I walk past this place every day I go to work and have always wanted to come here. So, for my b-day (last night 7/24), I came here with my sister and our niece. From the moment we checked in, we were greeted warmly and were sat immediately. The service and food were great. Since it was my birthday and I was treating everyone, I didn't want to hold back. They gave great suggestions (all of which we took). This meal really felt special. Thank you Elephant Sushi. I'll be back for sure! read more

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Been here a few times. Inconsistent spot. Based on previous reviews, looks like they're aware they have a mouse problem and that others have also experienced some weird menu pricing and surcharges. I may write this critique, but when I go in, I'm a stan for workers and despise an entitled attitude right of the bat, so I avoid rushing or demanding. While they were warm enough and responsive-ish, I wouldn't say it was amazing, which you would think for the interior and the price - I forget that this is a chain. The last few times i've made reservations, one for a birthday, they want to sit me at the worst table, which is the one right next to the bathroom, you're literally 4 feet away from the sinks where you wash up after doing your business!!! Destroys the ambiance they're trying to create. I also had some messages for a birthday, but I guess they didn't read the instructions, or maybe this just isn't a place to celebrate birthdays. Price is not worth it, clean, basic modern decor and tasted good, but not OMG I NEED TO COME BACK, DESTINATION RESTAURANT. High price range, unappetizing seating, neutral service and small portions will be keeping me away. Go there if you're in the area, not hungry and don't mind spending! read more

We love Elephant sushi. We visit before shows at the War Memorial / Symphony, and it's always a nice time. The staff is friendly and the food is great. Get the Himalayan trout appetizer. read more

Always a good dinner here at Elephant sushi. Everything is super fresh and delicious. I really like the Hyde location, because it's more intimate. But we went to the Grove street one this time because there were 5 of us. Our server - Brian was very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. Thanks! read more

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Highly recommended! Great location, impressive ambiance, and good service. The food was amazing. Must try it -- it was mouth-watering. We'll definitely be back! read more

Elephant Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I will not be able to write a review that actually does this place justice. We had a late reservation and we were still treated like royalty. Brian was our server and he was amazing! We sat at the bar and started with a cup of the regular miso soup. Don't cheat your self and miss out on this course. The soup is the definition of richness and umami. It actually has a finish like wine does. Next we had the special if A5 Kobe and uni. The sushi chef advised us to tear it in on bite and not to use soy sauce. He was spot on. Next we had broiled hamachi and it was incredible. Don't skip on eating the skin. We had two rolls but the winner was the spider. Even after we paid and they we clearly closing Brian chatted us up and made some recommendations on where to go in the city tomorrow. read more

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Came here on a Wednesday and the vibe was super cute, cozy, aesthetic, and perfect for a casual night out in Hayes Valley. The drinks were actually really good and probably the highlight. We ordered the hamachi roll and the red dragon roll both were fine, but nothing super memorable. The "chips and dip" was honestly kind of weird and not what we expected, so probably wouldn't order that again. Overall, great spot for drinks and ambiance, but the food was just okay. Would come back to hang, maybe not specifically for the sushi. read more

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beautiful restaurant, conveniently located at the corner of Gough and Grove, just 2 blocks from SF City Hall. super fresh ingredients, all the sashimi and sushi rolls were excellent. The shrimp tempuras were lightly battered and large, very tasty. Waitress was new to us but efficient and attentive, making our evening more enjoyable. read more

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Terrible sushi. The rice was so bad that I couldn't taste anything else... Would not come back

The vibes were super good and the drinks were spectacular. Tbh I couldn't tell u what rolls we got but they were great. My friend's roll was lit on fire for 8 minutes it was super silly and cool. Service was great as well. Would def come back. read more

Elephant Sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here for dinner on a Wednesday night at 7:30. Service was great and our waiter was really quick with everything even though the place got busy. Everything we ordered on the menu was very good and the fish was fresh. The portions aren't that big though. I really enjoyed the hamachi truffle. This was my favorite on the menu! The truffle on top paired really well and gave a umami flavor to the fish. The wagyu nigiri was delicious and we wanted to order more. The cocktails we ordered were delicious. I enjoyed the hello kitty martini which was just a lychee martini. The place was pretty lit up and there are booths in the back. There were a lot of people on dates or celebrating something. read more

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Came here on a Friday night with some friends and a table cancelled so we were seated pretty quickly. Otherwise I would recommend making reservations or getting on waitlist early as there is usually a lot of people trying to eat here. The restaurant is really pretty with high ceilings and large windows and a great ambiance. We ordered their signature flaming seabass roll, which is lit on fire and cooked in foil on your table. Also tried the omakase nigiri tasting, which comes with 10 pieces, and hello kitty drink aka lychee martini. Food and service are both pretty good. Recommend giving them a chance if you're craving good Japanese food at a place with amazing vibes! read more

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Came to try out a new sushi place with friends! The service was good - I liked how they gave us wipes for our hands, and the ambiance was great as well too. I liked the modern decor and the lighting! The food was very good as well. The soft shell crab was fried perfectly. It was so crunchy, and there was a decent amount of meat as well. I got the whiteout roll myself, and the fish was seared well, having a good smoky flavor. The pieces were also big, packed with fish. The seafood was all very fresh as well. My friends got the spicy salmon roll and the red dragon roll, and they enjoyed their food very much as well. Definitely an overall 10/10 experience! Overall, I would definitely come back again, and try new dishes! :) read more

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Came here for SF Restaurant Week (late review, I know..) after seeing the positive reviews here. Honestly, the presentation was pretty but the food was alright. I was a little disappointed. The best part of the meal were the three appetizers on the platter. The sashimi and nigiri were quite fishy to me. The rolls were okay, nothing special. The dessert was a strawberry panna cotta, that came with a cute squishy. The restaurant is pretty and has a nice ambiance. The staff also explained each of the dishes when they came out which was quite nice. Overall, not bad. I just don't think it was worth $75 per person. read more

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This is a solid spot for fresh, creative sushi in a modern and clean setting. Parking was surprisingly easy, which is always a plus. They offer a happy hour from 5-6 pm, but the selection felt limited--just four drinks and about four food items. The sushi we ordered was definitely fresh, but it could've used more seasoning. The spicy tuna and spicy hamachi had plenty of heat, but lacked depth in flavor. The salmon kama was juicy but a bit bland, and the "Couple of Babes" hand rolls we tried also needed more seasoning to really stand out. Mocktails were okay--the spritzes were refreshing, but nothing too memorable. Prices are on the higher side, but the service was friendly and efficient, which helped round out the experience. read more

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It was right before the opera. We couldn't get any table near the opera house. This was the only restaurant that had seats for us. The Japanese food is fusion style. The service is horriable. The lady who served us seemed so upset at all time. The price is definitely on the higher end. I would not go back read more

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Stopped here for dinner because it was close to the Goldstein theater. Nice place, good food, excellent service. We had the omakase and each course was fresh and mostly tasty. read more

We had a great time at elephant Sushi. The staff is friendly and the space is modern but warm. The tables are very well separated that it does not feel cramped. We enjoyed everything we tried. The appetizers and the rolls were superb. I loved the tuna and chips cup. It's on the higher end of pricing but nothing more than most SF locations. We will be back read more

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Restaurant Week - Hayes Valley Came here for restaurant week and boy was it a treat! Came here with the bestie after a well needed pedi. We both got the $75 prix fixe menu Elephant Platter - The start was a blue crab rice and furikaki topped with ikura. Super smooth with a light burst of umami. To compliment it was an unagi don bento - so good I ate it all! Omakase Sashimi & Nigiri Platter - I mean how can you say no? Trout, Seabass, Toro, Kanpachi and Salmon. All melted like butter. What really stands out is how fresh the sushi was. Literally like straight from the ocean. It's hard to describe - if your sushi smells fishy - that's how you know it's not fresh. On to the Ya Man Roll - Wow! This prix fixe is very generous. I couldn't even finish the course. Although, this roll was not my cup of tea. But I'm not going to yuck someone's yum, you might like it? After the sashimi and nigiri I needed a change of texture. It seemed like this prix fixe lacked crunch. Maybe a deep fried roll or tempura something to balance it out. To finish was a strawberry pudding. Super tart if you're into that. Kinda similar to panna cotta. The service was great. Unfiltered sake, check! I'm a happy camper. Would I go out of my way to come here again? YUP! It's that good! Pro tip - make a reservation this place gets packed! 2nd date or bestie dinner vibes. Cheers! read more

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Warning: If you are broad across the beam (have a big butt) you may be trouble getting into the booth seat. Ask for a seat at a table (not a booth) Also, the bathroom (there is only 1 that I could find) - the door is very hard to close and open. Too much paint in the door jamb. Just put some muscle into it. Don't panic like I did. If you love a good roll and an Asian fusion vibe rathe than super authentic Japanese food, go here. If you prefer authentic non-super-sweet-sauce-drenched rolls, go elsewhere. I went with no expectations, so it was OK for me, but would have preferred less sweet sauce. If I go again, then I will order with less sauce. The food prep (how the food was cut) was not authentic for me, so it further messed with my appreciation for their cooking. You'd be surprised at how much the way food looks (how it's cut) is important. I was. Service was a bit stretched. We went when there was a local performance at Davies Symphony hall so the restaurant was a bit strained in providing food quickly. We were maybe the second table seated at 6PM so honestly, this should have been less of a problem. We got out of there in plenty of time, but 4 of our tables in one row were all heading to the same concert and all of us were concerned that they forgot our orders. (Or were slow in taking your order). Food is good, albeit a bit pricey for the delay. It needs just a bit more in the back of the house to prepare food more quickly and maybe 1 more server. The servers were trying so hard but there are so many tables crammed into the restaurant that they couldn't keep up. read more

The place is cozy and there is easy parking, which is a plus. The staff was nice, and the service itself was polite. That said, the food was very bland and not very good overall, even though the fish was fresh. Fresh ingredients are important, but the lack of seasoning and flavor was disappointing. One more issue: the restaurant seems to have a capacity of around 50 people but only one bathroom, which became inconvenient during our Visit. read more

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Had dinner with my girl friends here. It was a weekend so we made sure to make reservations a day prior. The restaurant was extremely busy but that didn't matter since the ambiance was cozy and warm. We ordered cocktails- they were all delicious and strong! I tried the Hello Kitty martini, just for the name. It was tasty but my friends and I were disappointed that the drink didn't have anything related to Hello Kitty. We shared four rolls together. My favorite roll was the White Out roll--it has a seared flavor, full of flavor despite the lack of color. The Chef Ochko roll was incredibly tasty, and I really enjoyed the smooth texture of the fatty fish. Overall had a wonderful dining experience. It's been awhile since I met with my friends and this restaurant was the perfect way to go. read more

Elephant Sushi - Cocktails - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Wow! My boyfriend and I came here on a Friday night with a reservation and were seated right away. The service was quick, and our food arrived promptly. We started with the chips & dip and the chicken karaage--both were delicious. The fish-to-chip ratio could have been better, but the chips were tasty on their own. The chicken karaage came in larger pieces, which was a nice contrast to the usual smaller bits. Next, we had the Ya Man and Red Dragon rolls, both incredibly fresh and flavorful. We especially loved the Ya Man roll--it was buttery and melted in our mouths--but we were glad we tried the Red Dragon roll and would happily order it again. Finally, the Flaming Seabass roll arrived, and the fire burned for about 5-7 minutes. It was warm, rich, and packed with flavor--similar to a classic Lion King roll but with seabass. I can't wait to come back and try more! Just a heads-up--parking in the area can be tricky, so give yourself extra time to find a spot. read more

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Elephant sushi has solid rolls and appetizers. When I went we decided to order the rainbow roll as well as the soft shell crab appetizer. The soft shell crab while fried to perfection tasted a bit too ocean-like for me and I was not a fan. The rainbow roll however was fresh and delicious with all of the fish slices being buttery. I would definitely come back to try out more rolls and recommend checking out Elephant sushi for their sushi rolls over anything else (hence the name) if you are in Hayes Valley. read more

Elephant Sushi - Soft shell crab - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Absolutely loved this place. The Toro dishes were amazing: rich, buttery, and perfectly prepared and honestly, the sushi overall was incredible. Every bite tasted fresh and thoughtfully made. We mentioned to the staff that we had just gotten married, and they surprised us with free champagne, which was such a thoughtful and generous touch. It really made the night feel extra special and memorable. The service was quick, attentive, and everyone was genuinely super friendly. You could tell they actually cared about making sure we had a great experience. The dessert was also really good (even though I can't remember exactly which one we ordered, I just remember being very happy with it). Between the food, the hospitality, and the overall vibe, they did an amazing job. I would 100% recommend coming here, and I can't wait to come back for my next visit. read more

Checked this place out for a first date. I had the ginger carrot miso soup to start, it was decent. Gave fall vibes. My date had some nigiri. I forget what kind but we were both underwhelmed. We then had the whiteout roll and the flame one. Both were really good. The service was outstanding. I would definitely go back. read more

Tried Elephant Sushi for Restaurant Week and it did not disappoint. First thing to note is they don't operate their regular menu during this week and you can choose between a $45 or $75 set course. I tried the $45 menu which started with a bang bang style shrimp appetizer that was enormous, juicy and delicious. We then got a nigiri plate that was extremely fresh and flavorful. The last course was four pieces of the Ya Man role that was underwhelming in my opinion. Dessert was a light citrusy cream that was a perfect end to the meal. Overall I think it was good value for the amount of food served and our waitress was extremely kind and attentive. As they were very busy on the first day of restaurant week, the food took a long time to come so she comped us with miso soup and it was a wonderful warm start to our meal. The ambience is also beautiful! Overall, I highly recommend getting a reservation and coming here during Restaurant Week. read more

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Clean industrial modern space, parking lot across the street. Good service. Friendly and attentive staff but I would go elsewhere for food unless you were coming for the ambiance and you were already in the neighborhood. Disclaimer though that our large group didn't have any sashimi that day, so this review is for other items. I had some of the salmon collar (dry), chicken karaage (tasted like boba shop popcorn chicken), and flaming seabass roll (rice was hard and I couldn't really taste anything but that and sour and spicy sauce). The tempura was pretty good though. More like 3.5ish I think for food. 5 stars for service. read more

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The wagyu was great but the fish otherwise wasn't spectacular. For the price it is decent but there is better sushi out there. The sake flight seemed overpriced and only enjoyed one of the sake options. Very nice customer service though and the matcha cheesecake was delicious read more

Elephant Sushi - Wagyu - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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placed a takeout order here for the rainbow roll ($18) and only waited about 10 minutes. the fish tasted decently fresh but the roll kinda fell apart as I tried to pick up each piece read more

Elephant Sushi - Rainbow Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food was absolutely amazing however the service was a little slow as it was not a filled restaurant and only 5 tables occupied at the time we sat. Overall good experience. read more

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Great menu, nice service and friendly staff. First time visit with my son and daughter, sat at the bar. Great view watching the chefs making all the sushi. Our chef was very nice and we love all the dishes we had. Hamachi belly and the salmon Kama were really good. Flaming sea bass is very interesting and one of their signature dish. read more

Elephant Sushi - Appetizers - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I haven't had a bad roll here yet. The food is great and the fish is high quality. Their rolls are creative, but their menu is a little limited. The staff seem friendly but I normally do takeout (it travels well). Overall would recommend to anyone in the area. read more

Infested with mice. The worst part? When I privately told my waitress, she said they were aware. Just letting mice run around while serving overpriced sushi seems like a scam to me. read more

What started as a casual night out turned into something straight out of a foodie fairytale. My husband and I were celebrating a career milestone and wandered into Hayes Valley--where every corner hums with life and good taste. One glimmer of twinkling light caught my eye, and just like that, our impromptu dinner plans found their direction. The hostess greeted us with an effortless charm, laying out the menu like a promise. We thought we'd just share a few small plates, but five courses later, we were deep into one of those rare dining experiences that sneak up on you and then stay with you. Every dish had intention, every bite a story--and by the time dessert arrived, the night had wrapped itself in that golden, perfect kind of warmth that only good food and quiet celebration can bring. read more

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Found this sushi spot when we were visiting SF! So glad we made a ressy for here. Vibe was tight; staff were great, and food was delicious. This is random, but I like the bathroom set up. Having the sink outside but only two bathrooms for this place is small, but also learning that's a SF thing, even an overall Cali thing. Okay for the food and drinks. Drinks were pretty and good! We all started with some miso soup because it was chilly at night. The pickled vegetables were really good! Nice flavor and crunch. The hamachi truffle was amazing I love a good truffle moment. I really enjoyed the Himalayan trout, the presentation on the slab of Himalayan rock salt was dope and added an extra layer of salt. The omakase was really delicious, can never go wrong with chef's choice. Our favorite roll was Chef Ochko, we ended up ordering a second one. Definitely recommend getting that one!! Overall we had a great time at Elephant Sushi and definitely recommend you checking it out! read more

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Really solid option in Hayes Valley for some sushi in an ambient setting. Came here for dinner on a Wednesday night and the place was fairly empty around 6pm but filled up really quickly around 7pm when we were basically done. We started off with the tempura which was fried well and had a nice mix of different vegetables and shrimp. We then got the Shima aji off the seasonal menu had a really nice clean taste. Of the three rolls we got (negitoro, ya man, and chef ochko) I personally liked the ya man the most but all three were good. Price wise, this place is fairly standard for a slightly higher end spot that specializes in rolls and you get the value that you pay for here. read more

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I am a fan of the albacore tataki. The fish was fresh and the combination of flavors/sauces wasn't overwhelming. Nothing was super expensive considering this is San Francisco. Best description: fast, fresh and the service was great. read more

Great vibes and we loved our waitress. She was great. The food was okay, we went during happy hour and that had great value for the quality of fish. Overall with regular prices though, I expected better quality fish. Tuna wasn't fatty, both spicy tuna and salmon lacked seasoning or any flavor. Yellowtail wasn't tender. I think there are better smaller sushi spots in the city, more specifically on Valencia read more

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One of the worst dining experiences I've had. We were seated by the owner and were originally given regular menus, but when it came time to order we were told that tonight was prefix only. I was then given two slightly different prefix menus (prices were different across the menus). I was told the more expensive price was the real one. After ordering and then seeing other tables getting items not on the prefix, my server told us that we could order items from a different menu. We asked for the menu and were instead brought a flaming seabass (we thought this was complimentary for the mishap, but ended up still being charged for it). We never ended up getting the other menus and our server was quite rude about it. To top it off, service was very slow and ended up taking almost three hours. During the time we sat there we watched other tables be seated, order a la carte, and leave. Felt extremely deceived by the constant switches of menus (it appeared only our party and one other were forced to order the prefix). For over $700, we never even received the menus and last round of drinks we asked for and decided to just get out as quick as possible. read more