We were in the area visiting a friend and wanted to catch Nara during Happy Hour! The 3 of us were able to grab a table without waiting, as it was still early in the evening. Dim lighting, simple, modern interiors for a comfortable atmosphere. *** O U R P I C K S *** SHO CHIKU BAI NIGORI UNFILTERED SAKE (silky mild - $15) 2x ~ Sake served chilled. Smooth, sweet, and nice. ~ H A N D R O L L S ~ *California ~ Imitation crab, uni butter, avocado, & tobiko ($6) 3x *Hamachi ~ Yellowtail, onion, cucumber, garlic chip, & tobiko ($7) 3x *Sake ~ Salmon, ikura, yuzu kosho, yuzu juice, & cucumber ($7) 3x * Shiro Maguro Tataki ~ Albacore, onion, ruby sauce, sesame oil, tobiko ($7) 3x ~ M O C H I I C E C R E A M B I R T H D A Y S U R P R I S E ~ *Green Tea *Strawberry Had a wonderful time drinking sake and eating their hand rolls. Everything was high-quality, fresh, and flavorful! And they topped it off with birthday mochi to celebrate! Service and food were top-notch!! read more

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Nara is a decent sushi restaurant and a great place if you love rolls with a lot going on. I typically prefer simple and concise rolls, but I quite like a lot of what they offer here as well. If you like rolls with a lot of different fish textures and flavors, you'll love this place. I highly recommend the Spicy Ocean maki. The Inari are okay but not my favorite. You get more value from the rolls and they taste a lot better as well. The presentation is great too, and they sometimes serve rolls with purple rice, which is visually interesting and unique. For me, I wouldn't go out of my way to go here, but I'd definitely agree to tag along with a friend who did. Check their menu first; if this is your kind of sushi, I think this will be a favorite for you. read more

Reservations available and recommended esp for evenings and weekends. Staff and service has been great, every server we've had has been great. Smaller space, but super lively, dimmed lighting,and nice vibes. Great for dates, girl's night, birthdays! Quality fish for a nice price. I always enjoy the omakase specials they offer. The hamachi truffle is my favorite. I haven't tried too much of the sushi rolls as I favor the nigiri's or raw fish. Good sake too! Everyone I've taken to Nara has been back multiple times. read more

Nara - Hamachi Truffle - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great place for some quality sushi and sake! Was really easy to walk in on a Saturday night and it was amazing. read more

Nara - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Takeout night! Complimentary House Hot Sake It is takeout night. Nara Sushi My Gal Tooney recommended a cold Sake to go and true to & on point was "Zuiyo Hojun Junmaishu" and glad I took to go a large 720ml bottle!!! The team there always provide the best service. Sake Sashimi Sake Toro Sashimi Edamame Sea Salt Always amazing food. Fish is fresh it melts in your mouth. The deco is always on point. Clean with style. read more

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Loved this place! Super fresh fish and everything comes out quick! Highly recommended read more

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This remains my favorite sushi spot in the city. The fish is so fresh, the staff is so kind and helpful, and it feels very homey and intimate inside. Will continue to be a mainstay! read more

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Having to try sushi in Japan, Taiwan, LA, and NY, Nara is on par with decent sushi in San Francisco. Menu was fairly priced and the sushi was decent. The hamachi truffle was too salty. But the tasting menu was fresh with different variety of fish including the fatty tuna. Spider roll did its job by adding that crunch. Great place to have out with friends. Staff was very friendly and helping in explaining the tasting menu. They even help coordinated a birthday cake we brought. There is a waitlist before coming in but the wait isn't that long. read more

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Nara's more recently become a sovereign staple in my lunch routine; I order it at least once a week, a high commendation considering the myriad of great SF lunch spots. The sushi lunch specials (maki and inari or maki sets) are simply unmatched in flavor, portion, and quality. My personal favorite being the Giant Roll and Miss Hamachi maki and inari set. The maki are formidable, leaning almost improbable in scale, given every morsel's sheer size. Girthy and meaty as if the owners operate with no parsimony. Some of their maki ingredients like cilantro may read as gimmicks but actually blend in harmony with the other components of the roll. Cant say I've had cilantro in sushi, but it's a welcome surprise here. The employees are also incredibly friendly. As I collected yet another lunch order, I casually mentioned how Nara frequently sustains my workdays, and the staff slipped two miso soups into my bag. I also saw that they serve kimbap at lunchtime, a seemingly in-store only offering? It's perplexing this goes unadvertised on DoorDash; as a Korean, this, too, would for sure be a steadfast fixture in my rotation. read more

Nara - Spicy Ocean Maki - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wow what an experience. Definitely recommend. The taste and texture are amazing and the flavor is just perfect read more

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We came across this place by accident after attending an event and it was the best accident ever! Great happy hour even on a Saturday. I'm a big fan of spicy tuna and they definitely delivered. Tons of hand roll options for happy hour and other rolls off the happy hour menu but definitely worth getting. It kind of seemed like everyone waited on you so you never really needed anything because someone was always checking on you. It's a small place, so I would not recommend large groups, but perfect for a date night of girls night. We will be back! read more

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Nara was delicious! The burning spider roll was a crowd favorite, alongside the unique, ginger crème brûlée dessert. All the sushi dishes were fresh but definitely lean on the smaller side. The servers were kind and attentive throughout our meal. I appreciated the cozy feel of inside the restaurant- perfect for date night or a casual hang out with friends. Street parking seems tough around the area, but there are plenty of garages around too. Happy to check off another sushi spot in the city. I'll be back if I'm ever in the area again for a concert nearby! read more

Nara - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Thank you Yelpers for steering us to Nara! My hubs and I landed in SFO, took a Lyft to our hotel on Nob Hill, checked in, then walked just a few blocks to Nara. At 5:30pm, we received welcoming and friendly service during their Happy Hour which runs from 5-7pm. The place was clean and neat with low, calming lighting. We ordered the chicken karaage, agedashi tofu, sake kama, big boss roll, and foggy paradise roll. Everything was delicious and came out in a way that allowed us to enjoy every dish at a good, even pace. The chicken karaage was crisp and flavorful. The agedashi tofu was superb with lots of bonito flakes waving atop the fried tofu swimming in a wonderful, savory broth. The sake kama (salmon collar) was broiled nicely and came with a tasty yuzu soy dipping sauce. The big boss roll was full of salmon, bluefin tuna, hamachi, avocado, cucumber. But our favorite was the foggy paradise roll. Who would have thought that a roll with salmon, avocado, shiso leaf, and topped with yellowtail would taste so good?? It was simply *chef's kiss*! Hats off to the whole team at Nara. Thank you for a wonderful dinner on our first night's vacation in SF. We loved it. We will be back. read more

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My friend and I got dinner here on a Thursday night. I made a reservation for 6 PM. There were a decent amount of people there. They have happy hour every day from 5PM-7PM so we got to order off that menu too. Unagi handroll (4/5): This was off the happy hour menu so it was $7. Not as tender as other eel I've had before but still good. Chicken karaage (2.5/5): This karaage didn't have the type of fry coating I liked. It didn't have the typical light and airy crunch. It felt like I was just eating a regular chicken tender or something. It came with a mayo dipping sauce and lemon wedge. Cable car roll (2.5/5): This had shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, topped with blue fin tuna, hamachi, and BBQ sauce. This was definitely my fault and I didn't realize it was going to be topped with BBQ SAUCE. It was a light slather but still weird to me. It would've been better without it but also my fault for not reading the entire description closely. The fish was fresh though. Big boss roll (5/5): This roll had hamachi, bluefin tuna, salmon, avocado, cucumber, and radish sprout. Since this was a normal sushi roll, I enjoyed it. The portion was good. The rating is more of a 3.5! Nothing was bad. Some things just weren't my taste. I would probably come back and try other items on the menu. I was just not a fan of the BBQ sauce. read more

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Amazing experience all around. The quality of the fish was some of the best I have had all over the country, staff was very friendly and didn't rush us, space was very cozy and great for talking on a date read more

Cute Japanese place in the Polk area with a happy hour from 5-7pm. Made a reservation the day of and came on a weekday. It was good that we made a reservation since it got pretty busy. I got the hot sake which was good and two hand rolls for $7 each. It was an okay size for $7 but the fish was fresh and tasty. We also got a roll to share and karaage. Karaage was just ok but I would come back for the hand rolls. read more

Nara - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Very casual and laid back sushi restaurant with creative rolls and a great nigiri tasting! I loved all the flavors in the chef's choice nigiri and the portions were huge for under $40. It was great value, but I do wish the fish was cut a little thinner as it was a little hard to eat in one bite! Some prices were also not as buttery as I usually like, but I think it's the type of fish served. Regardless, everything felt fresh and flavorful. We also got the cable car roll to share and it was pretty good too! The service was very efficient and attentive, and it wasn't crowded on a Tuesday late at night. We missed their happy hour so prices were more expensive ($60pp after tip) but we were quite satisfied after. read more

Nara - cable car - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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What an amazing spot on Polk! We went during happy hour during the week for my partner's birthday and easily made a reservation on Yelp. We ordered a smattering of the hand rolls (5 different ones, 2 each) plus the big boss roll and some edamame. It was just the right amount of food for 2 and even with a beverage was less than other nearby places. The fish was some of the freshest I've had in the city! The hand rolls were outstanding, rivaling many omakase spots in the city. While the big roll was nice I might just order an additional hand roll next time and I heard the hamachi collar appetizer is fantastic! The service was friendly, fast, and even sang happy birthday to my partner. I can't wait to go back! read more

Nara - Hand rolls, edamame, and Big Boss (GF) roll - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I came here to eat something quickly before visiting a neighboring bar, and I enjoyed my dinner very much. I arrived just in time for happy hour and got a $8 salmon hand roll, a chirashi bowl, and some sea salt edamame. So yummy and nourishing. The chirashi was cut so well and the rice was well seasoned! The edamame was also freshly steamed and very warm when I ate it. The hand roll was okay, I'm not typically a temaki type of person but I do enjoy them on occasion! I would definitely come again and try more off their menu. read more

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We were craving sushi and Nara popped up on our search. We decided to give it a try due to the good reviews. We should have done a little more research, especially since we had a couple of kids in our group. There were no teriyaki or noodle options so the kids had to settle for California rolls. I guess we're used to most sushi places having some form of kid friendly options but that's on us for not fully paying attention to the menu before going. The food was good! It definitely hit the spot for the adults. I find the appetizers to be a bit small in size for the price that they're charging though. The sushi we got was standard in size compared to other sushi places. The service was excellent: attentive, knowledgeable, and quick! read more

Nara - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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made a reservation for 5pm right when they opened. ambiance was very peaceful and everything was clean. we ordered edamame and 2 hand rolls from the happy hour menu, as well as 2 rolls (big boss and sake bomb). everything was extremely fresh and delicious. service was friendly and efficient. definitely would come back again for more sushi! read more

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Had a great time at Nara for a quick dinner after a yoga class. It's a very cute small location with not a ton of seating but we didn't have trouble finding a spot at around 5:15PM. We ended up ordering two hand rolls each. It was happy hour so the hand rolls had a bit of a discount but not anything crazy, just a couple dollars off. Two hand rolls equal to about a roll in terms of side. The hand rolls were delicious however, but very fresh fish that melted in your mouth. We also got happy hour karaage which was good and crispy with a very nice mayo based sauce, and a sushi roll each. The sushi roll was very good but I was a bit disappointed that it was only 6 rolls as opposed to 8 without being shown in the menu. All in all, the food was very good, the service was fast, and the price was fair. Definitely not a cheap place for sushi, but I do believe the quality price is there. read more

Living in the east bay, I don't often go out to SF for sushi. I had the pleasure of dining at Nara this week and I am blown away by how good it is! The fish is fresh and sweet like it was just pulled from the ocean and it is clear that they take pride in their craft. Not only was the sushi amazing, but their cooked food hit as well! Needless to say, I will be back here when we are looking for great sushi at a reasonable price! read more

some of my fav sushi in the city!! def recommend the hand roll happy hour :) my go to is the spicy tuna.

Lovely staff, pretty good sushi. Their signature rolls are all very good. I also appreciate that they are open a little later than most restaurants on Polk. I didn't feel that the spoon tasting set wasn't really worth it, as the quality wasn't exceptional and it wasn't very creative. While the service here was been consistently pleasant, there was one disappointing instance. I was told they were gonna do a last call and that I had 10 minutes to make any last decisions. Unfortunately, none of the waiters ever came back to take my order. When one finally returned, I was told that It was too late and the kitchen was finished for the night. If not for this instance, I would have left 4 stars. I do plan on coming back, but will stick to the rolls. read more

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Nara is a nice sushi spot. I'd say a bit of a step up from your local more laid back sushi spot but the prices aren't as crazy as the places that try to be super nice and fancy. They have great roll options and fun appetizers and small bites as well. The fish always tastes fresh and the staff are always nice and attentive. Definitely going in the rotation of places to hit regularly on Polk! read more

Nara - Spoons - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Fresh sushi. Lovely and helpful service. Good prices and open late which is perfect for a late night out. Totally recommend this place.

Shocking & confusing experience to say the least. After carefully reviewing the menu, my friend & I decided to order the $20 bottle of Pinot Noir. The wine was nothing to write home about, but for $20 we decided it was a great deal and paired great with our meal. While on our last glass, we were handed the bill and I realized that we were being charged close to $60 for the bottle. I politely brought this up to our waitress, who expressed to me that she was also the manager. I explained that we clearly asked for the cheaper bottle of Pinot & it was not our fault that the wrong bottle was brought out. After some back & forth the best she could do was charge us $28 (2 $14 glasses). I felt this was fair, because it was an honest mistake and nobody was trying to take advantage of the situation. I apologized for the misunderstanding and thanked her. As I'm signing the check, this woman runs back up to us and says "because I gave you a discount..." and snatches my glass of wine and runs off with it. We were SHOCKED! So much so that I immediately started laughing because I could not believe the audacity lol After collecting myself, I went up to the manager and I expressed to her my disappointment. Her response was rude and defensive. She then said: "there's plenty of other restaurants that I'm sure can provide better quality service." That's for sure! Lol As someone who spent many years working in the service industry, I made my share of mistakes. I get it. Shit happens! However, taking a paying customers glass and pouring it out (she made sure to tell me she tossed it) is extremely inappropriate, so unprofessional, and flat out petty. I will never be returning here again and I'll make sure to continue telling this outrageous story to everyone I meet...mostly because I still think it's hilarious Cheers read more

Yumm the handrolls here r so fresh, simple, and well made! I got to sit at the bar and u can watch them make ur handrolls! There was no wait around 5:45pm on Sat. They have a mostly handroll happy hr going on from 5-7pm. They r $7-8 and fresh and delicious! I also enjoyed their hot Genmai Tea which comes with it's own metal tea filter so u can make it as strong or mild as u like. Service is great and would def recommend!! read more

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Walked in and a pungent blast of PineSol hit me. Before I can even sit the hostess tells me "oh there is no nigiri or sashimi for lunch menu". A joke of a place using probably paid services to rank themselves higher to sucker customers in. Imagine walking into a steak house and being told no steak on lunch menu. How ridiculous could that be?!! read more

I've walked by here many times and finally got to stop in the other night. Such a cozy neighborhood sushi spot on Polk! Was bustling on a weekday night but luckily able to get seated immediately. They seem to take reservations as well, since the table next to us was being held for a reservation. For food, we started off with the chicken karaage and spoon tasting. The karaage was crispy and delicious, and the sauce that came with it was the perfect pairing. The spoon tasting was a creative and fun way to try different varieties and packed in a lot of flavor. We were going for a light dinner, so only got one order of rolls (the sake bomb.) Really nice crunch on the rolls and also very flavorful, but it did take a while to come out after the appetizers/small plates. read more

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Great eats here! We came for lunch on a weekday and street parking was easy. There was no wait for a table, seems like there were many take out orders rather than dining in. Interior is nice and well appointed. Service was on point. Will be back! The happy hour menu looks fun! read more

Nara - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I'm a sucker for a good happy hour deal and $7 hand rolls are borderline still a good deal. We were a party of 5 and enjoyed the HH handrolls and the normal rolls a lot! With drinks and all, It was like $50 a person I think. The place was packed so do come early! read more

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The fish was fresh. Service was good. I totally recommend this place. Menu was very creative and lots of options. Perfect for a date night or for a late night bite. read more

I brought my niece here for lunch and we had a great experience. I ordered the Strawberry Black Tea and absolutely loved the flavor. It was so yummy. For lunch I ordered the Spicy Ocean Roll. I was surprised over the generous portion size. Thought it was difficult for me to navigate with chopsticks, the flavor was out of this world delicious. The texture was just right, the yummy rice and the soft salmon paired well with the avocado and remaining ingredients. My niece ordered the Shrimp Tempura Gimbap and of course we shared. I thought it had a great flavor as well. I have not ever had tempura within a sushi roll and enjoyed every bite. The service was good, our service was very friendly. The space is just lovely. I'm so happy we tried this place and I'll definitely return. read more

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Beers and sake were good. We came during happy hour. Their chicken karaage was so good. Lightly battered and good dipping sauce to accompany it. Mushroom miso soup was probably the best I've ever had. Generic edamame. Takoball was really good! The bacon is a game changer! We order the kabocha order on the HH menu was disappointing. Usually I like hamachi Kama but this one was not as good. If came out pretty burnt. We ordered the big boss (hamachi, bluefin tuna, salmon, avocado, cucumber) (I liked this one). Loco crunchy roll (spicy tuna, mango, cucumber, fried soft shell crab,) (everyone loved this at our table). The sea gold without uni (with uni was $45). (Hamachi, avocado, cucumber, shiso, and black truffle-- melt in your mouth good). Sake bomb (salmon, avocado, cucumber, jalapeño, salmon,) this was also really good. Actually there wasn't a roll I didn't like, which is really rare for me The creme brûlée was good, slightly heavy. read more

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This is an amazing happy hour deal! Sushi and dishes, priced between $6 and $8, came with 1-2 pieces each but offered generous portions. The kaarage comes with a good serving size so ordering one of those was a good bang for my buck and filling option. You can also get a huge Sapporo beer for a great price. We made reservations for 6 PM on a Tuesday evening at 6 PM and were seated right away. For a weeknight, the restaurant was buzzing but not packed and service was quick and great. Would 100% come again for happy hour. read more

Nara - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food was decent, a couple of the rolls were pretty bland. Just be aware that the recommended tip amounts is based on the total instead of the subtotal. read more

I was in SF for the JP Morgan Healthcare conference with some of my work colleagues from San Diego and they asked for me to suggest a solid local sushi and sashimi restaurant and I chose Nara. Glad I did. It is a fairly priced and reasonably casual higher quality sushi restaurant that had some excellent fresh seafood. We ordered a number of specials including fatty tuna and some delicious hand rolls. I also ordered the mixed sashimi platter and it was decent but I thought a little pricy for what was offered. Glad it was an expense account meal. Overall the fish was quite good and it was priced accordingly. We didn't get any of their rolls but they also looked good. We stuck to the sushi and sashimi simple preparations where the fish could shine. It did. Highly recommended. read more

The sushi at Nara are standard--nothing quite the exceptional but not bad either. The staff here are all extremely friendly. I will be cautious of waiting by the entry, as the door swings in and out both ways. I walked in last to have the door handle be swung right into my rib cage. read more

Nara - Sake Bomb - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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