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After checking in, we were seated at the bar while we waited for our table to be ready. The bartender greeted us with a warm smile and kindly helped us navigate the drinks menu. I was intrigued by the tomato martini, and the bartender explained the intricate process by which the flavor is extracted from the cherry tomatoes. This is among the best martinis I've had in a while, and it was a perfect way to start the evening. It was smooth, delicate, and sophisticated, with the olive oil-washed gin tying everything together beautifully. We then ordered the Shigoku oysters and the short rib bone marrow. The oysters were super fresh and perfectly complemented by the mint oil and melon gelée. The bone marrow was rich and decadent, while the grapes provided a nice contrast and worked surprisingly well with it. I ordered the A5 Bushu Wagyu paired with the menu-recommended sake, while my partner ordered the aged New York. We also ordered the maitake mushrooms and the crispy potatoes in Wagyu fat as our sides. My A5 was everything you would expect from an exceptional Wagyu: incredibly marbled, buttery, tender, and packed with flavor. The fat practically melted in my mouth, giving the steak that luxurious texture that makes A5 so special. Sadly, however, there were a couple of small bites that were not quite as enjoyable because there happened to be a small nerve in the steak, which made those particular bites a bit chewy. The sake recommendation on the menu paired nicely with the subtle richness of the A5, and it finished cleanly after a couple bites of steak. I have to say the aged New York was phenomenal! It was robust and savory and ate like a very fancy cut of meat (my wife was kind enough to share a bite with me). It had a wonderful depth of flavor and, honestly, made it difficult to decide which steak I preferred. The mushrooms were excellent as well, delivering exactly the kind of deep umami flavor I was hoping for. But the potatoes were the star of the show! They come as these perfect golden cubes, made from thinly sliced potatoes that are neatly stacked together. They are beautifully crisp on the outside while maintaining a soft, buttery and decadent on texture on the inside. The chickpea miso is a really nice complement, adding another layer of savory flavor without overpowering the potatoes. These might honestly be the best potatoes in San Francisco. The one thing to keep in mind is that this is definitely a bit on the pricey side. With several drinks included, our final tab was around $600, so this is not exactly an everyday dinner. That said, for a special occasion or when you're looking to splurge, I think the quality of the food, creativity of the cocktails, and overall experience make it worth considering. Overall, this was a memorable meal from beginning to end. The cocktail was inventive, the seafood and bone marrow were thoughtfully prepared, the steaks were impressive, and the sides-- especially those potatoes-- were standouts. The service also made the evening feel welcoming and relaxed. Aside from the small nerve in my A5 and the fairly steep price, there wasn't much to fault. I'd happily come back, and if you go, do yourself a favor and order the olive oil washed gin-tomato martini, aged New York steak, and the potatoes.
3.5, rounded to 4 because of the friendly service, drinks, and delicious desserts. I expected so much more from their Wagyu steak. Isn't that weird, given that's their specialty? But it didn't taste like A5 Wagyu flown in from Australia. If someone fed this to me blind, I'd have guessed it was overcooked filet mignon from the US. Maybe it was an off day, but it was a bit tough. Luckily, I don't eat much meat so they made me halibut and oysters. Oh boy those were good! The sides were hit and miss, too, but oh boy. The Wagyu fat brownies la mode was 10/5! I'd come for those brownies alone and the Hibiki highball with gold flakes and pear.
I had an 8pm reservation at Niku to celebrate my husband's and my anniversary. Upon entering, I fell in love with the sleek décor, and everything was so tastefully designed. Unfortunately, our counter seats were not available due to the previous party still working on their meal. We sat at the bar and ordered 2 cocktails while we waited. Both were underwhelming and I was surprised by reviews recommending their cocktails. After 30 minutes, we were finally escorted to our seats. I was a bit disappointed by this since our reservation was already late. Once we were seated, I was impressed watching how the meat was cooked and prepared. It was cool learning how they use a special grill that prevents smoke from entering the area. For food, we ordered: 1. Wagyu tsukune: Well-seasoned and juicy - 4/5 2. Australian wagyu filet mignon: Delicious. So tender and flavorful. You know it is great meat when you don't need any sauces - a 5/5 3. Crispy potato wagyu fat: LOVED these potatoes but absolutely hated the chickpea miso, which tasted like mayonnaise to us so not sure what else was in it. Overall, a 3.5/5 4. Morel mushroom rice: A bit salty in my opinion and nothing wowing about it. A solid 2.5/5 5. Wagyu fat brownie: The most disappointing part of the meal. It just tasted like a boxed brownie. I would skip this; it was a 1/5 in my opinion. Overall, the restaurant was a nice experience, and their wagyu is very good. However, since Niku is a Michelin restaurant, I was expecting to be wowed more.
Delicious steakhouse located just outside the city. There's really not much to dislike about this place as the portions are large, steaks are flavorful and service is stellar! They also have an excellent cocktail, wine and sake menu that pairs nicely with your order.
4.5/5: Parking: Street parking. Fairly easy to find. Service: Everyone is so attentive. Ambiance: A little noisy and the music in the bathroom was loud. Food: Amazing! Went with Tasting of Japanese wagyu and it is a bit buttery for me especially the A5. I can see why its served with wasabi. I much preferred the Australian Wagyu. Pig ears: they were so good. I would say the sauce they used is a bit heavy at the bottom. Bone Marrow, crispy potatoes, morel mushrooms, all satisfying. Can't forget Kakigoro! Went with this for dessert that a staff recommended and I throughly enjoyed it although she did mention other popular ones as well.
Don't sleep on the desserts! The sweets bumped it up from a 3 to 4/5. Had reservations to celebrate a birthday for Monday 5 pm. The decor and ambiance of this place were breathtaking: the bar, the shelves of wine, the grill. Got a window seat, which was great for lighting, but if you want more entertainment, a counter seat gets you front-row seats to the massive grill! What we got: - Beef Tartare [3/5]~ very peppery. The jammy egg yolk was cured in duck fat, which adds a rich and buttery consistency. Fried beef tendon was an interesting vehicle for the beef tartare; however, it was slightly greasy and got gummy mid-eating experience. - Crispy Pig Ears [6/5]~ THIS! The fish caramel sauce was a perfect balance of salty, umami, and sweet. Crisp from the pig ears satisfies the fried, crunchy cravings! And the allium flowers added a pungent break in flavor and a nice decor! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! - wagyu bone-in short rib. huckleberry jus [3/5]~ huckleberry jus added a great sweet accompanying sauce. The cut we got was extremely fatty and the crust of the short rib was chewy -- even the knife struggled to cut through. About 30% was inedible due to fat. - crispy potato, wagyu fat. chickpea miso [2/5]~ slightly disappointed. Not crispy and the potatoes were slightly under. The aioli served didn't provide much except for more grease. - lobster mushroom rice, salsa macha, toasted pine nut xo, crispy shallot, scallions [3/5]~ served in a coconut husk shaped bowl, this was tangy and had a great chew from short grain rice used. paired with the crispy pig ears was an unstoppable duo. Alone, the slightly sour taste was offputting. - pickled market vegetables [3/5]~ Comprised of cauliflower, cucumber, eggplant, fennel bulb, and scallion bulb, this dish was a variety of flavors. Each different vegetable had different levels of tang and savoriness-- some better than others. - Sweet yellow corn tarte [5/5]~ The saving grace! Custard tarte was perfect in texture! Ice cream paired well. Slightly sweet from corn, the dessert stole the show. Included in the service was avocado toast with roe as a palate starter, black sesame sandwich cookies for meal end, and coffee tarte for birthday celebration. THE COFFEE TARTE NEEDS TO BE ON THE MENU as it stole the show. Sweet. Cold. Full in coffee and chocolate flavor, I would fight the birthday boy for more. All in all, pretty solid. Didn't slap as hard as I anticipated it to, but the service was amazing. Plate changed after appetizers and we even got to pick our steak knives from a selection of knives! Would return for crispy pig ears and dessert!
Street parking only location. Made reservations on OpenTable and came in a bit earlier than our time. My first time here and did not know reserving a table next to the bar is a room away from the main restaurant. Not a fan of this unless you like to be away from the restaurant crowd. We were seated next to the bar right away. Our Server was attentive. Always stop by and check if we need water refill or anything. Ordered bone marrow, potato bites, fried pig ears, beef tartare, and the aged rib eye steak to share. Appetizers were excellent and delicious. Quality and portion sizes are decent. From the flavors to the textures, it was excellent. However, my daughter was not a fan of the Ribeye steak tasted gamey.
We came for a dinner at 8:45 pm on a monday night and it was fairly easy to get a reservation as well as find parking. Ambiance is nice, really great for a date night. Service was impeccable - everyone was very friendly yet still professional and knowledgeable. Our host, Daniel, was especially awesome - he advised us against getting pig ears (since it would be too much food), but still brought out a gigantic sampler tray of it for us on the house so we could try it. Amazing service! The food itself was all pretty amazing: Tartare: 4.5/5 Pig ears: 6/5 (we are coming back for this in the future) Potato cubes: 5/5 New York: 4.5/5 Ribeye: 4.5/5 Brownie: 5/5
The picture of the tomahawk speaks for itself... so small compared to all the others that went out. You can see the differences between the other steaks on this yelp page. We were comped for it though which gave it an extra star. But we were disappointed that we had to speak to three people to get an answer. We sat at the bar right in front of the grill, waited 1 hr+, and we got the smallest steak of the night.
Came to celebrate my brother's graduation from his master's program and Niku is the perfect spot to treat someone to an amazing experience. We sat at the chef's counter so we could watch them prepare every dish and grill some beautiful steaks. Service was exceptional, from the moment we checked in at the front desk, the team made it a point to congratulate my brother. They remembered his allergies from my OpenTable comments and let him know that he could have everything on the menu. We ordered the bone marrow, beef tartare, ribeye, 3oz of the off-menu A5 wagyu, broccolini, and the hojicha dessert. Everything we got was a hit! Loved their take on avocado toast as the first bite, we knew the meal was going to be amazing from the first bite. The beef tartare was the best I've ever had and I've never had bone marrow that I didn't enjoy. This version was delicious with the toppings of short rib pieces that were balanced with the pickled bits and mustard seeds. Both appetizers were must gets for us! The ribeye came out overdone, and luckily it came out again shortly from the kitchen along with some on the house pickled veggies. The second time the ribeye came out was the perfect medium rare. The meat quality was delicious, the ribeye was tender and marbled very nicely. The A5 was an 11/12 on the wagyu marbling scale and it was truly a treat, 3oz for the two of us was definitely enough. I loved the fresh grated wasabi and the pickled veggies to cut through the richness of the meat. Dessert was fantastic, and I can't finish this review without shouting out their cocktail menu! The two drinks I had were super delicious and I would come back just to explore more of their drinks. It's a special occasion spot and worth it to experience at least once!
Honestly the sides were the stars! We've been eyeing this place for a while but never pulled the trigger until I wanted to use my Chase Reserve dining benefits. Reservations open 30 days in advance and they fill up quickly! The restaurant isn't that big so it makes sense. I made my reservation the morning it opened for a standard table and any time between 6pm-7:30pm was already taken. They do offer alternative seating like counter seating, bar seating, and high top tables. The restaurant is very sophisticated and has a dark sleek modern vibe. The staff were very friendly. We had: - Bone Marrow: Bone marrow is just so good! - Crispy Pig Ears: perfect blend of crispy, salty, and sweet. - westholme wagyu tomahawk: This was decent and a large portion for 2, but we weren't amazed. - Koshikari rice: definitely a splurge for a small portion of rice with a piece of crab on top, but it was good. I would seriously considering coming back just for the bone marrow and crispy pig ears.
Outstanding 1 Michelin star steakhouse. The crispy potatoes were one of the best potato dishes I've had. Thought the Wagyu tsukune was good, better some places I tried in Japan. White asparagus dish was skippable. We had a 14-day dry-aged ribeye from bryan flannery (Cali farm). It had such a good dry aged flavor (great beefy flavor without being too funky), was cooked perfectly medium rare, and also had a smoky charcoal taste with a hint of white oak since they cook with both.
They have 1 Michelin star and they are worthy of it. We had an excellent dinner. We chose the chef's counter seating which was fun to be right next to the action. Everything was excellent: service, food, ambiance. The entire experience was 10/10 from start to finish. Each dish was perfect but the agnolotti pasta dish was 12/10 for me. It's been days since I had it and I can't stop thinking about it!! Maybe the best pasta of my life so far? Get the wagyu brownie. I highly recommend this spot.
29 days ago
First time visiting Niku and everything we ordered was delicious. Highly recommend the pig ears (not pictured) if you like fish sauce taste. Arguably the best service I've had in the US. Felt super attended to, but not hovered over. They immediately took empty plates and refilled water. Very nice restaurant as well. Enjoyable experience overall. Will come back for Wagyu tasting. read more
Celebrated our anniversary dinner here with our Chase Sapphire Reserve Dining Credit. I recommend making your reservation ahead of time. I definitely would say the starters were the stars of the meal. Overall it was very good but pricey. Starters and Sides: - Beef Tartare: My partner LOVED the tartare especially with the crispy beef tendon. He almost wanted to order another one. - Crispy Pig Ears: Pretty good - Crispy Potato: was good as an addition to the meal. Would have liked it to be more crispy on the outer texture - Bone Marrow: I thought it was good but small portion Mains: - Ribeye: This was good but by the time this came out, I was already stuffed from all the starters lol. Dessert: - Wagyu fat brownie: Pretty good, would recommend getting read more
21 days ago
After checking in, we were seated at the bar while we waited for our table to be ready. The bartender greeted us with a warm smile and kindly helped us navigate the drinks menu. I was intrigued by the tomato martini, and the bartender explained the intricate process by which the flavor is extracted from the cherry tomatoes. This is among the best martinis I've had in a while, and it was a perfect way to start the evening. It was smooth, delicate, and sophisticated, with the olive oil-washed gin tying everything together beautifully. We then ordered the Shigoku oysters and the short rib bone marrow. The oysters were super fresh and perfectly complemented by the mint oil and melon gelée. The bone marrow was rich and decadent, while the grapes provided a nice contrast and worked surprisingly well with it. I ordered the A5 Bushu Wagyu paired with the menu-recommended sake, while my partner ordered the aged New York. We also ordered the maitake mushrooms and the crispy potatoes in Wagyu fat as our sides. My A5 was everything you would expect from an exceptional Wagyu: incredibly marbled, buttery, tender, and packed with flavor. The fat practically melted in my mouth, giving the steak that luxurious texture that makes A5 so special. Sadly, however, there were a couple of small bites that were not quite as enjoyable because there happened to be a small nerve in the steak, which made those particular bites a bit chewy. The sake recommendation on the menu paired nicely with the subtle richness of the A5, and it finished cleanly after a couple bites of steak. I have to say the aged New York was phenomenal! It was robust and savory and ate like a very fancy cut of meat (my wife was kind enough to share a bite with me). It had a wonderful depth of flavor and, honestly, made it difficult to decide which steak I preferred. The mushrooms were excellent as well, delivering exactly the kind of deep umami flavor I was hoping for. But the potatoes were the star of the show! They come as these perfect golden cubes, made from thinly sliced potatoes that are neatly stacked together. They are beautifully crisp on the outside while maintaining a soft, buttery and decadent on texture on the inside. The chickpea miso is a really nice complement, adding another layer of savory flavor without overpowering the potatoes. These might honestly be the best potatoes in San Francisco. The one thing to keep in mind is that this is definitely a bit on the pricey side. With several drinks included, our final tab was around $600, so this is not exactly an everyday dinner. That said, for a special occasion or when you're looking to splurge, I think the quality of the food, creativity of the cocktails, and overall experience make it worth considering. Overall, this was a memorable meal from beginning to end. The cocktail was inventive, the seafood and bone marrow were thoughtfully prepared, the steaks were impressive, and the sides-- especially those potatoes-- were standouts. The service also made the evening feel welcoming and relaxed. Aside from the small nerve in my A5 and the fairly steep price, there wasn't much to fault. I'd happily come back, and if you go, do yourself a favor and order the olive oil washed gin-tomato martini, aged New York steak, and the potatoes. read more
3.5, rounded to 4 because of the friendly service, drinks, and delicious desserts. I expected so much more from their Wagyu steak. Isn't that weird, given that's their specialty? But it didn't taste like A5 Wagyu flown in from Australia. If someone fed this to me blind, I'd have guessed it was overcooked filet mignon from the US. Maybe it was an off day, but it was a bit tough. Luckily, I don't eat much meat so they made me halibut and oysters. Oh boy those were good! The sides were hit and miss, too, but oh boy. The Wagyu fat brownies la mode was 10/5! I'd come for those brownies alone and the Hibiki highball with gold flakes and pear. read more
I had an 8pm reservation at Niku to celebrate my husband's and my anniversary. Upon entering, I fell in love with the sleek décor, and everything was so tastefully designed. Unfortunately, our counter seats were not available due to the previous party still working on their meal. We sat at the bar and ordered 2 cocktails while we waited. Both were underwhelming and I was surprised by reviews recommending their cocktails. After 30 minutes, we were finally escorted to our seats. I was a bit disappointed by this since our reservation was already late. Once we were seated, I was impressed watching how the meat was cooked and prepared. It was cool learning how they use a special grill that prevents smoke from entering the area. For food, we ordered: 1. Wagyu tsukune: Well-seasoned and juicy - 4/5 2. Australian wagyu filet mignon: Delicious. So tender and flavorful. You know it is great meat when you don't need any sauces - a 5/5 3. Crispy potato wagyu fat: LOVED these potatoes but absolutely hated the chickpea miso, which tasted like mayonnaise to us so not sure what else was in it. Overall, a 3.5/5 4. Morel mushroom rice: A bit salty in my opinion and nothing wowing about it. A solid 2.5/5 5. Wagyu fat brownie: The most disappointing part of the meal. It just tasted like a boxed brownie. I would skip this; it was a 1/5 in my opinion. Overall, the restaurant was a nice experience, and their wagyu is very good. However, since Niku is a Michelin restaurant, I was expecting to be wowed more. read more
Delicious steakhouse located just outside the city. There's really not much to dislike about this place as the portions are large, steaks are flavorful and service is stellar! They also have an excellent cocktail, wine and sake menu that pairs nicely with your order. read more
4.5/5: Parking: Street parking. Fairly easy to find. Service: Everyone is so attentive. Ambiance: A little noisy and the music in the bathroom was loud. Food: Amazing! Went with Tasting of Japanese wagyu and it is a bit buttery for me especially the A5. I can see why its served with wasabi. I much preferred the Australian Wagyu. Pig ears: they were so good. I would say the sauce they used is a bit heavy at the bottom. Bone Marrow, crispy potatoes, morel mushrooms, all satisfying. Can't forget Kakigoro! Went with this for dessert that a staff recommended and I throughly enjoyed it although she did mention other popular ones as well. read more
Don't sleep on the desserts! The sweets bumped it up from a 3 to 4/5. Had reservations to celebrate a birthday for Monday 5 pm. The decor and ambiance of this place were breathtaking: the bar, the shelves of wine, the grill. Got a window seat, which was great for lighting, but if you want more entertainment, a counter seat gets you front-row seats to the massive grill! What we got: - Beef Tartare [3/5]~ very peppery. The jammy egg yolk was cured in duck fat, which adds a rich and buttery consistency. Fried beef tendon was an interesting vehicle for the beef tartare; however, it was slightly greasy and got gummy mid-eating experience. - Crispy Pig Ears [6/5]~ THIS! The fish caramel sauce was a perfect balance of salty, umami, and sweet. Crisp from the pig ears satisfies the fried, crunchy cravings! And the allium flowers added a pungent break in flavor and a nice decor! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! - wagyu bone-in short rib. huckleberry jus [3/5]~ huckleberry jus added a great sweet accompanying sauce. The cut we got was extremely fatty and the crust of the short rib was chewy -- even the knife struggled to cut through. About 30% was inedible due to fat. - crispy potato, wagyu fat. chickpea miso [2/5]~ slightly disappointed. Not crispy and the potatoes were slightly under. The aioli served didn't provide much except for more grease. - lobster mushroom rice, salsa macha, toasted pine nut xo, crispy shallot, scallions [3/5]~ served in a coconut husk shaped bowl, this was tangy and had a great chew from short grain rice used. paired with the crispy pig ears was an unstoppable duo. Alone, the slightly sour taste was offputting. - pickled market vegetables [3/5]~ Comprised of cauliflower, cucumber, eggplant, fennel bulb, and scallion bulb, this dish was a variety of flavors. Each different vegetable had different levels of tang and savoriness-- some better than others. - Sweet yellow corn tarte [5/5]~ The saving grace! Custard tarte was perfect in texture! Ice cream paired well. Slightly sweet from corn, the dessert stole the show. Included in the service was avocado toast with roe as a palate starter, black sesame sandwich cookies for meal end, and coffee tarte for birthday celebration. THE COFFEE TARTE NEEDS TO BE ON THE MENU as it stole the show. Sweet. Cold. Full in coffee and chocolate flavor, I would fight the birthday boy for more. All in all, pretty solid. Didn't slap as hard as I anticipated it to, but the service was amazing. Plate changed after appetizers and we even got to pick our steak knives from a selection of knives! Would return for crispy pig ears and dessert! read more
![Niku Steakhouse - Beef Tartare [3/5] - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California](https://s3-media0.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/z6TFcYpv6TYw6SMpgjp8qQ/348s.jpg "Niku Steakhouse - Beef Tartare [3/5] - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California")
![Niku Steakhouse - Crispy Pig Ears [6/5] - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California](https://s3-media0.fl.yelpcdn.com/bphoto/oyqgVH0atNTQEgZWDaX8LA/348s.jpg "Niku Steakhouse - Crispy Pig Ears [6/5] - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California")
3 months ago
Street parking only location. Made reservations on OpenTable and came in a bit earlier than our time. My first time here and did not know reserving a table next to the bar is a room away from the main restaurant. Not a fan of this unless you like to be away from the restaurant crowd. We were seated next to the bar right away. Our Server was attentive. Always stop by and check if we need water refill or anything. Ordered bone marrow, potato bites, fried pig ears, beef tartare, and the aged rib eye steak to share. Appetizers were excellent and delicious. Quality and portion sizes are decent. From the flavors to the textures, it was excellent. However, my daughter was not a fan of the Ribeye steak tasted gamey. read more
We came for a dinner at 8:45 pm on a monday night and it was fairly easy to get a reservation as well as find parking. Ambiance is nice, really great for a date night. Service was impeccable - everyone was very friendly yet still professional and knowledgeable. Our host, Daniel, was especially awesome - he advised us against getting pig ears (since it would be too much food), but still brought out a gigantic sampler tray of it for us on the house so we could try it. Amazing service! The food itself was all pretty amazing: Tartare: 4.5/5 Pig ears: 6/5 (we are coming back for this in the future) Potato cubes: 5/5 New York: 4.5/5 Ribeye: 4.5/5 Brownie: 5/5 read more
The picture of the tomahawk speaks for itself... so small compared to all the others that went out. You can see the differences between the other steaks on this yelp page. We were comped for it though which gave it an extra star. But we were disappointed that we had to speak to three people to get an answer. We sat at the bar right in front of the grill, waited 1 hr+, and we got the smallest steak of the night. read more
4 months ago
Came to celebrate my brother's graduation from his master's program and Niku is the perfect spot to treat someone to an amazing experience. We sat at the chef's counter so we could watch them prepare every dish and grill some beautiful steaks. Service was exceptional, from the moment we checked in at the front desk, the team made it a point to congratulate my brother. They remembered his allergies from my OpenTable comments and let him know that he could have everything on the menu. We ordered the bone marrow, beef tartare, ribeye, 3oz of the off-menu A5 wagyu, broccolini, and the hojicha dessert. Everything we got was a hit! Loved their take on avocado toast as the first bite, we knew the meal was going to be amazing from the first bite. The beef tartare was the best I've ever had and I've never had bone marrow that I didn't enjoy. This version was delicious with the toppings of short rib pieces that were balanced with the pickled bits and mustard seeds. Both appetizers were must gets for us! The ribeye came out overdone, and luckily it came out again shortly from the kitchen along with some on the house pickled veggies. The second time the ribeye came out was the perfect medium rare. The meat quality was delicious, the ribeye was tender and marbled very nicely. The A5 was an 11/12 on the wagyu marbling scale and it was truly a treat, 3oz for the two of us was definitely enough. I loved the fresh grated wasabi and the pickled veggies to cut through the richness of the meat. Dessert was fantastic, and I can't finish this review without shouting out their cocktail menu! The two drinks I had were super delicious and I would come back just to explore more of their drinks. It's a special occasion spot and worth it to experience at least once! read more
Honestly the sides were the stars! We've been eyeing this place for a while but never pulled the trigger until I wanted to use my Chase Reserve dining benefits. Reservations open 30 days in advance and they fill up quickly! The restaurant isn't that big so it makes sense. I made my reservation the morning it opened for a standard table and any time between 6pm-7:30pm was already taken. They do offer alternative seating like counter seating, bar seating, and high top tables. The restaurant is very sophisticated and has a dark sleek modern vibe. The staff were very friendly. We had: - Bone Marrow: Bone marrow is just so good! - Crispy Pig Ears: perfect blend of crispy, salty, and sweet. - westholme wagyu tomahawk: This was decent and a large portion for 2, but we weren't amazed. - Koshikari rice: definitely a splurge for a small portion of rice with a piece of crab on top, but it was good. I would seriously considering coming back just for the bone marrow and crispy pig ears. read more
2 months ago
Outstanding 1 Michelin star steakhouse. The crispy potatoes were one of the best potato dishes I've had. Thought the Wagyu tsukune was good, better some places I tried in Japan. White asparagus dish was skippable. We had a 14-day dry-aged ribeye from bryan flannery (Cali farm). It had such a good dry aged flavor (great beefy flavor without being too funky), was cooked perfectly medium rare, and also had a smoky charcoal taste with a hint of white oak since they cook with both. read more
5 months ago
They have 1 Michelin star and they are worthy of it. We had an excellent dinner. We chose the chef's counter seating which was fun to be right next to the action. Everything was excellent: service, food, ambiance. The entire experience was 10/10 from start to finish. Each dish was perfect but the agnolotti pasta dish was 12/10 for me. It's been days since I had it and I can't stop thinking about it!! Maybe the best pasta of my life so far? Get the wagyu brownie. I highly recommend this spot. read more
2 months ago
Best steak in the city hands down. Wine selection is super, and ambience is next level. Try the pig ears and guava sorbet. read more
I came here with my boyfriend and had a great dining experience at Niku Steakhouse, made even better by the excellent service from Kelvin. He was attentive, friendly, and really helped make the meal feel special. We ordered the mushroom, pig ear and potato, and the iron steak. The mushroom dish wasn't quite to our taste, but everything else was absolutely amazing. The pig ear and potato had great texture and flavor, and the iron steak was cooked perfectly. read more
2 months ago
The food was very savory and rich, however, since most of the dishes are cooked in wagyu beef fat, it can also be heavy-- My boyfriend and i couldn't finish our meal and had leftovers. I felt a bit 'oily' afterwards and it definitely put me in a food coma haha, but it was a nice experience and the dim lighting created a romantic ambiance for my boyfriend and I's date night. The restaurant is $$$$ but you are paying for the great quality and friendly service. I got the ribeye medium rare and it was cooked perfectly, no complaints. As someone who values texture when I eat, the crispy potatoes could've been crispier, they're a bit more potato-y but still tasted good. The complimentary maitake mushrooms were a nice side to pair with our steaks, very umami and nice crunch but again, somewhat heavy since they were cooked in wagyu fat. If I were to recommend a dish it would be the beef tartare--i'd come back for this app alone; texture, taste, balance, quality...I still think about it. final thoughts: is it gas or a$$? GAS. :P read more
Scored a last minute reservation a day before on Open Table. After visiting, I can see why it's a Michelin Star restaurant, the service, ambiance and food are all impressive. The staff are so knowledgeable and made us feel very special as we were dining to celebrate a special occasion so thank you for that. We got to sit at the counter seating, which was cool because you get to watch the cooks grill the meet over the open fire. However, it did feel a little cramped and it was hard to speak to our servers who were behind us. Everything was really tasty but I will say it is HEAVY and SALTY! I had a hard time falling asleep after dinner because of that and even had a headache all day next day LOL. Overall, still glad I got to try and highly recommend. Out of all the dishes, I'd say the crispy potatoes, brownie and bone marrow are a must! Seasonal corn pasta was also a big highlight. read more
Great service, great ambiance. Favorite was the beef tartare. I also really enjoyed the mushroom rice. Potato was okay, a bit too thick for my liking. Steak came cut, and perfect temp. It was put on warm dishes, which made jt less steakhouse vibes that I am used to. Steak was good but definitely not the best I ever had. read more
5 months ago
Came here for a special occasion and ordered a couple of things: market vegetables, Parker rolls, beef tartare, crispy potatoes, flat iron, and the A3 wagyu. Market vegetables were too sour for my taste. Ordered it to pair with all the meat to offset but it ended up being too fermented to enjoy. Parker rolls were good but nothing extraordinary. Unfortunately the beef tartare tasted too gamey for me. The A3 wagyu was not worth its price tag. It was quite hard to chew and didn't stand out at all. At the rate of this review, I should've given it two or three stars but what's saving it and pushing it to four stars are the crispy potatoes and the flat iron. I will never forget those potatoes. I never had anything like it, and it completely blew my mind. The texture, flavor, and balance of the sauce was really out of this world. If you come, you must order this dish. Also, the flat iron was amazing. We ordered it medium rare, and it was cooked pristinely. Very soft and buttery texture with just the right amount of salt. Overall, I had a fine experience. Probably wouldn't come back just because I don't think the price tag is worth it. Definitely an upscale restaurant with attentive service, but I'd probably put my money somewhere else. read more
6 months ago
Nike Steakhouse is a bustling restaurant with elevated decor and a cool ambiance. Service was attentive and friendly and despite how busy it was, we had no trouble connecting with our server and the manager was very hands on and did a great job assisting the staff. Food was amazing, definitely recommend the pig ears and chawanmushi read more
25 days ago
I've been to Niku Steakhouse a few times before and always loved it, so this visit was a bit disappointing. First off, the ambience is still 5/5 beautiful, cozy, and perfect for a special occasion. They also gave us a cute slice of cake for my friend's birthday, which was a really nice touch. But the food this time was just... okay (3/5). We ordered a few wagyu cuts, and surprisingly, they all tasted pretty similar not much distinction in flavor and not as fresh or memorable as previous visits. Other dishes were decent, but nothing really stood out like before. Overall, it felt pretty standard for a place that's supposed to be more special. Service was the biggest letdown (3/5, honestly closer to 2/5). Our waiter didn't feel attentive or polished like you'd expect here. At one point, we asked if we could get the same large knife for photos (it was really cute), and he just said "no" with no explanation came off a bit rude. He also kept interrupting us while we were taking pictures, telling us multiple times to eat the steak before it gets cold. I get the intention, but being reminded once is enough, doing it 3 times felt pushy and kind of killed the vibe, especially since we were celebrating a birthday. Overall, still a nice place visually, but between the average food and disappointing service, it didn't feel like the same Niku experience this time. read more
Something was just different this time around, as soon as we stepped in, to the meals itself. Wasn't greeted or acknowledged as we walked in, I felt service wasn't as attentive this time around thru out service. The cuts of steak wasn't as tender as the last time I was here, the potatoes was good but the chickpea miso had a very strong acidic taste to it which was not what I tasted my last go around, I ordered it again because it was one of my favorites things in the menu but not this time. Also the broccolini had a very citrusy/acidity to it as well and I just did not like it. Brownie wasn't as soft either. Just not a good experience coming back. Only thing I give 10 out of 10 this go around is the bone marrow. read more
Made a reservation for counter seating on OpenTable a couple weeks before to celebrate my husband's birthday. We specifically chose this restaurant since they were on inKind. They are a 1 star Michelin restaurant and right next to the Butcher Shop, which we have been there twice for their delicious smash burger. I'm glad we made a reservation because it was packed on a Monday at 6:30 PM. I really like the ambience inside. My husband specifically wanted counter seating because he wanted to watch the chefs cook. We ordered different dishes, such as Pig Ears, Tsukune (Japanese chicken meatballs), Potatoes, Parker Rolls, and a New York steak. My favorite was definitely the Pig Ears as it was chewy and extremely savory. The other sides didn't wow me since the flavors tasted very average. We really enjoyed the steak because it melted like butter after each bite. We order drinks, and I did enjoy my Yuzu Shiso. I'm glad we were able to stop by and check this off our list. I wished I liked the food more but it is what it is. Our server was nice and friendly, which made our experience enjoyable. read more
Best steak in the bay with interesting sides and desserts to try. The coconut kakigori was a light a refreshing way to end our meal. Love that they let you pick out the Japanese knife of your choice. Reducing one star because the service was extremely slow - we waited a whole hour for our main course with no updates in between. Thankfully we had good company! read more
7 months ago
We came here for our anniversary on a Sunday evening at 6pm. Reservations for the restaurant come out 30 days in advance on open table and we were able to book our reservation pretty easily. Walking in, the restaurant is designed a warm ambiance. You feel a little cozy in the restaurant. Plenty of seating and bar seating options. We got the crispy pig ears, short rib Wagyu, bone marrow, and the crispy potatoes. We really were not expecting the portions to be so big. We were left full and satiated and didn't have enough room for dessert! My favorite dishes were all of them to be honest. The potatoes were perfectly crispy and the sauce it came with helped balance the heaviness. The Wagyu was cooked to perfection, it melted in your mouth! The pig ears were a nice snack- very crispy and the sauce it was coated with balanced well. The bone marrow was balanced with some mustard seeds and fresh grapes with offset the heaviness from the marrow. Overall, we had a great experience! Do note though- the dishes were a little more on the saltier side read more
I highly recommend! It was a great experience. They are known for their steaks but I was definitely more impressed by the various "side" dishes. My favorite dish was the bone borrow dish. The tartare was very unique and worth trying as well. We also had the flat iron, potatoes and pound cake - all tasty. They also gave us a small mini app before the dishes we actually ordered. The interior feels very classy - you can see the chefs grilling the steak and they have a wall of wines on display. The staff were very friendly. My partner and I celebrated an anniversary and they wrote a cute note for us so we appreciate the thoughtfulness. read more
To start off, I was very pleased with how accommodating they were with our 2 year old. We were hesitant on doing date night here at first, but we didn't feel uncomfortable in anyway. I enjoyed the elegance of the restaurant yet still being casual enough with music in the background and lots of conversations flowing around us, so if my daughter dropped a fork or something, all heads would not turn and look at us. My overall favorite dish was the crispy potato Wagyu fat with chickpea miso. It was absolutely perfect. The crispy layers of the potato and the smooth chickpea miso were delicious. I even ended up smothering the chickpea miso on our ribeye. Overall great experience, attentive service and ample parking, which is a huge plus in the city. read more
Came here to celebrate a friend's birthday. We had reservations and were seated at a hightop table near the bar right when you walk in. The potatoes were honestly the best thing of the meal, and the pig ears were good at first but...after a few bites, they became a bit overwhelming. The tomahawk steak was disappointing. It was chewy, and to make matters worse, all of our knives were dull, which made it very difficult to cut through the meat. Since we were seated near the entrance by the bar, it was hard to get a sense of how large the restaurant actually is. Overall, the tomahawk felt overpriced and not worth it. read more
7 months ago
We came here for Valentine's Day and our anniversary, and the experience truly felt special from start to finish. The service was the standout of the night. We were seated at a high-top table, and the staff went out of their way to make the evening memorable. They brought us complimentary champagne to celebrate. For cocktails, I ordered the Shiro Negroni ($24) and my partner had the A5 Guyana ($24). Both were creative and balanced. For appetizers, we kept it simple and ordered the pig ears. They were super crunchy, saucy, and flavorful, with a generous portion size. A great start. For mains, we split the wagyu bone-in short rib and the ribeye, along with crispy potatoes and broccolini on the side. The short rib had a deep, smoky flavor and was served with the bone on the side. It was excellent overall, but we both agreed that the meat around the bone itself might have been the best part of the dish. The ribeye was easily the best ribeye I have ever had. It was unbelievably soft and tender, noticeably better than what you typically get at standard steakhouses. I was genuinely surprised, in the best way. The broccolini was solid and well prepared. The crispy potatoes, however, were outstanding, especially with the sauce that accompanied them. The only thing that I didn't enjoy as much was the dessert. The pandan honeycomb cake ($18) had a guava sorbet on the side, which I didn't enjoy paired together. Still thought it was a creative dish! I understand why this place has a Michelin star. The service and food were both 10 out of 10. If I could afford to come here all the time, I would. They made our Valentine's Day and anniversary feel truly special. read more
Came here on Valentine's Day (Saturday), and reservations were no joke--you have to book exactly one month and one minute in advance. We arrived at 7 pm, about 30 minutes early since we needed to use the restroom, and they were able to seat us right away, which was a nice surprise. We ordered quite a few items from the menu. We started with the chicory salad, which was my favorite dish of the night. I honestly wish I could eat it every day--it was so fresh and refreshing. The crispy potato with wagyu fat and chickpea miso was absolutely delicious. The buckwheat Parker House rolls with cultured butter were good, nothing over-the-top but still enjoyable. The grilled broccolini, unfortunately, was too charred--most of it tasted burnt. I wish it had spent less time on the grill. For the main, we got the grass-fed New York strip. My fiancé ordered it medium-rare, but about halfway through, it was clearly rare. They were able to grill it some more. But for a $125 steak, we expected it to come out correctly the first time. The local ling cod was amazing--definitely a standout. The rice grits were packed with umami flavor, and everything about the dish worked. For dessert, the wagyu fat brownie was my fiancé's favorite. Super rich and delicious, paired with Okinawa brown sugar ice cream. The staff were all very kind and attentive--service overall was excellent. There was some flooding in the restrooms during our visit, but the staff handled it well and worked hard to keep it under control. By the time we finished our meal, it had been resolved. Thank you to the person that chased us down to bring us our Togo bag. Will definitely be back often to try out other items. read more
Honestly, I came here without high expectations as comments online were pretty negative. We had a reservation at the counter, which was extremely cool, you get to see how they prepare the food and talk to the chef. Made it a completely different experience. Complimentary Small Bite - interesting take on avocado toast, not quite showing theme of the restaurant though Beef Tartare - actually pretty good, the size of the chunks of meat shows quality of their ingredients, also attention to detail, egg was marinated Crispy Pig Ears - definitely unique way of cooking pig ears, slightly salty, recommended to share for a big table Ribeye - it is a good steak, not over seasoned, crispy on the outside, nice and pink inside, generous portion too Sides - very soft house rolls with a little bit of salt on top, crispy potatoes itself is good but the sauce wasn't doing much. Pickles are highly recommended, so need that acidity to tone down the oiliness of the meal. Sorbet - guava sorbet, thick and cold! Overall a very cute place for date nights, counter seating highly recommended. Servers are very attentive too. read more
8 months ago
Overpriced and incredibly slow service and food pacing. Overall, I don't think this is worth the price tag at all. There's just too many good asian fusion places now for this to stand out or even compete. For the steak quality and price, I'd rather go to Alexander's Steakhouse. The steak came out room temperature, on the borderline of cold. I liked the filet mignon more than the NY strip; it was more tender and soft. The NY strip had some fatty bits in it though. Best dish was the beef tartare. I really enjoyed the flavor combo and the chips it came with. I also enjoyed the bread roll. Did not like the oysters, bone marrow, or lobster dumpling. The sauce was off putting on the oyster and bone marrow; too salty and American I think. The bone marrow sauce tasted like straight BBQ sauce. Lobster dumpling tasted like a ball of potato. My family liked the fried rice but I personally didn't like how it was seasoned. It reminded me of kimchi fried rice though; not too bad. Wagyu fat brownie was good but it just tastes like a brownie with ice cream. It won't change your life. Temper your expectations. read more
8 months ago
I was seated at the counter, which turned out to be the best possible vantage point. From there, I could watch the chefs as they worked their magic on the steaks-- laser-focused on the steaks while still chatting effortlessly with the guests around them. The chef's snacks arrived first: avocado toast, egg salad, lamb tartare on a fried shiso leaf, and a warm bone broth. The avocado toast topped with caviar was delicious--simple, clean, elevated by that little pop of texture from the caviar. The egg salad, tucked into a perfectly crisp pastry, was a standout in its own right. But the lamb tartare on fried shiso leaf? That was the winner. The lamb was beautifully seasoned, but the fried shiso leaf stole the show with its unexpected crunch and flavor. For appetizers, I went with the crispy pig ears and the bone marrow. The pig ears were fantastic, thanks in large part to the incredible fish caramel sauce. But the bone marrow was on another level--easily the best marrow I've ever had. It came loaded with little cubes of short rib, chanterelle mushrooms, grapes, pickled spring onion, and horseradish. I thought I detected mustard seed, though it might've just been the horseradish doing its thing. Whatever it was, the whole combination was unforgettable. I added a side of confit maitake mushrooms, which were smoky, meaty, and absolutely delicious. For the grand finale, I ordered 3 ounces of the A4 wagyu beef. It was flawless--tender, buttery, and cooked perfectly. Truly a 10 out of 10. From the first snack to the last bite of steak, this meal was exceptional from start to finish. read more
Made a reservation and got seated right away. We we seated just inside the bar so didn't really see the interior of the restaurant. The ambiance was dimly lit and bar area was great. We ordered the salad chicory salad, oysters, and beef tartare to start. We had the dry aged New York and Waygu ribeye as mains. The sides we tried were the crispy potatoes, broccolini, and Parker house rolls. For dessert the ordered the Waygu fat brownie and shortcake. Everything was amazing between balance of flavors, texture, freshness, and presentation. Entrees were melt in your mouth, loved the crispy potatoes, the fresh oysters, the beef tartare and everything about that dish was decadent. Desserts had a unique spin on familiar desserts. The cocktails were also well balanced and smooth. Service was on top of everything and timely. I'd definitely come back again and recommend! read more
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61 Division St
San Francisco, CA 94103
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(415) 829-7817
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https://www.nikusteakhouse.com
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Ask the Community - Niku Steakhouse
Is this kid appropriate? I have 7 and 17-year-old boys.
Yes and no. If your kids like steak and aren't picky eaters, then yes! But this restaurant is more of a date/night out type of place. There really isn't a dress code (although most dress up)
Can we request steak be cooked medium ? Thanks :)
They ask how you would like your steak cooked. We requested medium rare, but I am sure they will cook it to your liking.
Vaccination card required?
I just went at the end of August and I wasn't asked for it.
Reservation needed for chefs counter?
Reservations are strongly encouraged for all dining options as it is popular and dining space is extremely limited. Being opened for 4-5 hours each evening (depending on the day), with dining options taking approximately 90-120 minutes depending on…
Where is counter seating? Is that the chefs table or the bar?
Chef's Table is the counter. Best seats are the beginning of the counter.
Is it safe to park on the street? I have seen a lot of news about cars get break-in. Please let me know so we can plan our transportation how to get there. Thank you
It's usually fine. Take precautions by not leaving any bags visible in the car and if you can, leave the back seats of your car down to show there's nothing in the trunk. Welcome to SF.
I'm unable to make a reservation for a party of 1 through their website/Resy (2+ only). Is it possible? Or do they not accept parties of 1
I've encountered this at restaurants. Perhaps go sit at the bar. It's fun when you are dining solo.
I read on the website that you need to be vaccinated in order to dine in. Is this correct?
Yes, proof of vaccination is checked by the host.
Are they still offering the Imperial Wagyu Tomahawk steak for 2 people?
Yes- and it comfortably feeds 3 if you're also ordering starters and sides
Still offering your burgers?
Hello Tammy, thanks for your question. Yes we have the Niku burger on the bar menu (available for ordering at our bar seating only)
How much is the bar tasting menu?
I believe it is $85 If you can splurge get the Japanese A5, I know many people get tempted with the tomahawk for quantity but go for the quality if you can... This is the best steaks in the Bay Area period.
Are the small plates meant to be shared?
Yes but easy to finish on your own. We ordered 5-6 sides to share among 5 ppl.
Is it better to sit at the bar or dining table?
It depends what you mean by the "bar". If you mean the bar where the bartender is in the front then I would prefer not to sit there since it is closer to the door and away from the cooking. However, there is a section of the dining room that is bar…
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