I was full by the time I opened the to go box. I am soooo full now. It's just so delicious you can't but obey your mouth when it tells your brain that each bite melts in your mouth a-mazing. I'm so glad they've made it through the pandemic close down. It's up to you and me, foodies, to keep this Inner Sunset staple thriving. Takeout, sit down, sushi bar - they do it all. read more

Ebisu - Chirashi takeout - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Been coming here since I was a kid and they got really good japanese food. Sushi are fresh and super yummy, sushi rice is made perfect. I always order at least 2 rolls and an appetizer. The ambiance is very nice with dim lighting, great to come for dates and also catching up with friends! Service is also outstanding and food comes out in a timely manner! Ebisu is one of my favorite sushi spots in SF! read more

First time in Ebisu, I was amazed by the three rolls we ordered. The pickled salmon gave well balanced kick so it stands out from the usual salmon rolls elsewhere. Crunchy is very special because of the soy bean paper wrap. Wow, I didn't know how to make the soy bean paper green. Great texture. Of course, the freshness of the fish are everything for a sushi restaurant. Overall great experiences. It's busy but super friendly and homey. Would love to come back to try the mouthwatering Kobe beef sushi. Next time for sure. read more

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I'm normally a fan of omakase. Let me start by giving credit where it is due, the vibe is decent however after we got seated it just started going down hill. The hand roll was well below average - the toro nigiri was ok. There wasn't a single dish where I was like wow this really justifies the price point and the apparent level of acclaim. I genuinely expect more. Perhaps, I went on an off night but I felt the sushi chef was arrogant despite his creations being mediocre at best. Adding a star to support a family business. read more

Popular Japanese restaurant that has been in the same location for over 30 years. The place was popular then and remains popular now, outlasting other Japanese restaurants that have come and gone. How do I know? My partner-in-life and I came here on dates before ringing up our index phalanges in the 80s. Yeah, we old but had taste then in those pre-Yelp, pre-laptop, pre-PDA years. Moved away from the neighborhood but make it back every few years to revive our youthful tastebuds. Ebisu has remodeled a few times since those old days and a gripe that we have is the place is NOISY as the walls and ceilings are lined with wood paneling. No sound dampening materials anywhere, so be ready to talk loud. We had to ask Toi, our helpful server to repeat and describe a few items in the tightly seated restaurant. Yep, the place is loud and packed. Popular as heck... So we grubbed on: Agadashi Tofu - Ebisu version is large with the fried tofu sitting in a light sweet soy topped with bonito flakes and Nori strips. Well worth the price! Sugatayaki - Grilled Whole Squid topped with a spicy mayo. Didn't have a grilled, smoky taste that we were hoping for... Hotate (Bacon Wrapped Scallop) and Kobe Beef Skewers - liked the scallops, pass on the chewy Kobe Beef... 4 Pairs of Nigiri Sushi - Naba Saba (Mackerel from Japan, not oily or fishy enough for the Wife but perfect for me), Kinmedai (Golden Eye Snapper that was really, really good and pricey but worth it), Unagi (BBQ Eel that was not warm enough) and Tobitama (Tobiko or Flying Fish Roe with a Quail Egg, not enough Tobiko for the price) Bento of Beef Teriyaki, Salmon Teriyaki and Tempura (liked the Tempura which was light, pass on the beef and salmon as there was not enough grill taste to the proteins) Dragon and Double Hamachi Roll (liked the DH Roll) Overall plusses - Excellent and Attentive Service, Cloth Napkins, Fresh Fish, Some from Japan, Check out the Chalk Board, Skewer of Grilled Scallops, and Agedashi Tofu Overall minuses - Loud and Cramped, Small Gnats flying around which require you to do the occasional hand wave, parking can be a challenge. read more

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Overall excellent experience here. Reasonably priced delicious sushi in a nice atmosphere. Service was attentive but not intrusive and everything we had was the bomb. The only downside was finding parking without walking super far to and from inside golden gate park. read more

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This used to be the hot go-to place 20 years ago. Before spinning off to open Live Sushi and Omakase, Jackson Yu was a junior sushi chef here. We ate there weekly, often waiting in big lines for dinner. I went in today. The lunch menu was quite limited compared with before. None of the impressive stuff like live scallop were on offer anymore. Prices were high. The big problem is that the menu now features Escolar/Walu. This fish is the prime indicator if the owners actually care. In Japan, this fish is illegal to serve to humans. Eat more than a few pieces and you get diarrhea. I don't see myself going back. Bummer. read more

This is probably one of the most charming and truly authentic sushi restaurants in SF. If you know sushi, you know that simple but high quality ingredients is the most important. I love their ankimo which isn't always prepared right. Their chirashi, sashimi, and rolls are all delicious. If you want something doused in spicy mayo and eel sauce, they can probably accommodate but this place is all about quality-- Enjoy the flavors of fresh fish. Their tempura is beautifully light and crispy with a great variety of veggies. The seaweed salad is exactly what you can find at an Asian grocery store for $3 except drizzled with sesame oil so I would pass on that one but the rest of the dishes are great! read more

I have been going to Ebisu back in the 90s and I love this place. Yet my recent visit was rather disappointing. The vibe was no longer as it was and the food selection and taste had deteriorated a lot! I still miss the Japanese owner and Suzuki chef. I likely won't go back again read more

Delicious fresh sushi! Large menu. Fast service once you get in (there will probably be a line; add your name to the paper waitlist upon arrival to claim your spot). The vibe inside was really nice too - high ceiling with wood paneling and spacious feel despite the low square footage. read more

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Drove all the way from San Jose to visit this Japanese restaurant , as I was craving for a nice sushi dinner . Luckily they did not make me disappointed . Not only they served fresh sushi , but also nice and friendly waitress . At the end of the dinner they even gave us mochi on the house , so sweet read more

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It used to have super long lines during weekends, we came on a Thursday around 6 and got out seats immediately. The seats are almost full. We had a very nice and friendly waitress. We ordered 6 PCs fresh oysters, a bunch of nigiri (see picture), soft shell crab and California king roll plus a Sapporo draft beer. Every thing was awesomely displayed. The oysters were not as sweet as expected but nevertheless fresh. Fried amaebi head was good, other nigiri are very fresh. However, we found a fish bone inside the toro, which is quite a surprise in a Japanese restaurant with experienced chef. We told the waitress and she apologized for it wholeheartedly. At the end we got 3 pieces of mochi on the house. read more

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Nice place with good food at reasonable prices. The only problem are no parking on busy streets and when you are almost done eating the servers keep rushing you to leave so they can turn tables. They are friendly in the way they do it. read more

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TOP 10 SUSHI SPOTS IN SF (on my list) This place is BOMB. Chef Eric is entertaining and hooks it up. There's usually a wait sometimes 30 mins sometimes an hour but well worth it. I'm impatient and I NEVER wait for food. I get hangry and nobody wants to deal with my hanger and tantrums. Trust me. But I will quietly wait to eat the best sushi in town. I've tried many spots in SF and this is place nails it. SECRET TIPS (after-Covid): 1. Eat at the bar 2. Put your name down and get a drink around the corner. (come at 5:30 or 6 pm not peak hour) 3. Omakase Free entertainment from sushi chef while you eat. What more can you ask for. Chef Eric if you are reading this - I'm dying to sit at the bar to eat again *ugly ugly crying face Pics coming soon... read more

I have been coming to Ebisu since I was a kid. It has been my family's go to Japanese restaurant in SF. We have been going less (dine in) because we noticed the portion (cuts and rolls) got much smaller and our bill would end up $$$. However, I had the chirashi bowl a few times (dine in and take out) and I highly recommend it. Fish is always fresh which is why I like this place! read more

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Ebisu is a great place to eat. Awesome service, staff super friendly and the food quality is incredible. The restaurant is not huge, but I always felt comfortable. The wait list is not bad too, I have never wait for a long period. read more

Ebisu - Sunomono - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The sushi here is top notch along with excellent service! We sat at the bar and had a very enjoyable experience made more so with conversations with the sushi chef who made some great suggestions. Their prices are also very reasonable for the quality and freshness of their fish. This place is very popular for a reason so be prepared to wait at busy times. I love sitting at the bar to watch all the chef action. I have only been here once but can't wait to go back again! Here is a sampling of our meal which was all excellent! Bluefin tuna Sake toro (salmon belly)...this was a favorite as it was torch seared Crab roll Caterpillar roll Lobster tail tempura Omikase (chef's selection) read more

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Can't wait to eat at the bar here again once they reopen for indoor dining. This place has been a SF institution for 30 years for a reason. Outstanding sushi served by genuinely good people with a long-standing connection to the neighborhood. What's not to love? read more

Ebisu - Deluxe Combo - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I rarely eat Japanese food but this is a great mom and pop place. The staff is so nice and the food is so good! My husband comes for the Omokase and orders two for himself. He makes me order one so it doesn't seem like he wants two orders! Lol. My kids like the curry with beef since they can't eat the other items since there is a seafood base even in the rice bowl or the fried katsu. Edamame is fresh and a large portion. My go to is any vegetarian sushi like Inari and avocado rolls. Go early and be quick since it's a small place. Also tip your servers well as this is a great mom and pop shop who care about quality and their customers! read more

This place is so good I usually get deluxe sushi set at the bar. Food is amazing and I really enjoy the whole experience. Service is great as well. I go out of my way to come to this place. Overall, fantastic sushi place for sure. read more

Have been waiting to try Ebisu for a while, and glad we had a chance to stop by while in the neighborhood. We were the first in line at 4.52pm on a Friday afternoon (it opens at 5pm), but the line formed quite quickly after! We chose to seat at the bar, and enjoyed the humorous banter from our sushi chef all through dinner. Definitely feels like your homey, neighborhood sushi spot, with generous portions and very reasonable prices! Note for out-of-towners, this is all relative to SF's standard restaurant pricing, so please take my comment with a pinch of salt. We got a few things across different sections for the menu, but in general the fish was super fresh and tasty and the rolls were generously portioned: Amaebi (Sweet Shrimp) Nigiri - super fresh, and they fry the shrimp heads and serve it with a side of tempura sauce. Probably not good for my cholesterol levels, but totally worth it Hotate (Scallop) Nigiri - scallops were fresh and sweet! Romeo and Juliet Roll - excellent! Dexter Carter - shiso lent a lovely flavor to the roll, which was falling apart in sections but had a generous portion of fish Salt and Pepper Wings - Lightly seasoned, but very well grilled read more

Lately I've been trying to order direct and it's been a while since I've been to Ebisu. Like always, they are wonderful and even the togo order was beautiful. Their sushi was always so fresh. It was a no hassle take-out order read more

Ebisu - Hamachi roll, 49niner, rainbow roll. - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I could go to Ebisu once a week for the next year and it would not be enough! This is quite possibly my new favorite restaurant in San Francisco. I almost didn't go to Ebisu as my friend asked, but then my Hinge date bailed on me so I didn't feel guilty about trying a new Asian place near where my friend lives. First off, location: good location in the Inner Sunset, near UCSF Parnassus and some Metro Muni lines. I haven't spent much time in that neighborhood but really liked the vibes I got from walking around before and after dinner. Secondly: lines. My friend and I got there just before 6 on a Friday night and were seated immediately. Shortly after, a large line appeared and people were waiting both inside and outside! Luckily there's lots of cute shops to explore in if you have to wait. Thirdly, the food: the best part. There were so many cold and hot appetizers to choose from, so many entrees, so many sushi dishes, and specialty rolls, my friend and I spent a good 15-20 minutes figuring out what to order. We decided to split everything: the 49er roll, kakuni, 1-2 person Omakase, and matcha creme brûlée. The 49er roll had salmon, avocado, tobiko, shiso, and lemon. We were hesitant to try it due to the lemon but it worked! It was a thin slice and brought a unique tang to the roll that I wouldn't recommend for everyone, but I enjoyed it. We did not try the Dexter Carter but had considered it. The kakuni appetizer was TO DIE FOR. The fatty pork belly tasted caramelized, and, like the 49er roll with lemon, fruity due to a satsuma sauce. 10/10 would recommend the kakuni. The omakase for 1-2 people was plenty for us! It came with tuna, salmon, butterfish, yellowtail, amberjack, and halibut. The butterfish and amberjack were surprisingly perfect (they were the pale-colored ones I think), but they were all good and fresh and hearty slices. I believe each one came with 3 slices each. It was filling and well-worth $28! Even though my friend and I were stuffed, we went ahead and tried the matcha creme brûlée. The wait and trip out to the Inner Sunset would be worth it just for this unique dish. There was a thick layer of mousse beneath the crispy burnt top layer. The bottom layers were colder than that layer on top. It came with a thin shortbread-like cookie with matcha filling that was alright--the main focus was on flipping matcha creme brûlée! A must-order. Lastly, service: some other reviews here said service wasn't very good or professional, which was the opposite of my experience. Everyone working there was calm, knowledgeable (I asked which sashimi was what at least three times), warm, and kept filling up my water cup! They politely and discreetly tried to get us to leave to flip the table by giving us the check early and asking if we wanted dessert when we still had some sashimi left on our plates, which is to be expected. Bathrooms could be cleaner but they are gender-neutral. TLDR: amazing restaurant with great service. Order the kakuni and matcha creme brûlée, as well as a specialty sushi roll. Well worth the cost and trip to the Inner Sunset. read more

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It was great and it was awesome I had a great time. I highly recommend ebisu as a restaurant you should definitely go there and enjoy the food if you go. read more

Food was very fresh and tasty. I met up with my sisters and daughter and we had a very enjoyable time. The service was excellent.

I'm scared to leave this here, but it is the best sushi in SF. I'm sure you can have more expensive, but this is the best.

This was our first time at Ebisu as my husband was looking for a place for Japanese take-out while he was making a delivery in San Francisco and he found Ebisu. What he brought home from Ebisu was very tasty and I ordered the Dragon roll as I love unagi and a bento box of beef teriyaki and tempura. He ordered the gyoza and chicken teriyaki and tempura and our daughter ordered the chirashi and guyudon and they enjoyed their meals. Prices are reasonable and portions are generous. Once restaurants reopen for indoor dining, I would love to try more dishes! read more

Ebisu - Dragon roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here to celebrate my brother's birthday back in August. We ordered a bunch of nigiri and were left disappointed. All the different variations of tuna we ordered tasted kind of the same. Their salmon didn't seem as fresh. Their umi masu (ocean trout) barely had any of it's distinct flavors. The best part about our visit would probably be the scallops, which tasted fresh and flavorful. Although the service was great, I don't think we'll be back anytime soon. read more

Lowering my rating from 5-stars. The rice was off in the chirashi. A little dry maybe old. The sashimi was fresh. I ate it anyway because the rice was edible. Just not enjoyable, this time. Very disappointed. read more

Ebisu is one of my best go-to places for sushi in SF. The fish is always fresh and prices are really reasonable. Consistency is great and service is always on point. Parking can be difficult though--mostly metered parking around. It's a pretty small restaurant and they don't take reservations, so if you don't want to wait, GET THERE EARLY, like right when they open. This place is super popular, especially for dinner so the line can get super long real quick. Personal Favorites: chirashi - comes with a good selection of raw fish over rice. It's a pretty generous portion being only about $20--one of the best bang for your buck. dragon roll - unagi + shrimp tempura double hamachi roll - minced hamachi topped with more hamachi on top. Service is also pretty quick since they have 4 chefs working the sushi bar. Wait staff are very nice and attentive. Decor is clean and modern. Take out is not bad too (may have a long wait) but I prefer dine in. Overall, great place for sushi if you're in the sunset district. I come here all the time and recommend this place to all my friends. read more

Ebisu - Chirashi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This is my second review, over20 years ago, it's still my favorite Japanese Restaurant. There's Specials on the chalk board daily. Lots of choices. Service excellent and friendly. Decorum nice. Always comfortable here. Know them, most people are friendly. read more

Ebisu - Uni, Amberjack, Albacore Toro, Crunch Roll & Spicy Tuna Roll. Sorry, ate three pieces. - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Yes their advertising is correct this is the best sushi place in San Francisco!! Fresh fish and perfect rice that just melts together in your mouth. You'll get your standard rolls and sushi with quality of a much more expensive restaurant in addition to not so standard specials that change depending on what's fresh on the market. The black cod was worth the wait!! It does get quite busy as it's no secret this place is good so come early on a week day if you can. The sushi bar may be a little easier to grab a seat especially if you're dining alone or as a couple. read more

There are a few sushi places in the area, Ebisu is by far the best. Love to grab a chirasi bowl to have lunch in the park. read more

Ebisu - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

BUGS...first time ever experiencing this. Bugs were so bad I had to leave. I love this place but won't be back until they figure out how to solve the problem. Said it was because of the door being open but I know with experience that these little gnats can be very hard to get rid of and not coming from opening the door! read more

The sushi is fresh and delicious. Although the time that I have ordered for pick up, they seem to always take a long time even though if I order ahead of time. They usually say it'll be ready for pick up in 40 minutes only for it to be 30 minutes more. Not sure why it takes so long. I ordered at 4:50 to be ready by 5:30. It was not ready until 6:15. This happen two times now, so I'm not sure if I'll order for takeout again. May have to find another place for get my sushi. read more

They are my favorite in the town! My bf and I were so happy the other day when we found out that they just reopened recently for pick up. Sashimi are still super fresh, and their rolls are awesome! Totally worth it. Next time I'll try their bento . read more

I really love Japanese food , and this is my top favorites In the city. There is so much care and thought put into bentos with their variety of vegetables in a beautifully arrangement. I liked their chirashi very much , and the food is very fresh . This place always has a wait because it is such a great place to dine ! read more

My favorite spot for sushi in the city, been coming here with my family for years, my parents had one of their first dates here! The sushi is always really delicious and tastes really fresh. The specials are always interesting and fun to try too. The agedashi tofu is great, as are all of the nigiri. This is one of the only places I've seen that offers ocean trout which is one of my favorites. They also do the best 49er roll - the lemon is sliced thin and they're careful to remove the seeds. Beautiful space and the waitstaff are so nice. Such a fun spot for a special occasion! read more

Still my favorite Japanese restaurant here in San Francisco. I've been living in SF for over 3 decades and have never had better food, better service and incredible wait staff. Was very excited they finally opened the restaurant to patrons and not just offering take out. Went out with the family and a family friend. Everything we ordered was consumed, plates cleaned. read more

Traditional Japanese neighborhood restaurant. Fresh fish and nice ppl with affordable price! But if you come at noontime you have to be more patient to wait for your food. And they don't do reservations either. Nothing fancy but simple comfy food. Recommended! Definitely come back again! :) read more