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    KUSAKABE

    4.6 (1.2k reviews)
    Ultra High-EndSushi Bars, Japanese
    Closed 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    KUSAKABE Photos

    Business Info

    KUSAKABE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Intimate
    Dressy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - KUSAKABE

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    Kaisi G.

    I tried Kusakabe again recently after trying them for the first time in 2017. It was good back then and remains just as good now. If you're new to omakase, I would recommend this as a good place to start.

    Taylor E.

    WOW!!! That's it, that's the review. No, but in all seriousness, I visited Kusakabe for the 18 course Omakase (my first) and it was such a fantastic experience. Our server was so attentive and thoughtful and really helped make the entire experience so much fun. This was also some of - if not the best - sushi I have ever had. Everything was extremely fresh and the fish melted like butter in my mouth. Every course was extremely flavorful and just truly deliberate; there was a story behind everything. They also have a really great sake list and our server recommended delicious pairings that went well with each course. I genuinely cannot wait to go back and experience another Omakase here!

    John L.

    SUPERB FOOD, flawed reservation system... In terms of eats, this would be the best omakase experience that we've had in San Francisco - excellent cuts of high-quality fish, perfect neta-to-shari ratio, and outstanding presentation. Having said those, here's where the defect lies - bar seating is not guaranteed. They will decide on the day itself who goes where. Since my wife and I were going to celebrate my birthday, she had to plead her case so that we can be seated at the bar. Luckily, she got her way; otherwise, it would have been a hard pass. With emphasis on the principle of kaiseki cuisine, we were treated to an impressive array of seasonal ingredients. Sushi (12 pieces) was the highlight, but the complementary dishes (9 appetizers, 4 cooked items, and 1 dessert) stood out as well. The Otsumami (small dishes) appetizers alone may have already demonstrated the kaiseki techniques and skills as they were artfully presented to show "the balance in taste, texture, color, and appearance." Our cooked dishes consisted of Chawanmushi (savory egg custard), A5 Wagyu Sukiyaki, Iwashi Ume-Ni Somen (Japanese sardine somen noodle soup), and Miso Soup. The sukiyaki was Kansai-style where the beef was seared and seasoned instead of mixed directly with the broth. It had a very good flavor and tasted fantastic. As for the sushi... Jabara Toro - The fattiest section of the bluefin tuna belly. It's insanely rich and had that melt-in-your-mouth quality. Definitely worth the spotlight. Chutoro - Served with one end aburi-style (blowtorched), this had the best of both worlds. The contrast in texture and taste was terrific. Hirame Kobujime - All glory goes to the bluefin tuna, but this was my favorite of the night. Curing the halibut with kelp (kombu) enhanced its flavor and the chewiness was just splendid. Unagi - The eel was cut, seasoned, grilled over binchotan charcoal, basted, and then turned into a nigiri sushi in front of us. This put the thawed ready-made unagi kabayaki served in most sushi restaurants to shame. Hokkaido Hotate and Uni - The scallop was awesome in itself, but it was even better with a heap of uni on top. We were also served smoked meji maguro (young bluefin tuna), shima-aji (always a favorite), kasugo (young sea bream), kanburi (seasonal winter yellowtail), anago, more uni (Hokkaido and Santa Barbara), and negitoro. Everything we had was commendable. Kudos to Chef Patrick for giving us a phenomenal time that night. We were seated at the center section of the bar which had the right elevation for us to see all the food preparation. Kusakabe has been on the Michelin Guide and used to be one-starred, so the food is definitely top-shelf. I just hope they will consider fixing their reservation system.

    chawanmushi
    Anna Y.

    Came a little before our 8 pm reservation along with other guests for the same seating, and you could see the team prepping everything before dinner started. We were seated right on time, and the space felt really intimate. I'd definitely recommend sitting at the bar for the full experience. They run two seating times (5 pm and 8 pm), so everything felt very intentional and well-paced. Once seated, you get a clear view of each omakase chef at work and are introduced to your chef for the evening, who guides you through every course. We opted for the 18-course menu, and every piece felt thoughtful, unique and incredibly flavorful. The chawanmushi to start was warm, rich and deeply umami with fish roe which was such a comforting and memorable first course. The seasonal appetizer was also beautifully presented and fun to experience. Throughout the night, our chef Shinji was super kind, attentive and explained each piece while showcasing the fish. Everything was great but some standouts included the chutoro, engawa, uni with scallop, hokkaido uni, the Kyoto-style handroll, firefly squid and the wagyu shabu radish dish. After our meal, we even ordered an extra piece of o-toro, which was so rich and decadent. Highly recommend coming here for a special occasion or if you're looking for a memorable omakase experience, 10/10.

    Michiel D.

    Delicious omakase experience in the heart of San Francisco. Situated right next to the Transamerican building, the restaurant has a very cosy atmosphere. Be prepared to come hungry if you're going for the full 18 course experience. You're expected to arrive on the hour of reservation, not earlier. If you do end up around before, you can easily grab a drink next door at neighbouring cocktail bar High Horse. The staff was super friendly, dishes were served in perfect succession to one another, and the team proactively suggested replacements when they saw some of the guests did not finish a course (eg. the uni served in two of the courses). The sommelier was often hard to understand, which was a shame considering the both amazing sake and wine pairings (our table had a mixed selection) offered.

    Birthday desserts
    Yoojin S.

    One of the best omakases so far. It's a great mix of sushi omakase and kaiseki course menu. PETITE OMAKASE HIGHLIGHTS: - Early in the meal, in the Otsumami, you get a beautiful platter of appetizers. The tamago with the sesame was absolutely delicious, savory with a roasted flavor. It was such a good variety with refreshing seasonal veggies, which was daikon radish today. - Excellent cured and carefully crafted sushi nigiri bites. The flavors were so savory and delicious. Everything was so soft and tender. Loved the shima aji, chutoro, madai. - Hokkaido Scallop + Uni: Sweet tender texture of scallop. Also loved the uni, it felt nutty and smooth. - All the broths were so flavorful. Loved the umami dashi broth with chicken and the umami miso soup that's made with simmered fish bones! Yay collagen and omega 3's. We also added Star Butterfish Tatsuta-age, which was delicious but we accidentally ordered this thinking it was nigiri, not a fried dish. Double check the add-ons. For drinks, I got the sakura sencha tea which came in a pot that you could share with a friend. It went really well throughout the meal. Sakura tea is pretty unique and I appreciated that it wasn't salty too as the sakura tea I've had before were salt-cured. Also I was SO FULL by the end of the petite omakase!! Our sushi chefs and servers were all really kind. Loved the special quiet peaceful atmosphere at the sushi bar. Birthday meal here was so special. I loved the hojicha monaka ice cream - super flavorful. I took my happy birthday name tag and their bday present (Kimini Sparkling Apple Juice) home!

    Rachelle T.

    Amazing experience! Reserved for 2 on 5pm on a Sunday. Bar seating is great! Service was quick and our servers were very attentive. The omakase was delicious! Huge fish portions, and it was 18 courses. I liked how the sushi was served with soup and other dishes in between. I was so full afterwards! Luckily, for the last half of our set, we were able to ask for less rice. It was me and my friend's birthday, and they gave us a lil gift, too. Overall, a great experience for an occasion!

    Andrew S.

    Don't eat here unless you're seated at the bar. To preface: the criticisms below apply exclusively to table service. We've had 5/5 experiences at the bar with Mika, whose skills could easily compete with the city's top sushi chefs. However, my overall experiences here have been hugely varied. At the bar, it offers a true, high-quality omakase and kaiseki-style meal. But at a table, the experience is absolutely disjointed and disappointing. Prior to this, I had only dined at the bar (with a chef friend, and with groups of four, three, and two). The restaurant has a relatively large bar and a handful of tables, manned by several people. Given the large staff, I assumed there wouldn't be many bottlenecks. I ordered sparkling water and genmaicha. The tea was quite good--kept hot in a heavy cast iron pot--though it felt odd to be given such a heavy pot but be required to pour it ourselves. They also charge per cup, regardless of the fact it's the same size teapot for all people served. First appetizer: Chawanmushi topped with a scoop of small ikura (likely sockeye). The chawanmushi had a perfect texture and the ikura had a nice smokiness, but the eggs were extremely tough--likely marinated too long and past their prime. 6/10. Next was the otsumami, probably the best course. Whoever is in charge of this should run the rest of the meal. Really tasty tuna, crab claw, castella tamago, and shrimp. 7/10. First nigiri set: This is where the table always proves to be a mistake. Plated as single pieces, each was awkwardly cold on the bottom, the rice was small and flat, and cuts were inconsistently sized and shaped. Neither rice nor fish was at a proper temperature, and nikiri was too light. Chutoro aburi - Chewy for a chutoro. 5/10. Hirame - Very slim. 3/10. Kinmadai - Crunchy texture. Fishy, maybe old. 2/10. Shima aji - Badly cut, thicker at one end, producing a crunch that felt frozen in the middle. The daikon/apple topping was delicious though. 2/10. Wanmono - Mitsuba, duck meatball, sea bream, mushroom, and goji berry in white miso chicken broth. Very good. Kitchen dishes seem much more consistent than the sushi. 7/10. Second set of nigiri: Hokkaido hottate with Hokkaido uni - Scallop was sweet but a little slimy. The uni felt briny, sour, and dry, as if sitting out in the air all day. 2/10. Kasugodai with cured shaved egg - One of the better pieces. Light flavor. 6/10. Sakura something - An unmemorable fish. Decent, but forgettable. Kyoto-style pressed anago - Crisp nori and tender anago, but better served slightly warm rather than fridge-cold. 7/10. Hot entree - A5 Wagyu yaki-shabu from Oita prefecture. Tender, served rare, slightly seared on one side with a light sauce. Very delicious. 8/10. Third set of nigiri: Otoro - The worst otoro I've ever had. Bizarrely described as "wild caught, farm raised." Incredibly chewy; easily the worst farm-raised tuna I've tasted. 1/10. Uni - Flavor profile matches Ogawa brand. Heavily peanut-forward and very sweet. One of my favorites ever. 10/10. Torotaku roll - Made using mixed tunas. Good, but I've had better. Nori was disappointingly soggy compared to the crisp anago earlier. 7/10. Unagi - Delicious and binchotan-grilled. Very crispy. Only complaint: slightly burnt. 9/10. Miso soup - Fish broth with red miso and aosa nori. Decent, though nori was sort of hairy. 8/10. Sweets - Uji matcha white chocolate daifuku. 9/10. Their bar seating policy is incredibly confusing and contradictory. The written policy states bar seats are for parties up to three and prioritizes early reservations (mine was a month out). Yet on arrival, we were asked to sit at a table and told the bar is strictly for couples/solos. I've dined here with groups of two, three, and four previously with no issue. They also claim you can prioritize a bar request with a $20/guest fee, and occasionally seat large parties there. They should simply make reservations for the bar separate from the tables at booking to avoid embarrassing bait-and-switch situations like this.

    Nick S.

    Kusakabe creates the kind of dining experience that feels carefully designed from the moment you sit down. We walked into a refined but welcoming space where the sushi counter is the main focus, and the meal unfolds course by course in front of us. There is a sense of calm throughout the room, allowing the attention to stay on the chefs, the ingredients, and the details behind each dish without the distraction of a busy dining room. The omakase experience balances traditional sushi with more creative touches. Each course brings something different, from fresh sashimi and nigiri to warmer dishes like chawan mushi that add depth to the progression of the meal. The sushi highlights the quality of the fish while incorporating thoughtful flavor combinations, with dishes like scallop and the dry-aged fish courses standing out for their texture and seasoning. The sake pairing fits naturally into the experience, adding another layer without overpowering the food, and the sommelier's selections complement the progression of flavors across the meal. What makes Kusakabe memorable is the craftsmanship and pacing of the meal. The chefs take time to explain each course, making the experience feel personal rather than rushed. Sitting at the counter adds to the atmosphere because you get to see the precision and care that goes into every piece, from the way the rice is formed to the final brush of sauce on the fish. The pacing of the meal allows you to appreciate each course without feeling rushed, and the team's attention to detail creates a rhythm that keeps the meal engaging from start to finish. Kusakabe feels like a place made for special occasions, celebrations, or anyone looking for a more elevated Japanese dining experience. It combines technique, hospitality, and creativity in a way that makes the entire meal feel like an event rather than just a dinner. The balance of traditional and modern elements, along with the warmth of the service, leaves you with the sense of having experienced something complete and thoughtfully composed.

    Kaelin N.

    Kusakabe is another reason why I enjoy birthdays... not only are we celebrating life but we get to celebrate with great food! I am never disappointed in the quality of the fish, the service, the ambiance, the meal.... My #1 favorite Omakase place!

    Unagi hand roll
    Lauren L.

    What an experience! We were celebrating an anniversary and planned a bit last minute, but were able to snag a reservation here pretty easily. Immediately, the ambiance and service was quite nice. We were seated at the table, but typically I enjoy sitting at the bar to watch the chefs make our food. The service was amazing and they were very attentive. They also offered to take photos and gave us a little gift of hojicha tea since we were celebrating. We got the omakase, which was massive and had 18 courses. They gave us a menu so we knew what to expect for each course, and we ordered some sake. The omakase was delicious and more traditional than other places, each course was so beautiful and delicately made. This is definitely a lot of food, I would recommend the petite omakase in the future as I was stuffed, but it was a great experience if you come hungry! Courses: - Chawan-mushi - super tasty and every bite was delicious and umami forward! - Otsumami - 7 seasonal appetizers presented in a beautiful box, there was a stuffed crab claw in there that was delicious - 4 kinds of sushi - each piece came out one at a time, the first piece was my absolute favorite and blew me away, it was a seared chutoro that immediately melts in your mouth and tastes smokey - Hamachi soup - very tasty and warming soup with hamachi inside, was perfect in between the sushi course - 4 kinds of sushi - A5 Waguyu shabu - this course was extra $10 pp but was so delicious, the wagyu was melt in your mouth and had some grated daikon on top in a ponzu dashi, the toppings help balance the meat so it's overwhelming since it does melt in your mouth, one of my favorite bites! - 4 kind of sushi - they brought out some really great sushis, including more chutoro and an unagi handroll, but I was so stuffed at this point that I felt I couldn't enjoy it as much - miso soup - this soup was so tasty and kind of revived me after all that food, it felt comforting and a great way to end - dessert- I got the hojicha ice cream in a waffle like cookie and it was delicious!

    Sandy C.

    Overall, we had a great experience here. The fish is absolutely incredible - super fresh and clearly high quality. The service was great, the ambience was nice, and the restaurant itself is very clean. We also had an unfiltered sake that was really good. That said, in my opinion, the menu just isn't worth the price point. It's not your typical sushi spot. Some pieces weren't seasoned at all, and you don't use soy sauce with anything, which makes sense given the quality of the fish, but it's something to note for people who prefer a more traditional sushi experience. We had a good time, but personally, I wouldn't go back and spend this much on a sushi dinner again. Overpriced for what you get.

    Joseph M.

    It was my night off and I wanted to treat myself for an early birthday celebration so here I am lol. I setup a reservation for their late night 18 course traditional Kyoto Kaiseki style Omakase on a Sunday night. At the time of me making this review, the cost is $195 a person. I also opted to add the sweet sake flights ($40) (Yuzu, Plum, Matcha) to my omakase which I highly recommend if you have a sweet tooth. All of the courses in general were really good. My favorite was their Otsumnami (7 Japanese Appetizers). It's very aesthetically pleasing and it tasted as good as it looks. The service here is probably one of the best I've had at an omakase spot. Chef Leo is very knowledgeable on his craft and their servers are very nice. This restaurant is very upscale, very intimate, great for dates/special occasions. There is also a lot of parking garages available in this area which I find very convenient. Definitely recommend checking this spot out! Try it out if you like. :)

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    KUSAKABE Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - KUSAKABE

    I am currently unable to use crutches. Is this restaurant wheelchair accessible? Bathrooms included?

    Hi Olive, Yes, our restaurant is wheelchair accessible. Once you make a reservation, please let us know the date and the seating time to info@kusakabe-sf.com. We will also… 

    Does the price (198) for the omakase menu includes tax and service fee?

    No. That is added later.

    Is it farmed raised fish?

    Hi Bert, Thank you for asking. We do use some farmed fish such as shima aji for the quality and consistency reasons.

    How can I reserve a table for 1 guest? It seems that the restaurant only accept reservation for 2 or…

    Hi Jojo, You can book for 1 guest via phone. Please give us a call at 415.757.0155 on Tuesday thru Sunday between 1pm and 4pm. We are more than happy to assist you.

    I noticed on the website it says ID and vaccination card must be given as of August 2021...is this still the case?

    That was the case as of Aug 2022 when we last went. We had to show ID and proof of vaccination.

    If I have a party of 3, do we all have to do the omakase to be seated together?

    This is an Omakase restaurant, so everyone are served the same set of courses. So to answer the question, 1 order of omakase per customer.

    Hi Do you have any gift certificate or dining certificate available?

    Hi Yani, Thank you for asking. Yes, you can purchase online gift card from our website where it says "gift card" on the top navigation, and that will lead you to Yiftee gift… 

    1. How much does the Grand Omakase cost? (July 2021 - I see several different prices from the Menu photos available on Yelp) 2. Is the Grand Omakase for one person or two?

    Hi David, Thank you for asking! Currently, we have only one Omakase menu, which is $185 per person.

    I noticed there are photos of bento but according to the menu, there is only Omakase. How does it work?

    Hi Mark, Thank you for asking!… 

    How far in advance do you accept reservations?

    Currently, you can make reservations 45 days from today.

    Open for dining in?

    Yes, indoor dining is available from Wednesdays to Sundays. Two seatings, 5pm and 8pm. You can go online and see our availability!

    Will parking be difficult on a Friday night at 5:30pm?

    if you arrive early or can go early, you might find parking but Jackson Square and the area have a lot of restaurants (5A5, Kokkari, etc) so around evening time it might be tough (especially on a friday). otherwise, i'd just park in a garage.

    Is it reservation only or can we walk in?

    Reservation only. You should also specify if you want to sit at the sushi bar or if a table is fine.

    Hello, do you accept all cooked dishes/ fish for pregnant lady? Would love for my sister to join too!

    Hi, Thank you for asking! We can torch the raw items, so it'll be either half or fully cooked depending on your preference. I'd recommend to avoid high mercury fish like… 

    Is it a vegetarian friendly restaurant?

    I'm not sure if they do, but I would say try a different restaurant. The restaurant mainly serves sushi

    Is there a dress code?

    Yes. From their website: Dress Code: Semi formal. Shorts or sandals are NOT allowed. Please… 

    Hello, Is outside Sake or Wine allowed? If so, how much is the corkage fee?…

    Hi Michael, Thank you for asking. Yes, corkage fee would be $25 per bottle, but for party of 2, you can bring only one bottle (up to 750ml). If you purchase a bottle of sake… 

    I have a party of 3 and 2 kids. Only 2 adults plan to get the Omakase and others will order on regular menu. Is this ok?

    As far as I know, it is expected that the entire party order the same thing.

    Hi, how long is each seating? Thanks,…

    I don't remember but my guess is that when we went last time it was about 2 hours for the full Kaiseki meal and the saké tasting. It doesn't really matter-if you don't go your life will be less for it.

    If we wanted to order the wine or sake pairing in addition to the base fee for a party of 2, would each person have to order it individually?

    That saké pairing is insanely good. And what's really cool is that they pour each one into a different shaped glass.… 

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    Domo - Castro Special Roll @colorful.eats

    Castro Special Roll @colorful.eats

    Domo - Crab and cucumber salad

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    Crab and cucumber salad

    Tenroku Sushi - Unagi Roll

    Tenroku Sushi

    3.7(600 reviews)
    1.8 miLower Pacific Heights, Japantown
    $$

    Conveyer belt sushi for the win!…read more I came here last minute because I needed somewhere quick to eat and I was by myself, so luckily there was one seat left (during busy dinner time on a weekend, no less - other places had long waits) Here in America the conveyer belt sushi places haven't really impressed me, but being that this one is in Japantown, it's pretty decent. If there isn't something on the conveyer, you can always ask for it. They were cutting up real, whole fish so you know it's fresh at least. Service was great, super quick and the "chefs" were responsive. The menu is nice, with lots of drinks to choose from as well. Cuts were not authentic but still meaty. Pricing can be on the higher side, depending on what you like. But others have mentioned it can be cheap as you like or expensive as you like at places like these, as they are priced essentially by the choice of fish and how it's prepared. Atmosphere was lively for a weekend night, but I have been here during the week as well when it's less busy. It can be tight if it's full (get to know your neighbor!) but it's more than adequate. Always a fun experience and I have , and will be back.

    For conveyor belt sushi this is a clear 5, for freshness, ease of ordering off-belt (?) and the…read moreservice efficiency. Never a complaint and great hot sake to warm up the vocal cords before going to Festa karaoke right next door.

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    Tenroku Sushi
    Tenroku Sushi - Blue plate specials

    Blue plate specials

    Tenroku Sushi - Spicy tuna

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    Spicy tuna

    Oma San Francisco Station

    Oma San Francisco Station

    4.3(353 reviews)
    1.7 miJapantown, Lower Pacific Heights
    $$$$

    Tucked away in the west entrance of Japantown, in an inconspicuous spot behind all the bustle of…read morethe stores is this hidden gem of an omakase experience. With only 8 seats, the experience is intimate, you get front views to the chefs preparing each of the 24 courses! The fish selections were fresh, delicious and the apps were amazing too. The reviews were great so wanted to come and check this place out for myself and it did not disappoint! Chef Au was friendly and talked to us about his life in Japan, we loved the interaction. All in all 10/10 experience, 10/10 quality of all the dishes and 10/10 ambiance! Definitely worthy of the Michelin accolades it's received!

    Oma San Francisco Station is an omakase restaurant inside Japan Center in San Francisco Japantown…read more They offer 3 menus: Mizuho with 24 items, Sakura with 16, and Tsubame with 12. The location is unusual, as the restaurant is open to the mall, which is a bit disruptive. I came for the 8:30pm seating, but the previous guests were still finishing, so I had to wait until 8:45pm. The staff did not seem very concerned. Bad start. You could also hear the mall cleaning crew during dinner, which was not very pleasant. I ordered the 24-item Mizuho Menu, as did all the other guests. There were 5 guests in total (the restaurant can seat up to 8 people). Here is the menu I was served at the end of May: 1. starter: ama ebi cracker with caviar, pickled lotus root with shaved bonito, crab salad 2. nigiri 4x: isaki, iwana, myabi tai, kanpachi 3. sashimi: chutoro, hotate with caviar, umi masu, sawada 4. nigiri 8x: hirame, suzuki, inada, kurodai, shima aji, kamasu, otoro, aged A5 wagyu, kinmedai 5. hot dish: miso soup with inari and shrimp head, hokkaido uni with marinated ikura, black cod, umi masu with raw yellow egg and caviar 6. dessert: matcha ice cream with strawberry Frankly, the food was excellent. The starter was not very creative, but the nigiri were great. The sashimi selection was very nice, with some fish you do not see as often in omakase menus, such as isaki, iwana, and myabi tai, a kind of tai. Sawada was delicious and is always a good inclusion. We asked for some wasabi and received a small cup of kizami wasabi, a chopped wasabi with a slightly crunchy texture, which was a nice touch. For the nigiri, all the classics of a good omakase were present: otoro, kinmedai, shima aji, uni, hotate, and wagyu. Kamasu was also included, and it is one of my favorite fish. It is also worth noting that they age both their beef and their tuna, including the otoro that was served. A few pieces were torched, maybe a few too many. Overall, the service was not memorable, although chef Ron Au was friendly and nice. The place itself felt a bit questionable, and my expectations were not very high after the beginning of the meal. But the food was truly excellent, and for that reason I think it deserves 5 stars.

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    Oma San Francisco Station
    Oma San Francisco Station - Starter

    Starter

    Oma San Francisco Station - Matcha ice cream made in house

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    Matcha ice cream made in house

    KUSAKABE - sushi - Updated September 2026

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