Can't beat this little hole in the wall, one man show, delightful sushi room. Can't beat the quality (freshness) of the fish, can't beat the price, can't beat the graciousness, attentiveness and skills of your host/owner/sushi master/server, Mamuru. Small place indeed, but you'll be greeted with warm Japanese hospitality if you call ahead and respect Mamuru's answer to your request. We've been waiting 40 years to write about Wayo. We knew Mamuru as one of the sushi chefs at Nikko's and have been fans of him since then. We highly recommend this experience and specifically the Sashimi, Nigiri, Rolls menu. Your satisfaction is guaranteed as long as you call ahead. read more

For some years now, usually around holidays, we've ordered a big selection from Wayo Sushi to bring home and share with friends and offspring home for the holiday. It's always been great and all gone before you know it. These photos are on our front room coffee table -- we kind of messed up his artistic arrangement of the big platter, but you get the picture. A great local spot well worth supporting. read more

Wayo Sushi - Ready for our friends! - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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- cozy interior with reservation needed - tofu salad was fresh, savory, and delicious - nigiri was yummy, and my roll was delicious, the food was overall amazing and did not disappoint read more

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Made a dinner reservation for 4 this past Wednesday evening and it was delicious! The prices are so affordable and the service by the sushi chef is fantastic -- please support him! It's a smaller restaurant so there aren't too many seats inside and you have to call ahead to make a reservation. My friends got the omakase and a couple of rolls and I got a rainbow roll, cucumber roll, and toro roll (special fish of the day). Such high quality fish for such a good price! Highly recommend. Also, the cucumber & toro rolls came with a little bit of wasabi so ask for it without wasabi ahead of time if you have a low spice tolerance like me! read more

Wayo Sushi - Rainbow roll, cucumber roll, toro roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I first heard about this place through word of mouth from friends, and it kept popping up on my social media, so I decided to give it a try! Entirely operated by the owner, indoor dining is available by reservation only. My boyfriend made one for us early in the week, and we were able to get a Friday spot. I recommend arriving at the restaurant on time (not too early, definitely not late). I saw one party arriving 15 minutes early and having to wait, as well as another party arriving late (to what extent I'm not sure) and being turned away, because the owner can only serve a limited number of guests at once. As we had plans afterward, we wanted to be safe and just assumed the service would take longer than a typical restaurant. However, the service was a lot quicker than anticipated! The ambiance inside was very cozy and homey. Music was kept at a nice, low volume, so you can actually enjoy conversations with your companions. Here is our order: Omakase Sashimi: My boyfriend's order. Came with six kinds of sashimi along with salad (seaweed salad and cucumbers) and ginger. Omakase Sushi: After a long search for a place in town that serves authentic, high-quality sushi at reasonable prices, I have finally found my spot. This set included seven nigiri pieces, 1 roll, miso soup, and salad, all for $30. The quality of the fish was incredible, and I savored every bite. Fatty Tuna Rolls: One of my favorites! I was lucky enough to come across it. It was not officially on the printed menu, but was listed on the whiteboard inside, so definitely look out for specials! Dynamite Rolls: My boyfriend's pick, as he is a fan of spicy rolls. They were past my spice tolerance level, but tasty nonetheless! I left this place feeling very full and so satisfied. As much as I want to gatekeep this place to myself, I cannot help but rave about how great the food was here. I will definitely be back again. read more

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I just came back from Japan last month and this was better than any sushi I had when I was in Japan, and the sushi I had in Japan was better than anything I had in the US until I came to Wayo Sushi. The owner is a Japanese artist. This is the full Japanese experience and the best sushi and wasabi I have ever tasted and I have been everywhere. ごちそうさまでした。とてもおいしかったです。 read more

I've increased the stars on my review solely on the fact that I could eat three to four of the delicious Sea Fairy Rolls and call it a day. Also, my last review was not as nice as it should've been. This sushi restaurant is still run by the same couple. Inside there's a cute diner bar. I would recommend calling ahead if you can, so that the owner/chef knows you're coming. You may have to knock on the door. read more

Came here for my birthday dinner with a friend. You have to call for a reservation (only up to a day before) because they do not take walk-ins. There's only a couple of tables and some bar seating. The seating never gets quite full, which I assume because it's just one guy taking orders and making all of the food to allow him to prepare each meal with care. He's so friendly too! We truly felt taken care of while dining here. I got the omakase sashimi, which came with miso soup, and my friend and I split a tuna roll as well. All of the fish was so fresh and tender -- the quality here is apparent and stands out! You won't find a better deal for omakase in the city, this was amazing. My favorite was the salmon sashimi I had, just the thickest and most tender pieces of fish I've ever had. Treat yourself to a nice meal and come here! read more

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How have i not been here .... it's sinful. As a marina gal and avid foodie, my buddy made rezy last min and boy what a treat. i was hesitant to write review bc i selfishly don't want this place to blow up... but the one man operation - is not only skillfully astounding, but also also deserving of a bow--- and many more customers to admire his talent, low key vibes, yet high quality fish and very reasonable prices. did i say fast service ?! this man is a gentle robot. this is going to be THE sushi spot now. read more

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Came with a friend to try out this restaurant! My friend had called prior to make a reservation. The service was great! The ambiance was also nice with a traditional feel. The seating area is a bit on the smaller side, but very vibey! There were cute children's drawings on the wall as well! My friend got the omakase sashimi, while I got the omakase sushi. We also got the toro roll to share (today's special). The fish was so incredibly fresh, and this was definitely one of the best meals I've had in my life. I left feeling very satiated and fulfilled! Every bite was amazing, and I ate until my entire plate was empty. Overall, I loved the food and the restaurant - would definitely come back again, and am already making plans to! read more

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What a nice take out sushi place! The older man that runs this shop is so nice and makes your food so quickly! It is a little hole in the wall only available for take out during lunch and dine in for dinner with reservations. The restaurant is very small so you must book in advance! When I worked in San Francisco, I would buy lunch here! The sushi is very reasonably priced yet very fresh and delicious! My favorite roll is the Snow Fairy Roll because I absolutely love scallop sashimi. I highly recommend here if you are craving sushi and want a quick and easy fix :) read more

Wayo Sushi - Sea Fairy Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here while on a trip to San Francisco in late August. The restaurant is small but cozy, and feels casual. I saw that they have a strange policy of reservations only, so I called on the day to make one just for me. The person on the phone didn't take my name but allowed me to come in at 6 pm when they opened. I sat at the bar and ordered one of the sushi items from the set menu. The value was great, but I found there was way too much wasabi on the fish. Service was friendly. The chef was operating in both chef and server capacity, and was professional and kind. Would recommend if you're after sushi and in the area. read more

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

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My husband and I used to come here all the time when we lived in San Francisco, and now that we've moved away, it's become a must-visit every time we're back in town. The quality of the ingredients is truly unmatched--everything is fresh, flavorful, and beyond delicious. We find ourselves craving it constantly when we're back home. On top of that, the prices can't be beat for the quality you get. It's a hidden gem and such a charming, small authentic sushi spot. The gentleman making all the food and his waitress are so cute. We love supporting them and will keep coming back for as long as we can. If you don't stop by, you're seriously missing out! read more

Wayo Sushi - Cucumber salad - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We came here for a birthday dinner and this place is without a doubt a hidden gem. There is 1 person running the entire establishment but he is so good at timing everything that you don't even end up waiting too long. I made my reservation a couple weeks out and snagged one of the 6 seats available for dine-in during dinner time. We arrived on time and began ordering. We got 2 glasses of sake which were heavy pours and very reasonable in my opinion. After that we ordered 1 round of sushi. All the sushi was really high quality and they even had blue fin toro as a special. After that we ordered even more rolls. We left stuffed but only paid $100 for 2 people. In my opinion, the quality and price are unmatched anywhere in the city. I can't wait to come back! read more

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

Wayo Sushi is a small cozy establishment entirely run by just one man; dinner is by reservation only, so make sure to call ahead! We had a reservation for 4 on a Monday at 6pm, and arrived to see that it was relatively empty at that time. The rice for the sushi really stood out; warm, fluffy and seasoned rice that completed all of the fish perfectly! We all got the omakase, along with some apps and rolls to share: -Omakase sushi ($29.50): this comes with a side salad and miso soup; the miso soup came out looking frothy and creamy and was the perfect warm start to our meal given the rainy weather. This was honestly pretty filling, and every cut of fish was fresh and generously portioned. Definitely recommend getting this! -Caterpillar Roll ($10.50): this was an excellent roll and I highly recommend! The eel with melt in your mouth and the sauce wasn't overwhelming. -Snow Leopard Roll ($8.50): this was okay, i feel like the spicy dipping sauce didn't add much and the fish wasn't super memorable in this - I'd probably skip this next time. -Hiyayakko chilled tofu ($4.50): for this price, this is a steal. Not stand-out, but always love a nice fresh tofu appetizer! -Toro roll ($10.00): this was off of the blackboard (I'm guessing they don't always have toro available), I'd probably get the nigiri next time to get the full piece of toro, but we wanted to get something we could all share, and this comes with 6 pieces. The toro was so fatty and rich, so definitely recommend getting some toro if it's available :) All in all, highly recommend coming to Wayo Sushi! While service is on the slower side because it's a one man show, the quality of fish is excellent and the pricing is super affordable for what you get. Come by for a nice leisurely dinner with friends! read more

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Such a great spot! They do pick up from 12-6pm and their dinners are reservation only. We called around 12:30 and ordered 6 rolls, with pickup at 1pm. The rolls are thick and the fish is so fresh! Our favorite was the rock n roll (bbq eel) and also the spicy hamachi read more

Don't miss this amazing place! It's small and requires a reservation if you plan on eating there, but they also offer takeout (call ahead). The food is fresh and very delicious! I highly recommend stopping by if you're in the area. read more

Super sweet space, very fresh. But too much sugar! Please, fresh fish and seawedc don't need sugar.

The sushi is very fresh and made to order in front of you. All rolls include wasabi in them so make sure you ask for no wasabi if that's not your cup of tea! I learned that the hard way. The restaurant is very small with only two tables and bar seating so make sure you call ahead. I'm glad I discovered this place as it can be easily missed, I will definitely be coming back. read more

Wayo Sushi - Salmon skin roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The chef/host was very nice and friendly, but the restaurant food quality was terrible. The Toro raw fish was not sushi grade, almost inedible. They had nothing to drink except water and saki, no soda, beer or wine. The rolls were good but the presentation was not appealing. The vibe/ambience was not inviting. Prices were reasonable. Overall Not recommended. read more

My fav spot for sushi in SF! Fish is buttery and fresh, rice is perfectly seasoned. If you cannot tolerate spice, I highly recommend that you specify "no wasabi" when placing your order. Service: Friendly but a bit slow but there was only one chef taking phone/dine in orders, making sushi, and serving. Be patient because the sushi is definitely worth the time! Dine in tip: make sure to call to make a reservation as seating is limited. Street parking can be difficult as well so I definitely recommend not driving here. read more

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

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It's hard to find good, affordable sushi sometimes. Wayo manages to nail it on both.... lots of really good, amazing, fresh sushi options, and prices that won't break your bank! We ordered 6 different rolls for a dinner for three of us and we were stuffed full and only spent $50 on the whole thing. We ordered pretty late for takeout since we figured we couldn't get in before closing (even with calling ahead for a reservation) and the chef was super kind enough to let us show up after close and knock on the door to pick up. Only order from here if you don't mind the wait, it's a one-man operation and he'll get to it when he can. I would say it's well worth it though, definitely some of the best sushi I've had in awhile! (Oh, it's also *just* sushi from what I can see on the menu, don't go here expecting the non-sushi people to find something else) read more

This is my go-to sushi/japanese restaurant in SF. I've been going for the past 15+ years. Nowadays, it's the only restaurant that I go to when I want japanese. Everything that I've ordered (usually sushi) are fresh and delicious. The restaurant has a small cozy quiet intimate vibe, so it's a great place to bring a date or friends if you want to have a conversation. Restaurant can get very busy, so the wait time for food really varies. Sometimes food comes out quick and sometimes you may need to wait a bit. It's a great atmosphere so I don't really notice the wait. It's also best to make the reservation the day before (or at least a few hours before) because they get full and booked up very quickly. read more

We love Wayo! Nice cozy place. The owner does everything. Makes sushi and brings food to tables. He forgot to bring our miso soup the other night. But that's ok because he is nice. Working so hard! read more

Wow, my new go to sushi spot in SF! It checks all of my sushi spot boxes: - cute old japanese owner, small business - cozy vibes, not too big or small - really good prices - fresh fish!! very good quality Such a no frills place with prices you can't find elsewhere. We called in a pickup order around 7, but they said they were so busy they couldn't do it until 8:30! We were okay with waiting, and they technically close at 8; we got there and there were a few people still eating. We were so starving we asked if we could eat in the restaurant, and the man was so nice! We scarfed down the amazing sushi and left a fat tip. The classic rolls are around $7.50 and nigiri pairs are $7-10! Such an amazing deal for the quality and portion. Theres a lot of bar seating but only 3 tables, and you need to make a reservation for indoor seating. I'll definitely be back again :) read more

Wayo Sushi - this whole spread came out to about $55! - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place is reservation only! It's a tiny little place on Van Ness so parking can be difficult. He has about 3 tables and the rest is bar seating. Please also note that this is a one man show so please be patient. Enjoy your dinner and have good conversations while you wait because the food is amazing! The food was really good for such a reasonable price. My boyfriend got the chirashi bowl and I got the omakase sushi. We also ordered 2 orders of toro since it was on the specials menu on the board. I loved that our entrees came with miso soup! The miso so was to die for!!! So flavorful and it was really hot! The sushi rice is so yummy as well. We had no complaints about the food. If you order the omakase sushi, you also receive tuna maki rolls and a side sushi! Our bill was even sub $100 with an order of sake! I would rate this a 4.5 only because my subconscious felt bad for wanting to order more. I would definitely come back to try their rolls! read more

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wow can't get over how rude the man was! firstly we tried to call to make a reservation NO ANSWER. so we get there and walk in to be met with such a horrible attitude. the man says you have to call and make a reservation I said I did call you don't answer. he then proceeds to say we have been busy. OKAY SO HOW AM I GOING TI MAKE A RESERVATION IF YOU DONT WANT TO ANSWER THE PHONE???? walked out immediately and will never give my money to a business who doesn't appreciate anyone. there are tons of great sushi places so thankfully we are still going to have a wonderful evening and get food elsewhere. read more

A total hole in the wall. The entire restaurant is just one man. He does not seat you unless you called in advance. The experience is intimate, high-quality and relaxing. The sushi is some of the best I've had. It's simple, not too expensive, and delicious. read more

Wayo Sushi - Omakase - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is the perfect spot to enjoy affordable high-quality sushi and watch the sushi master work his craft at one of the bar spots. Getting a seat at the bar spot would make your experience 100x more memorable and personal. The spot is ran by a couple that was extremely nice to us. They suggested the omakase set and it was amazing. Super high quality fish. The highlight was definitely the seasonal bluefin tuna belly, which was on par with more expensive spots Definitely check this place out if you are looking for a homey sushi experience read more

Wayo Sushi - a plate of sushi and salad - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is the best sushi in SF! All the fish is incredibly fresh, the sushi is made with care, and no matter if you are dining in or taking out, everything is delicious. I highly recommend the hamachi roll, hotate nigiri, and dynamite roll. read more

Wayo Sushi - Dynamite roll, hamachi roll, hotate nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Nice little hole in the wall Japanese restaurant. This place has been around for 30 years and owned by a nice Japanese couple. The sushi was great. However the Toro was delicious and very reasonably priced compared with some places. I would definitely come again just for the toro. read more

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ABSOLUTELY amazing!! Mimaru (I THINK that's the correct spelling of the owner's name) was all by himself serving indoor and order out sashimi and rolls. The food was FRESH and TASTY! The service was great. I highly recommend! read more

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Nice little sushi restaurant with impeccable fish sliced and served with care. After hearing much about Wayo, I finally took out an omakase sashimi platter and dynamite roll. The fish selection was wide-ranging from toro and sake to octopus and herring. The herring was the highlight: salty and filled with sea-goodness. The prices are fair and the quality is high. Call to order, or dine in at the small counter and a few tables. Very friendly, welcoming, and quite obviously dedicated to serving good fish. Van Ness is clearly making a comeback with the now completed dedicated bus lane and CGV Theatre. Now's a good time to try Wayo Sushi if you haven't been before. read more

It was so nice to come back to Wayo for dinner tonight, prior to the pandemic it was one of my favorites to visit. Very limited reservations for dine-in right now, but it's the same great quality that I remember before the pandemic. If you enjoy a small family-run business, order some hot tea and relax while you get some of my favorite sushi in SF. Food takes time, and that's a good thing. read more

I haven't written a review in awhile but I just had one of the best sake dons (chirashi but I asked for all salmon) of my life. The rice was perfectly seasoned, sticky, and fluffy, which complemented the fresh fish that just melted in my mouth. This place is a gem, and very affordable. My friend got the spicy tuna salad and she said the tuna was really fresh and it came with big chunks of tuna. The couple beside us were celebrating their 25th anniversary in the city from Texas and they said it's the best sushi they've ever had! The owner and server was super sweet as well. Very nice people and this place is definitely a staple for me now. read more

Wayo Sushi - Chirashi Don (but asked for all salmon) and spicy tuna salad - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Unfortunately, this restaurant is not open/available at the hours stated on Yelp. We visited the restaurant at 6 PM on a Sunday, and the door was locked. Upon calling the restaurant, they responded that they were too busy for the rest of the night. Please update the restaurant on Yelp if you're closed, so we do not waste our time going there. TL;DR, call the restaurant before visiting - hours of operation are misleading. read more

I haven't been out to sushi in over 5 years. 2 of those year should be obvious but the other 3 I can chalk up to a wife who hates sushi. The stars finally aligned for me. A friend mentioned he was going for sushi tonight, the wife had a solo function and the lightbulb went off in my head - maybe it was time for me to go! Oh man am I glad I did, and am I glad I picked Wayo, a spot I haven't been to in even more than 5 years but I used to go periodically and loved it. Nothing seems to have changed but I forgot how good fresh sushi is. I was in heaven. I love the friendly couple who run it. They don't seem to have aged a day in 5 years. The same can't be said for me. I had the toro roll which was a special. Amazing. The "sea fairy" roll which is a california roll with sea scallops on top. I forgot how damn good that is. That one was my favorite and now I know why. Those scallops are like butter. They are soooo fresh and good. Definitely one of the best rolls I've ever had. I also had a salmon and cream cheese roll - absolutely divine. I hadn't eaten all day so I topped it off with a rainbow roll. I enjoyed it but not as much as the sea fairy or cream cheese roll. They seem to be picking up a bit but I think they can use all the business they can get. You need to call for a reservation as they are controlling seating. They're doing their best to keep everyone safe in this pandemic. I am SO happy I "found" Wayo again and I can't wait to return. read more

Wayo Sushi - Sea Fairy top, salmon and cream cheese on the bottom. You can see from the pic how fresh everything is. - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Really good sushi spot in SF! The fish is fresh and the owners are really nice. The restaurant is pretty small so you need a reservation to dine in or can call for take out. The quality of sushi for the price is really fair and one of the best ones I tried was the mango spicy tuna roll! read more

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

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Super cute and cozy local owned small japanese restaurant, the owner does all the serving and cooking. Super affordable, but relatively small portions. I usually don't like cucumbers but the sunomono was delicious! I was too full before dinner but would love to try their $30 omakase next time! read more

Wayo Sushi - hiyayakko - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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An authentic Japanese place opened by a Japanese chef that is sometimes reservation-only. During the one hour there, we saw two groups of guests that are clearly old customers. read more