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    Potto

    4.6 (137 reviews)
    Open 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM

    Waitlist - Potto

    Live Current wait: under 5 minutes

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    POTTO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for groups
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - Potto

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    Jennifer N.

    Amazing food (especially the broth)! We had to wait a little but thats on us - we didnt make a reservation. Our server was incredible in his customer service and was so helpful with making our experience so special. The ambiance reminds me of Tokyo with its size of the place and decor. Beautiful!

    Yakiniku don
    Geanna T.

    Potto is a spot in the Castro specializing in nabe (Japanese hotpot). The spot itself is small, and vibey! My partner and I came close to opening for their dinner service and were seated at the bar. Service was great! They were attentive and gave us recommendations as well! We ordered the Niku fries which were sooo good! The combo of ingredients and sauces paired very well. For our entrees we got the sukiyaki nabe and yakiniku don. The sukiyaki broth had the usual sweetness but with a more complex flavor compared to other sukiyaki broths I've tried. It was yummy with the meat, veggies, and dipping sauces. The Yakiniku don was also good! I especially enjoyed the sauce the bbq sauce they gave us on the side.

    Linda Y.

    Japanese hot pot are words you don't often see together in the Castro, but that's exactly what this is. I randomly passed by this restaurant while walking around in the neighborhood with friends and we just went inside to check it out. It was pretty empty when we went on the weekend a few months ago, but since then I've passed by a few times and there is a line out the door consistently. Their personal pots are around $40 which for San Francisco isn't cheap for sure but not entirely surprising. They have a few different soup bases and I really liked the spicy miso one. The beef was tender and noodles nice and chewy. I tried some of the sukiyaki broth one too although a bit too sweet gor me. Ambience inside is nice though it's small inside. I would come back if it's not busy, probably would skip if there's a huge line. It certainly is cozy and comforting to eat on a cold SF day.

    Nabe
    Ying Z.

    Healthy, fresh meal. Filling, yet light. Felt kind of a splurge just for a casual lunch, so maybe come here with more dedicated time. I finished the nabe just by myself. I got the pork one, and thought the meat was good quality. I wouldn't say portions are big here. The flavors are also very light, even with the sauces. The mushrooms were not satisfying and we tasted more of the breading in each bite rather than the mushroom itself. Our waiter was pleasant. Overall, the price of the meal was a bit higher than I expected for what we got (like $50pp). I feel like hot pot restaurants are cheaper and would offer ayce.

    Eryn C.

    My friend and I randomly came across this hot spot restaurant after going to Ruby's pottery sale and I'm so glad that we did. Potto completely changed my perspective on hot pot. I've had hot pot from many different restaurants in the past but none has satisfied me like this one. The broth of the spicy miso nabe was so rich and perfectly spicy. I loved that it came with the thin short rib and pork. The amount of veggies and meat that you receive is perfect in contrast to the broth. I was trying to decide between the spicy miso nabe and a don, but the server recommended the spicy miso nabe as it is her favorite entree on the menu. The restaurant its self is quaint and bright; very inviting. We went on a Saturday and there was one server vs. a gradually filling restaurant around lunch time. Nonetheless she was extremely nice, attentive, and helped us with all of our needs. I would recommend making reservations here in advance as it is a smaller restaurant! This is definitely a gem and I cannot wait to come back here in the future with my friends!

    Marlena S.

    SO GOOD UGH I can't wait to come back, I tried a little of everything and gyad dayum it's so fire.

    Tonyu nabe & spicy miso nabe
    Justina C.

    Super cozy restaurant! I love the minimalistic yet warm interior of this place, it kind of reminds me of Japan. I got the Tonyu Nabe, which was kind of sweet and creamy -- you could really taste the soy milk! The food came quickly and the broth was delicious! I would definitely come back again to try the other flavors. The flavors seem to be kind of muted and not outright very bold, but I still enjoyed it regardless.

    Sukiyaki Nabe
    Candace T.

    Cute little restaurant with a clean aesthetic. I was hesitant to come because it is pricey for a la carte hot pot ($39), but the meat was high quality and the ambiance is quite nice. I got the sukiyaki nabe, which was all around good. I think the sauces are unnecessary because the nabe itself is salty enough that a quick dip in there imparted all the flavors needed onto the meat and veggies. We also ordered the karage, which I would order again. Good spot overall.

    rice & veggies & house sake
    Izzie L.

    I normally get full off of a meal quite quickly, but there was literally not a crumb of veggie/meat nor drop of soup leftover from my meal at Potto. Great service, cute ambiance, delicious food! I ordered the Spicy Miso hotpot which came with 2 plates of meat (beef + pork), a veggie plate, as well as rice. The quality of the meat and veggies were pretty average, but the broth was exceptionally rich and flavorful. The induction countertop was really unique, though it was harder to use because of the "minimalistic" UI. I got seated around 6PM on a Thursday and the restaurant quickly filled to max capacity. The cost is a little pricey at around $35 per bowl; I wouldn't recommend sharing unless you are not hungry as one bowl was a perfect serving size for me. Overall, Potto was a pleasant experience! I would come back for another chance to treat myself but wouldn't make this a regular place.

    Menu
    Nova P.

    If you plan to co to Potto during prime dinner hours would recommend to make reservations. It was really packed and several parties were waiting. The seating ranges from high tops, standard tables and bar seating. It's a smaller restaurant so it's pretty cozy. Restaurant is bright, clean and modern. We sat at the bar and I ordered the Butatama Kara Udon (pork belly) and a side of waygu. My friend ordered the Hamachi Kama which was a friend hamachi collar with rice. The pork belly udon was much spicier than I expected, but super flavorful. It was a good size portion so I ended up taking some home. My friend said her dish was tasty and there was enough fish meat around the collar. Prices for the entree section were somewhat reasonable. The Nabe section is like your own hot pot experience and a bit more. Side note, the restroom lock was a little different so it was hard to tell if it was locked or not. .

    fried tofu
    Sarah C.

    really nice and comforting interior with high ceilings, zen decor, and an aroma of sukiyaki :) our group of 3 ordered a sukiyaki nabe, buta nabe, and fried tofu, and it was a perfect portion. the meats were good quality but I do wish the vegetables had more variety/ choice for the price

    sukiyaki nabe
    Michelle Z.

    Amazing nabe spot! The meat was incredibly tender (loved both the beef and pork belly slices) and the broth was flavorful and went well with all the toppings. We tried both the sukiyaki and the spicy miso broths and both were great. I'm not generally a fan of hotpot type restaurants but this place was so good and I would definitely come back to try more. I also loved the yakiniku rice dish -- steak is so tender and flavorful. It comes with rice and mushrooms and runny egg and tastes amazing with all the sauce after mixing. Highly recommend! Service is friendly and pretty attentive, although we did run out of water after a while. On the pricier end but worth for a special treat! Reservations are easy to make.

    Connie X.

    I learned about Potto from an Insta foodie account. The meat looked really fresh, which interested me in visiting for lunch with a friend. Like other reviewers have pointed out, the inside is small, but updated. While I was expecting myself to order the sukiyaki nabe, I ended up ordering a king salmon nabe instead, which comes with scallop, shrimp, and fish balls. My friend ordered the sukiyaki nabe, so we were able to share. My overall thoughts: Service was a little slow, but when we visited, there was only one waitress doing a phenomenal job servicing all the tables. The food was very delicious. The meat and seafood was pretty fresh. While portions looked a little small, my friend and I actually felt like we had enough food. Just thought the menu was a bit overpriced for what we got (~$40 per person), but the menu prices at Potto are comparable to other nabe/shabu shabu/hot pot places in the Bay Area. I wish this place were more affordable, so I could come back sooner. But I do think Potto is worth your while.

    spicy miso nabe

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    Several I know people really hyped this place up and even said it was Michelin starred (really only…read morebib gourmand) so I came in with high expectations. It's quite difficult to get a reservation and my friend had to book it a month out. We ordered the $90 set menu and opted to get the $15 sashimi add on with 3 additional cuts that include Japanese uni. I thought it was a great deal for just the uni alone! Unfortunately it wasn't the best uni I've had - the flavor was pretty lacking, but at least it didn't taste bitter or foul. Can't really complain for the price. Most of the other dishes were pretty simple, but very well made. The chicken katsu had a perfect panko crisp on the outside. The udon was handmade with great texture - but had no additional protein besides an egg. My favorite part was the hojicha panna cotta at the end. Overall, the dishes were not very creative or memorable in any way if you've been to Japan before. But it's rare to find authentic and high quality Japanese meals in Bay Area and this is one of them. Also I was still a bit hungry after the meal :c

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