they took over the old Blue Fog Market that was in this location and had a similar model. This place is more unique though since they carry some different Japanese sake as well as other Japanese snacks and goodies. Seems like they really put a lot of thought and care into their inventory selection. For lunch, they also have RAMEN and OMUSUBI (aka onigiri or rice balls wrapped in seaweed) in addition to other sandwiches and pastries. Both were very authentic and tasty. The ramen probably can't compete with the likes of Orenchi or Mensho, but it hits the spot when you have a craving and don't want to spend $20 on a bowl of noodle soup. They have a small section of communal bar seating, which can seat at least 5-7 people. There are also some other small tables for two, so you can definitely feel free to enjoy the ramen right on the spot. Glad to welcome this new little shop to the neighborhood! read more

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This place is a nice shop with really delicious ramen and onigiri. Their shoyu ramen is good and all their onigiri are good, if a little on the rice-heavy side. They also sell Japenese snack items and sake if you're looking to stock up without heading to Japantown. read more

Common Sage - Vegetarian shoyu ramen with chashu pork added - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm about two years late on this review! I always stop in and get tuna omusubi + a milk tea. Service is prompt, omusubis are simple and delicious, the staff is friendly, and they always rotate their stock so the store is full of fun surprises. I love this place and hope it stays in the neighborhood forever! read more

I came here because I saw that they carried omusubi. I ordered the spicy roe and salmon. I liked how it was freshly made and the rice was warm. I ate the spicy roe one first but I didn't know how to unwrap it correctly. So it started falling apart. I liked this one. It didn't have a lot of spicy roe in it. Most of it was just rice. The salmon one was weird. It was not good at all. I was so disappointed because it was basically like tuna that you would find in a can placed inside this omusubi. I don't think I would come here again. The spicy roe was good but it definitely wasn't great. They don't have a good variety of flavors either. read more

Common Sage - Omusubi - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Not sure what was happening today but our order was terribly incorrect. We ordered 2 miso ramen, and 1 veggie- we received 2 veggie and one miso. Strike one. All of our containers were half full- not even enough broth to cover the noodles. Strike 2 Nothing was labled! No idea which broth was for each noodle. Strike 3. read more

Decided to come grab a quick snack given the long wait at SOD. We had the cod roe masubi which was fresh but wasn't enough filing. Also tried their popular cha sui sandwich with Dutch crunch. This sandwich was way too acidic for my taste and needed more meat. The bread also needed to be toasted. Ramen looked good so maybe we'll go for that next time. This place carries an amazing variety of Japanese can and bottled brews but sadly it's only for takeout given their license type. So when you walk in, it's almost got a liquor stole vibe with food counter service. Cool concept but needs a bit of work here and there. Service was friendly. Food 3 Service 4 Overall 3.5 read more

Looooove this spot! The baristas are nice, they make strong drinks and have a friendly demeanor! I love when the owner is there as well because she always gives us tips on food and wine pairings! If you haven't gone I recommend you try this place out. You won't be disappointed. read more

Always brings me comfort. Love the miso ramen, matcha tea cake and black sesame latte. read more

Common Sage - Miso ramen - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We were in SF for vacation and decided to try out the famous SOD. Unfortunately they were closed for the week due to the July 4th holiday. I'm really glad we decided to drop in here instead of just leaving. My husband and I both ordered the ramen and rice ball set. As we waited for our food, we walked around to check out the small grocery store and it took us back to Tokyo. The food was really good and the staff was friendly. My husband like the ramen and I liked the onigiri, that we ended up ordering a 3rd set and split the meal. I could see myself coming here often for lunch if I lived/worked in the area. read more

A perfect spot for a brisk day! I was in the mood for Miso and just stumbled on to this unique restaurant/grocery store (BTW- a nice selection of wine and sake). I ordered the half bowl of Common Sage Miso Ramen, the Chasu Pork Omusubi and Hoji-cha Latte with Oat milk. Overall, a very satisfying lunch. The Ramen was served hot and the pork was very tender. Very tasty! The Omusubi was served in seaweed paper, but I preferred to eat the rice and pork via chopsticks. The pork was also very tender and was not drowning in teriyaki. I loved the latte, very tasty. Next time I will explore the Bibimbop and Spicy Tuna Omusubi. Friendly service with a very nice, clean and unique environment. read more

Common Sage - Omusubi, Miso Ramen and Hoji-cha latte - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

I came here on November 24th, 2021 with Ted, my good pal from high school. Ted lives in Venice Beach, but we grew up together in the Bay and we usually make a point of meeting up when he's in town for the holidays. We hadn't seen each other since March, and se wanted to catch up over some nice food. We were choosing between dim sum or ramen and we elected for the ramen because it was closer to my apartment. We almost called an audible and went to the Oyster House across the street, because there was no line for once, but it turned out the reason there was no line was because they were only doing takeout that day. So we re-settled on ramen. We usually try to play golf one of the days before thanksgiving, but Ted has had a busy Fall with work (he is a producer for the NFL Network, so the season is always very busy) and hasn't been playing at all, so he didn't want to break the bank with the expensive out-of-town rate at Harding Park if he thought he would play poorly. So we saved some money and decided to just relax at a restaurant instead. I didn't mind, since I had just gotten the covid booster a couple days earlier and was still feeling slightly under the weather and the idea of walking 18 holes (and probably pounding a few Schlitz cocktails, as I am wont to do on the golf course) didn't seem that appealing to me either. The ramen was very good and so was the service. My only disappointment is that although they serve beer at the market inside, they do not have a liquor license, which meant we could not enjoy our Schlitz cocktails while we dined. read more

Awesome ramen! Broth is super rich and tasty. Legit soup and rice balls served in a small asian market.

Amazing ramen here! Also lots of great Japanese snacks and liquor. The staff is super nice and the rice cake sushi balls are great too. read more

I was told by others from my group about walk down the street and follow your nose. Well, we walked by and smelled the broth of the ramen! And of course walked in and ordered a shoyu ramen with a mentaiko musubi. Quaint corner eatery with very good rice for the musubi and broth was good. Not salty like a chain I know in Hawaii. Adding the garlic infused oil adds a extra level of flavor. Good price and relaxed place to have a ramen. Enjoy! read more

I can't believe that I haven't written a review for them yet. I used to live 2 blocks away from this coffee shop. The coffee shop is named after the owners grand daughter who is adorable :) What makes this place special is the latte art I receive every time. It's beautiful, creative and makes me smile! Their chashu ramen and chashu Onigiri is amazing. I usually get them as a set. A casual cafe spot for a quick surprisingly tasty ramen and rice ball! read more

I really don't even want to blow up the spot but this place is absolutely deserving of praise. I work nearby and come here almost everyday for the chashu pork omusubi, among the many varieties of rice balls they serve. In addition to the prepared hot foods, they offer coffee and tea, snacks / random Asian groceries, and alcohol / bev. I can only imagine what the vibes were in the pre - social distance era. The employees are great, always both courteous and efficient. The food comes out fast and the chashu pork boasts really satisfying grilled flavors for something prepared in minutes. Definitely worth peeping one time among everything else to love about Polk St. read more

One cold, frosty, wintery day, I was feeling hungry and hobbled into this shop craving for some ramen. I stared at the menu for almost three minutes before deciding on the Sho-Yu Vegan Ramen, due to the fact that it was made with beans soup, which I have never seen before. Intrigued, I decided to place my order and take a seat at one of the tables in the back. I didn't really know what to expect, except to expect to be delighted by this new experience. I have no opinion on the corn nor the scallions, but I distinctly remember the mushrooms making a positive impression. The mushrooms had a sweetness to it that complimented the soup base, and I wish they gave me a bit more mushrooms. The bean soup was rich and flavorful, and I was also satisfied with the noodles. Overall, the dish really came together, and I still can't believe you could make such a delicious broth from beans! Personally, I think the portions are a bit small, especially for $15, but I can rationalize that since I really enjoyed the ramen, and it's probably harder to make vegan ramen taste great than ramen with a meat base. I was impressed with the use of beans as a soup base in ramen, and I look forward to coming back here again. read more

Common Sage - Sho-Yu Vegan Ramen - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

The ramen is always amazing quality and takeout is pretty quick, even if you order right when you get in.

Great affordable small place. Nice fast place to stop after walking lots of blocks! We got the Omusubi with miso soup.

Love this place. The Sesame latte hot is a super warm and comforting drink, highly recommend. The staff helped answer a bunch of my questions and showed me to a bunch of things. I picked up the Umami Sauce Black garlic, some kelp noodles, a Singaporean chocolate bar, and a bunch of other amazing treats. Also, I highly recommend the ramen! I love the broth and noodles, but one of my favorite things is the mushrooms! read more

Quaint little shop with some unique merchandise, but I mainly come for their ramen (always to go) and their coffee / matcha lattes. My main complaint is that the service here is slooooow. Expect to wait at least 10-15 min, even if you call ahead your ramen order. That being said, there are tables and seats inside and you can sit or peruse the shop while waiting. Their merchandise (i.e. Japanese matcha, candy, huge selection of sake and beer, different chocolates) is interesting but definitely marked up quite a bit. The ramen is not stellar, but not bad. All in all, I would still come back until there are closer ramen options. read more

1. Got the combo: 1/2 bowl of ramen + 1 omusubi for $10.95. If I got a full ramen bowl with the the same omusubi that I chose, total would have been $13.95 - $3 savings for 1/2 a bowl less of ramen is not a deal (the girl at the counter said it was a good deal) 2. I asked for corn, they charged me for corn, I didn't get corn 3. They charged my card and then said "it'll be 15 minutes is that ok"? Would have been great to tell me that BEFORE I paid because that is longer than I wanted to wait (there were a few patrons eating, no one ordered immediately before my friend and I did) 4. Service didn't seem pleased when we asked for another bag, like we inconvenienced her. Overall, not enough food for ~$12 meal, I'm still hungry and ramen was overpriced. read more

WOW... I never write reviews... The owner female is so cheap... They made a mistake on my tea order Charged me the wrong price ... I owed ..$25 cents ... She made me get a refund on my credit card ... Waiting over 10 min... That desperate I guess for 25 cents ... I come here several times ...Never again Terrible customer service .. Hope that 25 cents was worth it read more

Really adorable place with a cute concept but the flavors and taste in the ramen broth are lacking. Might be back to try their other food items (Asian sandwich) as service was wonderful and the people are warm and friendly. As for the ramen, I ordered a half bowl which came with A (as in ONE) very thin dry piece of pork and a very very bland miso-based broth. Definitely not up to par compared to other ramen (even so-so ones) I've had around the world including Japan, NYC, and even Paris. Come to think of it, I would say it's not even close to ramen in San Mateo. They have a special for half bowl of ramen + rice ball @$11, I asked to add corn and it was $2 extra. A bit pricey for the tiny addition of corn I got with my tiny half bowl but the whole meal wasn't tasty enough to get again. Extra stars for the nice peeps and cool items they carry including black bean and edamame hummus. read more

Common Sage - Half bowl of miso ramen (+corn $2 more) with spicy cod roe rice ball = $13 pricey and very bland - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California