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I ate here years ago after reading an excellent review of it by Patricia Unterman, which I can't find any where, even on the Examiner's website. It was probably lost in the course of the various regime changes at the paper. However, there are 2 more current reviews in the Chonicle, which reinforce my opinion of the place.
http://www.sfgate.com/...
http://www.sfgate.com/...
It was difficult to find, but well worth the effort and part of the charm of the restaurant is it's exclusiveness -- a secret place that only you and a few other people know about. It's also not cheap, but worth every penny. I had the omakase and can't remember specifically what I ate because it's been so long, except for a unique squid ink dish. However, it was all excellently prepared, but the cuisine is not for someone looking for sushi or a sukiyaki combo plate. All of the dishes are uniquely and authentically Japanese and, if you've never had a koryori-ya experience previously, probably unlike any Japanese food you've ever had before, including some very "acquired taste" type dishes that you may or may not enjoy. Let's put it this way, if you don't like uni, you probably won't like some of the dishes presented to you at Kappa, but if you don't try them, it will be your loss.
Anyway, reading the critics' and Yelp reviews and reflecting on my prior experience there, reminds me that it's been too long since I've been to Kappa and that I need to go back there again soon!
It is definitely a hidden restaurant in Japantown. Looking for this restaurant for the first time was challenging. It was upstairs of the J-town Denny's, next to Playground (Korean karaoke lounge).
The restaurant is very tiny and traditional. It made you feel like you are dining in the traditional Japanese home. The waitress (the chief's wife) was so sweet and friendly. There is no standard menu here. Instead, you will be treated to unique meals based upon only the freshest ingredients available during the time. We wanted to have Omakase, but they required one day in advance for reservation......TOO BAD!
We started off the Sashimi Combo. The fish was good and fresh but it was not the best. Since we have no idea of what to order, so we asked the waitress to order couple dishes for us. My favor of the night was the Dungeness crab meat, and pickled cucumber with sesame seeds. Very refreshing!
Overall, the food is simple here but it presented in a unique way which is hard to find in other Japanese restaurants. However, this place is super expensive and I would have higher expectations. The food is good but just but not to die for and memorable.
Absolutely, positively fantastic.
4 of us made a reservation for the omakase (pre-fixe) meal this past Saturday. When we walked in and were greeted by the hostess (in full kimono), and seated at 4 seats in the middle of the bar - the only seats in the restaurant with table settings. Turns out, we were the only customers that evening.
We asked the hostess to select a sake for us to start with, and 2 hours of foodie bliss began.
The general format was that for each course, the chef (her husband) would come out front and prepare the course, then would return to the back while she served it and we ate. It wasn't clear if he wasn't particularly chatty, or just didn't speak as much English.
Know that part of eating here is talking to and interacting with the hostess - she not only explains what each course is, but is also interested in chatting with you during the meal, learning about her customers and making it an interactive dining experience. If you're looking for a place to huddle over a table in the corner and just stare into your date's eyes, this isn't the place for you. ;)
Her English was quite good, but many times I was glad I could speak some Japanese - I think it helped break the ice, and made the experience more fun for everyone.
So what did we have?
1 - chicken meatball with a slice of shiitake mushroom and a couple of other things in a light but very flavorful soup broth.
2 - Japanese eggplant in ponzu sauce with bonito flakes
3 - Dungeness crab meat, and lightly pickled cucumber with sesame seeds
4 - a large square plate with a number of wonderful bite-sized items, all arranged around a huge raw prawn, including: duck breast, monkfish liver, smoked-salmon nigiri, lotus root slice, tako-yaki, burdock root wrapped in sea eel, sweet red beans, tamago, cooked hamachi, crispy tofu, and spicy cod roe wrapped in squid(?). beautiful presentation.
5 - sashimi plate with maguro, hamachi, kanpachi, and hirame I believe
6 - a plate of hot food bites - fried fish cake with fresh ginger, panko fried scallop, fresh corn fritter, and the most amazing melt-in-your-mouth unagi I've ever had
7 - first dessert - slices of incredibly fresh, sweet fruit: mango, peach, and melon, accompanied by a homemade mochi-like gooey sweet rice ball with red bean paste
8 - second dessert - vanilla ice cream with black sugar sauce and soy bean powder
The desserts were accompanied by a fantastic green tea. Every single thing we ate was fantastic. Rich, subtle, simple, complex, balanced... pick a superlative adjective, and it would apply.
About halfway through our meal we noticed that the slabs of fish in the display case at the bar weren't being returned (as they usually would at a sushi restaurant) after they were taken out for each course, and we realized that we were eating all of them. All of the fish had been purchased specifically for our meal, which explained its fantastic freshness and quality.
We also ended up having 5 different sake over the course of the evening (which racks up quite a bill, but was entirely worth it!). The hostess is very knowledgeable about all of their sake, and is happy to recommend ones appropriate to the meal at hand. Everything we drank paired magnificently with the food; it was easy to tell these items were meant to go together. Our favorites were the Naraman (Jyunmai), which was dry but very complex, fruity, and flavorful, and the Kagatobi (Ginjo), which was fascinatingly similar to a hard, mineral water in flavor, while very clearly not being water.
2 hours after we'd arrived, our luxurious meal had come to an end. It had been the perfect amount of food - we were all happily full, none of us too full, none remotely hungry. A truly spectacular meal, and an incredibly unique, very intimately Japanese experience that made me nostalgic for my time in Japan. It's not remotely cheap (especially when you drink as much as we did!), but it's completely worth it.
A wonderful dining experience. The husband and wife team (Toshiaki & Rumiko Kimura) are very gracious and attentive to detail. The food is prepared very simply, highlighting the freshness and depth of taste and flavors. My partner and I went for a special occasion dinner, and as such, we indulged in the Koryori style Pre-Fixed menu (starts at $85 per person and requires one day advance notice). We felt like we were transported back to Japan and some of the great little local restaurants we had eaten at. In completing our total surrender, we allowed the owner to match the food with several appropriate sakes throughout the meal service.
Ambiance is quiet and calm...you know, Zen like feel. They must be doing something right since they have been in business for almost 25 years now.
Well worth the price.
I got a call from my son in January.
He said, " Hey Dad, I'm goin' Paris in March for my Spring Break!"
I said, " WhatTheFXXX? Spring Break? There is no FXXXin' Break in Fxxxin' Spring, I never had Spring Break.."
He said, " Well, dad, I have a favor to ask."
My son has a "female" friend who is taking internship in Paris so he was thinking he can stay at her place for free, but, it turned out, her place doesn't allow over night guest at all.
So, suddenly, he had no place to stay in Paris.
And he didn't have enough budget for motel.
Even he got a round-trip to Paris and NY for 320.
So his spring break plan was screwed.
But, he remember that my gf has friends living in Paris, so that he was thinkin' hoping that it's OK to stay their house.
"Dad, could you ask your gf?........ Please....."
....................
So he went to Paris for 10 days and told me he had a blast.
Great.
Life is too short.
I am really glad he had a good time.
2 weeks after, I got a call from my gf.
She said, " Hey Nobu, guess who's coming?"
I was like..... whatThe Fxxx?
She said, "My Friends from Paris!"
I said, "HOhLySHIT!"
The reason why my son had a blast in Paris for 10 FXXXin' days because he was welcome into their family.
So, I said to my gf, "I gotto take them out for a dinner at least."
She said, "WE!"
I was like... ?
I said, "Really? We?"
She said, " Yes. We."
I said, " Ok, let me say it again, We gotto take them out for a dinner at least."
But where to?
with a French couple?
I already made up my mind, no where else but Kappa.
I've never met them but I was so sure Kappa is it.
I didn't even hesitate but my gf was really nervous.
She wanted the best in the city.
"Nobu, you don't know who you'll dealing with. It's like... Jason Bourne. They are really hard-core for food."
So, I took her Kappa, for her 1st time 2 weeks ago for a small dinner as a tryout, and she said, "WOW!"
I made a reservation.
So, we took the French couple to Kappa last night.
4 of us.
Omakase, $85 each
1. Goma-ae, small appetizer of asparagus mixed with grind-sesame seeds and miso paste.
2. Sunomono, crab and cucumber with Pon-zu.
3. Tsukune no Osumashi, Chicken meat ball with soup.
4. Combo plate, 8"x10" dish with 8 small great things! See photo.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
5. Sashimi plate. 1 slice of Hamachi, 2 of Aka-Maguro, 1 of Kanpachi and 1 Hirame.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
6. Combo plate of Unagi, Chicken katsu and panko fried corn.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
7. dessert, Ohagi=small sweet rice ball with sweet blackbean paste over.
8. dessert, small vanilla ice cream with Kinako=soy bean powder+sweet black bean sauce.
with great high quality green tea.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
4 decanter of Toranoko, Dai-Ginjo, from Yamagata prefecture. $25 each.
Great presentation of serving with Great traditional manner.
And they have such a nice, cute, colorful quality dinner plates.
Every single moment was awesome, authentic Japanese.
The 8 items above were all very small size but we were all full after the 5th plate.
It wasn't exactly the same as the pictures but close enough.
One comment from the French couple.
"WOW!!!"
We got there at 7 pm.
We stayed there after 9 pm.
It was great.
I felt a great comfort in Kappa.
We had a blast.
I was just thinking ... if we had a similar dinner in Japan, I think they'll charge us more for it.
This is what the Real Authentic Japanese Restaurant should be.
Honest, Bold, Low-key and traditional…
Read more »
What can I say ? I simply do not understand the 4 and a half rating, assuming most reviewers were qualified foodies.
Nope, there was nothing wrong with the omakase dinner for $85. As a matter of fact, the price is more than reasonable compared to what you will have to pay in Tokyo.
The good:
As other yelpers pointed out, the sashimi was very fresh and they did serve with grated fresh wasabi which is a huge plus.
Presentation was acceptable as I think Kaygetsu in Palo Alto did a better job, consistently.
The bad:
Ebi shioyaki was not prepared from live spot prawn but previously frozen from any Asian market. Kurobuta was the toughest I have tasted. For much more tender version, try Sushi Sam in San Mateo. Grilled chicken meat ball was served cold and tasteless. Kazu in SF uses organic chciken meat made fresh as you ordered.
The ugly:
Marinaded kampachi was overly salty, with a strong fishy taste. How about trying black cod in miso broth at Bonzu in downtown SF. When asked to substituted for my friend who has food allergy, my friend received 2 pieces of daikon in place of frozen crab meat. Not acceptable.
Overall, the decor reminds me of very authentic high end eateries in Tokyo, the atmosphere was very pleasant and comfortable which deserves one star. For food, definitely two.
With the glowing reviews from many of Yelp's Japanese food experts, I had extremely high expectation for Kappa. Maybe it is personal taste or maybe it was a slightly off night for them. While everything was up to par, it didn't wow me.
We had the Omakasi. The sashimi dish was very fresh, the delicate bean jello appetizer was really unique and refreshing, but I am sorry to say the rest were forgettable...
The experience itself was wonderful though. The atmosphere was like dining at a little gourmet restaurant in a local neighborhood in Japan. The Chef and his wife also made wonderful hosts.
Overall it was a 4-star experience for me, just 20% short of excellence.
i've had kappa bookmarked forever and tonite we decided to go there on a whim. unfortunately (or maybe fortunately) the omakase menu requires at least 1-day notice so that the chef has enough time to prepare the dishes so we were left with ony a selection of the "koryori" menu which means traditional Japanese dishes. we ordered the hamachi and maguro sashimi ($25 for 5 generous quality pieces but still overpriced), hirame usuzukuri (thinly sliced halibut presented sashimi style with fresh green onions, spicy radish and ponzu sauce), fresh sardine from Japan simmered in a sweet brown broth, chicken tsukune (3 skewers of savory chicken meatballs), simmered green vegetables with slices of kitsune tofu, and grilled fish (sardine again).
everything tasted wonderful and the dishes were made with perfection but our favorites were the simmered sardine, hirame usuzukuri, and simmered green vegetables!
this is now my favorite japanese place in the city. thanks to the wonderful hostess (chef's wife?) for educating us on how to make authentic japanese broth from boniko and her pleasant demeanor. we will be back for sure!!!
One night, my friend and I decided to finally try dinner at Kappa, a wonderful gem of a restaurant tucked away in a hidden corner of San Francisco's Japantown. Locating the restaurant for the first time was slightly challenging. We went up a flight of stairs from the J-town Denny's, peered skeptically into a Korean karaoke lounge, and finally found the entrance behind a sliding wooden door next to the lounge. The only indication of the restaurant's existence was a small sign with the words "Kappa" inscribed in neat hiragana.
Yet aside from the odd location, this was one of the best meals I've had outside of Japan. Once I stepped inside, I was instantly transported back to the small, intimate restaurants in Japan, where salarymen drink and eat in between hearty laughter after work hours. The restaurant can only fit about ten seats at the bar, so the dining experience allows you to converse with both the chef and his wife, who served customers while wearing a full kimono (which is very commendable since it's hard to even walk in kimono without looking like a penguin). I almost forgot that I was in the States.
As for the food, let me begin my review with some words of caution. Not everyone will appreciate the food at Kappa. The restaurant serves food in the koryori style, which is harder to find outside of Japan. Small, stand-alone dishes are presented with minimal garnish and seasoning, in an effort to highlight the original flavors of the ingredients. There is no standard menu, as the availability of items varies with the freshness of the ingredients. The result is a sensual, refined dining experience that allows you to enjoy the flavors, scents, and textures of some of the most traditional Japanese cuisine.
If you're looking for California rolls, contemporary fusion fare, gyoza, and teriyaki bento boxes, do not step foot into Kappa. And take your gaijin t-shirt with you. Kappa doesn't even serve sushi, although I'm sure the chef would do an amazing job if he wanted to.
For newbies, the best thing to order is probably the omakase pre-fixe menu. For $85 per person, the chef will select a variety of dishes to introduce you to koryori dining. My friend and I were fairly confident about what we wanted though, so we just ordered a la carte.
- Sashimi: Each slice was thick, juicy, melt-in-your-mouth perfection. Wasabi and shoyu were completely unnecessary. The uni was especially amazing.
- Ankimo: Creamy and velvety, served with ponzu sauce.
- Hirame Usuzukuri: Thinly sliced halibut sashimi dipped in a mixture of shoyu, thinly sliced green onions, and spicy daikon. Great play on textures.
- Grilled red snapper: Best dish of the meal. Reminiscent of hamachi kama, but the meat was thicker and sweeter.
- Blackskin Pork: Thick and fried in batter without too much excess oil.
- Anmitsu (agar jelly served with sweet bean paste)
With the limited seating, reservations are a must. The portions are small, so don't show up starving. And the prices can add up to a hefty total, but if you're a fan of traditional Japanese fare, it's well worth it to visit once in awhile.
(See accompanying photos!)
Forget Gary Danko, forget Michael Mina. Neither of those restaurants have impressed me or my foodie friends. To date, the only "high end" restaurant that I would recommend unequivocally was Myth... but Myth was never special occasion high end, and now its changed owners.
And then we met Kappa.
Certainly, Kappa doesn't seem like a schmancy place: it's upstairs from the Japantown Denny's, with an unmarked door, and seating for no more than 10. But the food, the service... its heavenly. Plus, one of the things that I was not impressed by Gary Danko was that the food they served was so generic. It was damn good, for sure, but I can get good foie gras just about anywhere these days.
Kappa is like no other restaurant - Japanese or otherwise - that I've been to. John and I went last Tuesday for his 30th birthday, and it was a wonderful experience. We ordered the omakase so we didn't have to think about what to order, and what paired well with what. We were the only two customers in the place until the last 30 mins, so Rumiko (the owner) fussed about us. Everything was superbly presented. All we had to do was to order a sake, and enjoy the food.
Even though each taste was just a morsel, by the end of the night, even Mr. Hollow Leg John was stuffed. Besides, the flavors were so rich and different that we were able to savor each bite.
It will be hard to top something like Kappa. But that's ok, that's why we have special occasions only occasionally.
Yes it is good food. Fresh vegetable and fresh meat. If I was from Tokyo, I would have been impressed how good these foods are. But I am from country side in Japan where all the vegetables are organic, tofu is home made, and miso is made from scratch. These foods that they serve are very homy and best made by mother and grandma whether or not it is superbly seasoned. I heard the foods best in SF, but I have to disagree considering price of $100 per person.
It did made me sentimental and miss my home, in that way, I can say this is authentic as it gets in SF... I rather eat my mother's kinpira and shiraae, though.
If you want authentic japanese food without going broke, go to Minako Organic and spend $30, and use the remaining $70 at Bloomingdales instead.
Summary: if you have eaten very good Japanese tapas restaurants (izakaya) such as Tanto, Gochi, and Saizo, and are ready to experience the extra sophistication in taste, the food is worth the extra spending.
Now here's the whole story. My mother, since moving to the small town in Texas, has missed quality Japanese food. She told me she would treat me as my birthday present, so as I have not tried this place, I offered this place to her, somewhat worried that she might say no given the expected splurge. She said yes, after not being to reserve a table at Kaygetsu.
It's not easy to find the entrance to this place. Basically, go up the step right at the front of Denny's in SF Japan town, open the double door that says "club ??? (I forgot the name)," and find the lantern right away. Right to that is the entrance to Kappa. If you turn left, you'll go into the club.
Once inside, you'll notice that the place is definitely small. It actually reminds me of a quality Japanese restaurant in the middle of Tokyo, even though the food served is Kyoto style (slightly sweeter than Tokyo style, with more frequency of seaweed broth being used).
The waitress was an attentive Japanese woman who makes conversation to customers for hospitality. The male chef likewise was attentive and quick on customer's orders. Because this place only serves 13 people, though, they could do that.
The menu only has 30 or so dishes, but boy, were these dishes sophisticated or not. Fried beefsteak leaves with miso paste inside was a nice way to ignite appetite for further dishes and sake. Simmered Tanba (a region in Kyoto(?) that is traditionally famous for beans) black bean was sweet, but also delicate. My kid sister really liked sheared tuna with grated yam on top. Indeed, inside there was a small amount of broth and freshly-grated wasabi. Mixing them with soy sauce made this dish wonderful. Tuna itself was also great.
They also had senmai-zuke, which is pickled turnip with seaweed. They seem to make their own pickles, and the quality was mouthwatering. Most American probably would not care for pickles, but if you like other kinds of pickles (kim chee, sauerkraut), you should try this kind of home-made Japanese pickles as well.
Their bite-size pork cutlet was well cooked, but with a lot of flavor. The bread batter might have to do with it, but the quality of pork (kuro buta = black pork in Japan) probably plays the role too. Stewed green was easy to eat, but still full of flavor thanks to deep-fried been curd and a hint of red pepper. Grilled minced chicken and Shiitake mushroom were a little crunchy on outside, and soft and flavorful on inside. It's not easy to grill like this, trust me. Their ochazuke was delicate and light. I was able to finish even though I was pretty full right before that.
Yes, the bill was pretty steep. But my mother definitely enjoyed the dish, understanding the worthiness of the food she appreciated so much. I have to agree with her.
On the side story, my mother was aggressive enough to ask the waitress to see if they could use her hand-made glass plate for the restaurant. While the waitress declined the offer after asking the chef, she was gracious enough to ask him in the first place. That shows the attentiveness this restaurant gives to customers.
There's something elegant yet understated about this restaurant, tucked away in an unassuming location within Japantown. The lack of sign and the unmarked sliding door, which leads to a dining room capable of fitting no more than 12 guests at any given time, would surely keep the tourists (or those who are not in the know) away. The establishment consists of a private room with a small table for 3 and a small sushi bar with 9 little chairs and almost no decor.
Everything else in the entire Kappa experience is just like the restaurant itself - the minimalist menu is devoid of glossy colorful pictures (and, sometimes, English translation), each dish (no sushi!) is beautifully presented sans fancy garnishment, and service is excellent yet not overbearing.
Intimate and personable, this must've been what it feels like to stop by an old aunt (whose culinary skill is out of this world)'s house for a homemade dinner.
Without the annoying inquisitive aunt hovering about in the background, of course.
Possibly the best Japanese restaurant in the city of San Francisco.
Go to Kappa for absolutely amazing Japanese culinary experience, however you may go home disappointed if you approach this place with the wrong expectations. I had to think long and hard before making the difficult decision in post this review. Why? A 'wrong' customer going to this place would be disappoint and as the result, be frustrating to the owners. They don't have a sign outside the building for reason. They are not looking for a casual tourist to bump into Kappa; they can go to Mifune and Osaka-ya instead. They are not looking to fill the place to the maximum capacity every night with a line outside the door; leave that to Sushi Zone. They are looking to build a relationship with the regulars and present them with the best seasonal food in the comfortable cocoon that reminds you of places in Japan. When you are inside, you could almost forget that you are in the U.S.
Kappa is a Ko-ryori specialty restaurant.
'Ko' = 'Small'
'Ryori' = 'Cuisine'
Ko-ryori restaurant captures a special nitch in Japan for businessmen dining alone or two co-workers bonding over sake. It attracts customers who care about the quality of food and sake. Many are small, operated by a single chef serving counter seats only. People come to places like Kappa to eat the seasonal food made from the best ingredients, with minimal handling, enjoying the taste of the ingredient.
Is it...
IZAKAYA? Nope. Izakaya is characterized by a lively casual environment, more beer than sake, and often cheap. In some cheap Izakaya, people order sake without caring about the brand, and eat food which is sometimes microwaved.
KAISEKI? Nope. Go to places like Kaygetsu (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) or Kiku of Tokyo (http://www.yelp.com/bi...) for Kaiseki style food (http://en.wikipedia.or...). For the most part, kaiseki involves lots of prep work, dishes that involve lots of handling. Places like Kappa, or Tekka (http://www.yelp.com/bi...), operating in a wife and husband team, cannot serve complex dishes. Kaiseki is often served in Ryoutei --- which is known for private rooms. Many come in medium size groups, often for business dinner.
SUSHI? Nope. NO SUSHI at Kappa. Japanese visitors are often amazed by the amount of Japanese restaurants in the U.S. that serves sushi. If you go to a town in Japan with 10 restaurants, only one would be a sushi restaurant. Here, everyone makes sushi! I really applaud Kappa for sticking to the roots/principles by not folding to the American customer demand. I bet that if Kappa chef wanted to make sushi, he could make it better than 90% of the sushi chefs in San Francisco.
So, do you still want to go there? If so, continue reading.
HARD TO FIND: I highly recommend making your first visit to Kappa with someone who has been there before. Ever since reading Dan V.'s (http://danv.yelp.com/) review explaining that it's on top of Denny's in J-Town, I was in a mad hunt to locate it, peeking into the Korean Bar, wondering if they are actually a Japanese restaurant. After an extensive search, I finally found it. They don't have any English sign on the entrance, so I needed to bravely open the wooden sliding door. This does not mean they do not welcome non-Japanese customers. In fact, they want all customers to enjoy their food...as long as they don't start demanding California Rolls.
SEATS: They have about 8 counter seats and one table for three. They do take reservations.
MENU: They recommend Omakase (chef's choice) ($85) for first time visitors, which requires one day notice. The menu is written on the wall behind the chef (in Japanese); they also have an English menu (see pictures).
I had:
Sashimi (hamachi, maguro, clam)
Hirame with ankimo sauce ($15)
Crab sunomono ($18)
Tsukune ($8)
Grilled Unagi ($15)
White Pickled Turnup ($15)
Grilled fish
Aka-miso with clams
Onigiri (rice balls) with salmon
Tara Shirako (cod milt)
Takenoko with miso (bamboo shoot)
Grilled soramame (fava bean)
Maguro yamakake
Nanohana Oshitashi (celery cabbage)
Karashi mentaiko
FOOD: Delicious! Owners are from Hokkaido, the northern island of Japan, known for good food. Each dish is small, but the quality is top notch. They try to avoid unnecessary seasoning, so most of their dishes were prepared with subtle flavoring. Food really goes well with Sake. They have about a dozen selections of sake, including Hakkai-san, Otoko-yama, Oni-koroshi, etc.
LAST WORDS:
- Again, NO sushi.
- Come alone, or with one other person. Never in a group.
- Don't come here to chow-out. Stop by In-and-Out afterwards, if you are big eater.
- Expect to spend about $60-100/person.
Named for the mythical prankster youkai (or monster), Kappa is one of the best Japanese restaurants in San Francisco. It is a bit hard to find, located upstairs above the Denny's in Japantown and through a few discreet doorways, none of which are labeled in English.
The 7-9 course koryori omakase prix fixe might be pricy but it is well worth your time (one word of caution: please call at least one day ahead). The service and food is a real treat, specializing in a seasonal menu of otherwise hard to find Japanese meats and vegetables that stands out from any other Japanese restaurant in San Francisco.
The concept of koryori is similar to kaiseki (a cuisine rooted in Kyoto, Kappa's owners are from faraway Hokkaido), but with a slant towards service so if you don't speak Japanese you miss a factor of the elegance and mystique of Kappa. Each plated course is a balance of color and taste, bitters expertly paired with sweets, sours balanced by savory, all featuring ingredients of the utmost quality and freshness.
Some of the menu standouts are:
oshitashi (steamed spinach salad)
kani zake (sake steamed crab)
satsuma-imo shiru (japanese sweet potato served in dashi with enoki mushrooms)
seared duck breast
kurobuta rosu tonkatsu (blackskin pork cutlet sometimes served yakiniku style as well)
kombu nishi (herring wrapped in sea kelp)
kazunoko (chewy herring roe)
gindara misoyaki (filet of black cod marinated in miso paste)
wagyu tan no shiozuke (beef tongue with salt and shiso)
The service is impeccable, as Koryori-ya's such as Kappa are especially known for. Repeat visitors will experience increasingly warm and gracious service and fine dining.
Don't say I didn't warn you. Just tell me how useful this review was after you've ben here and wasted your money. I'm not some rube off the street. I know my stuff.
Blah blah blah
After reading all of the reviews on Kappa, I thought I should lend a voice of reason to the "oh my god you have to go here because it feels like you're in japan and there are real japanese businessmen eating at the bar and she wears a kimono" comments on this place.
First off...I've lived in Japan. I know Japan...and this place...well, it definitely IS a part of Japan. But not the part that includes food that tastes good. It's the part of Japan that makes you feel like you should like the food because it's part of a greater cultural experience or Kyoto-type overpriced flavorless zen experience.
I actually was served a fifteen dollar giant unflavored or seasoned mushroom here, with a garnish of a slice of lemon...that should give you an idea of the food you would expect here.
so, for 2...and only one of us drinking sake, the bill for very petite portions of eel, mushroom, sashimi, and other flavorless things (sashimi good but not memorable), the bill was roughly 170 bux. For real.
I just think everyone should go into this knowing that you'll be paying for the experience of sitting in a very small restaurant with the wife of the husband wife duo watching you as you try to eat the flavorless mushroom without making a face-type experience. but if you've never been to japan and fancy yourself the cosmopolitan type of person who would like the "authentic" experience of eating in a very small and uncomfortable restaurant, then this is your place. but if that's the type of person you are then you are probably a manga-reading, english-teaching, nihon-phili-fetishist...and you know who you are.
holla.
One should know that what truly differentiates Kappa from the rest of Bay Area Japanese restaurants is their veggie dishes. I have never had such authentic Japanese vegetables perfectly prepared in such an authentic way at any of Japanese restaurants around here.
Where do they get their vegetables? I'm dying to find out. They don't just cross over the street to Nijiya, for sure.
We had the $85 omakase. It was good -- but not fabulous. The toro, katsu, duck breast, and ankimo were all very good. The rest of the meal (asparagus over some sauce, red bean dessert, etc.) was just OK, though. Much of the meal obviously had been prepared well in advance, and the chef was just slicing everything and laying it out in front of us. While the others in my party were full, I left a bit hungry.
Good, attentive (but not annoying so) service. Good sake selection/recommendations.
All totaled, $120 a person. Only 3* because, for the cost, I don't think I would rush back here.
I've only been to Kappa once, and it was on September 7, 2003. Granted this info is old, but judging from the more recent reviews, this place has not lost its touch, identity, or reputation and quality.
The restaurant is a lot smaller than what it appears to be from their website. The interior was quite upscale, but the intimacy and atmosphere created by the husband and wife operation, in addition to top notch service, made the dining experience even more memorable.
Rumiko-san (wife of the chef who was our server) was a delight and very helpful in recommending dishes and translating some of the menu items on the wall. Tell her what category you are interested in and she can check with availability on the wall or ask her husband (the chef).
On with what was ordered (a mix of regular menu and special wall items):
1) Tamba Kuro-mame - This is a special black bean from Japan (supposedly the bean is named after a region, Tamba). Very large sized and apparently cooked over 2 days until the right texture is obtained. Then they are soaked in a mix of sake and presumably sugar (I was able to taste box sake and something really sweet). A wonderful appetizer/dessert/palate cleanser which had a delicate aftertaste. Rumiko-san was saying that this is a high end dish in Japan, typically served during special occassions (like New Year's). We liked the black beans so much we ordered two glasses!
2) Maguro sashimi - 5 nice pieces of good aka maguro. I didn't try anything else, but the maguro wasn't as good if you went to the better sushi-ya's in the bay area (Ino, Toshi's, Sakae's, Sawa's etc).
3) Thinly sliced yamaimo. I was expecting some sort of cooked yam but to our surprise it came out in delicate thin slices, served raw with some shredded nori on top. Rumiko recommended dipping some soy sauce with some of the fresh wasabi on the side. Tasted wonderful though it was a bit slimey on the side (that is how the raw yamaimo is...probably an aquired taste). Note: I'm sure I would enjoy this way more now.
4) Grilled chicken meatballs - 3 skewers, each with two meatballs. Very flavorful and I think there is more than just chicken in it! Served with a light brown sauce that complements the dish.
5) Grilled black pork (kurobota) - yakiniku style thinly sliced pork. VERY delicious, juicy, and tasty. Lots of finely chopped green onion (or chive...arguable as it was very thin) and some sesame seed.
6) Grilled Matsutake - This was quite a treat (but very expensive for 4 pieces...$20 for this dish alone!) It was dirty white looking but more so light brown after being cooked. My first time having matsutake.
7) A simmered vegetable dish (greens) in broth with tofu skin and some spices.
8) Miso soup - red miso with a touch of green onion and what appeared to be cilantro stems.
9) A very big piece of mentaiko onigiri, served with finely chopped greens (stems) and one yellow pickle.
I believe that was it. Everything was amazing, service was excellent (the chef came out and personally bowed to thank us when we left, and Rumiko-san walked us out of the door to greet us farewell), and a good feeling overall The meal was $110 after tips for two people, without drinks. I still remember that meal to this day, that's how wonderful the experience was.
I need to go back again, so that I can put this place and Nami Nami in Mountain View (if I ever get to go for dinner), into their right equivalent perspectives. Kappa has the edge of the more personable and intimate setting, while NN's decor is more upbeat and izakaya-esque.
Dear Kappa,
We were really looking forward to having a nice birthday dinner in you. Unfortunately, you took one look at my obviously non-asian boyfriend and I and said you were closed. Maybe if he were one of those annoying white guys who is always practicing his japanese in order to pick up asian girls you would have let us in.
Too bad. Luckily we found a nice tapas bar someplace far away from you.
-Me
Wow, Kappa was a disappointment. For a 4.5 star rated restaurant, I was expecting a lot more.
We ordered the omakase for $85 each. Overall it was a big let down.
Started with 2 sashimi size pieces of soy sauce/shiso marinated marinated tuna with scallions. Ok, tasted fine, but hardly unique. I can get that at any sushi bar.
Next was an interesting bowl of fish gelatin, fish eggs, fish, and okra. It was ok.
Then we had a plate of sashimi and other bite size foods. BBQ unagi, sardine nigiri, duck breast. I think there was nine pieces of stuff. Not that tasty, nor original, except for the single slice of duck breast.
Next was a bowl with 6 pieces of sashimi. 2 tuna, 1 yellowtail, 1 halibut, 1 mackeral, and some uni. Didn't taste fresh, and I hate mackeral.
Then a small plate with a shrimp ball, corn fritter, and grilled miso-marinated seabass. I felt like I could have gotten the shrimp ball from a street vendor for $1. The corn fritter was very salty. The seabass was a charred mess. I sent it back.
Finally we had a soup dish with an egg custard square, some fresh fruit, and green tea ice crea.
In total, with tax , tip, and hot tea we were over $200.
Aside from the food, which was nothing special, the chef would prepare everyone's (as in, everyone in the restaurant) dishes at the same time. Therefore, if you weren't the first group finished with your plate, your next plate would be preplated and waiting next to the dirty dishes in the sink, cold, or over-cooked.
If you really want an authentic japanese restaurant like this, then go to Kiss. If you're looking for fresh fish on rice, go to your favorite sushi place and you'll leave much happier.
Big tip: you've read that they're upstairs from the Dennys in Japantown. However, you also need to know that the entrance is an unassuming sliding door which absolutely does not say "OPEN," "restaurant", or even "KAPPA" (unless you can read the small unlit Japanese sign off to the side).
You *will* think you've walked up the wrong flight of stairs, or it's closed.
But then you open the sliding door, and the hostess comes to greet you, and you know you've found the place.
A real gem. The food is great and the hospitality and service are unmatched. I can't think of another restaurant in SF where I can have excellent food and feel relaxed. The menu is varied, with specials that change frequently. You either go for the prix fixe menu at $75/person or a la carte, with entrees around $15-$20.
The team that works behind the counter, I imagine they're husband and wife, are so in sync it's like watching a ballet as they prepare dishes in near silence. They're quite welcoming and will talk to you, ask you what you like, where you're from, what your family name is, and so on. It's unlike any restaurant I've been to in the US; I felt more like a guest of a family in Japan.
The restaurant is tiny - there's a sushi-style bar that seats 10, maybe, and at least one small private room that looks like it might seat 4 - 6.
As others have mentioned, Kappa does not serve sushi (and they're likely to tell you this as you enter, just to make sure you're not disappointed). They do have sashimi though and while I haven't tried it, I expect it is very good.
Five stars for the food, two stars for the warm hospitality and attentive service.
We don't regularly drop $100+ per head on a meal, but when our anniversary rolled around it was time to pull out the stops.
Reservations were no problem with a few weeks notice. The restaurant is very small, so it's important to book ahead.
The interior is a bit underwhelming. Some guests might be put off by this, but I think it's actually a good thing. The food and the service are so good, if the place looked better, it would spoil the convivial atmosphere and make everything feel cold and formal.
The food has been covered very well by other reviewers. Lots of small plates, very fresh, seafood heavy, and minimally prepared. It's great. Most first-time visitors are encouraged to try the chef's menu (a good choice), and all we were responsible for was choosing sake.
The service is extraordinary. The entire restaurant has a staff of 2! The husband is the chef, and the wife handles everything else. It's not at all off-putting - the experience is like being the dinner guest of a very hospitable couple.
We'll save our pennies and go back some day.
I'm going to make the post on this restaurant brief, straightforward and to the point as I can tell that many have already gone in depth with very precise details about this cute little charming spot!
The wife and husband have been open for 18 years at this little place, very tiny as everyone has mentioned, but I liked the feel. I did not feel claustrophobic whatsoever. Everyone is treated with a lot of attention and food arrives very quickly in a very delicate manner. No arrogant feel, the owners are very kind, welcoming, and warm - keeping a warm smile along with class.
Dishes are pricey but this place is the definition of Japanese fine dining. You will find a variety of cooked dishes as well as cold dishes and good sashimi (they go to the Hayward fish market just a side note).
I want to come here again for the omakase but point taken - it is pretty expensive here. Just a few dishes will easily make its tab up to a few hundred dollars or so. (or omakase = $85/person).
People who don't think this place is good are probably people who only dine at sushi places that serve rolls, nigiri and call the cooked food chicken/beef teriyaki. No sir, this place is not like that at all. Rather, dishes will consist of Japanese delicacies such as Simmered Sardine, Grilled Fish, Grilled Unagi, Sea Snail, Crab sunomono, etc.
Hits: you MUST get the GRILLED UNAGI! Very good
If I had gone to Kappa on a different day, I might have liked it more. But I went on a day when the other dining guests (the place fits like 8 people, so it's always gonna be just you vs. them) were the most obnoxious, annoying, loud MOFOs. They probably would have been okay, boasting about their restaurants and career and knowledge on Japanese food, if I were sitting next to them at Cheesecake factory or something. But for god's sake, it's just us and them, and I felt like we were trapped in an elevator with a frat boy belching out the alphabet for two hours.
The chef and the wife/waitress were nice and I enjoyed watching them prepare food. They had very cute dishware and utensils. (ah, maybe one day my dining table will enjoy something like that) But it could be awkward at times when you feel like the waitress is watching you (probably true) and waiting for you to finish your dish (probably not true). It got especially awkward for me when she started asking me about the difference between Chinese food and Japanese food. I wish, I truly wish I had some decent knowledge to offer on the subject but I don't, and I really didn't want to sound like a traitor and tell her I actually prefer Japanese food over Chinese any day.
We had the Omakase. The most memorable dish was the crab meat, juicy chunky crab meat stuffed into two tight sushi rolls, and more juicy chunky crab meat on the side. Boyfriend said he has never liked crab as much as this. Some dishes I like the presentation more than the taste: the large plate with 9 different items on it. Some meat were rather rubbery. Maybe if they kept their portions smaller, it would have tasted better.
Overall, I felt the dishes weren't as delicate as Kiss Seafood and the environment not as pleasant. But if someone wants to take me to Kappa, I'd definitely go again.
This place is super expensive and I had super high expectations. Why wouldn't I - it's totally hidden, I heard about it only by word of mouth, and it's by reservations only. We ordered the Omakase since it was our first time, The food and presentation were decent, but not to die for, We had spectacular service, but that could be due to the fact that we were the only ones eating there that evening!!!
However, a stunning dinner last evening at Kappa is where I'll start... A farewell to a good friend was a great reason to return here...
An opening course comprised of a gelatinous goo comprised of okra and clarified fish stock on top fresh scallops, topped with large roe. A clean, bright starter...
Kinpira-gobo. This is basically simmered burdock root which had a dressing of mostly sesame oil and seeds with a little red pepper flakes.
A series of small bites; reading from left to right starting from the top-left: cold, seared marinated duck breast (tender and rich), squid rolled around fish roe, grilled meatball. Second row: sea snail, "sushi" of egg yolk wrapped with shrimp and cucumber, ankimo. Third row: tamagoyaki, smoked scallop, anago sushi. I love this presentation and all the various bites that are presented.
Assorted sashimi: Very decent hamachi (yellowtail), halibut (very good, very tender), 2 pieces of maguro, and mirugai (giant clam). Also, real wasabi, which was sweet and not too hot.
The fried bits; a corn fritter, a crab puff, cold seared toro, and black-skin pork, tonkatsu-style. The corn fritter was amazing - literally bursting squirts of freshness. The pork was tender and rich and the toro literally melted in the mouth.
Nearing the finish, served in a martini glass was a concoction of pureed fava beans in which was set a single perfect bite of shrimp. Topping all of it was jellied fish broth. I'm not sure I have ever experienced the single essence of fava beans so delicately prepared.
The sweet bites: Along with a selection of fresh melon and mango, are two house-made preparations - the one on the left is filled with red bean paste and topped with soy powder, kinako, and the one on the right molded with white bean and chestnut, a kuri wagashi.
A word on service - this is a husband-and-wife establishment and with only ten seats, reservations are required as all the service is done by the Mrs. The plates and utensils used are delicate, expensive, and quite beautiful. The entire meal is a treat.
It's in a weird location. You don't expect a tiny space above Denny's (and next to Playground) to serve up an exquisite meal. But it does.
Kappa is not a place for people who define Japanese food as sushi rolls with names like "Dynamite," "49ers" or "Rainbow." It's where you go when you want authentic Japanese cuisine.
The first sign is the lack of English menu. The second sign is that you're the only non-Japanese businessmen in the joint. The final and most important sign? The perfectly exquisite morsels of food served to you.
Everything here is made to perfection, very Japanese. Just ask for the chef's menu and they'll take good care of you. They'll probably ask, but let them know if there are any foods you have an aversion to (i.e. monkfish liver, etc.). If I could find myself a Japanese sugardaddy, I'd have him take me here at least once a week.
The only downside? You'll probably be hungry in an hour or so, so you might want to head over to Sophie's for a Japantown Crepe to fill you up afterward.
It takes some guts to push open an unmarked door above Denny's in the heart of Japan Town. We had called ahead and were seated at the one and only table in the restaurant. The food was very special and interesting but there was not a lot of it. The sake the waitress picked for us was wonderful. We tried to be adventurous but it failed miserably when we ordered hamachi with sticky seaweed. ICK. Not for the American pallet. It was like somebody had drenched the dish in saliva. They were so kind and took it off our bill.
An experience all around. We will be back for another special evening - I would like to try the omakase someday
Only those in the know eat here. Now I am sharing it with my friends that follow on yelp...
finding this place is 1/2 the fun. I heard about it from my friend "above the Denny's in Japantown." you go above the denny's and you see a karaoke place and a small sign next to closed wooden door. If you read Chinese, it says "small eats" (or so tells me my friend) if you read hiragana the sign says "kappa"
so, we knocked on the door. We asked if they were open b/c of the closed door. The waitress said yes "but we don't serve sushi." I thought to myself good b/c I don't do raw. When we said can we come in. The waitress again said we don't serve sushi. i said fine. Then she brought the menu to make sure we were ok.
It is high-end japanese tapas or food to go with drinking. they serve sashimi but not sushi.
divine fatty pork, divine everything. very pricey.
very small, only seats like 7 at the bar, and 1 room of 4 people...
reserve in advance or risk being turned away. or perhaps just try dropping in...
there is just the chef and the waitress (wife). perfect service.
Great food, great atmosphere, great service. It's like stepping into a different world (or country). My favorites were the dungeness crab in a vinaigrette dressing, the sashimi (I've never had fish so fresh before), and surprisingly to me, the monkfish liver pate.
JONASAPPROVED!
WoOoOoOoOw!!!! this place is top-notch! everything from the food and service. yes theres a lady (Rumiko) that walks around in a beautiful kimono. yes this place is hard to find. yes the portions are small. and yes $85 is rather steep per person. but i thought i got my money's worth! let me tell you, the food here is outstanding! i dont know why some of these hating ass motherfuckers didnt appreciate the food as much as i did. this has to be one of the best japanese dining experiences i've ever had. and one of my new favorite japanese restaurants. if everyday were a special occasion (and if i had a billion dollars), you would definately find me here! maybe i should just kidnap the chef. anyone wanna help? sorry rumiko san he's coming with us! jk. no seriously. its that good.
the omakase (pre-fixed menu) consisted of 7 courses. if its your first time coming to this restaurant, i would highly suggest ordering this. each and every dish was beautifully presented and VERY delicious. oh and everything tasted FRESH! i made sure i savored every morsel of food. my favorite dish was the kani su (crab sunomono). best sunomono ever! for $20 a pop, it better be! they use real crab meat and you get a good amount of it! i also liked the kani nigiri. omg, i would choke a bitch for another one of those!! that shit was hella good! i also have to mention they have the best wasabi i've ever tasted. they use the fresh shit. not the one you get in a tube or the powder shit. but the fresh shit. you can tell by the texture and grittyness that it was freshly grated. and they get it from seattle. how do i know? cuz i asked the chef and he showed me the actual root! EVERYTHING was very good. and the service was also great. it did not disappointment me one bit.
FYI, they DO NOT SERVE SUSHI!! so get the fuck out of here with your i-love-big-ass-sushi-that-cant-even-fit-in-my-mout h bullshit! no seriously. go somewhere else if you're looking for quantity instead of quality. if they DID serve sushi here, i think the chef would do a stupendous job! cuz that kani nigiri and sashimi was incredible! but do come here if you want to experience fine and traditional japanese dining. oh and learn to read hiragana. the sign in front is written in japanese. no english whatsoever! good luck finding it. lucky for me i know how to read it. dont forget to make a reservation! oh and prepare to drop $100 per person.
A restaurant is made up of many components
Food is only one of them.
Food is Good but no where near great
Service is Good, even though we kept getting stared at by the lady. We're the only customer at that time.
Decoration is Cozy on the inside. The outside was cute and it gives you a simple Japanese dinning pleasure somewhere in northern Japan.
Price is about $140(w/o tip) for two. Over priced for the amount and quality. $80 for 2 would've been perfect with a reason for me to experience it again.
Location: It's in Japantown... bad parking during the weekdays, near impossible during the weekend.
It didn't really make me feel it was all that memorable. The price hyped up my hopes and it was no where near what we were expecting. With the help of hard to locate the place, it only got me more excited and then more disappointed.
Note: It's really a traditional place with a neo accent. Ones in a life time is the perfect amount of times for us to visit.
I look at my last write up of Kappa, interestingly it was exactly 1 year ! Then I remember I went there last year after the Blue Angel show. This year, after the Blue Angel show, I wasn't really planning to visit Kappa, it was Ino I try to visit. I was suppose to go take some pictures at Ino for a potential articles in a newspaper but then Ino was closed for private party ! I swear, about 1/2 the time every time we went to Ino, he is closed because of something ! Then I ran over across the street to Kiss and ask if they will take walk in, well guess not and it was only 6pm !! So I ran again to Kappa, well they are open (that might be an indication too). Anyway, we sat down around 7pm. Instead of the set dinner, I am ordering individual dish this time, sashmi, duck breast, ankimo, hirame seaweed, daikon tofu skin. A sake and belu.
We left at almost 9 and the entire evening there were only 3 couples. I had a chance to study this place a little bit more. Everything Kappa prepare and deliver are excellent, they are all carefully prepare, cook or raw, cut, arrange, etc. It's all very careful. So you won't eat anything rotten or bad here ! Dishes are not too complicated as you can guess, everything was done by 1 guy. For dishes that are complicated, it is usually done or partially ahead and then reheat or finish or just cut. I ask the Mrs how's business and she said ups and downs, ok. As a previous restaurant owner, I learn food inventory is one of the hardest thing to deal with if the restaurant has unpredictable volume. So I observe the raw fish display and confirm my theory. They dont stock a lot of fishes and they don't stock very exotic fishes. So they stock some tuna, yellow tail, founder. I didn't see any of my favorite such as aji, toro, nama tako, ika, awabi, no raw shirmp, no mirugai this time either. By not stocking a lot of expensive seafood, it helps manage the food cost. Duck breast, grill cod, those can stay for a week !
Our a la cart dinner still comes to $160 for 2, expensive. But I like the services, I like the conversation, I like the envrionment, I like the consistency of their deliverables. Will I go back ? Sure, I came back, but just not gong to be too often, may be after Blue Angel 2009. I like more variaties of fresh and exotic seafoods.
After reading Yelp review of Kappa, We decided to check it out.
It's fleet week and it's a perfect…
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One of the best Japanese meals I've every had. Also one of the most expensive. This place feels authentic with one table and a 10-person food bar. A couple has been running it for 20 yeras and the presentation is impeccable.
Make reservations. You pay for a prix fixe meal (they'll accommodate dietary restrictions). Each dish is simple with the freshest flavor. If you want to have an absolutely memorable dinner, take your date here.
It's a tiny little place, but one of the most personal experiences I've had in San Francisco. The husband and wife owner are amazingly adept at handling the diners--she usually speaks to the English-speaking ones, and he defers to his Japanese clientele.
I came here a few years ago and this restaurant single-handedly changed my entire opinion about eggplant. Now, I actually like, after having been served a snow white whole japanese eggplant (it had been peeled) with a lump of ginger and a little soy. The flesh was creamy and tasted ever so slightly of smoke. And the spareness of the ginger and soy was perfect.
It's price-y, so I hadn't been back until recently and was immediately reminded why the price is worth it. Tsukune--three skewers of tender, lightly spiced chicken meatballs are wonderful; as is the more "upscale" hiramo (halibut) with ankimo sauce--the monkfish liver has been blended to creaminess, almost like a cross between a creamy ceviche and vitello al tonnato, an Italian favorite of mine.
The woman never blinked an eye when we ordered spicy cod roe sac, served either seared, or as the Japanese eat them, just straight up. There's nothing like it--bitter, spicy, soft, chewy, all at once, and a warning--the texture is almost like raw sausage.
Sunonomo, a traditional Japanese cucumber salad that is lightly dressed in vinegar, came heavily dressed in freshly picked Dungeness crab. It was a big bowl, and that with the chicken meatballs may have been enough.
The only thing she gave us a sideways eye for ordering (and admittedly, we ordered it because it was not on the menu and we saw the Japanese pair next to us order it specially) was a raw squid tossed with pureed squid belly, sake, and shiso. It's kind of a murky purplish-grayish-brownish. Not recommended.
The sake collection can also not be missed. It's great--ask for a good suggestion, they will willingly guide you.
This is by far one of the best, most honest Japanese meals I've had in the city.
So you are aware that the price here is super high. We were aware of that before we made reservation. When we got there, there was no one else but us. It was really uncomfortable when someone's watching you eat. That was what happened to us when we ate there. We couldn't have privacy. I really wish someone would walk into this place, but gosh who would find it?!?! This place is hidden! It's weird.
The food...it's alright. They don't have salmon, tuna or whatever Japanese restaurants usually have. They kept saying that they didn't serve sushi, which got annoying over time. Everything we ordered was good tho, but definitely not great. It's not worth $160 we paid for. I wasn't even full when we left the place.
:(
pretty good place. intimate and unassuming.
try the tsukue, satsumaage, delectable sardines, and of course, the unagi.
super nice people working there.
not that super high end but expect to pay a grip here
This place rocks. We had a big party, about 10 or 11 people. We called for reservations and the lady was more than willing to handle our reservation. I was scared that she wouldn't, because I had heard the place was small. I think she may have cancelled all other reservations just to seat us. She even gave us her cell phone number in the event that we cancelled, that we would call her right away. Wonderful.
We were running a bit late and arrived right around the time of our reservation. I had read it was above the Denny's. We ran up. Karaoke bar. We ran down. We ran around in circles. We finally called her and apologized for being late. It was above the Denny's. In a hidden door that nobody could ever imagine. It was a ninja door.
Since we were in a big group, we had a set menu. Which was fine by us. She had asked what we could eat over the phone. We told her everything. So we let her pick the menu at her whim. I don't even remember everything on the menu, but I did take pictures of it all. Yes, there were a few items that I didn't particularly like, but I'd have to chalk that as preference. Their food quality was top notch and fresh. I wanted to jump the counter and steal his box of uni. But I didn't, since they had been so gracious to us all night. The food was fantastic. It really does make your eyes roll back in your head as you eat.
Just go and don't worry about what you're eating. It's going to be good regardless.
one word: omakase.
the money is well spent here...
blow $200 for this any day. my 4th time going here, in a row. my sushi spot in the the city by the bay.
Happy Hour Draft Beer $1.75!
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
99 cents beer & hot sake
Neighborhood: Excelsior
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Pacific Heights
Category: Japanese
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