My friend was visiting from out of town and we decided to grab a quick bite around 6PM at Nono Baru. We were confused looking on the maps at first because it showed separate restaurants but after speaking with an employee, he clarified that the two had combined. SERVICE Friendly and attentive! Really, everyone we chatted with was great. SEATING We were seated quickly at the bar/sushi station. The dinner rush did occur during our dine-in so the tables filled up quickly. Most seating are inside but there are a few tables out front of the restaurant. FOOD We ordered quite a few items to share and everything was delicious! Listing them below. -Yuzu Lemonade drink -Spicy Tuna Tostada -Nono Crispy Balls (they can with in squares) -Spicy Hamachi -Salmon Avocado -Nego-toro -Salmon Skin The last 4 are simple rolls, and you can request them to be hand-rolled, but we completely forgot because of our interesting conversation and excitement about trying this place. The salmon skin hands down was absolutely DELICIOUS. The Nono crispy balls we're really good too. I don't remember the exact name but I'm sure the server could identify if the photo is shown. Overall, we had a wonderful experience! The food was absolutely delicious, and the generous portions made every bite even better. read more

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I came here on my own for a solo dining experience. Good: The miso soup was super refreshing, and I was really tired, so it gave me a lot of energy, and the cup is pretty big. The place has a really fun energy. It reminds me of dining in Japan, where you can watch the chefs cut really fresh fish right in front of you. Even sitting there solo, it's still quite nice. Bad: It takes a while to get service. I had to find a waiter myself. I thought that the kimchi udon carbonara is good. It was just a little weird, the flavor profile, so I couldn't actually finish the whole thing. Overall would suggest if you want to pop by for a quick meal! read more

Nono Baru - Miso soup - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Not authentic Japanese restuarant. Don't waste your money if you are looking for good quality Japanese food. Sushi makers are not Japanese.. I think this is a Chinese own fake Japanese resturant with lots of buying reviews on yelp. Long wait for service - take orders & wait for foods. Over 30+ mins waiting. We got the Chirashi bowl. Rice is not Japanese rice. Ikura doesn't taste good at all. Sushi, sashimi & chirashi bowl are 0 score. However, the teriyaki chicken rice is really good because the non-Asian stuff inside the kitchen cook well. We will not come back. Good luck. read more

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Another great dining experience at Nono! This was our first time coming by since the merge with Bubu. There were many more tables added to the restaurant as well as many more staff members working. Service was super fast and friendly, and portion sizes were impressive! :) recs: spicy tuna tostada, salmon sashimi read more

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Finally got the chance to check out Nono's new location just down the street from their old spot on Fillmore and happy to see that they kept a good chunk of their old menu, while having added some new favorites to their rotating list! Parking's a little tough so if you've got an appointment here, account for it. A friend and I came on a Friday at 7:20 and waited around a half hour for a table, with our first dish arriving at 8. The interior features a sitting bar when you walk in and booth tables towards the back and maintains a modern worn-in izakaya feel. Udon Carbonara: Unimaginably decadent comfort dish, with the kimchi-heavy flavor of the sauce almost drowned out by the sheer volume of cream that also allows it to adhere so well to the noodles. Dependable but not particularly novel. Chicken Gizzard Skewers: Grilled perfectly with a satisfying cartilaginous chew to every bite. The chicken flavor is very intense and amplified with the provided lemon and togarashi on request. Crab Butter Mapo Tofu: This might be one of my favorite restaurant renditions of a family style staple, with the characteristic flavors of mapo tofu taken to another level thanks to the addition of the crab butter. Save for the presentation in a crab shell, the inclusion is subtle and lends a savory complexity to the typically one-dimensional spice profile of its base recipe. Hope this stays for a while! Hamachi Scallop Ceviche: Served with tortilla chips, ikura, and a *very* sweet and tart passionfruit dressing that grew on me fairly quickly. No complaints and no surprises. For the volume and quality of food we received, our bill was just over $60 - a steal in my opinion. Glad to see that the location change did not come at the expense of experience. See you again soon :) read more

Nono Baru - Udon Carbonara, Hamachi Scallop Ceviche, Chicken Gizzard Skewers, Crab Butter Mapo Tofu - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We arrived on a Sunday afternoon and tried the lunch special, 3 items for $15. We selected one special from the hot menu and one from sushi menu. I tried the salmon kama and salmon Okoge stone bowl, the Salmon kama was crispy and fresh with delicious crispy skin and a large portion as well. The Okoge was a little less unique with steamed veggies and grilled salmon. Overall loved both. The nigiri sampler and bluefin tuna looked great as well though I didn't try. Overall ambiance is traditional and trendy, and service was prompt and as expected. I'd definitely return to try the other dishes such as cabonara udon. Also minor note: I chose this restaurant for the scallop risotto dish, only to find out upon arrival they no longer offer that dish on the menu. read more

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Food (4/5): Very, very solid! We ordered a wide variety of things, both food and drinks, and I was pretty impressed with it all. I LOVED the Matcha Cloud -- it's a mocktail but absolutely delicious. We got an assortment of rolls, and not a single one was disappointing! Fish tasted fresh, and the quality and portions were very solid for what you're paying. Ambiance (4/5): Nothing crazy here, but it's very cozy and "Japanese" feeling. Definitely lives up to the Izakaya-style vibe that they're going for, and seating is very ample. I like that there's a decent amount of space in between tables. Value (5/5): Considering portion size, fish quality, and ambiance, I think this place is a very good bang for your buck. Japanese food and sushi can get pretty pricey, but this place was extremely reasonable. Overall: I will DEFINITELY be coming back here! I can see this becoming one of my new go-to spots in SF for sushi. And I for sure wanna check out their Happy Hour next time, they have some very solid deals! read more

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None of these Yelp reviews mention the lunch special?? My mom and I were walking by, looking for a lunch place. Twas the Sunday before Christmas and every place was packed and there were long waitlists! Nono had a tiny line but we were seated within minutes. We were drawn in by their attractive lunch special--pick 3 items (1 from each list) for $15. They have a variety of items so it was fun to pick and choose. My mom got sashimi and poke and sparkling water. I enjoyed unagi rolls and chirashi and the sparkling water. Was it the best fish? Or the biggest portion? No, but it was amazing value. It was fine and good and we were extremely happy. We were slightly sad that hot tea was $3 extra but it does require more labor, so that's understandable. Each table was full! Service worked hard and was kind. The decor is nice. We lucked out and got a nice corner booth, very intimate and cozy and comfy. It looks like they have a nice happy hour too. I can't wait to come back. read more

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This place is awesome!! Wanted an early dinner so my friend recommended me this place for their happy hour. The sashimi was $1/piece and the small plates of skewers ranged from $5-10. The quality is unmatched! Got two plates of the Tuna flights, one sashimi one nigiri style. I usually don't like the first cut of blue fin tuna as it's usually more chewy to me but this was probably my favorite piece here. So tender! My favorite was probably the tuna platter and the beef tongue skewer. The beef tongue was nicely bouncy and grilled with a slight sweet sauce basted on it. Everything was 5/5 I'm definitely coming back. read more

Nono Baru - Tuna flight and salmon sashimi - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazing sushi spot with a great Happy Hour! The fish tasted so fresh we would definitely come back! Affordable and great quality. The staff were friendly and our food came super quick. The place is cute, cozy, and plenty of space inside. read more

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Randomly decided to go here the day after Christmas at around 9:20pm. My friend and I wanted small bites after a quick night out and we were happy that this spot was open! Luckily, we came right before happy hour ended at 9:30pm.I love how this place has happy hour everyday, so defs check out the hours and come through. This place is pretty spacious with tables for 2, bigger booths in the back for bigger parties, and bar seating. We got seated right away and ordered within the next 5 min before happy hour ended. Our food came out quick! The cold sake was really good for being on the happy hour menu and sushi was pretty decent. I would love to come back for happy hour and try their drinks! This spot seems like a great place to hangout with friends. 4 stars only bc the food is okay to me, but it's worth to come back for! read more

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We recently checked out Nono Baru at their new location--just a block up from their old spot on Fillmore--and the upgrade is real. The new space is much bigger with significantly more seating, which makes it perfect for groups and celebrations. I like the simple modern vibes as well. I came here with my girlfriends for a post-tournament celebration and an early birthday dinner, and we went all in--almost half the menu. Every dish was a hit, but my absolute favorites were the Crab Butter Mapo Tofu, the chips & dip, and the kaisen don. All were packed with flavor and beautifully balanced. I'm so glad we made it in time for "Happy Hour" which is actually only 30 minutes long, so make sure to have your order ready. We ended the night with the Purple Gokuri and Nono Pudding for desserts, and the staff went above and beyond by helping me surprise my friend for her birthday--complete with a candle I had secretly brought in. To top it off, they treated us to a mocktail on the house to share, which was such a thoughtful and unexpected touch. Overall, the girls loved everything, and honestly, every bite was delicious. I've already tried most of the menu over multiple visits and I'm rarely disappointed. Consistently great food, warm service, and now an even better space. I'll definitely be back. read more

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Really enjoyed Nono at their prior location, particularly the scallop risotto. They've moved to a bigger space now and the decor is super pretty, although I am not the biggest fan of their metal chairs. This time, the risotto was not on the menu (I understand that the price of scallops is way up), which was a little disappointing. However, we enjoyed the happy hour selection and it made our meal reasonable. We thought the salmon belly was the standout, but found the thick-cut sashimi a bit difficult to eat. The other meats were very lightly flavored (in a good way) and the rolls had a good balance of fish in them. I really enjoyed the dessert as well! I find that in the 3 times I have come to Nono, the wait staff is super kind but can be a bit hard to get their attention - I usually need to make hard eye contact and wave if I need something (like the check). read more

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Nono was a little sushi spot my bf and I decided to check out for happy hour while in Japantown area. Located a little higher up on Fillmore from copra, Nono had a fresh and delicious happy hour with sashimi offerings, and tacos. When we went we decided to get the salmon sashimi and also decided to get the chirashi bowl and share. Both the happy hour sashimi and the chirashi bowl were incredibly fresh and buttery. This chirashi bowl was also one of the most fresh chirashi bowls I have tried. Topped with a variety of fatty fish and uni this chirashi box was well worth the cost and definitely left me wanting more! read more

Nono Baru - Chirashi - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I'm a big fan of Japanese food, so when my gf wanted to check out this restaurant I was instantly down. We came here for dinner while we were in Japantown, and we were able to be seated pretty quickly for a party of two. The interior decor is modern and minimal, but still had a sleek vibe to it. For the food we decided to get the kaisen don and the NoNo pudding for dessert. The Kaisen came with uni, crab, toro, scallop, mushroom sushi rice, and wasabi while the Nono pudding was a recipe from Osaka apparently. While the seafood was fresh for the most part, the uni unfortunately tasted a bit off and was on the bitter side. The pudding however was delicious and I would definitely recommend that, as it had great texture and was really flavorful. Overall besides the uni I think that the meal was good, and I hope their other dishes are good too. read more

Nono Baru - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came for happy hour, stayed for the salmon sashimi! Great HH spot if you know what to order. The salmon sashimi and tuna crispy rice were the clear standouts. The shrimp and chicken wings also hit at happy hour prices. Skip the miso cod, pork cheek, and wagyu hand roll - not worth it when better options exist. Would return to try the carbonara and mapo! read more

Nono Baru - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

If you're looking for somebody cool to tell you which izakayas to try in town, hey, don't look at me. I only found out about this place on YouTube when a vlogger less than half my age extolled about it on her cursory city eats tour. It's only a couple of blocks from Japan Center, and I do remember the space when it was Pizza Inferno just a few years back. Walking by, Jamie W and I decided to give it a try for dinner because hey, we can be happening people. We sat ourselves against the window facing Fillmore and kept seeing young couples strolling by as they licked their ice cream cones from Philmore Creamery. Our food order was pretty spontaneous as we started with the $16 Tempura Sampler, an abundant bowl of deep-fried indulgence with tiger shrimp, ika squid, and seasonal veggies, all of it drizzled with a sweet tare sauce (Photo 5). You would've thought we had enough oil in our meal. But no, we also ordered the $10 Crispy Gyoza, which were tasty but a bit on the heavy side with housemade ground chicken and mushroom stuffed into crispy chicken skin wraps. Topped with scallions, they came with a kimchi aioli (Photo 3). We needed a sashimi break from the oil, so we took advantage of Happy Hour and had two orders of the 2-piece Hamachi slices (Photo 10). Fresh and satisfying. We finally hit our home stretch with three pairs of skewers. They were prepared robata-yaki style. We went with two $6 veggie orders - Trumpet Mushrooms (Photo 6) and Zucchini (Photo 4), both bathed in soy butter. Since we love a bargain, we also ordered the Chicken Skin Skewer (Photo 8). Normally $8, the Happy Hour price was $5. Yummy though we were back to the oil. We finally shared a dessert, the $8 Purple Gokuri, a really delicious purple yam cheesecake topped with black sugar boba (Photo 9). We done. FOOD - 4 stars...hearty small plates, quite tasty, just a bit on the heavy side AMBIANCE - 4 stars...spacious SERVICE - 4 stars...cordial and attentive TOTAL - 4 stars...definitely a cool izakaya with plenty of tasty choices RELATED - Exploring Japantown? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/DrSI3z_qIx read more

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What an amazing find! We came as a party of four around 5:30 PM on a Saturday and were seated right away. One big plus--they don't use MSG in their cooking, which is so rare these days and really lets the ingredients shine. We ordered a variety of dishes izakaya-style to share, and every single one impressed. The flavors were balanced and thoughtful, never heavy-handed with sauces or soy. Highlights for me were the agedashi eggplant (a new favorite), the rich and creamy risotto, and the "dirty karaage"--super flavorful, crunchy, and unlike any fried chicken I've had before. They were out of wagyu that night, which was a little disappointing since I had my eye on the footlong wagyu roll, but that just gives me a reason to return. Overall, creative menu, fresh flavors, and a memorable dining experience. Can't wait to come back! read more

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We stopped by right before a concert and got a mix of dishes including sushi rolls, udon, skewers, and some refreshing drinks. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful, especially the creamy udon and the perfectly seasoned skewers. The drinks were also super refreshing and beautifully presented. The staff were GREAT! They gave us warm towels to wipe our hands with and consistently came to check on us. We came during happy hour prices were great -- even cocktails were part of the deal. The only downside was that the service took a while, so it required a bit of patience. But once the food came out, everything hit the spot. Overall, great food and vibes -- just expect a slower pace if you come during a busy time! read more

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Walked in on a Saturday night. It was quite busy considering it was early in the night. The area isn't huge though either. Waited maybe 30 minutes for a table of three. Ordered a few things to try. The hamachi was fresh and good. Nothing to complain about. I like the crispiness of the paella from the pan. The risotto was really good. I liked the balance of the creaminess without it feeling too heavy and overwhelming. I've had better karaage - would skip. The skewers were good. I liked the variety of them and special cuts. However for $45, for the amount, it is a bit more expensive. The pudding was close to flan. I enjoyed it, and it wasn't overly sweet. Drinks were very easy to drink. The plates are relatively small so don't expect to get full here. I think this would be a great place for a round two or even just a lite happy hour before you get dinner elsewhere. read more

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Unfortunately, the service was so bad I am leaving a two star review. I could tell both servers were very stressed and busy with tasks during our meal, and there was something off the whole time. This place has been around long enough, so I would think they had worked out the kinks. We were only able to order from a limited lunch set menu. Some food came out first. We waited, but we had to ask for the rest of the food from our sets and our drinks which felt awkward. The quality of both our sushi sets was okay, and the portions were small. I am glad the bill was only $15 per set, because I would not return to this place. There are many things that could be improved. read more

Excellent restaurant near Japantown SF. You will have to walk outside of Japantown, but it is worth the wait. Seems to be a pretty new restaurant in the area, but food was excellent with a lot of options and staff was on top of things. They also have happy hour prices so make to make it in time for that. Their skewers were all great. Overall, an amazing spot in SF and really enjoyed everything. read more

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Was so excited to check out Nono Baru after being a big fan of the old Nono, but honestly left a bit disappointed. We had such a great time at the previous spot, so expectations were high, but this visit just didn't quite hit the mark. The good: the uni toast, pork cheek skewers, and Udon Carbonara were solid. The not-so-good: the dirty karaage and most of the other dishes were pretty bland and under-seasoned. That said, it was still early days when we went, so maybe they were still working out the kinks. The staff was super friendly and really open to feedback, which we appreciated. Plus, they gave us a complimentary dessert to end the meal. Might give it another try down the line once they've had more time to settle in. read more

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My new favourite happy hour in the city. Good prices, friendly staff, lovely ambiance, and genuinely delicious sushi. I'm so glad I found this place and will be coming back! read more

Nono Baru - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

I had a catchup dinner with friends and this place was pretty good. We made a Resy for 6pm and it was pretty packed inside already. So come early and make a Resy for this place. We started off with the tacos which pretty much everyone else ordered too. It was flavorful and so good! We also got the garlic shrimp, seafood paella, tesbaski chicken skewer, the beef skewer and chicken skin skewer. All of these were pretty good but the timing also took a while for everything to come out. The pudding at the end was amazing, definitely get it, it's perfectly custardy and smooth with a delicious brown sugar sauce. We definitely loved the food and it was delicious , they just need to work on the service kinks. We will definitely be back here in the future! Total for 2:$90 read more

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Came here for happy hour, went around 4:25, put our name down for 4:30. Was seated promptly, however do NOT sit by the bar. One of the chefs had an order printer that would beep constantly (literally every 15 seconds). Sashimi was cut in huge pieces and some parts were very chewy. Would not recommend getting anything fried, they were overfrying everything. I had gotten crispy tuna rice, and the rice literally flew across due to how over fried it was. Salmon skin was also over fried and hard to chew. Service is also slow, we had asked for the check after around a 20 minute break since our food was delivered. Never realized our drink never arrived, as well as one of our food orders. Once we asked for the bill, they brought the watermelon mocktail we requested (which also tasted nothing like watermelon). Was highly disappointed with the food quality, service, as well as ambiance. read more

We were excited to try out the newly opened Nono because we loved the original one that closed down the street. Sadly our recent visit here didn't live up to old expectations. Their menu is now largely Japanese-Mexican fusion, but the dishes we tried under this category missed the mark. My favorite dish is the kimchi udon carbonara (5/5), and boyfriend says the pork belly skewers are his favorite (5/5). The karaage had a confusing flavor and texture and was the least favorite (2/5). The Mexican street corn was good but unremarkable (3.5/5). read more

Nono Baru - Mexican street corn - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great happy hour spot! Service was a bit slow but super friendly. The ambiance is cozy with both table and bar seating. Loved the happy hour (5-6 & 9-10pm) & definitely try the tacos and chicken skin! The sashimi didn't taste super fresh, so I'd skip that. Nice touch with the oshibori before the meal. I'll be back for more chicken skin and to try the regular menu! Cheers! read more

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Although tucked away, Nono Baru provides the vibes and the good food after some Japantown shopping! Their portions are smaller than normal, so we ended up ordering 4 dishes for two people. Each dish had a unique twist to it, like adding truffle to corn and furikake in the risotto. All unique and worth a try! read more

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Accidentally came hear mistaking it for a different restaurant, but not mad at all! Ordered the wagyu ramen, only wished it was spicer. Other than that little critique, it was phenomenal! Customer service wasn't extremely attentive, but wasn't the biggest deal, just wish they'd work on it better read more

Nono Baru - Wagyu ramen - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

We went on a Friday evening around 6 pm with our 2-year-old daughter and were seated right away. The menu was full of tempting options, so we started with a few skewers (the Tori chicken, tiger shrimp, and cauliflower), all of which were delicious. For mains, I had the scallop risotto while my husband ordered the udon carbonara. The risotto was flavorful, though I would have loved a few more scallops (and maybe a touch less chili to make it friendlier for everyone). The udon had a nice kick of spice, which my husband really enjoyed. For dessert, our waiter recommended the purple yam, which my husband tried and loved, I skipped it this time. read more

Nono Baru - Udon carbonara - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Really great late night happy hour! The drinks were good - and they were able to modify per my diet restrictions. Food was super yum as well - loved the chicken skewers and the mushroom ones as well! read more

Second time coming here. First time was great. No complain. On a random night I passed by and saw they have late happy hour that starts at 8pm, why not ?!? $3 hand roll $6 sashimi, asahi draft beer, hot sake. Sign me up! It's hard to find a deal like that in sf. Finished my meal. I was satisfied. Paid my bill. Used the restroom. A worker (a chef) used it after me, did not even wash his hands after using the bathroom! Just seeing that right before my eyes...I mean I know it happens but that just does not want me to go back...ever.. read more

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Amazing izakaya experience near sf japantown! We had a reservation for a Sunday night to avoid waiting in line. Highly recommend the hamachi cappuccino with avocado and the dirty kaarge (Both are MUST GET). The corn and the carbonara are great as well. The yakitori is on the smaller portion side. For drinks, highly recommend the yuzu highball. They do get busy during weekend so it may be hard to flag down a server if you have questions. But they are very nice and helpful!! If you do drive, you may want to park in japantown as it is only a few minutes walk from the big japantown mall. Will for sure return! read more

Nono Baru - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I loved dining at Nono Baru and will be coming back :) the vibe is very elegant and somewhat elevated but still approachable and affordable. It's an easy food venue to walk in, order, and be out in under an hour (atleast from my experience). The food was excellent and very tasty, with each flavor well considered! We had the happy hour at 5 and got the salmon and hamachi sashimi. I also ordered three oysters, all $5 dollars each. Aside from the happy hour menu, the regular menu is equally as affordable and quality tasting. We got the mushroom tacos (a bit messy!) and ended our meal with some skewers. Highly recommend Nono Baru for a solid Japanese cuisine and a beautifully chill eloquent vibe! read more

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This was my first time at Nono's new location and I have to say it's a major upgrade from their last. The crab butter mapo tofu is hands down one of the best things I've ever eaten and I'm actually salivating thinking about it right now as I write this. To be honest, you should just come for that alone. Aside from that the fish was fresh and everything else was good. The service is quick and at 8pm on a weekday, there was no line at all! I love their new vibe and am excited to come back. read more

Came here on a weeknight for some dinner and drinks to unwind after work. To say the least, my expectations were exceeded! I was greeted at the door and promptly seated. The interior was cosy but upscale, and the service was stellar. As soon as I sat down, I was given a hot towel to clean my hands and the staff was happy to give recommendations and explain any menu items. I ended up ordering some sushi and appetizers, as well as a cocktail. My favorite part of the meal was definitely the gyoza and fried chicken! I'll definitely be back for a date/girl's night. read more

Great variety of food at reasonable prices. All of the skewers were cooked perfectly and well seasoned. Service was attentive and friendly and offered or recommendations and even gave us a panna cotta that they were testing out in the kitchen. Definitely would recommend this place if you are into izakayas with a twist. read more

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Came on a Wednesday evening to try their Happy Hour and Nono Baru did not disappoint. One thing I appreciate is that there is a wall divider in between tables that are seated directly adjacent to one another. We were able to get house sake, some sashimi, yakitori, and apps all for HH price. While I typically don't like house sake, the brand they use here was surprisingly good! We wanted to try some non-HH items so our server Kary was super helpful with giving some recs on what she thought we would enjoy. My favorites was the toro uni dip (see photo), cauliflower yuzu, and elite corn. Overall a great dinner experience with attentive service (thanks Kary!), I'll have to come back to try the rest of their menu! read more

Nono Baru - Toro uni dip - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The happy hour menu is from 5-6 & 9-10 everyday which is awesome. The food came out quickly and it was delicious. We really enjoyed ourselves in the space. The music was just right and not too loud. It got a little smokey inside from all the cooking but I think that may be normal. The restaurant was packed after 30 mins or so. It was empty inside when we first got there and she asked if I had a reservation. I think my favorite was the thick cuts of salmon and the mushroom taco. My kids devoured all of the skewers immediately. My daughter loved the warm towels that were handed to us when we first sat down, that was really special since it felt like Taiwan. The egg dipping sauce was outstanding. Definitely go and check them out. read more

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