The rice balls are pretty good, I had the tuna mayo. It was decently sized, and was alright. $4.5 seems like a lot for a rice ball, but that's SF for you. The ramen was not it. I had the pork chashu ramen, and the noodles felt really thin and low quality. The broth was also sweet, which is a really strange direction to take things. For the $27 I paid, I expected more. Would not recommend. read more

Stumbled upon this place as I was going to a concert at the church down the street. I LOVE an Asian store. And I love an Asian store that sells onigiri and other yummies! They also have Japanese snacks and drinks. There is seating so you can eat there! And it's good people watching as people come in or walk by on the street. read more

Common Sage - Cooler with treats and yummies. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

Whenever I don't have time to make a run to an Asian grocery store, I stop by here and they always have what I'm looking for! Today I stopped by around lunch to try some of their fresh food/drink Food: exactly what I was looking for! I got the chashu pork omusubi (onigiri) and it was delicious. The he chashu was seasoned perfectly, the rice was delicious and warm, and the nori was nice and crispy. I also got the Thai tea which hit the spot. It was perfectly strong without being too sweet Service: super friendly and speedy! The omusubi and Thai tea were both made to order and I had both items in hand in less than 5 minutes. Ambiance: open, airy, and the perfect place to stop for shopping and eating I will absolutely be back to try more of their omusubis and drinks! read more

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Was so excited to come in and have a solo ramen date. The two staff members at the front were sitting down and staring at their phones. I felt super awkward walking in and when I stood at the register they still ignored me.... Was really disappointed I left wanting to cry. Maybe I went on a rough day. read more

Walking past I actually thought how strange this place names Common Sage wound be serving onigiri. I went inside out of curiosity and ordered bonito and a konbu omusubi which were and are still my favorites as a kid in Tokyo. Bottom line, after eating them I immediately regretted not ordering more. read more

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

I had really high hopes for this spot but maybe they do food better than drinks? I got a hot matcha latte, which was quite milky and disappointing for the price. The interior is quite cozy, though, and there are a lot of food options. read more

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

I was fine going into this place at first. Then one day I happen to see an extra charge of 25 cents for the plastic wrapping on the onigiri?! Why are the customers paying for that??? And then today was the last time I went there. I asked for a large drink. They were a bit busy, I get it... then they hand me my drink and it's a small size?! Without even really apologizing the lady tells me "I charged you for a small" & I just stood there confused said ok and left. Oh I'm sorry is it my fault you misheard me? They weren't even trying to make it right, just looked at me as if telling me take your coffee and leave! Anyway, the place is also way too expensive. I'd rather go to the corner donut shop where they're actually welcoming and have great customer service! read more

Out of the blue nice find. Not sure how to describe this wonderful and unique place. A mix of a Japanese market/snack shop/ wine and beer store plus coffee, and ramen/omusubi place. A bit of everything for your various needs. Ramen choices include meat and vegetable options. Many omusubi options from salmon to egg roe. Japanese snacks including chips, cookies, etc. wine, beer and sake. Various coffee drink options. Worth a visit as you can walk out with a snack, a drink, dessert, and more. read more

Food: Their food was amazing and delicious but was too expensive Service: Their Service is an average performance. Ambiance: They have a great and cool atmosphere read more

This is my favorite omusubi place because the portions are huge and they really pack it with filling. The mentaiko is my favorite flavor but honorable mentions to the chasu. It's the perfect snack to pick up on a walk and live out your anime dreams. The shop is really quaint and packed with a variety of Japanese snacks and goods. Turns out the owner of this place brings the snacks directly from Japan, so if you're having a hard time finding a particular snack, you should try common sage. read more

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

Came here impromptu. Ordered the honey/ginger/spice latte with oat milk which was tasty. I had called ahead to ask if they had Soju. They did, but only the original. I should have called specifically. I also came to here to listen to one of my classes on zoom. I asked to connect to wifi (I had specifically looked for a spot with wifi), but despite being given the password by two different people, it didn't work. That was disappointing. But cute spot. They also serve dishes/meals...I didn't eat. They sell mostly Asian foods, beer and wine read more

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Almost every time I'm in the neighborhood I'm here to have some Onigiri. Its one of my favorite places in the city for it. Its fast, fresh and delicious! Their Sake selection is also awesome. I haven't had the Ramen there yet, but its on the list. If you're even thinking about it, do it. read more

Finally tried this place out since I walk by a lot and the name was catchy. Food was alright, a little pricey...service was quick and a nice spot to grab a coffee in the afternoon. read more

This is a store and cafe type of restaurant. You order food and drinks from the counter, and sit at one of a few tables inside. Their coffee and matcha drinks are top notch in quality. Two flavorful options for ramen: veggie and meat. Looking for quality specialty items like mochi, sake, or fun snacks with seaweed or lotus etc, check out the selection here. Unique, creative and fun. read more

Whereas the nearby Japan Center evokes Tokyo suburban life back in the 1960's, this corner spot on Polk at Sacramento evokes a more contemporary Tokyo stop, an intriguing hybrid of a Family Mart convenience store and a fast-food ramen counter you'd likely find at the Shinjuku train station.i could easily picture a herd of identically suited salarymen slurping their ramen noodles before heading home to a submissive wife two hours away. This location, however, attracts a decidedly different crowd, monied Russian Hill regulars with a preponderance of affluent young Asians in search of a social hangout. On my second visit this evening, I decided to give the vegan ramen a try. Understand I used to be a pork tonkotsu ramen junkie highly judgmental about the consistency of the milky broth and the toothiness of the noodles. It had actually been a couple of years since I've had a bowl since I'm on a vigilant carb-and-calorie watch in the interim. Then I read this place makes a purely vegan ramen which piqued my interest. I ordered the Shoyu Veggie Ramen with Vegan Noodles, which seemed a tad steep for $16.95, especially after I saw the bowl size (photo: http://bit.ly/32syTlR). Small. Listen, the broth was unsurprisingly thin as it was a light-bodied soy base. Adding body and texture was the mix of beans, onion, garlic, tomato, and cabbage chopped to mimic noodles. It was topped with spinach, corn kernels, green onion, bean sprouts, and sliced bamboo shoots that looked and tasted a bit like pork belly. The noodles looked like they were made of spinach (photo: http://bit.ly/2HOzshX). The combination worked albeit it lacked the savory punch a true ramenhead would demand, but for an as-needed vegan like me, it worked, FOOD - 4 stars...vegan ramen is a bit trippy and a bit bland but I liked the combo flavors AMBIANCE - 3 stars...more spacious than a Tokyo subway station SERVICE - 4.5 stars...very attentive TOTAL - 4 stars...a Family Mart with ramen...cool RELATED - Looking for a bowl of ramen? Here's a collection of places I've tried and reviewed: http://bit.ly/2W7HRpS read more

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Well stocked corner bodega. I didn't try the food but the cold teas were good. The best one was the black sesame. I also appreciated the lady at the counter who took the time to give recommendations about the different tea options. read more

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

This place is expensive. Order a matcha and some salmon mosubi. There was a miscommunication in the order where I had 2 hot latte and she said I ordered iced latte. She didn't seem to care too much about offering to change my order and continue on with work. 2 star for customer service. read more

Food is delicious. Freshly made Korean Gim bap (rolls), Spam musubi and a variety of Japanese snacks are delicious. Visit their frozen food section and their grocery section. They also have a great selection of soju. I highly recommend their noodles etc as well. read more

Food prepped in store, 3/5: its good but it is overpriced for what you get . The rice to filling ratio is way off. But tbh I haven't found a place with the right ratio. The bibimpap is tasty but it's expensive for what they give you. The serving size is small and meat and you have to pay more for meat and kimchi. Fiancé said the same about the sandwich, it's good but also overpriced for the size. Snacks, 4/5: it's good but limited . Overall rating: 3.5/5 read more

Their omusubi's are delish... but my favorite is the kimchi one! it also turns out that the owner makes the kimchi herself.. and i must say it is the best kimchi i've ever had.... I also just love walking around the store and looking at the yummy snacks i wish i could but alas i only have so much money... but id spend a good amount here on the omusubis... yummm im craving a kimchi one now... read more

Very cute spot that's a small Japanese shop as well as a restaurant! Their omusubis are very yummy and extremely affordable. Their miso ramen is okay, enough to satisfy the craving, but I've had better in the city. read more

Common Sage - Chashu Miso-Ramen & Spicy Tuna & Konbu Omusubi - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

Super cute Japanese and Asian store/restaurant. I feel like it would be a cute date place bc you can order food here and then spend some time walking around and looking at all the cool Asian goodies and snacks. Lots of alcohol too. They serve ramen and matsubi style seaweed wrap rice rolls. Pretty decent. Didn't like the Thai tea drink, it's missing condensed milk and it was pretty sweet for me. Spent about 27$ on ramen, one roll and a drink and oh they didn't provide the side miso soup that it says the rolls come with, didnt like that. Either way, I guess I could have asked but didn't realize it until now. The service was ok, not spectacular. Would I go again? Yeah probably lol. read more

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Salmon Omusubi I love common sage their omusubi are so high quality they're super fresh and warm when ordered and the 3 times i have gone they've always been made to order!! I have also gotten the kimchi, shiitake, and goma ae ones! So delicious and the store also has good Korean and Japanese grocery staples and the owner is lovely as well! Love the blend of Japanese and Korean foods (: read more

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

Awesome place to shop and I love the variety! I tried the Asian Sandwich and it wasn't great. The char su is obviously the same as they put in the ramen and it was mid. A little bit too vinegary for me and the bread was really soggy. I would skip this and opt for something else. This place seems like a great place to shop though. It seems like locals spend them time in their outside seating but there is seating inside. I don't think this sandwich is a good representation of their food so I'll have to try something else again! Otherwise come to common sage for the shopping read more

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Had higher hopes for 20 dollars ramen. Hole in the wall Ramen /noodle / Asian booze shop. Good selection of Sake , Asian wine and beer. You can't drink in the shop. :(. It's like eating in a sad little convince store. Take out is the only way to go. The website is slick, nothing like the actual place. The ramen was ok, my stove top Ichiban is better. If you're a local I guess this is a decent takeout spot, otherwise avoid. 2stars for the sake selection, nothing else. read more

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I actually feel bad giving this review because clearly this is a family working for their income, but they were extremely rude especially the female at the front. she never told me my Ramen was ready and then claimed she did and I waited for 25 minutes and then proceeded to yell at me. However, the Ramen is extremely good and the chef is clearly talented. All in all worst service ever. read more

Update: I just went back here, and found out that to get a normal amount of ramen broth, it's an extra $5.75 charge! I'd only go here if I was super rich, like a millionaire lol. This is price gouging at its finest. read more

Yesterday I stopped by Common Sage and enjoyed a delicious bowl of miso ramen ($10.95) for lunch. The ramen was a piping hot bowl of deliciousness topped with bean sprouts, two slices of chashu pork and a sprinkling of green onions. I could tell the chef here really knows how to blanch the noodles right because the "kinky" egg noodle ramen was perfectly al dente (to my delight). The medium bodied miso broth made from cooking chicken and pork, garlic, onion, potato and fish dashi was unusual and very flavorful. If I was super hungry I could have requested add ons (such as corn, extra chashu pork, spinach, shiitake mushrooms or kimchi at an additional cost). This may not be the best ramen in the City but it is good when you're looking for something fresh & tasty, no hype and no long lines. While I was waiting and eating my ramen I noticed bowl after bowl of ramen coming out to other patrons. Seems others were feeling like some warm comfort food would hit the spot as well. Other offerings on the menu here to satisfy the appetite: more than a dozen varieties of fresh-to-order rice balls (omusubi also known as onigiri) with either meat or vegan fillings ($2.75 - $3.25/rice ball), an Asian sandwich made with chashu pork ($8),a vegetarian shoyu ramen ($14.50) or a half & half ramen & rice ball combination ($10.95). Decor: The cafe is laid out nicely with four two-seater tables at the back of the store as well as a large communal table with tall stools. What you can see glancing around you: As you eat you can peruse the shelves and display cases chock full of Japanese snacks, condiments, sauces and other products. While you can pick up well-known American brand beverages in the refrigerated cases there are also bottles of wine and sake for sale (alcoholic beverages can only be taken away and not consumed on the premises due to the type of license the store has). Hot beverages such as Asian and matcha teas as well as Sightglass coffee can also be ordered. Service: I gotta say the gal up front was a super woman taking orders, bussing tables, making hot beverages, cleaning dishes & generally tidying up the place. She was pleasant and took the time to explain things to a trio of ladies ordering before me. Part cafe and part store, Common Sage is a nice addition to the middle Polk/Nob Hill neighborhood. For sure, the ramen is good! With such a tranquil ambiance, I will definitely be back and recommend that you give it a try. read more

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**VEGAN REVIEW** Was walking to vegan picnic and happened upon this place. So glad I did! They have vegan friendly Omusubi and a veggie ramen (didn't try yet) The worker recommended the Goma-Ae and Shiitake Omusubi for me. Both delicious but definitely liked the Gina-Ae more. Will definitely be back to try the Ume Omusubi next! read more

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Common Sage is one of my neighborhood spots to grab a quick to-go dinner. Growing up, I loved my Obachan's ume onigiri, and they're still a favorite comfort food of mine. Having such easy access at Common Sage is a dangerous game. The ramen is also solid. The musubi take a few minutes to prepare, which is just about the right amount of time to browse the assorted Japanese snacks and drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) for sale. There isn't a ton of seating, so taking out is probably your best option. read more

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

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It is torture to live by this store, my hunger is stimulated all day LONG and into the night by what smells like manna from Heaven, but is actually so tasteful, so filling, and such an array of products from Japan! I'm serious as can be, the food is as good as it smells which is fantastic!!!!!!!!! read more

I used to love this place. I took my parents here for lunch to grab something quick because I needed to be back for work. We ordered at 1:50. 30 minutes later we were asked if we were waiting on something. We were the ONLY people in the place and somehow they forgot our order? He then brings out a ramen at 2:30.. he forgot the sandwich. Another 15 minutes and I have to request again our order. We didn't get the full order until 50 mins after we ordered. The guy working the register must have been on something. He was extremely slow, didn't realize he messed up multiple times, and never apologized. A bummer when the food is usually pretty good but unless someone else is behind the register, I won't be coming here again. read more

The ramen is really good for a corner store shop. Soup has depth and flavor. Noodles can be better but it's pretty decent for a corner store kitchen. I love that they have an option for a 1/2 ramen and onigiri combo. It's just perfect for a meal that isn't too heavy (like breakfast) and also allows you to try another small item on the menu without sacrificing your gut and wallet. They also carry sightglass coffee, which is what they use to curate their lattes. Delicious. Highly recommend for a quick quality Japanese breakfast and cup of joe. read more

I haven't come to Common Sage to eat which offers Japanese style Ra-men, Japanese style vegan side dishes, small selection of meat & seafood, and sandwiches including ham or cheese, or Sino Japanese Cha-shu-. I'll post a photo of their short menu. What impresses me the most here is their selection of premium Sakè (sah keh) on the level of Junmai 純米, Junmai Ginjo　純米吟醸, Junmai Daiginjo　純米大吟醸. Also, they have a good variety of Japanese premium craft beers from microbreweries in Japan. (No, not the big three of Kirin, Asahi, Sapporo) I especially like refreshing, crisp Orion (oh ree ohn) lager style beer from Okinawa Prefecture, the southernmost region of Japan that is almost tropical. It goes well with the Cha Gio/imperial rolls from nearby Cordon Bleu Vietnamese restaurant just around the corner on California. The rustic, meaty, oily rolls need the crisp, refreshing, palate cleansing counterpoint so expertly provided by Orion. A woodsy, mushroom earthy scented Sakè like Shirakabè Gura might also pair well. It's tough to find such a specialty store concentrating on the sophisticated Sakè Breweries & Microbreweries now flourishing in Japan in San Francisco short of going to Japantown bounded by Bush, Geary, Laguna which is west of DTSF. 4 Yelp stars. read more

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Soooo good. All the food on the menu is delicious and the snacks/ grocery items are to die for. I love the staff and the whole place is adorable and I go regularly (: read more

Good Raman love the choice for onigiri the snack selection is amazing Customer service is awesome and location perfect

Cute idea, but not the best ramen and omusubi I've had. Common Sage is an interesting concept 1 part grocery store, part liquor store, and part restaurant. I got the combo of 1/2 miso ramen with a tuna omusubi for lunch (totaling to around $11). It was a good amount of food for the price, but the miso ramen broth was pretty bland and didn't taste like miso. It kind of just tasted like slightly salted water. The chashu was tasty (I think it was fried?) and the noodles were nice and chewy, but the broth was definitely underwhelming. The ramen also only came with bean sprouts, onions, and pork (no other toppings). The omusubi didn't have enough filling, and the rice was a bit too mushy. I did like that they had a lot of interesting Asian-inspired beverages (black sesame latte, hojicha latte, etc.) and that there were Japanese groceries and a liquor store section, but the food was a bit disappointing. read more

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

Just another over priced cafe in SF. Don't ever get food/drinks from here they have no idea what their doing in the kitchen. Ordered a matcha latte - which was almost $7.00. They gave me a cup of iced oat milk. The beverage wasn't even the slightest bit of matcha in it. The drink was white not green, didn't taste like matcha nothing. The worker insisted the few green dots on the bottom of my iced cup of milk was enough.... Never again read more

The worse lattes... The guys who made my latte Matcha has no idea what the fuck he is doing! I do not recommend any coffees or lattes from this place.. my boyfriend got an ice coffee and his infuse mediocre and just not good. read more

Common Sage - The worse matcha latte... there is no matcha in this latte, only milk.. no flavor to anything else other than milk.. - Beer, Wine & Spirits Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'd been "eyeballing" this place for a while now, but since I usually walk by this place early in the morning, I hadn't gotten a chance to actually visit it. That changed when my husband and I visited the Movement Art Festival at Grace Cathedral last Friday and afterward we felt a bit peckish: we didn't want to have a big sit-down meal, so I recalled that this place offered ramen in a grocery store environment. We briefly consulted with the staff on what to order and given the cold and rainy weather we quickly decided on ramen; more specifically the Common Safe Ramen, which is the basic kind. I also ordered a rice ball with BBQ pork. The ramen overall was very tasty and especially the noodles were perfect: had the right density and a good bite to it. The broth was nicely seasoned, albeit the fish flavor was a bit too strong for my liking. The pork was tender and also very tasty. As for the rice ball: I'd rather skip that as it didn't have much flavor. For $9.95 the ramen is a good deal and I would definitely come back for that. I have one other comment to make: why do you have the door open when it's quite chilly outside? I really didn't like that it was drafty when sitting there. A ramen place should be cozy...next time I'll have it to go! read more

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

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