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Great quality omakase that isn't incredibly expensive. Really liked the last two nigiri courses (chefs craft and finale), as well as the chawanmushi and salmon monaka. They had very creative flavor combinations and presentation. Try to get a counter seat if you can!
One of the reason's Hinata is popular is that relative to other omakase spots in SF, it offers more affordable prices for solid quality. For the base omakase it's $128, with the option for add-on's in the $40 range per person. The omakase includes a couple appetizers, and 12 chef's choice nigiri. For our meal, it included seafood such as scallop, toro, mackerel, and red snapper. Personally, the flavors were solid - the only hiccup in the experience was the chef forgot to serve 12 nigiri and only served 11. After being mentioned, they quickly provided an additional piece - however this was the first time in an omakase experience where this occurred so was a surprise. This was on top of the fact that the entire experience felt very rushed - with the chef serving nigiri immediately one after the other - we were done in about 45 minutes. Normally pace matters little, but when it's omakase which is suppose to focus on attention to detail, and the fact pieces of the meal were missed initially, it definitely stood out and took away from the experience. As a whole, Hinata is solid, vibes and ambiance are nice, open kitchen is spacious. The only thing I will note is even with no add-on's, once factoring in additional charges Hinata is not significantly more cost effective than other spots in SF.
Beautiful setting in a nice, quiet restaurant. Excellent food and good value for an omakase service, with excellent service and very attentive staff. Sitting at the bar is great but being at a table doesn't take away from the experience at all.
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...
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!
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!
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.
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!
This was our first and unforgettable Omakase experience!! We tried Hinata sushi for our 5 year anniversary and so glad we did because our standards are so high now! Every single course was carefully crafted in front of us, full entertainment while we got to taste a rich selection of fish sourced from all around the world!! Absolutely amazing service that helped us get fully immersed in the meal. An amazing experience from start to finish that I couldn't recommend enough, go try it for yourself and you will see what I mean :)
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. :)
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.
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!
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.
Wow! Pleasantly surprised by every course. I think this omakase is very worth for what you get. We decided to upgrade and get the wagyu, toro, uni. The appetizer part was not bad but not my favorite. It was hard to remember all the favs but the toro and a few others were a top notch! The quality was SO great and the warm sushi rice was amazing. Everything had great mouth feel and flavors. The ending ice cream was needed and we were very full by the end. The service was great and I felt we received all the courses in great timing. The spot was smaller and not overly loud. I would highly recommend for a good and decent price for omakase in SF! read more
2 years ago
Omakase in San Francisco is very limited. There isn't a lot of restaurants that you can find that will serve a high-quality Omakase menu for $125. The fish was delicious and I have no complaints honestly. You can pay extra $$ for the wagyu, sea urchin, and truffle. I would come back. The service was great and they are very attentive. Great ambiance with low dim lights. Try to sit at the bar if you can. Also, great toilet with warmed seats! read more
Just had the most phenomenal omakase experience at Hinata, the sister restaurant of the more casual yet still upscale Sasa. I'm always satisfied after a Sasa visit so it came as no surprise that I loved my first Hinata experience. My friend and I opted for the more luxurious grand Omakase which comes with sashimi, less nigiri courses, and a more elaborate appetizer. Course after course, my stomach grew fuller yet the mind hungrier as every morsel somehow became more delicious than the last. My notable favorites were the black miso cod which sat on a bed of uni cream and topped with a truffle shaving. Sometimes I can find the glaze for miso black cod just cloyingly sweet, but Hinata's made theirs subtle, still allowing the glaze to complement but not outshine the cod's fatty flavor. The negitoro hand roll is stuff made of dreams and of course, the lightly torched chu-toro was simply divine. Make sure to come here a bit earlier than your reservation to snag a seat at the bar! The experience at the bar is much more intimate as the chef personally hands you sushi and explains every course in detail. If you're trying to impress a date with an affordable omakase dinner (by SF standards), Hinata should be on your list. The restaurant was chock full of couples (which is saying a lot considering the matchbox-sized dining area). If I remember correctly, I think the only non-couple parties were mine and another table nearby. read more
1 year ago
Hinata is by far the best omakase in the Bay Area! I've been to Hinata three times now, and each time the sushi quality and service is outstanding. Each nigiri is very unique in flavor and texture. My favorites have always been the spanish mackerel, arctic char, and chutoro. The extra 3 piece nigiri supplement is fantastic as well. Huge thanks to the Hinata team and head chef! An exceptional experience from start to finish, can't wait to go back! read more
Went there for the first time with 5 other people and had an amazing culinary experience, everyone left full and satisfied. Hinata only offers omakase menu, it's really reasonably priced for the amount of dishes you get in such high quality. Make sure to get the add-ons, you won't regret it! read more
I absolutely love Hinata! Every time I'm in San Francisco, I make sure to stop by for omakase. The fish is always incredibly fresh, the ambiance is fantastic, and they have a great selection of sake. The chefs are a lot of fun, and adding on extra pieces is always worth it. I still remember their homemade sesame ice cream--it was so delicious. The staffs are attentive. I'll keep coming back whenever I'm in San Francisco! Amazing overall! read more
2 years ago
Great first Omakase experience. Lots of the fish were flown in fresh from Hokkaido, Japan. The only menu items that seemed repetitive were the sashimi, but all other dishes were unique. Great flavors and visual presentations of the courses. The full course menu was filling and it was more than enough food for a full meal. The price was affordable compared to other local omakase places. Be aware that you are seated at the chef's counter with other diners, so it's not a private dining table and space is somewhat tight. There was no purse hook and I had to keep it on my lap. read more
2 years ago
Amazing omakase experience. Went for our 2nd time and everything was consistent from the 1st time. The only issue my bf had the 1st time was the rice not being seasoned/vinegar, I personally was okay about it and literally everything else was good so we went again a few nights ago. This time, the rice was perfectly seasoned and textured. The space is comfortably lit with a modern clean aesthetic. There is a nice little waiting area which I appreciate because that's not in every omakase restaurant and they always typically make you wait a little while for diners from previous time slots to finish etc. In terms of the omakase, definitely 5 star worthy. I love how each piece was thoughtfully crafted and garnished, with some creative + yum flavor combinations (ex beef tartare + uni paste + radish + caviar enclosed in an rice cracker-like pieces that balanced out the strong flavors). I was full with the omakase set and we also ordered a few a la carte items: amaebi with uni (our fave!), hokkaido seawater uni (amazing!), and anago. this made me very full and i think my bf was perfectly satisfied after these additional items. Service was attentive, the green tea pot was refilled without asking, the sushi chef did not overwhelm us with talking--which is what we like lol, we just had a couple small pleasant conversations. This will be our go to spot when we want a relaxed omakase night out. read more
There is very limited parking in the area, so I suggest taking an Uber or Lyft or be comfortable with walking to the restaurant. It was very hidden and discrete that I almost missed the restaurant when I was walking by. I got the omakase and a sake flight and that was the perfect amount of food. I did not take a picture of every single dish served with the omakase. My overall experience was great. The waiter and waitress were personable and the chef was also very communicative. I sat at the sushi bar and went on a Wednesday so it wasn't too loud, but I can see how the restaurant could get loud if it was on a weekend night. I would love to come back for another omakase experience. read more
Another day, another omakase. I am in love with this restaurant. This is the art of omakase the seafood quality, impeccable technique and the chef well-prepared. Honestly, Hinata will be on my favorite list. The chef and staff are very friendly and attentive. It makes you feel very welcome. The food is the star of the show. Everything is fresh and amazingly tasty. We choose to sit at the counter so we can see how our food get served. The price is reasonable and the amount of food is fulfilled my stomach which makes me happy. Overall, it was a pleasant experience and I will surely comeback in the future. read more
The grand omakase was amazing. The nigiri pieces come on the smaller side but aren't too bad considering how many courses there are. The service by the chef and wait staff was really great! He was informative and conversational which made my experience feel really welcoming. The ambiance is on the chiller side considering I dined at 8PM on a Saturday. Overall would dine again for the price! read more
Wanted to plan a nice birthday dinner for the sis and Hinata didn't disappoint. We had reservations for 4 on a Saturday evening. Our reservation was at 7:45 but decided to get there at 7:30 since I wanted to make sure we sat right at the bar. I also notated that in the reservation but took extra precaution just in case. We are celebrating a birthday of course and wanted to make sure we had that full experience. The place was small , intimate , cozy and had that minimalistic feel. Since we were one of the first to arrive , we were seated around 7:45 and I sat right in the middle of all the action. It was a great start to the night. We had chef Tulga that night and he was super friendly & made us some bomb nigiri. Ordered some hot sake to get the night started. The tasting menu consisted of 14 courses. It was $125 pp .$35 for caviar & the supplements which consisted of 3 nigiris was another $37. It can get pretty pricey when you're adding everything .... But hey it's A ok when there's a Birthhdaaaaayyy . For the appetizer portion there was 3 dishes. My favorite was the ocean trout. It was super light & refreshing. Umimasu - Ocean Trout* Mozuku - Okinawa Seaweed Umaki - Eel Rolled Omelet NIGIRI Kanpachi - Amberjack Kagoshima Hirame - Flounder Korea Kinmedai - Goldeneye Snapper Tokyo (C) IKURA UNI - Salmon Roe/Sea Urchin* ( C) Hotate - Scallop Hokkaido * Hon Maguro - Bluefin Tuna Nagasaki Kasugodai - Young Snapper Mie SAWARA - King Mackerel Shizuoka* Sanma - Pacific Saury Hokkaido Kamasu - Japanese Barracuda Chiba* (C) ZukeChutoro-Medium Fatty Tuna * Negi Toro - Fatty Tuna/Pickled Daikon* I placed a star next to my favorites of the night . As you can see I loved each nigiri that had the caviar! All the pieces were super fresh & the quality was immaculate. Overall I had a great time , the food was good and the company was even better. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
This was my first omakase experience and had a wonderful time! We made a reservation a few months in advance for a party of 2. Parking is extremely limited in this area so definitely reserve time to just find parking. The interior of Hinata is very minimalist and intimate. There was the bar area and then a few tables as well as a waiting area. We were seated at the bar and our chef Tulga was very welcoming and friendly. Service in general was friendly and attentive. There is a set menu that they give you. It's $125 a person and you could also add caviar for an extra $30. They also had other items that you could order after the set menu is done. Our chef would give us a brief history and would explain each nigiri to us which I appreciated. He would also recommend how we should eat it and what flavors to keep an eye out for. The pacing for each nigiri was pretty slow, but it definitely gave me time to digest and I know he was doing his best to make everyone their nigiris so I have no complaints! It is just something to be open about if you tend to eat quickly. Overall, I would definitely come back again for another occasion. Thank you Hinata and Chef Tulga for the wonderful experience. read more
3 years ago
For years I've tried to go to Hinata for their omakase but it wasn't until a few months ago that we spontaneously found a day of reservation on our last day in SF. We decided to try out another omakase during our trip that had just opened and then ended up wanting sushi again right before leaving. Hinata is now $125 per person but in my opinion it's worth every penny! We started off with 3 small appetizers including king crab, egg, octopus. They were all so tasty and a great way to start off. We then had some sashimi cuts followed by the most amazing black cod with uni cream and truffle. This was def one of my favorites. Next we had a smoked mackerel which was flavorful and not fishy at all. Afterwards we had an assortment of nigiris that were all delicious including monkfish liver, tuna, barracuda and a few others. We were full by the end but wanted to try more things so we added in uni and hairy crab. The hairy crab was so buttery and sweet. We were so full at this point and forgot we also had soup and dessert to end the meal still but of course I had to eat it all. Overall, coming to Hinata last minute was the best decision. We ended up unanimously liking it more than the other spot we went to. I'm glad all these years of drooling over their Instagram ended up worth it. In a city full of amazing omakases I would come here again without a doubt! read more
4 years ago
We booked our reservation about 2 weeks in advance! It has now been raised to 125 per person. I came here for my birthday and it was so good! I highly recommend coming here if you like omakase for a decent price! The fish is soooo fresh and so buttery! Some of the fish actually just melts in your mouth! They have wine pairings and caviar add one which you can do but we decided to opt out this time!! The service was amazing, they refilled my tea/water almost every few minutes! As soon as you finished they took it away to get you ready for the next piece/dish! They were so attentive! I would definitely come here again! read more
Did the $125/person with the caviar topping and the additional supplements. I highly recommend the supplements if you're a fan of Otoro and Uni! The caviar supplement was good but if you're not trying to splurge then you can definitely pass and still have a good experience. All the pieces were carefully put together and it was a beautiful sight to sit right in front of the chef! Staff was attentive, the ambiance was relaxed, elevated, and intimate and the food was delicious and highest of quality. Even with the supplements I wasn't full though I have to admit! Nonetheless, still a great dinner spot especially for a date night. read more
I would give Hinata more than five stars if I could. I recently had the opportunity to try their amazing omakase as part of a holiday party. Initially we were a bit skeptical due to the location (if you approach the restaurant via Eddy street). However, once we entered we were pleasantly surprised by the serene decor and friendly staff. We were with a group of ~20 and began the night by drinking wine and mingling at the front of the restaurant. From there, the group split to either eat at larger tables or at the omakase counter. We fortunately sat at the counter right in front of Gavin (the owner). He conversed with us through out the different stages of the meal - educating us on the fish, the etiquette to eating, and even let me try the uni ahead of time as I was a bit wary about it. Every single piece was exquisitely created and the flavors screamed umami. My favorites were the striped jack, scallop, fatty tuna, and wagyu. read more
A friend took me here for their omakase menu to celebrate my birthday and it was fabulous! Each bite was a completely different experience. I could definitely taste the unique combinations of flavor and appreciate the freshness of the ingredients. I can't even pick a favorite, but some notable combinations were smoked mackerel with garlic and yolk on ebi. It's a small restaurant, but that's normal for omakase. We sat at the bar so we could see everything be made. Our chef, Paul, answered all of our questions & our waiter Rob joked around with us. The staff let us know of proper etiquette and checked in on us constantly. My water and tea were never empty and I always had a clean napkin/ towel. Beyond the food, staff, and ambiance being great, the bathroom was also very clean. It had a Japanese bidet toilet (with seat warmer and lights), incense, and a miniature fountain on the counter. To end off the night they brought me a hand written note for my birthday. I would happily come back here! read more
3 years ago
Came here to celebrate my friend's birthday and I'm happy to say that the experience was as good as I've heard people say it is. They recently added a more affordable omakase menu ($85) which I was intrigued by, but we opted for the original grand omakase menu ($125). Whenever I get omakase, there's usually 1-2 pieces that I don't particularly like, but that wasn't the case here. I loved everything that the chef gave us! Everything was so fresh and literally melted in my mouth. The small dishes that came out before the nigiri were also very unique and I loved the cute little plates they came in. We also ordered sake and they had a selection of very pretty sake cups that they let us choose from. The servers constantly came to check up on us and refill our water as well. Overall, great experience and I would definitely come again! read more
I've been here twice now - once at a dining table, and once at the sushi bar. Sushi bar is so much more fun! You can see the chef make each piece of sushi, and you can ask any questions about the fish/seasonings. The sushi chef was really nice and let me know when he was going to torch the fish so I could film it. I liked the sushi a bit more back in February when I went, but I think that's my personal taste - there was more salmon in February than in September. Side note: the toilet seats are really nice LOL it's heated and there's a bidet! read more
7 months ago
4 years ago
Best omakase we've had in SF. My bf planned a day in the city for my bday, culminating in a dinner for two here. I've been recommending Hinata to fellow sushi fiends since. For COVID safety purposes, staff wear masks, hand sanitizer is provided, and surfaces are sanitized thoroughly between guests. The entrance is pretty hidden, just a black door tucked into the block. We were seated for our reservation immediately by exceedingly courteous staff. The meal is paced well-- a total treat to watch our chef, Gavin, put together each piece. Each piece of nigiri was artfully crafted. He took the time to explain additional ingredients and where our fish was sourced from. We loved the entire experience, even adding the SUPPLEMENT afterwards (DO IT!!! So worth), but if I had to pick favorites from their August menu: - STRIPED JACK (so light and sweet!) - BLUEFIN TUNA (really tender and fresh) - MEDIUM FATTY TUNA (melts in your mouth) - FATTY BLUEFIN TUNA (SO decadent) We can't thank Chef Gavin more for being so welcoming and kind for our visit-- even in the upscale ambiance, he made us feel right at home. Thank you for making our special occasion so special! read more
8 months ago
3 years ago
Fantastic find of very delicious omakase with great ambiance and service delivered with good value despite the listed $$$$, with two levels of omakase at $85 and $125 plus additional add on options which I do so highly recommend! Came here for date night after stumbling on this through Yelp, was able to make reservation for a few weeks out, and we were both so pleasantly pleased with the whole experience! We got a bottle of sake for around $100 to go with our 2x grand omakase and add on supplements. We were offered a cheerful selection of glass sake cups to pick from, I loved so much and ordered similar ones after the visit! Everything on the menu were of high quality and was expertly prepared! Chef was very friendly and ready to offer additional context when needed. I look forward to come back here again! read more
We did the $125 grand omakase with supplemental caviar added to 5 nirigi & supplemental wagyu, Hokkaido uni, & o-toro. The fish is extremely fresh & tasty, the handroll was amazing with crisp seaweed, & the service was great too. The tea was $6/person. We sat at the sushi counter & our food was prepared by Toka, a very funny and personable sushi chef. Every dish was truly amazing & very worth the price. The restaurant is a bit hidden on the very busy Van Ness Street but very nice ambiance: dark but not too dark, very clean bathroom, & friendly staff. read more
3 years ago
Food 10/10 Service 10/10 Ambience 10/10 I came here after a roughhhhh shift, treated myself to an omakase. The quality for the price was excellent, and I have no complaints. My sushi chef was friendly, and the servers were attentive. read more
4 years ago
Came here to celebrate a birthday and was not disappointed! We sat at the bar for omakase. There was about 13 items on the December menu and the nigiris and sashimi were the true stars. The omakase started off slow with some good appetizers, but nothing amazing. However once the nigiris and sashimi started, we were blown away and really enjoyed all of them. My favorites in particular were blue fin tuna and fatty tuna, which the sushi chef all said were his top two favorites on the menu. The dessert was subtlety sweet and even came with a candle as I indicated it was for a birthday on the reservation. At a $125, it's a median price point for SF omakase, but pretty filling with lots of variety of fish and dishes. I will definitely be back when I have another occasion to celebrate! read more
What a treat. This place has a small sign, a little difficult to find. They serve omakase only, which is a set menu of sushi/sashimi that the chef brings to you. Cost will be around $200 per person if you order sake also, probably around $150 without booze. There are quality sakes that cost $30-$100+. The flavor is fantastic. You have to try it for yourself. See photos below. read more
Had a craving for sushi and a friend recommended this place. It was small and intimate. We did the omakase which was $125 per person. All of the dishes that came out were amazing. The service was impeccable. One of my friends is left handed and the server noticed and changed the orientation of the chopsticks and since the sushi is meant to eat in a specific way, they turned his plate so he could experience the food the way the chef intended. The glasses were always full as we were drinking water and sake. I would highly recommend going here purely for the service alone. Will definitely come back here again. read more
5 years ago
As a value eater, whenever I find a good deal I rave about it on and on... and on. Hinata was such a great find to satisfy this niche of my appetite. First off - $108 per person, tax and tip not incl. Not the 'cheapest' per se, but for the amount of courses you get it felt like I scored the deal of the century. Hinata is does not serve traditional 'Edo-mae' style sushi, hence the menu includes a variety of non-nigiri dishes including: 1. Appetizer (Includes three different appetizers) 2. Sashimi (Three selection of sashimi course) 3. Nigiri (4 pieces of nigiris) 4. Simmered Dish (The night I went we got a squid noodle with Ikura) 5. Nigiri (6 pieces of nigiris) 6. Owan (Fish broth with red miso) 7. Dessert (Housemade dessert of the day, which was a lemon sorbet with blueberry). Decor is minimal as expected of a upscale Japanese sushi restaurant and definitely very intimate. The sushi counter can sit about 10-12 guests, with a few table tops (I count 4-5 4 tops?) in the back. There's only 2 seatings per night, one at 6:00pm and 8:30 pm, and my party of 2 was honestly surprised we'd able to snag a 8:30 reservation literally the night before. Goes to show how popular in demand this place is! Favorites - A few stood out, for nigiri, the hokkaido scallops, barracuda nigiri, chutoro, otoro, were by far the juiciest, plumpest, and most decadent pieces of nigiri of the night! Squid noodles were omg so tangy and juicy too. Honestly, everything less was pretty good and I couldn't pick any faults with the flavors that were presented to us that night. Gavin, our chef, was super courteous, polite, and attentive. Really enjoyed having him explain us each course! Service was also great - they noticed I was left handed and therefore adjusted my utensils and sushi presentation to accommodate me. Constantly refilled my ginger and water. A+ attention to detail. Now if that's not enough to convince you to dine at Hinata, the chefs here also super talented, fun to talk to, and might I dare say attractive? (Coming from a straight person) *Looking at you Sous-Chef with the man-bun, you had our entire party swooning. read more
First off, we booked a table last minute and got reservations at the exact time we wanted. Especially for a busy Christmas week! How awesome is that! My best friend and I walked in and got seated at the private room to the right which is supposed to be a 6 seater! We had our own "room" space which was really nice but not necessary. We tried to ask the waitress for a spot at the bar but they didn't have any space. We ordered the Omakase + the uni trio which was the perfect amount for us!! I take one star out because of how many mackerel fishes there were. I know it's the season where this is what people come for, but it was just a bit too much. I wanted more fatty pieces that is why we ordered the uni trio on top. We shared the uni trio and it was the perfect bites!! Overall, I would highly recommend coming here and requesting for the bar seating. Service and ambiance was really nice!! The bathroom was also nice too! read more
Time & Date: Friday, Nov 19th 2021 @ 6pm Reservation: made a month in advance Vaccination: proof require Omakase: $108/person I think the pictures speak for themselves... My taste buds were literally dancing with every piece I ate!!! I was celebrating my birthday with some girlfriends & Hinata was the perfect place to do so. The service was absolutely impeccable, down to the servers coming by every 5 minutes to refill your water, to folding your napkin every time you step away, to presenting folded napkins in a dish. You truly feel well taken care of here! My sushi chef was very professional, respectful, kind and personable. He read the room well (my friends and I were chatting most of the time) so he knew when to interject and give us our next dish without interrupting our conversation haha. The fish was insanely fresh, buttery, and melted in my mouth after 1-2 bites. There was absolutely no fishiness whatsoever, and there was not one piece I didn't like. Each piece is already dressed with either soy sauce, ponzu, or wasabi so all you have to do is eat it! You can use your hands to eat the nigiri & they provide a wet napkin for you to wipe your hands. The meal was finished off with this light yet super umami fish broth, I wish I could drink a whole bowl! For dessert, I was surprised with the cutest finale -- a decorated dish of yuzu sherbert with a birthday note and candle! I definitely felt special even though it was a little touch. I'll definitely be back soon, I'm already planning the next time! (: read more
It's never been easy to impress my immigrant parents with fine dining since they've had their fun in pre-inflation days, but Hinata has climbed up to be one of our favorite omakase experiences in SF after our recent birthday dinner here. - FOOD - We opted for a standard omakase menu ($85 pp, 12pc nigiri) with the supplement ($41 pp, 3pc 1 each of uni, otoro, & wagyu). I highly recommend this menu combo if you're mainly here for the nigiri sushi: a very filling 15 pcs total with phenomenal uni and wagyu bites, for a similar price to the grand omakase. The course flowed from the lighter nigiri to the more flavored ones so you can enjoy the unique flavor of each piece, ending with the umami-filled supplement as the finale. If you're looking for an alternative to their drink pairing, the cold sake "Kamoshibito Kuheiji Junmai Daiginjo" was a refreshing option with subtle fruity notes. - SERVICE - I'm not too picky on service so long as my food tastes delicious, but I want to highlight the elegance in Hinata's wait staff. In addition to the succinct explanations to each nigiri, our waitresses tended to the smallest details: bringing every course over only when everyone is present, refolding the tablecloth when someone stepped away from the table, etc. One noticed that I was translating the context of each nigiri to my parents, and offered to provide both an English and Cantonese explanation in our service for the rest of the night. They also gave a complimentary glass of champagne to our birthday girl with the dessert. - AMBIANCE - Hinata's entrance gives no hint at the minimalistic, Japandi styled interior within. The restaurant is dimly lit but still great for taking photos of the food or people. Arrive early for bar seating facing the chefs if you'd like to watch the sushi preparation. The restaurant's location is near Tenderloin but it is on the larger Van Ness street which is fairly well lit outside and has many other businesses and buildings. Would recommend driving or taking a rideshare over bus, especially if you're not familiar with the area. read more
After dining at Shota 3+ times, I was curious if there were other omakase worth dining at that had a lower price point. A few friends had told me of their great experience at Hinata, so I went ahead and booked an 8:30pm Saturday reservation the day before (someone must've cancelled last minute). Hinata was great value for the price ~ $115 for 14 small dishes and they were all delicious minus one squid dish that was good but I wouldn't mind not having again. Service was great (always refilling water/sake + ginger). There was also early 2000's R&B playing over the speaker the entire time! The restaurant had an overall laid back atmosphere compared to Shota which was more elegant and proper. My favorite dishes were the King Mackerel Sashimi, Negi toro (fatty tuna), and the a la carte A5 Wagyu. The one room for improvement was that Hinata didn't have as many creative dishes as Shota (cooked fish or more complex soup or even a fried dish). But, with Hinata being almost half the price of Shota, I can't complain. Hinata also had my favorite sake, the Black Dragon for ~$86. Not too bad, considering the same bottle will sell for around $45-$55 at True Sake. Another con to Hinata was just the general location. It is about 2 blocks away from the Tenderloin so the area around it isn't the best but at least Hinata is on Van Ness which usually has quite a few of cars driving by. If you are also looking for non-street parking, there is a garage around 2.5 blocks away at the theater/behind Ike's which is relatively safe (especially because people also use that garage when attending a concert at Great American Music Hall). I would definitely come back to Hinata due to the price and service! read more
Another great evening at Hinata with Chef Gavin. We added the supplement with otoro, Bafun uni, & A5 Wagyu. I even had room for the Hokkaido hairy crab off of the a la carte menu (& chef recommended after I loudly said it piqued my interest). Solid price point for everything you get. My highlights were the tuna, Kinmedai (always), & anything seared with that magical torch. Washing everything down with hot green tea was perfect (green tea over sake). The house made Yuzu Sherbet was the perfect blend of sweet, burnt crispiness, light, citrusy, & creamy. Cannot tell you how much I enjoy the thoughtfulness & detail that goes into the menu. My tummy feels so well cared for every time I leave (like a warm food hug from my mom). #iykyk I asked the chef what his favorite month for fish is to look into when I'd like to book my next omakase tasting. Chef Gavin said every month is wonderful & different... so I guess I'll just keep going without thinking... Who wants to come with next? Omakase tasting - $125 Supplement - $41 Hokkaido hairy crab - $10+ Green tea - $5+ read more
My cousin rented out Hinata for her Bach weekend so the whole omakase experience was very intimate. The chefs were all very knowledgeable and friendly. They gave us recommendations on how to eat certain dishes. The quality of the fish was top tier. Each bite just got better and better, making it difficult to pick a favorite. Our whole group really enjoyed the omakase and our tummy's were left feeling satisfied. I highly recommend this omakase to anyone in the bay! Just make sure you rsvp in advance! read more
More info about Hinata
810 Van Ness Ave
San Francisco, CA 94109
Tenderloin
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(415) 829-8291
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http://hinatasf.com
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Ask the Community - Hinata
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.
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.…
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.
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43 reviews that are not currently recommended
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Hinata - sushi - Updated September 2026
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