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Category: Sushi Bars [Edit]
Neighborhood: Outer RichmondTue-Sat. 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Tue-Sat. 5:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
Sun. 5:00 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
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I would sell my soul for good food, especially sushi. I would stand on the corner of the street and ask for money while wearing beaten up tattered used clothes. Hey, most of the panhandlers use the money for things that are not food and shelter, why can't I use it for sushi?
When people that help run yelp, like Jessica T. write about how out of this world a place to eat is, I suggest, run don't walk to them. Her taste is impeccable.
I have had Kabuto saved in my bookmarks to try for over a year, but since the economy dropped and we've now all been working like dirty whores for a dollar, sushi has now turned into an extravagance, instead of a four times a week dinner.
Kabuto on Geary, in my hood actually, is innovative, fresh, amazing.....their food surpasses my dream of sushi. And get this, they have a female sushi chef as well who works to the side of the owner, which is amazing. In Japan, women aren't usually sushi chefs as "their hands are warmer" which isn't ideal for serving fresh cooled fish. She is amazing, with a slight smile she serves us sushi we only dream of when outside of NYC or Vegas. The rolls aren't rolls, they're utter perfection that happen to contain fish and rice.
Pear and hamachi? Toro and spicy cilantro with fried shiso? You HAVE to be kidding me! Japanese pumpkin delicately fried and placed on amazing rice with perfect seaweed. Their gyoza are homemade, lightly pan fried and are light, flavorful and to DIE FOR!
I almost didn't want to write this because when I go back I don't want some huge wait in this tiny place because everyone in SF now knows about it. See how selfless I am? Im giving up my secret...that's how much I love you...
RUN and don't walk to this place, I don't care if you don't have the money, steal it if you have to. Commandeer a car, take two peoples wallets, and give Kabuto your money. It's worth it, and remember, there's a no chase law in San Francisco, so just speed.
What can i say about this place except that its so good I've become a frequent flyer at Kabuto. I come here so often the waitress knows my basic order (foie gras, 1849 oysters) by heart. I'm always greeted by an enthusiastic, "hi! how are you!" With that said, service is always awesome.
As for the food: Kabuto is like no other place in the city. Where else would you have oysters topped with salmon roe, tobiko, uni, and edible gold? I kid you not. When I have the 1849 oysters, it takes me to a happy place and my dining companions know not to disturb me. I could write an essay on the 1849 oysters but I'll make it simple, the sweetness of the uni compliaments the oyster so that the oyster is sweet. The popping of the tobiko and salmon roe in your mouth makes the consumption experience full of surprises and fun. And the edible gold just makes things look pretty. All my senses are challenged at every corner with this dish. The foie gras sushi is simply fantastic when augmented by the lovely raspberry sauce.
Other honorable mentions: toro tartare, ceviche (listen to the waitress and DONT put soy sauce on this-or it will defeat the purpose of it being called 'the ceviche'), the valentine (foie gras + unagi), baby maine lobster roll, sunrise (tobiko wrapped with fresh salmon topped with a quail egg), bonito tuna and anything on the nigiri specials board is great. The fish are fresh. There are some things like the uni or ankimo where I've had better but it is still superb here. Plus I'm a bit of a uni snob so I've got insane expectations for my uni.
I don't recommend that you order the plain 'ol rolls or else you'd just be wasting the experience and your yelp complaining about lame things like how bad the parking is that don't pertain to the dining experience. I also don't reccomend the sonoma duck sushi unless you're in love with wasabi. Wasabi's awesome but damn that one really suprised me with the insensity of the wasabi. I think it may have opened up new sinuses that anatomically do not exist. Also, yes it is pricy but fair (typically a piece of foie gras cost bank at any other restaurant for something much smaller than what they offer at kabuto). So it is reasonable for the quantity and quality of the food. One more thing, notice that there's 1,2,3 dollar signs so you were fore-warned.
In conclusion: give this place a try if you like innovation and want something more than the over-saturated with mayo rolls at the typical sushi place. It has, has to say the least, become my friends and I's monthly (sometimes bi-weekly) guilty pleasure.
Nondescript, surprisingly good.
I was really impressed with their nigiri quality, everything was oh so soft and the rice texture was perfect. Their seaweed salad wasn't great, but their gyoza and rolls made up for it. Though they don't have a ton of servers, the consistent trickle of our dishes kept our starving butts alive. The decor is of the "mom and pop" variety so don't except thumping music or designer furniture, though if you're hitting the Outer Richmond that probably wasn't your expectation anyways.
Full disclosure: At the time of this review Kabuto is a Yelp advertiser and I work at Yelp!
I was not impressed with this place at all. I came here about a year ago. Parking around here is the worst. I was running late and joined family who had already ordered and actually eaten too. There menus are trying to be high class; a one sheet menu with a item and a short description, but no price.
It took a long time to even get myself a menu. And while we were waiting, had a dozen people staring down at us as they were waiting for their tables. The tables and floors wasn't that clean for a restaurant.
And when the bill came, really overpriced for the quality of the food and service.
This restaurant defines what it means to be a sushi restaurant today. From the perspective of a sushi traditionalist, the fish is some of the best I've had in the states. At the same time, plates such as the 1894 Oyster (oyster, caviar, uni, roe) and the Toro Tartare (I know some of you are cringing right now but it's amazing) demonstrate to me the desire and ability to innovate in a city where the standards for good traditional sushi are astronomically high. This is as good as it gets, imho.
One of the best sushi restaurants in San Francisco - from fusion sushi with pear, ponzu jelly, lamb, foie gras and chocolate sauce, monkfish liver etc., to incredibly fresh fish nigiri from the whiteboard list of Specials.
Those specials are very pricey and turned out to be the only negative point of the night: we asked the waitress twice what were their prices approximately, but in a fashion more befitting a restaurant actually IN Japan, she did not understand our questions and replied something completely irrelevant, so we just ordered. Whether that sublime toro or live scallop is worth it in the end only depends on the condition of your wallet.
Last night I had meant to go to Old Shanghai, one of my staple Chinese restaurants in San Francisco. Unfortunately, they are closed on Tuesdays, so I figure I'd try Kabuto a few doors down. I always see a lot of people, and I have heard good things about it. So I thought, why not?
The decor is a bit nicer inside than I thought it would be, which I suppose is a plus. I looked through the menu and really didn't find that much to be excited about. I hadn't read the Yelp reviews before going, so I didn't know what they were known for. Now that I have read other reviews, I'm feel a little cheated since many of those items seemed to be available yesterday. Maybe I'll go back one day, but here is why it probably it won't happen:
1) We ordered a sushi dinner, the sea bass, the chicken karaage and a seaweed salad for two moderately hungry women. I asked if that sounded like an appropriate amount for us, and she gave me a condescending look. Unappreciated...
2) The fish was okay, but really not that fresh at all. It looked like something I could have gotten at some third-rate sushi place... It was fresh enough that I wouldn't get sick, but that's about it.
3) Prices are really unreasonable given the freshness. I may have order the sushi dinner, so it won't be as fresh as a la carte orders, but I still paid $19 for what should have been a $13 set dinner. I didn't think anyone else's fish looking that much fresher anyway.
4) Seaweed salad was Asian fusion in a bad way. Mixed greens, with same seaweed that they use in the miso soup, with little to no vinaigrette. Not my idea of a tasty Japanese treat.
We had enough to eat, and the bill came out to about $45-$50 for two people. Totally not worth it. I like fusion as much as the next person, but I expect top quality fish for the price.
Was looking for a decent place to have dinner last week, and thanks to one of Nobu K's hilarious but insightful reviews, gave Kabuto a shot. After a life-changing trip to Japan a year ago, I've been longing for food even half as good as their domestic restaurants, with little success.
Prompt seating for dinner (although they sat a party of two at the bar despite plenty of vacant tables; would have preferred a small table to help with conversation), and a good ratio of servers to customers kept wait times short. The place isn't particularly well decorated to evoke ideals of Japanese cuisine--maybe more like a 60s diner than anything--but I'm no interior designer; I go to eat, not gawk at the walls.
I had a prime seat in front of the senior chef; it was a pleasure to watch his skill and attention to detail. As a proud obsessive-compulsive person, I totally loved watching the chef plate the food, arranging the fish, rolls, or sprigs of greens and then slightly tweaking them to be "just right". Of course the same seat also bolstered my embarrassment whenever my clumsy paws wouldn't pick up or hold onto something quite right. It's no formal place, but I like to respect the chef's artistry just the same.
All of that is well and good, what really counts is the food. Luckily, Kabuto pleasantly surprised. So many places serve tiny sushi and charge top dollar for it. Not here. The nigiri were full-sized with a plump bit of fresh fish on top; much like I remember overseas. The hamachi was oishii; melting in my mouth. A couple of the rolls were fancier (and more slender) than necessary, but delicious just the same. Finishing things off with some inari and tamago was perfect; both good sized and not too sweet (too much syrup and sweetness is common). Didn't scrutinse the bill, but I'm pretty sure the large cups of tea were complimentary. A full meal for two including tax and tip for under 60 bucks; well worth it for the quality.
Service was polite and thorough; everyone including the chefs greet customers as they walk in (irasshaimase!) and thank them when leaving.
Bottom line: A quaint little shop that serves some of the most authentic sushi I've ever had in the states. Healthy portions that might seem a bit higher than average price but worth it for both quantity and quality; attentive service... I will definitely come back for dinner, or even try to check out their lunch offerings.
Kabuto received a 14/20 from Gayot, and I was in the mood for a top-of-the-line sushi bar that I had not already visited, so I tried it out for lunch today. The interior is simple and welcoming with its yellow walls. A chorus of "irrashaimase!" greeted us, which is always encouraging.
The waitress was very pleasant, and while the two itamae were friendly 'enough,' they weren't nearly as charming or gregarious as Tommy, Suzuki, or Isa over at Ebisu. Guess I'm just spoiled by the best and the brightest.
Unfortunately, one of the first impressions of the place was the tiring and inauthentic practice of involving a waitress to take the order when I am sitting only three feet from the itamae. This trend is horrible and must be killed!
I told the waitress that I wanted the chef to serve sashimi omakase style, but that I did not want the plate to include bluefin tuna. "It's a fixed plate," she said. I told her that I still didn't want any bluefin tuna on the plate, so she suggested that I choose from the a la carte side of the menu, which is practically the opposite of omakase.
Finally, the sushi chef intervened, and from that moment on, my experience improved dramatically (why couldn't we have just started this way?!?). He asked me questions, I and my boyfriend asked him questions, and we were off to the fresh-fish races!
About the menu. There were all kinds of fish I had never heard of, which is pretty exciting for a sushi lover. Items like akamutsu (black throat seaperch) and bachi maguro (big-eye tuna). Eric, the younger of the two itamae, served us plates with sashimi cuts of shiro maguro, sunazuri, hirame, something called Tasmanian salmon, which was a soft, succulent variation on ordinary sake, and shima aji (confusing, since the menu says it's amberjack, right next to kampachi, which is the traditional name for...amberjack).
About the fish. The coolers were stocked with lots of fish, which is a good sign, as it suggests that they have a high-volume business and fish won' t sit around for very long at all. Everything except the big-eye and escolar popped with freshness, and all slices were served at the proper temperature -- not too cold. Particularly excellent was the hamachi belly, the Tasmanian salmon, and the shima aji. I've had better shiro maguro, but Kabuto's was good. Unfortunately, they were out of ono (which I've never had) and kohada.
About the service. Service was excellent. I drink tons of water during a meal -- the waitress was all over it. I didn't care to receive a Western lettuce salad, lukewarm miso, and rice *before* my first bite of fish, so I ignored them. While waiting for my sashimi, I poured a bit of soy sauce into its little bowl. Within seconds, the waitress snatched the bowl away and replaced it with another, filled with an identical liquid. "Sashimi soy sauce," she said, and marched away. I learned later that sashimi soy sauce has more salt and more of a soy flavoring. I did notice that it was saltier, but I wonder why this is desirable, whether it's traditional, and why I had never encountered this odd sauce anywhere else?
I give it only 3 stars because I need to go back for another meal before I can consider upping that score to 4 or 5. I think it's a tribute to the promise of Kabuto that I am very interested in eating there again.
Yum...so glad that we found a place near us that is mellow and delicious! fish tasted so fresh. we had a few rolls, yellowfish, salmon...don't remember everything..but a $75 lunch was well worth it!
Kabuto Sushi serves what I believe to be the true fusion/inventive style sushi. You won't find the typical so called fusion rolls that are overloaded with spicy sauce and cream cheese at this place. Instead, you will be greeted by a creative selection of exotic flavors with outrageous ingredients.
Yup. Outrageous.
Have you ever had sushi rolls made out of lamb, lobster or Foie Gras? How about grapefruit, curry sauce or chocolate?
I kid you not.
The rolls were so eccentric yet you could still taste the essence of traditional sushi in every single bite.
Nothing else really mattered. The food was so extraordinary that I couldn't care less about the unassuming decor or the long wait.
Every now & then, we love trying to discover a sushi place that other Yelpers are enjoying...To add to our rotisserie of fav Sushi joints...So we gave this a shot based not only on volume of reviews but the quality of them.
First thing you learn that while it's outer as opposed to inner Richmond, parking is still a real pain
Second thing you learn is that the restaurant at one point or another was situated almost exactly across the street from where it's presently located on Geary...We learned this because some listings still include their old address but more importantly their old sign is still at the old location (And more prominent than the new one)...Strange.
Seating...It's a small location with roughly 10 or 11 tables and a dozen seats at the sushi bar from where the chefs operate...We had reservations and arrived on time but that didn't seem to matter too much...For a restaurant that we later learned was pretty organized, the seating/hosting aspect of it left a lot to be desired, IMHO...There seemed to be confusion from the moment we arrived...3 tables had just left and 3 different parties arrived nearly simultaneously...We were seated even before we got a chance to mention we had a reservation.
Decor/Location...Nothing memorable and again it's small but not particularly noisy either...Very casual atmosphere and you pretty much won't stick out even if you came in a t shirt and jeans.
Food/Menu...Everyone's sushi experience is different for different reasons...We're primarily sashimi kind of sushi eaters but will mix it up with some rolls (Especially if they sound creative)...Sometimes you want a place for both the 'scene' and the food and sometimes you just want some quality sashimi etc. regardless of how things appear...Tonight we just felt like some quality sashimi....You'll notice that they have two different menus (A bit confusing and overwhelming, IMHO)...One is a specials menu (Which is not a short menu) and the other appears to be their main menu...The specials menu had a section that included items that sounded like very complicated entree dishes but actually turned out to be two pieces or so of sashimi that were prepared in rather unique ways....Not sure if this is a traditional sort of Japanese presentation or not but I hadn't really seen that before.
The other thing that pops out is that there aren't a lot of rolls which was fine for us...If we wanted the 'cute' rolls we could always head back to Blowfish or something...We ordered a couple of different varieties of sashimi as well as a jalapeno Hamachi kind of appetizer...It was fantastic...The fish itself was as impressive a quality as I can ever recall having and the jalapeno flavoring to it was a perfect compliment...From that moment on, we knew we were in for a treat...We kinda just tried different items but unfortunately we only tried a couple of things from the 'Specials' menu that included the much written about ceviche....Really amazing and very glad we got a chance to try that....Next time around, we're going to get more from that menu.
Overall, it was a terrific experience in terms of the quality of the fish and the different preparations.
From a service standpoint, very polite and helpful but also not very pushy...We never felt rushed while never feeling like we had to chase someone down...The staff, actually, did a great job at recommending some items over others too.
Downsides...It still does bother me when we roll into a sushi joint and see them serving endangered species...At some point (Hopefully soon), this has to stop...I wasn't crazy about the decor or how small the place is on the inside but that wouldn't keep me from not coming back...It's not cheap but it's also not the most expensive in town...I think if it were about 15-20% cheaper, it'd be ideal but already it is one of my top two places in town to go now...I really was won over and look forward to coming back.
Immediately after leaving, I called anyone I could to let them know, you GOTTA try this place out.
One of the best sushi bars in San Francisco. I don't think that I've seen the same selection of sushi or sashimi in any other Japanese restaurant in San Francisco.
I've eaten there a few times and have always been impressed by the freshness of the fish. I even eat the fresh salmon - which I never do in most other sushi places.
Their special rolls are worth investigating. The one roll I remember had pear in it. Now, I've eaten at a number of Sushi places and have never had pear in any. So, a plus for creativity.
They have a variety of miso soups - at least 3, if I remember correctly - which all taste subtly different from each other. Other places just have one type of miso soup.
I've taken my kids there a couple of times and the waitstaff have always been very helpful. This was the first sushi place that I took the kids too - and the first time that they tried sushi (ikura, which they now love).
I like their collection of sakes - I've tried the regular hot house sake (a good way to get a quick buzz) and have also tried a couple of their cold sakes, which were good.
It is in the Richmond which could be a downside depending on where you live in the city. Also, it isn't the hippest place in the world - very simple, basic decor. However the food is truly wonderful, so that trumps everything.
I ate there on Friday night, we got in at about 9:20 and was seated about 10 mins later. Parking really wasn't too bad which was surprising to me considering the location Kabuto's in.
The food was AMAZING.
WE had 3 orders of the CeViChe - Halibut and salsa wrapped with deep fried seaweed and served with lime and sea salt. Eaten with no sauce
2 orders of the Baby Main Lobster - Seared lobster with spicy sauce
Crepe Sushi - Salmon - Smoke salmon and cream cheese
wrapped wth Kabuto crepe
Sonoma Duck - Barbeque Duck served with Jpanese
Spicy Mustard
Sammy Roll - Fresh Salmon outside, California inside, topped with Kabuto Curry sauce
Ume Fried Tai - Fried red snapper in U.F.O shaped sushi served with balsamic raspberry sauce
and for dessert we had the green tea creme brulee. . .(the green tea creme brulee didn't do much for me the texture was a bit too grainy for my liking. )
Everything else was pretty much delicious except for the sonoma duck the flavors were SO intense after about a min of choking on it i was finally able to swallow it down with the help of some tea.
PROs: attentive service, reasonable prices
Cons: the restaurant is really small so its a tight fit and it can get REALLY loud in there.
One of the member on Yelp had great review on this place so I had to try! I was in SF with my girl and I wanted her to taste some great and fresh sushi. If you drive by this place, you would think it's a mom and pop shack but when you walk in it's pretty cozy. It's pretty small, bigger compare to Ino Sushi. Somehow all the good sushi joints in SF is all small for some reason? It's cool though, we sat at the bar.
We ordered the Toro Tartar, Sashimi Dinner special, and Spicy Tuna Roll. The Spicy Tuna roll had some spicy sauce on top of it, I don't know what it's call but damn it's sooo good. It's a litle spicy and the taste was indescribable but it's taste so good when you put it in your mouth. The Toro Tartar was something new, never had it before. When you put it in your mouth it almost just melt and dissolve and it's really good as well. mMmM. The Sashimi was fresh, almost like it's pop out of the ocean and they slice and serve you the fish.
I'm definitely coming back here to get that spicy tuna roll and toro tartar and try new things as well. My mouth is drooling right now just thinking about it. Great service, great sushi place, definitely recommend.
Last update! I hope..
I had lunch here today -- it was amazing. It seems as if it was at least 3 times better than any of my past visits.
Hamachi Jalapeno
Albacore Volcano
Crunchy Sushi
16-20 Kiss
Sonoma Duck
Ceviche
Hamachi Pear
Hot Apple
Sashimi Omakase (comes with soup, rice, and salad)
Spicy Hamachi
Toro Tartare
Everything was so damn good but ceviche and hamachi jalapeno were definitely the BEST.. for a group of 3 we had to order 1.5 orders for all the special sushi, except there were some that only come in twos. $130 before tip. I seriously want to go again tonight -- no joke.
I like to bring sushi lovers here and open their eyes to the world of Kabuto..
I think it was more amazing the first time around.. but still very good.
This time I tried:
Baby Main…
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When I was checking out an apt for rent literally right around the corner from this place, the first things my roommate advertised was that the room I'd be renting was huge and that there's an awesome sushi place around the corner. A liar she is not.
One of my favorite places for sushi in the city. I always order a sashimi/nigiri dinner and add on 2-3 other dishes to complete the meal. I'd recommend the skate wing and the salmon kama. The meat on the skate wing is just so delicate and all the vegetables flow perfectly with the broth. The salmon kama has got to be the cheapest, best thing on that menu. For those who have not had the pleasure of tasting salmon collar, it is one of the softest and tastiest parts of the fish. I don't even need to highlight all their special nigiri and rolls. It's creative and and very palate teasing. Only downside I could potentially see is the limited seatings they can accommodate for. It can get quite busy on a weekend evening and a wait can be expected. Other than that. Good food, friendly servers and the most beautiful sushi chef I've ever seen. The female one.
I must have gone on the wrong day. I had very high hopes for this place. It's Japanese-owned and gets rave reviews on yelp. But my server was grumpy, the sashimi was not fresh, and the unagi makimono we got had a sugary/not very good syrup globbed all over it. Why is that I found several places in the Boston area (check out my review of Oga's below as one example) with incredibly fresh sushi but am struggling to find such a place in SF? The only good/authentic thing about this place was the hot/wet hand towel put on the table before the meal.
Kabuto is certainly one of the better sushi restaurants in San Francisco.
If you begin with Miso soup, you will notice that this restaurant has somewhat of a soup variety. You can order Miso soup with wofu, mushrooms, clams, or a combination of the three.
Kabuto's rolls and raw fish are flavorful.
With regard to dinner entrées, I recommend either the "Salmon Mushiyaki" or "New York" steak; both are flavorful and covered in a unique sauce.
Dessert is good, but portions are small
The staff are very friendly. Whether dine-in or takeout -- the staff have always seem attentive to your needs.
Entrée prices are less than $25. Most of the sushi and rolls are below $10.
Additional Notes:
- If in need for parking, there is a parking garage where the Rite Aid and Walgreens are -- on Geary and 16th Ave.
Awwwwwwwesome!!!!!!
They have absolutely great fresh sushi in the city and now you should try. Me and my boyfriend always come here at least once or twice in a month we don't even try to go to another sushi place ever since we found here. We love to sit on the sushi bar and let sushi man take care of us not even care to look menu.
The owner/ sushi man is so creative guy whenever he created a new dish, we became his little guinea pigs...lol
one of my favorite dish here is fresh oyster, they put more than 3 different type of fish eggs with different colors.... into oyster looks good taste soooo good!!! gulp!!! I am visiting tomorrow
Hands down, BEST SUSHI RESTAURANT IN THE CITY. Yes, I said it.
Not only is it authentic, the quality of the fish is so fresh, it melts in your mouth like lukewarm butter. The feeling I get when it travels down my throat and into my stomach is equivalent to a fat kid finally eating his first piece of cake after a long summer of fat camp. It is seriously THAT good.
Don't be afraid to go crazy and order random items off the menu. We did and we were not disappointed.
Enjoy! but don't gasp when you see your bill =/
Oh and parking is atrocious during dinner time.
I am treated so well. After torturing the boyfriend with literally a full day of nonstop being dragged from girly store to store, he surprised me with a sushi restaurant he had yelped beforehand to take me to! We made reservations about 30 min in advance and headed over. Parking was a neat trick aka difficult, but once we arrived I was so pleased with the menu. We got the sashimi teishoku which had a great selection of different fish + roe + octopus. Additionally, we tried the monkfish liver w/ponzu (since the iron chef made it on Anthony Bourdain, heart Anthony) the uni, and butterfish sashimi.
Most memorable/different: salmon roe and uni. The uni was so cold, creamy, and delicious. The monkfish liver, although I thought would be scary, was actually masked a lot by the seaweed it was wrapped in. And I gotta say, the sashimi, overall, is fantastically cut- great texture!
Presentation is also fantastic. Cute place for a date.
Very high priced Sushi even at lunchtime, but they go all out to give you great food.
We read about Kabuto on yelp but also heard co workers talk about them. The sushi we had was remarkable especially the white tuna. Our waitress waited on us hand and foot and was eager to explain menu items to us.
What stayed with me was the curry roll. I had never had anything like this before and I plan to come back again for this very thing!
They're expensive and parking is tough so if you're driving from out of town like we do, you're gonna spend time looking for a spot.
The location is not difficult to find, however parking can be time consuming. This decently sized sushi restaurant has both bar seats and tables. Reservations were recommended.
Orders: 1) sashimi teishoku ($25+) that includes 18-pieces of different sashimi types (roe, clam, tuna, salmon, etc), and 2) nigiri (butterfish ~$4 per piece, ankimo~$2.50 per piece, uni~$4 per piece). The sashimi and nigiri sushi were presented and plated very nicely. The portions however, are small at least in comparison to east bay's Sendai in Milpitas. I left satisfied, but probably could have eaten another whole plate of the sashimi teishoku.
The service is fair. The younger waitress was very patient and polite, however the more mature waitress was alittle pushy and seemed frustrated with my dinner orders. The chefs seemed very nice and one stopped by our table to ask how dinner was going. Overall, this place is a very nice restaurant and serves good food.
It was my second time at Kabuton last nite and once again I was impressed with their food. The Valentine -foie gras, unagi sushi with some chocolate flavor sauce, served in a martini glass was my favorite of the night. Also the tuna tartar sushi and the this other shrimp and crab sushi as well as the Hirame Jerry were really good. They have a special sushi menu and a regular sushi menu. I have tried most of the items on the special sushi menu and I am impressed with all of them. I have also tried many regular sushi menu items yesterday and all of them were really fresh, especially Escolar. Overall Im fully satisfied with their food.
Here are a few downside about this place. This place is usually really crowded. Full house at 8:30pm on a Tues night, but with only 2 waitresses. The food were really slow. Also this place can be very pricey. We had 3 people, ordered a few bottles of beer and sushis on the special and the regular menu and the total was about $350 including tips. Although it is totally worth the price, but it is not a place where I can come regularly to satisfy my constant hunger for sushi. The last con about this place is this place is really hard to find parking on Geary.
But overall, this place is highly recommend and I am a fan. Make sure to try all the items on the special sushi menu!
I have found my favorite japanese restaurant and its here!! KABUTO! This place is amazing. Not only is the presentation pretty, each dish is out of the world! I ate there four times last week. YES, FOUR TIMES!! And mind you, this place isn't cheap either.
Must get
1. 1849 oysters
2. Toro tartare
3. Sunrise
4. Scott's handroll
5. Ceviche
6. Live scallop
7. Hamachi Kama
8. Katsunagi
Expect your tummy to thank you and your wallet to cry.
if heaven were a food it would be unagi and avocado stuck together and deep fried.
The food was really good. The flavors were all nice and delicate and the presentation was really impressive. The courses came out set by set, plate by plate. The one that didn't impress me was the tako. It was rubbery. And they smeared this dark sauce thing on it.
This was very different from regular sushi. The flavors were balanced in most of the dishes. But my gripe is that everything was so small. We ate everything we ordered and that wasn't enough so we had to order some more. So we ended up spending a lot of money for ordinary fish, done in a very pretty, fragrant way. But as Nobu K. has said, sauce and flavors usually hide. And if the fish were really really nice, one wouldn't want to flavor and dress it.
In the future, if I come back, I'll plan a hamburger after the meal.
Top-notch sushi. The special of the day, hamachi jalapeno sashimi, was amazing... super fresh, with just the right balance of flavors. We will be going back.
Have you ever been separated from an ex-love for years, then suddenly find yourself reconnecting in that magical way that makes you question why you ever split-up? Further you end up regretting all of the attempts you had at trying to find a replacement. Maybe as the years went by you found semblances of replaceable parts, but when you got a taste of that once pure goodness, the fallacy that was your post separation/rebound replacement crumbled like a wall in Germany.
Kabuto, you are that lost love. I am sorry for dulling my memory of you and for forcing myself to try to forget you. Last night we reconnected after 4 years and I must say, you were better than ever. Gone were the things that annoyed me (big crowds, cramped spaces, long lines, people holding the door open on cold nights because as they suffer through "the-wait," we eaters must feel their coldness too). Gone for the night was the excuse that I live in Berkeley, which broke up the romance in the first place.
Last night was a perfect flashback. Absolutely perfect nigiri (Ono, Dungeness crab, Bonito in a sauce to die for, Unagi to end all unagis, an Aji (with its bones fried on the side) that makes you want to be a predatory fish, etc. etc.). Then came the fun stuff, a live scallop nigiri that on the side had spoonfuls of the "guts" from the scallop in a cream and wine sauce that was devilishly scrumptious. Next up was the hammachi with a slice of crisp pear and a topping of fruity mustard. So simple, so clean, yet shockingly good. Ah, I forgot you had this move Kabuto, no one else has ever done it like you.
When I was feeling the love come back, you dropped the haymaker on me with the Valentine - That smoky sweet mix of unagi, seared liver, squash cubes under a blanket of balsamic-coco sauce that all foodies must have to have once before dying. If fish could be had for desert, this would be my order.
Even in its simplicity, Kabuto you know how to wow me. Your spicy tuna roll should be a simple offering. Yet yours has a hint of shiso (which usually I hate, but was the perfect note), and is under sauce that is both spicy but deeply flavorful. A basic roll, but no one does it like you. Once again you've ruined me.
Kabuto, I apreciate your special little details. The little cranberries that are on most plates that cleanse the palate and are just damn yummy to munch. The near candy like fresh roasted Japanese Pumpkin nigiri that are a MUST HAVE even if your not a vegetarian. I got a double order. The aforementioned Aji bones that should be bagged and sold in supermarkets, which you happily serve up with an order of nigiri.
Finally, your ankimo. Ah ankimo, that silky smooth pate of the sea that still blows my mind as to what sushi can elevate is self into. Other places put on a nice showing, but Kabuto, your ankimo appetizer was divine. Softer, smoother, better tasting than all the rest. Oh, how you know you're the best.
Kabuto, I know distance separates us, but our love is so strong I refuse to let mileage be an excuse to keep us apart. You gave me a perfect tasting of that old sweet loving and I'm hooked on you once again.
Good sushi with fresh ingredients.
Heard from people that the side dishes were okay but not what Kabuto was known for. Pretty much had an all sushi dinner there. It was good sushi with great fresh ingredients.
Particular sushi I choose when evaluating a sushi place are one of the tuna, ikura (salmon eggs), and saba (mackeral).
Toro = firm fish with even taste. Not old, mealy, oily, or disguised with heavy wasabi to mask age. The toro was good, not the best I have had, but in the top and would order again.
Ikura = Th eggs were firm, bright orange, with good flavor. The eggs were not over salted, discolored, slimy, or with poor turgor. I have had ikura with more flavor, but this was one of the better quality ikura I have in awhile.
Saba = The saba was excellent. The fish was firm, tasty, and did not overpower with vinegar. The saba was served with a piece of some type of wakame on it, presumably to cut the vinegar taste. It worked well the vinegar was just a hint but not too strong like some saba. The flesh was still firm, unlike some places where it is starting to fall apart. This was one of the best sabas I have had in a long time.
The sushi-su is also an integral part of the sushi. With bad su a meal can be ruined. With good su the rice is tasty and provides a great palette to highlight the fish and other ingredients. The su at Kabuto was tasty and light, it provided an underscore to the fish without distracting from the fish as it created a good firm bed for the nigiri.
I would eat here multiple times. Ranks in my top 10 sushi places I have eaten at.
Kabuto sushi is my favorite sushi in the city. After wandering aimlessly into shitty sushi place after shitty sushi place for too long, it's a relief to know where I can go to get some quality sushi.
Fresh fish, innovative rolls, beautiful presentation, good service, nice atmosphere---what more could you want? I'm not a sushi wiz by any means but I've had enough to know that this place knows what they're doing.
I enjoy the Albacore'02, Sammy roll, Lobster roll, and pretty much anything here. Head to Kabuto for some sweet sushi paradise.
They have a great selection of fresh fish and an assortment of unique sushi pieces that are each a work of art. In fact, most of the special have distinct flavors and the server instructed us not to eat them with soy sauce. The presentation and quality of the food go hand in hand at this place and won't disappoint.
Highlights:
- The 1849 Oysters
- Hamachi Pear
- Scallop Sushi
- Poke
- Foie Gras Sushi
They have sushi(s) ( i.e ceviche, tuna tartare) here that don't need to be dipped in soy sauce& wasabi and still tasted AMAZING.... that's like MAGIC! I saw a plate of hamachi with pear OMG.... If only I wasn't too full... " I'll be back".
BTW.. the pricing for nigri... is PER sushi... not 2 like 99.9% of sushi restaurants... yes, that means you will be racking up a pretty pricey bill. So if you are gonna bring someone here, make sure they are worth it like a REALLY REALLY good friend, or your LOVER! JK....
The sushi is so flavorful that you don't want to foul it up by dipping it in soy sauce. Yes, it is that good.
There is an exciting selection of sashimi items, including ones that you can feel die in your mouth :D
Service can be spotty, but the food quality is unbeatable.
We finally tried Kabuto several months ago after years of a friend's ranting/raving. I admit I may have assumed there wasn't any "authentic" and really good Japanese restaurants left in this part of SF, as I am a total food snob cause I just really love food & enjoying a great meal...price is never an issue as long as the tummy is happy =)
I am incredibly particular about quality, freshness, and consistency when it comes to Japanese food, which is hard to find in SF--Osaka has been my go to spot for years as it never disappoints
But I have been missing out as I came to realize after my first experience at Kabuto...TO DIE FOR FRESHNESS, incredibly unique sushi/sashimi offering, and awesome presentation for a local Richmond neighborhood restaurant. Now I rant & rave, as this has definitely become a new SF favorite which is far & few in terms of quality and impeccably fresh Japanese cuisine.
Top 5 favs:
-ceviche
-hamachi jalepeno
-live scallop
-lobster roll
-mirugai (hard to find in SF)
Fresh, fresh FRESH sashimi. The uni here is perfection! Yummy. I enjoyed the different rolls they had, I was just a little sad that most of the special rolls came only in 2 pieces, so I had to order a lot to get full. They are very inventive and have great combinations. My favorite is the Crunchy special sushi (i forget if that's the real name, but it's tempura halibut), fire salmon roll, sammy roll, and the hamachi pear. Mmmmm. Definitely coming back here.
Tried Kabuto for the first time and the first thing that comes to mind is that their fish is super fresh and buttery. Everything is really simple and clean. There is no doubt that the sushi chefs put a love into the dishes.
My boyfriend and I ordered:
~ Apple Lamb Sushi: OMG!! Love the lamb and grilled apple combo!
~ Crunchy Sushi: the halibut tempura was fried to perfection...very light and moist and the curry sauce was delicious!
~ Sammy Roll: another roll with the delicious curry sauce...this one was a lighter since it has salmon on the outside and was basically a California roll inside.
~ Spicy California Roll: loved that they use fresh crab instead of surimi and no mayo. Their spicy sauce is a little on the tangy side and not the usual spicy mayo that most sushi places use.
~ Roll with Tuna outside and Soft Shell Crab inside: most disappointing dish we had...soft shell crab was over-fried and tasted a little burnt
~ Matcha Creme Brulee: first time I've ever had green tea creme brulee...you definitely taste the matcha in it. The custard could have been smoother but very yummy nonetheless =)
Their portions are super small and neither of us were full afterward. The bill came to be about $60 after tax and tip...a little too expensive even though the quality was outstanding.
The service could have been better though. The waitress never bothered to refill our water =/
They seemed very relaxed on the phone when we asked for an 8pm reservation. "Yeah, just come in!". So we figured it was a big place with lots of seating. We showed up and others standing outside were saying that their reservation was 45 minutes ago and no luck. It took us 20 minutes just to talk to an employee and when we did, they said "Oh you have an 8pm reservation" like we weren't important enough. We ended up going to Shabu House across the street which gets 4 stars. Wouldn't you expect better service in a bad economy?
i used to come here all the time when the original owners were there and their restaurant was across the street. i've always thought their sushi was the best in sf, until i went there a few nights ago.
i found the sushi not to be the same as when the old owners were there. and i know good sushi when i taste it. we ordered a couple of appetizers like the hamachi kama, spicy musse, and gyoza. they are bomb; i think better than the sushi.
i'm use to easily spending $150 -$200 bucks here with a date just because i eat a lot of sushi. but after the other night, i don't ever see myself paying that much for the quality of food. maybe $100 -$125 for my meal would've been more reasonable.
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Outer Richmond
Category: Japanese
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