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  5. Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
Yakiniku Shodai, San Francisco, CA

Yakiniku Shodai

4.9
4.9
37 Reviews
$50 and over
Japanese Speciality
Yakiniku Shodai hopes to bring in an extraordinary yakiniku dining experience to the San Francisco Bay Area. Begins with the high quality selections of Japanese Wagyu, comparable Michelin star level of attentive service, and skillful hands of our talented chefs. Together, we confidently present the most exquisit taste of meat and make every meal at Yakiniku Shodai a truly extraordinary dining experience.
Our owner/ chef Andy, originated from Taipei, Taiwan, has over 20 collective years experience in the restaurant industry.

Make a reservation

2 people

7:00 PM


Booked 11 times today

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Japanese Speciality, Yakiniku, Barbecue
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Thu, Sun 5:30 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–2:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (415) 757-0201
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Executive chef
    Andy Chiang
  • Neighborhood
    Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Corkage Fee, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

What 37 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.9Food
  • 5Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.6Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • San Francisco Bay Area

    Best Overall

  • San Francisco Bay Area

    Best Service

  • San Francisco

    Best Overall

  • San Francisco

    Best Food

  • San Francisco

    Best Service

37 Reviews
  1. unhappycustomer

    San Francisco

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined on December 3, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Another amazing meal at Shodai! Service was impeccable.

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  2. CY17

    San Francisco

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 8, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    the food was amazing! it’s more on the pricey side so definitely a special occasion meal. favorites include the beef tongue, short rib, all the japanese wagyu courses, and especially the last course with the truffle and egg yolk dip. can’t wait to be back!

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  3. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 3, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our server Chris was so nice and explained everything so thoroughly to us. Very appreciative of his attentive to detail. A nice dinner for my boyfriend’s bday

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  4. EthanS

    New York Area

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 18, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I thoroughly enjoyed the unique experience of a high quality Japanese yakiniku amidst a sea of sushi restaurants around the city. The staff was very attentive to every bite of the course, and definitely showed passion they have for the yakiniku. Would return again!

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  5. NatN

    San Francisco

    6 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on October 18, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Came here for hubbys 30th bday and was blown away by the food and the service. Chris, our server/chef was amazing. He was so warm, friendly and knowledgeable about the different wagyu types and cuts. He was also so accommodating of our shellfish allergy and gave us a delicious black cod instead of scallops. This is an upscale tasting menu of some of the highest quality meats I’ve ever had. Great special occasion spot.

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  6. EillsonC

    Central Coast

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on October 15, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    How wonderful experience. Friendly chef and staff. Everyone need to try this restaurant.

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  7. OpenTable Diner

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on October 5, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent all around experience, service, food, it was all so so good.

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  8. TimW

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 4, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We actually booked this just a few days before we needed it. We wanted a good place walking distance from the SF Opera House. We sat at the Chef's Counter and the experience was great. The food is amazing, especially if you like meat. Ours was prepared to perfection and was delicious. It's a bit pricey but totally worth it considering the cuisine and the ambiance. Highly recommended!

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  9. Miles

    Orange County

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on September 30, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing food with service to match. Many of the guests I brought can’t wait to return. Thanks for a great evening!

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  10. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on September 15, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Great food great service great conversation = great experience

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  11. PhyllisC

    Chicago

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on August 13, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is the second time I came back for Yakiniku. The team never let me down. Me and my husband enjoyed the whole experience, the food and the service a lot. We will definitely come back and bring our friends. It’s hard to find professional Yakiniku on west coast and this will definitely be our go to place.

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  12. KenL

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 6, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fun spot with great service.. Our chef was very knowledgeable and prepared our food with a high attention to details.

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  13. OpenTable Diner

    Orange County

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 31, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The Shodai tasting menu was excellent and a great introduction if it’s your first time eating here! It doesn’t seem like a lot of food, but my husband and I were both full at the end of our dinner. Chris and the team were all so knowledgeable and made our dining experience so enjoyable. Expect to stay for roughly 1.5 - 2 hours to fully enjoy and immerse yourself in the dining experience.

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  14. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 22, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This is amazing experience! Besides quality food, the Chefs are super friendly, shoutout to Andy, Chris and Karen! I and my wife had a wonderful night

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  15. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    vip
    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on July 8, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Had an amazing dinner here recently. We ordered the Shodai Set and every single dish was delicious - the quality of the wagyu is incredible and it was great to try different cuts from different regions. It was also one of the most fun experiences I’ve ever had. Already thinking about my next visit!

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  16. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on June 30, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Food quality was amazing. Just like in Japan. Service was also good. Server grilled in front of you and serve it fresh. Will definitely come back.

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  17. HenryA

    Vancouver

    7 reviews

    5.0

    7 reviews

    Dined on June 26, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Celebrated our anniversary at Shodai. Excellent service from the whole team! Many thanks to Kareem, Marco, Andy, Chris for treating us to a culinary adventure. They were all professional and personable! Good was top level and they had a good selection of drinks to pair.

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  18. SharonF

    San Francisco

    25 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    25 reviews

    Dined on June 25, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Based on other glowing reviews, I had high hopes for an amazing experience and very pleased that I wasn't disappointed. Loved the service and the entire staff who made us feel right at home! Marco was our chef and was terrific. This was definitely a pricey special occasion splurge for my son's birthday and it was worth it. The food was delicious and delicate - carefully prepared on the grill by Marco. We had the Shodai Tasting Menu for $150 per guest and added on a couple of other items...two of us had the Japanese Wagyu special add-on and the other two had the US Wagyu add on, plus we had the pork jaw and oyster mushrooms from the a la carte menu. The Wagyu was decadent and delectable in small but filling portions. Our favorite was probably the US Wagyu short rib....but every item was wonderful, including the uni and scallops served in between the three rounds of beef pairings. Overall, this was one of the most enjoyable and memorable dining experiences we've had in a while. Kudos to Marco and Chris (another chef), who made it especially pleasant and charming. Marco has been there for a year and a half and provided engaging conversation and lots of great information about each item and his favorites. And thanks to Chris for his sake recommendations and making sure to acknowledge my son Jon's birthday - Chris is an old friend of the owner who is partly responsible for the beverages on the menu. We'll definitely keep this place in mind for another future special occasion and we will also be highly recommending it to others to come and try.

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  19. ShuhuiC

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on June 4, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic service and quality food, a bit pricy though.

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  20. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 2, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    “Mak-o” was our chef and he was so hilarious, patient and kind. The food and drinks were top-notch. Thank you for this amazing night.

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  21. WeiweiH

    Philadelphia

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on April 2, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had a wonderful experience for hubby’s bday dinner. Super kids friendly (6 and 2). Got to enjoy fabulous food as a family. Unlike some of the fine dining 3 star Michelin restaurants that don’t allow kids, Yakiniku Shodai even provide kid’s menu, booster, kid friendly plates/utensils. Owner/server/everyone was so nice! You also get a crash course of different cuts of wagyu. Can’t recommend more!

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  22. Rodo

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 19, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was amazing, and not just the beef! The cod was great and came at the perfect time to break up procession of delicious beefs. Speaking of which, the pacing was perfect, we never felt like we were waiting or being rushed from course to course. We had a cook handling the grill in front of us who did a great job cooking the food in front of us and explaining what each thing was. And he helped us take nice pictures when he noticed us taking pictures.

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  23. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    13 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    13 reviews

    Dined on March 8, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    What an amazing space with amazing staff. One of the coolest dining experiences I’ve had. Perfect way to engage with the chef and get to know everything about your food. Highly recommended

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  24. AngelaL

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on March 4, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Celebrate my birthday here! Great food experiences! Lovely staffs! Wonderful!

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  25. BradleyF

    Hawaii

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on February 18, 2023

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Perhaps the most expensive meal I’ve had recently where I felt that I didn’t overpay given the food quality and service. Everyone was so nice and the food was utterly delicious. I so enjoyed myself and service was top notch. Extremely attentive but never intrusive. I loved my experience and highly recommend this place if you love wagyu, great service, and Japanese sake and beer, etc. My partner and I decided to do the Shodai set since it was our first time here, it was awesome and yes left full. I can’t say enough how much I enjoyed the restaurant and big shot out to Marco Garcia and Andy Chiang for their customer service. This is a must go place and they do change up the set menus every quarter so…. Check it out and make your reservations. Apparently, they do ala carte menu Tuesday thru Thursday and then sets on Friday and Saturday nights.

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  26. OpenTable Diner

    Seattle

    2 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on November 25, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing service and food - we will be coming back next time we are in sf :)

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  27. OpenTable Diner

    Portland

    12 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    12 reviews

    Dined on November 25, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Decadence at its finest 👏👏👏

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  28. Diana

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 13, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    excellent food, fun staff and great service, great experience overall

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  29. OpenTable Diner

    San Francisco

    5 reviews

    5.0

    5 reviews

    Dined on November 4, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    high quality wagyu, portions and service are excellent. Worth the price. Definitely coming back😊

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  30. NANA

    San Francisco

    2 reviews

    4.0

    2 reviews

    Dined on October 23, 2022

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    お肉の味は美味しくて 和牛のフィレ肉を使った小さな丼ぶりが一番お気に入りです。 焼きしゃぶも美味しかった。 量も女性には多いくらいでした。 マイナスな点をあげるならドリンクの種類が少なく感じました。 味は最高に美味しくてスタッフのみんなは丁寧に対応してくれます。 そして時には気さくに話しかけてくれるので楽しい時間となりました。 サンフランシスコを訪れる友人にはオススメするレストランです。

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  31. InternationalFoodie

    San Francisco

    6 reviews

    3.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on October 16, 2022

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3
    They really need to have either an ala carte option or at least an option for a smaller set menu for under $150. It was way too much fatty meat, and the best quality (Japanese Wagyu) was served at the end of the meal - and by then we were already too full to eat any more!

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  32. TatianaP

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 22, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    everything is good, tasty, presented with skill, the only thing- a little expensive ,it is only possible to visit once a year

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  33. KhuongN

    San Francisco

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 18, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Yakiniku Shodai is an amazing spot with a wonderful experience. The chefs cook and explain each meat and the process that goes on. Our chef Matt was very welcoming and very knowledgeable and answered every question we had about the menu. This place is more small parties as they make sure you throughly enjoy your time here. Food was cooked to perfection and we had some great sake to go with it. The Denshu sake and the Tenbu sake. Would come back for special occasions as it is pricey, but still worth it to go through the whole dining experience again.

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  34. hollyD1387

    Newcastle

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on September 11, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing from start to finish.All the chefs were fantastic particularly Andy and Chris.You can tell they about quality and care of the food.

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  35. ClaytonS

    San Francisco

    8 reviews

    5.0

    8 reviews

    Dined on September 8, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Outstanding food and attention to detail. You felt the food experience. Top quality meats. Will come again.

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  36. OpenTable Diner

    New York Area

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined on August 14, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had an excellent time at Yakiniku Shodai! Our server was Marco and he was just the sweetest. It was a great dining experience with delicious food. Will definitely be coming back :)

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  37. HWANG

    Hawaii

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on August 5, 2022

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The wagyu is so good definitely worth the price. Staff is nice and would introduce each course and grill the beef to it’s best tasting level.

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Safety precautions

  • Cleaning & sanitizing

    • Surfaces sanitized between seatings
    • Common areas deep-cleaned daily
    • Sanitizer or wipes provided for customers
  • Protective equipment

    • Waitstaff wear masks
  • Screening

    • Sick staff prohibited in the workplace
    • Staff is vaccinated

FAQs

Yakiniku Shodai is rated 4.9 stars by 37 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 11 times today
Google Map for Yakiniku Shodai

1420 Market St, San Francisco, CA 94102-6004

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Thu, Sun 5:30 pm–10:00 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Sun 12:00 pm–2:00 pm
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Japanese Speciality, Yakiniku, Barbecue
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    Street Parking
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Andy Chiang
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Corkage Fee, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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