Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Hinata

    4.5 (851 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndSushi Bars, Japanese
    Open 5:30 pm - 10:00 PM

    Hinata Photos

    Business Info

    HINATA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Classy

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Hinata

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Patricia S.

    My sister raved about Hinata's omakase and I knew I had to take my partner here because her favorite food is sushi. She is hard to impress with food and she left wanting more! It's still her favorite meal and she just drools every time she thinks about it lol. Each roll was so good! My favorite was the crispy mackerel but make sure to wait a bit because it's hot! I didn't take any photos but the one I posted since we wanted to enjoy the experience. Our chef was great and we didn't have to wait long between each piece. They give you a little plate with a towel to clean your fingers between each piece. This is optional but our waiter told us the traditional way to eat is grabbing the sushi with your fingers. If you don't want to do that, you can use the chopsticks provided. Highly recommend you try the omakase! Oh and for our anniversary they gave us glasses of sparkling rose with a note. It was a nice gesture!

    Sylvia Y.

    Hinata is a hidden gem! I had Hinata bookmarked for the longest time and I'm glad I finally got to try their omakase. Reservations were easy to make on OpenTable. They called a few days before to check if I had any dietary restrictions. The location is convenient-- right off Van Ness. The outside is not very obvious so you have to follow Google Maps and look for the building number. The inside is not huge but doesn't feel cramped. Most of the seating is around the counter, with some smaller tables on the side. The bar height elbow chairs were actually very comfortable. My takeaway is that Hinata hits a sweet spot. I felt I received a high quality omakase experience for the price ($128 without supplements). The chef was friendly and skilled. I loved each course and it was paced well. I was stuffed without the supplements. Service was attentive and professional. The restroom was also clean (Toto toilet) and smelled really good (they had a tea light heating up some sort of puffed rice tea). Overall, I highly recommend Hinata if you're looking for a quality omakase experience at a relatively affordable price compared to other spots in SF!

    John L.

    It was our anniversary so we had the perfect excuse to hit up another omakase in the city. I've had Hinata bookmarked for some time so my wife and I decided to finally give it a try. Reservation via OpenTable was a breeze and we were able to get bar seats for the 5:30pm slot. The owner, Chef Gavin, was our host for our 16-course Grand Omakase. Our evening started off with a set of delicious Zensai (appetizer) consisting of crab salad, umaki (omelet-wrapped unagi), and mozuku (seaweed) followed by a trio of sashimi slices (akami, sake, and madai). A couple of cooked items followed - Gindara (glazed black cod with truffle and uni sauce) and Sawara (smoked king mackerel). Both were superb, but the cod was the clear winner. For our nigiri, we had the following: Engawa (flounder fin) - We were off to a good start because this is one of my favorites. I prefer the chewier texture of the fin over the fleshy part of the fish. Ishidai (jaw snapper) - Another shiromi for the early win! It was firm and chewy; lightly seared to bring out the oil. Hotate - Served with a bit of miso aioli, this was the perfect contrast for the natural sweetness of the scallop. This was excellent! Kasukodai - This was our first time having a young snapper and it had a firmer texture than its older counterparts. This was dressed with dehydrated egg. Sanma (pike mackerel) - My wife does not have the same love for mackerel as my older daughter and me. This had a stronger flavor, so my wife had a small bite and decided to give me her leftover. That's OK because it meant more for me. Masaba (Pacific mackerel) - It was mackerel season so our chef decided to serve two species of mackerel back-to-back, much to the chagrin of my wife. This had a more intense and salty taste so I ended up having 2 servings again. Kamasu (barracuda) - Another favorite decided to show up that evening! We could see how the skin reacted to the flame as Chef Gavin put his torch to good use once more. Comparing this with the rest, it was on the smaller side. Zuke Chutoro - Dry-aged for 2 weeks and soy-cured, the leaner section was seared (aburi-style) to create a more complex flavor and texture. Ikura Uni Rice - Served with shredded frozen uni to provide an even richer flavor, this was my favorite of the night. So awesome! Otoro Hand Roll - A taste of otoro before the soup and dessert. This would have been a fitting finale, but I added the supplement which consisted of the Hokkaido Uni, Otoro, and A5 Wagyu. These were all fantastic and Chef Gavin made sure my DSLR got a good look of his 2-week dry-aged otoro as he laid it out in front of me. Even with the supplement, their price was "more affordable" than the other omakase restaurants we have been to. If i were being picky, I would have preferred that our chef served something in between the 2 mackerel nigiris like he did with the snappers. But overall, Chef Gavin had excellent knife and presentation skills and I enjoyed our experience here very much. The counter seats were perfect as we clearly saw how our food were prepared. The place had a pleasant vibe to it, too. Here's hoping Hinata makes the Michelin Guide someday...

    Nigiri
    Rita W.

    Finally got to try Hinata, especially after hearing about this spot for years. 4 of us went here to treat a cousin for her birthday. Omakase, didn't need to think about what to order other than drinks and any supplement food. Easy peasy. We made a reservation for 4 for 7pm, and we were seated right away. They had a cute area to wait if needed. We got a table, where a couple of us had the view of the bar and the other a view of the fish on display. Sake flights for us all! It was great to taste a few varieties of sake, and it went rather well with the tasting menu. First bite was super refreshing- crab, jelly, veggies. Second and third bites were great as well. An edible plate cracker with tartare, and an oyster. That oyster was so good!! The tartare was really good as well, but the edible cracker kind of like a cake cone texture and flavor in some way took away from it imo. Then came the nigiri pieces. Yum!! These were brought out a few pieces at a time. 12 in total, with some being amazing stuff like rice with uni and roe, a tuna piece wrapped in seaweed, etc. so good!! They had a supplement option of uni, wagyu, o-toro. We all got that cause we couldn't resist. Delicious!! Def recommend if you aren't feeling really full. After the 3 appetizers, 15 pieces of greatness, we got our fish broth red miso soup. Yummmmm. Then dessert, which was a black sesame ice cream topped with pistachios. Would be down to dine here again! Not a cheap meal, but very good for these types of omakase and quality. Service was good too- waters refilled, dishes explained, food brought out timely, etc.

    Matcha panna cotta and Yuzu sorbet
    Ada H.

    Hinata has continuously been one of my favorite omakase spots and have kept their prices reasonable in contrast to other omakase spots in the bay. Service has always been top notch and I love how they have consistently impressed every guest I have brought along to eat with me. Music is always a hit with their R&B and EDM and just sets a modern chill vibe. All the sushi chefs are fun and enjoyable to converse with which definitely makes the experience. The sushi here is always fresh and I love how each bite builds up to the next with the final pieces always being the highlight of the meal. Their extensive sake menu is impeccable and it's always a good time drinking here. Highly recommend Hinata to anyone for a date night, friends get together or even a catch up dinner!

    Jane C.

    Came here for a party of 2 for the 5:30 sitting for omakase. We were seated on time and promptly. It was sooo good. Everything was prepared right in front of us and so fresh. Was a let o talk to and learn from the chef as well. I don't remember all of the dishes but enjoyed all of them and ended up being really full towards the end. We did not do the pairing with drinks but they had a nice selection of Japanese beers we tried and loved. They were hard to find and we even tried to hunt them down. It was $125 a person for omakase when we went.

    Joseph M.

    I've been wanting to try this spot for a while and now I have. Hinata at the time of me making this review serves an $128 omakase including 3 appetizers, 12 pieces of nigiri, a miso soup, and a dessert with the opportunity to add supplemental courses near the end. I opted for the addition of the A5 Wagyu. The appetizers were pretty solid. The appetizers are sunomono, the trout tartare, and oyster. The sunomono is very citrusy, the trout has a nice crunch from the monaka cracker, and oyster was packed with flavor. The nigiri part of the omakase actually went by pretty fast lol. The A5 Wagyu supplement was my favorite. The gold flakes on top and the salt were a nice touch. The dessert was a black sesame ice cream with pistachios which was good. The service here was great. The staff is very friendly. Note: The area around this restaurant is hella sketchy. The inside of the restaurant is quite nice though. You honestly wouldn't expect an omakase spot in this kind of area lol. Iykyk. Try it out if you like. :)

    Red miso
    Stephen L.

    Came here w a reservation for 2 for the first time. Had heard great things about Hinata. The restaurant itself is pretty spacious but doesnt have too many seats. We sat at the bar for the omakase, which we appreciated since the chefs were able to explain what each piece of nigiri was as well as other dishes. The restaurant is really nice, love the woods and general feel. The omakase base price was $128 which honestly isnt bad. You can do add ons for more which quickly increase the bill, but the amount of food was solid. We did the premium sake flight which paired well with the food I really liked the Trout tartare. Super fresh, and very fatty + tasty. I thought most of the nigiri were delicious. Some highlights were the barracuda and chutoro but i enjoyed every piece. Red miso soup was also amazing, perfect level of saltiness and depth of flavor, not like how miso soup can be way too salty sometimes. I thought the oyster was a little too sweet. It masked the natural flavor of the oyster a bit too much but that would be the only dish i thought could have been better. Depends on your taste! I also wish there was just a bit more wasabi on some pieces Service was excellent. I saw some comments on pacing but i thought the chefs and staff were very attentive and each dish/nigiri didnt feel rushed or like we were waiting. Chef who served us was very nice and did an excellent job.

    Janine L.

    This place is AMAZINGGG!!! This fish was super fresh and honestly it's a very reasonably price for what you get :) I made reservation for my boyfriends bday on open table and we were seated right away at the bar and it was the perfect ambiance. The service was amazing too and the servers were very attentive & the chef was super descriptive with the food. All of the fish and food itself was amazing!! I loved all the fish especially that was torched. Also it was decently fillinggg with the black sesame dessert being the perfect way to end the meal. For my boyfriend's birthday they added a candle and little not with the dessert. Would highly recommend giving this place a try and would love to come back!

    Lucy D.

    We came on a Sunday evening for an early dinner. The restaurant had an unassuming entrance and was quiet when we first sat down. More people showed up over the course of our meal and the bar seating felt progressively more claustrophobic. Interesting pop music choice for an omakase place, I definitely felt detracted from the experience. Omakase set menu $128: Pickled Cucumber, tomato and snow crab sunomono - I enjoyed the slightly tangy pickle, the snow crab didn't provide much texture or flavor, the ingredients didn't feel like it worked well together Trout tartare - tartare on a cracker, delightful crunch paired with the soft umami sashimi and bursts of salmon roe Oyster with mozuku and cavier on top - it was hard to pick up the flavor of the seaweed and cavier, all I tasted was oyster Nigiri - memorable pieces were barracuda, love the charred skin. Fresh water eel, the edges of the eel pieces were so pointy that it poked the roof of my mouth and almost triggered a gag reflex. Also quite dangerous indeed. Supplement add on $41: a spoonful of uni (uni was not as sweet or creamy and intensely flavored as hoped), otoro nigiri (can't go wrong with this), wagyu nigiri (I'd prefer it in non nigiri form) Fish broth miso - good palette cleanser, nice and mild soup Black sesame ice cream - might be the best part of the menu, very creamy It might be a small detail, but the ginger pieces were all tangled together making it hard to grab a bite without making a huge mess. It's a cute place for a date night, but the quality of omakase is not at the price point.

    uni, salmon roe, squid
    Anu S.

    Great omakase for the price! The fish quality was really good, not the most amazing, but definitely worth the price in SF. The servers explained each dish well and restaurant had cute cozy lighting. We got the caviar add on, which honestly carried some of these courses, and they served us a free sake shot. Overall great experience.

    Angel C.

    Honestly one of the top 3 omakase experiences I have had in the US. For the price I think this restaurant blew me away with the quality and taste. Was seated at the bar for an 8:30 reservation and our sushi chef was very friendly and attentive. The waitress was also very kind and was checking in on us just the right amount of times throughout the meal. I really think each piece of sushi was sooo unique and absolutely delicious and perfect quality. I wasn't too full by the end to the point where I couldn't finish my meal. The number of pieces and appetizers was also perfect. Highly highly recommend!

    Jocelyn L.

    The omakase seems to be the focus at this restaurant. The entire room was set in a dim light beside the back of the bar - It felt a little higher end. The staff brought you to the bar and helped you with the chair. They cleared all the plates and dishes away very quickly and also filled your water up constantly. The food was absolutely delicious. Everything was so fresh and nothing was fishy at all. The scallop was extremely soft. The mackerel had a mild and not pungent flavor. There were some nigiris that I was skeptical I would enjoy based off the appearance of texture, but wow was I proven wrong, I enjoyed everything! The chef did a great job at presenting and creating each course. We had one chef, who was tending to multiple sets of couples at bar. All the couples arrived at different times, so being apart of the latter groups made my partner and I feel a little rushed. It felt like the chef wanted to catch us up with the earlier groups. We wanted a moment between each course to discuss with one another, but we weren't too sure if it was rude to leave the food on the dish after it was already presented. I also notified the chef of an allergy - not deadly but makes me physically uncomfortable. He was able to switch out one of the courses with another. However, he handled my allergen before preparing the allergen-free course, which caused itchiness and small hives/blisters to form on my inner lip. All in all, I would be more explicit of cross-contamination to prevent this situation from occurring again, but I enjoyed the experience and would come back in the future.

    Sake flight

    See all

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 1
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Janice M.
    30
    66
    53

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alli W.
    237
    452
    1101

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Elvi T.
    1255
    758
    1743

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jane W.
    1523
    1002
    2197

    3 years ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 8
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Anna C.
    754
    274
    1183

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 22

    Hinata Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Hinata

    What is the cost per person for omakase?

    Omakase price is $125 per person.

    Does the restaurant require to show a vaccination card?

    Hi, not sure about now but we did have to show in April 2022. Maybe when calling for reservation you might want to ask. Thanks.

    Is parking available?

    Street parking is difficult. I suggest public transportation or Uber/Lyft.

    Is Hinata open at the moment for take out? Nobody answers the phone; seems like voicemail is full.

    yes, you can order takeout through trycaviar.com

    Does everyone in the party have to get omakase or can one person just opt out and order a la carte?

    What they told us is that the ONLY option is the Omakase. In the middle of the meal, you can add-on additional pieces, but everyone is required to get the standard Omakase first.

    Is tip included or not? I've been to many omakase places that tip was included or they didn't accept any.

    I didn't see them include tip but we added it to the final bill ourselves.

    Is the entire restaurant bar seating or are there private tables?

    There are about 5 private tables as well as bar seating.

    Did the price increase from $78 to 90 in the past month?

    Yes ;(

    How long would you set aside for the full omakase menu? And do they have their first seating at 5:30 or 6:00?

    I think a couple of hours for dinner. I don't know their hours.

    Would this place be ok for an anniversary dinner?

    Absolutely! Be sure to sit at the counter for a more engaging experience. Or at the tables from more privacy.

    Where is the closest parking and is the neighborhood safe?

    The neighborhood can be a hit or miss. I turned right in the next street after the restaurant, found street parking, but saw glass on the street. I decided to found park across the restaurant on a side street, that was well lit and looked busy.… Read more

    Is it a vegetarian friendly restaurant?

    This is an omakase place for sushi. If you can't eat fish, why would you want to go to a place that is known for its raw fish and rice experience?

    What is the price range for the omakase?

    Their omakase starts at $78, you can supplemental or a la carte after if you're still hungry.

    View All 17 Questions

    You might also consider

    Hikari Sushi & Bar

    Hikari Sushi & Bar

    3.9
    (563 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    It is such a fun place for the whole family. The restaurant itself is situated across the main…read moreJapan town mall. Once entered, you are greeted with a cute statue, great for little ones and adults. We got seated pretty quickly at a booth. Different from traditional sushi conveyor belt place, you don't see pre-made dishes around. Instead, each table/spot comes with a screen for placing orders. You can pick up to 4 dishes each time, then added to cart. When your dish is coming, you see the light flashing, then a nice train carries your happiness over. Once unloaded, you push a button and wave bye bye to the train departing. Yes. Super fun for kids. I ordered some sashimi, tofu salad and some sushi. They are super fresh! Service is fast, consistent and friendly. My kids enjoyed goyza, soup, onion rings and some cooked sushi's. We would love coming back again. I can see this to be our go to place in Japan town.

    Katsu meal: 6/10 -- breading fell apart and lacked the classic panko crisp and flavor. i would have…read moreliked a little curry with it instead of the side salad Handrolls: 8/10 -- the sushi was really good and fresh. I liked the fun experience of our hand rolls arriving on the bullet train as well. We got the spicy salmon, deep fried tuna, and rainbow. Clean space and conveniently located near lots of shops in Japan Town. Service was minimal but good. Overall a unique and fun experience for those who have not been to bullet train sushi restaurant! my entree was kind of mid for the price though so I would probably recommend opting for the sushi or bento box combos.

    Photos
    A Shinkansen delivers your sushi a few minutes after you place your order! It even sounds a little like the real deal! :)
    A Shinkansen delivers your sushi a few minutes after you place your order! It even sounds a little like the real deal! :)
    Hawaiian Roll
    Hawaiian Roll
    Green tobiko

    See all

    Green tobiko
    Ganji

    Ganji

    4.6
    (625 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Free WiFi

    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."

    What a gem amongst all the restaurants in Japan Town! It's in the outside center near the…read morestationary store Paper Tree for reference. Been here a couple of times already and the service never failed. Even came here during the Cherry Blossom Festival and the staff were still friendly / accommodating. They even put a spicy sauce on the side of one of the katsu plates when we mentioned that my dad couldn't handle all that haha. This cozy spot mainly focuses on katsu plates, but I like how they had off menu or specials to choose from if you'd like another option. I will say though them katsu plates were just chef's kiss. The meat is pounded thin enough where it's still juicy and tender, but doesn't affect the exterior from being crunchy and a bit flaky. Nothing was dry here yallll! I also like how it already comes with miso soup and salad. Huge fan of that Hamachi Truffle special though. Think of a citrusy flavor from the ponzu, fresh fish, a bit of micro greens, and a thin slice of jalapeño that just ~works~ on a cute wooden spoon that you want to steal I could honestly eat like 5 spoons of this. I'd skip on the calamari as it was kind of skimpy to share with a large group. Only note was that their fried katsu curry was a bit underwhelming with having more slices of carrots than potato! Would love to come back if I am ever in the area.

    Photos
    Ganji
    Ganji
    Ganji

    See all

    Yuji

    Yuji

    4.7
    (86 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    Came here to celebrate my husband's birthday and thoroughly enjoyed our Bar Kappo experience! This…read morehas definitely made my top 3 omakases I've tried in the Bay Area so far. The restaurant can be a little hidden, but it's pretty easy to find with the instructions they send before your reservation. It's located above Fermentation Lab. Just head up the stairs and you'll find it inside the old Ichi Pub space. The restaurant is small and intimate, with only 9 seats at the counter. When you arrive, walk through the Yuji curtain and check in directly with the chef since there is no host. My biggest concern with set menus is always whether I'll feel satisfied and full afterward, but that was definitely not an issue here. My husband and I were both very satisfied after the meal. Every dish was delicious, and you could really taste the quality of each ingredient. Highlights for me were the bluefin sashimi, which was so buttery and soft that it literally melted in your mouth. The skillfish was rich and decadent, and the citrus and ginger balanced the flavors. The fried fish was another favorite as it reminded me of the savory Japanese rice crackers I loved growing up. Since it's located in Japantown, parking can be challenging. We had to loop around several times looking for street parking and even had two cars take spots we were waiting for, so definitely give yourself extra time before your reservation. I would highly recommend this place! The chef changes the menu periodically based on what's in season, so it's a great excuse to come back and try something new in the future. Total spent for 2: $462

    Really hidden spot with no signage -- we had to ask neighboring restaurants for directions, but it…read morewas absolutely worth finding. The chef was incredibly warm, smiley, welcoming, and attentive throughout the meal. Every ingredient tasted exceptionally fresh, with careful selection of only the best cuts and portions. Highlights included the otoro, wagyu beef, spot shrimp, caviar, green eye fish, and hotaru ika. The omakase was perfectly portioned and thoughtfully paced from start to finish. A truly memorable experience.

    Photos
    Bar seating
    Bar seating
    Chilean sea bass with piece of truffle and pickled ginger on top
    Chilean sea bass with piece of truffle and pickled ginger on top
    Matcha crème brulee

    See all

    Matcha crème brulee
    Domo

    Domo

    4.0
    (1k reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Was pleasantly surprised by this place. The service was friendly, and they allow dogs; outside of…read morecourse. My group of 5 + 2 dogs needed seating, which they were able to accommodate their cozy seating right by the front door. Fortunately they have heaters running outside, so that was nice. We ordered 3 rolls - spicy tuna (5 pcs), black pearl (8 pcs), crunchy California (8-9 pcs for $15). The rolls were pretty well balanced with ingredients. Spicy tuna was a bit, but surprisingly, their crunchy California was the best. Fried absolutely perfectly with whatever batter they use, and inserted with real crab - not imitation! Anyway, enjoyed this place for what it was. It's not a large restaurant, nor do they have a large menu, but the taste was good and we enjoyed the service from our nice waiters.

    Tried this place for the first time and I loved it! I came on a Monday night at 7pm, so getting a…read moreseat wasn't a problem. It's a smaller place though so that's something to keep in mind for a day that might be busier. The service was very attentive and friendly. I'll always order salmon collar if I see it on a menu and this one was huge! It's felt like a whole salmon fillet along with the collar. The black pearl roll was my favorite. It had a good seared flavor and the dollop of truffle pate on top wasn't overwhelming. The jalapeño hamachi was also a solid choice. I'd pass on the zesty salmon tempura roll next time, but I'm also not the biggest fan of shrimp tempura in general. I'll definitely come back here. I loved the quaint atmosphere and the generous amount of fish given in each dish.

    Photos
    Domo
    Castro Special Roll @colorful.eats
    Castro Special Roll @colorful.eats
    Crab and cucumber salad

    See all

    Crab and cucumber salad
    Oma San Francisco Station

    Oma San Francisco Station

    4.3
    (353 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$$$

    Oma San Francisco Station is an omakase restaurant inside Japan Center in San Francisco Japantown…read more They offer 3 menus: Mizuho with 24 items, Sakura with 16, and Tsubame with 12. The location is unusual, as the restaurant is open to the mall, which is a bit disruptive. I came for the 8:30pm seating, but the previous guests were still finishing, so I had to wait until 8:45pm. The staff did not seem very concerned. Bad start. You could also hear the mall cleaning crew during dinner, which was not very pleasant. I ordered the 24-item Mizuho Menu, as did all the other guests. There were 5 guests in total (the restaurant can seat up to 8 people). Here is the menu I was served at the end of May: 1. starter: ama ebi cracker with caviar, pickled lotus root with shaved bonito, crab salad 2. nigiri 4x: isaki, iwana, myabi tai, kanpachi 3. sashimi: chutoro, hotate with caviar, umi masu, sawada 4. nigiri 8x: hirame, suzuki, inada, kurodai, shima aji, kamasu, otoro, aged A5 wagyu, kinmedai 5. hot dish: miso soup with inari and shrimp head, hokkaido uni with marinated ikura, black cod, umi masu with raw yellow egg and caviar 6. dessert: matcha ice cream with strawberry Frankly, the food was excellent. The starter was not very creative, but the nigiri were great. The sashimi selection was very nice, with some fish you do not see as often in omakase menus, such as isaki, iwana, and myabi tai, a kind of tai. Sawada was delicious and is always a good inclusion. We asked for some wasabi and received a small cup of kizami wasabi, a chopped wasabi with a slightly crunchy texture, which was a nice touch. For the nigiri, all the classics of a good omakase were present: otoro, kinmedai, shima aji, uni, hotate, and wagyu. Kamasu was also included, and it is one of my favorite fish. It is also worth noting that they age both their beef and their tuna, including the otoro that was served. A few pieces were torched, maybe a few too many. Overall, the service was not memorable, although chef Ron Au was friendly and nice. The place itself felt a bit questionable, and my expectations were not very high after the beginning of the meal. But the food was truly excellent, and for that reason I think it deserves 5 stars.

    4.5 stars round down…read more It's a really small space and I booked a reservation for my bf's birthday! It's in a part of japantown which feels a bit open (which I think is part of the vibe and definitely really fun. We got the 24 piece course which is a Lot Of Food,, and we were the only people there which was really cute. They split across more traditional nigiri dishes and some cooked dishes.The highlight was the second batch of nigiri dishes but I don't remember the exact fish. I will say that of all the omakase places I've been to, its not the best on my list so i'm curious what other places look like, but it's a really special and unique experience! My ONE GRIPE (actually there are a few) but the smoked salmon they served didn't have some of the pinbones removed which is a HUGE FUCKING NONO. i'm just putting it here because as a small institution it's important to support but there were 3 bones which was a :////

    Photos
    Oma San Francisco Station
    Starter
    Starter
    Matcha ice cream made in house

    See all

    Matcha ice cream made in house
    Izumi Kaiten Sushi

    Izumi Kaiten Sushi

    3.6
    (271 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Been eating here when we are in Japantown, cute little spot- Conveyer Belt sushi place. Mostly bar…read moretype seating area, and three tables to sit. We were seated at the bar area since the tables were occupied. The waitress was very quick and fast, setting us up with waters and chopsticks. Sushi is plated and charged by the color of the plate- blue is their most pricier options, which I got a lot of so I had stop eating that option, and I went for yellow or orange! Sushi was fresh, I am a Saba fan so that's what I mostly ate. Uni was fresh, and Amaebi was good. Overall, if you want something fast, the wait wasn't long, (of course it'll change on the weekend) times would be long because of the seating, try this place out! We will be back!

    Came here on a Saturday evening for dinner. It was busy, loud, and lively. I've been to other…read moreconveyor belt sushi spots before, but this one really stood out. It was hard not to grab a bunch of plates since the sushi tasted very fresh and there was a ton of variety going around. I got a mix of rolls and a Sapporo, which paired perfectly. Staff was quick and efficient, even with how crowded it was. Prices were also very affordable for sushi, especially considering the quality. Solid spot if you want fresh conveyor belt sushi without paying too much.

    Photos
    Extra plates are seen in the background staked up on top of that fridge.   There were only 2 other groups.  Why leave more raw fish out!
    Extra plates are seen in the background staked up on top of that fridge. There were only 2 other groups. Why leave more raw fish out!
    Corn nigiri
    Corn nigiri
    Seafood Salad @whaevaeats

    See all

    Seafood Salad @whaevaeats

    Hinata - sushi - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...