I feel like this is another case of "the emperor has no clothes". Why is this restaurant constantly touted as one of the best (if not the best) sushi restaurants in the Bay Area? Sure, everything was tasty, but I found nothing about the food to be different from the millions of other good, reasonably priced sushi restaurants in the area. Baked bass: Creamy and rich with its combination of fish and mangoes. Delicious and a good example of the non-sushi part of Japanese cuisine that is often overlooked. However, I don't know that it's worth a repeat visit as it is a pretty simple dish that could easily be recreated at home. Hama-mass roll, spicy mussel roll and spicy hamachi roll: Larger-than-average pieces, smaller-than-average portions. That translates to about 6 pieces per roll that are each difficult to eat in one bite. I would have much preferred the opposite. My friend and I are both hamachi lovers and we found the hamachi here to be less than fresh--way too soft (almost rubbery) and a little too warm. The mussels were okay, but they were cooked, so it was nothing special. Amaebi shrimp: One of the specials of the day. Decent portion for the price. The raw body was nothing spectacular, but the battered and fried heads that were later served were fantastic. The best part of the meal, in my opinion. Unlike some other reviewers, I was actually most impressed with the service. There was only one Japanese woman manning the whole restaurant, but she was super friendly and attentive, always answering our requests with a smile and even teasing us at times when she had a free moment. For those concerned with the wait, my friend and I got there at around 6pm on a Friday evening. I was about 5 minutes earlier than her and there was only one other party of 2 ahead of us. The wait time between when my friend got there and when they called our names was roughly another 5 minutes. Perhaps we lucked out and came during a lull on a Friday evening, but both of us were expecting a far worse wait. read more

Deliciously fresh sushi in a cute and cozy Japanese restaurant. The boyfriend and I ordered a nigiri platter and the salmon mango roll. Both were blissfully divine. Apparently we missed the memo that sea bass with mango was the way to go -- 3G wasn't working and couldn't access Yelp!! :( It's okay though, it just gives us a reason to come back. But next time, we'll pack some patience and snack beforehand since there was quite a wait for our food because there was only one chef on deck. I am not a patient or pleasant girl - especially when I'm hungry!! [Minus 1 star for the long wait.] Word to the wise: Don't come big groups, this place is tiny -- think it can only fit about 16 customers max. Improve your average wait time and come in two's. read more

Sushi Zone - nigri + california roll platter - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Guess it's about time to update my review! Sushi Zone is still one of my go to sushi spots in SF. It helps that I live super close too so I can make it early when they open since if you don't do that, you might have to wait a while. They typically open at 5pm so if you get there about 5-10 minutes beforehand you can be in the first seating. There's no reservations and it's cash only too. I usually order just sushi although if I go with friends I'll also get the baked bass which is so good!!! The fish is fresh and the portion sizes are solid so make it a point to hit up Sushi Zone if you can and enjoy one of the best hidden sushi gems in SF. read more

This hole-in-the-wall sushi spot is a gem for a few reasons: 1) limited seating. There's something special when there's a staff of 3-4 waiting on 10-12 people. The service feels more personal and the ambiance, more intimate. 2) sushi bar seating. I love watching the chefs prepare, there's some magic behind the knife work for each fish. 3) off the beaten path. Sure, you can easily stay on Market St. or go to a more high foot traffic area, but I like the feel of being away from the city madness. 4) Japanese operated. Everything feels more authentic when you hear the staff speak in Japanese. 5) fresh fish. You can't go wrong with that! A few things to note: 1) super long wait. So make sure you bring good company! You'll likely do most of your chatting up while waiting for your seat. 2) cash only. The nearest ATM is pretty far away. Be ready with at least $40 in your wallet. read more

Great fresh sushi and very friendly stuff. Uni was excellent as well as the rolls. A must try read more

Sushi Zone - Scallop roll; crab roll; uni - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Just had to say it again. After moving back to San Diego Sushi Zone is still one of my favorite sushi place. My boyfriend and I were back in San Francisco for a few days and we had to stop by Sushi Zone. We got there around 5:30pm and grabbed the last table. We ordered our usual: - Spicy Mango Salmon Roll ($5.75) - Spicy Scallop Roll ($5.50) - Spicy Hamachi Roll ($5.75) - Hawaiian #2 Roll ($5.75) - Baked Stuffed Striped Bass with Mango ($5.00) - Baked Stuffed Jalepeno with Albacore ($5.00) As usual everything was amazing. I love you Sushi Zone: you never disappoint. read more

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Want to eat dinner by yourself or just one other friend? This is the right place. For large groups, not so much. The ambience is a little quirky but service is great. And there's almost always a wait so be prepared. There's only two tables equipped for four people a piece and the bar which can fit about 8 people. Food is yummy though but a bit pricey. Mango hamachi roll was delicious but couldn't tell the difference between 1 and 2 that much. Cash only. read more

Soooooo delicious!!!! Sushi Zone is the best sushi restaurant in the Bay Area. Thanks for making us happy! ; ) read more

Wait time: 1 hour. yes, it's a long wait, learn the master of zen if you want to eat here. Restaurant capacity: 20 Restaurant location: hard to find, in the boon docks, definitely a neighborhood gem. Ambiance: no frills sushi bar with a counter and 2 tables for guests. The kitchen is right there next to the sushi bar. Authenticity: genuine Japanese chef preparing the rolls right in front of you. menu is relatively no frills but also has some unique Hawaiian influenced rolls. Everything we ate was pretty delicious from the jalapeno stuffed tuna to the fresh pieces of yellowtail, salmon, and tuna. The albacore and salmon were definitely buttery and melt in your melt. The cuts were generous and tasted very fresh. The rolls were the perfect size and the macadamia crusted Hawaiian roll had the perfect amount of crunch! I don't know if we would want to wait so long again just to eat sushi but it was definitely fresh and deelish. read more

With all the world class dining in S.F., there are actually not many great sushi places. Sushi Zone is probably one of the best casual sushi spots in the city. Everything is dang fresh, dang pretty, and dang tasty. 1 star off: This place is tiiiiiiiny! Get there early or get there patient. read more

Absolutely delicious! Great food. Great service. Great prices. The fish is very fresh, and nothing disappointed the hype that this place gets. It's a must-go! read more

Sushi Zone is, so far, my favorite sushi-ya in San Francisco, both for the high quality and value of their food. However, don't get me wrong, it's also not the most convenient place to stop for dinner on a weekday or weekend night. The main reason being that the restaurant is an incredibly small, family own restaurant with two tables and a sushi bar. Therefore, there is almost always a wait here, regardless of the hour of the day. They also do not take reservations, so sitting is based on a first come (wait), first serve basis. If your party is greater than two people, I HIGHLY recommend arriving upon opening, which is at 5pm, and putting your name on the waiting list; and YES, there is a waiting list when they open. That said, Sushi Zone is a great place for authentically crafted sushi, that I wouldn't mind waiting an hour for. Their sushi chef is known for their sushi rolls, nigiri, specials and baked mussels. I have not tried their dinner entrees, although I would not go to Sushi Zone especially for it. Presentation is rustic, beautiful and homey. It reminds me of a plate of sushi you will get from a good sushi-ya in Japan. I arrived here at around 5:30pm with a friend for dinner. We put ourselves on the waiting list and walked/waited around Hayes Valley for about 30-50minutes before being sitted. My only complaint is that it was a bit of wait to order and receive our order. But it was fine because we could tell everyone was working hard for there is 1 waitress, 1 sushi chef and 1 assistant. After nearly 1.5hrs of waiting, our meal finally commenced. And it was SWEET! We enjoyed each dish ordered and kept talking about the need to revist Sushi Zone. Despite their small menu, you can't go wrong with any choices. However, I suggest getting their AWESOME signature dishes: First off, start with their Baked Mussel and Baked Stripped Sea Bass with Mango. Both are incredibly rich and tasty, unlike anything I have ever had! Then proceed with: Spicy Hamachi Roll (these are HUGE), any sashimi or nigiri (specials are awesome too), and end in a sweet note with their Hawaiian rolls; we had #2 which was filled with albacore, mango and topped with freshly chopped macadamia nuts. We would have ordered more but decided to save our appetites for the next visit. Next time, we're definitely getting an order of UNI! My mouth waters from simply revisiting my last dinner here! If you are a sushi-fanatics, you must make a trip to Sushi Zone! Come early with a ready appetite for delicious, sweet and fresh fish and rolls, you will not be disappointed! read more

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Came here with a party of 3 at 4:45 on a Thursday night and there was already a line. I'm extremely glad that I came early, because there's only one chef, and we didn't get our food until about 6:45. Started off the night with a hot sake--very good. The lady is extremely nice and helpful with ordering. Garosaba King California Hamamasa Mango Hamachi Rainbow Roll: YES Stuffed Shitake Mushroom Baked Sea Bass: Amazing!! Mackeral There was nothing bad. This was probably the best rainbow roll I've ever had. The sushi was not traditional in taste, but the balance of rice and fish/vegetables was exactly how I've always imagined them to do it in Japan. Not filled on rice!!! Damage? $100 (t&t included)--not bad! Super full, had a great time, satisfied. read more

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This is my regular sushi spot! Amazing fresh food! I don't want to give it away! We get takeout!

Cute outdoor setup, food stellar as always. New takeout option is great!

Ehh, this place is so-so. I've had great sushi at many different restaurants, and this sushi was pretty mediocre at best. Not at all worth 1.5 hr wait. For the price it's alright, but for waiting so long just to get a table and then another 40 mins for the sushi was not worth it at all. read more

I finally came here again Sunday evening 12/28/08. There was ample street parking and of course no need to feed the meter at all b/c it was Sunday. ~4:45PM Time of arrival Sign on door: "We will open at 5:30PM" =/ (They were having slight electrical problems - they probably need a new breaker box or to balance out the flow of electricity..) ~5:20PM Time we were let through the door I love the intimate setting at Sushi Zone. The one chef making the sushi and appetizers, the one assistant making the baked appetizers and the one waitress tending to the customers. It gives me a cozy feeling and I love that the place is small and hole-in-the-wall-ish. This time I got some of what I hadn't ordered on my last visit. - Baked sea bass w/ mango soso SO good! I should've gotten a couple orders of this one. - Nigiri Saba! (my favorite) Sake Maguro Hamachi Suzuki - Hawaiian roll A fun roll w/ tuna, creaminess of avocado+mayo, crunchiness of macadamia, mmm.. - Spicy albacore roll Yum. - Hot sake I'm not the biggest sake fan, but this one did not leave a gross aftertaste in my mouth, so not bad. It was all very satisfying, and I love getting in early, eating as part of the first group in, and leaving at around 6:30PM, so I still have the rest of the night to do whatever floats my boat. Yay Sushi Zone ^_^ Intimate, friendly, affordable and delicious. (P.S. Check out several pics of the food I ate on Sushi Zone's business profile.) read more

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I keep forgetting to write a review about this place! This is the best sushi roll place in San Francisco! The rolls are all unique and fresh tasting! Everything on their white board menu is good! You can order everything and it'd all taste good. I'm serious because that was what I did lol! The Hawaiian roll is so good with the macadamia nuts on top, the Indian roll has octopus in it which goes really well with the sauce, all the fresh fish with mango rolls are good, and all their baked stuff is good. I highly recommend the baked sea bass with mango. I wanted seconds and thirds after that! Order all the rolls here that you can't get anywhere else. Just letting you know there is only one sushi chef here and only one guy making the baked stuff. I thought I saw a third guy washing dishes and making the rice last time, but I'm not sure. Well anyways, the wait is between one to two hours here. Yes I've actually waited 2 hours here before but I don't care because I can wait for good food. read more

This was my second time to come here. My first time was about 5 years ago. Surprisingly, the food was still as good as before. Came here with a friend on a Friday at 5:30pm and the restaurant was already packed. Luckily we were the first party on the waiting broad. We got seated at 6pm. A lot of people complained about the wait for the food. Yes, it was a pain because there was only one chef and he was doing one order at a time. So you probably expect to wait another 30 minutes for your food. We ordered: Baked mussels: I tried this in 5 years ago and the taste of the mussels were always in my mind. After so many years, the taste was pretty much the same. Delicious! The sauce was flavorful and the portion was good. Must order item! We also ordered Hamachi Nigiri, White Tuna Nigiri, Hawaiian #1 roll, Mushroom roll and Mango Hamachi roll: All fish were so fresh and the slice of the fish was generous. The portion of the rolls and sushi were good. The service was very friendly. Even though there was only one waitress, she was still attentive; just kinda slow sometimes. Deducted one star?!?!?! Definitely the wait..............too long ;-( read more

Sushi Zone - Baked mussels and Mango Hamachi Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is probably one of my favorite sushi restaurants in the city. All the ingredients are incredibly fresh and combined in the most unique and intricate manner. I came with my sister around 6 pm on a random Monday evening (which is actually the ideal timing / day to come bc the place is tiny and they don't take reservations so it's essentially first come first serve). We ordered the following: - seaweed salad - baked mussels - miso soup - spicy salmon with mango - rock n roll - hamachi roll - Hawaiian special #2 The baked mussels were phenomenal - chopped up mussels with flavorful sauce (literally tasted like creamy buttery deliciousness that just melted in your mouth). Nothing like I've tasted before. Each serving comes with 2 and I definitely wanted more after I downed my one mussel. Maybe order 2 servings so you can have 2 each with your friend / date. I thought the Hawaiian roll was unique but wasn't as amazing as the spicy salmon w mango and hamachi roll. All in all, the ingredients tasted super fresh and this place is definitely my favorites. The venue is a bit on the smaller side, so try to avoid coming on a popular evening at a popular time (i.e. Friday or sat night at 7.. As ull be waiting for awhile). read more

Sushi Zone - Close up on the hamachi roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My friends and I was craving for sushi in the hot day, so we decided to try Sushi zone. Seems like we're not welcome because we're not regular. She would give seats at the bar to regular couple who came 20 mins later than us if I didn't say anything. Then attitude showed on her face and her voice every time we need to communicate. Service went very slow but I had a hope that food will be fantastic according to yelp review. They give you a big pice of fish and fresh. Rolls are just ok. Sake Kama was very salty. In short; Long wait, slow service and hospitality is only for regular customer, food is mediocre, reasonable price. Disappointed. read more

Not fancy but totally awesome. Come early as there are only a handful of seats and they don't take reservations. But for great cuts of fish at reasonable prices I do not think you can do better than Sushi Zone. read more

Been here a few times now, and the sushi is pretty phenomenal! It's all pretty high quality fish and full of flavor. I hate it when fish can be "high quality" but there is no flavor... What's the point! Anyways came here on a weekday night, and got lucky to be seated immediately! We ordered a few different rolls, but what was really impressive is how he'll always pair your salmon with dill, kinda his way of making fusion but subtly. We also got a new rolls that were filled generously with fish and kept the rice to fish ratio in proportion. Would come back here! read more

Sushi Zone - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Loved coming here for my first time! Recommended by a friend. Don't let the simple name deter you as the sushi is spectacular. Service is amazing and the owner is the person serving you! We ordered the Sashimi Combination (chef choice), Uni, Hirame, and Spicy Hamachi Hand Rolls. YUM! We love Hideko and that SHE is the owner! You Go Girl! See you again Hideko! Heather and Tracey. read more

WORTH THE WAIT! The thickest, freshest sashimi ever. If you go here you have to order the mixed sashimi platter. It's the best I've ever had by far. I'm not really into crazy fancy rolls. I like simple fresh raw fish, so this is my perfect spot. If you prefer intricate rolls, it may not be for you. read more

Wait really is long, but I think some people are really over exaggerating it. Me and my sister arrived around 6:30 and were served and outta there in before 8. Also, there are plenty of bars around, so waiting really isn't such a bad thing. Knock back a few cocktails, and 20 min will go by in a blink of an eye. We got the baked seabass (awesome and not at all what you would expect.), the rainbow roll (portions are huge... Larger than I would have liked. Basically they were Sushi Maki with fat slabs of different sashimi on top of each. Portions were still huge though, so only half a star off for that one.), salmon skin roll (crispy shredded pieces of salmon skin. Beautifully presented, and not over done. Probably the best I've had) and uni and tako nigiri (both very fresh). We had heard from another patron that the eggplant/Nasu Nigiri is supposed to be good, but we couldn't find it on the menu. Turned out it was on the Specials Board right by the entrance, and when we finally ordered it, they had already run out. Next time, I'll have to remember to order it. Temperature wise, rainbow roll could have been served a little colder, but they were still good, so half a star off for that. read more

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Unique Hawaiian style sushi rolls. Great price. The restaurant is small and you have to wait quite long. Service is slow... But I will come back to try more dishes. read more

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This place is worth the wait! The rolls are creative and tasty- there was one with macadamia nuts which was so good. There's another sushi spot next door with a bar that's fun to check out if you have to wait a while. The waitlist is just on paper (as opposed to on yelp ;)) so you'll have to make sure you're there when they call your name. read more

This is a very special place: the only restaurant I've found in SF that feels like a "real" izakaya. I don't mean to say that they serve much standard izakaya fare (this is definitely a sushi-first sushi bar kind of place), but rather that the atmosphere and set-up are exactly like what you'd find at your local neighborhood izakaya in Japan. There kitchen area is tiny and right out in the open, where you can see the one chef preparing all the food, plus one person washing dishes. It's amazing to me that there is such a place in the states at all (especially given its less-than-authentic-sounding name). Oh, and of course, the quality of the food is spectacular! You won't find many of the rarer types of fish (kohada, kinmedai, etc) but the ones they have are incredibly fresh, and they certainly have all the classics plus some. If you're lucky, you might get to watch the chef masterfully fillet a hamachi. :) read more

Seriously the best sushi I have had in years. Spicy isn't too spicy, and the combinations with mango are marvelous. There is no need for wasabi or soy sauce...It's that good. Seriously that good!! read more

Sushi Zone - Top roll - Spicy Albacore Tuna Bottom roll - Indian Summary - both were orgasmic (as per the gf)! - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I guess either during the bottomless bloody mary brunch at Paul K or directly after I said something to Daniel L about how I'd heard from a couple of people that consider themselves sushi experts that this place was great. I don't remember this conversation, bottomless bloody marys have their consequences, but when I got a PM from Daniel a few days after it didn't matter that I forgot because I'd wanted to try this place for months. Daniel got Maybeline C to come and she brought her friend Wendy. This place is tiny and popular, we were seated quickly but it wasn't long before the place got crowded with people staring at us like vultures. I ordered the plum wine. Not because it's good but because I wanted to drink something, I hate sake and beer mixed with rice in my stomach is a gas factory. I picked the place based on recommendations and even suggested some of the items because I'd heard good things about them but didn't like any of it, everyone has different tastes but all of the items we ordered based on recommendations were mediocre at best. I'd be a little more tactful and think maybe it's just my taste but all four of us had almost the same opinion of each item. Appetizers Stuffed Jalapeno: A half pepper stuffed with some kind of tuna concoction, it tasted like tuna salad made with canned Geisha. Baked bass and mango in a mussel shell: I didn't like it; I didn't think the flavors complimented each other at all. Roll Hawaiian roll #2: Another overly quirky item. A roll with fish mango and avocado covered in macadamia nuts. By this time I was sick of off the wall sushi like items and was ready for some nigiri. Sorry to my friend that made these suggestions if you read this but everything you recommended bombed with the group. Assorted Nigiri: The salmon was the best and everyone loved it! The albacore and the hamachi were pretty good. The maguro was a little rubbery but OK. It was cut against the grain which is fairly common. The hirame had turned and shouldn't have been served. It smelled off but I wanted to trust the chef and ate it anyway. It was very fishy and even tingled a little on the tongue. Wendy had to spit hers out. I expected "the best sushi place in SF" to care a little more. Other things that are a little troubling: The table was sticky, the place has no décor, the people waiting to eat are all right they're staring at you to hurry up and finish, and it's cash only. Also for some reason they brought everything out one item at a time, which I wouldn't care about except, they didn't bring the nigiri out in the right order (light to dark). I'm willing to try this place again but I want to sit at the bar and I'm only getting nigiri or sashimi. read more

This was a three phase talent show between the sushi chef, the nigiri pieces, and fellow Yelper Tom R, who took a colossal chunk of wasabi in the size of futomaki and swallowed the entirety without a flinch. These were my three points of fascination as I joined Maybelline C, her friend Wendy, and Tom R for a sushi dinner in the City. If not for my friends who arrived early to snag a table, I was told the wait could last up to two hours. May and Tom are among my most trusted Yelpers so it was nice to sit back as they took care of the ordering. All together, we shared two appetizers, one roll, and they asked for the chef to bring the house with their freshest assortment of nigiri: Stuffed Jalapenos: Four giant pieces of opened jalapenos smothered with a creamy spicy tuna rendition. The jalapeno was bulky like a bell pepper with a dull kick and the stuffing was too creamy for my taste. I'm a big fan of the concept but the taste and presentation was rugged when compared to the ones that were finesse and sharper tasting at U-Zen. Baked Bass: Minced bass baked with cream cheese and mayo served in a shell, and sandwiched between small chunks of sweet mangos at the bottom and morsels of masago atop. The sweet mango did not have influence until the bottom was reached while the bass was even creamier than the stuff jalapenos. When it comes to these types of dishes I'm expecting craftiness so the cream laden bass was less than ideal for my taste. Hawaiian Roll: Sushi roll with fresh albacore and more mangoes at the center covered with canned macadamia nuts. I like the fresh albacore but the mango and macadamia nuts were a mysterious combination as they looked and tasted out of place. For those sushi eaters with discriminating palates, the best bet here are their nigiri and sashimi. There were some hits and misses as I liked the hamachi, sake, and albacore, but I also find the maguro decent and the hirame disastrous. I was tempted to try their uni but decided against it after faced with the inconsistencies previously mentioned. Otherwise, the fish was generously cut into equal sizes--an art form for which I deeply appreciate. My plum wine was a bit medicinal in taste but it was still worth the experiment. The place is a tiny hole in the wall so the huge line of people waiting for a table brought an overwhelming atmosphere with little elbow room to maneuver outside our immediate area. The noise level was high and the server was a one-person operation who amazingly brought us rounds of awesome tasting water without skipping a beat. Among the three forms of talents being displayed, I thought there were some bright spots about the nigiris but Tom's wasabi trick was the most newsworthy. Here is how Sushi Zone is rated with all considered: 1.) Quality and freshness: 3.5 stars. With the exception of hirame, other nigiris ranged from decent to good. The ones I enjoyed had good moisture and taste, but aside from this dish, the others were either too creamy or the ingredients simply didn't meshed well together. 2.) Creativity and presentation: 2.5 stars. Perhaps too creative on the appetizers and the only roll we got. The simple look and taste of the nigiris was much more favorable. 3.) Quantity and substance: 3 stars. We each got a decent piece from all the dishes and were full by the time the meal was completed. 4.) Accessibility and affordability: 4 stars. We double ordered all the dishes and the total still came out to be $30 per person. The price tag was excellent. 5.) Service and ambiance: 3 stars. The venue is very small so the overcrowded ambiance could be overwhelming at times. I thought service was decent considering the amount of people waiting to be served with a chaotic line that flooded onto the sidewalk. Their largest table can only seat four so the setting arrangement is not ideal for large groups or family friendly. Cash only. 3 stars for the overall experience. With so many great sushi places in San Francisco, this restaurant was worth the try but I will not be returning unless Tom is scheduled to reappear for another wasabi trick. read more

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How do I say this eloquently? Hmmmm, here goes: F You Sushi Ran. F You Zushi Puzzle. F You Godzilla Sushi. F You King of the Roll. You all suck big fat Unagi. Sushi Zone makes me want to do a back handspring over the sushi bar and stick my face in some cold, wet Hamachi. I cried a little bit during my first bite of Nigiri. I wept softly when I slurped down my first baked striped Sea Bass with Mango from its beautiful shell. I sobbed quite violently and scarily (although that probably had more to do with my current set of issues than with the actual food) when I sucked down my first Spicy Hamachi w/ Jalapeno roll. That said, this place is panty dropping good... and as you know, I don't drop them like they're hot for just anyone. Shut it, JT. Disclaimer: Sushi Ran, Zushi Puzzle, Godzilla Sushi and King of the Roll are actually all delicious establishments. However, I can't be held responsible if you go and they are actually sucking big fat Unagi. After all, sucking Unagi IS kinda fun... PS. If you ever take Sammy S. to Sushi, be sure to make her drink hot Sake. Her facial expressions are worth 5 stars alone. read more

It seemed like we would never please the mother with our celebratory dining choices. Year after year of birthday or Mother's Day dinners, it's usually a complaint or if it's pretty good - "Meh, it was only okay." This year, we took her to Sushi Zone. We ordered the baked bass, stuffed mushrooms, two orders of the 14-pc sashimi platter [thick generous slices of deliciousness], a spider roll, a King California roll [none of that imitation crap!], a sushi platter, and two large hot sakes. She thanked us for dinner, and that was that. I guess we finally picked a winner! *noted* Cash only! Since they use REAL crab meat, you can order a California roll here without me pointing and laughing at you! read more

I was really looking forward to enjoying this place. After all, I'd finally found a sushi spot in San Francisco that prepares baked mussels. After waiting an hour outside for a seat, my friend and I finally sat down at the sushi bar. Space is limited here - there are 2 tables that can accommodate up to 4, the bar can accommodate around 8. Service is friendly and quick. That should not be too difficult taking in to account the small space. We ordered the Sashimi Combo, which came with 14 pieces of the chefs choice. The platter included Salmon, Mackerel, Yellowtail, Octopus and other selections I was not familiar with. Though there were two slices each, we could cut each slice in half they were so big. You ever have one of those moments about an experience and say.. 'hmm that's a bad idea', then do it anyway? Well that is how I felt when I had my first bite of the salmon. It had a metallic taste to it. The tuna was meaty, though lacking any flavor whatsoever. I passed on the octopus, not my thing. The mackerel was about the same, not much flavor. When the baked mussels arrived I thought, okay those look amazing! The golden brown crust on the outside was deceiving. The inside tasted like mussels and scrambled eggs mixed with mayonnaise. No! Guess I better head back to LA if I want some proper baked mussels. After not enjoying this meal, we learned it was cash only. I had maybe $19.00 in my wallet and my friend have left her card in her other wallet. You know how women be changing purses. Anyway, I went to the liquor mart next door to withdraw cash. I was able to get cash, but not the amount requested because the machine ran out of bills. I returned to the restaurant and told them what happened and asked, do you not have Stripe or any device to accept payment? 'No we only have a cash register.' Okay, well 1 you need to jump into the 21st century and 2 where is the next nearest ATM? Walk number 2 consisted of crossing Market street at 9:30pm to a laundromat that had an ATM inside. Bill paid, tip left, we lyfted home. As you do. Ohh ho ho but the story does not end there. Around 3am my stomach was not feeling too good. Let's just say my dinner did not remain in my belly very long.... I did not throw it up. I most certainly will not be returning. read more

Sushi Zone has 2 small tables, a sushi bar, and a great reputation. So you're gonna wait, but you're gonna love it. Thorough some magic stroke of luck (I like to call it karma), we arrived at 6:15 on a Thursday night, and there was no wait. Soooo happy! We knew that the masses were probably on their way, so we got our order in quickly. Luckily, my very savvy friend knew exactly what to order. Soooo happy! We had: Spicy Hamachi Roll, Spicy Scallop Roll, Hawaii Roll #2, Hot Stuffed Mushrooms, Hot Stuffed Mussels. All were fantastic!! I especially loved the Hawaii Roll with the chopped macadamia nuts on top - very unusual. Soooo happy! There is one guy who makes the sushi, and one guy who makes the hot dishes. One woman serves all customers including the sushi bar. You can imagine how easily things can get bottlenecked. We got our order in just at the right time, before any of the larger parties ordered and after the other customers had finished. So everything came out quickly and we scarfed it down gleefully, with me making lots of nummy noises. Everything was so fresh and perfectly seasoned. Sooooo happy! With drinks, we made it out of there for about $25pp, and in less than 30 minutes, so within plenty of time to see our 7:30 movie in Japantown. Soooo happy! This is what I looked like upon leaving, as I made my way past the now-growing line: :) read more

I found it! Finally, a neighborhood sushi joint that I LOVE (not just like). The wait is long and even after you sit down it will take some time but I'll basically do anything for delicious food. Sushi Zone really deserves a better name. It sounds so genetic which is why I stayed away for so long. What a mistake. The delicious rolls, sashimi, and nigiris have me kicking myself! I first tried Sushi Zone two weeks ago before I went on vacation in Florida. My bf and I always have to get our sushi fixes before trips because it's so hard to find a good sushi place when you're traveling. We almost ordered every roll but here were some of my favorites: The Hawaiian #2 - is similar to the Hawaiian. It just depends on if you like albacore or tuna better. Huge macadamia nuts and mango pieces make this taste like you really are in Hawaii. So good. Papaya Unagi - This was just mouthwatering. I never thought papaya and unagi together but I'm sure glad Sushi Zone did. I know I'm ordering this one every time I come here! Spider Roll - The tempura was perfect. Sometimes it's battered too thickly or it's BREADED and fried (yuck!) but this one was light and crisp. The crab was so fresh, you could taste the guts and juices. I LOVE IT. Rainbow Roll - Each piece was wrapped with a beautiful piece of sashimi. That's awesome. Best rainbow roll ever! Spicy Scallop - The sushi chef cut nigiri quality scallops to mix into the spicy mayo for this roll. It was sweet, fresh and had just a hint of spice. The Sashimi combo plate was a great value too at just $20.50. I also tried the famous baked sea bass with mango. It was good but I'd rather have ordered more rolls! I was actually sad to leave SF the next day since the night before I found such a great sushi joint. The whole time I was away, I dreamt of Sushi Zone. I rushed right back after I got off the plane! read more

I'm conflicted. Well, I guess I'm always conflicted, but moreso than usual. I came here with a friend to celebrate our birthdays and we had done our research. We were careful to come early, we were prepared to wait, we brought cash since it's CASH ONLY. Even though we got there early we waited a completely bogus amount of time. The waitress estimated an hour, we waited a little over two and half hours to be inexact. They have a white board that you write your name on and the waitress occasionally checks to see if you're there waiting and circles your name so she knows who to call next. If she calls your name and you're not there...well then, you're SOL and you're name is taken off the list. I can't describe the torment of sitting outside of a restaurant in the cold watching tables get their food and savor it slowly. On this particular day there was a lady eating by herself and she was leisurely reading a book. She then had a few drinks and became friends with the people seated at the bar and started up a conversation with the couple sitting next to her. They got more drinks and chatted away long after they were done eating. I understand that it's awesome to make friends over dinner, but I'm HUNGRY!!! Anyways, after my little tantrum over book lady, she finally leaves along with the couple sitting next to her. Score! We had the opportunity to order while we were waiting so the wait for our food wasn't as long as I saw it take for other tables. We ordered both the mango sea bass and the baked mussels. They arrived at the table and looked almost exactly the same. I thought the sea bass would look more like a piece of fish, but it's placed over diced mango in a mussel shell and covered with sauce. The baked mussels were chopped up mussels mixed with sauce and baked into a mussel shell. They were both good, but come in a pair, so I felt like I wanted more. The sashimi appetizer was super duper awesome as well as the rolls and nigiri that we got. They ran out of some fish, which made me sad because I saw other people ordering and eating it, but that's how it goes. I think if I only had to wait 30 minutes, Sushi Zone would be a solid 4 stars. All the anticipation of food made my dinner seem not as good as it could have been, if that makes sense. I know it's not the restaurant's fault that they are popular, but it's honestly not worth such a long wait. If you pass by and the wait doesn't seem to bad, I'd say go for it! read more

Wowza I am immmmmmpressed with Sushi Zone. This is probably the best sushi experience I've had to date. If you get nothing else here you MUST try the baked mango sea bass! It was unbelievable, simply divine. We started out ordering some standard stuff but the waitress put us in check ASAP and suggested a bunch of their signature items which is how we settled on the sea bass to start. We also ordered the papaya and eel roll which was ridiculously good. I loved the combination of the sweet and salty. It was a real treat. This place is incredibly compact and seats next to nobody. We didn't have to wait too long but from what I hear that's atypical. I would be prepared to wait but trust me when I say you won't be disappointed that you did. read more

VLADIMIR: Words words. (Pause.) Speak. BOY: (in a rush). Mr. Godot told me to tell you he won't come this evening but surely tomorrow. Not sure what is worse, waiting for Sushi Zone or waiting for Godot... read more