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Sushi Time

4 star rating
based on 322 reviews

Categories: Japanese, Sushi Bars  [Edit]

Neighborhood: Castro
2275 Market St
(between 16th St & Noe St)
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 552-2280
Join us for our Happy Hour Specials

From 5-6:30pm everyday enjoy $2 hot sake and  $4 sushi rolls including rock-n-roll,spicy tuna, and California rolls

 
Hours:

Mon-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.

Good for Groups:
No
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Street
Attire:
Casual
Price Range:
$$
Good for Kids:
No
Takes Reservations:
No
Delivery:
No
Take-out:
Yes
Waiter Service:
Yes
Wheelchair Accessible:
No
Outdoor Seating:
No
Good for:
Dinner
Alcohol:
Beer & Wine Only

322 reviews for Sushi Time

Review Highlights   

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"try the rainbow roll or barbie roll, both amazing." (in 29 reviews)
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"astro boy roll: spicy scallop, mango, et al." (in 12 reviews)
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"The GI Joe is always a hit when I bring friends." (in 13 reviews)
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One of the Business' Favorite Reviews What's This?

Photo of edi b.

 

58

198

edi b.

Vallejo, CA

5 star rating
8/17/2009

I love this place!
The fish was fresh and good.
We ordered the tuna tartare that is mixed with chunks of avacado... delicious
The snapper special was OUT OF THIS WORLD! I still don't know what it was other than raw snapper in some sort of super sour oil/sauce.
Sake was brought to the table with a wooden box filled with little sake cups (all different) for you to choose from.
The seaweed salad was crunchy and savory.
We ordered many rolls with raw fish and with cooked fish and they were all very tasty.
The albacore sashimi was melt-in-your-mouth perfection!
It's tiny and its off the street in an underground strip mall and it's open til 10:30
I will go back as soon as the opportunity presents itself. Love it!!!

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Photo of Jessie S.

 

6

5

Jessie S.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
2/8/2010

Had dinner here on Friday and I still can't stop thinking about it!

Butterfish (walu) sashimi was our starter and a definite highlight. Service was extremely attentive. If you order sake, they have you pick out your own sake cup out of a basket!  We had the butterfish, the san salad, the Barbie Roll (awesome!) and nigiri cuts of sake, maguro & unagi. We then ordered the Astro Boy Roll to finish.  It was sweet and a great way to finish off our dinner.

This small, affordable, casual yet not cramped sushi bar is an absolute find.  I greatly recommend it and cannot wait to go back.

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Photo of Saori E.

 

17

82

Saori E.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
2/4/2010

This is a tiny place that has about 5 tables total and a bar that seats 7 or so. Once inside, it feels like it could be the local sushi joint somewhere in  my hometown (in Japan).
Nothing fancy, just plain old good food.
The chefs are all Japanese, even if the servers aren't (not a problem at all, just a fact :))

They use really great fresh fish, and you can tell in every roll and nigiri you order.

I haven't established a favorite roll yet, but you can't go wrong with the happy hour rolls at happy hour prices (~$4). But actually, most of the rolls aren't too expensive to begin with ($5-9 on average). I do really appreciate that even their happy hour rolls don't try to fatten the sushi roll up with rice-- they have a great ratio of fish, etc to rice.
The spicy walu is really good-- the butter fish is so tasty!

The seaweed salad here is delicious and it's one of the biggest portions I've ever been served in a restaurant!

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Photo of Julia D.

 

0

28

Julia D.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
1/24/2010

This was my first sushi experience in The City and Sushi Time did not disappoint. Their happy hour specials are terrific - only $2 for a tokkuri of hot sake.

Lastly, I've had a lot of California rolls in my day, but Sushi Time's version were some of the best.

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Photo of Anna H.

 

2

2

Anna H.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
1/22/2010

I figured my first Yelp review should be for one of my most favorite restaurants of all time - Sushi Time!

It's not fancy pants. It's more of a get-friendly-with-your-neighbor's-elbow kind of joint, but I LOVE it. Love the lack of space. Love the Japanese chefs and the fresh fish that melts in my mouth. Out of obligation, I keep trying "other sushi places" in the hopes of topping Sushi Time. I'm pretty critical when it comes to this stuff (in all things, actually) - and Sushi Time is still my #1.

So, until I leave San Francisco, I will keep returning to Sushi Time.

P.S. Try the baked mussels... they are heavenly!

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Photo of Greg B.

 

6

16

Greg B.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
2/5/2010

This hidden gem in the Castro is truly worth a visit if you're looking for delicious and inexpensive sushi. It's very small, but there's not much of a wait.

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Photo of Kealie G.

 

5

16

Kealie G.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
1/5/2010

This is my favorite sushi place in SF, so far!

I've lived here 6 months and been to about a dozen place in SF and this is my favorite. The quality is really good, and the price is right. My boyfriend and I go and never spend more than $25 each for full bellies.

The ambiance is really cute, it reminded by boyfriend of Tokyo (he's been, not me).

One time we did go and the salmon in our roll wasn't the freshest. However, all the other fish was really tasty and delicious. Just ask him what is fresh. I heard a table behind us ask, and he told them of lots of good sounding fish.

One time the owner even gave us free ice cream! The black sesame ice cream is delish and the green tea is really flavorful.

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Photo of Nichole P.

 

108

31

Nichole P.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
12/20/2009

Sushi Time is pretty darn good, but a bit hard to find if you are new to the city. After spending an afternoon apartment searching Tom and I decided to unwind in the neighborhood known as the Castro. We were in the mood for sushi per our usual cravings. Sushi Time was brought to our attention courtesy of Tom's NFT San Francisco iPhone application. We were wandering around SOMA and decided to check out sushi reviews near us. Sushi Time was high up on the list, so the hunt for this gem began.

Once we finally found the restaurant in the basement of a mini-shopping area off Market, we were pleasantly surprised. This extremely small restaurant had a nice, cozy vibe and great service. Although, we were not at all impressed with the sushi presentation--we did love one item off the delicacy menu. The tuna and avocado tarter is fantastic! Maybe we were a bit in awe of the grade of seafood, possibly the sake we had to celebrate our move, or we were just really hungry--whatever it was, I was blown away by this dish. Give this place a whirl whenever you are in SF and in the mood for cheap sushi!

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Photo of Jonny Bobby G.

Elite '10

34

142

Jonny Bobby G.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
11/10/2009

Obscure location. This sushi place is inside a shopping arcade and I didn't even realize there were shopping arcades in SF. Strolling in, I was thinking more "WTF, where are we going?" then "sweet what a cool place". Once inside though, you get a feel for this very tiny sushi joint.

Service is prompt and the menu is, well, typical. Sushi's, sashimi's and hand rolls, oh my. Our party of 3 pretty much went bonkers with the ordering. Overall, everything was delicious although I would say the portions are small - but really, what sushi joint serves huge portions? It's definitely a no frills restaurant though which, after all the posers and schmancy-ness this city sees, is always welcome when out on a weekday. And who doesn't love techno music (let me just say, techno NKOTB remix) bumping in your ear while chowing down on a piece of tamago?

In the end, it's another commendable sushi joint to hit up when you're around this part of town.

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Photo of Marc C.

 

0

10

Marc C.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
1/30/2010

Their obscure location used to mean that they were rarely crowded, but Yelp & iPhone apps have given them away.  I still get regular cravings for their wakame salad & sushi.

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Photo of Matt C.

 

9

19

Matt C.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
10/11/2009

This place is charming in a tumble-down-the-rabbit-hole kind of way.  It's teensy-tiny and tucked away in the back of a small shopping center at the bottom of a staircase.  This is potentially a good thing because the restaurant is about the size of a railroad car... and half of that is taken up by the sushi bar.

This is one restaurant where the awkward location and tiny dining room work in favor of the establishment, though.  The overall feeling was warm and cozy; a mini retreat from the bustling Castro above.

The food was very good and the staff was friendly.  I went with two friends of mine and we tried everything from the Astro Boy roll to the GI Joe roll to usual favorites like Yellow Tail and Spicy Tuna.  The food tasted fresh and was prepared very well (no falling apart on your plate nonsense).  The miso soup was also deeee-lish!

Our trio had 8-10 sushi rolls, salad, soup, and a few beers and our tab only came out to $30 per person with tax and tip.  Not bad!

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Photo of Colin S.

 

2

5

Colin S.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
11/18/2009

What time is it?  IT"S SUSHI TIME!!!

What a great little (and I mean little) place.  The Japanese chefs are always in good spirits.  The music is always really weird but funny and adds to the experience.  The sushi is always outstanding.  The seaweed salad is always the right temperature.  I love it.   I hit it regularly.

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Photo of Leslie L.

 

16

116

Leslie L.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
10/6/2009

If it weren't for Yelp, I never would have found this place because it is literally underground, and I am so glad I did because it just became one of my favorite sushi restaurants in SF.  We missed it the first time we walked past because you have to go down the stairs and into this strange mini-subterranean mall.  

Once you enter Sushi Time, though, it is as if you have been transported to a sushi joint in Japan.  Tiny, cozy, and unbelievably cute.  I was cautiously optimistic based solely on the ambiance.  We ordered the chriashi, baked mussels, and Speed Racer roll.  After I had some of the salad and miso soup (that comes with the chirashi), I was enthusiastically optimistic.  None of the wilty greens that look like they came from a plastic bag at Safeway that you might get at other sushi restaurants.  This was super fresh and looked like each piece had been placed into the bowl by hand.  There was that much care and attention to detail.  The miso soup was... superb.  It actually tastes like miso and seaweed, and not like the hot watered down soy sauce that is sometimes served at other places.  The tofu was also extremely smooth and very, very good.

After that, I was eagerly anticipating sushi that was just as good, and I was not disappointed.  All the fish was extremely fresh and well cut, the sushi rice was perfect, and the baked mussels were delicious.   Service was friendly and prompt, and prices are reasonable.    Capped off by fun background music, including a lounge singer's cover of Madonna's "Material Girl."  It was, in short, a dinner that made me very, very happy.

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Photo of Cat C.

 

25

79

Cat C.

San Jose, CA

4 star rating
10/3/2009

YUMM! This place is a hidden gem. It really is hidden. There are only a few tables, VERY close to each other. A french tourist couple was sitting next to us, and we could hear each other very clearly. Example- they laughed at us when my boyfriend made a VERY perverted and inappropriate comment. -_-.

Anyways, despite that the food is delicious! The service is prompt and the atmosphere is very warm and inviting. Try this place out! You won't be disappointed... just make sure to keep the confidential conversations for after dinner. lol

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Photo of Jared S.

Elite '10

93

260

Jared S.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
9/15/2009

The upcoming analogy is for all my east coast homies (Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel in the houuuuuuuuseeeeeeeee):

Remember basements? Yeah, me too. They seem like mythical creatures out here. They often had wood paneling and tile ceilings, an old tv (possibly still with dials) and a ratty, yellowish couch from the late 70s or early 80s.

Now remember the day you discovered the door under the stairs? After jumping to the ground from the third stair up from floor, you finally realize there's a door under the stairs that leads to a little closet. The room is small, it feels like something is above it, but the entire space feels magical. Like your own personal hide-out. It's not your typical shape. It's not very practical either. But it's all yours.

Sushi Time feels like that room... with the mood lighting of a shrine.

You walk inside (well, if you can find it... it's in a confusing building and I wasn't initially sure what floor or staircase to take to get to it) and the entire place is to your left and probably the length of two couches put side-to-side. All the tables (maybe 8 or 9) are two-tops so don't plan on coming here during a busy time expecting to feed all of the Huxtables. There are about 10 stools at the sushi bar if you're feeling adventurous.

This place does sushi and they do it WELL. Almost the entire menu is dedicated to the craft of nigiri, maki, sashimi and rolls. Everything was SUPER fresh and clean. Not clean in the sense that the fish was washed, but clean in that the the parts of each roll were placed together perfectly rather than looking like a sloppy joe of the seaweed variety.

We ordered:
Speed Racer (tuna, mango & tobiko)
GI Joe Roll (BBQ eel, cucumber and avacado)
Rainbow Roll (crab, tuna, yellowtail, salmon, shrimp, eel, avacado)
One other with fried shrimp
Seaweed salad

All were delicious. Not a single one paled in comparison to another. Our total came to just under $40 and I left feeling it was worth the cost.

If you can find this place amongst the yellow-striped walls of the bookstore, Gym SF, random printing place and the shop with really buff dudes in tank tops sell protein powder, you will be handsomely rewarded.

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Photo of jason g.

Elite '10

323

425

jason g.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
8/4/2009

The food is probably 2 to 2 1/2 stars but their service was awesome so I guess i would have to round it up.  Warakubune was closed so I had to check our Iphone to see what was around there.  Sushi Time here we come.  Sarah D and I went searching for the well hidden underground restaurant on Market and 16th.  This place is well hidden all the way in the back of this commercial complex.  I heard great things about this place but it just didn't do it for us.

We had:

Albacore Tataki (It was good......probably a 4 star)
Hamachi Kama (good but have had a lot better.....shimo, sakabune on post, and goemon)
hamachi and salmon sashimi ( it was ok)
astro boy roll ( I didn't like this at all........spicy scallop and cucumber with mango roll)
barbie roll (this is probably their signature dish crab avacado salmon with lemon)
california roll (you know me and california roll...........I always have to order it.............it's ok)

47 dollars

Not bad................If you ae into rolls then this is the place for you.

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Photo of Eudora Z.

 

32

8

Eudora Z.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
12/21/2009

So it was about a year during the holidays when I came here with a group of friends. Definitely would not recommend big groups or parties to come here though the foods pretty fresh and tasty. The place can probably fit at most 15 people. The place is decorated really nicely....really felt like I was in one of those small japanese restaurants in Japan. :] Good side, the fishes were really fresh. Loved it! esp. when the bf is very critical over food.

Check it out during happy hours! Certain sushi's and beer's are a couple of dollars cheaper.

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Photo of Andrew L.

 

6

21

Andrew L.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
8/28/2009

Owner Masa-san has a hidden gem on his hands here.  This is by no means the best sushi restaurant I've been to, but it is one of the most comfortable, perhaps even lovable.  The space is puny, with four or five 2-person tables and a sushi bar that seats about 7 or 8.  It's all laid out in one rectangular room.  What you see when you walk in is what you get.

Masa-san himself is a friendly man -- an unpretentious cast member in his own little play.  He works with a small handful of dedicated, personable, occasionally garrulous sushi chefs, all of whom are quite good.  Because the place is so small, you can watch an itamae prepare sushi from anywhere you sit.

One of the reasons I like this place so much is that Masa-san has a perspective on food, which proves that he cares about the quality of what his diners eat.  For instance, he does not serve toro.  Why not?  Because of its reported mercury levels.  That's fine, although ironic since Masa-san is more interested in what mercury can do to us than in what we do to bluefin tuna by overfishing it.  In any case, he is careful about where he gets his fish, and this care becomes palpable when you bite into a piece of sashimi or nigiri sushi.  Their hamachi and shiromaguro are among some of the best I've had in town.  Although the actual fish selection is smaller than, say, Ebisu, it is consistently good.

Another reason this place is a winner is that you don't have to endure the clumsy ministrations of a waiter.  Just sidle up to the bar and start ordering from your itamae.  You can even tell him how many pieces of sashimi you want instead of being forced to eat 5 or 6 pieces of prix fixe fish.

If you've got to have cooked food at your sushi restaurant, you can't go wrong with the baked mussels.  Unfortunately, one order is too large for one person.  Trust me, I've tried to eat a whole order myself.  They make the baked mussels to order, so enjoy other delicacies while the mussels slowly bake for 20 minutes.

It's a great little date joint, but I wouldn't go here with a party of more than three.

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Photo of sarah d.

Elite '10

48

181

sarah d.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
8/4/2009

ummm... i don't know why the yelp is soooo great because the sushi is ehhh.... ok. My white friend, Jason G said "let's try it" while we were driving around.... and i was too tired to fight him. He's persistent with trying new places for the sole purpose of yelping them.

So we came, we ate and it was really just okay. The sashimi were fresh and pretty good. The sushi were small and decent. The grilled fish cheek was the best. But i can make that at home for 1/4 of the cost and just as good. Well, its expensive here. Good thing I didn't offer to pay, i would be pissed. We had 3 orders of sashimi, 3 orders of sushi and a cheek. I wasn't stuffed but for the price he paid, we shoulda been! Definitely not "STOKED" about this place, its hidden in the inner downstairs of a biz complex... weird location. They make the most of what they can with the space. So they tried, i give them that much. People who are giving them 5 stars on yelp... must be made of money, must be on a small meal diet, and must have also burnt their tongue right before they came to eat here.

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Photo of Corey C.

 

54

170

Corey C.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
8/2/2009

I'm so STOKED to find this gem!  I just feel bad it has taken me so long.  I suppose it's because it's tucked away a bit; Even when I was trying to find I passed it by, because it's actually inside this indoor courtyard area, and it's tiny!

Small though it may be, they've done a great job to just make it feel cozy and quaint.  Ambiance aside, the big find here is quality of fish.  Sure, plenty of places will offer you sushi, but often you can just tell it's not great fish, or they try and mask it with a bunch of sauce, fruit, cream cheese, and other things.  Not Sushi Time!

We were happy with every dish we ordered, though we'd wished they had some more creative desserts.  The icing on the cake (or, the tobiko on the California roll?) was the very reasonable prices.

I will most definitely be back!

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Photo of Anthony D.

 

12

109

Anthony D.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
8/29/2009

My new favorite sushi place in SF but still, NOTHING beats Sakana in Phoenix.

Going again this evening for happy hour sushi then to Sakana next week.  Yummy.

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Photo of Ligaya T.

Elite '10

3279

1094

Ligaya T.

Berkeley, CA

4 star rating
6/3/2009

It's a small miracle that despite the stellar Yelp reviews, this casual, itty bitty little sushi factory always has a seat when I need one. Tucked into the subterranean bottom floor of a random building in the plaza, you'll find its photo next to "hidden gem" in Merriam Webster cross-listed under "affordable eats" and "neighborhood joint".

Narrow as a boxcar with five tables and a bar, they don't take rezzies so I'd never dream of bringing more than one nomming partner. However, make sure that whomever you choose appreciates a dash of Japanese kitsch with their oh-so-fresh fish. Oh, and $5.50 hot sake.

Like Ivy R says, "Sushi Time is one of my favorite times of day."

Kampai!

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Photo of ameer n.

Elite '10

22

533

ameer n.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
11/13/2009 1 photo

looking for sushi in the city, there's 1,000s of options.

want to eat sushi where nobody can find you, either find someone who owns a basement or go here. the food is good, prices are good, the staff is good. the music during our visit was CRAZY. i went with jonny bobby g, it left that much of an impression.

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Photo of Pauline B.

 

2

21

Pauline B.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
7/27/2009

Fresh sushi!

Sushi Time is the size of a closet, but their sashimi is fresh, tasty, and inexpensive.  

I usually get the bento box, the albacore is amazingly fresh at this restaurant & the unagi is great.

For sushi, this restaurant fairly prices their items and delivers.

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Photo of Poochie M.

 

257

607

Poochie M.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
Updated - 10/10/2009

I would have to highly recommend the happy hour from 5 to 6:30.  It wasn't crowded at all when I got there but a few people eventually tricked in.  $4 rolls, $4.75 for a large Asahi, $3.25 for seaweed salad, no crowd ergo no wait.  What's not to love about that?

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2 Previous Reviews: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    7/3/2009

    OMG Sushi time is one of my top 3 sushi places in all of San Francisco!    I think the words I used… Read more »

Photo of Stanley L.

 

15

15

Stanley L.

Oakland, CA

4 star rating
6/17/2009

3.75 stars

I came for happy hour on Tuesday. However, because this place is small, they don't seat until the entire party has arrived. We got seating at 6:25, 5 min before the end of happy hour, but they still let us order off of the happy hour menu.

FOOD: I had the Sushi Combo B. Regularly, it comes with miso soup, salad, 7pc. nigiri (tuna, salmon, yellowtail, albacore, white fish, shrimp, egg), and 5pc. spicy tuna. For an extra 50 cents during happy hour, you get a small sake or ice cream. I also had their smoked salmon nigiri.

Their nigiri was okay. Their cuts weren't stingy, but they weren't overly generous either. They put wasabi under the fish. I wished they put more, and used more potent stuff, but I guess they gotta appeal to the masses. White fish? I didn't know what it was, but it had a good texture. Their smoked sake was good, but it can't compare to Sushi Sho's (TRY the smoked salmon after the regular). The spicy tuna was weird...

SERVICE: The waiters were great -- very polite and accommodating. We came in a group, 2 stag, 2 couples. They knew to ask if we wanted separate bills. The food came out, pretty much continuously. Nobody was left w/o food for long. Also, these guys came to fill up my cup of tea/water every time I running low. I drink a lot, and they come justintime. Merveilleuse et magnifique!

GROUPS: Came w/6. Seating right away at 6:25. We left at around 8, but there was always space enough for a party of 4. Might be iffy when things get busy.

NOTES: Their nigiri is decent for a fair price. Def come again when in area. Try the stuff on their chalkboard/ask for specialties. Not super hard to find, but you gotta be trying.. and on foot. Parking is OKAY -- found parking a block away into the residential zone.

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Photo of Jennifer P.

Elite '10

8

453

Jennifer P.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
Updated - 7/2/2009

I simply cannot get enough of this place. If I could eat here every single day I would, and I would not grown tired of it, I tell you.

Last night we had the Rainbow, Salmon Skin, Speed Racer and Spicy Yellowtail rolls. The Salmon Skin roll has always intrigued me but for some reason it creeps out the folks I normally go with. I finally ordered it and it was average...actually the first average roll I've ever had here. So I don't recommend that one. I think I've tried one of every other roll on the menu and they are all delectable.

Don't forget the Miso soup and Edamame along with a Large Hot Sake. It's so cute that you get to pick your own cups!!!

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3 Previous Reviews: Show all »

  • 5 star rating
    2/12/2009

    I highly suggest ordering a custom rainbow roll which has shrimp tempura throughout.

    So good... Read more »

Photo of T M.

 

16

87

T M.

Foster City, CA

4 star rating
8/10/2009

I would give a solid 3.5 stars.    Definitely the yelpers are correct in that this place is small and gets kind of warm.    I went there with a group of 3 other friends and we shared a bunch of sushi.   All-in-all the fish tasted fresh and the sushi was made well - they could have been a bit more generous with the fish inside the sushi but other than that i have no complaints.  

my favorites:  barbie roll (special), spicey yellowtail roll and the rainbow roll.   Gyoza were yummy as well - nice thin skin and crispy on the outside.

Prices were decent.. $22 with tax and tip ( i was pretty full too)

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Photo of craig s.

 

2

3

craig s.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
7/7/2009

Underground sushi is a nice, cozy spot that has a really great ambiance and reminds me a bit of the St. Mark's Place vibe (NY). I live across the street so it's really convenient to go to.

The servers are really friendly and their demeanor makes me smile each time I'm there. I love that you get to pick your own sake cup when you order a bottle.

The happy hour is great (5:30p - 6:30p) if you're into the standard rolls and like hot sake. They also have some really good tataki on their special's menu. I've also had their vegetable gyoza which is super tasty. If you're into amaebi they have a great plate that is presented really well. Their uni is good but not as plump and fresh as Eiji or Daimaru.

The wait can be a bit long if you don't get their early since it's so small, but it's worth it. Sometimes their sushi chef's can get backed up and it will take a bit longer to get your food, but you won't be disappointed.

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Photo of Yvonne P.

 

22

24

Yvonne P.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
5/21/2009

It's a cute little place that's staffed by Japanese (not Korean or Chinese) folks, so you know it's authentic.  The decor's adorable, but let me repeat:  this place is LITTLE.  By little, I mean SMALL. By small, I mean CRAMPED.  This is a sushi place for Little Bear and Goldilocks--Papa Bear and Mama Bear would not fit in here too comfortably without feeling like the roof might collapse on them.  

Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating a bit.  After all, this is apparently the average size of sushi places in Japan.  So I guess if you want a true Japanese sushi experience, Sushi Time is the place to be.  

Quality of fish is average, but if you go during Happy Hour (5 - 6:30), you're only paying $4/roll (select rolls), and $2/sake!

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Elite '10

18

116

Dana H.

San Francisco, CA

3 star rating
5/6/2009

Some say the space is romantic, come on folks lets tell it like it is - this place is small and fairly cramped.  I hope you like the people sitting next to you, because really they are sitting on top of you.  You know when you keep making awkward eye contact with someone, so you try really really hard not to look back, but after a couple of minutes you cant help yourself so you look, and sure enough they are looking at you too?  Well that kept happening with me and the toddler sitting diagonally from me.  Since the kid was no more than 4 years old, it was not that awkward, but I can imagine the same thing happening with an adult.  

On to the food.  There are lots of rolls and nigiri options.  The best thing I had were the homemade shrimp gyoza.  They were clearly made in house and were perfectly crunchy on one side and served piping hot.  The fish seems decent, but only the quality of the salmon blew me away.  We ordered the gyoza, three rolls, carpaccio, and two orders of nigiri and the total was $50.  Kind of steep for what we ordered.  The server was doing his best to keep up with the full restaurant, but he kept swiping my shoulder and elbow each time he brought a dish.  I get the place is small, but it really just felt cramped and uncomfortable.

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22

41

Erich N.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
7/8/2009

I just enjoyed my first of what I am sure will be many visits to "Sushi Time". A great little restaurant.

Sashimi was fresh. Tasty Uni with Quail egg...although just on the edge of where I would still serve them (just a tad runny). Rolls were just right. Not too much rice and well prepared. Service was super efficient. What more can I say? I thoroughly enjoyed my meal.

That said, I don't know how this place got a $$ rating, it isn't cheap. I'd put them in the $$$ category. Not expensive mind you...I don't feel as though I overpaid...just certainly not inexpensive. But since I came here initially because of the price-range to rating ratio, I was a bit surprised when I received the bill.

Expect to pay typical sushi prices and you will feel as though you got your money's worth. Albeit with adjusted expectations, I will certainly be back and would recommend this place for small groups (2-4) or a cozy, non-fancy date.

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0

3

willi f.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
5/28/2009

Love these guys!  It's a tiny out-of-the-way place with a really intimate i'm-in-a-submarine feel.  Sushi was good.  The tataki tuna is excellent.  Happy hour is great, super cheap hot sake.  Staff is great.  Masa, the chef, found out that I was learning Japanese and then would only speak to me mainly in Japanese- which was difficult, but a welcome challenge.
Also, you get to pick your own sake glass from their collection of different shapes and sizes.  It's got a nice home-y feel with nice food.  sweeeeet.

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109

167

Michael J.

Hayward, CA

4 star rating
3/13/2009

No. No. No. Sushi Time, do me a favor and relocate. You KNOW how much I hate venturing into San Francisco. You know the only reasons I ever go into San Francisco is for shows or concerts...but damn it. Your sushi is absolutely delicious.

I actually found this place on complete accident. I ventured into SF really early for a concert because my friends and I decided to go on a random food hunt with my friends and while venturing down market place, we decided that sushi time looked interesting. It was actually because the joke of that particular day was Tim Allen themed, so a lot of grunts and tool time references were being made...so destiny said "HEY LOOK! Sushi Time...EAT HERE NAO!"

Ah hell, I don't remember what the hell I ate that day because I was highly intoxicated, and trashing out later that night, that the true memory of it was beaten out of my head and only fragments remain, but holy crap I do remember how delicious Sushi Time was. To this day.

I really want to go back but it's in San Francisco...and I hate San Francisco. That's why you get 4 stars...for having your business in a city I hate.

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36

Charles T.

Berkeley, CA

4 star rating
3/9/2009

The last time I went, I brought my mother and we were enjoying a peaceful dinner out after having not eaten together for years because we had finally been reunited. I found her in Britain and flew her over. It was a magical moment, the slightly dark, cramped trinket filled Japanese sushi capsule was the perfect place for us to find out more about each other. We weren't enjoying the sushi or rolls (they were alright) as much as the ambiance and conversation -- the music was French influenced covers of perfection. The murmur of conversation and occasional laughter from the other tables lent to a friendly atmosphere and made everything just feel good.

Then out of nowhere a f---ing Pikachu slowly entered through the door and started begging for sushi. We all tried to ignore it but it kept making these horrendous screams while it crawled around the floor.

I threw couple of pieces of agedashi tofu at it since I didn't care much for them and it jumped on our table for more food. Ugh.

So I b-tch slapped that Pikachu through the cutely decorated/covered glass windows and continued on my magical evening in Japan, er, Castro. Mmm.

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0

36

Max D.

San Francisco, CA

1 star rating
11/5/2009

(Note: this review is for a visit about two years ago, things may have changed.)

At that visit, though, my friends and thought the sushi was the worst we'd had, and even left sushi uneaten.

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3

21

Audrey L.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
7/7/2009

Love their happy hour (5:30-6:30).
Love the service and decor.
The sushi is great.

This is a great little neighborhood haunt of mine. I love going here because the staff are so friendly and the sushi is always on point. The energy is nice and upbeat and it almost reminds me of the St. Mark's Place yakitori places back in NYC. The wait can be long, but leave your number, head up to Books Inc. and they'll call you when your table is ready.

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29

89

Jeff A.

San Francisco, CA

5 star rating
4/18/2009

This is THE hidden gem of the Castro.  I've passed by the building hundreds of times and never knew such a high-quality sushi place lurked within.  A very intimate space and great decor combine for a solid atmosphere.  And the food was great for the prices.  I got the sashimi platter- this was probably the freshest sushi I've had in SF proper.

Props for the Sapporo.  Goes great with any Japanese meal.

Side salad was underwhelming, but that's kinda irrelevant here (and was compensated for by the rich miso that had a light garlic flavor to it- I think they get this by using non-veg broth)

Well worth the price.

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1

22

Robert F.

San Francisco, CA

4 star rating
7/21/2009

Great sushi at a very reasonable price.  Friendly sushi chefs, always happy to talk to you and recommend a roll based on what you like.  
The place is a little tricky to find the first time coming in off Market St. (enter below the gym, down the hall, down the stairs, turn left.)  The result is you find yourself in a small, cave-like restaurant.  Some might call it cramped, but the small space and atmosphere inside make you feel like you are in Tokyo.

They have some happy hour specials when I'm in there sometimes, and the Nigiri is always fresh and delicious.  This is the one place in town that I'll actually eat (and enjoy) the salmon.  

The only downside is that there isn't much seating in there, so it isn't the kind of place you can take 10 people and get a table, but that is also nice because it means it isn't full of yelling saki-bombers.  

Next time you have a hankering for sushi, check out Sushi Time.

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72

71

sandra b.

San Francisco, CA

2 star rating
2/13/2009

I am sushi personified.
Not really, it just sounded good.
I take it back I am sushi personified.

I have eaten sushi at many places around the world, or actually most of the time i eat sashimi.

My favourite sushi place in San Francisco is SUSHI ZONE but from times to times when it is impossible to get a table there i have always gone to Sushi time, the fish is fresh, the place is cute, the service is good and the prices are Ok.

The reason  why i give this place only two stars is because of my last visit there.
I was seated at the bar with my husband, we ordered edamame, miso and sashimi combo, we got the fish and it was tasty and fresh, while i was i was eating my food I was also watching the chef preparing rolls and sashimi and to my surprise i witnessed the chef DROP a big piece of tuna on the FLOOR, at first he did not pick it up, good i thought, THEN when he thought i did not see him, he picked it up fast, started cutting and  later on he served it.

I was SHOCKED and for that reason i will not go there again.

Sorry Sushi Time, i did like you guys.

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