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Niku Steakhouse, San Francisco, CA
Award-winning

Niku Steakhouse

4.7
4.7
477 Reviews
$50 and over
Steakhouse
Top Tags:
Located in San Francisco’s Design District, Niku Steakhouse is a meat-focused restaurant, highlighting an in-house dry aging program, exclusive cuts of coveted Japanese A5 wagyu with an emphasis on wood fired cooking.

Niku, by the Omakase Restaurant Group, hosts a dining room oriented around a roaring custom binchotan charcoal and wood-fired grill, where guests watch as Executive Chef Dustin Falcon (Lazy Bear, The French Laundry) and his team prepare steaks to perfection. At Niku, there is a true marriage of American and Japanese sensibilities. Falcon’s cooking is driven by the terroir of Northern California — which finds its way onto the menu through foraged ingredients and products from local farmers — met with the highest quality domestic and A5 Japanese Beef.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 35 times today

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, Japanese Speciality, Farm-to-table
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (415) 829-7817
  • Website
    https://www.nikusteakhouse.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Owned/operated by
    Asian and Pacific Islander
  • Executive chef
    Dustin Falcon
  • Private party facilities
    The private dining room at Niku Steakhouse consists of both plush booth seating and sturdy chairs. We feature two large wooden tables that seat 6 comfortably, with a total of 14 guests maximum.To book our private dining room, visit our website https://www.nikusteakhouse.com/events-private-dining
  • Location
    1 Henry Adams St, San Francisco, CA 94103
  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN 1 Star 2023
    2. MICHELIN 1 Star 2022
  • Neighborhood
    SOMA
  • Cross street
    Henry Adams/Division
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Featured in

What 477 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.7
4.7 based on recent ratings
  • 4.6Food
  • 4.7Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.2Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

  • San Francisco

    Steakhouse

477 Reviews

  1. Hero

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined 5 days ago

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    PROS: Very delicious and curated selection of food. Nothing too pretentious or unapproachable. Most diners were dressed between casual, semi-formal, cocktail, to business so you kind of make it what you want. Servers are very attentive, and knowledgeable with their recommendations (Chris gave us the most attention/help). Some free extras like a one bite taster, and some bubbly and a fancy cupcake for our anniversary. The food is very staggered and it almost comes out as a three course meal (starters, steak and sides, dessert). They clean your table between each portion and give you new plates. Devil in the details: The host came back to our table with a tableside purse hanger as they noticed the lady brought her purse and hung it on the chair. They pour all the drinks for you tableside. Smaller things like I hadn't put the cloth over my legs yet and they carefully draped it over for me; they even folded the cloth over while my parter went to the restroom ad they noticed it was crumpled to the side. You definitely feel pampered/monitored in a good way. Patient. We closed out the restaurant clocked in a 3 hour dinner. Even then, they made sure we could still enjoy our dessert and wrap up our conversation without any real looks of rush. CONS: The steaks came out a bit cold. We didn't realize why it wasn't as soft as it should be until after thinking about why it wasn't (mostly speaking of the Tomahawk). For what you pay for and it being a steakhouse, the internal temperature is obviously important but the serving temperature is just as crucial...not sure if the steak sat there a bit before it came to our table but we were expecting soft warm bites. Price can be steep for what you get and especially may feel even steeper when things feel off with your food but fortunately our experience with the steak wasn't too off. I think you have to come with the mindset of not only food but ambience and service included in the pricing.

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  2. Peanut

    San Francisco

    15 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    15 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    Portions are large on the mains. Be prepared for a lot of meat 🥩. It’s prepared well to taste.

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  3. StaceyU

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    3.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    overall3food3service5ambience3
    The service was outstanding. The Staff was attentive and friendly. We received the starters on time; however, it took them over an hour to serve the main dishes. No one explained to us why there was such a long delay. Otherwise, we had a positive experience.

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  4. TeresaM

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 13, 2023

    overall2food4service2ambience2
    I had such high hopes for this place but almost everything that could have gone wrong did. There was nobody to greet us at arrival. Our server, I have to say, was extremely nice and did his best. The sommelier did not open the bottle in front of us, served the wine once, then spent the rest of the night drinking at the bar. The food was great, except the tomahawk which was average at best, but a bit overpriced - especially considering the overall service. Overall, it’s just really badly managed and a waste of a great kitchen. I would’ve been happy spending maybe $300 for this experience but the $950 total (for 2) was a waste of money and an absolute robbery…

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  5. Nick

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 12, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The food and service were great. The restaurant is on the expensive side, but well worth it for a special occasion or to try some great cuts of meat.

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  6. EugeniaB

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    From start to finish the experience was great. The bar is small but cozy with a great selection of every liquor you can think of. We were sitting at the chef’s counter( an experience of its own to be able to interracial with the chefs). We ordered the oysters, the bone marrow, and the tomahawk steak. The portions were quite generous. The tomahawk steak was huge! We barely finished it, mainly because we couldn’t stop savoring every piece of the perfectly cooked meat. The bone marrow was delicious! The oysters were very well seasoned and were a nice prep dish for all of the meat to come. We’ll be back!!!!

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  7. LylaA

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 10, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    If there were 6 [or more] stars OpenTable gave me to rank, I'd gladly give them to Niku! Dined there last night for a 3rd date, & the service overall by everyone in-house was STELLAR. Every single menu item we had was exquisite & thoughtfully crafted; I truly don't think you can go wrong by ordering *anything* here! Thank you to Ivana for exceptional attention to detail & fantastic service. The bar team & Matt knocked it out of the park on the libations as well: the Country Pie was, without a shadow of a doubt, my favorite cocktail of 2023, by far - oh my goodness. Go to Niku, you won't regret it!

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  8. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 8, 2023

    overall4food4service4ambience4
    Excellent experience! My husband and I made a reservation. We originally reserved for chef’s counter but decided on the table when we got there. The hostess was very accommodating and got us a table with little wait time. The staff were knowledgeable and friendly!

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  9. Steve

    Cleveland

    9 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on September 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Niku is a memorable experience we will never forget! Everything about our visit was top notch. From the moment you enter and are greeted by the friendly staff to the view of the open grilling area (especially if you sit at the counter surrounding the grill) to finally tasting the decadence and love put into every last bite. Take your time and take in the whole of the experience.

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  10. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    vip
    1.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 4, 2023

    overall1food1service1ambience4
    Terrible wait service and got served a super rare steak that I had to send back

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  11. Shark

    Minneapolis

    45 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    45 reviews

    Dined on September 4, 2023

    overall5food4service5ambience5
    We made reservations here two months before our trip, for my husbands 60th birthday celebration. We sat at the ‘chefs table’, right up front overlooking the kitchen. We spoke to the chef and his chef de partie, during our dinner. It was amazing! An experience we will never forget. We ordered the tomahawk steak. It was very good, but we thought a little chewy. The bone marrow appetizer was outstanding! Service was excellent. Overall, an amazing experience and we highly recommend this restaurant and would go back again.

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  12. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 3, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food and cocktails but expensive! Service was top notch.

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  13. DRock

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 1, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was a fantastic experience, highly recommend the chefs counter experience. The chefs are friendly and experts at what they do. The wagyu steaks are excellent, but the Flat Iron is one of the best steaks I've ever had. Cooked to perfection, and you get to watch the whole thing right in front of you.

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  14. Shawn

    Philadelphia

    19 reviews

    vip
    2.0

    19 reviews

    Dined on August 31, 2023

    overall2food2service3ambience4
    Did not care for this place. The Wagyu tasting was not good. Went with two others, none of us thought it was very good.

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  15. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 30, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great food, perfect service! Niku Steakhouse, keep moving forward, achieve more!

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  16. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 29, 2023

    overall5food5service3ambience5
    Great food and excellent service. Just expect to take your time. We were seated at 7 and had our steak come around 8. It was worth it but come expecting that

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  17. Viktoria

    London

    10 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on August 29, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fantastic! Every time we are in San Francisco we come here. Phenomenal food! We always book seats at the chef’s counter, so it makes dinner extra special. Chefs at Niku Steakhouse are great! It’s fun to watch them and sometimes to have a small talk. Quality of food is great!

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  18. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    2.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 28, 2023

    overall2food2service5ambience4
    Appetizers were good, a bit salty for my liking. The ribeye that I got was decent, I think I only ate like 25% of the steak, the grilled mushroom was very dry. It's not a good side dish. The cocktail that was recommended by our lovely server was very good, I ordered it twice. Service was great, but whoever took the rest of my steak to pack it up for me probably forgot about it (or was taking too long) so we just paid and left. Total for two is about $400+.

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  19. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Rebecca was amazing! Food and experience were 2nd to none! Can't wait to comeback!

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  20. AlexC

    San Francisco

    3 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 27, 2023

    overall3food5service1ambience3
    Outstanding food....service well below par for high end steakhouse

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  21. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 27, 2023

    overall4food3service4ambience3
    Food was creative overall but steak was a bit disappointing considering the value. Ordered the bone marrow, ambrosia melon and the pig ears: the bone marrow was our favorite. As for the steaks, we got the prime rib and the New York steak: NY steak was flavorful but prime rib was tough and did not have as much flavor as anticipated. Will probably come back for dinner but will try other dishes.

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  22. Yvonne

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Nikki Steakhouse is great! Great food, great drinks, and the stuff is especially great.  Ellis did a great job and unfortunately I didn’t get the name of our server, but he was also great. We went for my husband‘s birthday they did a fantastic job to make us feel special. I will definitely be going back again. 

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  23. RobinR

    San Francisco

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on August 27, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Franco is the best! The food and service is just fantastic

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  24. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 24, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fantastic food and overall great service. I’m not a big red meat eater but when it’s prepared like they

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  25. MindB

    Seattle

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 23, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    This made a special occasion all the more special, was incredibly happy with the service, food, and atmosphere. Arrived with a birthday card for my wife and a special dessert with a candle at the end of our meal. The A5 tasting was out of this world and our server had exceptional recommendations across the menu. Can't wait to go back!

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  26. LorelleG

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 21, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Phenomenal. A definite once in your lifetime visit.

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  27. SadaqatO

    1 review

    4.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 19, 2023

    overall4food4service5ambience5
    Great steak, even better appetisers and desserts. Highly recommend.

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  28. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 19, 2023

    overall3food3service5ambience5
    The decorations, services, attention to detail are very good. But, the star of the restaurant is suppose to be to meat and I was disappointed especially given that it has 1 Michelin star. The steaks has a strong charcoal grill flavor which is interesting , but they tasted blend, lacking in flavor and seasoning. I was expecting it to be very juicy and have a strong kick in the taste bud but nothing. I am not saying it is bad but if you are good, you can use cheaper ingredients and create equally if not more enjoyable meal.

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  29. OpenTable Diner

    Greater Boston

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on August 16, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience5
    Great all around…. We brought a really nice bottle of wine to celebrate…. But then we couldn’t drink it because they had it in there cellar. It makes no sense to me personally, we are right by Napa of course they have every bottle of fine Napa wines. I’ve been to some nicer restaurants with a cork fee but I have never seen this happen before. Big turn off. Steak was perfect sides and apps were flawless but when your spending around 1500 for a dinner I would figure they would let us open our own bottle of wine. Or please make this very obvious when booking a reservation. But again. Best steak I have ever had. This was the one “lowlight”

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  30. VictoriaR

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on August 15, 2023

    overall5food5service4ambience4
    The steak here is absolutely exceptional. We had the dry aged New York strip and the Takamori drunken wagyu—which was to die for. The maitake mushroom side was also an unforgettable experience. We ordered the pickles too, and they served as a pleasant palate cleanser. The pickled cucumber skin was a standout, however. We had lots of starters, including the little gems salad, the steak tartare, the bone marrow, and the corn tortelloni. All were delicious, but the steak mains were the undisputed stars. The only complaint about the tartare is it was very garlicky and blew out our palates for the next course—the tortellini—a bit. Morsels of beef in the bone marrow overwhelmed the delicate marrow flavor a bit. All of the cocktails were very well done. For dessert, we had the sweet pea mousse and the “meadow” herbal tea infusion. The strawberry sorbet on the side of the mousse was packed with fresh strawberry flavor. My only wish is that the chlorophyll freshness of sweet pea were stronger in the mousse. White chocolate overwhelmed the pea taste a bit. The infusion was a beautiful and calming finish to the meal. Overall, this was a fantastic experience. The staff was attentive and friendly. I would gladly come here again.

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  31. Elsie

    San Francisco

    193 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    193 reviews

    Dined on August 14, 2023

    overall4food5service5ambience4
    This dinner started badly, with the receptionist saying they were moving us to a table in the dining room, great, so we agreed to have a drink at the bar; as soon as we ordered she asked us to move to our table, great, so we stood up, then she said she was taking another couple in so we stood there oddly, then another employee tried to take us to a different table in the bar, and then was stopped....aaaaaa.... but once the food started to come this was largely forgotten. Great salad, my husband said best he's ever had; son loved the bone marrow and his steak; don't miss the potatoes. And having them offer you a choice of knives is fun. One more issue--the many waiters that bumped me in the back as I was eating. I'll go back, but will ask not to sit with my back to the inside bar where the cooking happens.

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  32. OpenTable Diner

    Central Coast

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on August 13, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Awesome experience 10/10 would recommend. Our server Matthew was very knowledgeable and attentive.

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  33. KaylaV

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 13, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    We had a remarkable dinner celebrating my husband's birthday. Our server Eric was top notch and full of knowledge to guide us through our culinary journey. Details are key and enhance each experience to make each individual feel special in that moment. Eric taking away that I personally work in hospitality and noting that in a conversation was small detail that I personally didn't share with him, but briefly mentioned to the bartender. The communication between the server & bartender is key to make each experience unique even if it is a small detail creates special moments. Well done Niku your team is truly dynamic!

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  34. MaxenceJ

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 8, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    It was an amazing experience for our engagement dinner. Ian was stunning and the rest of the team also. A5 was excellent. The waiters known their subject and gave us precious advices. Thanks again to Ian for the little suprise at the end of the dinner Definitly a must do

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  35. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 7, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    All of the foods are fantastic, the bone marrow was valuable to eat especally. I'll haver a dinner when I visit SF again.

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  36. omnomnom

    San Francisco

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on August 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Great night, fantastic meal, excellent service + ambience! a5 wagyu for the win!

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  37. JOEW

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 6, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Best steakhouse I’ve ever been too. Don’t expect a cheap meal but service meets the price. 12/10

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  38. RobinR

    San Francisco

    11 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on August 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    The meat is varied and fantastic! Franco, the beverage manager, is a genius. What he does when you describe your flavor profile and what he creates is an art.

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  39. DarlingK

    New York Area

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 5, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    Fantastic, elegant, and delicious! Went for an anniversary celebratory date and really enjoyed our experience. Eric was a top-notch, thoughtful, and attentive guide throughout our meal.

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  40. SeanD

    Calgary

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on July 25, 2023

    overall5food5service5ambience5
    What a spectacular meal and experience. Niku knows how to do it right. The service was fantastic and the ambience great. A definite stop for steak lovers looking for a superb dining memory!

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Digital, disposable or sanitized menu provided
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers

  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
    • Staff is vaccinated

FAQs

Niku Steakhouse is rated 4.7 stars by 477 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 35 times today
Google Map for Niku Steakhouse

1 Henry Adams St, San Francisco, CA 94103

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Award-winning
    1. MICHELIN 1 Star 2023
    2. MICHELIN 1 Star 2022
  • Cross street
    Henry Adams/Division
  • Neighborhood
    SOMA
  • Hours of operation
    Mon–Thu, Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, Japanese Speciality, Farm-to-table
  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Mastercard, Visa
  • Owned/operated by
    Asian and Pacific Islander
  • Executive chef
    Dustin Falcon
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gender Neutral Restroom, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Vegan, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    https://www.nikusteakhouse.com/
  • Phone number
    (415) 829-7817
  • Private party facilities
    The private dining room at Niku Steakhouse consists of both plush booth seating and sturdy chairs. We feature two large wooden tables that seat 6 comfortably, with a total of 14 guests maximum.To book our private dining room, visit our website https://www.nikusteakhouse.com/events-private-dining

Featured in

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