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    The Roll

    4.7 (126 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Sashimi flight
    Sophia H.

    First time at roll to celebrate a birthday, and it was an absolute hit! The quality and freshness of the fish was incredible. The service was exceptional-- the server checked in multiple times and made sure our waters were always filled. I've always opted for salmon at restaurants but this place has converted my tastebuds to try other types of fish. The sashimi flight had bluefin tuba kami, bluefin tuna chu-toro, hamachi and salmon. Each bite was better than the last and absolutely melted in my mouth. Each slice was a thick cut. The hand roll set and sushi rolls were also incredible with a good rice to seafood ratio. Beautiful ambiance with a lofi vibe-- perfect to catch up with friends or have date night

    temaki
    Tiffany Y.

    I've gone to The Roll several times now and it's always a hit. I've tried their kaisen dons and individual rolls previously (both dine-in and takeout) and they're all stellar. Their fish is always fresh and high quality. This time, we were there at happy hour (between 5-6 pm) and ordered their $5 temaki hand rolls. I got one of each: spicy tuna, kombu-jime salmon, snow crab, and hamachi. I recommend them all -- they're all unique and mix between savory, sweet, indulgent, and light. I will definitely visit again. Service is always fast and attentive. Typically, there is no wait as the restaurant has a lot of tables/seating. The Roll is a great place to catch-up with someone over some amazing food.

    House-made Karaage
    Shizuka T.

    Went by for a quick dinner after we dropped off our luggage at the nearby hotel. For its price and quality, 5 stars. Service was very quick and it was a very casual, relaxed vibe. I liked that the karate didn't have a thick batter like most places and you didn't feel oily and gross afterwards. Nigiri pieces were not stingy and I could t get over the fact that this $9 uni tasted better than the average $20 uni at most places!!

    Lunch Special
    Bryan K.

    Found this gem on Yelp as the restaurant is fairly close to our hotel. Had the lunch special along with another sushi roll. The flavors are excellent, the serving portions are generous considering the prices, and the service was impeccable!! So happy to have found "The Roll"!!

    Hokkaido Hotate Nigiri
    Vinkin Ken T.

    They have their own ordering app. I used a $10 off coupon I found on this Yelp page. Had it delivered and they use Uber. Ordered the The Moriawase Kaisen Don which came with: Dry-Aged Bluefin Tuna(2pc), Konbu-Jime Aged Salmon(2pc), Hamachi(2pc), Fresh Scallop, Ama-Ebi, Snow Crab, Unagi, Tobiko, Veggies and an order of the Hokkaido Hotate nigiri all for about $60. I like the variety of the sushi in the bowl. It was enough to share for 2. For delivered sushi it was not bad. It also came with some nori sheets.

    Strawberry mochi, rice pancake dessert
    Wendy G.

    Wow, what an incredible dinner! Amazing customer service and the food is incredibly fresh and delicious!! The chef is so passionate about his restaurant and the food. So much care goes into everything, from delicate yuzu sauces to house made fermented soy sauce. It was my partners birthday and the he made a surprise birthday treat that was so good!! We will definitely be back!

    Eric Joseph D.

    I came here for happy hour with an old co worker and it did not disappoint. The 5 dollar hand rolls were really good and the 9 dollar high balls complimented the hand rolls really well. The server was also really nice and it's very comforting and welcoming in here. I can't wait to come back for lunch or dinner!

    Menu 1/23/26
    Allena C.

    We had an errand to run in the downtown area, so we checked out The Roll for lunch. It was around 12:30 pm on a Friday and there was only one other table occupied. Interior decor is modern and minimalistic. The service was friendly, yet professional. Background music playing was relaxing. It felt a bit high-end though the menu had a good range of affordable offerings. ***OUR PICKS*** CHIRASHI BOWL ~ Tuna, salmon, hamachi, snow crab, vegetables, ponzu aioli sauce. ~ $24. I enjoyed this assortment of fish though it was more like a poke bowl than a chirashi. The fish were diced up and not in slices. Other than fish, there was avocado, edamame beans, shredded carrots, seaweed salad, sliced ginger, and freshly grated wasabi. Ponzu sauce was a bit salty for me, so I only sprinkled it on the plain shredded carrots. I actually felt it wasn't necessary to further season my bowl. It was a decent amount for lunch to fill me until dinner time. 4/5 CURRY N KAARAGE CHICKEN ~ Japanese Fried Chicken and Beef Curry Rice Bowl with Salad. ~ $22. Fried chicken and curry were flavorful, but nothing spectacular to write home about. The curry reminded me of the cubed curry sauce you can get from Asian markets. Something you can do yourself. However, it was a filling meal. 3.5/5 5 PC SET TEMAKI (FLIGHT HAND-ROLLS) ~ Spicy Tuna, Snow Crab, Salmon, Hamachi, Scallop + Seaweed Salad. ~ $32. Tasty hand rolls! Every bite tasted fresh and yummy. 5/5 Chill spot to have lunch. Though there wasn't a lunch rush even on a Friday at noon. Maybe you can unwind with some sake, wine or beer after work. But if you'd like a peaceful place to grab a bite during lunch, the roll could be it too!

    Wendy C.

    Came here for lunch with some friends and so we all ordered different things and honestly, everything was really good. Usual street parking for SF. Bathroom is shared with the other businesses but kept clean and no line. Single bathroom. Small inside but brightly lit with large window exterior. More modern than traditional feel. Not much to say but that you can't go wrong with anything honestly. Good fresh fish, rice was perfectly seasoned (DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO DIP ANYTHING IN SOYSAUCE!). food came out in a beautiful presentation.

    Happy hour salmon skin salad
    Quynh Nhu D.

    I'm really into temaki so when I came across pictures of this spot I gotta visit. Walk in about 10 minutes after they open and was surprised with a happy hour menu. All $5 for a couple of options for temaki, inari and some appetizers. Decided to get all of the $5 temaki and one inari plus a special temaki. The service was quick and very attentive. She kinda read my mind The snow crab inari came out first. It was good and a decent size. Each of the HH TEMAKI was pretty nice. Maybe the nice is a tad bit more vinegary than I preferred but it still was a pretty good deal. Though the size of these can't compare to my favorite temaki place in the world: Kazunori The amaebi and uni hand roll was also pretty good. I can't say no to uni Salmon skin salad was ok. Crunchy but maybe too much dressing They got a decent amount of seating and it was pretty quiet so definitely would recommend coming for an early dinner during happy hour 5-6pm for some good deals

    Ally W.

    There are few places in the city that offer great sushi for lunch. Sometimes you just have a craving for good sushi at 11:30AM, ya know. The Roll offers several weekday lunch specials. The sushi here has a good balance of fish, rice, and seasoning. They season their own sushi so you do not need to use soy sauce, which is how it's supposed to be. They also use brown rice for their sushi, which I like...but feels too healthy or "very SF" to others. Here is a list of what we got and enjoyed: * Snow crab temaki * Bluefine tuna toro temaki * Hamachi temaki * Chirashi bowl lunch special * 4-piece nigiri lunch special * Kombu-jime salmon roll * Bluefin tuna roll Everything tasted fresh and clean. I was not super full, but was super satisfied with my lunch.

    Inari
    Lisa N.

    My friends and I grabbed a quick bite before heading out for a show. the restaurant is kinda small but very dimly lit and intimate. Staff were very attentive and polite. He gave us a heads up that the kitchen was closing in 25 minutes so we quickly browsed to place our order. I ordered 3 pcs inari + bluefin tuna toro inari. Omg so freaking good!! Fish quality tasted fresh and was sooo yum! Also, ordered myself a spicy tuna temaki (hand roll) which was perfection!! I wish I ordered more. Server made a new spicy tuna temaki for my friend because she forgot to mention no masago egg on hers (on the house). So sweet and thoughtful!! To end the meal, we weren't set on dessert but when my friend said she never had basque cheesecake. The staff came back and surprised us with a small slice of complimentary basque cheesecake. Wow so wonderful!! Thank you. It was like a creme brûlée cheesecake. So smooth. Overall, we all had a lovely meal. Highly recommend!

    Konbu-Jime Salmon Roll Lunch Special
    Caroline L.

    I had my doubts when I first heard about this place but it was absolutely delicious. I got the lunch special (which I think is a great deal). We got The Moriawase Kaisen Don and Kombujime Salmon Don. Everything about it was so delicious. The fish was fresh, there was a good variety, the rice was flavorful, and the seaweed as nice and crispy. The service was also very good. They were very attentive but not overbearing. They gave us extra miso soup that was hot. The place is also clean and there's a good amount of seating. We went on a Saturday afternoon with a reservation but there were still a lot of tables left when we were there.

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    2 years ago

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    Jay J.

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    2 years ago

    Great service and amazing food. Their soft opening was nice and the staff were very friendly. Definitely will be coming back!

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    2 years ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 years ago

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    Ask the Community - The Roll

    Hikari Sushi & Bar

    Hikari Sushi & Bar

    3.9
    (566 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    It is such a fun place for the whole family. The restaurant itself is situated across the main…read moreJapan town mall. Once entered, you are greeted with a cute statue, great for little ones and adults. We got seated pretty quickly at a booth. Different from traditional sushi conveyor belt place, you don't see pre-made dishes around. Instead, each table/spot comes with a screen for placing orders. You can pick up to 4 dishes each time, then added to cart. When your dish is coming, you see the light flashing, then a nice train carries your happiness over. Once unloaded, you push a button and wave bye bye to the train departing. Yes. Super fun for kids. I ordered some sashimi, tofu salad and some sushi. They are super fresh! Service is fast, consistent and friendly. My kids enjoyed goyza, soup, onion rings and some cooked sushi's. We would love coming back again. I can see this to be our go to place in Japan town.

    Katsu meal: 6/10 -- breading fell apart and lacked the classic panko crisp and flavor. i would have…read moreliked a little curry with it instead of the side salad Handrolls: 8/10 -- the sushi was really good and fresh. I liked the fun experience of our hand rolls arriving on the bullet train as well. We got the spicy salmon, deep fried tuna, and rainbow. Clean space and conveniently located near lots of shops in Japan Town. Service was minimal but good. Overall a unique and fun experience for those who have not been to bullet train sushi restaurant! my entree was kind of mid for the price though so I would probably recommend opting for the sushi or bento box combos.

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    A Shinkansen delivers your sushi a few minutes after you place your order! It even sounds a little like the real deal! :)
    A Shinkansen delivers your sushi a few minutes after you place your order! It even sounds a little like the real deal! :)
    Hawaiian Roll
    Hawaiian Roll
    Green tobiko

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    Green tobiko
    Ganji

    Ganji

    4.6
    (631 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Free WiFi

    What a gem amongst all the restaurants in Japan Town! It's in the outside center near the…read morestationary store Paper Tree for reference. Been here a couple of times already and the service never failed. Even came here during the Cherry Blossom Festival and the staff were still friendly / accommodating. They even put a spicy sauce on the side of one of the katsu plates when we mentioned that my dad couldn't handle all that haha. This cozy spot mainly focuses on katsu plates, but I like how they had off menu or specials to choose from if you'd like another option. I will say though them katsu plates were just chef's kiss. The meat is pounded thin enough where it's still juicy and tender, but doesn't affect the exterior from being crunchy and a bit flaky. Nothing was dry here yallll! I also like how it already comes with miso soup and salad. Huge fan of that Hamachi Truffle special though. Think of a citrusy flavor from the ponzu, fresh fish, a bit of micro greens, and a thin slice of jalapeño that just ~works~ on a cute wooden spoon that you want to steal I could honestly eat like 5 spoons of this. I'd skip on the calamari as it was kind of skimpy to share with a large group. Only note was that their fried katsu curry was a bit underwhelming with having more slices of carrots than potato! Would love to come back if I am ever in the area.

    Ganji is a solid spot for katsu in Japantown! The service was excellent--the staff were friendly,…read moreattentive, and quick to take our orders, which made for a great dining experience. The miso soup was a delicious way to start the meal, and when my katsu arrived, it looked amazing. The meat was hot, tender, and the portion was huge, so I definitely left full. My only suggestion is to ask for the curry on the side if you like your katsu extra crispy. I had the curry poured over it, and the breading got soggy pretty quickly. The only reason I'm giving four stars instead of five is the price. My dish was around $30, which felt a little expensive, although I can understand it given the quality of the meat and generous portions. Overall, it's a great place if you're craving katsu, and I'd definitely come back--just with the curry on the side next time!

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    Ganji
    Ganji
    Ganji

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    Yuji

    Yuji

    4.7
    (86 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    Came here to celebrate my husband's birthday and thoroughly enjoyed our Bar Kappo experience! This…read morehas definitely made my top 3 omakases I've tried in the Bay Area so far. The restaurant can be a little hidden, but it's pretty easy to find with the instructions they send before your reservation. It's located above Fermentation Lab. Just head up the stairs and you'll find it inside the old Ichi Pub space. The restaurant is small and intimate, with only 9 seats at the counter. When you arrive, walk through the Yuji curtain and check in directly with the chef since there is no host. My biggest concern with set menus is always whether I'll feel satisfied and full afterward, but that was definitely not an issue here. My husband and I were both very satisfied after the meal. Every dish was delicious, and you could really taste the quality of each ingredient. Highlights for me were the bluefin sashimi, which was so buttery and soft that it literally melted in your mouth. The skillfish was rich and decadent, and the citrus and ginger balanced the flavors. The fried fish was another favorite as it reminded me of the savory Japanese rice crackers I loved growing up. Since it's located in Japantown, parking can be challenging. We had to loop around several times looking for street parking and even had two cars take spots we were waiting for, so definitely give yourself extra time before your reservation. I would highly recommend this place! The chef changes the menu periodically based on what's in season, so it's a great excuse to come back and try something new in the future. Total spent for 2: $462

    Really hidden spot with no signage -- we had to ask neighboring restaurants for directions, but it…read morewas absolutely worth finding. The chef was incredibly warm, smiley, welcoming, and attentive throughout the meal. Every ingredient tasted exceptionally fresh, with careful selection of only the best cuts and portions. Highlights included the otoro, wagyu beef, spot shrimp, caviar, green eye fish, and hotaru ika. The omakase was perfectly portioned and thoughtfully paced from start to finish. A truly memorable experience.

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    Bar seating
    Bar seating
    Chilean sea bass with piece of truffle and pickled ginger on top
    Chilean sea bass with piece of truffle and pickled ginger on top
    Matcha crème brulee

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    Matcha crème brulee
    Domo

    Domo

    4.0
    (1k reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    I was really craving sushi, so I decided to stop by Domo and it definitely did not disappoint! The…read morerestaurant was clean, organized and you could actually smell the fresh food before even walking through the door. They also offer both indoor and outdoor seating, which is a nice option. I started with the miso soup and it was delicious. For sushi, I ordered the Crunchy California Roll, Dragon Roll and the Domo Roll. Yes I was that hungry haha! Every roll was packed with fresh ingredients, the fish tasted incredibly fresh and the presentation was beautiful. My absolute favorite was the Domo Roll. Seriously no kidding, it was so good! To top it all off, the staff were friendly, welcoming and made the experience even better. I'll definitely be coming back.

    Small sushi restaurant in Hayes Valley. I needed dinner before a show. As a party of one, they…read moreseated me at the sushi counter of this tiny place. Specials are on the mirror. I ordered the sashimi salad, charred salmon nigiri and the sea bass nigiri on special. Omg. The sashimi salad was beautiful. Thick pieces of sashimi were on top of the wonderful variety of greens. A generous portion for one person and I probably didn't need much else. Loved the nigiri especially the charred salmon. A bit of a kick with the shredded of pepper on top. And the sea bass had a hidden piece of perilla. My tummy was satisfied and happy. Can see why this place is so popular. I'll be back

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    Domo
    Castro Special Roll @colorful.eats
    Castro Special Roll @colorful.eats
    Crab and cucumber salad

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    Crab and cucumber salad
    Tenroku Sushi

    Tenroku Sushi

    3.7
    (596 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    Saw they had sushi belt and got so excited! We were quickly seated and started taking some plates…read moreof sushi available. There was a large variety of sushi so we tried a few different rolls and pieces. I also ordered the Devil mountain roll off of the menu. They told me it would take a while which was fine but I instantly regretted after how much sushi I got off the belt. I would stick to either sushi on the belt or sushi on the menu otherwise it's easy to get too full. Plus, the Devil mountain roll was massive! I was only able to eat 3 pieces and had to take the rest home. The one thing I wish they did was label the sushi on the belt with what type of fish or what the menu item is called. It was not always easy to tell what roll is what which made it confusing sometimes. Even simple tags in front of the rolls would be helpful.

    Fun, efficient, simple. Nothing to add…read more I've been to a few conveyor belt, boat-sushi type spots in Japantown and I always end up back at Tenroku! Is it the best sushi ever? Not quite. I think expectations are usually low when going to these types of spots but given the quality and price, it's actually pretty surprising. I usually stop by for dinner on weeknights. It can get busy sometimes but I've never waited more than 10-15 minutes. Service is quick and friendly. The goal is to get you seated and taken care of right away. Once you sit down, it's game on. Chefs are busting out all different kinds of dishes for you to try. They also take requests if there's something on the menu you'd like to try. I love not having to commit to a roll and being able to try a ton of different things. Admittedly, I keep coming back for the seared walu. The plate color lets you know the price of what you're getting. Most plates come with 2-4 pieces and run from $3 - $8. I can make this dinner as cheap or expensive as I'd like!

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    Tenroku Sushi
    Spicy tuna
    Spicy tuna
    Shrimp Tempura Roll

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    Shrimp Tempura Roll
    Oma San Francisco Station

    Oma San Francisco Station

    4.3
    (354 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$$$

    Tucked away in the west entrance of Japantown, in an inconspicuous spot behind all the bustle of…read morethe stores is this hidden gem of an omakase experience. With only 8 seats, the experience is intimate, you get front views to the chefs preparing each of the 24 courses! The fish selections were fresh, delicious and the apps were amazing too. The reviews were great so wanted to come and check this place out for myself and it did not disappoint! Chef Au was friendly and talked to us about his life in Japan, we loved the interaction. All in all 10/10 experience, 10/10 quality of all the dishes and 10/10 ambiance! Definitely worthy of the Michelin accolades it's received!

    Oma San Francisco Station is an omakase restaurant inside Japan Center in San Francisco Japantown…read more They offer 3 menus: Mizuho with 24 items, Sakura with 16, and Tsubame with 12. The location is unusual, as the restaurant is open to the mall, which is a bit disruptive. I came for the 8:30pm seating, but the previous guests were still finishing, so I had to wait until 8:45pm. The staff did not seem very concerned. Bad start. You could also hear the mall cleaning crew during dinner, which was not very pleasant. I ordered the 24-item Mizuho Menu, as did all the other guests. There were 5 guests in total (the restaurant can seat up to 8 people). Here is the menu I was served at the end of May: 1. starter: ama ebi cracker with caviar, pickled lotus root with shaved bonito, crab salad 2. nigiri 4x: isaki, iwana, myabi tai, kanpachi 3. sashimi: chutoro, hotate with caviar, umi masu, sawada 4. nigiri 8x: hirame, suzuki, inada, kurodai, shima aji, kamasu, otoro, aged A5 wagyu, kinmedai 5. hot dish: miso soup with inari and shrimp head, hokkaido uni with marinated ikura, black cod, umi masu with raw yellow egg and caviar 6. dessert: matcha ice cream with strawberry Frankly, the food was excellent. The starter was not very creative, but the nigiri were great. The sashimi selection was very nice, with some fish you do not see as often in omakase menus, such as isaki, iwana, and myabi tai, a kind of tai. Sawada was delicious and is always a good inclusion. We asked for some wasabi and received a small cup of kizami wasabi, a chopped wasabi with a slightly crunchy texture, which was a nice touch. For the nigiri, all the classics of a good omakase were present: otoro, kinmedai, shima aji, uni, hotate, and wagyu. Kamasu was also included, and it is one of my favorite fish. It is also worth noting that they age both their beef and their tuna, including the otoro that was served. A few pieces were torched, maybe a few too many. Overall, the service was not memorable, although chef Ron Au was friendly and nice. The place itself felt a bit questionable, and my expectations were not very high after the beginning of the meal. But the food was truly excellent, and for that reason I think it deserves 5 stars.

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    Oma San Francisco Station
    Starter
    Starter
    Matcha ice cream made in house

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    Matcha ice cream made in house

    The Roll - japanese - Updated July 2026

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