this was easily one of the best dining experiences ive ever had--from the moment I entered the restaurant to when I walked out the door. the service here is very special and you will be well taken care of while dining. its a small spot that feels very cozy and personal. the sushi bar is the best place to be if you want to watch it all come together! we opted for the petite omakase with the sake pairing, which was the perfect amount of food and drinks. the fish was incredibly fresh and I loved how thoughtful each dish was. if you would like to add additional courses at the end of the tasting, thats also an option. at the end of our omakase we were given complimentary glasses of a matcha omoi sake which was so good! they also gave us a bottle of sparkling yuzu shochu as a goodbye gift! so sweet. read more

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If you're looking for an omakase experience with more traditional Japanese flavors, Kubakase is a solid pick. The quality of the fish is undeniably fresh, and they serve some really generous portions, especially when it comes to the uni. This was the most full I've felt after an omakase. Some standouts were the chawanmushi (a comforting, delicate start) and the Hokkaido scallop topped with uni, absolutely melt-in-your-mouth. I also loved the Hokkaido uni with rice, simple but incredibly rich. Their unagi was another favorite, tender, flavorful, and perfectly balanced. While the other nigiri selection was fresh and well-crafted, I personally found the shiso flavors too prevalent and overwhelming on a lot of pieces. There were also a lot more lean pieces than I'd prefer. Surprisingly, their sweet sake flight and desserts ended up being the most memorable. I forgot the name of the sakes but each one was delicious, especially the matcha one. As for the desserts, the matcha ice cream wrapped in rice cracker was soft, crispy, and perfectly sweet. However, the true delight was the yuzu sorbet with hibiki whiskey--I was skeptical at first, but the citrus with the warmth of the whiskey was unexpectedly delicious. read more

One of my favorite top omakase I've been to. That says a lot bc I've been to many. Went with the higher omakase as I do and it didn't disappoint. Great service. Loved our itamae..who actually worked in Tokyo. Stuffed by the end. Love the vibe the food. I tell everyone I know to come here. The best! read more

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So sad to have booked this restaurant for my bestie's biggest birthday ever. Even though we reserved the Omakase, our chef let us choose between that and the Petite Omakase upon arrival. Regretfully, we listened to Yelp and kept the Omakase. My favorite dishes (from most fav to least): * Shirayaki Unagi Sushi - delightfully crispy, craggily and smokey * Hokkaido Uni Sushi - exceptional quality * Hotate and Uni Nigiri (Scallop and Sea Urchin) * Unagi Nigiri While the first two sushi's aren't included in the Petite Omakase, I realized in perfect hindsight that I could have ordered the Petite and added those two for a better experience. For the price, I expected more... Their biggest issue is the sequencing of dishes. The strong flavors and filling food served initially overshadow the more delicate raw fishes that follow, making it impossible to appreciate their mild flavors. Serving this way is super wasteful. I would have more "favorites" had they served milder, lighter dishes first. Lastly, the desserts are not restaurant worthy. I will take McDonald's Apple Pie over their (Fuji) Apple Spring Rolls on any day. The tiny ball of Yuzu (and Shiso Leaf) Sorbet was better, but subpar. read more

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This was by far the best omakase experience I've ever had! From the moment we walked in, everyone was so welcoming and helpful. The restaurant is small but never felt crowded. Scored seating at the sushi bar which is definitely the way to go as you can converse with your dedicated sushi chef. We chose the petite omakase course with sake pairing and it was perfect for us. You have the option of ordering additional courses at the end but we were full by then. Next time, I will attempt to do the full omakase set. LOL! Everything was so fresh and thoughtfully prepared. Even the sake selections were delicious and unique. On top of that, all of the courses and the sake were served in beautiful dishes and glasses from Japan. I asked because I wanted to know where I could get some to take home. I can't stop thinking about this meal and the next time I can go back (and, of course, have the full omakase). The staff was so kind! They even gave us a complimentary pour of a matcha sake which was YUMMY! And they gifted us a bottle of sparkling yuzu shochu which I am dying to try. read more

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I came here for their Sunday dinner omakase and left full and happy. Kasukabe is a cozy gem tucked right between Chinatown and Fidi, across the street from the Transamerica building. It's warm, welcoming, and incredibly intentional with both the food and service. Each course was beautifully presented and well-paced, showcasing fresh, seasonal ingredients. The meal flowed perfectly, starting with delicate bites and gradually moving into richer, more savory flavors. Standouts for me were the buttery toro, creamy uni, and the chwanmushi. You can tell the chefs really care about their craft, and they take time to explain each dish without it ever feeling rushed. The vibe is relaxed but still feels special. I wore jeans and a t-shirt and felt totally comfortable, but I noticed a few tables dressed up for birthdays and anniversaries, so you can definitely go either way. Location-wise, it's super convenient--just a short walk from BART, the California street cable car, and there are parking garages all around if you're driving. If you're looking for an intimate omakase experience that's elevated but not pretentious, Kasukabe is it. read more

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came here for a friend's birthday. i love sushi jin down in mountain view and jin-san used to work at kusakabe so i had high expectations. all 6 of us had the regular omakase. chawanmushi was very well done, greatly enjoyed the layer of dashi and ikura. some of the ikura were a little hard to pop which was probably due to their curing process. favorite part of otsumami was the crab claw but otherwise didn't stand out. for nigiri they had us start with chutoro zuke and move on to hirame which is very different from what i'm used to but i don't mind. they also had us eat right to left for some plates. kin-medai and shima aji were good. shima aji in particular was a hefty cut. wanmono - grilled umimasu in tomato soup was very good. scallop + uni and sea bream were also solid. the salmon (?) was probably the most mid piece of the night. pressed sushi was also fine. wagyu doufu was very tasty though i found the amount of sauce overwhelming. last four nigiri were the classic bangers: otoro, uni, roll, shirayaki unagi - all very good. one complaint overall is i don't like their rice texture, it's slightly mushy and i can't taste each grain. they had us choose our own desserts, yuzu sorbet whiskey was the wrong move i ended up fishing out the sorbet because the whiskey was too strong. service was haphazard. my friend and i arrived and waited for quite a few minutes until someone acknowledged us. plenty of staff walked by until someone finally greeted us and gestured towards our table. the person that took our order was also leaning between people across our 6-person table to grab menus instead of leaning from the ends of the table. also waitstaff didn't notice one of our friends is left handed and adjust plating accordingly. i've dined at a table at sushi jin and even they have noticed if someone's left handed a few dishes in. overall good fish but not high on my revisit list read more

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Went here on a Saturday night for a birthday. It was our first time trying omakase. We got seated at the bar (parties of 2 usually get priority to bar seating). I think the experience with the bar seating is what gave us the true omakase experience. Our sushi chef Shinji was amazing, honestly he was probably the best part. Great vibes and very friendly. The food was pretty good. I would say there were a few dishes which were amazing and a few which were not things we really enjoyed. The funny thing is the couple next to us really liked the dishes we didn't enjoy too much. I guess it's just part of the experience. We liked the nigiris and the fatty smoky fish dishes. Ambience was great at the bar seats. I think sitting at the table would've definitely ruined our experience. The price tag is pretty high, but definitely worth it for special occasions. Also as a bonus note, this place has the option to book through Tock but that adds on a required 20%. I recommend making the reservation through seven rooms. read more

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My dining experience at Kusakabe was the perfect omakase dining experience. Thanks to my SF Giants yelp friends for suggesting this place. Reservations are recommended and can be made by either phoning in or online - SevenRooms or Tock. When you make your reservation, you will need to provide a credit card to hold your reservation. There are two seatings , one at 5 and the second at 8. Expect to be there at a minimum of 2 hours. You can order either the petite omakase or the kaiseiki style omakase. I suggest going for the kaiseiki course. The kaiseiki is meticulously crafted in front of you to reflect the changing seasons. The chef's knife skills were masterful with their blades cutting in perfection. The ambiance was calm and relaxing. This is a must try culinary experience and enjoyed if you like Japanese cuisine. read more

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Came here for my bday, and it was sooooooooo good! We had bar seating and our sushi chef was so nice! Everything was so good and I just kept wanting more and more and more! It was so fresh and everything was seasoned so you don't need soy sauce. Would def come back for more! read more

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Yay, finally got to visit Kusakabe. The dining experience was good (not hard with with good company) but if you told me it has a Michelin star, I would be p surprised.. The good: - Ambiance-- Great for intimate gatherings. There were 5 birthdays going on at the same time - Really great sake selection. Can't go wrong with their recs. - You will leave full if you get their 18 course omakase! It was a fun ride seeing not one but three pieces of food coming out in just ONE of your four sushi set on the list haha. - Their traditional pieces of sushi and basic Kaiseki were top notch and presented in a pretty way! - I enjoyed the seared medium tuna, pickled cucumber, steamed egg custard, and aji (and I don't even like mackerel!) the most!!! - Service was good, but a little shakey. Our waiting spilled a little water and sake on every round of pours. The meh: - For a $200 omakase, we were sad to see their three high value dishes falling flat. Their prized "finale otoro" was bright red with a small tail of pink (mine was pinkest out of the rest of my table's otoro?) which confused us all... we asked to confirm if it was the pink otoro that we saw at the fish markets in Japan and they assured us yes and hurried away, but we all still thought it tasted like firm medium tuna after a thorough tasting. The two types of uni (but no santa barabara uni?) didn't taste fresh and the A5 wagyu dish was drenched in sweet sauce that needed the greens for me to not wince from all the extra sweet sauce/flavor. The wagyu flavors didnt have the opportunity to shine.. shame. They were nice pieces of meat. One the topic of sauces-- the sushi that weren't served with traditional wasabi and soy sauce were drenched in sauce today. The rest of the sauce can be seen on the bottom of the plate from which we picked up the piece. It must seemed like their unique, modern dishes overdid something like sweetness, fried-ness, or just sauce. - They didn't give us an option to add on at the very end, even after my friend suggested it a couple times - We were asked multiple times whose birthday it was... AT OUR OWN TABLE :( I have to subtract a star for this alone. read more

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It's been 9 years since I have returned... and even as the time has passed, this restaurant is still the best sushi tasting menu i have ever had. The textures, flavors and customer care is 10 out of 10. If you want to have a true Japanese experience, you have come to the right place. read more

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I brought my wife here to celebrate her birthday and we both had an amazing experience! The food and service were top notch. We both got the 18 piece omakase and left extremely full (this is rare since we both have quite the appetite). We got a bottle of sake to go along with our meal. Chef Leo guided our sushi journey and answered all of our questions. You can taste the quality and care they take into making each dish. We will definitely be back! read more

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A wonderful meal - my picky-eater boyfriend's first omakase (and he loved it) - that was mired by a drunk couple monopolizing the restroom. I appreciate that alcohol is a great way for restaurants to make money, but over-serving isn't a great look because I had to handle the bathroom issue (staff just let it happen). Highlights included the flounder, the cherry salmon, and the star-of-the-night scallop/uni combination. But what I'll unfortunately remember is having to wait 20 minutes to use the restroom, then having a drunk man yell at me while staff watched because I dared to knock on the only restroom's door... My experience was unpleasant, and for $200/person, that's not a great feeling. read more

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Great dining experience with good sushi and very kind staff but the whole "pay to reserve a counter seat" system could use improvement. I ended up not opting for it but they were able to reserve the counter for us because we made the reservation early enough. If that's your dealbreaker, pay in advance to reserve seats. read more

This place held a Michelin star in 2016 but has since lost it. I can see how they were Michelin rated but can also see some flaws that may have contributed to that downfall. But don't get me wrong; I still consider this place top tier. Atmosphere is more casual in the sense that people will be chatting, laughing, and having a good time. Just FYI in case you're into a more conservative quiet omakase experience. Food was of high quality and taste was overall superb. Some of the broths were on the salty side though. This is also highly critical but the plating was not consistent. There were some variations between the portion sizes and the sushi in particular was not always centered on the plate. This may not be important to most people, but this is required for Michelin Star restaurants. And I feel like at this price point, maybe more attention should be placed on these things. I also wish there was more clarity on how to reserve a seat at the bar, versus just a standard table. Our waiter (who was very nice) told us that bar seating is reserved for repeat customers and those who reserve well in advance (2-3 months). When reserving you need to write down bar seating preference in the note section, and they will try to honor it, but will still prioritize repeat customers. We got a table seat and I do think the bar seating would have elevated the experience. I came for my birthday and they did go out of their way with a candle and hand written card, along with a complimentary drink to take home. I am satisfied with this experience. I will consider coming back for that bar seating next time! read more

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Summary: Worth it. Fresh and delicate. Excellent service. Small and cozy space. I thought I wrote a lengthy review for this but I'm not sure what happened. This happened several times already with other reviews. Anyway, I loved everything. Sadly, with the amount of time that passed, I can no longer remember everything but that I enjoyed everything. And it was a lot, so come hungry! The wine/sake pairing, according to my friends, was great; flavor enhanced the food. Small space, very cozy. Only a few tables and you can also sit at the bar if you'd like. Bathroom is clean. Of course they have bidet. And the paper towel - thick, good quality. read more

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My boyfriend and I came here to celebrate our anniversary and it did not disappoint. Kusakabe offers an unforgettable kaiseki omakase experience. They serve the experience in 2 waves, one starting at 5M and again at 8PM. We had reservations for 6PM and were seated immediately at the bar counter upon check in. The inside seats a handful of people, with maybe 20ish bar seats and a few tables on the side for larger parties. The highlights of the meal were the bluefin tuna chutoro, which practically melted in your mouth, and the wagyu dish -- a tender, perfectly seared piece of beef with rich, buttery flavor. Every piece of sushi was meticulously crafted, with top-tier ingredients like rotate and uni standing out for their freshness and quality. Our sushi chef was incredibly knowledgeable with explaining each dish and the ingredient origins, adding a personal touch to the experience. While on the pricier side, this meal experience is well worth it for anyone looking for exceptional sushi and outstanding service in San Francisco. Can't wait to return! read more

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October is a special month for my companion and me. To show my appreciation for him, I wanted to treat us both to an unforgettable dining experience. Kusakabe sounded like the perfect memorable meal, intimate setting, and special place to celebrate surrounded by one of our favorite dishes--sushi. I was touched by how respectful and careful the hardworking staff are at Kusakabe. Reservations are mandatory and made online. The process is straightforward and it's best to book in advance as dates and times can sell out. I chose a weeknight omakase for their second seating (only two seatings per day). The team at Kusakabe reached out to us to confirm our omakase experience and checked in regarding special occasions, dietary restrictions, and allergies, and I appreciated their accommodations. While there, we were treated highly--explanations as to what we were consuming and instructions on how to, utensils and water were taken care of, and graceful course transitions. It's best to arrive early as they prefer to start on time. The bar sits a sizable amount of pairs or solo diners while tables are available for bigger parties. Of course, sitting at the bar offers a more authentic and personable experience with the sushi chef. The sushi chefs serving us were knowledgeable, polite, and swift. Their timing was on-point as they put care and precision into the cuts and quality. Being there for almost three hours, we didn't feel rushed and appreciated being served after we completed each course so no item was left cold or warm. This review is based on their omakase experience. They offer two experiences, an 18-course Omakase or 12-course Petite Omakase. I won't go on and name each delicate, appetizing, and phenomenal dish we received as there were so many moments we were left in awe. I found some dishes to be truly unique in terms of taste and texture and not as traditional. Along with the 12 total pieces of sushi, we also received Chawanmushi, Otsumami, Somen, Wagyu Shabu-Shabu (they subbed mine for Maguro since I don't eat beef), Miso Soup, and a dessert of choice. You will leave extremely full, so be prepared. Omakase is a special experience for many and with the variety of restaurants specializing in it in San Francisco, it can be difficult to find one worth the money and time. You can find this hidden gem off of Washington Street in the Financial District. Every item was executed harmoniously, the quality of the food was fresh and complimentary, and we were taken care of throughout our dining experience. This was one of our most special and memorable meals together and I can't wait to experience more omakase in San Francisco. read more

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I had a great experience at Kusakabe on Sat Apr 6, easily deserving a review and a solid 5 stars. I selected the full Omakase (18 courses) and ordered some sake, seated at the bar. I had to call ahead to ensure bar seating, as the reservation site doesn't offer the option to choose your seating. The restaurant is well located, at the entrance of Columbus Ave in the Financial District. The ambiance is beautifully intimate, with an elegant use of wood - exactly what you look for in such an establishment. Also noteworthy is the care taken with the very pretty crockery. The restaurant features Kyoto-style cuisine, with a menu comprising a mix of nigiri and several hot dishes - a great combination. Following the chawanmushi, the second dish (the otsumami) set a high bar: 7 exquisite pieces with subtle flavors (braised hamachi with lemon, tai, hon maguro with wakame, tamago wrapped wagyu with ikura, dashi mushrooms, soft-shell ebi with gogi berry, umimasu wrapped daikon). An nice selection of nigiri followed, including (to the best of my memory): zuke chutoro, hirame (flounder), katsuo, warasa (young yellowtail), hotate with uni, shima-aji, sakura masu, anago temaki, otoro, nigiri with two kinds of uni, negitoro temaki, and anago. A delicate and splendid wagyu sukiyaki with onsen egg was served mid-meal. The meal concludes with the miso soup and a choice of dessert (I opted for the yuzu sorbet with Hibiki whisky). A few nitpicks for improvement though: * There were two nigiri where the neta was served way too cold. * There was a bit too much tuna: maguro in the otsumami, and in the nigiri: zuke chutoro, otoro, and negitoro maki. I love tuna, but four times (and I'm not counting the katsuo nigiri) felt too much, it is better to have more variety. * Anago was featured twice: one as an anago temaki and another as an anago nigiri. Again two anago (or eel) sushi pieces in omakase is also too much. * The amount of rice served with the nigiri was a bit too little compared to the neta, but given the number of nigiri pieces, more rice would have made the menu too heavy. *A detailed menu of the omakase meal for the guest at the end of the meal would have been appreciated. But the overall experience was amazing. The service was impeccable, and my sushi chef (sorry I forgot his name!) was kind and talented. In conclusion, this is a top-tier omakase and it's one of the best I've experienced in SF. read more

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Great food, did the omakase experience and loved the dishes. The servers are very attentive as we sat at a table and they paid close attention to when we finished a dish to bringing the next one out. I wish reservations offered a table or counter seating option as they just say it's a first come first serve basis, however you don't know if they're gone yet. It's very expensive. Nice for omakase, but sad for beverage pairings. I usually like to do this but it was so much, maybe half or almost the cost of omakase for beverages. It's understandable, but just sad because I really enjoyed Hinata for sushi and their beverage pairings are remarkable while still being affordable (~$100) read more

i have been going around recently saying that this may have been the best restaurant meal of my life. I was taken here for my bday this past Sunday and arrived for the 8pm slot (tip--it's cheaper to reserve for Sundays!). There were maybe 15ish seats at the bar around all the action, and then a few more tables inside the restaurant where they seem to bring you the food. It was pretty cool to see 4-5 chefs just working in unison in front of us. The host and server were super super friendly, and our designated chef was very informative and warm:) Favorite bites and notes: - The appetizer basket type of thing that comes right after the chawanmushi blew our minds. There were 5 tiny dishes (the last even had 3 bites...) with maybe some of the best and definitely the most unique bites I've had that night. I also love some cool veggies w seafood. - Seared chu toro was our first fish and it set the bar so freaking high - and rightfully so - The next white fish afterwards with shiso and the kelp topping was our favorite fish - Poached wagyu beef and egg had the egg of my life and felt like a random top notch sukiyaki in the middle of this meal - The second uni (inside the seaweed) was significantly better than the Hokkaido scallop uni - All fish eggs and caviar type of eggs throughout this meal were also the eggs of my life, in the mini egg division. they are FIRM and stand out from other places - Unagi could've lost the chili -- it overpowered the eel - Anago hand roll was fun but the piece of eel be kinda thin. Good rice break - Genmaicha perfected the vibes. 10/10 recommend - personally I h8 mackerel but visually it was the coolest looking fish of the night so I just ate that thing - they are SOO sweet about bdays and anniversaries and such. Gave me a yuzu soda and a cute lil candle + handwritten note with our dessert! Matcha ice cream w azuki beans were also great, if u want the dessert that's not too light and not too rich Side note, probs one of the fanciest bathrooms I've been to in sf, with one of those bidets that automatically turns on when you enter the room. the street that it's on is very Christmas vibey and nice. Good street parking! read more

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My husband took me there for my birthday few years ago. The omakase experience was just okay. We ended up eating ramen noodles afterwards. We had the pre-fix menu consisted of 13 courses plus a nice bottle of sake. Their sashimi, sushi and small plates were presented in multi courses but overall food taste and quality was not impressive at all. It didn't give us the umami flavor we anticipated. Kaiseki-style dinings we've had in Japan were amazing even at a small remote establishment. It was a let down. Service was not good. Owner was arrogant and rude. I remember the guy who seated next to us asked him for an extra piece of lotus chip and he refused to give to him and gave him a smirk. I think that piece of lotus chip was that guy's favorite dish the entire night. Poor thing! read more

They gaslight my friend after they gave her an allergic reaction from nuts at the restaurant. Would never go back. Horrible experience and service from wait staff that was not empathetic at all. I understand mistakes happen but not an appropriate way to approach a situation when you are at fault read more

We came for a birthday celebration on a Tuesday night and the chef table had full seating. All of the dishes were exceptional and memorable! There were some creative pieces and the uni was some of the best I've ever tasted! The signature smoked chutoro with cherry wood was our favorites We will be back! read more

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After researching multiple places for omakase in SF, we decided on Kusakabe. It was actually a list minute pivot, as we already had reservations elsewhere. However, my friend convinced me Kusakabe would provide an amazing experience and they were right! I was lucky enough to snag a reservation at 8pm two days prior to heading to SF. We were then contacted the day of our reservation and asked if we would be able to adjust our reservation to 6:30pm. We gladly made the accommodation! We were greeted upon arrival and seated at the bar for our omakase experience. We were celebrating a birthday and the staff really made it a special evening for us. The entire dinner was fantastic, my favorite part was the nigiri offerings. Each one was so delicately crafted and it was so fun to see it get put together right in front of me! Overall it was a great experience and they even gifted us a birthday drink to take home! I would definitely recommend Kusakabe to anyone looking for a quality omakase in town! read more

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An amazing experience! Everything was so fresh and flavorful. The chefs were so personable and engaged with us throughout each course. The place was very lively and a mix of calm all at once. read more

If you're booking with a gift card, give them a call or email them to make a reservation instead of going through Tock. I originally booked through Tock but didn't see a spot where I could enter the gift card details, so I emailed them. They had to cancel my Tock reservation and they made a reservation on their end. They were very understanding and made the process easy! I made a reservation for 2 on Saturday night at 515pm two weeks before. There are two groups each night-- one at 515 and another probably at 8. We had a seat at the sushi bar and saw how they made sushi. It takes a lot of skill to do what they do and it was like having a front row seat to a cooking show! Speaking about the food, every dish was amazing. Super fresh ingredients! In the beginning, they ask you if you have any favorite types of fish. They can customize based on your preferences. If you don't have any, it's okay. You can't go wrong with anything there. The pricing is perfect. Almost $200pp for all of that sushi and other dishes! I got the premium sake pairing because I love sake. The first and last sake were sweet and the rest were dry. Totally worth it! Our sushi chef Okada was very friendly and always checked in. He made the experience even more enjoyable. The whole dinner for two with one premium sake tasting came out to be close to $800 including a 15% tip. I would definitely come back! read more

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Decent omakase spot in the neighborhood! The vibe inside was cozy & inviting. Went with their petite omakase and left feeling satisfied. Service was great as well! read more

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Wow. I am speechless. The experience and atmosphere was excellent. There is a lot of people in the background prepping, serving, slicing, and it's all so efficient. We came 5 minutes prior to opening for our 5pm reservation. We asked for bar seating a few days before but they said it was not guaranteed but was happy that they were able to accommodate when we arrived. It is a large space with a bar and a few tables. When we sat they asked about allergies, restrictions, etc. Then they asked if we are there for any special occasion- yes birthday. So for the dessert they gave me a little card and candle. Almost every bite I had was memorable from the steamed egg starter (I never normally like this but it tasted so umami!) to nigiri to the wagyu. Usually at omakase places there's always one or two dishes that was an afterthought or filling. But even the cooked items were delicious as well as the raw fish. Wow if it wasn't so expensive I would come here more often. It is worth it for the omakase. We kept getting drinks so our bill was pretty large but if you kept it at just the omakase it is fine. We sat next to this awesome couple and started bonding about omakase and Japan. I felt bad though because the sushi chef had to interrupt us to tell us the next bite because we were so immersed with our bar neighbors- sorry! Everyone there is trying to have a good time and I loved it. I'm not a big alcohol drinker but I wanted to try the sake dessert- I would recommend it if you like sweeter drinks. One was plum, one was lemonade and one was orange juice- laced all with sake! read more

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I personally think the hardest thing to make for omakase is ... the rice seasoned to the perfection - Kusakabe really did it. Their ingredients are so divine: I enjoyed every single piece I've been served (I've been to many famous omakase places in SF and It's not always the case btw). I also love the ambience of the place - cozy and not pretentious (my kind). All of the chefs working there are so friendly and niceeee. This will be the place that I recommend, and take my dear friends there when they're in town read more

KUSAKABE - Omakase - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

My wife and I spent a week exploring San Francisco and had our first dinner at Kusakabe. While the restaurant has both counter and table seating, I highly recommend the counter for couples. Watching chefs do their thing is always amazing to me and our chef EJ was no exception. He asked us about our sushi preferences and honored them. We also had a host who took care of our drink orders and, like EJ, was ready to answer my many questions about our meal. There were plenty of sake choices. We went with Iki Na Onna "Lady Luck" Daiginjo sake, which is always good, although the second bottle was probably too much. The food was delicious in both quality and variety. I love the format of the kaiseki-style omakase, which intersperses non-sushi dishes with sushi courses. Our menu started with a savory chawan-mushi (egg custard), then otsumami (snacks), then the first course of four kinds of sushi, then wanmono (bowl), then the second course of four kinds of sushi, then wagyu, then the third course of four kinds of sushi, then miso soup and, finally, sweets. If you love sushi and would like to add some variety to a traditional omakase, Kusakabe is an excellent choice. read more

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I made reservation two weeks before and requested for bar seating. Make sure you request for bar seating for the reservation since they fill up spots quick. I ordered the petite omakase, which is the 13 course set. It comes with steamed egg, appetizers, soups, 8 types of different fish, and a choice of dessert. The omakase was unique, and the fish tasted fresh. I also ordered the matcha sake and it had a sweet matcha taste. Overall, the service and food was good and worth the experience! read more

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Went here a few years ago while on vacation with my girlfriend to celebrate our anniversary. I was fascinated after reading up on Mitsunori and had to try his food. The food was fantastic, the staff was delightful, and the experience was unforgettable. It is pricey, but was well worth it. Each dish was unique and I could not get over how much food we received. I have severe food allergies and the staff was very attentive and understanding which I always appreciate. It was a very comfortable environment. I would not hesitate to go back for a special occasion if I am ever back on the west coast. read more

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I booked Full Omakase experience for two to celebrate a special occasion and it turned out to be special indeed. The restaurant is quaint and ambience is tasteful yet cozy. We were greeted very cordially and seated. Our chef was a delight to chat with throughout the meal as she walked us through each course. Tempura, hokaido uni and A5 wagyu were the most delicious. By the 13th course, chef asked us if we would want to go lite on rice with sushi courses in case we were getting full which I was. Sushi was amazingly fresh tasting and the flavors were so subtle yet powerful. We walked away happy, full, and content. My partner loved the whole experience and it was well worth the money. Thank you, Kusukabe! read more

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Visited on 12/29 for the 5pm seating. The team was amazing and attentive. Service charge and tip is already added to the check. We made the mistake of calculating another tip but oh well. They deserve it The flavors were clean, simple and packed with umami. read more

My dining experience at KUSAKABE was regrettably the worst omakase experience that I've had hands down. To start off, we made reservations for their 18 course omakase and when we arrived the waiter directed us to one of the tables inside the restaurant. I immediately asked if we could get bar seating since imo you aren't really getting the full omakase experience unless you are sitting at the bar. Unfortunately, he said that they try to give bar seating to people who make reservations way in advance first. Mind you that there were empty seats at the bar at the time that I asked this. If I knew this was the case I would've gone elsewhere to get the full omakase experience. They should really specify this on their website and add in an option to pick between bar and table seating because making your customers sit at a table when they are paying $198 for a full omakase experience is sad. Despite the unfortunate seating arrangement, I was still hopeful that the food would be good at least. Once again, I was disappointed to find that a lot of the dishes were mediocre at best and many of them were waaaay too salty. I had to request that they put less salt for me, and even then I still found some of the dishes extremely salty. For example the wagyu jibu-ni dish tasted like the chef drenched it in salt; I almost wanted to spit it out. I honestly don't know how you can go wrong with wagyu. Also, the egg in that dish was not even runny and the presentation did not look appetizing. It lowkey reminded me of an egg dish at a brunch restaurant and presentation is supposed to be an element that Japanese restaurants pride themselves in so I'm not sure what happened with that one. Also, the very first dish was Chawan-mushi (a Japanese dashi egg custard dish) which is a very standard dish in omakase, but for some reason this restaurant decided to add cheese at the bottom of this dish. There are a few standard dishes out there where I feel that you should not be tweaking the recipe, and this is definitely one of them! Also, this might be me being nit picky, but as we left the restaurant the chefs and servers greeted us out with THANK YOU in ENGLISH. I don't know about you but I'm used to Japanese restaurants giving Japanese greetings and I would prefer that as it seems more authentic. This place just gives me white washed vibes tbh. It also doesn't seem like they rotate the menu from the pictures that I see on Yelp. With that being said, there were a few things that I liked. The matcha omoi sake that I ordered was very smooth and had a strong matcha taste. I would definitely recommend trying that if you like matcha. (On a side note, it would've been nice if they let me pick my own sake glass as that adds to the omakase experience.) The very first piece of nigiri that we got was chu-toro which was also very good. I also liked how the nigiri came with large pieces of fish paired with a small amount of rice. They definitely did not skimp on the fish. I also appreciated that each nigiri came one at a time even though we had table seating. Most places would hand you a few pieces at a time if you sat at a table vs the bar. They also had three options for dessert that you get to pick from which I thought was nice. My boyfriend and I both decided on the yuzu sorbet with whiskey and we both enjoyed it. Overall, I would not recommend KUSAKABE to anyone as there are so many better omakase spots in SF. I honestly don't understand how this place got so many good reviews. I will definitely not be coming back but at least I can say that I've tried this place and unfortunately it's not for me. read more

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My daughter invited me to celebrate her bff 's mom's birthday at Kusakabe tonight. It was my first time dining at this restaurant. My daughter and her bff came here before so they recommended this place for the celebration. The dining room was small. There were 3 tables and bar seatings. It looked clean. I remember this restaurant used to be like a sandwich/deli joint across the pyramid building where I used to work many decades ago. We had the reservation at 5 pm so we were sat down right away. We started with cold sake Matsu Bo Kotobuki. It was not dry and very good with our palate. We ordered the 18 course meal called Omakase and it was $200 pp. We started with Chawan-mushi, then Otsumami, 3x of Four Kinds of Sushi, Wanmono, Wagyu Beef, Miso Soup and desserts. On every dish given we all said the texture and taste were delectable. They melt in our mouths. The portions were just the right size. The food really blew our minds away. We ordered the matcha ice cream and sweet potato tart for desserts. The server came with a candle and a present of a small bottle of sake. She was embarrassed and she said she was no longer a little girl. The servers were superb. The 18 course meals can last 2 hours eating. So when we were finished, there was a line waiting for their turn. I don't mind returning to Kusakabe on an occasion. If you want to splurge for Japanese food, this is the place. read more

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Just when I was thinking I will not find a good meal again on the U.S. soil, I happened to find the KUSAKABE when I was walking by, the rest is history. This is by far the most satisfying meal I have ever had since I came to this country and it's not even close. The authenticity, the innovation, the service, even the sakes are just right in every aspects. I have lost my words to praise this place except a simply 素晴らしい! Highly recommend for anyone being at San Francisco looking for a good meal. read more

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Came here to celebrate a birthday and we were thoroughly impressed. From the service to the ambiance to the food everything was perfect. I was glad to be seated at the bar for the omakase. I read when reserving that if we don't book early enough we may get seated at the tables which would kind of ruin the omakase experience. I booked about a month in advance and only saw options for a 5 pm or an 8 pm. I went with the 8pm and it was a good time for us. I was also glad that it wasn't dead quiet and that people were actually talking. I think it gets uncomfortably quiet at some other omakase spots. We got the petite omakase and it was more than enough. It was so filling for a great price of $130 per person. For two people after tax, 20% tip, sf mandate, and drinks, the total came out to about $500. Petite omakase course: 1. Chawanmushi (Japanese Umami Dashi egg custard with seasonal ingredients) 2. Otsumami (7 kinds of seasonal Japanese "Otsumami" appetizers 3. Four kinds of Sushi (Seasonal and signature sushi from Tokyo Toyosu Fish Market) 4. Wanmono (Bincho-tan grilled Ocean Trout with Yuzu miso and soybeans Umami Dashi) 5. Four kinds of Sushi (Seasonal and signature sushi from Tokyo Toyosu Fish Market) 6. Miso Soup (Today's fish broth Umami soup with Kyoto red miso and Aosa-nori seaweed from Shimanto River) 7. Sweets (Your choice from the selection of desserts featured on today's menu) At the end of our meal, they were kind enough to gift us a yuzu sparkling drink for a birthday gift. I will probably come back again to celebrate a special occasion. read more

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