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Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhoods: Pacific Heights, JapantownWe validate for Japan Center Garage!
Just park in the garage and Come to eat at Isobune Sushi or Kushitsuru restaurant in Japantown!
Mon-Sun. 11:30 a.m. - 10:00 p.m.
"I'm almost offended by some of the so-so reviews given here. Ten-Ichi is a fantastic family owned Sushi restaurant. They've been in business…" read more »
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Had lunch here with an out of town guest today and still fun for some decent and basic Japantown sushi, even after all these years.
Want killer sushi with a hipster vibe and cool tunes? Check out Sushi Bistro at 24th Street and York but be prepared to drop a few dimes on the grub, suds and parking.
Funny story - I HATE sushi. I went here to please my date. I mean, I drag his butt to Pho, so I will tag along for sushi. I'm working on developing a taste for it though, I SWEAR!
Anyway, this is my date's FAVORITE spot to enjoy sushi. I drank Sake and tried my hardest to swallow some of this yuck.
I think the place is cute with the little boats. Service could have been a tad faster and the chef could have pulled a few items off the boats after like 6 turns through the room. Some were looking a little sketchy.
I'll go again to continue my battle with enjoying raw fish wrapped in seaweed. GULP
My Sushi's on a boat ( it's on a boat)
My Sushi's on a boat (it's on a boat)
Everybody look at me 'cause I'm eating off a boat ( sushi on a boat)
My sushi's on a boat
Take a good hard look at the motherf-cking sushi on the boat
My sushi's on a boat motherf-cker take a look at me
Straight floating on a boat on the deep blue sea
Busting five knots, wind whipping at my coat
You can't stop me motherf-cker cause I'm eating off a boat
Take a picture, trick (trick)
My sushi's on a boat, bitch (bltch)
We drinking Sapporo champ,
Cause it's oh so dry
I got my swim trunks
And my flippie-floppies
I'm eating sushi, you at Kinko's
Straight flipping copies
I'm riding on a dolphin, doing flips and shlt
The dolphin's splashing, getting everybody all wet
But this ain't Seaworld, this is real as it gets
My sushi's on a boat, motherf-cker, don't you ever forget !
Never thought I'd see the day
When a big boat full of sushi was coming my way
Believe me when I say
I f-cked a mermaid
My sushi's on a boat ( it's on a boat )
Too expensive and not fresh. Everyone was sitting for who knows how long and the sushi chef didn't care! I guess he finally realized no one liked the items, so he pulled some off the boats (me thinking he's going to change it up w/ something different AND FRESH) and sprinkled some water or some type of juice to make it look like he replaced the plates! That is gross...and just cheap of them! Did they forget customer can see everything they do?
Because I was so hungry, I decided to just order something from the menu. You'd figure this atleast, would be fresh. We waited about 10 minutes and when they finally brought it to me, it was soggy. Grr! And my 3rd item never came. Paid the bill $16 for 3 plates...and left NO TIP!
I will never come back here. Forget that it's in Japantown! For something inexpensive and more bang-for-your-buck, go to Sakana Bune on Geary between 21st & 22d. It's less expensive and tastes much better! (e.g. Isobune $5.95 item is only $2.95 at Sakana Bune.)
I've always enjoyed going to a sushi boat place. I like grabbing things off the boats and having the option to order directly from a server.
We got there around 1:00 PM and missed the huge crowds but we still had to wait for about 30 minutes for seating for three, not bad.
I ended up spending about $24 on sushi by myself. It adds up quick so be mindful of how many plates you grab (if you're on a budget like me). If you don't see what you like you can ask one of the servers to order it for you from the sushi chefs.
Good service and good food. Yum!
I must say although this is mediocre sushi, this is hands down the best sushi boat in sf. Please do not even bother with isobune burligame.
For new sushi eaters, try to be patient and carefully pick out the fresh ones. The ones that dont look plastic.
Now I remember why I don't do sushi boats. My indecisiveness. At a regular restaurant, I spend 5 minutes to contemplate. Here, it took me at least 3 circles before choosing a plate. That's a lot of boat-watching than actual eating.
But it wasn't entirely my fault. The indecipherable rolls added to my hesitance. Random concoctions. Seriously could not tell what was in some of those things.
The few items I did eat were decent. There are rolls made to order. Just simple one with only 4 pieces. Nothing impressive. I just can't believe they didn't have spicy tuna roll that day!!
The only thing that I truly enjoyed and was impressed by was their sashimi. Those are also made to order. I thought the presentation was simple yet beautiful. Instead of thick chunky slices, their sashimi is more thin and angular.
Disgusting, I went here to check it out, I watched as the same sushi went around and around over 4 times. Not just one, everything... It seemed like it had been on its merry voyage all day long. the rice was visibly stale. I finally decided to save one of these miserable excuses for sushi, it was the worse sushi I have ever had, and if had Costco and Safeway sushi. I wouldn't be surprised to find better sushi at some desert truck stop in Texas. It's a shame you cant give 0 stars because this place doesn't even deserve the one.
2 Words, very expensive. Apparently a tourist trap, whatever that means.
1st visit was 13 years ago, 2 pieces of sushi then was $2.5 minimum, equivalent to $5 today. And those were the cheapest ones.
Would not go out of my way to come here. They seem to be the best though.
It's kinda funny and awkward to see all the people starring at the food on boats but no one eating. I can just tell they are thinking "damn this is expensive but I want to eat, I better get some or ill look cheap".
This is a fun place to go for small intimate gatherings. Expect to be sitting elbow to elbow with your friends and strangers.
I like the choices they have, it's pretty unique from just typical sushi rolls. With that said, there aren't that many choices to choose from. If you like sushi rolls you'll have to order from the kitchen because the boat carries mostly other stuff like hand rolls and two pieces.
If you go at a slow time... expect the same thing to pass you by over and over again looking sadder by the minute. But if you go a busy time, expect to wait at least 30 minutes before you get to sit down. It's not so bad because you can wander the Japantown mall.
The service is friendly and very attention :)
You don't come here for great sushi or sashimi but sometimes it's fun to just watch the boats and seeing what may come next...yes, even for locals!
I do like their "dragon roll", which is california roll w/ eel on top. It melts in the mouth and I had a sudden craving for that when we walked by...so we put our name down and walked around.
Food isn't bad and you get to pick...so pay attention and only pick the ones that are fresh. If all fail, order what you want. Something new that we haven't seen before: 4 fried shrimp heads - this is one reason we order amaebi so we were happy to grab that plate. Maguro sashimi.
What we found troubling and the reason for 2 stars - either folks are clueless or just plain rude, you do NOT put something you pulled from the boat back! You touch it - it's yours! It's up to the workers there to stop this disgusting act from happening but they didn't - this is also the first place I've seen Mexcian sushi chef...enough said.
I was surprised at the low ratings for this place! This is my one of my fav places to have sushi, but I must admit, it is pricey. I'd recommend coming for dinner though because that's when they have a bigger variety of sushi and they're more fresh. And also come early. They don't seat many people around the table, so there's usually a wait.
But yeah, after reading all the mediocre reviews on this place, I'm thinking maybe I should expand my horizon and find some other place that isn't as expensive, a tourist trap, and tastes good.
[M]ona: 3.5 Stars
[W]ayne: 3 Stars
Average: 3.25 Stars
+ Reasonable Prices
+ First Sushi Boat Restaurant in the US (or claims to be...)
+ Decent Food
- Crampy
- Helpful yet not so helpful waitresses
[W] This was a sushi boat spot that Mona and I wanted to visit to celebrate our 9 months. I haven't been here for sooooooo many years since I came with my mom. Isobune offers a lot more options than Sakana Bune on Geary and 22nd along with a higher price range as well. It's reasonable for them to charge that since they offer more "specialty" sushi such as hand rolls (which you normally have to order that with the waiter/waitress), and also Uni (sea urchin) which a lot of places don't have. The California rolls here actually use real crab instead of imitation crab so that made a big difference.
I would've liked them to make more hand rolls but people kept taking them! I guess it tastes that good! As far as the food, everything was pretty much good. Downside of this restaurant is that it is SO CRAMPED. I swear I was playing elbow war with the person next to me, and also some Caucasian guy kept looking at our food giving us the "what the hell are they eating" look. The waitress' are nice but kind of oblivious to what they were doing in terms of cleaning. Me and Mona are eating and one of the waitress's kept cleaning the area next to us. The utensils were pretty much set up already and she walked away just to come back a few minutes later to move the napkin and chopsticks literally a couple of centimeters to the right and left again......OCD maybe? The other waitress kept coming over to keep filling our tea.
Normally this is a good thing but not to the point where it's interrupting our conversation and our meal as well. I'll be sticking a piece of sushi in my mouth and here come an arm out of nowhere grabbing my tea cup every other minute! I couldn't even kiss Mona without going through the battle field of Ms Tea's arm haha. Other than their weird service the food was good. Parking shouldn't be an issue since there's street parking, and if you can't find a spot, they also have a garage on the same block, paid parking of course.
[M] Wayne pretty much covered everything I wanted to say. Our total was $56.01 plus tip for 15 plates. We will be back!
I have low expectations for both conveyor belt / floating boat sushi and for restaurants in japan center. Combine the two and my expectation level was basically rock bottom. If the food was even passable I would have thrown a parade.
Alas, Isobune could not live up to even my most meager of expectations. The raw fish tasted borderline rancid. The only things that were even edible were drowned in either mayonnaise or some other sort of sauce that masked the flavor of the meat. My friend and I struggled through four tiny plates each (leaving significant leftovers) before both agreeing that this was just a terrible experience and leaving to go get hamburgers. In my entire life, this is the first and only time I have ever cut a meal short at a restaurant because of the quality of the food. I drove as fast as possible to our next dinner destination because I just needed to put something else in my mouth to get rid of the funky aftertaste that was plaguing me like, uh, the plague.
The next day, my aforementioned friend spent the entire day vomiting from food poisoning. Thank you Isobune. See you in hell.
There's not really much to say about a Japanese restaurant in Japantown. To put it bluntly, it's for the tourists.
But on a whim (and after checking prices between Shabu-Sen & Benihana), my love and I decided to try this place. If not for the love of Japanese food, at least for the entertainment of pulling your own food off of boats.
The. Same. Sushi. Kept. Getting. Put. Out. and. Replaced. It was nearly humorous. The chef would move a plate of sushi from one spot on the boat to another. Really pointless and expensive.
I was disappointed to say the least. The food was mediocre at best. I liked the fact that it was pre-prepared (instant gratification!) but you could tell which ones had been left on the boat too long.
Staff was friendly (but they didn't offer to refill my Coke? No free refills?). The space was crowded (I was elbow to elbow with the diners next to me). Sushi boat dining ONLY. Limited selection on the boats.
More attentive staff, better quality, more selection would be a few choice recommendations. I could complain and nitpick all day but the real error is me: The best Japanese restaurants are NOT in Japantown.
i dont normally eat at any of the places in the japantown plaza because it's usually where tourists go while enjoying their faux san francisco experience. But and old friend who does not live in the city suggested to eat here.
to be honest i dont think i've ever ate at a sushi boat restaurant before. where you pick up plates of food floating by in front of you and each plate is color coded to correspond to a certain price ranging from like $2-$10 (mostly around $4).
cute concept really.. but after a couple plates you realize you've ate like 4 pieces of sushi for like $20.... it's so easy to drop $40/person here without even feeling full.
i dont mind paying money in the bank for good quality food (hell, i'll drop a G on some louboutins) but for this quality?? i'll pass!
for a quickie sushi fix, come here. OMG, i have never eaten so much sushi in such a limited time ever.
ever since i got a $53 parking ticket while eating a burrito in the Mish a couple of months ago, i always watch my meter while dining. but today was beyond belief. i could have walked out of there in 6 minutes flat if i did not engage in friendly conversation with total strangers in the restaurant. I came here during lunch hour rush on a Saturday to insure quick turn over of the naked fish on the floating boats.
a quick snatching of hamachi, baby octopus, hamachi again, ikura (salmon eggs), kani (crab),negihama and a spicy tuna which was way too spicy for me.
and i am a spicy kind of guy!
but also being extremely Chinese, i did not wish to waste food so I offered the remaining spicy tuna sushi to my neighbor who promptly wolfed it down. turns out my neighbor was in the food industry as a sous chef in wine country. so we started chatting about food and such.
i stay for another 10 minutes chatting after i already paid for my lunch.
but the friendly waitstaff never ever gave me an evil eye about hogging up a paying space in the still full with people waiting sushi counter.
thank God i made it back it back to my car without receiving a ticket too!
good sushi. the floating boats on water thing is a novelty that surprising hasn't worn out yet. just… Read more »
Alright... I know places in the Mall tend to be a tourist trap. But we thought we would give them a try since my two favorite places were closed. I would say Isobune is more like a tourist merry go round. Where unsuspecting tourist watch high priced sushi go around in boats. Unable to leave because of the calling of the mysterious next boat.
The only good thing about eating here was their new special offer.. parking validation.
I thought the sushi was solid (3 stars) though certainly not the best I've had. The extra star is for the fun sushi boats which were always stocked and ready to go. The sake is cheap too.
This place reminds me of some places in urban Japan, communing shoulder-to-shoulder with fellow hungry diners.
Had a late lunch here and it was pretty full. Nice lively atmosphere, although not a place for those that require elbow room. Set up is 'moat seating only', along an oval ring with a swift current carrying boats of assorted sushi. Be quick, or your sushi might not make it back to you.
To me, the sushi was okay. I hoped for more variety to tempt me into eating more. The service was friendly and very efficient.
My girlfriend and I spent $71, and we weren't full. Some of the food circulating, you could tell has been sitting there all day.. The edaname were bone cold.
First time I came here I liked it because I thought the prices were pretty good for just eating sushi boat. Their places usually come in 2 pieces. The second or third time I ate there, I think their sashimi wasnt fresh or something, didnt taste right. kinda weird. This place has a lot of raw stuff so if you dont like any raw stuff dont go here. there are many other restaurants next to it that arent bad.
Wow it's been years since I've been to a sushi boat joint, and even then I didn't order because I was too focused on tracking down the boats haha. So as you can imagine there are sushi boats that float around an island in your face until you can't resist anymore and want to grab everything. Of course I can't resist anyways so I grab oysters, unagi, edamame, salmon, etc. They have different colored plates to let you know how much the cost is of the food you're grabbing. The tea is complimentary I never would've known if Mr. Melendez wouldn't of asked, haha thanks hun =P. Everything was really good, except I wasn't impressed with the tempura shrimp, but I didn't grab it so hey wasn't my fault lol. $32.30 we had a good tummy full of food each and were good to go.
I have been coming here off and on for 15+ years and this is one of the few places that consistantlybgives good prompt service. Nice selection of sushi - good for the beginning sushi eaters as well as those who are a bit more daring.
Service has always been good and attentive. You never feel like you have to look for your server when you need something because they come by often to fill you tea or just to see if you are looking for something in particular.
Yes, it is very touristy and may not be for sushi snobs but hey, lighten up, have fun and enjoy it for what it is.
I see this place as a test of skill. You know like becoming a samurai or something hardcore like that.
You sit down abruptly squeezing yourself into a round table of diners you literally are competing against for your food. Like caveman times, you eye your prey and wait for the perfect moment to pounce!
The tough bit that requires an adept eye is half of what you see is entirely inedible. It's dry and crusty, the seaweed is mushy, or maybe it's lukewarm. Well duh, it's been on that boat all night because everyone knows it's a sub-optimal morsel of sushi unfit for man!
So I watch stealthily for the sushi chefs putting down new plates. Snatch them up when you have a chance! They might not come around a 2nd time. If all else fails, order from the waitress, but you MUST check first to make sure your order doesn't already exist on a boat - otherwise she'll just grab you that gross stale piece of carcass and serve it to you like she just made it! Personally, I wait until all orders of whatever I want to eat is cleared from the boats, then order. Works like a charm!
Eat here, and let the force be with you...
i really wasn't impressed with this place at all. theres no variety here and for some reason the sushi pieces were huge it was almost unappetizing.
it seemed pricey for the quality too..
i don't know. go elsewhere. didn't seem very authentic to me.
3.5 stars*
Quality is decent, I suppose. I think it would be better if I didn't see the fish all around me, and it was put on a pretty plate or something, you know what I mean?
Prices are awesome. That one thing..with the crab+unagi+uni is HEAVENLY. Everyone I like condensed onto 1 huge bite. NYOM NYOM.
I'd go here when I want a LOT of sushi but don't want to wait long, nor pay a fortune. So, go here just for food. Not for the dining experience or service (which really consists of pouring tea/water and calculating the tab at the end).
OH, and if you want peace of mind for fresh fish, just order it from the menu...I don't think they mind.
Located across the street from New People, Isobune provided me with an okay meal to tide me over until the next day.
Be wary of the items on the sushi boat. Although I came in a little bit after 8 pm, some of the items look like they've been going around more than a few times. Some tasted acceptable like the unagi and the spicy salmon roll. The griiled teriyaki squid was tough. You can also order a la carte, and the hamachi handroll was good.
My friend and I ordered a total of 6 items which came to $24 without tip. Not bad, but I wouldn't be rushing to go back.
I came here after the YEE event at New People looking for some dinner and was in a sushi mood.
The sushi boat takes up most of the restaurant. No individual tables and chairs to sit at. These boats move very fast and you have a second to decide if you want the sushi before it moves away. Luckily, the selections tend to repeat frequently, so if you miss out, another will come by soon. I got 6 little plates of sushi with miso soup. None of the sushi stood out, but it was decent.
If you want a quick bite to eat and the place isn't too busy, this is a good place to check out.
This used to be soooo much better couple of years ago, when my family and I used to come here often. I feel like the prices are a bit ridiculous, and I know it is sushi, but with the prices, I can actually get better sushi elsewhere. The concept is cute of course, sushi on a boat.
Wish there is more sushi choices, seems like it is the same thing floating around and around.
Aside from that, service is great.
There are so many choices in Japantown for sushi, and I was really disappointed I chose to eat here. The only pro I can see is their service, which was great --attentive, friendly, and accommodating (2 stars)
The sushi does not taste BAD. However, it is definitely nothing special and pretty pricey, considering you get 2/3 pieces for $4.00. I'm not complaining about the price, so much as I am complaining about the quality-- that what you get for that amount is definitely not worth it. After eating 3 plates, I wanted to leave, but I also didn't want to not give this place a chance, so my bf and I tried maybe 5 more plates (but again, nothing great). A lot of it tastes as if it were made a while ago, something that you would eat at a sushi buffet (although they brought it from the back). In addition, there was a very small selection on the actual boat.
If you are in Japantown, looking for some good sushi/Japanese food, I would definitely recommend eating somewhere else!
There are two different addresses for Isobune Sushi here on Yelp, and to clarify, 1737 Post Street, (between Buchanan St. and Webster St), is the correct one. It is located inside the Kentetsu Mall, next to Benihana's.
Isobune delivers fast and friendly service, and top quality sushi. Due to the ongoing customer turnover, everything on the boat goes quickly, so nothing actually sits there long enough for it to go bad.
Aside from the never-ending mini-plate freshness, which flows on the sushi boats, special rolls and sashimis can also be ordered through the wait staff which are prepared from their back kitchen.
Prices are slightly higher here than most other places in the city, thanks to the herds of tourists that hang out here. Even so, I still visit Isobune once in a while.
Some of their rolls are prepared differently than what I'm used to, ingredient wise, and it is also larger in size. The colors of each plate Red, Orange, Blue, Black, Red, Gold... refers to the price of the plate. You can expect to pay up to $80-$100 for two, without drinks.
*Limited bar seating only. Expect a wait on any given time of day. Not recommended for large groups.
Amazing Service when you first walk in people get you seated quickly..
The sashimi is very fresh..You can feel like fish melt in your mouth..If you were here for the Rolls that are filled with all those crazy orange and white sauce on it then you are in the wrong place..This is the place to get some Mega Fresh Raw Fish!! it is really worth it. You might be wondering why i only gave a 4 stars...well i thought the place was a bit small and sitting area had no priavcy.. i don't like sitting at places with people i don't know plus im left handed and the person sitting on my left is right handed which is bad...lol...
It's a good place to go when you don't feel like spending a whole lot to get your sushi fix. It's better to go around 5pm. That's when there are more selections, fresher sashimi and the line is shorter. I think the chefs here are only trained to roll sushis all day. My hubby asked for uni on his oysters and the chef got very confused. So he just got a plate of uni instead. My advice, stick with what's on the boat and only the special orders they have and you'll be fine.
I am kinda sad after I came here today......
I was in jtown, and was excited to eat lunch here because my parents used to take me here all the time when i was a kid! This was one of the first sushi boat places in SF, and from my memory it was really lively and fun!
Yeah, this place was dead and empty, with a few people, but the prices were crazy! Almost $6 for 2 pieces of anything. Most of the food looked pretty dry as they went around..so i ordered a beef tataki....what a disappointment. It was like old roast beef on rice...but I HAD to finish, it was $6!
They had some different things than other sushi restaurants, but i dont think i will come back here until i have kids or something, or i would take them to sakana bune down geary.
We ate about 4plates, costing $25. Then we headed to Kukje for some korean food where we were stuffed with leftovers to bring home for $20!!! ughhhh
I really enjoyed this place, it was fun and the sushi was fresh I have eated there twice and it is now on my top 3 sushi places in SF. Most of what I like was the service!!! I feel they are ready to refill my glass the moment I am done drinking and are very helpful/effecient!!
I will be back!
The great wall was built.
Stack by stack, piece by piece, I single-handedly brought myself to the brink of mercury poisoning as I crafted my personal wall of fame.
My fingers were busy emptying boats and stacking up empty plates as if I was simply a line of code written by Mr. Php.
Isobune is a great sushi boat bar in Japantown that will leave you stuffed. It's a small space, and there will most likely be a line, but the wait can be filled with plenty of window shopping within the center.
There's a wide assortment of dishes that float by you, from sashimi to tempura pieces so you don't need to be quick on the draw. It'll come back around...
Service is attentive, they're not there to boost your ego, but there was nothing I had to wait for.
The fish was fresh, the portions were decent, and your desire for an assortment of tastes will be satisfied. Unique, fun spot in the heart of Japantown that will satisfy your deep desire to transfer the sea to your belly.
Imagine my surprise to see that what I thought would be kaiten sushi on a conveyor belt was actually boats of sushi floating in a moat of water!
Kaiten style is always fun, but I've never necessarily expected it to be great sushi. This place takes the cake. It is both entertaining AND delicious!
There were a few pieces that stood out: I loved the scallop nigiri sushi, and there was also something that resembled a shrimp salad over rice that was amazing. Everything tasted fresh, and we didn't have a single piece that we didn't like.
If I visit SF again, I will definitely try to make a stop here.
To be frank, this place has more customers who are interested in living out an anime experience than people who enjoy sushi. *No one was eating anything* when I walked in. Bad sign since that means no turnover of the raw sushi on the belt. People were talking about their sushi expertise *yet no one was eating*. There was a long wait. *Why aren't people getting up if they're not eating????*
When my wife and I finally sat down, we tried four sushi dishes, regretted that, promptly slapped a credit card on the table and paid, ran the hell out of there. Yuck.
For what its worth, all of the other restaurants in the mall area have a lot more Japanese customers than Isobune.
As I wandered through the mall, I stumbled upon this great Japanese treasure in San Francisco's Japan Town. It's authentic in all aspects! Actual Japanese chefs, real ingredients, and the "Sushi serving boat" floating on actual water! As you sit along the bar, enjoying a few drinks with some friends, you are more than welcome to grab one of the floating plates as they stream past you on a river of water. On each plate is different item, sushi, edamame, fried shrimp, etc. Each plate is color coded so it's easy to see how much your item is. There is also a menu available for other items, such as appetizers, side dishes, or dessert. I highly recommend enjoying a bottle of sake with your meal, and finishing it off with a slice of green tea cheescake! YUM! By the end of my meal, my boyfriend and I had at least ten plates stacked up in front of us... and the bill was under $50!!!
$20 card for $10 - must use in…
Neighborhood: Potrero Hill
Yelpers Happy Hour!
Daly City, CA
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
Category: Japanese
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Category: Japanese
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