I wanted to like this place since the other japanese restaurant around the corner is too small and too full. Things they need to improve on. Miso soup is salty slices of raw fish are too thin roll was too small teriyaki sauce had a sour after taste dressing on salad doesn't taste right. Too much rice and mushy, use less water. Things that were good. The ramen the beef teriyaki was tender and they gave alot customer service was good They are close to being a decent restaurant. The food wasn't terrible, but not on par with other Japanese restaurants. read more

Inflation buster When my well off friends started complaining about the price of restaurant , I set out to find places offering a deal This place is not only less than others but the flavor/freshness is on par with much more expensive bento ($12) ! read more

I dropped into Izanami for a casual lunch and left with pretty mixed feelings. The service was great. Their staff is friendly and attentive and made me feel took orders for food and drinks really fast, which set the tone for the meal. The vibe inside is chill and comfortable, perfect for a low-key meal with friends or a relaxed date night without any fuss. There's plenty of seating and available parking nearby, which is a huge plus in this part of town and made the whole experience easy from start to finish. Food here lands squarely in the decent category. I tried two different bowls of ramen, Tonkotsu and Shoyu, and they were solid but not outstanding. Overall though they were flavorful enough and fresh-tasting and for the portion size and price, it's a pretty good deal. All in all, Izanami is a solid choice if you're nearby and craving Japanese fare in a laid-back setting. It's not going to be the best food you've ever had, but the friendly staff, easy parking, and fair prices for a decent amount of food make it worth a casual stop or good for a quick bite in a pinch. read more

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Was walking by with the hubs and saw they had a deal for a bento box for 11.95! What?! That's crazy, some thought we'd try it out. The place was pretty empty but most places on Grand Ave are kinda empty now so it's not uncommon. We both ordered the bentos and had: Chicken katsu and tempura 4/5: The katsu was tender and the tempura wasn't too battery. My only complaint is that the portions were small but I guess that can be expected for the price! Tonkatsu and gyoza 3/5: The tonkatsu was drier than the chicken katsu but that is usually the case. Gyoza was all right. Nothing special. The place is pretty chill and once they take your order they pretty much leave you alone. Overall, it wasn't bad but it wasn't great. For the price you can't beat it! We don't eat as much as we used to so we were content which I guess is a good thing. We might try it again but there are lots of places to try around there! read more

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Visited on a Friday night around 8pm, restaurant had a few other guests but not too busy and was able to grab a table right when we walked in. Drinks: Hot Sake - solid grabbed a large carafe which was quite hot on arrival, sake had a mild sweetness with a slight vanilla note Food - Bento box with choice of two items I got the chicken karage and edamame, came with steamed white rice, salad and miso soup, miso was okay a bit salty with a few pieces of tofu and seaweed served nice and hot which I appreciated, the chicken karage was so good, nice juicy pieces of chicken thigh, medium level of breading which was nice and crunchy, piping hot with great seasoning had a nice umami flavor, edamame, rice and salad were pretty standard Curry katsu don - generous portion size, chicken was lightly breaded in panko and fried crisp, a tad on the dry side, the curry sauce had a little spicy with typical curry notes, sauce was pretty simple with no carrots or potatoes Service was solid, quick and efficient, food and drinks were served promptly. Water is served upon request which they brought over shortly after we asked for it. Overall a great hidden gem in South San Francisco, the chicken karage was amazing, would go back just for that item. Bento box is also a great value at less the $15 for a pretty generous portion size. Would definitely come back to try more of the menu. read more

Izanami - Bento box - Sushi Bars Near Me - South San Francisco, California

What we ordered & my thoughts: Edamame $4.95 Simple and healthy appetizer! One of my favorite snacks/appetizers. Spicy Garlic Miso Belly (+ Pork Belly) $21 My partner ordered this one, he felt it was a big bland and nothing to special. Didn't feel it's worth the $21 :( Bento Box Special (Braised tofu & Chicken Teriyaki) $11.95 This was a pretty good deal for a bento box, normally bento boxes are between $15-20. You can choose from quite a lot of options. For the price and for what it is, I'd say this is worth it and would recommend! Everything was pretty tasty and I had some leftovers too. ps this doesn't come with miso soup~ Lion King Roll $14.95 One of our favorite sushi rolls, we love that it's warm since it's baked and all the ingredients blend so well together! It feels slightly melted as it's been baked~ Yakitori $6.95 This came with 2 skewers, it was chicken thigh and scallion. I was to full to eat this the day of and so I ate it the next day at lunch, it wasn't good being warmed up again so I assume it's probably better eating it when it was still hot & fresh haha Overall eating 3/5 read more

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For the bento lunch special, I'd say it's definitely worth it. Stick to this and you'll be okay. Their salmon was cooked well and the skin was cripsy. The eel roll was okay. Kind of dry and the rice was a little soggy. Same with the bento box rice. Their sunomono salad was not worth it crab was fishy so I couldn't eat it. Just ate the cucumbers. Empty during lunch time. My coworker's ramen was just okay. She said her roll was good though. Tea is from a tea bag. Not hot enough. 3.3 stars for average and inconsistent food. read more

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I've been coming here a few years now. They offer delicious Japanese food with great portions. My favorite are there bento boxes. They currently have some bento box specials. Only $11.95 and great selection. I ordered one with teriyaki chicken and braised tofu. The chicken was quite moist and delicious. My husband order a chirashi bowl. He said the sushi was very fresh and excellent. Also, they have great service! read more

Izanami - bento box menu $11.95 - Sushi Bars Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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We came on a chilly Saturday - would rate a 3/5 KARAGE: came out so fast, I'm pretty sure that they probably just refried it a little bit. Overall was pretty good, I wish it had more salt salt/pepper. Pretty good, maybe about 10-12ish pieces. Wish it was crispier. Yeah, I got the ($13.50) TONKATSU Ramen: overall, a really rich broth, it wasn't too salty, which was really nice. There were a few pieces of bamboo in it, a good amount of noodles, and three thick pieces of Cha su pork! They're also black, fungus and green onions as well. I say it was tasty. My husband got the ($15.50) SPICY TONKATSU RAMEN, this was pretty yummy and quite garlicky. Wasn't too spicy, flavor profile was alright, the soup was rich but all the other stuff didn't really have much taste at all. Service was good, everyone was really nice and pretty timely :) Almost gives me cruise ship food vibes. But really good for the price point. read more

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Since my fiance and I are new in south sf, we've been trying around new spots we can find that are close by to us. Last night we decided to try this Japanese food spot. We walked over from our apartment and were ready to feast. We were kind of hesitant since when we walked in it was empty and it's a Saturday night! But it was Halloween weekend so everyone was busy bar hopping. We loved how the restaurant looks! I loved salmon so when I saw the Sake Don on their menu I had to try it for sure. And my fiance chose the chicken katsu curry. When the food came out and I was so happy to see that this place gives out a good amount of sake, because of my love for it I always wish they can give more! My fiance loved the curry and we were glad that it was not a prepackaged flavor curry, which we've stumbled at other restaurants before. We would definitely come by again to try the different things on the menu! read more

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Staff was so attentive. Food was fresh, came out fast, and clean. Good for private parties. read more

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My boyfriend took me and my dad here while my dad visited us from Texas. All the food was amazing--chef's choice nigiri that came with miso soup (pictured) ramen, a cooked roll, and spicy edamame for the table. We waited nearly an hour for our food, and the staff, while friendly, weren't very attentive. $65 for three--worth it for the flavors, but service could be faster. read more

Izanami - Sushi Bars Near Me - South San Francisco, California

Started my meal with chicken skewers and chicken heart skewers. The chicken was good but the chicken heart had a musky taste and was very gamey. I ordered four rolls: - Gateway Roll: 8/10 - Cherry Blossom Roll: 7/10 - Hamachi Hunter: 7/10 - Saiwaii roll: 6/10 The service was a bit slow. There was only two people on the floor but it was always hard to get their attention since their focus was only on this main table. read more

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We had initially been looking for another restaurant, but couldn't find it and ended up here instead. It was close to our hotel, which was ideal for an early morning the next day. We were so pleasantly surprised! The Spicy Garlic Edamame was fantastic, the miso soup was flavorful, the Teriyaki chicken was simple and tasty, and the Angry Roll was delicious! Our server also helped us choose a sake to drink and was spot-on in his recommendation. It was very quiet in the restaurant being sort of late on a Tuesday. They had a nice little fish tank at the front. Good place to stop in! read more

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They serve Great food and Great customer service and they have 3 menus and lots of choices to choose from. Also, the new special bento box menu not only you can order during the day time but night time too. What a great deal and lots of food. read more

Izanami - Ordered 2 items of the new bento box menu - Sushi Bars Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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I had a work event where I can get food from any restaurant near south San Francisco so I picked this restaurant to use my work coupon at and I'm glad I picked it! The rolls were on the smaller side but the quality was still good. I got a lion king roll (baked salmon roll), beef wagyu roll, and california roll. I don't eat raw fish so I was happy they had so many cooked rolls! I liked how they put a decent amount of salmon on the lion king roll because most places usually cheap out on it and put some salmon skin. Overall, I was happy with the quality and will be back when I'm craving a lion king or beef wagyu roll. read more

Izanami - Sushi Bars Near Me - South San Francisco, California

I was craving something soupy & we found this little spot. When we first walked in, I was a little taken aback. The space seems a little odd, especially when I sat down and got a whole view of the place. Probably because the spacing didn't seem like it was made for a restaurant setting. My bf mentioned it might've previously been a dive bar? I'm not too sure. It's also a little underdressed? I think the walls could definitely use some artwork. Besides the space, the servers were very nice & attentive. Parking around the area isn't the best, it's located on the Main Street in SSF. We don't mind waking so we parked a few blocks up. I ordered the spicy garlic miso and my bf ordered the spicy garlic tonkatsu. Both were definitely garlicky, though I couldn't really tell if there was much miso flavor under the spice. Lots of noodles & the pork belly was delicious. The uni & sake nigiri were okay. I wasn't expecting much, just couldn't resist ordering some uni. I think for what it is the price is pretty decent. I'd definitely come back if I were craving ramen again and didn't feel like driving too far. read more

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Be prepare for service with a lot of sass! If the server doesn't like what you want to order, he will let you know. It was cold for San Fran and both my colleague and I wanted a pot of green tea each... but we were lectured that only one pot per table is allowed. The restaurant was maybe 10% full for dinner and we were tempted to sit in two separate tables, lol. I had a spicy tonkatsu ramen and it came out almost too quickly. The soup tastes flavorful, the egg was yummy (but why only 1/2 egg?), the meat was not memorable. My noodles were semi-raw and clumped together, so clearly was not cooked properly. Luckily, I filled up on the soup and green tea and didn't need to say anything about the noodles. When we paid, we were surprised that the green tea was on the house, even when we inquired about the missing charge! read more

Izanami - Spicy Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - South San Francisco, California

Excellent! Fresh! I always call for pick up and they're always kind to me! Will dine in one day! read more

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this place is extremely underrated!! the prices are incredible for rolls and bento boxes. we ordered agedashi tofu. i personally loved it but it was a little stronger on the ginger taste than most. i ordered two rolls specialty rolls which were very well flavored and fresh. a pleasant surprise was the california roll! the service was a little funky the day i went because there was an event going on in the front. we had to sit in the back which is a little quiet and looks less like a japanese restaurant . read more

Izanami - Tan Tan Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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Recently discovered this authentic Japanese restaurant and have been there twice already. The sushi is well prepared and fresh tasting. We shared an agedashi tofu which was lovely. My companion had one time the Hawaiian roll, and one time the sunrise roll. Both were very good Between the two occasions, I had spicy tuna roll (authentically spicy - no messing around), unagi nigiri, maguro sashimi, and hotate nigiri. The restaurant is large and on both occasions we were early so there were only one or two other tables occupied but as we neared the end of our meal more people started coming in. There was also a lot of pick up. It's a little on the chilly side. On our second visit, I kept my jacket on. The wait staff (both times the same woman) was very attentive and delightful. We plan to go back! read more

I was craving a nice warm ramen because it was so gloomy and rainy outside. Reading the reviews, I was kinda nervous because I knew this was either gonna be really good or really bad (reviews seem to go one way or another). I think that I would say that my experience was good! I ordered the spicy garlic tonkotsu ramen and the broth was SO RICH. I feel like there was a lot of noodles and veggies in the soup -- always a plus. My mom ordered the seafood ramen which I thought was also really good. We came at happy hour so we also got 2 handrolls for $7. They were a bit on the small side but still yummy and worth. Overall, solid place for ramen with great proportions/value. read more

Izanami - Spicy Garlic Tonkotsu Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - South San Francisco, California

This place was wonderful! We've been a couple of times, and service is always great. Very friendly and welcoming! There's a metered parking lot right next to it, makes it super convenient. It was a rainy day, so we had the Tonkatsu ramen. My older child is a picky ramen eater, and first thing she said was "the ramen is GOOD!". We also had some handrolls and nigiri, which was all delicious! The place is also very clean and aesthetically spacious. Will definitely return! read more

Izanami - Tonkatsu ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - South San Francisco, California

An amazing experience at this restaurant! The rolls were great. We got several different ones, you couldn't go wrong! Everything was fresh and had great flavor. read more

Sushi was great! The ramen had amazing flavor and great spice!! Would highly recommend getting any of them, especially the spicy ones!!! Thomas did an excellent job! read more

Izanami is a decent option on Grand Ave for ramen and sushi. My rating is more like 3.5 stars. Lately I've felt finding parking in this area to be more and more of a pain to find, but luckily we were able to find a spot at night. I walked inside greeted by a couple sushi chefs and I must say I'm not a huge fan of the interior aesthetically. The seats on the booths are also pretty dirty with dark stains all over the fabric seats. There weren't too many servers working in the restaurant, but ours was fairly nice overall. Aside from cleanliness and ambience, what is most important is the food. What I tried was the Tempura ($10.95), Tonkotsu Ramen ($11.50), Lion King Roll ($14.50), and California Special Roll ($8.95). All were pretty solid, but nothing too different from any other average Japanese restaurant I've been to. The wait for the food to come also took quite a bit of time, but not too long. Personally wasn't a huge fan of the batter for the Tempura and was a little on the oilier side. I probably wouldn't get the Tempura again even though I love Tempura. I enjoyed the broth for the Tonkotsu Ramen and it was very creamy and tasty. They were generous with the ramen noodles which will leave you feeling stuffed and the egg was also cooked perfectly. I unfortunately wasn't too fond of the pork itself in the Tonkotsu as it had a bit of a frozen pork flavor which is a downside because better pork would have made this ramen a 10/10. I will say I really enjoyed their rolls. I chose very basic options like the Lion King Roll and the California Special Roll just to play it safe, but they were put together very well. The sushi rice was perfect and you can tell that the fish is fresh. I would recommend either roll. If you're on Grand Avenue and you want some solid Japanese food then you can't really go wrong with Izanami as I'd definitely still recommend their ramen and sushi options. read more

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We came on a Friday close to 2pm and we were the only 2 people dining there. Our waitress was attentive. She was the host and also clear our table. There were other workers but they didn't say anything. The place was very quiet. We ordered the dragon roll, beef teriyaki, and tonkotsu ramen. Dragon roll was as described and we enjoyed it. Beef teriyaki was tender with plenty of rice. It also came with miso soup, which was good. Tonkatsu ramen has a good initial flavor but it falls flat in the end. read more

Good sushi in South San Francisco will recommend to anyone, check out their business hours, since they not open all the time

Went there twice recently,Their food was good. Highly recommended for the lunch special. Good service. read more

Izanami - Chicken Karaage, Spicy Garlic Miso Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - South San Francisco, California

Love it here! Clean, the service is amazing! I probably come here once a week. I can't get enough of their spicy garlic edamame, the firecracker roll and their rib eye teriyaki bento plate. Chef's kiss! So many other Japanese resto has opened up in the surrounding area but still one of my favorite Japanese restaurant read more

Izanami - Spicy Garlic Edamame - Sushi Bars Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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We came in with a group of 7 people a little later in the evening on a Friday. The place was empty. Our server was very kind. We pretty much all had a bowl of ramen. We also had a few small sushi rolls. I thought the food was good and we left satisfied. Those of us in the group who have been to Ramen together agreed that it was near the middle of our 7-8 ramen experiences we've had as a group. The biggest let down was the chashu. It was bland and low quality. I had considered the pork belly up charge (and extra noodles). I think I should have tried it. read more

Food was delicious and a great price. Restaurant was clean with good service. Got a lunch tofu curry (came with rice and salad) and 4 pieces of nigiri for $25. read more

Had the spicy garlic tonkatsu ramen. It was good. This spot is in downtown SSF. Parking is metered or a garage somewhere.

Great food. Ordered the tonkatsu ramen and was very impressed. The broth was both flavorful and spicy. There was no need to ask for any extras. It was perfectly delicious. Fairly priced as well. I will be coming back. read more

We had chicken ramen and spicy seafood ramen. It came out steaming hot with a good broth. Seafood has mix of shrimp (1), mussels (2), squid and white fish. Chicken was dark meat so I was expecting breast meat. Still ok. We had grilled eggplant with house sauce. It was comfort food with simple steamed flavor. Ambience was quiet with 80s music and tv. It was a nice neighborhood like experience. Server was pleasant and kind. Come here for a quiet warm ramen meal. read more

Lunch combo Tonatsu Ramen and mini pork belly over rice (for dinner). Tonkatsu soup ramen was delicious but wish there were a bit more veggies. Mini pork belly over rice was very flavorful. Tables are spaced out. Lunch was served very quickly once order was taken. Service was fair given that there were only one waitress. Price is very reasonable. Will definitely come back again to try other items on the menu. read more

Izanami - Tonkatsu Ramen - Sushi Bars Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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The food is all delicious! Great service as well. Every time I'm in SSF I have to stop in!

Miso Soup Agedashi Tofu Spicy Garlic Miso Ramen + extra 3 Piece Pork Belly With Reman you can add side order. I choose 5 Piece Spicy Tuna Roll and we also got the lion king roll Most of our dinner was tasty. Fresh. Totally I'm very happy but I took 1 star out because Agedashi tofu could be better. It was not good at all. I recommend the spicy garlic ramen with pork belly it was sooooooooo good. I definitely going back for sure! read more

Izanami - Pick up our dinner tonight - Sushi Bars Near Me - South San Francisco, California

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Chicken Karaage, I love you! Fried chicken has replaced my love of burgers. I love fried chicken so much, every opportunity I have to order it - I do! These tender marinated pieces of fried deliciousness are worth every calorie. Get it! Don't think about it, don't discuss it, don't even try to rationalize it with your dinner mates who whine about the dangers of fried food. Just get it. The shrimp tempura lunch bento is generous but it was GREASY! I wish restaurants that fried food used an oil thermometer because you can actually fry food without the end result glossing your lips and fingertips. Culinary school 101. The sushi rolls were lovely. I'd go in person to try different things than what I had for this lunch delivery. Not that it was bad - but i'd like to experience their yakitori and ramen! Those things must be eaten still hot so a visit is in my future. Yum and done. read more

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Great food from a talented chef in a conveniently located restaurant. Service was fast and friendly. We had: Chicken skin yakitori skewer - super crispy and grilled to perfection Spicy garlic edamame - just the right amount of heat and plenty of garlic Chicken shioyaki - grilled over rice with salad and two gyoza and miso soup. Chicken cooked and seasoned nicely, and salad with tasty traditional ginger dressing Salmon shioyaki - grilled over rice with salad and two gyoza and miso soup. Salmon was moist, cooked and seasoned nicely, and salad with tasty traditional ginger dressing From a previous visit - Nasu (eggplant) was delicious and melted in our mouths. Ramen soup and unagi hand roll were both delicious. They have an extensive menu with items appealing to fans of Japanese cuisine as well as those new to it. The owner, server and sushi chefs were all very friendly and inviting. Overall a hidden gem. Will return! read more