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    The Spice Jar

    4.2 (492 reviews)
    ModerateAsian Fusion
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

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    THE SPICE JAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating

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    Spice Jar Fried Rice
    Rishi P.

    Great spot local on the corner for Asian food. In a nice quiet area and pretty good service. Not rushed or annoying like others to flip a table. They don't take reservations so go early as space is limited. Spring roll was hot and delicious and fried rice I couldn't stop eating as it wasn't too salty like others and soaked in sauce. I got chicken and shrimp and it was a good mix of meat and veggies.

    Wok Stir Garlic Noodle
    Ruhi S.

    I found out about this place through a recommendation but was thoroughly disappointed by the food. I am a lifelong vegetarian and ordered the Thai green curry and the vegetarian noodles from the limited vegetarian options. This is probably my 500th time eating green curry and I can say this was the worst. The green curry lacked depth of flavor and had no substantial vegetables. The noodles were drenched in what felt like soy sauce, it was one of those rare times where I felt "I can make this better at home." The service was good, after explaining that the green curry was not my best, the team brought out asparagus and green beans to add to the curry, which I strongly encourage them to add from the start.

    The Spice Jar Curry UDON
    Deni B.

    Great cozy area to get a variety of Asian comfort food. There's definitely something for everyone here! We started with the tempura Brussels sprouts. I was mostly intrigued because the menu mentioned curry salt, and they were just as good as I hoped! Pretty much everyone around my table got a different type of soup. (Although my sister ordered the Dan Dan Noodles, she was given a bowl of soup. When asked about it, they said it was Zen Noodle Soup which I didn't even see listed on the menu, even though I see it mentioned in many other reviews. They offered to make her what she ordered, but since we didn't have much time to spare she ate the soup and said it was great even if it wasn't what she expected.) My Spice Jar Curry Udon was incredible. It was flavorful, warm, and delicious! I had an iced green tea to go with it, and was so happy when I realized it included free refills. The ambiance in the restaurant itself was calm, but im sure they do great take-out too!

    Spice chicken salad, vinegary cucumbers attacting gnats
    Helen L.

    Went there a lot 5 years ago. Then prices went up , so not as much. I keep on going back to the spice chicken salad. The go-to. But this time i had so many gnats competing with me. I killed three. I think it was the marinated vinegary cucumbers that attracted them. They were swarming my bowl. I had to eat fast while swatting them away. If someone walked by the window, they probably think i have touretts, involuntary movement. I had no peace. Once o finished my bowl, no more gnats! They went away. Maddening!

    Garlic Aonori Fries
    Jenny X.

    What a fun hidden gem! I came here with a friend with no reservation and no line on a Thursday night. Good: - Loved the laksa noodle soup here - so much flavor and the coconut flavor was very pronounced and good. - The fries here were great and I loved the dipping sauce - Good place for a catchup - it was nice and quiet inside and good clean vibes that felt homey - Staff were so kind and willing to help! - Good value! Bad: - Took a bit for entrees to come out! Overall this was a great find, and tucked into a nice corner of the mission. I will be back!

    Goya's
    Alyssa A.

    Friendly service. FLAVORFUL food. Indoor and outdoor seating. Casual, intimate, open kitchen concept. Portions are huge and prices are fair! My favorite was the ramen. Everything tasted fresh. Good food for comfort and flavor

    Laksa
    Ria B.

    Walk into this cute little corner restaurant near Potrero hill and you instantly feel the vibes of a home kitchen. As mentioned before the space inside is relatively small so make sure you plan accordingly. Service was great! They took out orders promptly, kindly sat us down even though we had three more people coming, and kept an eye out to everytime we needed anything. The laksa was yummy however I feel like it could've had more spice to add more dimension to the flavor profile. Most of what I was getting was creamy and umami notes and although they gave lime I wish there was more punch or tang to the dish. The chicken was shredded thinly which was quite nice as it was swimming with the noodles and I could've used more shrimp but the tofu and over all dish was great nonetheless!

    Green curry and a delicious IPA
    Beth H.

    All of the stars I consider myself a green curry connoisseur. It is my favorite of all the Curry's and this place is now on my top of the mountain in San Francisco for Green Curry and be still my heart, but they also have an excellent IPA on draft. It doesn't get any better. Lovely cozy restaurant. I am seeing a show over at the brava theater and found myself starving before I am so happy to have found this place.

    Menu 05.31.23
    Vic P.

    The zen noodle soup was a great balance of lime flavor and spicy goodnes. The hosts were attentive and quick. Kitchen produced our order quickly. Food was hot, hot, hot and I LOVE that. Lots of locals and families filing in shows us this place is a popular pick. Small, quaint inside makes it great for an intimate date. Did I mention they serve wine?!

    Spicy Sesame Miso Ramen

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    Love this place! I've come here many times since moving to the city. Mongolian beef and garlic noodles are a must!!

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    4 months ago

    The past couple of times I've eaten here, I've ended up with a terrible stomach ache.

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    1 year ago

    Incredible food! Great service. Had the Mongolian beef & Braised short rib. Ginger lemonade was super refreshing.

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    1 year ago

    Good is clean. Crisp flavors, quality ingredients. Reasonable prices. Clean & bright. I'll be back!

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    Page 1 of 13

    Ask the Community - The Spice Jar

    Has this place changed ownership?

    Gluten free options?

    Yes, plenty.

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    Ox & Tiger

    Ox & Tiger

    4.9
    (138 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    $$$$

    Have you ever experienced something that while it was happening, you already wish it could be for…read morethe first time again? Filipino-Japanese fusion has been a tried and true combination, including my boyfriend and I's relationship (ba dum tss). However, Ox and Tiger have MASTERED the fusion aspect. Ox and Tiger is an intimate dining experience, with 8 seats, and gorgeous plating, menu, and cute chopstick rests! Comes with 3 courses with an additional 4th add-on. They also have a drinking menu, and they noted that the menu changes every 2 months (every even month!) EJ is such a wonderful story teller, and Hitomi (who created the menu for the month of May) had a great twist on everyday classics in Japanese cuisine. As the dishes were prepared and presented, EJ would tell the backstory on the dish(es), a personal note about each, and Hitomi's take on it to sweeten the deal. As soon as the experience starts, EJ tells us that the doors will be locked to prevent any distractions from outside (aka if you're late, you're outta luck), but we were encouraged to go outside for air if necessary. (I tried taking these notes on the food while EJ was talking about each dish so bear with me). ESL lunch The backstory was that Hitomi loved caesar salad while going to school in America, so she created a "perfect bite" with a Japanese twist to it. The word "gomoku" literally translates to "5 ingredients," to which I was only able to remember 2 of 5 of the vegetables, which were snappeas and roasted beets, with quinoa and tinapa (smoked fish). The fish that was used wae a cured Spanish makerel. T.A.M.M.Y I wish I remembered the words for this, but this is actually Hitomi's English name when she moved to the states. The acronym aspect was for the class at the time to think of ways to learn to like their name (each letter was a positive attribute and I can't remember what EJ said). The backstory to this was that Hitomi, being born and raised in Japan, was actually the biggest fan of California roll - did not like traditional sushi (or raw fish for that matter). - T.A.M.M.Y. is Hitomi's take on that. This was monk fish, with the fish scraps dipped into dashi sauce and kyuri (Japanese cucumber). In other words, no part of the fish was wasted in the making of this dish (in true Japanese AND Filipino fashion). This also had pinipig (granola-like topping glazed in shoyu) [Shoyu = soy sauce] Omiotsuke Now this is where I was blown away. First of all, I did not know what the hell this word was in English, but I watched every part of this dish being prepared and was even more confused when it was presented as dessert. When EJ started explaining, it made all the sense in the world. There is a tofu skin roll, vanilla ice cream, a mushroom topping, cherry miso compote concoction (this is where I butchered the exact creation - this is where the flavor was distracting me from what it actually was). Did you notice the ingredients? What is one thing one will eat at any Japanese restaurant, almost as a courtesy/complimentary item? Omiotsuke is, as polite as one could possibly say, is miso soup. This is Hitomi's take on miso soup, the flavor was spot on. I never thought to pair dashi-like flavors with ice cream (there is already shoyu with vanilla ice cream, but this was a flavor sensation). EJ was so kind when my boyfriend and I admitted we came for an anniversary, and we even got to see his reaction when we said we were also Japanese/Filipino (I'm also an Ox, but no Tigers here). They took this lovely photo of us to commemorate the evening, which sits on our fridge to this day. Again, gochiso-salamat :) to EJ and staff! We hope to come back soon.

    First started as a pop-up in 2018, Ox+Tiger offers Filipino/Japanese fusion cuisine inspired by the…read morelives of the two chefs behind the kitchen. Situated in a small, 8 seat counter, dinner is intimate with dishes being prepared right in front of you. The menu features three courses, an appetizer, main, and a dessert - with the option for an additional add-on. Our meal featured a focus on fish, in particular mackerel and monkfish. Each of the dishes were deconstructions of familiar concepts such as Caesar salad and a California roll, but enhanced with new flavors. The mackerel was sublime, perfectly charred exterior with a still raw interior. The monkfish was tender, coated in a ginger, wasabi sauce next to crispy sweet rice and avocado. The dessert was by far the most unique, being a miso dashi, mushroom cherry coated coconut ice cream with a tupig-like mochi on the side. The savory, sweet, sour combination completely catches you off guard but becomes increasingly addictive the more you eat. So bold and absolutely memorable. Ox&Tiger takes familiar concepts, breaks them apart, then fuses them back together with a flair of Filipino and Japanese flavors. This results in dishes that are utterly unique and innovative. Additionally, with menus and playlists designed by family, this truly feels like the epitome of a family-run business and a meal cooked with so much care in front of you. This is absolutely worth a visit and an opportunity to try new flavors you've never experienced before.

    Photos
    Ox & Tiger
    Collabs only
    Collabs only
    Hey hilla!

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    Hey hilla!
    Do-Re-Mi

    Do-Re-Mi

    4.8
    (84 reviews)
    0.7 mi

    I usually don't repeat restaurants that soon, but I had Do Re Mi three times in one week!…read more Do Re Mi was inspired by the three kids of the sweet owners, Judy and Ivan. I first visited their Mission location and ordered the sushi bake + chicken rice. The sushi bake was flavorful. Then I happened to be back in the area midweek, so I returned for the beef rice dish and a few onigiris. During the Chinatown Night Market, I stopped by their Chinatown location, which just opened this month Safe to say this spot will be added to my regular rotation.

    I came here at the recommendation of a friend in the neighborhood, and honestly, my thoughts about…read morethe place so far are that the food and experience were average. Everything about the ordering process and the quality of the food itself was good but not great. There was no wow factor or anything that left me feeling extra motivated to return, but I also wouldn't be opposed if I were nearby and craving onigiri. There's a single kiosk in-store to order at, but you can also place an order with the person working the counter if it's not too busy. I wasn't sure what I wanted immediately, so I waited for one of my friends to finish before ordering. I added 1 unagi eel, 1 unagi onigiri, and 1 crab onigiri to my basket and checked out. I have absolutely no idea what's the difference between "unagi eel" and "unagi onigiri", and when I went to pick up my order, the staff member told me my order was two unagi and one crab. However, I was charged $4.50 for the unagi eel and $4.30 for the unagi onigiri, so go figure. I could not detect a difference between the two, and the price of each averaged out to $4.40, so it's whatever. I unwrapped one of the unagi onigiris to eat in-store as we waited for a Zoox to arrive. It was actually pretty difficult to extricate the seaweed and rice ball filling in one piece to consume together, which I presume is because the onigiris are each made-to-order and due to the freshness, the separate ingredients haven't had a chance to marinate and congeal together. As I had not eaten all day, I quickly devoured the onigiris before and after our short ride back to a café where some of our other friends were waiting. The onigiris were, as I mentioned before, pretty standard minus the fact they kind of fell apart. I would say if you like onigiris, then these will get the job done, but they're nothing exceptional, so keep your standards at baseline.

    Photos
    Onigiris so yummy
    Onigiris so yummy
    Taiwanese Pork Onigiri ($3.80)
    Taiwanese Pork Onigiri ($3.80)
    Taiwanese pork onigiri, salmon onigiri, honey chrysanthemum tea

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    Taiwanese pork onigiri, salmon onigiri, honey chrysanthemum tea
    Kothai Republic

    Kothai Republic

    4.6
    (471 reviews)
    3.1 mi

    I'm truly heartbroken to hear that this restaurant has closed and even more so that I didn't get a…read morechance to visit one last time in it's last days. I've dined here more than a handful of times and every visit was memorable. Sung and his team consistently delivered exceptional food, every dish was solid and clearly made with pride. You could taste the quality and it was consistent every single time. Beyond the food, what always stood out was the hospitality. Sung genuinely made an effort to connect with his guests, remembering faces, checking in at the table and ensuring everyone felt welcomed and valued. He made sure you had a good experience and you could tell he cared. One thing I've learned on my food journey is this: follow the chef. When you find someone who pours heart into their craft, you support them wherever they go next! Looking forward to whatever Sung does next. I already know it's for sure going to be just as good!

    Kothai has been one of the Inner Sunset's most delicious and innovative spots for the past few…read moreyears, so it's truly bittersweet to be writing this farewell review as they head into their last day of service. Even before this most recent visit, I'd enjoyed intimate dinners here for its creative, Korean-Thai-inspired menu that always packed an impressive punch of flavor but, dare I say, the brunch might be even better. The steak sandwich was absolutely phenomenal, with the steak seasoned and cooked to perfection and pairing beautifully with the charred onion aioli, plus a side of expertly crisped smashed potatoes that were so addicting. The steamed mussels were sumptuous and packed with umami, and I loved the two large bricks of toasted sourdough focaccia that were perfect for sopping up every last bit of the delicious dashi broth. But the pièce de résistance was the custard French toast, which I can only describe as the love child of bread pudding and tres leches cake as it was crispy on the outside but uber moist on the inside, custardy, and simply divine. Kothai will be deeply missed in the neighborhood, but I'm excited to see what's next for chef/owner Sung Park and will be first in line for whatever future project comes next.

    Photos
    Crispy kimchi fried rice balls
    Crispy kimchi fried rice balls
    Crudo
    Crudo
    Kothai Republic

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    Megan’s Table

    Megan’s Table

    4.5
    (94 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    $$

    Great choice! I was going back home last evening and... you…read moreknow when you want to treat yourself after a long day? Well, I decided to look for something different than my usual favorite food and I decided to go to try some Cambodian food and I picked this lovely little spot in Ocean Avenue, so far away from my house. It was my lucky day, the food was delicious, fresh and made from scratch with a glass of great white wine and , SO IMPORTANT to me a lovely service, starting with a warm welcome smile from the owner and then with the outstanding kind service at my table from the young gentleman named (I think) Ethan. Now this little gem became one of my destinations. Great job beautiful people at Megan's Table!

    this cambodian-thai spot is best accessed via transit (K). it has a handful of tables and the…read moreambience is a cosy restaurant x bar vibe. service is fast. best of all, the prices are extremely reasonable and affordable for the portions and quality! we got the (ranked in order of my preference): 1. cha kroeung ($15): huge portions and the ground chicken was very flavorful 2. crab fried rice ($20): not bland like a lot of other fried rice, would have been my favorite if the crab wasn't cold 3. mango sticky rice ($8): delicious, I only wish there was more 4. pumpkin curry ($15): a little sweet for me and the pumpkin was kind of hard 5. khao soi with grilled beef ($20): not enough sauce, some parts of the beef were chewy

    Photos
    Inside, beautiful
    Inside, beautiful
    Loc Lac $15 (shaking beef)
    Loc Lac $15 (shaking beef)
    Roti ice cream $12

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    Roti ice cream $12
    Dumpling Story

    Dumpling Story

    4.5
    (470 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    We simply loved this place. The wait wasn't long, despite it being packed when we arrived. The…read morestaff was amazing. The place is small. They have packed in as many tables as they could in here. Yet it didn't feel crowded or like we would bump someone if we breathed. The food. That's what it's all about right? This place delivers. Every thing was as good as the last. They have a pretty extensive menu I wanted to try it all. Sadly I had to settle for Hot and Sour Soup, Wonton soup, Pork Xiao Long Bao 8 Pcs, Chicken Xiao Long Bao 8 Pcs, (8Pcs) Pork Dumpling with Sesame Sauce and Red Chili Oil (6Pcs), Numb & spicy pork Bao, Green Onion Pancake, (Sweet) Red Bean Paste Pockets. We had it family style. The 3 of us shared it all. There was plenty to go around. None of us left hungry. I can't even pick a favorite. Maybe the numb and spicy which wasn't that spicy. It was just so good and flavorful. The soup dumplings were amazing. So much perfect flavor. They held together until the bite. So good. The hot and sour soup was plenty tasty. Not the best I've ever had but certainly among the best. The only thing I will say is that one of my companions can't have seaweed. The wonton soup was amazing but full of seaweed. It wasn't listed on the menu and we have never had seaweed in any other wonton soup so didn't know to ask if it could be left out. That was sad. All she could do was have a tiny spoon of the broth to taste it. The green onion pancake was very good. The red bean paste pockets use the same dough but filled with sweet red bean paste. They were a perfect way to end the meal. Next time I'm in the city I will visit again. Loved it all. It was worth taking the time to visit and eat there.

    Dumpling Story is what I've heard to be Dumpling Home's aesthetic counterpart (sister restaurants)…read more The interior is definitely aesthetic, featuring a bright, modern, minimalist exterior. Menu is relatively the same as Dumpling Home featuring my faves like the numb and spicy XLB and the sheng jian bao. Both very delicious! The remainder of the dishes we got were also good. I will say the green beans left me wanting a bit more from it. But overall, my party had a nice, fulfilling meal. Dumpling Home will always be my favorite (still prefer it a TINY bit), but because there is less of a crowd, service was amazing! I definitely wouldn't mind coming back considering there the difference in wait time to Dumpling Home.

    Photos
    Dining room
    Dining room
    Juicy pan fried pork bao
    Juicy pan fried pork bao
    Pan fried pork dumpling

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    Pan fried pork dumpling

    The Spice Jar - asianfusion - Updated June 2026

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