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    Yakiniku Shodai

    4.7 (116 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndJapanese, Barbeque
    Open 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

    Yakiniku Shodai Photos

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    YAKINIKU SHODAI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Quiet

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    Johanna C.

    Beef is premium, it melts in your mouth... love the experience but don't come hungry lol... i think I need at least 2 sets :-) love the setting, we were seated & served at the bar, staff are nice except for the sloppy worker. Overall it was a good date night

    Mina T.

    One of my favorite eats in SF. The chef is so knowledgeable about the meats and the atmosphere is so nice as well. The service is spot on, with such great food. Come for the Wagyu!

    Elaine W.

    My parents often ask me why I pay so much for fine dining experiences when there's no guarantee of whether they'll live up to the price. Indeed, when I went to Yakiniku Shodai, I had just come off of a several week losing streak in what I'd consider to be my version of gambling (which my parents also unfortunately witnessed, as I'd brought them along to most of the restaurants). Fortunately, Yakiniku Shodai ended this pointless downwards spiral of my funds. (And, I'm pleased to say, impressed my parents as well!) My husband and I ordered the full tasting experience while my parents ordered the smaller tasting set. Since we had told them we were eating here to celebrate our upcoming wedding, they gave my parents some of the items off of the full tasting experience for free! Overall, the service was fantastic and very vibey, with what appears to be small, pretty close-knit staff. I had a great time chatting with our server as well as other staff who were there at the time. I don't typically care for service as part of the experience, but it was worth mentioning since I felt the vibe was fun and unique! In terms of the food, I would say this is the Japanese BBQ equivalent of Bōm in NYC (a wagyu steak tasting menu), which was one of my favorites after my 200+ restauarant NYC dining spree. I loved sampling all the unique cuts of beef from wagyu around the world, though money-wise I think it would definitely be more worth it if more of the wagyu was Japan-sourced/A5 Miyazaki or of similar prestige. My favorite by far was the oyster blade, but the ichibo, gyukatsu sando, and grilled fish were all standout! I ended up ordering an extra of each of the first three I mentioned, and was actually tempted to try ordering just the gyukatsu part of the gyukatsu sando LOL. I actually think just their pure gyukatsu, which had a wonderfully thin and crispy fry around a very juicy cut of wagyu, would have been better on its own as the preparation of the sandwich itself suffered a little bit from the quality of the bread and the saltiness of the sauce--but [meme voice] that's just my opinion. Some of the other cuts (and the kimchi, IMO) might have been a tad oversalted, but I did appreciate it bringing out the flavor of each cut. Overall, I really enjoyed it and would love to come back! I do see a lot of reviews mentioning that the price is way too much for the amount of meat received, and I do concur on this point if you're evaluating the price just on the actual monetary value of what you consume. However, to me and the gambling flavor-chaser that I am, the taste of the food was absolutely worth the price!

    Mrs
    Wendy Z.

    Ngl the food was good but the price was outrageous I feel like I'm getting hoodwinked here for the amount of food I'm getting I could count the amount of bites it took me to finish the entire set course on 2 hands, and it ended up being like 250 a person. Not worth it overall

    advertised image. (not what you get)
    Bruce W.

    I went to the pop-up at Berkley bowl. What was advertised was pretty different from what you get. The flavor was good but probably not worth the $20 they're asking. It looked too good to be true and sadly it was.

    Chef Chris shaving truffles for the ichibo Japanese A5 wagyu (Dec 2024)
    Alan G.

    Celebrating the Christmas season with our party of 12 friends and family at Yakiniku Shodai was beyond great -- it was truly exceptional! It wasn't just the amazing food but really, it was an overall memorable experience provided through Chefs Andy and Chris and their awesome staff. Stepping into Yakiniku Shodai, it had a modern Japanese style with a main counter seating that included the embedded grills which Andy and Chris demonstrated their skills while educating everyone about the different beef and seafood delicacies that made up the Tasting Menu and Full Set. They also both had incredible senses of humor and played off each other throughout the evening -- it's hard to remember when I've that much fun or laughed that hard at a restaurant! The namuru of kimchi, pickled cucumbers and seasoned bean sprouts were fresh and delicious starters to whet our appetites as we started with a delicate cut of poached beef tongue (Australian wagyu) served in a comforting broth and topped with seasoned and green onion slices. The outer skirt steak (Australian wagyu) was beefy and grilled perfectly--as were all of the cuts that followed--and complemented by the homemade BBQ sauce that it was coated in before grilling. Dipping in the fresh lemon juice for the last piece cut through the richness but wasn't necessary. Some grilled fresh zucchini and sliced mushrooms served as a nice palate cleanser before enjoying the grilled slices of short rib (US wagyu) that were topped with dried, seasoned kelp strips or wasabi that provided unique textures and flavors. This was followed by rib fingers (Australian wagyu) which was meat in-between the ribs and they had a great texture and flavors from the BBQ sauce. Then came another highlight of a whole Hokkaido scallop that was seared and served on nori -- it was like butter from the sea. I didn't think this would be topped, but then we enjoyed the Japanese A5 olive wagyu served nigiri style and topped with caviar and truffle shaved right in front of us--an incredible combination of unique flavors. The tasting menu's last course was the oyster blade (Japanese A5 wagyu) that was very thinly sliced, kissed on the grill, and served with their BBQ sauce and topped with some wasabi--it was beautifully marbled and so rich! Some of our party added on the tenderloin (Japanese A5 wagyu) which was served a little thicker and bathed in a butter garlic sauce after being lightly grilled and placed on top of perfectly steamed white rice. Another remarkable bite that was challenged by another add-on of the yakishabu striploin (Japanese A5 wagyu) that was served with a mix of egg yolk and shaved truffle which melded together to form another unique creamy umami delight. Our meal was perfectly complemented by a dry yet slightly floral cold sake and Suntory beer, along with a less sweet frozen yogurt to end the meal on a refreshing note. This is a really long review because the food deserves it--it was that good--and because Andy and Chris deserve it for bringing Yakiniku Shodai to life after the pandemic and creating a truly unique and remarkable dining experience. We look forward to celebrating with them again hopefully in the near future!

    Richard W.

    For wagyu lovers, this is the ultimate destination. My partner and I agree: it's the best wagyu place we've ever been to. They focus on premium cuts, including American, Australian, and top-tier Japanese A-5 wagyu. Each type is cooked to perfection with custom sauces designed to enhance its unique flavor. Service is top-notch. You get a dedicated chef preparing your meal right before your eyes, with palate-cleansing dishes like fresh veggies or sashimi served between wagyu courses. The atmosphere is fantastic. While there are both counter and table seats, the counter is definitely the way to go. Every group gets their own personal chef, plus complimentary small dishes and tea. Pro tip: Don't hesitate to ask your chef for off-menu items! Our absolute favorite is a wagyu-don they made for us by request - it's the most delicious wagyu over rice we've ever eaten.

    Reservation policy which the restaurant did not honor.
    Ricky N.

    Do not make a reservation here. Its over priced and they have a ridiculously strict policy. Take your business elsewhere. Booked a Valentine's Day dinner but got sick from a work trip that same week. Called to cancel within 40 hrs and not 48 hrs. They said I can reschedule once or pay a $100 cancellation fee, per person = $200. Zero flexibility. Zero consideration of the customer experience. Zero chance of ever getting my business again. Also - their policy on OpenTable says they allow reservations to be rescheduled twice but they would not honor it.

    Phoebe W.

    Amazing Yakiniku place! All of the meat was super nice and mouth melting. We had a server who would explain to us all the dishes and where they came from which is also quite cool.

    Jen L.

    Came here for a weekday dinner and did the shodai tasting menu! You get to try a little of everything - liked all the meats they grilled and they were generally all very tender and flavorful. I think the ones there were thin sliced were the best including the beef tongue. It is quite pricey though so I wasn't completely full by the end. Still it was a nice experience overall and it was fun to watch them cook for you. The staff was very friendly and great in explaining all the dishes and answering all our questions

    Jenny O.

    Such a delicious dinner! So much delicious wagyu and different parts of the cow. My partner said it was the best preparation of wagyu he's ever had which is probably not an overstatement. Everything was cooked perfectly right in front of us. Also cool seeing the raw meat and all the gorgeous marbling before it went on the grill. The counter seating works great for this style of restaurant, and our chef did a great job juggling the cook for us and the people kitty corner to us. The egg yolk for the rice dish at the end was such a beautiful color. We splurged on the set menu and think that was ultimately the right choice. I think if you're considering doing any add sort of add on to the shorter tasting menu, then you might as well just switch to the set since the add on cost can be pretty pricey and the set probably includes what you want. Definitely recommend this restaurant.

    Seth R.

    Start off 2025 with one of my best meal in 2024 . My close friend bring me to his favorite restaurant in sf and I don't doubt it at all after an amazing experience I had. First I arrived on a weekday when they are slower which I would prefer because the chef here is really attentive and generous. So if possible you should come on a slower day and be seated with chef Chris The restaurant is spacious. They have both counter and table seating. Yakiniku Shodai is a omakase beef restaurant that will provide you variety of wagyu beef from US , AUS and of course Japan and cuts such as tongue , harami, short rib , sirloin etc. They offer you 2 menu the smaller one call shodai tasting menu and bigger one call shodai set. And yes you can order different menu . So , Me and my wife did that and the chef accommodate really well. But if you a beef lover I really recommend go with the shodai set. First they will serve you pickles and then start first bite with beef tongue and it probably the best beef tongue I ever had. All the beef was really tender juicy and flavorful with different topping that chef put on. In the middle of the course they actually serve you seasonal seafood to cut off the rich ness of the beef also. Which I think was a great move!!!!!! Speechless, to all the beef I had and so generous with truffle also. Finishing the corse with frozen yogurt. This is the first time for me to do beef omakase cooking piece by piece in front of me and I will definitely come back here. Thank you my friends who are the foodie and yakiniku shodai for give me one of the best experiences.

    Erica W K.

    Mouth watering, delicious Japanese style grill wagyu in San Francisco. I enjoyed the experience, the chef was great and cooked the pieces well. I got the shodai tasting set, the cut was pretty good. My favorite is the Australian wagyu thick cut. The only downside is that it's on the expensive side with tips and tax, the total came out to be $200. The meat quality is good, I wish the quantity is more.

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    omg this was AMAZING. the food was soooo good and they have alcohol pairings that i enjoyed as well.

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    5 months ago

    Fantastic dining experience. The selection of meats, the presentation and pairings were unforgettable. Highly recommend

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    Tadaima - Mission

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    Tadaima is a small matcha and Japanese Sando + snacks shop in the Mission District. The menu has a…read morewide variety of matcha base latte with adjustable sweetness, foam toppings, and other Japanese inspired drinks. Ambiance: A small clean store with a small high top area, another high top table outside, and a bench to sit outside while enjoying your matcha and food. Service: Food / drinks ordered via a worker at the front with a menu to the left to see options available. Staff were friendly and helpful during interaction. Wait time: Not an extremely long wait between ordering and receiving food and drink. A buzzer is given to you which rings when your food is completed. Food: The yuzu salmon onigiri had a decent serving of salmon inside and on top of the rice. Good salmon flavor but slightly lacking in yuzu flavor. Chicken Curry onigiri: a mild curry flavor which again had a decent rice to chicken ratio. The chicken did taste slightly dry despite the curry sauce likely due to the nature of being a ground meat. Matcha Latte c Pistachio Cream was easily one of the best tasting matcha drinks I have had in SF. The matcha had a strong flavor and the pistachio cream did not overpower the taste of the matcha. There was a nice sweet, slightly salty, and pistachio flavor from the cream and the addition of the crushed pistachios was not a weird texture for the drink. I would definitely be interested in trying more of their matcha beverages due to quality and size of drink compared to cost.

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    I actually came here twice while on a trip to SF. The Cafe turns into a bar at night. So the first…read morenight I had the Kohaku, which was a whiskey drink. I pretty much try any creamy drink that has a whipped egg white. This was an amazing drink, bright citrus, smokey whiskey, and a creamyness from the egg. Next the Miran Miyagi oysters were very fresh, I forgot what was in it, but there was some crunchy bits for texture and there was also a good kick of spice. The Hojicha Affogato was their dessert, and it was also great. It had dark chocolate gelato and a raspberry compote. I came back to try the Matcha Einspanner since I heard good things about it. I never had one before, but if they're all like this, then I love einspanners. It had a super thick whipped cream with a nice high quality matcha. The service was also very friendly. And since this is a bar/ cafe, it's super chill vibes.

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    Instagram: TianTianEats
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    Mocha: Espresso, dandelion chocolate, steamed milk ($6) + Matcha Einspänner: Seion matcha, milk, house sweet cream, kinako ($7)

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    Rintaro

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    I recently dined here with my friends and had an excellent meal. The chicken heart and liver was…read moreespecially tasty. The vibes and service are excellent and their food is just top notch. great sake selection too! we had some incident that they also took care of which I really appreciate it. I know I wrote a review 8 years ago but my POV is that things are way different and better now.

    I did not realize how popular and poppin this place was. My girls and I chose to eat here to catch…read moreup, and I did find it to be a great place to dine and catch up with the girls. We lucked out without a reservation and showed up the moment they opened. However, I noticed this place has A LOT of reservations; therefore, they did give us a time limit (we had a good hour and 30 mins!). If you're looking for an authentic Japanese izakaya experience, Rintaro is definitely worth checking out. I've been to Japan before, and actually felt like the food we ate was just as good as what you would get in Japan, but more expensive, haha. I also love that their menu focuses on traditional Japanese izakaya dishes rather than just sushi. Everything is meant to be shared, making it a fun dining experience where you can try a little bit of everything. FOOD: 9/10 SERVICE: 9/10 AMBIANCE: 10/10 FOOD: 9/10 The food really showcases the craftsmanship that goes into Japanese cooking. From the handmade udon to the charcoal-grilled skewers that we ordered, every dish felt thoughtfully prepared. I especially appreciated that nothing felt overly complicated. The flavors were simple, balanced, and let the quality of the ingredients shine. The only reason I'm giving it a 9 instead of a perfect 10 is that a few dishes didn't completely wow me for the price, but overall it was a fantastic meal. SERVICE: 9/10 The staff was knowledgeable about the menu and happy to answer questions or offer recommendations. The restaurant gets busy, but service still felt attentive throughout the meal without making us feel rushed. They do recommend ordering everything at once, as they do run out of things due to the high volume of customers. AMBIANCE: 10/10 The first thing that stood out to me was the ambiance. From the moment you walk in, the warm wood interior, open kitchen, and charcoal grill make you feel like you've stepped into Japan. It has such a cozy and intimate atmosphere that's perfect for a date night or catching up with friends. Rintaro is definitely more of a special occasion spot than an everyday dinner. The quality is there, but because the menu is made up of small plates, the bill can add up pretty quickly. That said, I think it's worth experiencing at least once if you're looking for an authentic izakaya in San Francisco. Overall, I'd definitely come back. The atmosphere alone makes it memorable, and I love that Rintaro focuses on traditional Japanese comfort food instead of being another sushi restaurant. It's the kind of place where you come for the entire experience, not just the meal.

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    KUSAKABE

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    (1.2k reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$$$

    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.

    What an experience! We were celebrating an anniversary and planned a bit last minute, but were able…read moreto snag a reservation here pretty easily. Immediately, the ambiance and service was quite nice. We were seated at the table, but typically I enjoy sitting at the bar to watch the chefs make our food. The service was amazing and they were very attentive. They also offered to take photos and gave us a little gift of hojicha tea since we were celebrating. We got the omakase, which was massive and had 18 courses. They gave us a menu so we knew what to expect for each course, and we ordered some sake. The omakase was delicious and more traditional than other places, each course was so beautiful and delicately made. This is definitely a lot of food, I would recommend the petite omakase in the future as I was stuffed, but it was a great experience if you come hungry! Courses: - Chawan-mushi - super tasty and every bite was delicious and umami forward! - Otsumami - 7 seasonal appetizers presented in a beautiful box, there was a stuffed crab claw in there that was delicious - 4 kinds of sushi - each piece came out one at a time, the first piece was my absolute favorite and blew me away, it was a seared chutoro that immediately melts in your mouth and tastes smokey - Hamachi soup - very tasty and warming soup with hamachi inside, was perfect in between the sushi course - 4 kinds of sushi - A5 Waguyu shabu - this course was extra $10 pp but was so delicious, the wagyu was melt in your mouth and had some grated daikon on top in a ponzu dashi, the toppings help balance the meat so it's overwhelming since it does melt in your mouth, one of my favorite bites! - 4 kind of sushi - they brought out some really great sushis, including more chutoro and an unagi handroll, but I was so stuffed at this point that I felt I couldn't enjoy it as much - miso soup - this soup was so tasty and kind of revived me after all that food, it felt comforting and a great way to end - dessert- I got the hojicha ice cream in a waffle like cookie and it was delicious!

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    Zen bathroom
    Zen bathroom
    Otsumami...
    Otsumami...
    Eight Kinds of Sushi

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    Eight Kinds of Sushi

    Yakiniku Shodai - japanese - Updated July 2026

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