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    Niku Steakhouse

    4.3 (1k reviews)
    Ultra High-EndJapanese, Steakhouses
    Closed • 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Niku Steakhouse Takeout or Delivery

    Niku Steakhouse Photos

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    NIKU STEAKHOUSE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Intimate
    Romantic

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    Recommended Reviews - Niku Steakhouse

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    A5 Wagyu, New York steak, potatoes and mushrooms
    Bart S.

    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.

    Tomato martini (left + middle) and Hibiki highball with pear and gold flakes
    Ivy C.

    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.

    Handwritten card for special celebrations
    Surge C.

    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.

    Jeremy S.

    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.

    Maisie W.

    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.

    Interior - Bar
    Joyce K.

    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!

    Fried pig ears - Sweet and salty
    Tiffany C.

    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.

    Joshua H.

    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

    Kendra H.

    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.

    Jessica O.

    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!

    Complimentary dessert
    Kelly N.

    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.

    Ribeye
    Matthew L.

    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.

    Jessica L.

    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.

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    Page 1 of 26

    Niku Steakhouse Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Niku Steakhouse

    Is inKind still accepted here?

    Yes, I used it here 2 weeks ago.

    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.

    How early in advance can we book reservations?

    30 days in advance

    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.

    How much is corkage fee?

    $40 per 750ml bottle

    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.

    Tiene valet parking?

    No there is no valet parking

    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)

    Is the bar open for drinks ahead of a dinner service?

    Yes

    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 there valet service?

    Nope

    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… 

    What is the attire?

    San Francisco dressy /causal. Shorts would look out of place

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    1.9 mi•Financial District
    •$$$

    Every time I go into San Francisco, I consistently have the thought of "oh no...time to fight for…read moreparking"; however, parking was easy at this location. I have wanted to try this restaurant for some time, and thanks to my cousin, I finally had my chance. We had reservations in the lounge downstairs. Beautiful setting! We had Omakase, and it was excellent. One dish after another, it just kept hitting our table; each dish looked beautiful and appetizing. We were well fed.

    overall 3/5 - food average…read more- service was uh interesting at times service - had a reservation, they seated us in the regular area that wasnt for happy hour, we let them know we are here for happy hour, then they seated us at the bar area - food was accidently served to us and then taken away - had a mishap where they had an extra order for us - speed of service was good tho - they offered to cut the slider in half to share, but didnt, and then gave us a knife for us to do ourselves later lol - forgot one of our orders lol (dumpling) we had to mention it when they gave us the check sashimi tacos 8/10 - best thing i had here - thin crispy shell, works really well with the sashimi inside - some very light vinaigrette sauce - overall good flavor, texture, everything worked well together karage 5/10 - average, not particularly good or bad - for me i like a crispy karage, this one was not - inside was acceptable levels of juicyness - good flavor with the spicy mayo(slightly different) and on the skin tho slider 5/10 - also quite average - the greens work well contrasting with the pretty large patty - however the patty was on the dry side, despite looking like a very good medium rare handrolls 6/10 - again very average for all 3 - fish are decent quality to be fair, but kind of pales in comparison in flavor to other handrolls ive had, just kind of plain - psa: the hamachi one comes with a big blob of wasabi flavored sauce lychee coctail 9/10 - very good, can hardly taste the alcohol just really tasty overall

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    Roka Akor - San Francisco
    Roka Akor - San Francisco
    Roka Akor - San Francisco

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    Bon, Nene - Gyudon

    Bon, Nene

    4.2(586 reviews)
    0.9 mi•Mission
    •$$

    Bon, Nene is a cute small Japanese spot with excellent food at a fair price for the quality. We got…read morethe Gyudon over udon noodles, curry with chicken katsu, and shared the Hokkaido cheesecake. The gyudon was excellent with a lightly sweet and savory flavor, I'd definitely get this again! The Hokkaido cheesecake was light and had what seemed like whipped cream in it which isn't my preference for cheesecake so I would skip this item next time. You put your name and number of people in your party at the list on the door, but the wait goes bye fairly quick. They have indoor and some outdoor seating. We loved their entree items and would definitely come back here!

    Bon, Nene is a popular spot! My friends and I stopped by for dinner on a Saturday evening about 20…read moreminutes before they opened and there was already one party of four ahead of us. If you want to avoid a 45+ minute wait and make first seating, you'll definitely want to show up a bit earlier. Between my friends and I, we all ordered our individual entrees but shared some karaage and some yaki onigiris. My wife ordered the mentaiko spaghetti while I ordered their special for the evening -- a salmon ochazuke. The karaage was lightly battered, blistering hot when it arrived at our table, but could have used some salt. The yaki onigiris looked very nicely grilled, but could have sat longer on the grill to pick up a more uniform layer of crispy rice on the outside. The mentaiko spaghetti was the crowd favorite of the night: the noodles were cooked perfectly, the dish was well-seasoned, and every bite was rich, creamy and full of umami. Unfortunately, the salmon ochazuke was one of the worst dishes I've ordered this year; this dish missed the mark on multiple points. To start, the rice was a mushy mess. The last time I had rice with this awful texture was at Giovanni's Shrimp Truck in Oahu. For a restaurant that specializes in Japanese food, I had much higher expectations for the rice. The amount of salmon included in the bowl is criminal. There's no more than a few ounces of salmon so you've effectively paid $22 for a bunch of rice in some broth. If this is the special on the menu on your visit, I would avoid it at all costs. Overall, I left Bon, Nene pretty disappointed. For a place this popular, I would have expected every dish to be a home run.

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    Bon, Nene
    Bon, Nene - Chicken Karaage

    Chicken Karaage

    Bon, Nene - Tsukune

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    Tsukune

    Niku Steakhouse - japanese - Updated September 2026

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