TL;DR: Food and ambiance are similar to kaiyo rooftop, but drink menu is completely different. I loved the food at Kaiyo Rooftop and I was really excited about the new restaurant opening. We came to check it out on a weekday. For some reason Resy showed that the earliest reservation was at 8pm when I checked it before the day, but in reality the restaurant was not full and they had earlier spots available when I checked Resy again just hours prior. I would say to expect similar food and vibes as Kaiyo Rooftop. The restaurant is meant to be a more elevated and upscale experience but the ambiance and interior designs are similar. If you didn't like the food at Kaiyo Rooftop, you probably wouldn't like the food here. They have two sets of menus, one is the general menu and the other one is a sushi menu. The general menu have "warm shareables", "cold shareables", "large shareables" and "pasta and rice", and it's obvious that they're catering to a shared dining experience, which is similar to the rooftop. You can find more "real food" (rather than finger bites) at the restaurant for sure. We ordered 3 small dishes and 1 entree to share among 3 people, and I think it was just a little under enough. 2 small dishes and 2 entrees would've been a good amount. Out of the items that we ordered, there wasn't anything that I didn't like. I'm a huge fan of the grilled octopus, absolutely delicious and super tender. My first bite was mind blowing. Did not feel rubbery at all. Well seasoned and cooked. I would note that the hot dishes tasted better warm. We were chatting and some of the last bites were cold, and they tasted significantly saltier. In terms of drinks, the restaurant has a completely different drink menu than the rooftop. The drinks at the restaurant are definitely more unique and different; I find that the drinks at the rooftop are good but quite generic. So depending on the type of person you are, you may love or hate the drinks. I would definitely say that they split the crowd. One thing that was a bit annoying was the fact that we were seated at a table set up against the floor-to-ceiling window. Their window is two-sided and it's a busy street so people kept coming up and stare at our table... read more

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The service was friendly and attentive, which I appreciated. The place had a great feel and looked very nice inside. I ordered the rib eye, but unfortunately it didn't live up to expectations, lacking flavor and not as tender as it should have been. The sushi itself was very good, , but overall the meal felt pricey for the quality we received. Good service, but the food didn't quite match the cost. read more

We came for restaurant week excited to try this place but it was overall underwhelming. The ambiance is beautiful but the service was bad and the food was just okay. The nigiris came out with a large rice to fish ratio that took away from the flavor, I wish I ate the nigiris with half the rice they came with. We sat down at 7:45, and our food didn't come out until 8:30. I had to ask about my drink order twice and then was given the wrong drink. I had already started drinking it, so when they asked if I wanted to keep the drink I felt like I had to say yes but it would've been nice for them to apologize and offer to make me the correct drink instead. Our server messed up our order twice on both the first and second course. We had multiple people bringing food we never ordered which made the wait for the food we did order even longer. When we asked about our order that never came out, our server told us the kitchen is backed up and that we can just cancel it. Of course I still wanted to try the food, so we decided to wait but offering to cancel was such a weird thing to do esp since we barely had any of our food. They did comp our dessert for the mix up, and the guava crème brûlée was probably the best thing we had there, but it was honestly not a relaxing experience to eat here. The service and food are not worth the high price tag. read more

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Hands down my favorite date night spot in SF. Flew in town during Memorial Day weekend and I had to check this place out. The ambiance was modern yet cozy, and the attention to detail in both presentation and flavor was impeccable. My girlfriend and I started at Kaiyo Rooftop and then came down here; instant regret. We should've started the experience at the ground floor restaurant and then make our way up to the rooftop, which oversees all of SOMA. For apps, i had the Shishito Peppers and the Miso-Butter Corn followed by oysters and Uni, but the true mouthwatering item was the A5 Waygu Sando with Caviar! So bomb!! Each bite-sized piece was perfectly toasted, stuffed with succulent beef, and topped with a generous dollop of caviar. The delicate balance of flavors and textures was a testament to the chef's expertise. This dish alone is worth the visit! The exceptional cocktails and food were matched by the outstanding service. The staff was incredibly attentive and friendly, making sure that every detail of our dining experience was perfect. Special mention goes to Aaron, who was so fun to talk to and incredibly helpful. His recommendations and enthusiasm added an extra layer of enjoyment to our meal. read more

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Run, don't walk--this place sells out early every night! After months of trying, I finally got my hands on the Arroz con Pato, and it was absolutely worth the wait. The perfectly seared duck breast atop fragrant Peruvian cilantro rice? Pure perfection. Hands down, my new favorite spot in SF for duck. 10/10. read more

Kaiyo Restaurant - Arroz con Pato - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

The drinks were good and the rooftop view was spectacular. However, the staff were pretty disorganized as the downstairs restaurant had newly opened and there was a lot of miscommunication with drinks and food. Some said we were allowed to take our drinks from the roof downstairs to the restaurant, only to be stopped by the servers at the restaurant and had to take the elevator back upstairs. Even when they made the mistake, the staff got upset with us. The food also took over an hour to come out. Overall, I am sad to say I won't be coming back again. read more

Kaiyo Restaurant - Rooftop view - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

The ambiance is great and so are the workers. Interior design is all good to make you feel like you're in a different area not in sf. However the food portions are small while served on huge plates, they are all shareables. Not sure if they planned to have such huge time gaps between food items but I had to wait 45 minutes for the pasta dish we ordered which made us just want to leave. We had to ask different waiters if our food was coming and same response, on the way... it definitely wasn't. The service looked disorganized because how many workers were moving around but people who sat after us were getting food first and people before us were waiting longer. No servers were checking on us after orders, simply get your order and only see you when they had food. I understand the place is relatively new so I can get past the inattentive service, but wouldn't that make them want to make sure food is on time and that nothing was wrong while being there? It's almost as if we ordered off a kiosk and then just sat and waited because how little interaction there was. read more

Kaiyo Restaurant - Octopus - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I do not leave reviews frequently it occasionally I am inspired to do so. Where do I start? Ambiance? Check. Kaiyo has a nice, relaxing vibe, the music is loud enough to drown out the sounds of a busy restaurant but low enough to be able to easily hear your dinner companion across the table without raising voices. The food? Very nicely presented and the flavors on point. We enjoyed all 5 offerings ranging from the Blue Fin nigiri and sushi roll, to the black miso cod and beef short rib. The cocktails were enjoyed by both of us and we can be pretty picky. I went out on a limb and asked for a recommendation on a wine pairing for the "seafood" part of our meal and the bar tender nailed it. Service? Again nothing but great things to say. The wait staff were enjoyable and attentive but not overly so. The bar tender even visited our table a couple of times. So far so good, right? Well there was a little hick-up, but i can't blame the staff or the chefs. When we ordered we said they could bring out the food as it was prepared. It all came out pretty much at the same time, which was unexpected. We were at a small table and not all of it really fit. I was annoyed with this but really not their fault. They bent over backwards to make it work and were so very gracious and apologetic even though I couldn't really blame them for it, especially considering the food came out quickly. I left feeling well cared for, I felt my business was appreciated. Well done folks. I'll recommend you to everyone. Thanks for the enjoyable experience. read more

If I could give Kaiyo zero stars, I would. This was, without a doubt, one of the worst dining experiences I've ever had; filled with disorganization and an owner who has absolutely no business running a restaurant. Let's start with the reservation process. You can't just book and show up--no, they make sure to throw up roadblocks like a ridiculous pop-up error warning that you cannot request the rooftop bar with your reservation, and oh, if you're late by even a second beyond 15 minutes, get ready for a $30 per person penalty. The irony? Despite arriving seven minutes early after traveling over an hour from the East Bay, we were still forced to wait 25 minutes past our reservation time before even being seated. While we waited, one of the waitresses was actually wonderful--she gave us a drink menu and told us we could place an order with her while waiting. Appreciative of this, we took a few minutes to decide and then went to order. But by then, a different waitress was at the front, and when we asked to place our drink order, she rudely dismissed us, saying we'd have to go wait at the bar instead. When I clarified that another staff member had told us differently, she flatly responded, "If that's something she told you, you have to take it up with her." What?? How is that an acceptable response from any service staff? Then came the dining disaster. 40 minutes after we should have been seated, no one had even taken our order. And when someone finally did? It was the owner himself, who turned out to be the biggest issue with this entire establishment. I politely shared feedback about the extreme delays and slow service, acknowledging that they seemed understaffed but pointing out that waiting this long was unacceptable. His response? "What do you want me to do?" Excuse me? That's the best he could come up with? I suggested that given the completely avoidable service failures, some kind of compensation would be appropriate, to which he begrudgingly comped our drinks (but not without attitude). But wait--it gets worse. Despite placing a simple order (miso corn and two vegetarian rolls), the miso corn never arrived. We sat there waiting for what felt like forever, finished both rolls, and still--nothing. I eventually asked him to close out our tab so we could leave, expressing my frustration that we literally did not receive what we ordered. Instead of apologizing like any competent business owner would, he decided to make himself the victim and snapped, "As the owner, I don't appreciate when customers come at me rudely." Oh, but the real kicker? When I went to pay, he held my card hostage, refusing to process the payment until he finished lecturing me about how he doesn't care what his own workers say. Let that sink in: The owner of this place straight-up does not care about his customers or his own staff. And the food? Well, based on the vegetarian dishes we were able to actually get, it was utterly bland, uninspired, and lacked any depth of flavor. This place prides itself on being Peruvian-Japanese, but from what we experienced, the execution was lackluster at best. 2/10 at most. Bottom line: Kaiyo isn't just a bad restaurant--it's a joke. Between the insulting reservation policies, the inexcusably slow service, and an owner who has the audacity to berate customers for politely giving feedback, I cannot urge people strongly enough to stay far, far away from this place. Spend your money somewhere that actually respects its customers, because Kaiyo clearly does not. Editing based on owners response: John, I left your name out to let you save face, but since you've responded dishonestly, let's set the record straight. I appreciate your attempt at accountability now, but in the moment, you blamed your staff instead of owning the situation. Before giving feedback, I asked if you were open to hearing it--you agreed. That you didn't like my feedback doesn't make it disrespectful--it makes it honest. Your claim that you asked us to leave is completely false. We were not rude, nor did we create a scene. It's disappointing that you'd fabricate details to invalidate my experience. I hope Yelp holds business owners to a higher standard of honesty. Despite the poor service, we commended the hostess in red for her professionalism, recognizing that she was doing her best under tough conditions. Your attempt to mischaracterize respectful customers as "entitled" only reinforces the real issue--your lack of accountability and professionalism. Instead of rewriting events to defend your pride, maybe focus on fixing what's actually wrong at Kaiyo. read more

We love Kaiyo! ! Jade is the best bartender!!!!!We tried the Pinku & the Pisco Sour and they were the best drinks ever !

Food was great. Service was great from host, waiter and waitress. Everyone except for their supervisor Adam. Unprofessional and rude not only to us but to his own staff as well. Micro manager with a lot of attitude. We want to come back for food but not when Adam is working. He kills the vibe. It's not that serious. Who gets mad on a slow tuesday? Relax Aside from that, the pasta with scallops was fire . Shoutout to the chef. read more

We were supposed to go to the rooftop and enjoy some sushi but it was too cold... And Saul transformed our unexpected change in venue into the best meal ever. This is some if the most delicious fusion dishes I have ever had. From the uber light and freshly made miso soup to the specially customized Lima roll to the scallop udon and the yuca fries, it was all so memorable. I can taste it even now read more

Kaiyo Restaurant - Scallop Udon - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Excellent food, vibe, service, and drinks. We had a great time here. I highly recommend it. Definitely going back!

Very contemporary Peruvian Nikkei ambiance spacious dinning with an inviting front bar. Very friendly and professional service. Very fresh and selective fish prepared in both traditional and Peruvian style. I ordered a half dozen oyster with rocoto ponzu and leche de Tigre sauce; enjoyed the emulsified leche de Tigre sauce which make oyster milky texture accentuate and umami comes out more. And ordered three sets of Nigiri sushi, Toyosu Market set (5pcs), Tuna 3 ways (Akami, Chutoro and Ootoro) and Nikkkei (Peruvian style) set (5 pcs); enjoyed all of them. Texture is full of discoveries, crunchy, creamy and satisfying balance, and flavors are calculated to retain flavors of fish and display Peruvian flavors. I recommend this restaurant to everyone, from sushi beginner to sushi connoisseur. Sure they will enjoy the experience here. And please talk to Sake Sommelier Amy on choosing sake or other drinks!!! read more

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My family and I have enjoyed a sit down dinner in Kaiyo's groundfloor restaurant inside their private dining room. The space is beautifully designed and we love the custom wall art. The food offered in this space is different than the rooftop as we ordered family style. Food was great- we loved the Miso Corn and Miso Cod. The floor manager was amazing and hospitable. Definitely a must go! read more

This place offers a stunning view of the city. The drinks were great, and the sushi I ordered was even better. The ambiance is wonderful, and I loved the decor. I'm definitely adding this to my list of must-visit spots in SF. The service was pretty good, we came in as a walk in and the hostess was able to get us a table considering there were only reservations. read more

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The empanadas were divine as were the crispy Brussel sprouts. I had the s'mores dessert and recommend sharing it, super decadent but delicious. The only negative is they don't have coffee to go along with the delectable food. read more

Update your hours. Went on Friday, got there at 9:50, was told Kitchen closed at 10pm. Website says open till 12am on Fridays. Went today (Sunday) and was surprised to see it closed since it says it is open on Sundays. It takes 30 seconds to update a webpage, come on guys. Do better. read more

My first time in San Francisco and I chose Kaiyo Restaurant because it's kinda new here too. The one week old restaurant is steps away from Kaiyo's Rooftop at the Hyatt Place. Resy reservations got us 2 of the 4 seats at the chefs' sushi counter at this Peruvian Japanese spot. We were a little early, but the hostess promptly addressed & seated us with the friendly bartenders at the bar for drinks - once our dinner seats were ready, the drinks & bill transferred over . The inside of the restaurant, in contrast to Kaiyo Rooftop, is more intimate and great for a date night spot. It's L shaped inside and the decor makes you feel like you just stepped into another world as the baseball crowd walks by from Oracle Park. **What we ordered*** miso soup w/chili oil, hamachi tiradito, miso black cod, blue fin nigiri set (3 pcs), wagyu sando with caviar (needed a tiny bit more salt on the meat or just more caviar!), and pac heights roll with uni & bluefin tuna. **What we would order on repeat*** hamachi (melted in your mouth!), miso black cod (perfectly cooked and flavored), blue fin nigiri set (based on this I would also try the toyosu set next time), miso soup (I loved the chili oil, but just needed a tiny bit more salt) ***What we would try next time*** Avoid the rolls (unless you're new to sushi), and add individual sashimi & sushi or the sets off the sushi menu. Try the octopus and match fettuccini. Service was amazing- our server was right on time to ask for what else we wanted to order, the service staff cleared plates & glasses immediately after we finished. Everyone was friendly-- we loved sitting with the sushi chefs! Giving 5 stars because-- they're just open one week and we had a great experience! Great job! read more

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Walked out of this restaurant after they sat us in front of a window wall with no shades, then moved us to a private room that smelled of cleaning fluid and had a loud buzz. Staff could not understand why we left. read more

The service and the food were amazing!! Jade and Kaylee are rockstars, they took really good care of us, definitely coming back!

Arrived at Kaiyo Restaurant as a first time guest and didn't have a good experience. It's really a shame because the food was ok but the service is TERRIBLE. For starters, when I arrived there were signs that pointed to the side entrance to enter. I entered through the side and then was instructed to walk outside again and re ended through the front by Rico. Interesting enough when I entered through the front again, I realized I was actually already standing there and he just told me to walk around vs. through. I was literally three steps from the front door. Very uncomfortable. When I finally spoke with the hostess, she overly explained the rooftop was fully committed and no one was allowed there without a reservation. I never wanted to go to the rooftop or even knew it existed. I simply just wanted to eat dinner and have a cocktail. When I finally sat, I asked the server for a Cadillac margarita with reposado tequila. I asked her about the different brands they carried and she said she had no clue. She mentioned I'd need to go upstairs for repo. I asked for a spirits list so I can see what other options were available and she said she didn't have one. Later I walked up to the bar and noticed they did carry several repo options. Someone else saw me browsing & put in my order. The service was EXTREMELY slow. I frequently had to ask for my server. Next, I ordered and the food took over 30 minutes to receive. By the time it came, I wasn't hungry anymore. In the end I asked to speak with the manager on duty, Adam. I informed him of my entire experience just to make him aware. As I predicted, he gave me a list of excuses and even mentioned he had to be on expo at the moment. He said he would comp one of my items and walked off with attitude. I didn't want anything comped. I simply wanted service. I tipped the server 18% although I didn't feel she deserves it. I understand the hospitality industry well and I didn't want to be that person that didn't tip but I will say, I'll never return. I would not recommend this restaurant if you value customer service. read more

Delicious food, great cocktails, and wonderful service! Thank you for hosting our group.

The food was ok but the inside is very small so some of the tables are very close together so it made the dining experience not very enjoyable. read more

Food was scrumptious and creative, but portions were small so don't come if you're looking for a big meal. Our waiter was gorgeous but inattentive, leaving us halfway through taking the table's order. Staff seemed disorganized. read more