We had a great dining experience here & felt lucky to get a reservation. Being from Nashville, we…read moredon't get a lot of authentic Japanese flavors or fresh fish for that matter, so this was a welcome palette cleanser from our usual southern fare. From the udon to the tonkatsu, to the sashimi, the quality of each item was very fresh, clean, & cooked very well as you would expect for a casual upscale Japanese restaurant. I have no complaints. The ambiance was nice & the service was attentive & efficient. Highly recommend for a special evening.

We decided to try Rintaro after seeing all the great reviews on Resy and to use our Amex Platinum…read moredining credit. We went on a Monday night and were surprised that there was still over an hour wait, so I'd definitely recommend making a reservation if you can. Thankfully, we were able to grab some drinks while we waited. The Yuzu Chu-Hi was probably my favorite drink of the night, it was light, refreshing, and easy to drink. For food, we started with the Teba No Karaage, which had a perfectly crispy exterior and juicy, flavorful meat. We also ordered the San Ten Mori, and the fish was very fresh. We especially enjoyed the yuzu wasabi that came with the dish, which added a nice kick and complemented the fish really well. We also tried the Chiizu Tori Katsu. The chicken itself was juicy, but I wished both the chicken and the cheese had a little more flavor. Most of the flavor came from the sauce on the side. I was also a bit disappointed by the snowy cabbage dressing, although that may just be because I'm used to the dressing being on the sweeter side. One thing that really stood out was the warm and welcoming service. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Overall, we had a great time and would definitely come back to try the skewers next time.

The service is friendly and helpful, and the food is delicious. Love the robust appetizer menu…read more Felt like a bunch of queens up in this place. "This is a banger."

The food came out quick. I ordered the mussel udon. There is a good amount of mussel in the soup…read more My friend ordered the fried oysters and they are great

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

Passed by Izakaya Oya and saw they were offering AYCE sushi, so we had to check them out! The…read moreinterior has a traditional Japanese restaurant feel with both à la carte and all-you-can-eat options. We opted for the AYCE menu, which came out to around $50 per person. - Sashimi -- pieces were on the smaller side and a little watery - Sashimi Salad -- fresh spring greens topped with larger sashimi cuts; a refreshing starter - Gyoza -- larger than typical gyoza, almost like mandu; crispy exterior with juicy filling - Poke Chip -- avocado could've been fresher, but still a nice crisp and creamy combo - Lion King Roll -- my favorite item of the night; seared salmon, avocado, and imitation crab. Wish it had a bit more torching and cheese, but still delicious - Rainbow Roll -- smaller-sized roll topped with salmon, tuna, shrimp, and avocado - Dragon Roll -- classic unagi and avocado combo; can't go wrong here - Double Salmon Roll -- salmon both inside and on top with a light lemon garnish - Heaven Roll -- tuna-heavy roll inside and out; great for tuna lovers - Bay Bridge Roll -- another standout; tuna and avocado topped with roe and white sauce - Miso Soup -- simple and comforting - Salmon Avocado Roll -- classic fresh combo with cucumber added for crunch - Nigiri (seared salmon, unagi, baby scallop, salmon avocado) -- probably the best quality items overall; loved the fatty scallop and seared salmon - Mixed Greens Salad -- underrated side with a sesame-ranch style dressing - Yammy Yammy Roll -- spicy tuna and seared tuna topped with spicy mayo and unagi sauce - Hamachi Kama -- thinner cut than expected but still buttery and tender There was no wait on a Friday night and our party was seated immediately. The restaurant has tables in both the front dining area and a quieter back section that feels more private. You order through a tablet attached to the table, which also tracks your remaining AYCE time. Service was extremely efficient and dishes came out surprisingly fast. Some items stood out more than others, but overall we definitely got our money's worth. For around $50 including tax and tip, it's a pretty reasonable AYCE sushi option in SF.

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

What an experience! We were celebrating an anniversary and planned a bit last minute, but were able…read moreto snag a reservation here pretty easily. Immediately, the ambiance and service was quite nice. We were seated at the table, but typically I enjoy sitting at the bar to watch the chefs make our food. The service was amazing and they were very attentive. They also offered to take photos and gave us a little gift of hojicha tea since we were celebrating. We got the omakase, which was massive and had 18 courses. They gave us a menu so we knew what to expect for each course, and we ordered some sake. The omakase was delicious and more traditional than other places, each course was so beautiful and delicately made. This is definitely a lot of food, I would recommend the petite omakase in the future as I was stuffed, but it was a great experience if you come hungry! Courses: - Chawan-mushi - super tasty and every bite was delicious and umami forward! - Otsumami - 7 seasonal appetizers presented in a beautiful box, there was a stuffed crab claw in there that was delicious - 4 kinds of sushi - each piece came out one at a time, the first piece was my absolute favorite and blew me away, it was a seared chutoro that immediately melts in your mouth and tastes smokey - Hamachi soup - very tasty and warming soup with hamachi inside, was perfect in between the sushi course - 4 kinds of sushi - A5 Waguyu shabu - this course was extra $10 pp but was so delicious, the wagyu was melt in your mouth and had some grated daikon on top in a ponzu dashi, the toppings help balance the meat so it's overwhelming since it does melt in your mouth, one of my favorite bites! - 4 kind of sushi - they brought out some really great sushis, including more chutoro and an unagi handroll, but I was so stuffed at this point that I felt I couldn't enjoy it as much - miso soup - this soup was so tasty and kind of revived me after all that food, it felt comforting and a great way to end - dessert- I got the hojicha ice cream in a waffle like cookie and it was delicious!

Honestly quite impressed with the food! I wish they served their matcha drinks in the evening since…read moreI wasn't able to try them, but being able to try the food was also worth it. My friend and I didn't have a reservation since we thought a Thursday early dinner wouldn't be busy! We arrived just in time - there was a little wait when we arrived around 5pm, but there was a cancellation so we were able to get seated at the bar instead of the outdoor patio :) Everything we ordered was amazingggggg! I was quite impressed since it seemed more of a cocktail bar bite vibes. It is a bit pricy though, but I can't say my money spent was not worth it. I definitely want to come back and try their matcha drinks though. The only downside is the location since there's not much parking during the day.

I stopped by on Saturday afternoon and got the matcha einspanner and sat down in one of the booths…read moreinside. The service was prompt and my drink came out in around 5 minutes. The matcha itself was pretty strong and pronounced in flavor, which I enjoyed. The cream top was quite thick on top and didn't have any added sweetness so it was more of a textural element more than anything else. It also had some kinako powder on top which I thought was a nice touch! This was my first time getting to sit inside the restaurant and it had a nice broody/speakeasy vibe to it. There was also an outdoor patio that you could enjoy as well. I know that Shoji turns into a restaurant at night so I can definitely see how this would be a great spot for a date night. However, during the day, the space was even being used by customers as a meeting space/study space. I would be back again if I were in the area, but like most SF spots, parking was an absolute nightmare!

not bad, more rice than sushi, but it wasn't bad for all you can eat…read morequick service as well

Stumbled into this spot expecting a simple all‑you‑can‑eat sushi run and ended up having one of the…read morebest dining experiences I've had in a long time. The vibe is super friendly, the music sets the perfect mood, and it's low‑key enough that you can actually relax and enjoy your food without feeling rushed or crowded. The sushi itself is amazing -- fresh, flavorful, and way better than what you'd expect from most AYCE places. What really impressed me is their policy: if you order a roll and don't finish it, they charge you for it, but half of that goes to a food bank. I love that they're intentional about reducing waste and giving back to the community. Service was great, the atmosphere was chill, and the food was top‑tier. I'll definitely be back. Highly recommend if you want quality sushi without the chaos.

This is very good food. The food seems to oddly take awhile to order get your tea and wait for…read morefood but we were done in exactly one hour We had the homemade tofu, the teriyaki salmon. And an eel sushi, plus the raw fish over rice Served with brown tea $96. I forgot they add 4% if you use cc, so next time ode bring cash

Cozy Japanese restaurant known for its strawberry mochi, house made tofu and chef selection nigiri…read morethat has something for everyone. Decor is minimal but the food speaks for itself. Service is quick and they do not take reservations but rather a verbal waitlist.

Service: staffs are very nice and friendly. We came around 5:00pm on a Sunday so the place was busy…read morebut the turnaround time was very reasonable Food: we ordered vegi ramen: 3.9/5 I really liked the broth, but i think there was a little too much going on with the toppings. Not the worst vegetarian ramen by far, but ive had better. Vegi gyoza: 4/5 Solid and tasty. Vegi karage: 4/5 i like the crunch and the taste. One of the better karages I've had. Shoyu ramen: 3/5 The soup base was very nice. I wish it's a little warmer. All the toppings are kind of cold or room temp instead of hot. The noodles is a little soggy.

Good menu options. I got the Japanese chicken curry karaage and a side of gyoza. The curry tasted…read morelike refried beans, but they gave a good serving of rice, and the chicken was not dry and cooked well. They could really use a yelp waitlist or something for when the line gets long, would be good to be able to put my name down and be able to walk around the mall