SFGuide
The Best Sushi Restaurants In San Francisco
photo credit: Krescent Carasso
Sushi options in San Francisco are abundant. There are casual joints with novel-length sushi menus, neighborhood staples that go above and beyond, and extravagant omakase counters perfect for big-deal occasions. The one thing all the places on this guide have in common—they're where you want to go for excellent fish, whether you're looking to drop $30 or $300. Read on for the 20 best sushi restaurants in the city.
THE SPOTS
photo credit: Krescent Carasso
This place has been in the Inner Sunset for over forty years, and is still packed with people for straightforward rolls, nigiri, and handrolls, and superb appetizers, like miso-glazed eggplant and agedashi tofu. Things at this casual spot also run smoothly: Even though Ebisu is loud and the tables are somewhat cramped, the service is quick and the people running it are always checking in on you. Post up at the sushi counter where things feel less chaotic, stick to the rolls, and pay extra attention to the specials on the board, like half-shell oysters.
photo credit: Carly Hackbarth
Dinner at Ken on Divisadero feels like an exclusive dinner party—and one filled with flawless nigiri, silky chawanmushi, and dashi-soaked tomatoes that burst like water balloons in your mouth. The omakase counter is only six seats, so you'll easily have a conversation with the person on the opposite side of the bar, or crack jokes and exchange stories with the eponymous chef. As you move through the seamless 14-course meal, you'll fall into a comfortable silence as Ken precisely scores pieces of butterfish, torches a set of neatly lined up nigiri, and explains the process of poaching the house-cured ikura to its sticky, delicate consistency. A meal here is an unforgettable experience, and one you should get to for your next special occasion.
photo credit: Emma Shepler
You'll probably have to wait for a table at this walk-in-only spot in Noe Valley. It’s tiny, with just a few seats at the bar and a couple of dining room tables. But when you finally sit and the friendly staff starts bringing perfect pieces of fatty tuna and yellowtail belly nigiri to the table, you’ll know the wait was worth it. Come to Saru to share the more basic sushi rolls, like sweet potato tempura or tuna maki, and specialty ones like the White Out with seared escarole and garlic ponzu. The best part is that most are under $15, making Saru a great spot for an affordable sushi dinner.
Dinner at Eiji, the snug Japanese restaurant in the Castro, always feels like gathering around a good friend’s kitchen table—and that friend happens to make the best sushi rolls, delicate ankake tofu, and lightly soy-glazed tuna belly. The theme at this somewhat pastoral spot is light, bright, and simple: A juicy halved cherry tomato to cap off the pickly ceviche roll, single shiso leaves to liven up slices of the spicy tuna poke roll, and a punchy and citrusy vinegar to marinate an intensely crunchy cucumber sunomono. When your server eventually drops off the dessert menu, never pass on the perfectly chewy mochi with whole fresh strawberry and sweet red bean paste—you wouldn’t want to offend the host, after all.
photo credit: Krescent Carasso
There aren’t many spots that are trendier than a NYFW runway, serve great omakase, and let you pay on a sliding scale. That’s how it works at Robin: Tell the waiter exactly how much in the $109-$209 range you’re willing to spend. From there, you’ll receive a proportional amount of things like roasted kabocha squash miso soup, truffle sesame noodles, lots of nigiri, and A5 wagyu dusted in melty shaved foie gras. Whatever you end up throwing down, Robin makes going out for omakase easy, which is why we come here for special date nights or small group dinners.
photo credit: Carly Hackbarth
Saru Handroll Bar (formerly known as Saru Sushi Bar) is laser-focused on one thing: simple yet flawless handrolls. The operation at this Russian Hill spot is pretty straightforward. Just slide up to the bar, mark your order on the paper menu, and wait for a sushi chef to hand you neatly rolled pockets of fish and vinegared rice. There are sets of three, four, or five, and they all include high-quality, uncomplicated fillings like fatty tuna or crispy green onion-topped yellowtail. It’s walk-in only, but things move quickly. You’ll be in and out faster than it takes to find parking on Polk.
photo credit: Carly Hackbarth
To say fans of Daigo, the long-running Richmond sushi staple, were devastated when it closed in the summer of 2022 is like saying Michelle Yeoh is just a “good” actor—an understatement of the century. But on the bright side, the old space is now occupied by a sushi newcomer that’s just as exciting. Shoshin Sushi is the answer to all your casual weeknight sushi needs. The low-key spot has range: You can walk in alone for some quality nigiri at the bar, meet a few friends to inhale fantastic baked rolls doused in spicy aioli, or have an extra fancy date night with their $84 omakase. Whatever you do, start things off with the decadent “Daigo Shot,” a nod to the old menu favorite that comes with yellowtail, truffle ponzu, and a tiny quail egg yolk.
photo credit: Carly Hackbarth
Most of the other spots on this guide are Nice Restaurants where you’re likely dropping a large chunk of change. But when you want that same high-quality fish for a fraction of the price, get that sushi fix at Hokkaido Sashimi Marketplace, a convenience store and sushi counter in the Richmond. Their rolls mostly max out at $13 (with the exception of a toro roll that’s $16), and they’re on par with—if not better than—what you’d get at any sit-down spot across town. You can either order at the counter or snag something from the fridge stocked with sashimi, chirashi bowls, and rolls. We also never leave here without the inari, plump little pockets of nicely seasoned rice in juicy tofu skin that are made to order.
photo credit: Haley Heramb
You probably aren’t picturing an open hallway inside of a mall when you imagine an omakase-style dinner. But that’s exactly where you’ll find Oma San Francisco Station, a small omakase counter in the Japan Center where keeping it casual is the appeal. That, and the fantastic nigiri sliced with precision. Here, you’ll also make small talk with the chefs while listening to ambient mall chatter and eating slow-cooked duck breast and plain udon with uni sauce. When Oma San Francisco Station debuted in 2018, they hooked us with an affordable $30, five-course omakase. The cheapest option is now bumped up to $95—but, thankfully, the high-quality fish and approachable energy haven’t gone anywhere.
The rice at Sushi Sato, a new Japanese restaurant in Polk Gulch, is life-changing—it’s wonderfully sticky and vinegar-y, and holds its shape before dissolving into a sweet finish in your mouth. You will never look at sushi rice the same way, ever again, whether you get it in simply-prepared sashimi and nigiri (you can order them a la carte or as part of a tasting), handrolls, and decadent chirashi bowls. Rice aside, come here for the appetizers, like a refreshing tomato ceviche brightened up with shiso oil, and black cod swimming in a light yuzu miso broth, and sit in a space that reminds us of a hotel lobby with its impressionist paintings on the wall and fully-stocked bar. If you want a fancier omakase situation, head to their sister restaurant Sato Omakase (it's in the back of the same building).
photo credit: Julia Chen
Sasa is another Japantown mall sushi spot, but it's one you and all your friends can easily walk into to order some beautifully-presented fish. The dining room is spacious, and there’s a long communal table perfect for groups. The menu also has something for everyone, from uni and ikura donburi and well-balanced specialty rolls to golden-brown chicken karaage—and they're spot-on every time. We recommend going for the “mystery box” ($42) filled with chef's choice sashimi alongside little balls of sushi rice. Or better yet, go with the $95 omakase if you want to try a bit of everything. Even if you aren't in the area picking up Hi-Chews and patterned spatulas at Daiso, a meal at this casual restaurant is a must.
At this Hayes Valley spot, you get the best of both worlds—an omakase option stacked with yuzu and garlic ponzu-topped nigiri, and creative baked rolls drowning in sauce. Domo also has great sushi-adjacent hits, like tuna poke tostadas on the airiest tempura nori. Order the creamy baked domo roll, anything panko-crusted, a few nigiri, and you’re in for a lively night in a space that can sometimes get louder than a roaring jumbo jet. Rolls here fall in the $12-$20 range, so head over for nearly any occasion—casual date nights, post work-out dinners, and hangouts with a few friends. Just don’t bring an entourage. Domo is the size of four walk-in closets and almost exclusively bar seating.
Omakase is another of the city’s high-end omakase experiences ($240 for 18 courses)—but this one also happens to feel like the world's most casual fish Happy Hour. The chef will joke and drink sake along with you, and covertly sneak you an extra cut of toro. And throughout the loose night, you’ll make friends with the strangers sitting next you and share crypto tips over custardy lobster tamago, red miso soup with clams, and buttery, gold flake-topped wagyu. From start to finish, dinner at Omakase just feels like a party.
This neighborhood spot in the Richmond is the ideal place for a relaxed yet special date night when you want to break in some fancy new shoes—it's small, but not so small that the entire place will learn about the ongoing feud with your landlord. There are two options here: the sushi tasting menu ($120), or the full-blown omakase ($165). Whichever path you take will be filled with an aquarium's worth of seafood, all prepared from across the counter with finesse.
Chances are high that you, your best friend, or your best friend’s hairdresser’s cousin has been to Ju-ni at least once—and can describe the seaweed-wrapped ikura covered in a mountain of shaved frozen monkfish liver like it was yesterday. This spot in NoPa is bucket list omakase ($198), and for good reason. During the 14-course set dinner of mostly nigiri, you’ll get up close to high-end, Japan-sourced fish and tightly-wrapped, chef’s choice temaki. The rice is warm and lightly seasoned allowing the buttery tuna, wild horse mackerel, and king salmon to shine. The fact that there are only 12 seats at the counter, and one chef for every four guests, certainly adds to the intimate feel. And somehow, the bare white and wood interior always makes us more relaxed than when we walked in.
Midway through a meal at The Shota in FiDi, the chef will pull out a detachable plastic model of a fish. Off will come the head, then the belly, and suddenly you'll find yourself in the midst of a delightful tuna anatomy course you won't want to end—just like the rest of dinner. From a cushy white bar seat, you’ll be treated to a luxurious 15 courses: an uni “sandwich” with caviar, handrolls, and blowtorched golden-eye snapper flown in by jet from Japan. And despite being a splurge ($300), you should still confidently book a table for dinner—this is one you'll be thinking about long after it’s over.
photo credit: Brit Finnegan
We usually come to this takeout-only Mission spot for their poke, which is the best in the city. But for a quick to-go sushi haul, Basa Seafood Express still fits the bill. We like reaching for the trays of pre-made combos from the deli case, like the California roll with tuna nigiri, or you can order off the long menu and choose made-to-order things like nigiri, sashimi, and specialty rolls. Get the unagi brushed with thick, sweet glaze, or anything involving salmon and you won’t be disappointed. And don't forget to grab a tray of spicy salmon poke for later.
The upscale omakase spot in the Financial District has been holding it down since 2014—so expect an orderly and tightly-run operation. Throughout the 18-course meal ($198), staff will drop off things like pristine nigiri, shabu shabu with slices of toro, and braised black cod in front of you like clockwork. By the time the final course comes around (a flaky unagi nigiri), you’ll be so full you might need to be rolled out. But a meal at this old-school omakase institution is always an excellent option for a solo date or a once-every-few-years type of meal. Request a seat at the bar.
photo credit: Krescent Carasso
There aren’t many vegan sushi places in the city. But this casual Mission spot stands out for its creative (and cheesily-named) plant-based specialty rolls bursting with so many textures you’ll forget that there’s no actual fish involved. The excellent Prime Suspect has creamy gochujang aioli, crunchy sweet potato crisps, and slabs of soft marinated eggplant draped over it. Tiny rice crackers and vegan caviar dot the top of the Surprise Ending (where one piece is secretly spiked with habanero aioli). And we never leave without ordering the Boddy and Soul, a lightly-fried roll decorated with spicy aioli and shichimi togarashi for an added kick. Whether you’re vegan or not, eating dinner in a spot that looks like the inside of a Swedish sauna is always fun.
One mainstay in our rotating roster of casual sushi places is Okoze, a Russian Hill spot with something for everyone. You can get a bunch of their excellent specialty rolls for the table to share, go with the 9- or 12-piece nigiri omakase, or turn to the robata grill for salmon teriyaki and vegetables. Keep an eye on the chef’s specials section of the menu, which has things like fantastic negi toro gungan (two nigiri filled with chopped toro, sweet unagi sauce, and topped with crispy rice crackers). What we also love are the thoughtful touches, like flower-shaped beets and actual flower petals to dress up the plates. Have this quiet spot in your back pocket for nights when you forgot to make a reservation—it’s easy to walk up and get a table, or, at the very least, a seat at the bar.
