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    KEN

    4.9 (123 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndJapanese, Sushi Bars
    Closed 5:30 pm - 9:00 PM

    KEN Photos

    KEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - KEN

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    Reviews With Photos

    Kenneth B.

    It's very simple, when you find a place that has your name, you go. We're always looking to find a new Omakase and Ken delivered on all fronts (I mean of course, all Kens are fantastic). The service was top notch and the other guests were pleasant to dine with. One of my favorite things about Ken is the comedy he brings while serving. It didn't feel like a traditional omakase. It felt like I came to someone's house and just chopped it up with them while enjoying delicious food. This is a place I'll definitely return to, loved every second!

    Menu
    Ming S.

    How can you go wrong with KEN? Delightful dinner with a small seating group. KEN offers traditional kaiseki meals (focusing on balance). The meal was so good that I forgot to take some of the pictures! Be prepare for surprise ingredients and come with an open mind to try unconventional items. This was the first restaurant where I tried stacking of two types of fish on a nigiri (which was really good). The favorite item of the night was the two uni stack, could easily be the best thing I've ever ate. And if you're curious about how KEN got started, ask! The back story was intriguing and very humbling. I recommend coming to KEN for celebrations, especially if you appreciate a well balanced meal.

    Elaine W.

    Went here for a solo dinner last night and had an amazing time. Chef Ken really stands out as a truly passionate artist who cares about investing in and perfecting his craft. I really enjoyed chatting with him during our omakase experience, and he was super friendly and open with everyone and curious to hear our thoughts. He talked about all kinds of things, from how his kaiseki background at Kusakabe influenced him in trying to bring balance to his menu (which he definitely accomplishes), to exchanging restaurant recommendations with us. This was definitely the best experience I've had in terms of connecting with the chef, and I would love to go back to see what he comes up with next as it's clear that he will create so many great things! I think the most standout pieces for me were the sanma bou-sushi (the shiny silver fish in a unique circular shape) as well as the "twoni" double uni which used a saltier/brinier sea urchin contrasted with a sweeter sea urchin stacked on top of each other! I think this piece really brought out the balance that Chef Ken was speaking about throughout the meal, and it was so good that I ordered a second one! One really unique thing about KEN was that afterwards, he took all the remaining fish that was not used that evening and created a kitchen sink roll for us to take home. It looked kinda wack because there were so many different types of fish slapped in there but it was absolutely delicious and probably insane value for money after already getting a fantastic tasting menu. I think this only happens for the last seating, so definitely try to book the 8pm seating if you can! While KEN was not my favorite omakase, it is one of the rare ones that I will likely revisit because the menu is a lot more thoughtful than others I've had (perhaps comparable to Noz 17 in my mind in terms of care of selecting the process of ageing or treating the fish prior to serving). I am so excited to see what other creations he comes up with in the future!

    otsumami
    Olivier G.

    Ken is a small sushi omakase on Divisadero St. The restaurant is simple and tiny, with just seven seats at the counter, which makes it quiet, and intimate. Chef Ken used to work at Kusakabe, another well-known omakase restaurant in San Francisco. During my visit, Chef Ken himself prepared everything for all the guests, so everyone shared the same experience. Most of his fish comes from Japan, and most fish are aged by the chef, for example, the otoro was aged for two weeks. Chef Ken also explained that he mixes two types of rice, koshihikari and sasanishiki, for his nigiri. Like most omakase, there is only one seasonal menu. Here is the menu from my visit in September 2025. 1. otsumami - shrimp with its blue roe, with heirloom tomato and sliced okra - shirasu (tiny baby fish) - ayu (Japanese sweet fish) - green tofu - croquette 2. sashimi - katsuo - hotate with purple cauliflower pickles - maguro (toped with nori paste) 3. zuke chutoro 4. shima-aji 5. ji-kinmedai (wild-caught Japanese kinmedai) 6. sanma (shiny silver fish) 7. otoro 8. chawanmushi with horse hair crab 9. small cold soup 10. kasugodai (sea bream) 11. sujiko (salmon roe) 12. kamasu (barracuda) 13. uni 14. handroll: tuna topped with karasumi (the Japanese bottarga) 15. kamameshi (a Japanese rice pot dish) with mushroom and tachiuo (beltfish). Soup made with yellow corn and miso on the side. Tamago on the side. 16. ice cream made of yuzu, peach and shiso leaves In the otsumami, the shrimp was served raw or lightly cured with its roe, which had a surprising blue color. The sashimi included two cuts of tuna: akami and one between akami and chutoro, possibly wakaremi. The nigiri selection was excellent. The otoro, delicious, was served jabara (snake belly), and Chef Ken explained the difference between jabara and shimofuri cuts. My least favorite was the sanma, as I'm not a big fan of shiny silver fish. Sujiko was interesting, it's salmon roe still in the sac, unlike ikura. The uni nigiri was a highlight: one piece from Hokkaido and another from Santa Barbara with long spines. After the handroll, we were also served several slices of the kombu used to make the dashi. Overall, the food and experience were great. Chef Ken is funny and approachable, and he takes the time to explain his preparations to the guests.

    Ana T.

    I came in 2022. It was very delicious, everything was fresh, and he explained each fish to us. It was a form of entertainment and I savor every bite of it. I would come again if i were to visit to sf again :) this was my first but one of my favorite omakase

    Daisy T.

    I love trying different omakase restaurants in SF, and KEN is definitely a great choice! The chef was very personable and made the dining experience feel very personalized by asking each of us what our preference for wasabi levels were. The fish were high quality and I loved that there were a mix of textures, flavors, and temperatures between the courses. We opted for the ensui uni add on at the end, and the chef was very generous with the uni. There aren't many restaurants in SF that serve ensui uni, which is my favorite. Highly recommend!

    Lika G.

    Ken has the natural ability to make every customer feel comfortable and welcomed. Food obviously is delicious and by the end of the dinner I felt so good that I was teared up with emotion.

    Tammy H.

    Chef Ken had a great assortment of fresh fish carefully selected and aged to perfection. I came when they first opened and the service and sequencing of courses has improved. My company was also A+ and loved all the fishes as well. If they have it, highly recommend chef's preparation of the nodoguro. The service was appropriately timed, the staff was attentive, and the GM, Ryan, helped us pick the perfect sake. One leaves full. Would definitely recommend this spot for omakase in SF!

    Thien H.

    Stellar. If I had a friend or two visiting from out of town, and they wanted an SF omakase experience, then I would take them to KEN. I love his vibes. He isn't too serious but he clearly takes sushi making seriously. It was cool to hear from the other people dining how they had been recommended to dine at Ken's from other local sushi chefs. His mentor still works in the city and he seems to know all the nice sushi places in town. His helpers are super focused and service is very smooth. The fish and rice were so good. I also like that he doesn't focus too much on one type of preparation. I've been to other omakase experiences where the chef goes too crazy with flavored salts, preseasons the rice with too much soy sauce, or torches the fish like mad. Instead, Ken's personal style is very balanced and highlights the quality of the fish. We celebrated our anniversary here and he made it feel truly special. I still have the menu saved :)

    Priscilla W.

    Chef Ken is such a funny and interactive chef who makes this intimate 6-7 person omakase dining experience enjoyable. Ken's omakase menu is nine course consisting of small bites, sashimi, two sushi dishes, steamed dish, hand roll, rice dish, soup, and dessert. Everything was very fresh and delicious. I'd say my favorite dish was the sashimi dish, which had bonito with dashi jelly, Hokkaido scallop with lime and cauliflower, and bluefin tuna with seaweed paste. The dashi jelly was interesting and unheard of, the scallop was sweet, and the seaweed paste brought some umami to the tuna. All the sushi were great as well, each bringing a different texture and taste. However, chef Ken used a lot of the same flavoring (sauce) on most of the sushi, so most had some baseline flavor similarity. The whole omakase experience is a mix of quality ingredients, balance of flavors, chef personality and interaction, and restaurant ambiance. Ken delivered all. As with most luxurious dining, Ken requires advanced online reservation (Resy) and has a 48 hour refundable cancellation policy. After 48 hours, it's a $150 charge per person.

    Ken and his assistant
    Chris S.

    The name speaks for itself. Ken- he's the man who's going to give you a memorable experience. Every piece of sushi is carefully handcrafted right in front of you, as it is a sushi bar seating area only. It's makes it better because Ken can relate to anyone. It's a little hard to find because there is no sign on the front but just be confident and walk in. The sake is amazing and Ken can give you the right advice on how to pair it with the sushi.

    Chawanmushi with Japanese hairy crab
    Hoyan L.

    Second time back at Ken after our first visit in 2022, and the meal was still as incredible as the first time if not even better. We came back to celebrate my birthday (again!) and to see Chef Ken being a master at his craft is such a delight. We brought our own sake this time, and corkage fee is $50. Our omakase experience was relaxing, fun, intimate, educational, and delicious. My bf and I both strongly believe Ken is one of the best omakase in the city. Chef Ken's omakase ($225) is 16 courses, with a good mix of sashimi, nigiri sushi, non-nigiri, and hot food courses like the chawanmushi (loved it) in between sushi courses, kamameshi, and dessert at the end. Our favorite nigiri sushi of the night was the bluefin tuna otoro, amazingly melt in your mouth and incredible buttery flavor. But all of the nigiri pieces were individually great and aged/cured perfectly and served at the perfect temperature, the chutoro (emaculate), sabazushi (my first time having this and loved it!), sujiko (ikura that's still intact), bluefin tuna handroll, two-ni (two types of uni combining together sweet and briny), barracuda, and kinmedai. Perhaps my lesser favorites of the night were the salmon and the pot rice. There are a la carte items at the end if you're still hungry, and we opted for the sea perch, which was delicious. After dessert, Chef Ken had one last surprise for us, we were served with a sushi roll filled with various fish and tamago as a take home snack. We were already full, but ate the roll back home and it was so good we almost fought over the last piece! Some of the fun ingredients Chef Ken added to his menu was a palate cleaner, made with osmanthus tea and peach gum, definitely a nod to Chef Ken's cantonese roots from Hong Kong. As someone who also grew up in HK, I really appreciated that personal touch! With only 7 seats at the sushi bar, we both enjoyed the intimate atmosphere and the interactions with Chef Ken. I really think at some point in the meal, it felt like the world has quiet down and it was just me, Chef Ken, and incredible bites of sushi, and nothing else mattered. They also made my birthday celebration special with a candle, card, and a house made umeshu (plum wine). Needless to say, we loved our meal so much. We will be back soon. Chef Ken - add oil!

    A lovely white...
    Sidney S.

    I've sat in sushi bars, really fine ones, and I know how hard this guy worked, how proud he is. I know you don't need sauce. I know he doesn't even want you to pour sauce. And I've seen customers come in and do that, and I've seen him, as stoic as he tries to remain, I've seen him die a little inside -- Anthony Bourdain Per his website: "Originally from Hong Kong, Chef Ken has over 20 years of experience as a sushi chef. In his early career, he worked in the restaurant scene in San Francisco including staging at multiple Michelin star restaurants. This led to his passion for sushi when he became a chef at Sushi Ran and then Sous Chef at Kusakabe, both working under Chef Mitsunori Kusakabe." This was an omakase experience second to none. Just six people, with Ken, eating for two hours course after course of wonderful and artful cuisine. The dishes will change of course, but this was a rare meal worth the hundreds of dollars that I paid for food, wine, sake, tip. I'd happily do this again, no questions asked. It's that good, that serene and calm, and yes, I never used sauce ;-) Highly recommended for a unique experience that is worth saving up for.

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    Page 4 of 4

    Ask the Community - KEN

    Do they do take out? If so, is there a menu for it?

    Hi Mary, we do not currently do take out, apologies for the delayed response!

    What attire is recommended?

    It's your choice or chef's choice casual..

    Can I book a part of 1? Do they even ALOW a part of 1 to this establishment?

    Yes. We sat next to a guy dining solo.

    Is the take out menu up to date as of August 2022?

    How far in advance do reservations open up on resy?

    How much is the omakase?

    On Resy - it's stated as $175

    The kind of food do you cook?

    No. It's ready to eat.

    This may be a silly question, but I can't figure out how/where to order--do they have a website or is there somewhere a menu is posted?

    If you go on their Instagram, @ken.sf.ca they post the link to order in their bio. It has available slot times for each week as well as the Instagram will post of when their weekly order/menu is up (usually every Sunday).

    Do they offer delivery, and if so on what apps?

    No. At least not as of Mar 2021

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    Okaeri Japanese Bistro - Interior

    Okaeri Japanese Bistro

    4.5(530 reviews)
    1.3 miMission
    $$
    Casual dining
    Family-owned & operated

    What a gem! Small, warm, unmistakably Japanese inside…read more The fish is so fresh. Rice seasoned just right, nothing hiding behind sauce. The signature uni toast is a must! Creamy, briny uni on warm crisp toast, rich without being heavy. Highly recommend! The donburis are gorgeous. Beautifully composed plates you want to photograph before you touch them, and they *deliver* on flavor. One of the best sushi spots in the Mission, and honestly in the conversation for best in the city!

    Let's start off with the most important part of this review and it's the food. Amazing quality, and…read morethe cuts were very pristine. I got the tuna donburi which definitely hit the spot while my friends got the sake donburi, and some specialty rolls. They really enjoyed it! 5/5 for food quality and taste. Now for the reason of 4/5 which I may even opted for 3.5/5 if it were available. We were the first group of 9 to come in right at opening and were told that because we had a large group everyone was required to spend $70. That's not hard to hit considering you're eating out at a sushi restaurant, but the fact that we were told to spend at least $70 a person in order to be seated is crazy! We even asked what was recommended and the seasonal donburi or sake was the most popular. So now we went for those options, but still had to make up the remaining $32 per person that went for the sake donburi. Some people that didn't even want to drink opted for beer because they already got matcha next door. Service charge was already included yet the requirement to spend $70 a person just to dine here is ridiculous. I would come back, but not with a group of more than 4. Anyone that has friends or colleagues of more than 4 go elsewhere!

    Photos
    Okaeri Japanese Bistro - Bar area

    Bar area

    Okaeri Japanese Bistro - Interior (new management/new ownership)

    Interior (new management/new ownership)

    Okaeri Japanese Bistro - Hassan omakase

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    Hassan omakase

    Rintaro - Teba no karate

    Rintaro

    4.2(1.2k reviews)
    1.2 miMission
    $$$$

    I love Rintaro and it's truly some of the best and most authentic Japanese food you can get in SF…read more I started with the yosedofu which is their housemade silken tofu served with shaved katsuobushi and shitake soy sauce. It's a great cold dish to start. Then we got the oden with the mochi filled tofu purse, beef tendon and fish ball. Really yummy and the tendon is so silky soft. Then finally we shared chicken oyster skewers, chicken thigh and green onion skewers, the pork katsu and tuna don. It was really fantastic meal and good progression ending with the final rice dish. The skewers have a great charcoal taste and we loved the seaweed they give you with the tuna rice to make little wraps with. It's a really delicious combination. My only complaint would be that the back room is a but stuffy and doesn't have much air flow. I'd definitely try to sit in the front room or on the patio if the weather is nice. Can't wait to come back!

    Several people I know really hyped this place up and even said it was Michelin starred (really only…read morebib gourmand) so I came in with high expectations. It's quite difficult to get a reservation and my friend had to book it a month out. We ordered the $90 set menu and opted to get the $15 sashimi add on with 3 additional cuts that include Japanese uni. I thought it was a great deal for just the uni alone! Unfortunately it wasn't the best uni I've had - the flavor was pretty lacking, but at least it didn't taste bitter or foul. Can't really complain for the price. Most of the other dishes were pretty simple, but very well made. The chicken katsu had a perfect panko crisp on the outside. The udon was handmade with great texture - but had no additional protein besides an egg. My favorite part was the hojicha panna cotta at the end. Overall, the dishes were not very creative or memorable in any way if you've been to Japan before. But it's rare to find authentic and high quality Japanese meals in Bay Area and this is one of them. Also I was still a bit hungry after the meal :c

    Photos
    Rintaro - Interior

    Interior

    Rintaro - KUROBUTA TONKATSU

    KUROBUTA TONKATSU

    Rintaro - My least favorite of the skewers

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    My least favorite of the skewers

    Izakaya Yoki - DOUBLE SALMON

    Izakaya Yoki

    4.1(739 reviews)
    1.9 miLower Nob Hill, Nob Hill
    $$$

    So glad this neighborhood finally has an AYCE sushi spot, and at a price that actually makes sense…read more For $40 a person you are getting a serious deal. One tip: get there early. The place fills up around 6pm so arriving ahead of that will save you a wait. They don't take reservations, so first come first served. The ordering experience is really smooth. Everything is done through an iPad at your table and the food comes out to you. They won't let you place a new order until your previous one has been delivered, which honestly is a smart system and helps with pacing so you don't over order right out of the gate. What sets this place apart from other AYCE spots is the variety. It's not just sushi. You can also order appetizers, salmon, teriyaki chicken and more, so there's something for people who want to mix it up beyond rolls. Delicious, easy, affordable and in the neighborhood. Highly recommend!

    -Food is just okay. 3 stars. Some good value sushi and cooked food won't be available in menu. It…read morelimited to order every single round. In average, waiting time for food is 10+ minutes each round. -Hopefully this staffs will have more training in buffet style dining. Server will give you check when there's still have available time to order in system. -Environment is just okay too. They just stuck some paper towel underneath the leg of table to balance.

    Photos
    Izakaya Yoki - Sushi bar- they churn out orders so fast!

    Sushi bar- they churn out orders so fast!

    Izakaya Yoki - ZZAM PPONG

    ZZAM PPONG

    Izakaya Yoki - Table setting

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    Table setting

    KEN - japanese - Updated September 2026

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