This is our place. It's kinda pricey--if you drink sake. Otherwise the rolls are very reasonable. We sit at the bar. JoJo rocks my world. The guys who make the rolls are so nice, they treat us really good. What can I say? I love them. We went here when we got engaged. We went here when we got a promtion, we went here for various b-days..this is our celebration spot. It's also the place we go when we just feel like sushi. It's a good nite out. The place has a good vibe..it feels like a hip cool place that you dohn't mind eating in for 2 hours....slowly eating delish fish..and gooood sake reccomened by JoJo. I hope you don't go here, cause you are probaly stealing my bar seat. No matter, I'll wait at 821 till the hostess calls and enjoy every bite. mwah. Tsuanmi you rock my world! read more

Its really good and creative but extremely pricey that gets its 3 stars. Where do the next 2 stars come from? As I sat waiting for my food at the sushi bar my stomach started growling. "errrrrr arrrrrrr grrrrr. feeeeeeeeeed meeeeeeeeeeee" I don't think anyone else, including my dining companion next to me, heard. But my eyes spotted a large pile of nori for making the sushi rolls a top the sushi counter. The Hapa ( I am hapa too :) ) sushi maker must have seen my puppy dog eyes begging for some to tide my awaiting stomach over. He said "help yourself." I took one little slice not wanting to take advantage. He replied "take more. as much as you want." My stomach responded "THANK YOU! I LOVE YOU!" The restaurant rejoiced! read more

I have a secret crush on pretty much every waitress here. I mean god damn they're fine....and are great at sweet-talking you into another carafe of unfiltered sake (not that i need much convincing). This place had 5 yelp stars written all over it until the check came...6 benjamins for 7 peeps means that i will probably frequent red box a few more times before coming to this place again....and will stick to meeting ladies the old fashioned way. Oh yeah - the sushi is also pretty good. read more

I think there are two scales you have to evaluate places on as far a sushi goes. The first scale is the quality of the sushi, the second scale is the atmosphere. For a long time I thought Tsunami hit the ball out of the park on quality, and had great atmosphere, but you just couldn't justify the crazy prices. I've changed my mind. The prices are high, but they're worth it. Tsunami has the best fish in the city. It's my new #1 sushi restaurant. read more

One of the sadder trends in SF is style over substance. I will gladly trade away decor or attitude for good food, but that's a relative rarity these days. The fish was pretty fresh, but a good chunk of your bill will be for loud trendiness and SF-standard designer decor. read more

I came here after Yoshi next door at Corkage Wine and Sake got me drunk on a sake tasting. I couldn't resist the happy hour, which features half price sushi and bottles of sake until 7:30. The rolls were beautiful and absolutely delicious. Atmosphere is really hip, too, which is what I suspect you are paying for to some degree. The boyfriend and I had 8 rolls - that's right - and a bottle of sake and the bill came to $50! Impressive in my book. For the sushi, there are other places around that I like, but this is solid and you can't beat the happy hour prices. read more

Foods: 4-star (small amount) Price: 2-star ($80-$120 for 2) Service: 3-star Atmosphere: 4-star Temperature: 4-star Brightness: 2-star (very dark, hard to take a picture) Table: 4-star Cleanness: 4-star Bathroom: 3-star (very clean) read more

One of my best friends dragged me into Tsunami practically against my will, and i LOVED IT! Since then I've been trying to go back, but can never find it whe I'm in the neighborhood... This is ridiculous, because some mean-spirited people refer to me as GPS-Girl for not being able to get lost in the Moscow alleys... But this place has eluded me, and as anything fundamentally unattainable Tsunami has grown more magical with time. I have blurry memories of a dark hip interior, really very good sake and orgasmic sashimi! read more

I went here for a friend's birthday and it was a very awkward experience. The place in itself seemed overtly pretentious which is kind of what I feel is a result of the neighborhood it's in. It's trying to scream Sex and the City when you walk in... but as the experience lingers on you maybe wonder if you might have needed more foreplay. The menu had some interesting items on it (their fries... I forgot what they are specially made of... is good) and other stuff. It's your typical Japanese restaurant. But you know what, for being in the industry one and two for being a bitch myself... a bitch can sniff out another one. Our waitress was kind of rude and just blatantly inattentive. I don't know if we didn't dress like we were old enough and she assumed we were some spoiled assholes having a drunk sweet 16, but really it was inappropriate. Or maybe it was the fact that we wanted to sake bomb? We did anyway... it's called Tsunami after all! But anyway, for the experience this place gets nothing... the two stars go for the execution of their food. read more

Tsunami dinners tend towards the expensive, and as such they've actually become the currency of bets in the Benjy S/Rick C/Trisha W household. It speaks well of the restaurant, and poorly of their prices, but admittedly a large part of the cost is due to the inevitable sake sampling. Great sake selection, (though I'd always like to see more unfiltered sake), medium to good sushi. The decor and atmosphere are pretty chic, and it's only if you look closely that you can remember that this used to be part of the coffee shop next door, and that a very clever rennovation/lighting job have been carried out. read more

Great staff, decent rolls and really tasty drinks. More fusion than traditional, but definitely a fun place to visit. read more

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I went here last night with some friends. The sushi chef was very friendly and was helpful on helping us pick out our food. Jojo, the bartender made us a really really good cocktail with cucumber. I must say it was delicious! :) The manager was also very very cool Adachi! He not only gave us some complimentary food but also had a shot with us. :) The ambiance is very romantic...good to bring your date. However I went with my two friends. hahaha Sushi is fresh and I would recommend Tsunami to everyone. I will try the Tsunami closer to my house soon. read more

What a let down. I came here with my boyfriend for dinner after work. First when I walked into this place I was surprised by how small it was. Even so the hostess stared at her computer seating screen for 5 minutes before trying to stick us between two strange couples at a long shared table...."Uh no thanks, we'll take the bar." Then my boyfriend spotted a cozy little table in the corner by the window but we were told that it was a four seater and they were saving it for a group of four that was supposed to come in. At some point during the dinner I turned around to see a couple sitting there. Argh! The sushi was really not all that great. We got 4 rolls and I can't say I really liked any of them. The plum wine was pretty good, but it was a tiny glass. Our total bill was around $100 for two people. I think this is crazy for four rolls, miso, and 2 glasses of wine. The food wasn't even good. I've had cheaper and better sushi. So not worth paying for the vibe of this place. read more

This place is GREAT... love the wall of SAKE... All the sushi was excellent; as was the unfiltered Sake... There were also these mountain yam chips that were just absurdly good... The ambiance is great, with dim red lighting and a lively atmosphere... I had a blast here and it really wasn't too expensive... Probably the best time I've had eating Sushi in SF! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND TSUNAMI read more

I've lived around the corner from Tsunami for about 8 months and have always been reluctant to go in. I am kicking myself for waiting so long! The food here is really fresh and inventive. Really worth the price, although the rolls look a bit on the small side - the flavor combinations are perfection. The ambiance is very sexy and the service is good. This is a great place for out of town guests, a date or a celebration. I wouldn't suggest it as a place to bring your folks, only because the music was a bit loud - guess it depends on how hip your parents are! We ordered miso soup (awesome), a special app - jalapenos stuffed with crab and cheese that were so good, and three rolls (can't remember their names, one was a special). We were happy with everything. The total w/o alcohol was about $50 with tax and tip. A bit spendy for two people, but again worth the quality, in my opinion. Note: not recommended for Saki bombs - the place is too klassy. read more

Really cute lowered seating areas, I love the ambience at tsunami. I went there for happy hour, which I highly recommend. Classic rolls, hand rolls, and bottled sakes are half off until 7pm. Order a handful of rolls and a couple bottles of sake for the table. I guarantee you'll have a good time. read more

I love Tsunami! I've spent a lot of money here. Great, comfortable space and fantastic food. Check out the magic mushrooms, tempura shrimp roll, and volcano roll. Yum. Go at Happy Hour to get half price sake and rolls, rock. Service is not great, in fact I can't think of a time I've ever actually been overjoyed with the wait staff. I'm especially not digging their side-mullet crew serving as of late. Seriously, wtf is up with the side-mullet. It's not attractive. On ladies or men. You heard it here first. read more

My go to sushi spot cus it's in my neighborhood, never need reservations, cute ambiance, and great sushi. Two thumbs up. Only thing to note is it's a little pricey - $20ish per role... not sure if that's average for sf? Left 4 stars bc there's been a couple times I've been in here and the sushi chefs overkill the rolls with spicy mayo and forget drinks but I think it's bc they're always busy when I'm in. Overall, sushi is fresh and good! read more

Tsunami Panhandle - Tsunami Signature Rolls - Papa San - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

In my opinion, the best sushi in town...You pay the price though as eatin ain't cheap here...But you'll leave with great sushi. Service has gotten worse over time, I have to say, perhaps as a consequence of the owners opening Nihon and Tsunami falling to the backburner....What was once a selling point to the sushi bar is now becoming one of it's criticisms. Decor is great as it's a chic lounge for sushi tucked away off of Divisadero. Look forward to trying Nihon eventually but for now, I have yet to find a better quality sushi in SF. Addendum: Recently have been back twice and I have to say that I have to, sadly, pull my recommendation...Great sushi, as always...But the service has gotten noticeably worse and worse...To the point, that I don't care to return...Used to be my fav place in the city...Who knows, perhaps in the future they'll reorganize read more

Excellent service, excellent food. I like the bar vibe. If you go after the dinner rush you can just get drinks and hang out. Open late. UPDATE: As of March 2013 I have probably eaten here about 20 times, at least. The only downside is that the seaweed salad is small and they put it on a plate of shredded lettuce. I haven't seen this anywhere else. It is still good, I just always feel ripped off. Another downside is that sometimes the wait can be over an hour, however the cafe next store has appetizers, sake, wine on tap, and plenty of beers to tide you over as you wait - plus if you stick around I don't think it ever takes as long as they say. I also did my first oyster shooter here recently and that was fun. read more

Oh, how the mighty have fallen. I went in the other day. The food was still amazing, but the waitress and everything else was bad. All I know is lots of things were going wrong and I heard a lot of excuses about how someone was new, or didn't do something, or whatever. Lots of excuses. The place was much noisier than I recalled. I had to shout at my dinner companion across the communal table. We made the mistake of accepting the waitress' suggestion we have a little more food. There was a good 25 minute wait for that second round, much longer than the first round of food. The worst part was the kitchen staff seemed to think it was hilarious to periodically crank up the music to ear-bleeding volume for several minutes before returning it to merely loud. They used to have wonderful ambient music. This night, it was over-played hits from the 50's, which reminded me of Mel's Drive-In, only Mel's has good service costs about 80% less. Not good, Tsnunami, to be second fiddle to Mel's. read more

Here goes my lazy review. Good neighborhood joint. Good location, 3 blocks from my place, decent sushi, and groupon deal. Yes please. I didn't order any drinks so I didn't try it but they sure looked delicious. Ordered: Miso soup-$3 save your money. Chef special sashimi- 8 price $32- not gonna lie- it's overprice for its portion. 3 /4 of the fish was delicious. Spider ish role- forgot the name-$14 Normal as you expect. Salmon roll-$13 lots of sesame seed oil and a hint of citrus. Add a tad of soy sauce and it works. Soba salad-$7 Salad w sauce mix with soba noodle- add a drop of soy sauce and I wanted another bowl. read more

Open til midnight, the sushi masters are still making fresh sushi at 11pm. We didn't have to make a reservation for an 8:30pm on a Monday. Great quality. 'The abnormal' roll has a fabulous kick to it and the magic mushrooms are great warm starters. Great drink selections too. Highly recommend the Yuzu 75 - a gin and Yuzu liquer based drink. The omakase sashimi was tasty too with a great freshness to the fish read more

great chef! Waitress! and Food! Don't forget about the SAKE!!! What else do you need.... AugustuS read more

Scorpion Rollllllll! So, so good. The service is great. Getting a bottle next door at Corkage pre-dinner is worth it, if you haven't made a reservation, and the staff is very helpful in making your selection....the samplers are fun (especially if you're not exactly a sake-pro....) Look up. The attention to design at Tsunami is appreciated...The space can get tight, but hey, sushi's cold. The body heat will keep you warm. read more

I like to visit Tsunami for dinner early in the week when it isn't that busy. I treat it more as my neighborhood sushi spot after a busy work day rather than a going out on the town meal. I think it gets very busy on the weekends so I have always avoided those nights. I can see why crowds would be drawn to the trendy atmosphere and bar selection for a weekend outing. My favorite way to enjoy a meal here is at the bar. The bartender is very attentive and thoughtful and she gives good beer and whiskey suggestions. They have an excellent selection of whiskey and if you come during happy hour there is a bargain beer on draft. They have several really fancy rolls and the hamachi shitake was very good but my favorite thing to do is just order a bunch of the simple maki. read more

Hamachi kama, mmmmm! Get there early they run out of hamachi kama, no mmm! read more

They may consider retracting the claim that their Spiders Roll is one of the largest in the city - because it's clearly not. But, one doesn't go to a place like Tsunami for the thrill of cheap rice and deep-fried laden quantity. I remember really liking Tsunami when I first came here for my 18th birthday long ago, and I still do. The service is attentive, the rolls are good, and add to that, the uni spoon was pretty good too. read more

Tsunami Panhandle - My first uni spoon! - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tsunami is a remarkably beautiful experience every time that I come here. Their staff is warm, inviting, and informative (thank you Mario!), and their sushi and sake selection is divine. Order the Chirashi bowl; It is truly inspired. The balance of flavors in this dish is an art form not to be tampered with. Leave the soy sauce behind and savor every last bit of this masterpiece. read more

So good! In fact let's say "exceptional". Quality food and drink. Well worth finding in the NOTPH!

I sat at the bar and was served by a guy who didn't speak much english, however he was funny as hell. Any time I would ask him what something on the menu was (like a special) he would speak incoherently then point his knife and say, "Isa very goot". BTW - he was doing this kind of comically (not threatening us at all). After tons of sushi, tuna, and drinks (the staff joined us for some shots throughout the night), i left stuffed. They had more toro from different species of fish than i had ever seen & it was all delicious. Make a reservation and don't be late since this is a small place. Dark and lots of fun - it is perfect for a date or with a fun group of friends. To this day, my favorite sushi place. read more

I've been to the attached cafe quite a few times and I never gave Tsunami a try until this past week for happy hour with a couple of friends. I was missing out big time!!! We sat at the sushi bar, which I recommend doing because you get hooked up with free stuff. The chef, I forgot his name really presents the dishes well, you'll know what I mean if you come here. Let me just say everything was fresh tasting and hella good. The only thing that I didn't like was the hamachi kama being small portioned, fried, and not having dipping sauce. I tried: hamachi kama fried tofu both dish (Off the hook!) salmon, halibut sashimi uni (not funky tasting!) a couple of hand rolls salmon & tuna carpachio (free!) dessert (fried cake, frozen strawberries stuff with cheese and oranges) Once again FREE! read more

My best friend from Guatemala was visiting and the first night she was here we both had a huge craving for sushi. Thankfully I'd heard there was a decent place around my neighborhood. Never did I expect this place to be as delicious and fun as this place! We ended up there on a Saturday night at 8:30pm so obviously it was packed and a waiting list as long as Santa Claus' gift list (ok, I'm exaggerating). We put our name in and literally 5 minutes later the hostess sat us at the bar! In the future I definitely will make reservations in advance because I doubt I have that much luck next time. To start off with, our bartender was amazing. She recommended a nice hot Sake to start out with and then we ordered the food. LOVED the 1974 roll! It had amazing bursts of flavor and the Sake nigiri was incredibly fresh also. My friend ordered the Volcano roll and said it was very tasty. This is a great place to come with a small group of people or just one date, as long as they're fun and don't mind being a little loud because people are talking left and right. The lighting is very "loungy," which I really like. Don't need a huge amount of light for everyone to watch me stuff my face with sushi, thank you. read more

How would I describe Tsunami? Crowded, trendy, non-traditionalist sushi venue. As mentioned by other reviewers, this place gives off a night-club feel. It can be loud and reservations are definitely recommended. The price is a bit steep, but they have some interesting fish selections on the menu. I was not disappointed with the rolls that I ordered. Yet, the bill at the end of the night made me glad that I don't plan on going back soon. I would say that this is a nice date location or a place to come with friends if you want to people watch and lounge. Not exactly a big fan, but to each their own. I've been here once before with a girlfriend several years ago and the service and experience were much better. read more

Amazing sushi experience albeit a little pricey. I think my husband and I dropped three bills easily on a night out but it was worth it (not something I usually think especially in retrospect!). read more

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- Great atmosphere - Some 20 beers on tap! - Yummy sushi - Good miso soup - Affordable, but by no means discount, expect to pay $30 pp - VERY knowledgeable and helpful waitstaff read more

Seriously, this place is lame. When I recommended this place to my friends, it was 5 stars. All the reviews were awesome, and I thought, "Hey, this is my new sushi place." NOT. Worst dining experience ever. Bad service, forgotten orders, overpriced, etc. Don't bother. read more

So I've been lingering around Yelp soaking up the good advice... and decided that it's time to contribute. Tsunami here I come. I came in for a happy hour rock'n'roll and left full of sake, it was awesome. I've never seen a sake list to rival a Napa valley wine list. I'll be back, maybe even for a more adventurous roll. read more

Our meal here got off to a great start with rock star parking right across the street. Usually the amount of time spent parking has a 1 to 1 relationship with my mood as I walk in the restaurant, so we were doing great. One star already. (yeah, it's like writing your name on your SAT forms gives you 200 points. Or is it 400?) Firs tthing I noticed was the huge number of sake bottles lining the wall. Being a sake neophyte, I asked our waitress what she would recommend, and she gave some great suggestions! I know other reviewers said this place gets super loud, but even though it was packed (8pm on a Friday night, I never found that I had a hard time hearing my date.) This place has great people watching potential too- eye candy on the floor and on your plate! Sushi/sashimi was great....only one dessert (mochi) which was just eh..but overall, I'd definitely go back for a splurge. It's definitely pricey- (about the same as you would pay at Blowfish, but without the pounding visuals and snooty staff. read more

Tsunami is a cozy, dimly lit place with a nice bar in the background. I had my birthday dinner here with about 8 folks and we were seated by the window on some comfy couches. Our server was very nice and patient, despite how loud and rowdy some of us got. Yeah, some of us... We started out with some edamame bowls because you can't have sushi without edamame damnit. Only thing is that sometimes people forget that the bowl which they are tossing the eaten ones in is also the bowl where they are reaching for uneaten ones. Yeah. You get it. Regardless, it was a bit hard to decide which items to choose on the menu because everything looked good. And I was impressed by the sake book they had. A sake book! Good lord. I had a sake sampler and it was served in a organized little server accommodating 3 sake "shot" glasses. I know they're not shots but we drank them like that anyway. Needless to say, the evening livened up a bit. We ordered a variety of rolls and sashimi, all which were very nicely presented and tasted as good as they looked. Great sushi here, no complaints. Oh and I'm sure you want to know about how the restrooms are. No worries, the restrooms here are clean, which is another plus! :) I'm sure the bill wasn't too pretty since often times drinks will always hike it up like a short skirt. However, I brought a $15 cozmocard to ease up the pain a bit. If y'all are wondering what that is, google it! I bought a stack of cards for this year and it's a great idea. You can't find $15 on the street. I do recommend to always call ahead for reservations; they have a very nice website. It's too bad they're closed on Sundays. All in all, a great dinner here. I'd gladly come back for more... read more