Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. San Francisco Bay Area

Diners' Choice: Japanese restaurants in San Francisco

Red OpenTable logo
OpenTable
Updated July 05, 2025

Looking for restaurants with the best overall Japanese cuisine in San Francisco? You’re in the right place. Each month OpenTable analyzes more than 400,000 new diner reviews. We sort the results by category to help you discover new favorites. It's a great partnership: you reserve, eat, and review. We listen...and deliver the results for all to benefit. Enjoy!


A photo of Sushi Hakko restaurant
4.9
4.9 (305)
$50 and over
Japanese
Marina / Cow Hollow / Presidio
About the restaurant
**Welcome to Sushi Hakko on Union St. + Fillmore St.**
We'd like to offer our tasting menu that's reflecting Chef Alex Kim and his team's pursuit of top notch sushi experience. Our approach is a harmonious crossover of authentic Edo-mae style with Western skill. From fish to rice, cooking rice to garnish prep - a true synergy of not only Californian but Japan.

**Sushi Bar Experience**
For the best experience of our tasting menu, we'd recommend the sushi bar seating, where chef will serve and explain the dish by dish, piece by piece with an extensive information of the skills and ingredients.

**Regular Tables**
Our regular tables are also available for the tasting menu and you can make a reservation at any time slot to your convenience.

*Large Group*
For any party of 7 or more, please kindly call us at 415.814.2886​ or email at sushihakko@gmail.com. We will get back to you asap.

All parties will be subject to a 20% service charge.

We look forward to serving you soon.

Top review
Jonathan
Dined 1 day ago
Stunning omakase menu - very enjoyable, thank you so much for a wonderful evening.
A photo of Omakase restaurant
4.9
4.9 (392)
$50 and over
Japanese
SOMA
About the restaurant
Omakase offers a curated, fixed-price tasting menu designed to engage all your senses. This culinary journey introduces the diverse flavors of Japanese cuisine, featuring fish flown directly from Japan. Specializing in Edomae-style sushi—a traditional preparation with modern touches—Omakase creates a fun, relaxed dining atmosphere. Thank you for entrusting your experience to our chefs and choosing Omakase. We look forward to serving you.
Top review
Charles
Dined on Jul 7, 2025
Great food and service- we will definitely be back
A photo of AKIKOS restaurant
4.8
4.8 (1625)
$50 and over
Japanese
SOMA
About the restaurant
Located in the vibrant East Cut neighborhood, just a 15-minute walk from the Ferry Building, our diverse and sustainability-driven menu offers a contemporary interpretation of the traditional Omakase experience. We blend innovative takes on Japanese cuisine with local, seasonal ingredients and fish sourced from Tokyo’s renowned Toyosu Fish Market. Signature dishes, such as our Shokupan—grilled milk bread topped with toro and golden Kaluga caviar—and the aged, soy-cured bluefin tuna nigiri, showcase a harmonious fusion of premium seafood and thoughtfully curated ingredients, presented with creative flair.
Please note, we currently offer Omakase experiences exclusively for lunch and dinner, with no à la carte options available. For guests seeking to enhance their experience, additional nigiri selections are available a la carte from our nama menu after the tasting. The Omakase lunch experience is priced at $150 per guest, and the Omakase dinner experience is priced at $255 per guest.

Top review
WillVIP
Dined on Jul 11, 2025
Amazing food and service!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A photo of Mamanoko restaurant
4.8
4.8 (108)
$31 to $50
Japanese
Marina / Cow Hollow / Presidio
About the restaurant
Come enjoy fresh sushi and Japanese fare at our beautiful location in the Marina District of San Francisco.
Top review
Donna "Stevie"
Dined on Jul 16, 2025
It was absolutely delicious, we got the toro cakes, midori, wiki wiki roll, spicy hamachi and the cookie dough roll. Everything was so delicious and worth every penny!
A photo of Okaeri Japanese Bistro restaurant
4.8
4.8 (199)
$31 to $50
Japanese
Mission District
About the restaurant
Welcome to Okaeri SF, where we showcase both traditional Japanese dishes and an innovative omakase experience. Our chefs bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the kitchen, creating a dining experience that is truly one-of-a-kind.

Our menu features a wide range of authentic Japanese dishes, including nigiri, sashimi, rolls, and tempura. We also offer a selection of unique fusion dishes that blend traditional Japanese flavors with modern culinary techniques.

Our omakase experience is a must-try for any foodie. This multi-course meal features a selection of the freshest, most flavorful ingredients, carefully chosen and prepared by our talented culinary team. Each dish is a surprise, designed to showcase the chefs' skills and creativity.

We invite you to come and experience the art of Japanese cuisine at Okaeri SF. Whether you're a fan of traditional dishes or looking to try something new, we have something for everyone. Thank you for choosing us for your dining experience.

Top review
Evelina
Dined 5 days ago
Wonderful staff, simple yet cozy atmosphere. Will definitely return
A photo of Bar Shoji restaurant
4.8
4.8 (40)
$31 to $50
Japanese
SOMA
About the restaurant
Bar Shoji focuses on Japanese-inspired craft cocktails, as well as a great selection of premium sake and wine.
We also offer bar bites with Japanese-inspired flavors to accompany each cocktail. Guests must be 21+ to enter.

We bring the Japanese practice of omotenashi into our service, ensuring a delicious, intimate , and hospitable experience.

*Reservations are limited to 90 minutes per seating, this allows for all guests to enjoy the Bar Shoji experience. We are only able to wait up to 15 min after your reservation time. Thank you for understanding.

We look forward to having you join us soon!

All inquiries can be sent to hello@shojisf.com

Top review
Christine
Dined 7 days ago
food was uniformly good, drinks were ok. dessert was amazing
A photo of HINODEYA Ramen Chestnut restaurant
4.5
4.5 (7)
$30 and under
Japanese
Marina / Cow Hollow / Presidio
About the restaurant
Hinodeya Ramen is straight from Japan serving our DASHI-RAMEN with a full list of side dishes. For drinks beer, wine, and sake! Come try our authentic ramen for a taste of something new from Japan.

For 4 generations the Kuribara family has passed down the Japanese culinary tradition through the restaurant Hinodeya. Now, fit the first time, we're taking our ramen overseas to deliver an authentic flavor experience!

Top review
Shanan
Dined on Jul 8, 2025
Creamy vegan curry was terrific. Our family, kids included, all ordered food they loved.
A photo of Ozumo - San Francisco restaurant
4.7
4.7 (3435)
$50 and over
Japanese
Financial District / Embarcadero
About the restaurant
Ozumo is one of San Francisco’s most popular destinations for contemporary Japanese cuisine. Created in 2001, Ozumo was one of the first restaurants to combine sushi and robata cooking under one roof. Its captivating design, by world-renowned Japanese-based Super Potato, continues to delight diners, years after its’ inception. Ozumo introduced chilled, high-quality sake to its’ guests, by curating one of the finest collections from Japan’s most esteemed brewers.

www.ozumo.com
@ozumosanfrancisco

Top review
David
Dined on Jul 22, 2025
I hosted a business dinner for 8. We tried almost everything on the menu. It was excellent! Highly recommended!
A photo of Nisei restaurant
4.7
4.7 (109)
$50 and over
Japanese
Russian Hill
About the restaurant
Nisei presents a contemporary approach to Japanese American cuisine by combining deep Japanese flavors, refined cooking technique, and Northern California's finest ingredients. The restaurant is a personal reflection of Chef David Yoshimura's unique experience as a Michelin starred chef and second generation Japanese American, or Nisei.

Nisei can accommodate most severe allergies with advance notice, however due to the nature of the tasting menu format, we can not meet all dietary restrictions or aversions. In order to maintain the spirit of our cuisine, the following items can not be removed: Salt, sugar, soy sauce, and egg cooked into items.

All Experience prices below reflect a 20% Service Fee and 8.63% SF Sales Tax applied to the base price of each experience. This Service Fee goes towards paying our employees a livable wage as well as providing health insurance.

Top review
Lori
Dined on Jul 13, 2025
Nisei is so good. Chef Yoshimua is a second-generation Japanese American, and his food reflects this so well, reminding me of my own upbringing. Amazing technique and authentic Japanese-American influence balances both intentional simplicity and complex layers. I’m a sucker for omurice, if on a menu I always order it, the cioppino had a rare first for me - fermented mochi - the unagi grilled to perfection, sembei, pine nut miso..so many amazing plates - totemo oishii desu! The desserts were delicious too, and a wagashi course displayed on a cart just perfect for the welcoming vibe. I especially love that they offer a truly delicious n.a. collab with Bar Iris next door (pro tip- you can eat a few of Chef’s bites there). A very well timed and friendly service tops it off and a well deserved star. Can’t wait to come back!
About the restaurant
Founded in Tokyo in 1996, Gyu-Kaku has become the world’s #1 Japanese BBQ brand! Thanks to our devoted fans we have reached over 700 locations worldwide. Each day, hundreds of thousands of people gather around the table-top smokeless grill, a centerpiece of our dining concept, enjoying selections of premium meats, just off the grill, and other freshly prepared foods from our kitchens, inspiring laughter, conversation, and a magical dining experience.

Our authentic yakiniku (grilled barbeque) dining experience crowns you the chef. Share a variety of delicious appetizers and premium cooked meats over a flaming grill, paired with Japanese sake, frosty cold beers, or other alcoholic and non-alcoholic options of your choice. We're the perfect spot to enjoy time with friends and family, organize an office party, or to spend quality time with your significant other!

Before you go, don't forget to taste our best-seller Harami Skirt Steak or Prime Kalbi Short Rib among other must-try dishes!

Top review
Usman
Dined on Jul 5, 2025
I have been to many gyu kaku locations, but this one stood out with the level of attention the wait staff gave us. They were incredibly patient and walked us through the entire menu. Ultimately they helped us choose the Yakiniku set menu and helped us replace any pork items as our entire group didn’t eat pork. Highly recommend the location and really big props to the service team
Explore Diners' Choice best of San Francisco
Explore more Diners' Choice lists
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Businesses
  • Restaurant Management Solutions
  • Restaurant Reservation Software
  • Restaurant Marketing Software
  • Restaurant Event Software
  • OpenTable For Restaurants
  • OpenTable For Restaurant Groups
  • Restaurant Resources
  • OpenTable Pricing & Plans
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2025 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo