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Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Civic Center/Tenderloin, Nob HillMon-Sun. 6:00 p.m. - 2:00 a.m.
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late night sushi amazingness!! i was brought here by a friend and had such a great time. yes a great time. the sushi is on point. nothing spectacular, but very, very good and fresh.
what was more impressive was the general atmosphere. i'm big on that. the place is seriously small but it's quite lovely that way. when i walked in and saw the piano/dj area i immediately got worried that it would be a horrible night of bad karaoke and asian remixes of pop songs. wrong. there was a serious 80's marathon going down! people all over the place were dancing and singing...even waiters.
i had such a good time. id definitely go here over other sushi places with just as good sushi and not as good vibes.
This place is like a rave meets sushi bar. We came here the Thursday before Halloween and it was popping.
I pretty much have nothing good to say about this place. The service was Horrible, it took forever to get our food. My man's chicken teriyaki came out before my sushi and it was COLD. My sushi tasted like it had raw jalapenos in it. Almost inedible. When we tried to modify our order, asking for only broccoli in the tempura, the waitress told us the cook was too busy and couldn't change anything.
On top of all that, the music was so loud we had to scream to hear each other across the table - and listen to our neighbors conversation as well as they were only 7 inches away.
Ya, not going back here =(
So I came here on a late night with some girlfriends (who also apparently Yelped this place on the same day...funny...). I think it's one of those places that are kinda cute and slightly dive-y that people like to go because it's open late. Food may have been much better if it was more late (and so I'm more desperate for a place that's open) and/or I was more drunk (and can't tell the difference anyway).
Perhaps I am too harsh. Certainly not the first place to offer "so-so" sushi at way more than "so-so" price. I can see how the place might be popular for people who seem attached to certain items (and only order those items). The spicy tuna roll is quite spicy...one may like that... The big mama roll was not big...but decent tasting... The pokemon roll was good....but not necessarily enough for me to go back.
As you can see from my wishy-washy comments, I am rather indifferent to the place. However, I think my feelings have been skewed by the awesome company of the evening.
This came as a recommendation from a friend's coworker's friend's cat sitter's sister's manicurist or something.
The staff was great, they were patient, got our orders right the first time and in general very accommodating -- even for our large party.
The rolls are the way to go here, the chirashi was way over priced and not worth it. Some things seemed to be a little over priced (rainbow roll for $20?) but other things were reasonable.
I think it's a good late night restaurant when you need some rice to soak up some of the alcohol from a successful night. I wouldn't mind coming here again now that I have a better idea of what to order.
Several people in SF have referred me to this place and when I finally went, I was not disappointed.
The servers greet you in Japanese when you come in and sit you at a table. Everyone is friendly and the service is fast. The dishes they serve the food in are fun.
We ordered 6 different types to share among the four of us and it was plenty of food. The fish was fresh and did not smell strong. One kind we ordered with sour plum sauce was especially goodl
I can't wait to go back. Love the atmosphere and the food.
I love it when everyone (employees) greets you in Japanese (even though some of them aren't Japanese). It can get pretty packed easily so brace yourself for the wait.
We ordered only a few nigiri and got their special for the night which is the cheek of a blue fin tuna (I forget the name) which is $32 for 2 pieces!! Was it worth it? Hmm, not sure but bf didn't think so. I actually liked the texture much better compare to their Toro. I love the atmosphere here-some may find it too small but I think its quite intimate and has a cozy feel to it. Order a round of filtered sake and a large Asahi and you are all set!
I would have never know this place if it weren't for a really good friend of mine. This place is… Read more »
Went with the girls here for a late night dinner ... called ahead for 12 of us and they were able to accommodate us fairly quickly on a Wednesday night.
Cons:
- No noodle soups or any really warm foods in the menu. Primarily rolls. (This was frustrating for me since I was still nursing a bit of a cold at the time)
- Parking is tough in the area
- Mixed reviews from the girls ... some were quite disappointed at the $25 they paid for a few pieces of sushi on rice.
Pros:
- Open late!
- Service was nice ... if not a bit frantic and scattered ... but I might be too waiting on 13 loud, bossy and drunk women
- Interesting assortment of rolls ... some of which were well enjoyed.
- I got the agedashi tofu which was pretty good ... and the only warm item I could find.
Probably not a future destination, but spur of the moment it managed to accommodate us.
Good resonably precied sushi. I am honestly not the best sushi critic, having only tried it 4 or 5 times now. The food was fresh though, the environment was good, and it seemed very un-pretentious compared to some sushi joints I have been in. I had the Spicy tuna roll and a Kirin.
Made for a nice light dinner that didn't leave my wallet empty (that was reserved for the boliled crab on another night).
I knew I had to get sushi before leaving San Fran, and this sounded like just the place for me to go; traditional and innovative sushi, great location, pleasant service, and DJ music!
I knew it was a good sign when I arrived at the restaurant and there were about 7-8 people waiting for them to open!
I sat at the sushi bar, which I love to do when dining alone. Just a note, you can reserve spots at the sushi bar here! It's always fun to see what the sushi chefs are cooking (or rolling) up!
I knew I had to get the "peanut butter roll" (Volcano Roll) no matter how inauthentic it was. The head sushi chef said it was his special creation! Inside was peanut butter, jalapeno peppers, cucumber, and shrimp tempura. At first, the flavor is overwhelmingly peanut buttery and creamy, but then spicy- some pieces more spicier than others. It was surprisingly delicious and the flavors went well together. Awesome creativity!
I also had the Flying Tuna roll, which was thick, dark red slices of tuna lightly dressed in spicy mayo with cucumber, with a flash-fried tempura coating on the outside. Really, it's an exaggeration to say this was a tempura roll because the exterior fry was so minimal. I was impressed, though, how it was warm and crunch, but the tuna was still raw! Other attempts yield half-cooked results. It was served sans pickled ginger or wasabi, but with a sweet sauce similar to Chinese duck sauce; but less sweet, more spicy, and just better!
Ryoko had a lot of specialty fish brought from Japan, as well as seasonal North American fish. I tried two pieces of anago, which is wild sea eel; less fishy, smoother, and fresh tasting. The chef said he received shipment today and filleted the eel himself.
Other pluses: complimentary edamame, extremely nice staff (every single person in the restaurants yells Japanese welcoming/parting phrases when people come or go), warm hand towels, and full bar (but no cocktail menu).
One thing- it's hot down there!
Next time, I will go and try more of the authentic sushi, but what I had was perfect for the occasion.
Generic Japanese sushi joint. I appreciate that it's not trying to be americanized. But the food is just ok...I judge a japanese restaurant by the quality and variety of sashimi they offer. And...it's not really.
Solid place to go though if you want fresh sushi and good rolls.
I escorted my parents into Ryoko's for a dinner because I know they just like simple, unfussy food. Although I had a really good time, I know that much of this was because my parents are just really cool and we were all in a good mood. So therefore I will try to separate this positive bias from the characteristics of the food and restaurant.
First, we waited a long time to even be acknowledged when we first descended the stairs to the restaurant, so one star there. The place wasn't super crowded, but the hostess just seemed frazzled. She took us to a back area that my parents looked uncomfortable in due to the really low tables and chairs. It was like Alice in Wonderland and we suddenly all grew oversized.
The hostess sensed our discomfort and offered to move us to a booth, but it was awkwardly placed next to an empty 4-person table that remained empty for most of the meal. It was a Wednesday night and they didn't have too many people pouring in...I think they could have given that larger table up for us. But whatever, like I said - we were in a good mood.
My dad, the real estate broker, kept raving about how rare it is for a Japanese restaurant in San Francisco to have a full liquor license. All that means to me is - shots and sushi together?? Awesome.
In terms of ambience, the space looks like it was definitely a divey bar at some point and not much has been done to change it into a sushi-feeling place. But that makes it actually much more unique.
We tried the jumping tuna roll thanks to a former Yelp review and really enjoyed it. Actually, all of the rolls we tried were yummy, but the tonkatsu appetizer was waaay dry.
We were happy and full leaving the restaurant, but later my mom ended up ordering a huge plate of garlic fries and my dad scarfed an apple pie at Lori's. Maybe that was a sign that we weren't fully satisfied?
Really? 4 star average rating?
There's nothing worse than eating super-fishy, mushy sashimi & flavorless rolls that have been served to you without wasabi. Even the avocado in the rolls just tasted like bland paste.
Add sour hot house sake to the mix, and a dank, dark back corner with ottomans too tall for the tables, and you'll feel utter discomfort.
To top it off, be prepared to make a run for the bathroom, stat. Both my girlfriend and I got sick. What makes things worse - the sushi here wasn't even cheap. I've had MUCH better quality sashimi for the same price elsewhere.
tucked away in a basement in the TL... you'd never expect to find more delicious food!! i try to come once a week with mr. L ~ and the staff is so awesome and helpful... they recognize us, seat us in the same seats, know what we like to eat and drink....
the fish is so fresh amazing. always go with what they recommend too! my faves are the shiro maguro and big eye red tuna. the hamachi kama is always yummy too when im craving something hot.
ryokos.. cant wait to see you again this week! you complete me!
NYC feel, California grade sushi
Yelp doesn't give me half stars and it bugs me, I would give it 3.5 stars which seem the perfect score for this cozy place in SF.
Nice lil Japanese style restaurant/bar, if you're out beginning your night out with a few friends, it's nice to stop by and get the party started. Definitely don't come here with a big group, as the place is about as roomy as a WWII bomb shelter. The restaurant itself has a very welcoming atmosphere, and the food (coming from a Japanese guy, if it counts for anything) is authentic and decent Japanese fare.
This place is perfect for a group of friends about 3-5. Don't expect a spectacular meal or a full-scale party, but a fun place to start off your adventures for the evening.
Eh. I guess I was expecting this place to wow my socks off based on a few other reviews (Yelp and non-Yelp). It was alriight. The food was decent and affordable, but I've definitely had better sushi in the city (Tsunami on Fulton - take a bow). However, the Sunday night soundtrack was off the charts - 6 stars for that. If you're in the hood and want some sushi in a pretty unique (read: funky/divey) atmosphere, this is your joint. But probably not worth a special trip.
After watching 'Wicked', we were in the mood for Japanese, this place had hundreds of rave reviews and opens till 2am.
The restaurant is downstairs, and the entrance is tiny. We arrived past midnight and it was crowded. Service was slow since it was packed, waited 10 minutes to be seated and 10 minutes to order. We enjoyed the music and the cozy feel of the restaurant.
We ordered a few appetizers and a roll. Recommended by the waitress, I got a cha-cu with calpico drink, it was yummy and strong enough (which doesn't take much) to give me a good buzz. :) They give out complimentary edamame to start. The orange delight roll was just so-so, nothing special. The best dish we tried was the Tempura appetizer, which came fresh out of the batter and the dipping sauce had a distinctly unique flavor with ginger and dashi. The tempura was lightly breaded, the way it should be!
Overall, the food was average, though the menu has a good selection of appetizers. They get an extra star for the lively atmosphere and late night hours. If you crave Japanese food and sake late at night, this is the place to be!
My roommates took me here for my bday dinner. The wait was about 45 minutes and we got there at 8:30pm on a Wednesday night! Good signs, good signs..
We were seated and greeted with a very small narrow place. We sat in the way back..service was so-so. We had to take the initiative to ask for menus and order. They were obviously understaffed this night!
The sushi rolls and sashimi were all pretty good. I'd say its slightly above average in SF, but not quite as good as some of the top places in SF.
Walking into this restaurant, which is below street level, is intriguing. You feel like you've walked into a well-kept secret. Except with over 400 glowing reviews, it really isn't. Having been here twice, I'd like to say as well that I really love this place. That being said however, I think this place is just an ok in my book.
First, the positives. I have to give this place some props for the ambiance. It's got some energy to it. Definitely a good place to catch up with your friends to recap in full gory details last weekend's bar jaunts. Though as with most places in San Francisco, this place is small and I wouldn't recommend going with a group of more than 4 or 5 unless you don't mind waiting. We went pretty early on a Thursday night (630) and we were seated pretty quickly. However, by the time we left (745) there was already a line. At dinner, you could tell they were trying to push us out of our table as quickly as possible (minus points for that too).
Their specials were appealing - they were serving all kinds of exotic fish. They even had fish flown straight from Japan. I will note that to self next time I'm back. Seeing as its open until 2 am, despite my not-so-glowing comments that follow, I can definitely see myself coming back.
So as for the food itself - the first time I came here was for a large group birthday party (they seat you in the little back room and you all get to sit on the floor like kindergarteners) and while it was definitely nice to be able to try a bunch of different rolls that way, nothing really stood out to me. They definitely have a lot that you can choose from but overall the food here is just average. Last night I decided to go with my usual. And at $24, their Chirashi is $10 more than it should be for the quality of the fish. Their fish selection was no spring chicken. It had that defrosty flavor/consistency to it. I know there will be a next time here, I'm not going to completely cross this place off in my book. But I don't think it should take 3 visits before I find something I like on this menu.
Thursday night, out of town visitor, the third official date. Where to go, where to go...? Ryoko came to my mind. Low-key, check. Great food, check. The basement location that examplifies the essence of Lower Nob Hill, check.
We went with the chef's choice, at a quote of $70/person, and my LA guest was thoroughly impressed with the price and the quality of food. We had just about everything on the special board: Uni, aji, kanpachi, toro, and blue shrimp (a sweeter version of regular amaebi), as nigiri and sashimi. The pony-tailed sushi chef was friendly and extremely skilled, as the waitress was warm and attentive.
Finished up with tempera and mochi ice cream, it was one ghetto fabulous dinner in our own cheese-free romantic way. Ryoko is, simply, awesome.
I've been wanting to try Ryoko's for some time now, and I have to agree with others: it's late night gem of the best kind, and a true sushi connoisseur's must-try. So authentic I almost expected the sachiko statue in shibuya square to greet me as I made my way out out the door, after one of the best spider rolls of my life.
I've paid a higher cover for worse DJs than I did for the superb house beats here, and got an equally fabulous dinner to boot. Perfect service, perfect ambiance, perfect meal. Very, very impressive.
I was pretty excited about my Sushi Bistro experience last week, but Ryoko has now made that pale in comparison...
First off, the venue is amazing - you walk downstairs into a small, cozy room with no windows, a great ambiance with a DJ spinning music. At past midnight when we left, the DJ was still going strong and it made me wonder if people stay at the bar until closing time.
Second and perhaps more importantly, the food was AMAZING. Everything I tried was extremely fresh, full of flavor and extremely tender (well, the sashimi at least - the octopus was appropriately rubbery)! I highly recommend the rolls that they flash fry in oil - it's just lightly fried on the outside of the rice, not heavy at all, and the inside is perfectly warm (which was delicious with the unagi & avocado combo in mine). I'm not a tempura person or a huge fried food person, but this was simply amazing - cannot recommend it enough. The other two surprises were the monkfish liver pate (if you like foie gras or liver, give it a try) and the fried baby mackerel, which were like grown up fish sticks, if you will.
This is the first sushi restaurant that I've been to in SF that truly inspires me to rush back soon - especially late-night because of its good energy from the DJ. The venue is pretty small so it's probably not the best for a huge group but it would be good for meeting a friend or two or a a first date.
Good luck finding this place, but if you do you're in for a treat. When we arrived there was an hour wait. We got lucky when a couple spots at the bar opened up and we were the only party of two. I had the best view of the sushi chef working his magic. Each dish was a work of art and tasted great too. They have some interesting sake that was sweet and served cold in little pink bottles. Probably won't be trying that again. The service was impressive considering how crowded and tiny this place is. We never had to wait long for the waitress to come by. Will definitely return here if in the area.
Ryoko gets the prize for the most unique roll I've ever had. We tried an interesting combination of peanut butter, jalapeno and shrimp tempura. The peanut butter made for an interesting flavor profile, and while I ordered it to be adventurous, I would order it again. It was unique AND yummy. The other rolls we tried were tasty and the prices were reasonable.
Atmosphere-wise it was kinda dark, and the tables are a little close together, and it's pretty busy, but I loved the retro mix the dj was playing and the wait staff is pretty quick and friendly. Ryoko also gets extra bonus points since I got to rub elbows with a former Top Chef contestant who was seated at the table next to me (for those of you who are wondering, she really liked the sushi and gave it a thumbs up).
I'm from the Midwest.
I didnt even eat sushi until I was 22 years of age.
I don't claim to know all that much, even now...
I visit SF semi-frequently.
I must eat sushi on each trip. Requirement.
What I do know, is that every time I venutre out this way...I eat at Ryokos. Sapporo on draft, peanut butta in the rolls, and smiles all up in this basement-chic sushi spot. It just makes me...happy. And obviously, a lot of others as well...as people wait in line for a seat. Always jumpin'. Make a reservation, if you please...or just wait on the steps.
Yes, I realize a review from a Chicagoan concerning sushi is somewhat...tilted? However, I dig it on multiple levels, not just the fish. Service is excellent, crowd is eclectic, setting is relaxed, food is top notch, and the fishies be fresh.
I mean for godssakes they have a roll with jalapeno and peanut butter! What has the world come to? An excellent place, methinks.
It's no joke, I've been cravin' sushi something fierce for weeks...
Luckily, a trip to SF was in the…
Read more »
I had my doubts about this place, as my friend drove up all I saw was a small little corner walkway, it seemed pretty sketch. What a gem. We walked in and down the stairs and there was a line of people sorta milling about and sitting on the steps.
After we got sat I noticed we were sitting really close to the other tables on the side of us, this was a little annoying since it seemed like everyone could hear my conversation.
The service was great, the drinks were strong. My friend who is Japanese spoke to the owner [?] who was an older super stylish Japanese woman and gave us her recommendations on what we should eat, we took them. Everything was DELICIOUS. After I ate I was hoping I'd get hungry again later that evening so I could go back before they closed!
Needless to say I was super impressed and I will be taking my friends there for seconds and thirds!
-m.
Sapporo on tap? SCORE! This has got to be one of the coolest sushi bars that I've been too. The atmosphere is part yummy sushi restaurant, part hip lounge. Only con is that it gets stuffy here if you don't manage to sit next to a fan.
The fish quality is really fresh here but it's still more of a sushi roll japanese place - favorite rolls were the jumping tuna, jumping unagi, spicy golden gate, spicy scallop, and the pokemon roll! Even though it has lots of crazy rolls, don't pass up on the sashimi and nigiri sushi. Last night there was yummy chu-toro and two types of uni - one local and one from Japan (note: the fiance and I both liked the local one better).
Appetizer wise, the steamed clams were so so good and the fried baby octopus was both cute looking and deeeelicious.
Usually, I find that when a place that has a lot of specialty sushi rolls doesn't have the great fish quality that I really really want when I eat sushi. Luckily, Ryoko has both so I can still have cool creative rolls AND fancy uni from Japan! Now if they could only figure out what to do with the ventilation...
I was really hungry. I was "my head hurts" hungry. I was "did that coughing guy behind me on the plane give me swine flu or am I hungry" hungry. I didn't know what to do. My first inclination was to go to Walgreens, stock up on medicine and plan revenge. Luckily for me, I was with two folks who had a much better idea.
They brought me to Ryoko. The place is pretty tiny and not at all trendy. I was dubious. I already had swine flu. What if I picked something else up at this hole-in-the-wall place? Well, I did pick something up: deliciousness.
I started with an endless cup of hot green tea. It was the perfect remedy for my ailment. Before we tore into novel pieces of maki, we started with an appetizer. We had fried cheese sticks. Fried cheese sticks at a sushi place? I _know_! They were like fried mozzarella sticks, but served in wonton paper and accompanied by a spicy sauce. I didn't try the sauce because it was mayo based, but the sticks were flavorful and unexpected for the locale. That was the preview. The real deal were the maki. We got six different rolls. My favorite was the spicy scallop - but we ate gigantic rolls topped with avocado, tempura, roe and other wondrous things. My diner companions raved about a roll that had peanut butter in the middle of it. I tried it. I didn't kill me...but I don't think I ever need it in my life again. I loved eating maki in a city that sits on the Pacific. Everything tasted fresher and I enjoyed the fish that much more. The service was friendly and helpful and my experience was a good one. If back in the neighborhood, I can see myself being up for a return visit despite my Jeremy Piven-borne fear of raw fish.
Sushi devoured, we made leave of the restaurant and I went to my hotel room quite satisfied that I would survive my coughed/sneezed on experience. But, I still went to Walgreens. Hot green tea is aces and all but...better living through chemistry.
LOVE LOVE LOVE the place.
We sat at the bar and loved how everyone worked so aggressively...with a smile! I feel their focus is more on the food and service rather than trying to be too hard to be trendy or contemporary--like a majority of houston's sushi places.
- bartender was awesome
- atmosphere is friendly and laid back, which got us into the mood for 3 bottles of unfiltered nigori
- food arrived at appropriate timing. sashimi were fresh--the yellowtail was especially awesome
wish they have a spot like this in houston!
LATE NIGHT AWESOME SUSHI JOINT IN SF!
Visiting from LA (where besides Japan we RULE in sushi/sashimi spots) I was super satisfied after having my raw fish cravings tamed at Ryoko's!
Thanks to Yelp I located Ryoko's which was 3 blocks up from my hotel. To my great joy I discovered they are open until 2am!!!! For a tourist that is a MAJOR bonus!
Ambiance: Intimate. Secretive. Cool. Think Tarentino-esque. I felt like I was dining a dark underworld of sushi ecstasy! From the outside, you can barely notice the restaurant/bar but when you step inside you're like Alice who fell in the rabbit hole...you're greeted the traditional welcome from the (young) sushi chefs and Lenny Kravitz fills the room. This place is trendy so old folks should not enter unless you don't mind eating in the dark with the the random drunk chatter that surrounds the small cave.
Food: REAL Japanese food! REAL TRADITIONAL NIPPON CUISINE! A variety of appetizers, rolls, entrees for your pleasure. Fish that melts in your mouth! Big chunky slices of fish in your rolls (5 pieces)! I had halibut and scallions, spicy tuna and salmon n' cream cheese roll...all delicious! Avoid the raw oysters- they were too big, served room temperature and left a bad oceany aftertaste.
Staff: Waitress and waiter was as nice as can be.
Price: Very affordable- especially for being in Downtown Union Square area.
Warning: It gets warm in there so don't go wearing a sweater!
Not only do I have lovely memories of eating here with D (I think a few of a handful of romantic dates we've actually had) but I love this joint for many a number of reasons.
I love the menu here. You can find things like nikujaga, a light stew of pork, potatoes, carrots and onions in sweet dashi soy broth that is part of the japanese cooking's soul, grilled rice balls, something very traditional and street, and funky rolls that include use of ingredients not widely consumed in Eastern Asia - like peanut butter.
This place serves up the kind of food you'd expect at an Izakaya or a dive/diner in Japan, not at a sushi restaurant in the U.S. Also the ecclectic update that's been done to the maki roll menu as well as the wide variety and freshness as well as availability of odd/unique catches of the day makes this joint a must-try.
When you walk in and when you leave you can expect the entire staff to shout a greeting your way, making you feel like a rockstar. And while you dine here you'll be tended to by a very friendly and patient staff while listening to a live DJ spinning electronic music or an old guy who comes out from behind the curtains and busts out tunes on the grand piano sitting in the middle of the dining room.
The dim yet colorful atmosphere is perfect for a drink... or 15. Or a light dinner. Or a full dinner. Sitting at the bar is a delight, as sushi chefs make conversation with you and will make recommendations and create one of a kind custom dishes for you.
I love that as much as I talk this place up this is really just a neighborhood joint that is friendly, down-to-earth, and fun. AND REAL TASTY.
So... went to this place because it was recommended by Yelp as a good place for sushi. Well... it wasn't good.. it was OK!
My first mistake was to follow people's recommendations. Do not order the rolls... they weren't good. Lots of people recommended the jumping tuna roll.. not good!
However, I did find the Nigiri sushi good and fresh!
the atmosphere is fantastic. nice staff, cool music, shweet vibe. everything tasted really good.
we all got sick. boo!
A warm welcome when you come in and fond farewell when you leave. It's what any Japanese place should be in my book. I was pleasantly surprised to find this little gem tucked away just a few blocks from Union Square. More credit to Yelp for finding great places I may never go to otherwise.
I booked a spot for 9 people and they were very good about getting us to our table in the back of the restaurant. I'm usually a fan of places with windows, but with Ryoko's being in the basement of a building, I had to make do with the mood lighting in the place, which I actually got used to by the end of my visit.
In terms of the food they have here, it was great. Everything I had was fresh and I think the biggest test was that I had some first time sushi eaters with me and in this critical juncture in their lives, I got a tasty nod of approval from all of them at the end of the night. Success!
Their selection is great here, they have a crazy variety of rolls here, some experimental, but everything still seems to work. And my favorite part is that the prices are extremely reasonably, I think our bill came out to about 10/15 a person and we were all satisfied with what we got.
Come late and enjoy the DJ as well! The music is again another nice touch for this overall great place.
Open till 2 on Friday and Saturdays which is amazing. They are always pretty busy but they do a good job of clearing tables and getting people in and out of there.
Whenever someone walks in they give a little holler. It is nice. Kind of like Cheers (Japanese style). Even though they don't know my name like Norm, they act like they know (and like) you. Everyone is friendly. They play loud music which I like. The crowd and decor are eclectic which is refreshing. I like the volcano roll and the spicy tuna hand roll, but everything is good. I can't wait to go back. I wish they were open for lunch because I would leave work and go there today.
This place is fantastic. It's a great place for having a delicious dinner, great music from mostly female DJs and friendly staff. Every time I've eaten here it's always been fresh and tasty. About two weeks ago I came with friends who are self-proclaimed sushi snobs and they were satisfied. It's close enough yet far away enough from downtown for me. Also close to the Owl Tree for drinks after! Yay!
Sometimes there's a line and you can't make same day reservations. It can be hit or miss as far as the wait goes. I'd recommend making a reservation if you're know you're going more than 2 days in advance.
Really tasty sushi and appetizers. This place has a distinct "cozy" feel....kind of like underground club meets sushi restaurant. The music on the weekends is pretty loud, so if you are not in the mood for a lively atmosphere, this is not your place.
Overall great food with a fun vibe. The only significant downside is that it's frequently packed to the gills, so be prepared for a wait on the weekends.
This place is beyond compare and the sushi chefs are way cool.
One night, I got a huge portion of mackerel sashimi gratis, and my entire party feasted on delicacies, expertly prepared, that everyone else could only be green with envy about.
It's obviously in some old '80s blues/jazz bar, and they haven't bothered to change it. The piano's still there, and no one plays it.
But it's so cool.
You can buy your own bottle of "Japanese vodka" with your name on it, and it's there for you whenever you come back.
It was two blocks from my place in San Francisco and I just miss it every day.
So kind, generous, cool, gracious, and yes, EDGY.
And it was open late (it IS the theatre district, which is why I LOVED that neighborhood).
A definite MUST.
10:30 on a weeknight and the same dilemma as always. Where do we eat? After a panicky day and then a few hours of climbing to relieve the stress so my head wouldn't explode, I was starving.
When Ryoko's was suggested, I was sold since it was sure to be open late and I'd heard good things about the food. I almost called Dan V. to ask him for his recommendations but I restrained. We had a number of rolls, a grilled squid and an onigiri. Too much food but everything was good. The squid was perfectly cooked, not chewy at all, with a nice grilled taste. The onigiri was too big for me, as usual, and, no, it was not because I have a small mouth.
My favorite rolls were the spicy scallop with shiso and the spicy hamachi. The fried spicy tuna roll was also quite tasty, even without the shiso.
The music they had playing was a nice soundtrack for our conversation and it kept us awake as our adrenaline levels returned to normal. It's open late and it's tasty so I know I will be a repeat customer.
I'm a little surprised at the reviews for this joint because our experience definitely lacked something to be desired. We were in a group of about 12 and ran in to several "snafu's" if you will.
First off, they sat us at what had to be one of the most uncomfortable tables/seating arrangements I've ever experienced. The table was extremely low and none of the seats had a back to it. I almost feel like if you're going to sit a group at a table like that, you need to let them know ahead of time what they're getting. I felt like the Hunchback of Notre Dame by the time I left
On top of that, it was so damn hot down there that we were literally fighting over the one fan that they had aimed at our table. Each pair of two people would time the use," It's been 5 minutes, our turn."
Service was disorganized, slow and inattentive. The sushi was WAY too salty. I literally had to drink a gallon of water to get my balance back. The portions were ridiculously small!!! I ordered a seaweed salad and when I got it there was this tiny little mound of greens in the bottom of a bowl. Same goes for the edamame. There were like literally a hand full of beans.
One star for the fun music and DJ spinning on a Friday night. Another for a fun scene and a good crowd.
Happy Hour Draft Beer $1.75!
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Holiday Special Offer!
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Civic Center/Tenderloin
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Nob Hill
Category: Sushi Bars
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