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    Kushi Tsuru

    3.6 (1.3k reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 9:00 pm

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    KUSHI TSURU ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Good for kids
    Good for groups

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    Michael C.

    Kushi Tsuru is a staple of the Japantown mall, and it usually hits the spot for a quick, no-fuss lunch. However, my most recent visit was a bit of a mixed bag, mostly due to the temperature of the beverages and the "middle-of-the-road" sushi. The Drink Situation The biggest letdown was the Sapporo draft. There is nothing quite like a crisp, ice-cold beer to cut through fried food or fish, but this pint was noticeably lacking that "frosty" edge. It wasn't quite room temperature, but it certainly wasn't the refreshing, chilled experience you expect from a professional tap system. When the beer is "just okay" in temperature, it makes the whole meal feel a bit flat. The Food As for the food, we stuck to the sushi rolls. They were perfectly fine--fresh enough and presented well--but they didn't exactly stand out in a neighborhood that is packed with high-tier sushi options. The rice was decent and the fish-to-rice ratio was fair, but they lacked that "wow" factor or signature flair that makes you want to recommend them to a friend. They are "safe" rolls--satisfying if you're already there, but not something to go out of your way for. The Vibe The service remains friendly and the classic, wood-heavy interior still provides that cozy, authentic Japantown aesthetic. It's a comfortable spot to rest your feet after walking the mall, but they might need to check the calibration on their keg chiller. The Verdict Go for the katsu or the atmosphere, but maybe skip the draft beer until they get the cooling system sorted. If you're a sushi purist, you might find the rolls a bit underwhelming, but they'll get the job done for a casual meal.

    Takumi A.

    Kushi Tsuru is one of those places I keep coming back to whenever I'm in Japantown and simply want something reliable, comforting, and quietly competent. It's not trying to be trendy, and that's exactly why it works. This visit, the order stayed close to my usual rotation: Cold soba with tempura - The soba is properly rinsed and chilled, which matters more than people realize. Clean finish, no residual starch, and a firm but not brittle bite. The accompanying tempura is light and well-controlled - no excess oil, no soggy batter. This is textbook execution. Pork katsu curry - The curry base carries a gentle sweetness with a noticeable spicy edge, not just a lazy sweetness masked by chili powder. The katsu itself is juicy inside with a clean crust, showing good temperature control during frying. This is comfort food done with discipline. Monkey Brain - This dish deserves specific credit. The outer crust is extremely crisp, while the interior remains soft and structurally intact, not collapsed or greasy. When it arrives, it's hot inside and crisp outside, which only happens when oil temperature, timing, and moisture control are dialed in. This must be eaten immediately - wait too long and you lose the contrast. Properly executed, it's a strong example of Japanese-American frying technique done right. Sushi rolls - Solid, consistent, and predictable in a good way. Rice texture is stable, fillings are balanced, and nothing feels rushed or sloppy. This isn't a place chasing novelty - it's about execution. What I appreciate most is the overall reliability. Service is friendly and efficient, food comes out quickly, and the kitchen clearly understands its limits and strengths. In Japantown, this matters. When you're hungry and don't want to gamble, Kushi Tsuru is a safe and satisfying choice. It's not a destination restaurant - and it doesn't need to be. It's a place you return to, again and again, because it delivers. Dr. C Consistency over gimmicks. Execution over noise.

    Marie B.

    Had to get a Japanese curry fix, so ordered the katsu curry for lunch at Kushi Tsuru. It was really tasty and delicious. Mr B ordered a bento of shrimp tempura, California rolls and gyoza. Meh... The gyoza had no flavor, probably store bought frozen. The shrimp tempura were a joke. Measly dried up shrimp. It looked nothing like the food display in the window. The California rolls were OK, but the salad didn't have any dressing. Ambiance is fine, service OK, but the food needs improvement. I did see a sign asking for an experienced chef, so maybe that's the problem?

    Just saw they were giving out soda or miso soup for a yelp or Google review so thought I might give it a go.
    Tomohisa W.

    The katsu curry is nostalgic and so yummy. Although it came in a donburi rather than a large plate like it is done in traditional Japanese restaurants, the flavors were just like a home cooked meal with big soft chunks of meat, carrots and potatoes. The tonkatsu was perfectly crunchy breading around juicy and an almost sweet and tender pork cutlet. I asked for some fukujinzuke, a red pickled vegetable which I was informed was. Underneath the tonkatsu that almost covered the whole bowl. When I got there, a little before noon, the place was empty but by the time I was leaving, there were a couple of customers also enjoying the curry rice and a couple of tourist families had come in. I noticed the katsu curry took about 10-15 minutes to serve whereas the curry by itself was almost instantaneous so I'm guessing they have it heating in a huge pot ready to plate up if you're in a hurry and can't wait for them to freshly fry up some katsu.

    Spicy Ramen
    Rosting A.

    How an entire experience can completely fall apart! We arrived at the place and it was quite clean. They had good music. Everything seemed fine at the beginning. It was our first time at the restaurant, and when we ordered a glass with ice, they told us the ice machine was broken. That's understandable, that's fine. The good part is that at least my Coke wasn't warm! Our food arrived on time, and I was able to try everything we ordered--it honestly had good flavor. I even mentioned that I could see myself coming back; we were having a good time. But when we went to pay, one of my friends took a sip of water from her glass and suddenly started making strange choking sounds. We asked her what was wrong, and she spit out a piece of glass. Then she said she felt another small one in her mouth--and she pulled that one out too. We notified the waitresses, and all they said was: "sorry." WHAT KIND OF RESPONSE IS THAT?! This is about the safety of your customers! This is food and drinks we are consuming! No one came to check if we were okay, no sincere apology, no expression of real concern... ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! If you're going to run a restaurant, customer safety must come first, and here it clearly did not.

    Skipp E.

    Took my daughter and her friends here today for lunch. They sat our party fast. The prices aren't bad, and portion sizes are nice too. My only gripe is my beef teriyaki was super, super fatty. Like 60% of my portion was fat. The deep fried California roll was really good, and the curry fish my daughter got was very good as well. Staff was friendly and attentive

    Steffie P.

    Ordered the curry and the spicy ramen and both were really good, flavorful and comforting. The service was a little slow, but the staff was friendly and welcoming, which made up for it. Overall, a solid spot for Japanese comfort food.

    Jeannie Y.

    I was very disappointed with this restaurant, especially considering that this area used to be known for consistently good Japanese food. Unfortunately, that standard no longer seems to be the case. The atmosphere felt far from a Japanese dining experience. Staff members spoke very loudly across the restaurant, creating a chaotic environment that was more reminiscent of a busy non-Japanese eatery than a place serving Japanese cuisine. Service also lacked professionalism and attentiveness. As for the food, it was the biggest letdown. Nothing tasted fresh, and several dishes were overly salty and soggy, lacking the clean and delicate flavors expected from Japanese food. We barely ate and ended up having to get another meal afterward. It appears that ownership may have changed, as not only this restaurant but others on the same side seem to have declined significantly in quality. Overall, this was not an authentic or enjoyable experience, and I'm leaving this review mainly as a reminder to myself not to return.

    Made me sick

    I got a sushi roll. Now I have food poisoning. I'm very upset I spent 30$ so get sick.

    tonkotsu ramen
    Char V.

    no line at 12pm on a sunday and was seated in the back dining area. it gets more ambiance points since it feels like you're in a nicer establishment and not in a strip of restaurants. was echo-y though, especially with multiple large groups in this small area. servers were fine, but nothing special stood out. fried gyoza: 7/10. good crunch, wrapper not too thick, good pork flavor. just wish there were veggies or greens to add flavor contrast and color. dipping sauce was good and complimented the gyoza flavors well. tonkotsu ramen: 4/10. broth not overly (but still) salty and oily; i like that it isn't too heavy slightly lacking in flavor (compared to marufuku, my gold standard). the pork was very thin and fatty, nearly no meat. tbh just suck up the line and go to marufuku bc the extra $2 makes a huge difference. would only go here IF your party is split on what they want to eat and you all want the convenience of going to one place together (hence what happened at this meal).

    Katsu curry
    Oleg H.

    Japanese curry is woefully under represented in the American Japanese restaurants -- but KT is working hard to be the exception. The katsu curry is delicious and hearty and I highly recommend it

    Miso soup and salad
    Bob K.

    This is in Japan Center mall, and was a cozy little nook. We had no trouble getting seated, and orders were taken promptly. It took a while to get water. I was with Blondie and The Wife, and together we ordered veggie tempura, a couple house salads and miso soup, one salmon lover roll, one CA roll, and an avocado roll, with a large hot sake and a Sprite. It seemed pretty expensive for not much food. The tempura was a small plate. $20.95 for the salmon lover, which is basically a salmon roll with an extra piece of fish on top with some sauce, seemed excessive. At least everything was tasty.

    Jessica D.

    This small Japanese spot is located in Japantown's food hall. We were seated right away for a party of 7. Our food did take a while to come but it was expected since we had a big party. They have lots of dishes to choose from and great lunch deals too!

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    Page 1 of 34

    Kushi Tsuru Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kushi Tsuru

    Which sushi bar in Japantown Center San Francisco has a river or water trough delivering sushi plates around and in front of you?

    Izumi Kaiten Sushi

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    Muracci's Japanese Curry & Grill

    Muracci's Japanese Curry & Grill

    4.0
    (1.8k reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Stopped by when I was in SF only a couple minutes walk from BART and ordering online was super…read moreconvenient since their website accepts Apple Pay. I ordered the vegetarian curry with tofu and broccoli at the medium spice level (~$17). The spice level was exactly as described and the curry itself was flavorful. My only small complaint is that I wish the vegetarian curry came with a wider variety of vegetables. I was surprised it didn't include potatoes which were an additional charge. The portion size felt fair for one person I had enough to have leftovers for dinner. I do wish the price was a little lower since it's a takeout-only spot, but considering the area, it seems pretty in line with what you'd expect to pay in downtown SF. My partner ordered the chicken katsu curry and really enjoyed it as well. Definitely worth checking out.

    Overall, it was an alright spot for a quick lunch. The Japanese curry was decent--nothing…read moreparticularly memorable, but it hit the spot if you're looking for something simple and filling. A curry katsu dish cost $20 before tips. One downside was the customer service. The woman working the counter came across as unfriendly and didn't seem very welcoming, which made the experience less enjoyable. Also, keep in mind that this is strictly a grab-and-go place. There's no seating available, so you'll need to plan on taking your food elsewhere. If you're just looking for a convenient curry lunch, it's fine, but don't expect much in terms of service or dine-in atmosphere.

    Photos
    Inside, takeout with a small area on the right to eat
    Inside, takeout with a small area on the right to eat
    Katsu curry with rice and pickles 9/14/23! Yum
    Katsu curry with rice and pickles 9/14/23! Yum
    Cute art wall

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    Cute art wall
    Nippon Curry San Francisco

    Nippon Curry San Francisco

    4.5
    (465 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    Dining out during these inflationary times ain't easy, especially in San Francisco! Thankfully…read moreNippon Curry offers a hearty, tasty, and hot meal for under $20...WOW! Ambience is non-descript, soulless, artless, modern, and clean. Service was efficient and robotic, I think the AI-Robots at Google Gemini and Grok have more personality. All good... $17 Tonkatsu Curry...the plate was huge! A thick, wide, juicy, tender, pork cutlet with that signature Japanese crispy crunchy batter embracing each other like a romantic couple on their 3rd date. The lovely fragrant hot, rich, mild brown curry sauce covers it all. Underneath it all is generous mound of steaming hot white rice. +3 Steamed Vegetables...get your vitamins and fiber, and let your bowel movements flow smoothly like Willy Wonka's chocolate waterfalls. The fresh veggies blend in nicely with all that flavorful curry sauce.

    Heard really great things about Nippon Curry but ended up feeling meh about it, especially since we…read moredrove here from San Jose. I think it's because I've had better in the South Bay. I do see that the curry is prepared different from other curry restaurants and the curry itself is actually very good. Rice to curry ratio is like 80% rice, 20% curry. CHICKEN KATSU CURRY (3.5/5) - chicken is super thin and I wish there was more. EBI FRY CURRY (4/5) - decent, crispy ebi. I actually enjoyed the panko breading and it went well with the curry. Overall, nice casual spot. I can see why it's popular with locals but I wouldn't go out of my way for this place especially with the likes of Curry Hyuga.

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    Organized
    Organized
    Pork Katsu Curry
    Pork Katsu Curry
    Very clean- and very almost closed!

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    Very clean- and very almost closed!
    Cafe Okawari

    Cafe Okawari

    4.5
    (544 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Delicious Japanese cafe that's right by the Caltrain station!!! I got the chicken thigh curry and…read moremy friend ordered the chicken katsu curry and lemonade. I grabbed some water from the water station. The food came out very quickly. The chicken thighs were super tender, and the curry was spiced very well. There's a good ratio of curry to rice in this dish. The fukujinzuke was also so yummy!! There's a plethora of indoor and outdoor seating, and we opted to sit outdoors since the weather was particularly nice on that day.

    A great work lunch spot. I needed something quick so I ordered an egg salad sanwhich and green tea…read morelemonade to go. I love egg salad sandwiches so I had a high bar. This blew me out of the water. It was not too sweet, not too mayo-y, and something about the bread was even better than milk bread in Japan. It was slightly chewier and heartier while still being super soft, and had an indescribable taste - like butter? The green tea lemonade was unfortunately short of the matcha/lemonade flavor. I'll have to come back to try their protein bowls and curry when I have more time Logistics: - indoor and outdoor seating - extremely limited street parking nearby, but walkable from light rail, Caltrain, buses, bike trail - if you order takeout step back outside and they'll hand it through the window

    Photos
    The café is busy with patrons eating Japanese sandos or bowls! 12/1/23
    The café is busy with patrons eating Japanese sandos or bowls! 12/1/23
    Egg Salad Sando w/ jidori egg ($13)
    Egg Salad Sando w/ jidori egg ($13)
    Beef Gyudon

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    Beef Gyudon
    On the Bridge

    On the Bridge

    3.4
    (1.4k reviews)
    0.0 mi
    $$

    This place is literally on the bridge, connecting the Japantown shopping centers. So it's pretty…read moresmall and narrow. Not really accessible if you have a wheelchair. It was kind of difficult already with my husbands crutches. A wheelchair could be possible if they sit you at the very front entrance. We wanted to go because they have napolitan and we were very happy that we went. The staff were nice. They keep to themselves and check in on you just enough. There's anime on the shelves if you want to read and relax. Love that they had a warning that some of them may not be suitable for kids. They don't split bills, so heads up if you're going with multiple people. Our boys really liked their curry and katsu. They were able to make it not really spicy and it was just right for them. Napolitan was so good. The serving size was just right. At first I thought it might be too big, but because it was so good, I scarfed that thing down. This will definitely be our spot to go back to when we're in Japantown.

    Overall, this is a decent restaurant. One of its biggest selling points is its location on the…read morebridge in Japantown, which offers a unique dining experience. The menu leans more toward Western-style Japanese cuisine, with a large selection of pasta dishes as well as a few rice bowls. I ordered the omurice, oyako don, and a pasta dish. Unfortunately, they had sold out of pasta, so they substituted soba noodles instead. The prices are a bit on the expensive side, but the portions are generous, especially when it comes to the amount of meat, so it still feels like good value. That said, I found the chicken to be a little tough. On the bright side, the takoyaki pancake was surprisingly good. Although the restaurant is somewhat pricey overall, the ingredients are generous and satisfying. My only real complaint is that it's almost impossible to find a server whenever you need one. 中規中矩的餐廳,在日本城的橋上是一個很不錯的賣點,食物比較偏向歐美風格的日本食物,很多義大利麵的選擇,還有些丼飯的選擇。我點了蛋包飯、Oyako Don、義大利麵,不過麵都賣完了,他們用蕎麥麵給我做。價格感覺有點偏貴,不過肉都放很多,很實惠,但是雞肉偏硬。另外,它的章魚燒餅還不錯。儘管整體價格偏貴,但是食料挺紮實的。唯一的缺點是永遠找不到服務員。

    Photos
    03.02.24 entrance to restaurant located on the West Mall
    03.02.24 entrance to restaurant located on the West Mall
    Japanese Seafood Spaghetti
    Japanese Seafood Spaghetti
    Menchi Katsu with tonkatsu sauce

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    Menchi Katsu with tonkatsu sauce
    Torraku Ramen

    Torraku Ramen

    4.0
    (243 reviews)
    2.1 mi
    $$

    Food: 3-4/5 Service: Basic…read moreAmbiance: Casual Value: 3/5 Got Tonkotsu ramen and Oyakodon. The Tonkotsu broth was nice and the pork belly was soft. The Oyakodon I thought was just okay. Good in the fact it's simple, but left me wanting more. We went for lunch. When I say the service is basic, it's that we got seated, they brought out waters and that was the only service we received during the meal. The reason for my 3 star rating is that I wasn't really wowed by anything and the value. I understand rent and overhead is expensive but $17 for that Oyakodon is bit high. I understand Unagi being priced what it is. With that being said the ramen is comparable to other ramen shops in SF.

    Ramen in Potrero, Torraku was once a popular food truck that has now planted itself in a nice brick…read moreand mortar location that has coffee and empanadas close by. In 2017 it was listed on SF's best food truck list and if you've been a fan they've carried over their black and red color scheme to the restaurant.  The good thing is they are used to operating at high volume with fast turn around so the food comes out really fast. The menu is small but they do serve Japanese beers and sake. Shoyu Ramen: Noodles and broth were perfect and the chashu and seaweed were abnormally large, it was very tasty. For being proportional I would have loved more green onion. Spicy Miso Ramen: Perfect for warming you up on a cool SF day, it's savory with a delicate heat and thicker cut pieces of meat. Overall size may be perfect for other people but my friend and I could not finish our bowls, it seemed like we kept eating and eating and the bowl looked exactly the same so great value for the price.

    Photos
    Torraku Ramen
    Torraku Ramen
    Torraku Ramen

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    Kushi Tsuru - sushi - Updated August 2026

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