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    Tokyo Express

    3.6 (260 reviews)
    ModerateSushi Bars, Japanese
    Closed Closed
    Updated 2 weeks ago

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    TOKYO EXPRESS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise

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    Rainbow Roll (with just tempura, there's not avocado)
    Matthew C.

    [IN A NUTSHELL] daily specials, cute shop, ok pricing [VERDICT] - APPROVED [RUN-DOWN] This is a cute little shop near chinatown sf.  My mom said that a lot of people come here for lunch and that was apparent as we got there right before the lunch rush (around 12:15 PM). So if you're planning to come, maybe come before 12 or the wait may be a little longer than usual. I also like how they have specials for each day of the week which you can rotate if you come here on a more frequent basis. [SCORE & ORDER] OVERALL: 3.5/5 Caterpillar Roll $12.50 (4/5) -This roll actually surprised me and maybe it's because this had avocado on top (still the tempura in the middle). The flavor is what a normal caterpillar roll would taste like. And maybe I liked this more because there was avocado, but other than that, I would recommend getting this roll. Rainbow Roll (Daily) Special $18.49 (3.5/5) -rainbow roll & 4 pieces of nigiri -This was a special of the week. I was sort of disappointed with the amount that that was given. You can clearly see in the picture with the weekly special that there is no shrimp, all fish. Yet, when I got my dish, there were two pieces with shrimp. The quality of fish was also not up to par. The first bite I took out of the hamachi was room temp? and not cold which was sort of concerning to me. But the other fish was fine so I'm not sure what happened there. The salmon was pretty good, not as buttery as I hoped I would recommend getting it but maybe to go? Since the place is called express. Oh another thing is that I think they have been cheating out because my impression of most sushi rolls is that there is avocado and imitation crab in the middle, but here it's all tempura... which is a HUGE disappointment. Chicken Katsu $12.99 (3/5) -deep fried chicken with rice -Nothing really special about this dish. I think the chicken katsu had the crisps to it and is edible. I would get it if you are the type that doesn't like raw fish. **We also had the miso soup and that was so good! So make sure to see if you can get that with your meal :D [SERVICE & ATMOSPHERE] (not reflected upon review score): The meal took a little longer than usual and it might've been the fact that we came during lunch rush hour but other than that, the waitress was super nice. They didn't really check up on us but we didn't need much. Tables are smaller so I would not recommend this place if you have a bigger party. [TIME STAMP] NOVEMBER 2023

    Vegetable rice noodles with egg all over the place.
    Juan J.

    I ordered the vegetable noodles and it came with egg all over the noodles. I am vegan and had to throw it away. And it smelled like wet dog too. The staff's personality was on the short side but maybe because it was closing time. They are not what they used to be before the pandemic, when the restaurant was four times bigger in size and the service was respectable. So long, another of my favorite restaurants has gone down the tubes.

    Salmon teriyaki
    Robert K.

    Have been coming to Tokyo Express for over 20 years, and the quality and taste have never changed. The portions are decent compared to other Japanese restaurants in downtown SF. The service is always nice and friendly because the owners are behind the counter, and they know how to take care of their customers. As long as I'm working in downtown FIDI, I'll continue coming here.

    Alaskan Maki & Spicy Tuna Roll (Monday Special)
    Shannon P.

    We go here for convenience. The chicken teriyaki and salmon teriyaki are the best things to order, unless you get a very simple roll. The sashimi isn't the greatest grade of fish and doesn't seem fresh. The gentleman taking orders seems new so it's best to very clear exactly what you'd like. The website is very outdated so here are better pictures of the menu. Honestly, I'm on the hunt for a better sushi place in FiDi.

    menu
    Jeff H.

    Tokyo Express, back in the early 2010's, used to be really popular with a line during lunchtime. Some of my old co-workers used to enjoy coming here. Business has sure when downhill since the pandemic. There was only one other table occupied at lunch time on a Wednesday. The staff was really busy however packing up to-go orders. I had their Wednesday special, the tonkatsu $13. The pork fillet was a bit dry and not juicy, tender and properly cooked. The panko had a nice crunch. It did come with an alright tonkatsu sauce. With this dish, it should come with shredded cabbage served with a miso-ginger dressing or Japanese sesame dressing, but it didn't come with it. Since this is not an authentic Japanese restaurant, I didn't knock off stars for that. Service was non-existent as this is an order at the counter style restaurant and no tea or water was served. There was a free cup of miso soup and my food came out in a reasonable amount of time.

    "Baked " sushi on top of the Tiger Roll
    Ajalon W.

    Came here last Friday and everything was great so I came back and I ordered a tiger roll which indicates the salmon is baked . It is in fact not baked but looks like it's torched and only at the top the bottom of the salmon was still completely raw . when I called to inform them in hopes of remaking it so I can enjoy jt I kinda felt like I was being gas lit the lady said "it's (the salmon ) not cooked well done we don't cook it like that. I said but it says baked salmon the bottom is completely raw , she said maybe you ordered the wrong thing , you don't eat raw sushi I tell her no , she says again we don't cook it well done " I just said ok . It's unfortunate because I thought I found a new spot to eat lunch at but I realize that I wasn't going to get any where in the conversation and didn't want to go through the process of the refund to my credit card so it's a lesson learned but it's very false advertised

    Beef Teriyaki
    Alina L.

    Portion sizes were good for the entrees! I ordered a beef teriyaki plate that was served with rice and miso soup on the side! Originally was planning to order some sushi too, but the entree filled me up! I think the beef was cooked and seasoned well - was actually pretty tasty!

    Chicken udon
    Cynthia P.

    I'm back at my go to Financial District Japanese restaurant. Their food is always solid and taste great. My favorite is their chicken udon. I love that they use grilled chicken in the soup, unlike other Japanese restaurant that use broiled chicken. The flavor is great and service is quick. It is a fast casual restaurant which you pay at the counter.

    Unagi Donburi
    Sarah L.

    Ordered the unagi donburi ($14) takeout for lunch on a Thursday. Service was fast and got the food after about a 10min wait. The portion was generous for the price and the food was edible but would I order it again? Probably not. I had plenty of unagi donburi before and this is not the best one. First of all, if you are looking for high quality fish, this is probably not the right place to go. The frozen unagi I brought from Asia markets is better in quality than the one here. The eel here is really thin and the sauce is too sweet and thick for my preference. I got the white rice but you can substitute for brown rice. The rice is well cooked but it's not the good quality Japanese rice. Comparing to other unagi donburi I had before, I like that this place is very generous on the veggies. It came with pickled radish, carrots, broccoli, and cabbage as well as a side salad, a pan fried egg and a miso soup. This is a good place to go if you are looking for cheap Japanese food in the area but don't expect the quality to be good.

    Dragon Roll
    Angela L.

    This place is always pretty busy during lunch time. I gave it a three stars because the portion is really small although the food tastes good. Food: Dragon roll 3.5/5 Eel, avocado, and crab meat Chicken soba 4.5/5 Perfect for a cold weather! It has tofu, seaweed, and fish cakes in it. It also comes with a side salad and edamame. What a great combo! The only thing is that some chicken breast is burnt:( Double salmon roll 3/5 Really tiny double salmon roll... I wouldn't recommend. California roll 3.5/5

    Tokyo Express, Sacramento Street, San Francisco

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    10 months ago

    Fair and reasonable price and good portions for lunch. Honestly just very solid lunch food. Nice service as well

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    3 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    2 years ago

    I came back and had the rainbow roll special. It was delicious thank you . I'll be back.

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    3 years ago

    Always fresh ingredients. Always good service..and great price! Owner and staff are welcoming!

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    5 years ago

    We got the chicken teriyaki and chicken katsu. They were both ok. However the food arrived onsite and we appreciated that.

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    3 years ago

    This is my go to during the work week. I usually take lunch 1 to 2 days a week. Fresh, very affordable, clean and comfortable.

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    Page 1 of 7

    Tokyo Express Reviews in Other Languages

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    Onigilly - San Francisco

    4.1(675 reviews)
    0.2 miChinatown
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    Brief Summary: - Ordering is done on the kiosk upon…read moreentering (there are 2) - Can also order online - Outdoor seating consists of 2 tables and chairs, not much space inside This is one of my favorite lunches to go when I am craving Japanese food. I love the variety of fillings they offer that sing Japanese cuisine. I also love the balanced amount of rice and filling, all wrapped in a kimono styled migiori fold. It's very artistic upon first impression. My usual portion is 2 riceballs with protein fillings and the small poke bowl. When I'm not feeling poke bowls, I'll swap this with a third riceball. This fills up in a content way. Favorite fillings - Ume (sour plums) - baked salmon - hijiki (a type of kelp) - tempura shrimp

    Service was real fast! Order from a kiosk and you'll have your order within minutes even if there's…read more4-5 people ahead of you. I got 5 onigiris for myself and my parents. LOVED that all of them were packed with filling. Snow crab - yeah this is a favorite for a reason! My parents LOVED this one. Unagi- our second favorite. Very flavorful and lots of unagi! Mayo tuna - this was alright! Nothing too special but it was good. I felt I got tired of the flavor pretty quickly though. Mushroom - so tasty! But kind of on the salty side. If I were to go back, would def go for the crab and unagi again !

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    Onigilly - San Francisco - Over 20 kinds Onigiri and many side options!

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    KUSAKABE

    KUSAKABE

    4.6(1.2k reviews)
    0.1 miFinancial District
    $$$$

    Finally had the chance to dine at Kusakabe for my birthday…read more My boyfriend reserved us the omakase dinner with a sake flight for me and a wine flight for him. We really enjoyed our chef Mika who was attentive, skilled, and just over all added to our experience. The waiter/busser paid attention and maintained our area with cleanliness. The fish quality was amazing, fresh, and unique. There were a few items that were prepared uniquely and differently from what I've had at other places which I appreciated! My boyfriend who can eat the same meal 100x actually enjoyed the experience. Cannot wait to go back!

    Kusakabe creates the kind of dining experience that feels carefully designed from the moment you…read moresit down. We walked into a refined but welcoming space where the sushi counter is the main focus, and the meal unfolds course by course in front of us. There is a sense of calm throughout the room, allowing the attention to stay on the chefs, the ingredients, and the details behind each dish without the distraction of a busy dining room. The omakase experience balances traditional sushi with more creative touches. Each course brings something different, from fresh sashimi and nigiri to warmer dishes like chawan mushi that add depth to the progression of the meal. The sushi highlights the quality of the fish while incorporating thoughtful flavor combinations, with dishes like scallop and the dry-aged fish courses standing out for their texture and seasoning. The sake pairing fits naturally into the experience, adding another layer without overpowering the food, and the sommelier's selections complement the progression of flavors across the meal. What makes Kusakabe memorable is the craftsmanship and pacing of the meal. The chefs take time to explain each course, making the experience feel personal rather than rushed. Sitting at the counter adds to the atmosphere because you get to see the precision and care that goes into every piece, from the way the rice is formed to the final brush of sauce on the fish. The pacing of the meal allows you to appreciate each course without feeling rushed, and the team's attention to detail creates a rhythm that keeps the meal engaging from start to finish. Kusakabe feels like a place made for special occasions, celebrations, or anyone looking for a more elevated Japanese dining experience. It combines technique, hospitality, and creativity in a way that makes the entire meal feel like an event rather than just a dinner. The balance of traditional and modern elements, along with the warmth of the service, leaves you with the sense of having experienced something complete and thoughtfully composed.

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    Shoji - Cheese fries

    Shoji

    4.2(580 reviews)
    0.5 miFinancial District, SoMa
    $

    A friend of mine told me about this place so she reserved a table for us. The place has a cool vibe…read morewith the music playing in the background and the inside is nice. They have seating inside and in the patio area which is heated. We arrived on time but had to wait a little bit before getting a table. We sat in the patio area and they had to turn off the heat because it was too hot. Better to be too hot than cold. We ordered a couple drinks to start and they brought us waters as well. For our appetizers and entrees which we shared were french fries, UNI AMAEBI DONBURI, PORK JOWL, and the SHOJI BURGER. The fries came out first and were cooked perfect crunchy, and the sauces that came with it was a nice addition. The Uni Amaebi Donburi came second and it was really good, light, fresh, and overall delicious. Too bad it was a small dish with a big price. The Burger came out afterwards and it was delicious. The burger was cooked perfect, and the cheese flavor was very tasty. It was a great burger. We didn't order desserts so that will have to be next time. The service was really good because they were really busy. I would recommend reservations. The price is a little high so be prepared. i'd still come back to try other dishes because the food and service was excellent.

    I have been wanting to try Shoji for a while now, but haven't had a chance to as the buzz when they…read morefirst opened was crazy with long lines. I finally got to try it and walked in on a Saturday right at opening for a party of 2. We waited probably about 15 minutes and were sat in the back patio. The interior space was beautifully done and looked very elevated. The back patio also looked nice, but definitely gave off a different vibe. The service was great, no complaints there. Everybody was super nice and attentive. The food also came out fairly quickly. What we ordered: - Donburi ($53) - 5/5 - Pork Jowl ($28) - 4/5 - Akazu Fries ($10) - 3/5 - NA Cold noodle mocktail ($18) - 4/5 - NA Dashi Apple mocktail ($15) - 5/5 - Shoji Burger ($28) - 4/5 - Ceviche ($25) - 4/5 Total after tax/tip - $236.50 Objectively, the food and drinks were pretty good. Our favorites were the donburi (of course) and the dashi apple mocktail. Some cons: - how expensive it was for the amount of food. Some reviews mentioned the donburi was tiny (which it was) - no bigger than my hand. - Almost all the dishes we got were finger foods but kind of hard to eat. The ceviche with the nori chips would fall apart. The dark nori seasoning got all over our hands and was difficult to get off with just the cloth napkin. The shoji burger was covered in cheese which we assumed was finger food since they didn't offer any knives. The donburi was filled to the top in this bowl which was small so you have to be very careful scooping out. In addition, the seasoning from the seaweed was a bit oily as well. Maybe offering a wet wipe or napkin at the end of the meal would be a nice touch. I guess it was a bit confusing given the elevated / upscale vibe it was giving off but could improve in the small details. Not sure if I can say I recommend or not but would be willing to give it another chance. Perhaps try the experience inside instead.

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    Shoji - Uni Amaebi Don: Soy marinaded raw sweet shrimp, santa barbara uni, ikura, soy marinated yolk ($44 +$3 nori)

    Uni Amaebi Don: Soy marinaded raw sweet shrimp, santa barbara uni, ikura, soy marinated yolk ($44 +$3 nori)

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    Sanraku

    Sanraku

    3.9(2k reviews)
    0.6 miLower Nob Hill
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    the reviews about the food brought me to Sanraku, But what…read moremade me love eating there was the service. A+

    According to what I wrote on Yelp, I had a decent meal at their sister restaurant in the Metreon…read morewell before it shuttered, like over a decade ago. My meal apparently wasn't memorable enough to motivate me to visit this location, that is, until quite recently. I decided to have lunch here after a nearby medical appointment. It wasn't crowded at all. Only a couple of solo diners and a loud senior couple. I wasn't in a sushi mood and thought I'd go healthy with the saba shioyaki. However, at the last minute, I went with the $19 Ika Yaki, a whole BBQ squid sliced and saturated in teriyaki sauce with a dab of shichimi mayo (Photo 8). The portion was generous and the texture was firm with enough elasticity. Unfortunately the teriyaki sauce did nothing to enhance the dish, and I wished they served it on the side. I also ordered the $8 Agedashi Tofu, usually a foolproof appetizer for me. It certainly looked right (Photo 9), but I was unpleasantly surprised how tongue-burning hot it was. The cubes of tofu must've just come right out of the deep fryer. The dashi broth helped calm the heat down but a little too late. I'm sure glad I sprung for the $3 bowl of Rice (Photo 10). That calmed what was left of my tongue down. FOOD - 3 stars...execution errors mar the dishes here AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...spacious enough since it was empty, sushi bar seating was available SERVICE - 3.5 stars...attentive enough TOTAL - 3 stars...not my favorite Japanese spot RELATED - Exploring the Tenderloin? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/hu44dWMabs

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    Muracci's Japanese Curry & Grill - Katsu Curry

    Muracci's Japanese Curry & Grill

    4.0(1.8k reviews)
    0.2 miChinatown
    $$

    Stopped by when I was in SF only a couple minutes walk from BART and ordering online was super…read moreconvenient since their website accepts Apple Pay. I ordered the vegetarian curry with tofu and broccoli at the medium spice level (~$17). The spice level was exactly as described and the curry itself was flavorful. My only small complaint is that I wish the vegetarian curry came with a wider variety of vegetables. I was surprised it didn't include potatoes which were an additional charge. The portion size felt fair for one person I had enough to have leftovers for dinner. I do wish the price was a little lower since it's a takeout-only spot, but considering the area, it seems pretty in line with what you'd expect to pay in downtown SF. My partner ordered the chicken katsu curry and really enjoyed it as well. Definitely worth checking out.

    Overall, it was an alright spot for a quick lunch. The Japanese curry was decent--nothing…read moreparticularly memorable, but it hit the spot if you're looking for something simple and filling. A curry katsu dish cost $20 before tips. One downside was the customer service. The woman working the counter came across as unfriendly and didn't seem very welcoming, which made the experience less enjoyable. Also, keep in mind that this is strictly a grab-and-go place. There's no seating available, so you'll need to plan on taking your food elsewhere. If you're just looking for a convenient curry lunch, it's fine, but don't expect much in terms of service or dine-in atmosphere.

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    Muracci's Japanese Curry & Grill - Inside, takeout with a small area on the right to eat

    Inside, takeout with a small area on the right to eat

    Muracci's Japanese Curry & Grill - Katsu curry with rice and pickles 9/14/23! Yum

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    Cute art wall

    Tokyo Express - sushi - Updated September 2026

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