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Hana Zen
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
115 Cyril Magnin St(at Ofarrell St)
San Francisco, CA 94102
Neighborhoods: Union Square, Civic Center/Tenderloin
(415) 421-2101
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11:30 am - 12 am
Fri-Sat 11:30 am - 1 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Garage, Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
292 reviews for Hana Zen
Review Highlights
"Even the sake fused cocktails are worth a try."
(in 48 reviews)
"Bacon wrapped Salmon filets - Really."
(in 4 reviews)
"...super fresh scallops and perfectly executed spicy tuna roll."
(in 15 reviews)
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292 reviews in English
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Review from Stacey G.
Dublin, CA
11/27/2011
WOW! I am a sushi person. I was invited to Hana Zen by a friend who knows I love sushi. This was an awesome, new experience. Who knew food on a stick could be so good! Every bite pulled me back for more. I walked out full but not stomach hurting full.
There were 5 of us. The food kept coming!! I didn't even need the sushi. Everything else had flavor upon flavor.
We ordered a minimum of 6 of almost all of the Yakitoris on the menu.
The ones that are on my tongue in a happy way?
Yaki Asparagus, Shishito, Negima, Butaniku Garlic Yaki, Reba, Shiitake, Hatsu, & Gyutan.
I can't wait for a chance to try Hana Zen again or find another place to compare.
Yeah! -
Review from M T.
New Haven, CT
11/27/2011
I had to think really hard about whether to give this restaurant 4 or 3 stars and I am sad to say that the price really tipped the scales.
The uni was fantastic and the food was overall lovely, it wasn't blow my socks off, but good honest sushi and yakitori (omg my iPad just autocorrect that to halitosis).
Perhaps this review isn't so much about Hana Zen as it is about San Francisco. When you charge me over $30 for an entree, I'm going to expect you to wow me or at least offer impeccable service and a lovely atmosphere.
Unfortunately, Hana Zen, as good as your food is, the environment didn't feel authentic or warm and the service was pretty apathetic. Stop trying to please the gaijin with novelty cocktails and embrace a more Japanese feel. -
Review from Bill T.
Los Angeles, CA
11/27/2011
I went to Hana Zen on their opening night years ago and when living in San Francisco in 2006-2008, it was my weekly stop.
The thing I love about this restaurant is it is consistently good. A solid little sushi joint. I have never had a bad experience there (even when the air conditioning was out and it was hot, the great wait staff and sushi chefs made "sweating to sushi" fun).
Arthur, Ramat, Victor, etc. are all super waiters and its great to go into a place that remembers what you like to drink and eat. I'd often sit down and say, "I'd like a Bill's Special, please" and they'd bring it out...perfect.
Yes, it can be a little expensive but for a consistent sushi meal, I am willing to spend a few extra dollars. -
Review from G M.
Mililani, HI
1/26/2012
A very accommodating and friendly restaurant. They sat us five minutes until they were closing for their employee party, and every time we ate there the food and service was good. Will dine there again when we visit San Francisco again.
-
Review from M C.
San Francisco, CA
1/8/2012 1 Check-in Here
A decent sushi place, just not worth the price they are asking. The only reason this place even has business is it's location, right near several hotels and club. The sister location at Pier 39 has little if any business each day.
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Review from L T.
Oakland, CA
1/7/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Stomachache. I just left the place. The fish was blah. Ordered uni, hotate, hamachi, poke, etc. Service was 3 stars. Food 1-2 stars. There are better Japanese restaurants in the area, head north-west of union sq.
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Review from Jessica G.
Daly City, CA
Hana zen is by far one of the better japanese cuisines ive been to in san francisco. Their service is excellent, price is reasonable for the high quality of ingredients and they have a very aesthetic decor and presentation as well. My compliments to this fine establishment.
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Review from Ann W.
San Francisco, CA
1/10/2012
I always love Japanese and hate to give a low review to a Japanese restaurant in the city. But this one really needs to improve their service and the fish quality.
My friend and I decided to leave our usual favorite Japanese and try this one. The restaurant ambiance was a bit off. The service was very inconsistent, and the sushi Sensei behind the counter didn't seem to care too much for us sitting at the sushi bar. Part of the fun of the sushi bar is to be able to observe and watch the sensai. If they are not busy, maybe to carry a conversation. There was a master sensai there, he was very focused on the preparation, but complete ignored us customers, as if we were not the ones to enjoy his food. If the sashimi/ sushi came out delicious, I could probably bear the poor service. But it was not the case...uni was not as fresh as my favorite Japanese resaturant, the fish was not as good....there is potential for this restaurant to turn around, but for now, I wouldn't recommend it. -
Review from Leah B.
Pleasanton, CA
10/9/2011 1 Check-in Here
Came here as a rebound choice...Craving for sushi, and since Dojima-Ann refused to accomodate us for a party of 4 Adults & 4 Kids to sit together. This place is huge, and had no problem seating us all together in a private seating area.
This place goes with the saying...you get what you pay for! Yes they're a lil bit pricey...our tab for all with drinks & tip was about $250. However, great service & sushi was deliciously fresh.
Thanks Dojima-Ann,
For letting us have a great experience at Hana Zen! -
Review from Christian W.
Laguna Niguel, CA
9/11/2011
My girlfriend has been to this place a year ago and we were looking forward to some good sushi. Unfortunately the food was not at all what she remembered nor what we consider good. None of the food we ordered seemed to be fresh and for what it was, it was to pricey.
Nice atmosphere and the waitress was very friendly and care taking. But not a place we would go back to. -
Review from Brandon O.
Fort Lauderdale, FL
1/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Good food and service. The interior could use some decorating help. Was not cheap, but I guess we were in San Fran. Was right across the streetfrom our hotel, otherwise I am not sure we wouldve found it...open table and others didnt have it listed. A pretty good casual sushi place.
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Review from Duc T.
Sloughhouse, CA
11/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Our waiter Victor was one of the best servers I've ever had. He was so personable and knowledgeable. I will return just because of Victor.
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Review from Shelley O.
Nederland, CO
12/8/2011
We met up for dinner at Hana Zen and it was a nice treat. Tasty sushi, nicely prepared with much variety for the table. The mochi was new to me and was fun! Relaxed atmosphere, although a little noisy where we were seated. A lighted sign would be useful; it has hard to find in the dark
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Review from Erika C.
10/20/2011
Tourist trap... everything is a few dollars more than it should be. If you're in a hurry and don't want to wait, the food isn't bad, it's just overpriced. Nothing to write home about either. Convenient location.
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Review from Amanda B.
3/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
******************* REVIEW 464*************************
Hana Zen and Yakitori Bar is definitely a cute location for date. Located on the top floor of First Crush, right across from the Mariott and Fusion Hotels.
They only use Binchotan charcoal, Japanese ingredients, free-range chicken, lamb, Kobe beef, and the highest quality meat and decent price for this part of town. I also like the window tables looking down to the street, people watching!
- Sunonomo - seafood and cumber salad is good.
- Hamachi Kama - is decent here.l.
- There are a few rolls that is good and generous portion to share: Hana Zen, Lion King and Dynamite rolls.
Although sushi and sashimi are not my choices here, I do prefer these Yakitori selections below, they are tasty:
- Hotate Bacon Maki (sacallop wrap in bacon),
- Rumu Yaki (New Zealand lamb chop),
- Gyutan (beef tongue),
- Reba (chiken liver),
- Butaniku garlic yaki (garlic pork)
Service was OK. Parking around here can be expensive, if you park at the Handlery Union Square Hotel on a week night, flat rate valet $13 only (pick up your car before midnight), 1 block up much better than valet at Marriott for minimum $20!Listed in: Sushilicious
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Review from Will T.
Manhattan, NY
7/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
This is my first one star and...that's not a good thing...
Generic sushi choices. Worst sushi I have ever eaten. My colleagues and I all agree on this point. Group of 8, and it was unanimous that this place is to be avoided.
To make things worse, my manager and I got food poisoning from the sushi here. Very unfortunate, but not surprised with the quality of food. Price is way overpriced as well.
Summary: Bad food, high prices. Lose lose. -
Review from Christy Z.
San Francisco, CA
3/23/2011 3 photos
3.5 Stars
I like this place. Nice casual atmophere and friendly staff, but it's a little expensive for me. We had edamame, seaweed salad, Crunchy Tuna Roll and 49er roll and a beer and some sake - with tax and tip - almost $70. Egads. Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll is my go-to and Hana Zen's was good, but I've had better at other places. I thought it was interesting that the crunchy part was was panko crumbs and not tempura batter, which i'm more used to. -
Review from Garran C.
Honolulu, HI
5/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Although this restaurant came highly recommended by a former San Francisco resident we were definitely not impressed with the food quality for their price-point.
Don't get me wrong, the food is prepared and presented wonderfully but for their price-point we expected a more from this little restaurant which is conveniently located just a few blocks away from Union Square. -
Review from Melanie Z.
San Francisco, CA
10/18/2011
Love, love, love! The lamb, the hamachi kama, the sushi... all delicious. Everytime we stay in Union Square we visit Hana Zen.
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Review from W C.
San Francisco, CA
6/28/2011
I got a gift certificate of theirs so my bf and I decided to go.
We ordered hot wings and garlic fries as appetizer. Both are good. I don't eat fish, so I ordered some beef bento as my main course and my bf order some combination sushi plate. Both are okay. I don't know why they expect me to eat my salad without dressing.
The two drinks we had were below average. I had mango mojito and my bf had mango margarita. Maybe mango is just not the perfect cocktail fruit/flavor cause our drinks both tasted like cough syrup.
The waitress is very nice but their service is indeed on the slow side.
It wasn't a bad experience over-all but with so many more much better places, we will probably not go there again. -
Review from Lora M.
Like it or not, I love to flirt even if I already have the best. Come on, when you're hungry and faraway who wouldn't be tempted? Today, I gave this place a shot and although it may not be the best, it was worth it.
I gave a 4 star rating because there's no 3.8 star option. I ordered dragon roll it was good but not the best. They have the best yellow tail (belly) nigiri. I highly recommend it's full of flavors and fresh.
Staffs are prompt, sushi chef is friendly and conversational which was nice especially when you go alone like I did. I would definitely come back here again.Listed in: Favorite Places
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Review from Yuki M.
11/13/2010
Upon arriving in SF after another beautiful drive from OC (minus the speeding ticket in the canyons), we settle in to Parc55 and then head downstairs and across the street for dinner.
I left the task of ordering to my partner-in-dine *dodges tomatoes* so that I could observe people through the window and analyze postural deviations and foot strike (don't ask).
Chicken, bacon, asparagus, garlic, onions, beef steak, salmon filet, quail egg, pork belly, beef tongue, and chicken gizzard were ordered along with more things on skewers that I have forgotten. What I DO remember is that everything was quite good, with the exception of the organ meats which were fairly tough and over-cooked.
The winners of the evening were the quail egg wrapped in bacon and the salmon fillet. Wonderful, flavourful, balanced, and perfectly cooked.
Menu items delivered to the table were agedashi tofu, spicy tuna and octopus salad, and something else, all of which were quite tasty.
The bills comes it's nearly HALF of what I expected it to be. Impressive.
Not the best but far from the worst. I will mark this as a return spot when I come back. -
Review from Loan B.
Westminster, CA
1/11/2011
Last day in SF and needed to satisfy my sushi craving. Walked by and saw 3 star review. Decided to take a chance on it. Horrible mistake.
I came a little earlier than lunch time so the place was pretty empty. I had ordered the 12 piece sashimi and the rainbow roll. Rainbow roll was decent. The 12 piece sashimi was pretty bad.
I am a big salmon fanatic so when I saw the dish, I knew it would not be so great. The salmon itself did not have any fatty taste to it. The cut was made too rectangular and too thick. I almost wanted to give up on salmon altogether.
The albacore (my second fav fish) was blah.
The yellowtail....forget about it.
Needless to say, I was so disappointed w/ the place.
Like Cecile said, the food does not justify the price. The place was cute. The service was fine. It's just the food wasn't good.
The place did become pretty busy when I left. Different ppl, different opinion. I probably would not return. -
Review from Glen F.
Huntington Beach, CA
11/6/2010 5 photos
I've read through some of the reviews and see that most seem to be focused on the sushi. My review is focused on the yakitori so if you're looking for a sushi opinion, move along. On the other hand, if you're a fan of food on a stick, read on!
So my friend and I arrive for an early dinner, hungry and ready to try out the yakitori offerings. We had some nice seats right next to the window - great for watching the world go by while feeding our increasing hunger.
Started with a nice salad and also a tuna tako poke dish. Nice chunks of tuna and octopus, beatifully prepared and presented.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
One of my favorites is ordering agedashi tofu. Light sauce, lightly fried, a pleasant preparation for the food to come.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
So where is all this yakitori you keep telling me you plan to eat? Well, here it comes!
Filet Mignon - soft, tender - great way to start things out
Pork wrapped Asparagus - when we ordered, I asked if this was bacon wrapped asparagus, which we all know is fantastic, and they told me this was thinly sliced pork. Yeah, nice, but it's just not the same.
Beef tongue - this tends to be hit or miss when I order it - either soft and fantastic, or tough and chewy. These were a little on the chewy side
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
What's next?
Bacon wrapped Salmon filets - Really? she says. I'm thinking anything wrapped in bacon has to taste good, doesn't it? Oh, and yes it was good. The fact that they managed to skewer a giant filet was a happy surprise, since we were expecting just small chunks of salmon.
Garlic Pork - Also very good! You can see how juicy the pieces were
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
I may have missed a dish or two, but overall, a great meal! I'm getting ready to pay the piper and see what my damages are for dinner. I'm reading the list, and I see:
Subtotal
Tax
SF Surcharge SF Healthy
Total...
Hey, back up one item - really, you're charging me a surcharge to cover the health insurance costs? I managed to eat the rest of the extended weekend without having to pay this. Sigh.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Well, overall, more good items than average items and the surprise surcharge. Even with that, I'd still come back on my next visit to the Bay. -
Review from Syl P.
Mountain View, CA
11/5/2011
Good grilled squid! Highly recommend it. Tasty, good texture, and nice presentation. Udon noodle soup was good too. Chicken heart, chicken meatball and scallop with bacon wrap are okay. Vegetable tampura was nice. All in all, good stop for a nice afternoon with friends. Pricy though, but expected being so close to Union Square.
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Review from Deirdre P.
San Francisco, CA
3/13/2011
I've been here a few times, most recently last night. The ambiance and service isn't anything special. The prices are, like some other reviewers mentioned, a little high. That said, the food is decent, but probably not better than other places with similar prices.
I had the 49ers roll and the cucumber/seaweed salad. Both were good. The only major issue I had was that they didn't really seem to understand that when I said explicitly "I am allergic to shrimp and soy sauce!" they still put my sushi rolls next to my friend's on one plate - her rolls having both of those two things I cannot eat. So, let's say they're not so understanding of allergy issues. Just a little warning. Oh, and bring your own gluten-free soy sauce here, because they don't have it. -
Review from Roger H.
San Francisco, CA
8/21/2011
Been here many times and the service and food has always been consistent. On my most recent trip I ordered some crispy chicken skin from the yakatori grill. It gave the chicken skin a very unique smoky flavor.
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Review from Sarah S.
Crownsville, MD
12/7/2010
We picked Hana Zen(after a very long day of tours) for two reasons: 1. it was a few steps from our hotel 2. it was still open.. With that said we walked in with little expectations and left only mildly disappointed. We ordered a few rolls, the best being the shiitake (oddly enough).. The waiter was friendly and attentive.. however the sushi tasted more like it came from a grocery store then a sushi restaurant..
While I can't say I'd never go back.. it would only be if i needed something quick and it was late at night.. -
Review from Helen L.
9/24/2010
Pros:
The menu is vast. The fish is fresh. The food presentation is decent. The prices are a pinch higher than most of the other locations in the area, but still moderate.
Cons:
It ranks average amongst its competition in the area, so that extra pinch in price isn't worth the extra pinch in price.Listed in: Give it to me raw! (SF Bay)
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Review from Jenny Z.
San Francisco, CA
3/5/2011
Great flavor and presentation, a little shy on the portion given the price.
the sunset strip was very refreshing with yummy sauce, ebi nigiri + fried head was awesomely sweet and crunchy. what else, oh chawamushi was very 'Q' in texture, tinyyyy tho~ the chicken gizzard and fish skewer was nicely done as well. -
Review from Taffany H.
Berkeley, CA
11/26/2010
Having rolled into town and checking into the hotel at 2100 hours with four ravenous stomachs to feed, Hana Zen was one of the choices that made sense for the following reasons:
1. Dinner hours: 5pm to 1am. If you are around union square and either observe dinner time according to the Spanish tradition or are just a little late in finding grubs then look no further.
2. Decent Yakitori. Again the emphasis is on the word decent because there's not much to write home about.
3. Did I already mention that their dinner service is open until 1am? Yeah..
Anyway, I would recommend you to go ahead and skip the black cod unless you're in the market for some over-cooked, over-seasoned, and over-priced piece of fish. -
Review from Candace F.
San Francisco, CA
2/1/2011
This place is definitely overpriced and we ordered 2 rolls and 1 appetizer and it came out to $40. The location is convenient and there seemed to be a lot of business travelers sitting at the bar. I met up with a friend and we didn't even have a full meal. We had a the tofu with shitake mushrooms with a sweet sauce. The mushroom sauce was what made the tofu good - gave it a good flavor. The rolls were average - the fish on top were semi-fresh and thinly sliced on the rainbow roll.
The restaurant was quiet and not much noise. I was able to have a friendly chat with a friend without having to raise my voice. Let's just say I walked out still hungry. Service was a little bit slow but if you dig male waiters serving you - this is the place for you. I probably won't be returning unless my friend wants to come here again. -
Review from Constance C.
East Bay, CA
10/26/2010
Should have listened to yelp and not come here... Definitely one of the worst sushi places I've ever been to...
The fish isn't particularly fresh and the whole place just seems kind of dirty. I guess my biggest gripe against it is that it's extremely expensive for what it is. -
Review from Christina C.
Santa Clara, CA
9/27/2010 1 Check-in Here
Really hungry and looking for sushi... but we're WALKING! So we walk out of the Hilton and Yelp shows me a few options nearby. As we walk closer to "the sushi place", I see a huge sign that says "SUSHI"
So we go here.
Average results on yelp AND its pricey. I wouldn't have come but its right here.
It's an unusually hot day in SF! We walk in and get a weird look from the hostess AND I immediately notice that there is no AC.
We DO, however, get a nice window seat. But it reeks of beer - like it spilled everywhere and was wiped up but not CLEANED up.
We ordered something light - some sashimi and ca rolls - just to hold us over until dinner.
The sashimi was fresh! But I wouldn't come back. It was a tad pricey and the ambiance was not worth it. -
Review from Timothy P.
Denver, CO
6/16/2011
When I pay forty plus dollars for a dinner in a city full of amazing culinary indulgences, I expect something special. Was the food good? Sort of... I have had better for half the price. The restaurant is full of awkward angles and the view Cyril Magnin street can often be less than savory, this restaurant is on the border of one of San Francisco's most challenged neighborhoods (IE. The Tenderloin AKA the TL). Service was a "B" and cleanliness was a "C-". If you want to know how the kitchen of a restaurant probably looks, first check out the bathroom and you should have a good idea of how tight of ship they run. I am a stickler for cleanliness, especially when I am going to eat raw seafood. They have a decent section on their menu for both food and beverage.
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Review from John F.
Houston, TX
8/18/2011
Whenever we visit San Francisco....this is one of my favorite Sushi Spots!
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Review from Molly S.
Minneapolis, MN
7/14/2011
I loved this place. Ambiance was fine, nothing fancy, but nice. The food was great and I tried things there that I've never had. Agi-Dashi (spl) and Go'mai (spl) was heaven and the Tempura Dynamite Roll was wonderful. The portions were a little small, but I was happy to have found such a great spot conveniently near the hotel I was at.
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Review from Trey E.
9/5/2010 1 Check-in Here
The St. Regis concierge recommended Hana Zen when I asked for a reasonably priced sushi place near Westfield. Man was she spot-on. The house car dropped us off out front and I was expecting something decent, but after ordering and the food started to arrive I was very impressed.
We started with the carpaccio and some edamame. Edamame was run-of-the-mill, but the beef was spectacular. Heavily peppered and seared just enough to make the pepper cling on to the meat, which was topped with chives and a bit of a salty sauce. On to the mains... I got the less expensive of the three combos, the Nami Sushi at $21, which actually impressed me more than the more expensive option my coworker got, the Jo combo. The cali roll was stuffed full of fresh (real) crab, and the chef's choice of nigiri was all excellent.
The service was attentive, though nothing out of the ordinary. The real attraction here is the freshness of the food, the quality of the sushi, and the value you get. I'll be coming back. -
Review from Sherry R.
Whitefish, MT
3/1/2011
Absolutely the BEST Sushi ever. Sushi Chef Jason was fantastic, he created rolls off the menu that were mouthwatering delicious. A true Chef. Very nice atmosphere and the staff was very friendly. Would highly recommend and if I I ever visit San Fran again I will visit.
Thank you -
Review from Char K.
Brighton, MA
7/21/2010
Came here for lunch on a Friday with two friends and was severely disappointed. In fact, this is probably the worst sushi experience I have ever had, and prompted my joining Yelp to write a review.
Some of the fish was not fresh to the point where it was inedible -- it both smelled and tasted off. The actual nigiri we were served didn't line up with what was listed on the menu, and food was extremely overpriced -- three dollars and fifty cents for a can of soda. Will not be coming back. Ever. Avoid if at all possible.
