- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Balboa Sushi House
Categories: Restaurants Sushi Bars Restaurants Japanese Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
402 Balboa St(between 5th Ave & 6th Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94118
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond
(415) 386-3769
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
126 reviews for Balboa Sushi House
Review Highlights
-
"I really do love this mom and pop shop." In 7 reviews -
"The plants are a little crazy in there but its unique." In 25 reviews -
"A good selection of rolls, and well priced nigiri." In 18 reviews
Loading...
126 reviews in English
-
Review from Nadiyah S.
Imperial Beach, CA
5/5/2012
The lady that owns this restaurant warms the up the place and has definitely influenced me to add another star to this review!
You'll get your standard sushi rolls here. They were good and tasty. The best part about this sushi joint is the incredibly friendly owner the unique decor. Look closely and you'll find some interesting figurines, plants, photos, etc. throughout the restaurant. -
Review from Vicki O.
San Francisco, CA
4/10/2012
3/15/2008 (YELP won't let me merge my old and new YELP accounts, so this is a repost.):
I give this place three STARS because what you get at Balboa Sushi House is honest, fresh, generously-portioned nigiri sushi and well-prepared Japanese bento boxes with hand-made tempura--all served with love (by proprietess Annie) and little homey touches like heaps of ginger and balled wasabi, perfectly cooked edamame, fresh orange sections to finish every meal--in a somewhat charming, low-key space.
I've been coming here for years. Nothing fancy, just consistently good sushi with "giant-size" portions compared to other local sushi houses that serve thumb-sized pieces of fish perched atop a gob of rice. The price is right, the place relaxed and the value is tops. NOTE: If you just ignore the man-eating plants, they'll forget about you, too. -
Review from Mike L.
Soooo...what's up with all of the plants? I love the great outdoors and all, and having a picnic or BBQ in the park is an awesome way to spend a day, but this is a little over the top. Their plants outside are one thing, but everywhere inside too? Throw in the little water fountains they had running, and it was almost like eating by a stream or something. I won't lie - all that running water made me think about going to the bathroom every 20 minutes or so.
As Yelp friend Christine C. noted, "You really can't enjoy your food if you don't feel comfortable" and for whatever reason, we never felt comfortable. Rather than order a bunch of sashimi like how we had originally planned, my friend and I decided to start with a Rock n Roll (unagi & eel), a Hamachi Roll (hamachi, avocado, green onion), and Salmon and Hamachi nigiri, and then see how things went from there.
Overall, I thought everything fell short...even the sushi rice (the taste was off). While our orders of nigiri and the Hamachi roll offered generously sized cuts of fish, their hamachi seemed to lack both freshness and quality. The Rock n Roll could have potentially been okay, but it was hard to get around all the rice it was loaded with. The only decent thing we had was the Salmon Nigiri, but other than the size of the fish, it was no different than what you could find elsewhere.
Since we were already smarting over missing the 7:00pm seating at Tekka (the couple in front of us literally got the last two seats), it hurt that much more that Balboa Sushi House was so underwhelming. Instead of going directly to Sushi Bistro after Tekka like how we should have, we ended up going to Sushi Bistro after our short stay at Balboa Sushi House.Listed in: Hit It and Quit It
-
Review from H K.
San Francisco, CA
3/10/2012 1 Check-in Here
I drove by here one evening and saw the Japanese lanterns hanging outside, and only them did I realize there's a Japanese restaurant at this location. I came back and gave it a try.
Mainly, I can just say that the sashimi was decent. The spicy tuna (Hawaiian) roll that I ordered could have been presented better, it came as big piece and few looked loosely rolled.
The killer for me here is the decoration. It was nearly an eyesore for me how "busy" it is. I can't really describe it but I didn't like it. Sorry, but just that alone is enough to make it unlikely I'll return.
I give credit to the owner lady who seemed nice and attentive to the guests. From the conversations I hear, it seems many if them are regulars from the neighborhood. -
Review from Keith G.
San Francisco, CA
5/17/2012
Balboa Sushi House is a hidden gem......Pay no attention to folks who complain about too many plants or that the place is too expensive. It's actually quite affordable as sushi goes. It's a quaint little tucked away place with wonderful character and great food. The proprietor is a wonderfully sweet friendly gal who will make you want to come right back the very next day. This is my new favorite sushi place in all of San Francisco. (And I have pretty much eaten at them all.) Five Stars!
-
Review from Tom S.
Eugene, OR
3/31/2012 1 Check-in Here
Rainy day find. Walked from GG park. Miso and green tea warmed us. Service was prompt and friendly. Sushi was fresh and tasty. Decor was very cute and homey in its way. Wife loved the fresh ginger?. Owners were very friendly and seemed to appreciate our business. We were the only ones here as it was the middle of the afternoon, but we didn't mind.
All in all, a nice spot and we would definitely go back -
Review from Diane L.
3/30/2012
This place is hella fucking expensive.....sorry for swearing, but if you're gonna charge that much then it better be good....not even close. I only went here since it was close to my house and we had family in town, but geez....are u kidding me? Everyone who ate here thought it was okay....I kind of regret taking my relatives here since they know I eat sushi a lot in the city so they intially thought maybe "diane's gonna take us to a really good spot", but it didn't live up to their expectations....=/ Their bento boxes have small portions....yea go figure, but they're really nice here....they did bring out appetizers that were on the house as well as free ice cream, but I didn't care much for that stuff....
-
Review from Ninja R.
San Francisco, CA
2/25/2012 2 photos
I'll start off by saying I am a huge sushi fan, it is my favorite food and I've tried just about every type of sushi and over 25+ locations in SF in the past year. I generally stick to amazing quality fish, but I like to go out to sushi multiple times a week, so I'll also seek out great deals.
This is one of my go to places for the following reasons: close, quite, always open, wonderful service and great prices. I consider the actual quality of the sushi to be mid-grade, but the overall experience is great. I usually get one of the combination which comes with giant salad, miso soup and a good portion of sushi or sashimi (the combos are by far the best deal). If you go with 3 or more people you will usually get a free side of edamame as well (or maybe I am just a regular now?).
I go out to eat alone quite often and prefer a quite meal experience and this certainly offers that. I highly recommend this place to both sushi snobs and casual sushi eaters. This place has some serious charm and is worth a shot.
Also, I'd just like to say that Sushi Bistro is overrated, the portions are small, the fish is only slightly above average and I am not a fan of Western style rolls with five different types of fish slathered in sauce, I like to actually taste the fish.. But that's okay, keep Balboa Sushi house crowd free :) -
Review from Nilu r.
San Francisco, CA
10/2/2011
Walked in here on a whim late on a Friday night, around 9. The place was almost full, of what seemed like locals and small groups. The restaurant is tiny and very interestingly and unusually decorated with lots of plants and knick-knacks. There is one cute older lady running the show on the front and probably only one person in the back judging by how long it took to get my order and food. But no worries, I looked around at all the things on the walls.
The food was ok. I got salmon sashimi (it was cut a bit weird and was a little warm...off putting) and salmon teriyaki. The teriyaki was good, not smothered with sweet sauce which was a plus.
Price was ok, typical for what I expected.
I would not run back to this place but if someone wanted to go there I would probably go back...maybe... -
Review from Josh B.
San Francisco, CA
8/25/2011
Inexpensive, simple Japanese food in a pleasant atmosphere from a nice Japanese woman.
No, this isn't hand-pulled ramen or fresh-off-today's-boat sushi. The menu is the usual Japanese-American hodgepodge of tonkatsu, sashimi bowls and bento boxes. But everything is well put together, the woman who is owner and server is friendly 7 days a week, it's quiet and clean with nice plants and roomy tables, and I usually get out of there for less than $20 per person.
A great place for a weeknight I-don't-feel-like-cooking dinner, or whenever you're craving sushi and are low on cash. Also good for a business lunch if you're in the Richmond. I've been there at least 10 times and never had a bad meal. -
Review from Mel H.
San Francisco, CA
10/30/2011
I have a feeling (solidified by several other yelp reviews) that this place gets a large portion of its business from people who wanted to go to Sushi Bistro, but the wait time was too long. I can't quite remember, but that is likely the reason why I first ventured across the street.
So their sushi might not be quite a mind-blowing as Sushi Bistro, but is reasonably priced, and the character of the place totally makes up for anything that is lacking in the food.
When you are sitting at the window amongst the forest of potted plants, you feel as if you are sitting in your grandmother's breakfast nook. And that is awesome.
The lady who works there is super enthusiastic and welcoming. So much so that every time I go in there, I question whether she recognizes me and is really really happy to see me, or whether she is just that friendly to everybody. I will continue to believe that she is really really happy to see me, however, I'm sure you'll get the same treatment :) -
Review from Gail C.
San Francisco, CA
12/28/2011
I love this little place. It's classic traditional sushi run by ultra friendly people at a reasonable rate. It's a locals joint and within a few visits "sushi mama" as we call her, will have your favorites memorized and your tea on the table as soon as you sit down. It's not trendy and it's not snooty, but it is lovely and homey. The bento box deals are just that, a real deal for Sushi in San Francisco. They have, hands down, the best shrimp tempura I have ever eaten in my life. I am usually not a fan, this is light fluffy crispy and amazing. We pick this place over Sushi Bistro every time.
-
Review from Laurence H.
San Francisco, CA
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
interesting Inner Richmond neighborhood Japanese restaurant on Balboa. The highlight of the place is the inner decor. Lots of plants and strategic lighting make this a unique place. The place is owned and run by a Korean couple. The wife works the front room and is very friendly in her sing-song voice. The food is ok, does the job, but don't expect the moon. It's homespun food. Price is moderate.
-
Review from Christine C.
San Francisco, CA
Indoor garden?
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
You really can't enjoy your food if you don't feel comfortable. Balboa Sushi House has a very good rating from the Department of Public Health but I just kept itching the entire time I was sitting there. There were running water garden decorations and plants everywhere inside the restaurant, attracting quite a few gnats hovering. The black floral carpet didn't help either. It was probably all in my mind but I wasn't comfortable.
The portions were generous and the fishes tasted fresh enough. Just a limited selection of nigiri and maki plus some American styled specialty rolls. We also had some fried dishes including soft shell crab and vegetable tempura. The grease in the fried food tasted of pork fat which made the soft shell crab a bit odd. The owners are a Korean couple who could not be more friendly and welcoming.
Maybe the next time, I will actually imagine I am eating in an outdoor garden to rid the psychological itchiness.
-CCListed in: Sushi My Heart
-
Review from Sandra N.
Walnut Creek, CA
1/30/2011
Meh. This place was okay. Came here with my friend and we ordered a chicken teriyaki bento box and a rainbow roll. The food wasn't amazing but it wasn't terrible either. The bill came to about $30... which we thought was a bit expensive :/ especially since we were both still hungry afterward. The only special thing about this place are the decorations. The whole restaurant is decorated with random plants and figurines. I felt like we were eating in a garden. The service was fine but our food took awhile longer than we wanted to come out.
Afterward, we wished we tried out Sushi Bistro instead :/ -
Review from Erin D.
9/7/2011
Let me preface this by saying I come from a terrible land locked place filled with dozens of ALL YOU CAN EAT sushi restaurants featuring buckets of previously frozen fish. That being said, I loved Balboa sushi! I had some of the best Agedashi Tofu I have tasted in my life! I loved it so much I ate here twice during my three day stay. I found the restaurant clean and the service really friendly and efficient. I loved Balboa street in general, it had the perfect collection of restaurants, coffee shops and bakeries. I can't wait to visit again!
-
Review from Wendy P.
Los Banos, CA
11/5/2011
We bumped into this place when we were looking for another restaurant. It's tiny and off the beaten path AND the food was great. Its a mom and pop place, eclectically cluttered and we were served by mom We had salad three sushi rolls and chicken udon and we loved it all. Best green tea ever. The owner even chased after us when my mom left her purse. I would go out of my way to eat here next time.
-
Review from Nobu K.
San Francisco, CA
11/30/2006 ROTD 12/19/2006
I finally found it.
Good Pseudo Sushi.
99 point rating !
by Department of Public Health, San Francisco.
Well,
It's not that clean looking interior, tell you the truth.
But,
very authentic Nigiri that "neta" goes over the "shari" and touches the surface, it means that a big slice of fish-meat.
I saw the dimple on "Nigiri" too.
An old Korean couple own this place.
Wife; waitress.
Husband; sushi-chef.
Very dedicated well manner people there.
It is pseudo sushi but very authentic.
This Sushi-chef knows and understands the "dimple" of nigiri.
I can call him Sushi-Chef, not Sushi maker, period.
But,
I can tell that their "Neta" isn't high-end fresh fish.
but, he can be able to handle very well that what area of fish and how to slice it,
so that he can still use the fish before it's too late.
That's why the price is very reasonable.
This is the techneque that study and understand only by good experience.
If you know the limit of when to use the raw-fish,
it doesn't have to be super fresh.
Two minor points,
1: It looks like another dumb cheap-hippy-looking coffee and captino place.
But,
I take it as one of their charm-point.
And,
2 :
of course,
naturally they have Tempura, Teriyaki, Bento, Noodles etc.
You name it.
They have everything Japanese, and Kim-chee too.
Because they are Korean born Korean.
Thay want to eat Sushi with Tempura togather.
I don't,
but
they do.
But I see this place as authentic, Korean or Japanese, whatever.
Most importantly,
You'll feel welcome.
And please remember that 99 point rating Sushi.
You must feel safe here.Listed in: Sushi Nazi, Nobu K.'s ROTD
-
Review from Starla D.
San Francisco, CA
9/17/2008
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Do you see all those plants out in front? That is what the INSIDE looks like too, except for mixed in with the plants are some figurines of ducks, all year round Christmas decorations, flowery ceramic bowls of potpourri, various creepy doll type figurines, and really really ugly carpeting. It's like my grandmother got lost in a forest and decided to start decorating.
And I could say that eating sushi in my grandmother's forest would be slightly charming, and comforting, except for it's not.
OH, and the best part...where there are tons of unnecessary plants, there are tons of unnecessary BUGS!
Just imagine constantly having to swat flies away from your plate of (not that fresh) raw seafood. And having to wonder if what was floating in your miso was seaweed or something else. bleeegh
Oh, one extra star because if a salad comes with your meal, they give you the dressing in this Costco-ish economy sized plastic tube. It gave this Japanese/White-trash kinda vibe which I found playful, yet rustic. I heart Grandma! -
Review from Josua P.
San Francisco, CA
6/30/2008
This place is pretty unassuming from the outside but once you get inside, well, it's still pretty unassuming. The decor is not really what I expected from a Japanese restaurant but it's very homey. If you need to be more seduced you can think of it as if The Black Crowes were Japanese and they helped decorate an old person's living room. There is a Persian style carpet with runners that extend into the kitchen, lots of stuff on the walls, an eclectic assortment of tables and chairs and houseplants. Like, whoa HOUSEPLANTS!
In addition to sushi Balboa Sushi House offers a pretty good selection of bento boxes. The prices are decent and the portions are huge. We got some nigiri and we got SLABS of fish over rice. The Wife said, "This is two bite nigiri." Well I had to prove her wrong...AGAIN. But then again, I'm THIS close to being able to stuff my entire fist in my mouth.
While the food pretty good I'm more attracted to the atmosphere. The people who run it seem very nice and they remembered The Kid and her penchant for gyoza. She's hard to forget. She's sweet, charming and introduces herself to everyone like ten times. They also play lite rock and as soon as "Angel of the Morning" came on there was a noticeable raise in volume. This earns big points from me because "Angel of the Morning" just so happens to be my most recent cheesy song obsession. It's about one night stands and yes, it's sort of creepy and yes, it totally ROCKS! Here you go. http://www.youtube.com... See, I just made your fucking day right there. -
Review from Kate V.
10/16/2008
If I had a Korean grandma, I would hope that she'd serve me sushi and Japanese food in her trove of sentimentally valued junk, too.
Entering this place is literally like embarking on a safari (check out the foliage in the pictures!), and once inside, it's like you've stepped foot into a two-page spread of one of those I Spy books.
I spy 4 birdhouses, a porcelain sumo dude,
a frog spewing water... now, where is my food???
So, Grandma is a little slow servin' it up. But, like a real grandma, her cluttered place has got undeniable charm, and her nigiri and bento boxes are bomb. AND she's not afraid to slather on the wasabi... she's a spicy one, that Grandma!Listed in: Arguello-ish to Park Presidio,…
-
Review from Tara H.
8/8/2008
GIANT FISHIES.
If you need more than that, these giant fishies also come with a really, really sweet owner who was super speedy with the orders. The food is good, and you'll be just full enough for about $25 a person.
We grabbed a seat in the window nook after a small group of people just left, so we had free reign of the place during our whole meal that included:
Free edamame with green tea to start. No sake (beverage) this time, so we kept all our attention on the giant helpings of maguro and sake nigiri. The sake nigiri was FOLDED OVER once to fit on the rice ball, for god's sake. With such massive proportions, I was willing to overlook the nose-hair-curling bite of too much wasabi.
Rainbow roll was off the hook, primarily for its size. Honorable mentions for the tempura and rock 'n' rolls.
I still prefer Shimo or Drunken Sushi if I'm going to be sushi-ing in my 'hood, but this was a nice cap to an exceptional evening. It was also a really appropriate follow-up to a date at the Conservatory of Flowers, because Balboa Sushi House is filled with plants. Tons of them, like you're in a gardener's living room. While I'd give the food itself anywhere between 3 and 3.5 stars, the impeccable service and generous portions jumps it easily to four.Listed in: My Upper West Side
-
Review from chris o.
San Francisco, CA
2/9/2008
This is a really different, low-key environment. Sushi chef is not in sight and the small room is so heavily decorated with plants and knick knacks that you feel kind of like you've stepped into a cannabis club (good for me but maybe not for you?)
Instead of ordering pot cookies we got sashimi and nigiri. Very fresh and laying naked on the plate, like lovestruck adolescents, so eager to be tasted, on a bed of sliced carrots.
Delicious fresh fish and sweet homey service. Sake, sake, sake.
No groups of drunk idiots working their camera phones, no crackhead politicians either.
Just you, the fish, your chopsticks, and your happy belly. -
Review from Helene K.
4/12/2009 1 photo
I came here on a Friday, late afternoon (around 4:30), before the inevitable weekend dinner rush. The place is small, with only 8 tables throughout the dining room and the largest table seating up to 6 people. The decor of the place gives off the impression of a quaint yet nice home: random Japanese knick-knacks, ocean-side sculptures, water fountains, et. al. Some may find it all overwhelming and tacky, but take what you will; I didn't really feel bothered by it all since it seemed amusing to me. There was quiet, calming piano music playing, which really put me to ease after a long week of work.
I was immediately greeted with warm service; Balboa Sushi House is Korean-owned and apparently has been around for 13 years now. Since I was the only guest at that hour (who eats dinner at 4:30 these days? Hm, maybe only me), the server made sure my pot of green tea was well-topped off and that I got my food in a timely manner. It seemed that she also helped with preparing my food in the kitchen, since I noticed she disappeared from the front of the restaurant for some time and I heard her talking with the cook in the back and hearing two sets of cooking utensils going off at the same time. My meal didn't come out too quickly, but it didn't take ages to arrive either; the amount of time seemed right, and it showed that they took careful measures to arrange the food on the plate in an aesthetically pleasing way.
The menu is chock-ful of various familiar-to-Americans Japanese dishes; there were also a few Korean-inspired rolls, such as Lee Soon Shin and Gim Bap. Lunch specials (12:30-3pm daily) look tantalizing, with 20+ items served with rice, salad, and miso for the reasonable price of $7.95. For the regular menu, the prices aren't overly cheap, ranging from $9.95 to $17.95, depending on if you're ordering vegetarian or combinations.
I ordered Combo Bento Box #4, which was the Gim Bap Special. The price of the bento box was well worth the amount of food I got: lots and lots of rolls to choose from! There were 6 pieces of Gim Bap (vegetable roll); 2 pieces of Shrimp Tempura; 2 pieces of Inari, 2 pieces of Salmon nigiri; and 3 pieces of Tuna sashimi. It seems that they may be firm promoters in good eyesight, since my entree came with lots and lots of cut-up carrot pieces. The salad was more or less a little on the weaker side (in terms of presentation), but it was fresh and healthy. The server gave me a big bottle of dressing, which was a good thing for me since I rarely like having my salads pre-doused in dressing. They weren't stingy with the wasabi either, since I got a 1/2 tablespoon scoop of it on my plate.
One thing that did bother me about the meal's presentation was the wax papers used under the tempura and the nigiri; I don't really see the point of using the wax papers for only those two sections.
It was a well-spent meal for me; I spoke with the server a little after my meal and she said that the place is a neighborhood favorite. I can see it as a good place for a relaxing night out with some friends or family.Listed in: Balboa Eats & Treats
-
Review from Julia Z.
9/1/2009
Sushi Bistro was packed and we didn't have a reservation. We were starving and needed sushi in us immediately. We looked across the street and saw this place. Saved for sure, we thought!
Like many people reported, this place is decorated with a bunch of random knick knacks and plants. The tables and chairs are very casual and homey. I literally felt like I was in somebody's grandmother's house. Sometimes thats a good thing and other times it's not... This time, it was a little awkward. We were the only ones inside and there was no music at all, just eerie silence. We felt like we snuck into someone's house and were about to steal and eat all their food.
We ordered salmon sashimi, tempura, and two sushi rolls. We were sitted by the window and were surrounded by the foliage. I looked closer at the potted plants and noticed the dirt and dust. I knew something else had to live in there. Maybe they were taken care of but it seemed like the plants have just been sitting there for a while. The food came and it was a good portion. I wasn't the biggest fan of the rolls because the rice was not done right, very mushy. The tempura and sashimi were just okay, again nothing spectaluar.
I just knew it was going to happen but I wanted to be proven wrong. A fly flew onto my sashimi from the dusty plants. I completely lost my appetite and we asked for the check. I'm actually feeling sick from even typing up this review. I think I'll stop now... -
Review from Anna S.
1/11/2010
We came to this neighborhood intending to hit up the dumpling/dim sum place down the street. My friend had seen it that day on KQED's "check please". however, the line was super long, so we came over here instead. the couple who walked in right after us had done the same thing, apparently.
This place is tiny, only 9 tables and booths. there was about a 10 minute wait, this was on a Saturday night. they were apologetic about the wait, even though it was not their fault. I think that's why they gave us a free appetizer of skewered shrimp (the price is normally $5.50 for three shrimp). the shrimp came with heads and tails on, rolled in salt. they were pretty tasty. my dining companion convinced me to "suck out the brains". i would not recommend this to other gullible folks, it was sour and unappetizing.
they have a pretty extensive menu. i suspect the owners may be korean, as one of the sashimi dishes had a korean name (hwae du bap, or something like that).
I exposed my lack of sashimi connoissourism by ordering the wholly inauthentic rolls. sue me, i don't like raw fish! i got the scallop roll. it's a california roll topped in bay scallops, covered in a baked cheesy sauce, topped with tobiko roe. It was just ok. the sauce was a little too overwhelming, they would do well to use it much more sparingly.
i also got the regular california roll. the kind with fake crab is 4$ for 6 pieces, it's 50 cents more to have each piece rolled in tobiko roe. to get real crab, it is an additional dollar. i went for the fake crab. it was not shredded into pieces and mixed with mayo, it was just a single piece of "crab" and a single piece of avocado. it was perfectly acceptable.
I didn't like their pickled ginger, it had a chemically taste to it.
my dining companion loved his meal. He got the gyoza appetizer, he said the dipping sauce was delicious. i didn't try it because i'm not a pork eater. they do give you the option of pork or veggie dumplings.
He also got the chicken/egg udon soup. it was a very rich, chickeny broth, unlike most udon soup, which is much beefier. It was very tasty. the chicken pieces were individually seasoned, and i didn't see even a hint of chicken fat attached to them, which is sometimes a hazard in such dishes. the noodles were perfectly chewy, there were some green beans, cabbage and carrots in the soup as well. he was unable to finish his giant bowl. it came with salad and a dish of unsalted edamame. they also provided a shaker of veggie seasoning.
a generous scoop of green tea ice cream was the only dessert on the menu, for $2.50. we didn't order it, but lots of other diners did.
i also ordered a glass of "cabernet" (no year or vintner specified) for 5.50. it was perfectly acceptable, not too strong or mildly flavored.
the total for two was $39.
the seats in our booth were uniquely marked. they are red, with little pores. my dining companion was sure that it was authentic ostrich leather. i'm suspicious though, i would assume such a decorating touch would be prohibitively pricey. but what do i know? i suck prawn brains. -
Review from Ali M.
Boulder, CO
12/16/2006
this place is run by a very sweet woman who has a great laugh and will throw in free edamame if you're nice. The sushi is fresh, portions are HUGE, and the decor...well, lets just say you will always have something to look at.
A GEM in the Richmond amongst alot of soul-less sushiListed in: Vegetarian/Faux Meat in the…
-
Review from Roshan V.
San Francisco, CA
10/21/2006
As Rachel Ray would say, Yum-O! I can't believe I just discovered this place! The speciality rolls (dragon, spider, etc) here are excellent; they really just melt in your mouth and taste great. The plate of salmon sashimi is pretty good too...but the rolls are so good I'm gonna stick with them in the future. In addition to the rolls being tasty, they're also not that pricey...hovering in the $5-12 range.
The service couldn't be better. Our food came out fast, and the one lady working (the infamous Mrs. Balboa Sushi?) always came by to make sure we were doing ok. The decor of the restaurant is really nice, plenty of greenery and small fish tanks and those small water fountains that are normally annoying when people have them at work but totally work in a restaurant.
I came on a Sunday night when it was pretty empty so I don't know how crowded it normally gets, but I highly recommend this Balboa Sushi House! -
Review from Tiffany Y.
San Francisco, CA
5/29/2008
My friends roommate suggested sushi bistro across the street but it was freezing outside and this place was closer so we came here instead. Bad idea. I questioned why this place was so empty on a saturday night..I think I know why.
My friends liked it cuz it was "sooooo cute" or whatever..and yeah the decor was pretty funny and "cute" but the food SUCKED. The waitress was sweet and a little clueless and didn't want us to sake bomb?....um....ok...I guess. The glasses she gave us for the saporro looked like they came from a poor college students kitchen...same goes for the silverware.
The food just wasn't good. San Francisco is FILLED with sushi places and this one just doesn't compare. All I ordered was a Philly Roll and California Roll...really simple. The cream cheese in the philly roll was all wrong, I don't know what it was but it tasted WRONG. And the California roll was just too salty and boring. Next time i'll make sure I hit up sushi bistro instead.Listed in: BAD BAD BAAAAD!
-
Review from Scott S.
San Francisco, CA
3/7/2007
Seriously people... I know it's a neighborhood place and all. Just not a Sushi House. Where was the Bar, and the chef making the Sushi? If I can't see my fish being prepared I can't trust the place. I even travelled across the park to dine at BSH - Waste of time... Next time Tekka or Sushi Bistro.
In my hood Yum Yum Fish is 3 blocks away! I can get some great cheap sushi where it's consistently good and eat in the comforts of my own home.
This night was different. I listened to fellow Yelpers and didn't trust my instinct. Mixed reviews= bad. Off night my ass... Me and my friend were the only people in the place. Portions are big. Quality of Fish was sub-par. For appitizers we shared basic Maguro and an Unagi roll; Large pieces, but at least defrost the fish before serving it. I have a wicked Stomach ache now... Maybe from the Miso house salad dressing.
The Miso Soup was good (that and the price are the only reasons for the 2 Stars). Ambiance was funky. We sat close to the window (Jungle). I liked that as well.
But it's all about the food.
I played it safe and got the Chicken Teriyaki/combo. Eh. You get what you pay for.
From this moment on I take my sushi advice from Toro Eater.
Shimo on Wednesday to clear my head. -
Review from Shobiwan H.
San Francisco, CA
6/29/2011
What's not to love? Charming decor, a kindly but not overbearing waitress and delicious sushi! The style is akin to an indoor garden, which suits my sensibilities. Each time I've gone I feel compelled to try something new - and every time a new favorite! Can't go wrong with the salmon nigiri (aka sake).
-
Review from Jerry M.
Albuquerque, NM
3/2/2009
Best hamachi I have ever had. Great subtle little spot located across from the much hipper "sushi bistro".
Which while not bad will not give you the experience Balboa offers.
I felt like much love went into the preparation of my meal. Super nice service and a great experience all the way around. -
Review from Amy S.
3/17/2009
Its good. Food is tasty and decent portions. I took someone here for their birthday, I only had a tuna salad and came out to 60 dollars for 2 people however! it was probably due to the consumption of alcohol though. haha.
Cute, and cozy. -
Review from Ray C.
San Francisco, CA
1/11/2011 1 photo
Nemo, my apologies. When it comes to roe, the barracuda in all of us comes out. If you're a closet barracuda, it's time to come out and let that salty burst of goodness explode in your mouth.
The spicy assorted roe over rice will definitely arouse your senses and leave you wanting more. I just took my time and savored it, not wanting it to end...yeah, it's that good. -
Review from Rio Y.
San Francisco, CA
12/17/2007
My brother turned me on to this place. He's been having the Chirashi combos for some time now, and I have to admit, they're fresh and for the amount of food you get, a good value.
The lady/owner is super nice and sweet, as everyone else here says.
I have to admit, though, that I'm not so sure about eating in. Kitschy...really, really strange. There were plastic birds, dolls, and a mish mash of all kinds of knick knacks hanging from the ceilings and walls.
The kids thought the decor was amusing. So, I guess it's entertaining to them. So, there you go. Got kids? Bring them here...there's plenty of visual entertainment for them. -
Review from Johanna R.
Redwood City, CA
8/17/2011
Great find! Came in with my family on a weeknight for dinner. We were greeted with a smile and seated right away. From the moment we walked in til we waved goodbye the service was outstanding. Friendly, fast and efficient. The Sushi was Very fresh and they have some really creative rolls. They serve ample size portions for a very fair price. At least 1/2 dozen items were brought to our table "on the house" for each of the 3 of us to try. The Chef even came out to greet us at our table. This Really is a great neighborhood Sushi Place. Our 6 year old kept raving over the food. She loved every bite. We will be back for sure.
-
Review from Jeff H.
San Francisco, CA
8/7/2008
We came here just after visiting the Conservatory of Flowers nearby. Odd that we did, too, because Balboa Sushi House felt exactly like the conservatory.
We lucked out and came late when no other customers were around. This afforded us the quickest service, but I have a feeling that, even had it been packed, we would've been treated so well by the staff.
Nothing too fancy or remarkable about the food, other than insanely enormous cuts of fish in the nigiri we ordered, and a touch too much wasabi in the same. Also, the rainbow roll we ordered came with the crab-salad-esque stuff it typically comes with, only this one was a bit too mayonnaisey for me.
I imagine prime time at BSH being Wednesdays thru Saturday evenings until around 9 or 10. Great place for date, as the dining area is large enough to allow some privacy.
I would give 3.5, which normally turns up at a 3, but I felt that would cheapen the whole thing. Four it is. -
Review from Christina B.
San Francisco, CA
12/1/2006
Where else are you going to get a combo plate including
-Salmon Teriyaki
-California Rolls
-Rice
-Salad
-Bean Sprouts
-Kimchee
-Miso Soup
All for $8.95. And no they don't skimp on portions! -
Review from Pea H.
San Francisco, CA
2/7/2007
Thanks Yelp! Thanks so much for dropping this little raw gem in my lap. After reading a few reviews I decided to go and try BSH. I'm so glad I did.
First off, The Sushi! The nigiri are huge. HUGE I SAY! The hamachi is about 4 inches long - 2 wide. I measured -- more than once. This is a 2 bite nigiri and it's like butter. And... No rice bombs! The rice is a petite serving under a flat bed o' heaven.
Second, BSH is open all week and they have long hours. I hate when you have a sushi craving on Tuesday only to remember your (old) favorite is closed. Not BSH! yay! They are only *really* closed on holidays. Call to confirm if in doubt.
Third, Mr. & Mrs. BSH. This is a family joint. Mr. Balboa makes the food, while Mrs. Balboa attends to the front. I love that. I've gone a few times that I think Mrs. Balboa remembers me. We're gonna be BFFs.
Finally, Value. Nigiri runs around $3.50 (2) and most rolls(with fish) cost $4.20 to $8. They also have a 25 piece platter for $20! You can pork out for about $30 (sushi, beer & sake) . Let me tell you-- I can pack it way.
PS--They make some tasty rolls too. Try the Hot King Roll. It's one of my favorites. It's a spicy tuna/ Calif roll. But instead of chopped tuna scraps, BSH places sashimi slices over a CA roll with a dollop of sarachi sauce and thinly sliced green onions as a garnish. It's like a fire in your mouth and everyone's all wet! and rolling around. happy.
PSS-- they serve cooked food too!! Great if the wife doesn't like the raw. (she don't).Listed in: Found it on Yelp!
-
Review from Stacy J.
San Francisco, CA
11/17/2005
Cozy and cheap. I had the nigiri sushi combo and the maki roll was composed into a 6-petal flower. Cute!
Free edamame while we waited. Salad dressing comes in a squeeze bottle so you can douse your greens as little or as much as you like. Steve had some chicken bento box and it came with kimchee and that wilted bean sprout dish you find in Korean restauarants. That was a little weird, but incongruency did not prevent me from stealing it from Steve and eating it.
We were the only ones in there on a Tuesday night, but two people came in for pick-up orders and a few more called in orders.
