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Categories: Sushi Bars, Japanese [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Hayes Valley, MissionMon-Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
"This is my favorite place to get sushi, hands down. The owner is a great host, always attentive and generous. All the sushi chefs have a…" read more »
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Make sure you get here early. Sushi Zone is small, only a couple tables and a small sushi bar. We got here soon after it opened and still had to wait a little to sit down.
We ordered a couple of the rolls with mango and macadamia nuts on them and they were good. The fish is really fresh here and the combinations of fruit and nuts with sushi worked really well. The hamachi here is very fresh and has a good fat content. It was really melt in your mouth. We also had some baked mussels that were quite tasty.
Overall, Sushi Zone has some great fresh fish and rolls at a reasonable price. The restaurant is small so get here early or expect to wait.
I guess either during the bottomless bloody mary brunch at Paul K or directly after I said something to Daniel L about how I'd heard from a couple of people that consider themselves sushi experts that this place was great. I don't remember this conversation, bottomless bloody marys have their consequences, but when I got a PM from Daniel a few days after it didn't matter that I forgot because I'd wanted to try this place for months.
Daniel got Maybeline C to come and she brought her friend Wendy. This place is tiny and popular, we were seated quickly but it wasn't long before the place got crowded with people staring at us like vultures.
I ordered the plum wine. Not because it's good but because I wanted to drink something, I hate sake and beer mixed with rice in my stomach is a gas factory.
I picked the place based on recommendations and even suggested some of the items because I'd heard good things about them but didn't like any of it, everyone has different tastes but all of the items we ordered based on recommendations were mediocre at best. I'd be a little more tactful and think maybe it's just my taste but all four of us had almost the same opinion of each item.
Appetizers
Stuffed Jalapeno: A half pepper stuffed with some kind of tuna concoction, it tasted like tuna salad made with canned Geisha.
Baked bass and mango in a mussel shell: I didn't like it; I didn't think the flavors complimented each other at all.
Roll
Hawaiian roll #2: Another overly quirky item. A roll with fish mango and avocado covered in macadamia nuts.
By this time I was sick of off the wall sushi like items and was ready for some nigiri. Sorry to my friend that made these suggestions if you read this but everything you recommended bombed with the group.
Assorted Nigiri: The salmon was the best and everyone loved it! The albacore and the hamachi were pretty good. The maguro was a little rubbery but OK. It was cut against the grain which is fairly common. The hirame had turned and shouldn't have been served. It smelled off but I wanted to trust the chef and ate it anyway. It was very fishy and even tingled a little on the tongue. Wendy had to spit hers out.
I expected "the best sushi place in SF" to care a little more.
Other things that are a little troubling:
The table was sticky, the place has no décor, the people waiting to eat are all right they're staring at you to hurry up and finish, and it's cash only. Also for some reason they brought everything out one item at a time, which I wouldn't care about except, they didn't bring the nigiri out in the right order (light to dark).
I'm willing to try this place again but I want to sit at the bar and I'm only getting nigiri or sashimi.
Came to Sushi Zone on a Thursday evening with my friend Wendy and fellow yelpers Daniel L. and Tom R. Luckily we got to the restaurant early enough to beat the crowd-word has it...the wait can be VERY long.
Good prices at Sushi Zone with rolls ranging around $6. Our order consisted of:
*Stuffed Jalapenos-no good. This was an opened jalapeno that cradled some sort of mixture that tasted like tuna salad to me.
*Baked Bass-I expected something different. Served on a shell with mangos. I didn't see what the hype was about this one.
*Hawaiian Roll #2-this was ok. But it's one of those rolls where you have so much going on...the fish is no longer the star of the show
*Assorted Nigiri-I felt better about this. For the most part, fish was fresh and clean (except for one). My favorite was the hamachi and salmon.
Overall, Sushi Zone is not the best sushi I have had, but the prices are real good here. If I ever come back to Sushi Zone, it will only be for nigiri or sashimi. I will come early because I do not believe a 2 hour wait is worth it. I will bring cash because that's all they take. I will avoid most of the things on the front page of the menu.
Wowza I am immmmmmpressed with Sushi Zone. This is probably the best sushi experience I've had to date.
If you get nothing else here you MUST try the baked mango sea bass! It was unbelievable, simply divine. We started out ordering some standard stuff but the waitress put us in check ASAP and suggested a bunch of their signature items which is how we settled on the sea bass to start.
We also ordered the papaya and eel roll which was ridiculously good. I loved the combination of the sweet and salty. It was a real treat.
This place is incredibly compact and seats next to nobody. We didn't have to wait too long but from what I hear that's atypical. I would be prepared to wait but trust me when I say you won't be disappointed that you did.
This was a three phase talent show between the sushi chef, the nigiri pieces, and fellow Yelper Tom R, who took a colossal chunk of wasabi in the size of futomaki and swallowed the entirety without a flinch. These were my three points of fascination as I joined Maybelline C, her friend Wendy, and Tom R for a sushi dinner in the City. If not for my friends who arrived early to snag a table, I was told the wait could last up to two hours.
May and Tom are among my most trusted Yelpers so it was nice to sit back as they took care of the ordering. All together, we shared two appetizers, one roll, and they asked for the chef to bring the house with their freshest assortment of nigiri:
Stuffed Jalapenos: Four giant pieces of opened jalapenos smothered with a creamy spicy tuna rendition. The jalapeno was bulky like a bell pepper with a dull kick and the stuffing was too creamy for my taste. I'm a big fan of the concept but the taste and presentation was rugged when compared to the ones that were finesse and sharper tasting at U-Zen.
Baked Bass: Minced bass baked with cream cheese and mayo served in a shell, and sandwiched between small chunks of sweet mangos at the bottom and morsels of masago atop. The sweet mango did not have influence until the bottom was reached while the bass was even creamier than the stuff jalapenos. When it comes to these types of dishes I'm expecting craftiness so the cream laden bass was less than ideal for my taste.
Hawaiian Roll: Sushi roll with fresh albacore and more mangoes at the center covered with canned macadamia nuts. I like the fresh albacore but the mango and macadamia nuts were a mysterious combination as they looked and tasted out of place.
For those sushi eaters with discriminating palates, the best bet here are their nigiri and sashimi. There were some hits and misses as I liked the hamachi, sake, and albacore, but I also find the maguro decent and the hirame disastrous. I was tempted to try their uni but decided against it after faced with the inconsistencies previously mentioned. Otherwise, the fish was generously cut into equal sizes--an art form for which I deeply appreciate.
My plum wine was a bit medicinal in taste but it was still worth the experiment. The place is a tiny hole in the wall so the huge line of people waiting for a table brought an overwhelming atmosphere with little elbow room to maneuver outside our immediate area. The noise level was high and the server was a one-person operation who amazingly brought us rounds of awesome tasting water without skipping a beat. Among the three forms of talents being displayed, I thought there were some bright spots about the nigiris but Tom's wasabi trick was the most newsworthy. Here is how Sushi Zone is rated with all considered:
1.) Quality and freshness: 3.5 stars. With the exception of hirame, other nigiris ranged from decent to good. The ones I enjoyed had good moisture and taste, but aside from this dish, the others were either too creamy or the ingredients simply didn't meshed well together.
2.) Creativity and presentation: 2.5 stars. Perhaps too creative on the appetizers and the only roll we got. The simple look and taste of the nigiris was much more favorable.
3.) Quantity and substance: 3 stars. We each got a decent piece from all the dishes and were full by the time the meal was completed.
4.) Accessibility and affordability: 4 stars. We double ordered all the dishes and the total still came out to be $30 per person. The price tag was excellent.
5.) Service and ambiance: 3 stars. The venue is very small so the overcrowded ambiance could be overwhelming at times. I thought service was decent considering the amount of people waiting to be served with a chaotic line that flooded onto the sidewalk.
Their largest table can only seat four so the setting arrangement is not ideal for large groups or family friendly. Cash only.
3 stars for the overall experience. With so many great sushi places in San Francisco, this restaurant was worth the try but I will not be returning unless Tom is scheduled to reappear for another wasabi trick.
I've been here a few times now, most recently on a holiday monday (MLK). We were seated promptly, but a line soon formed out the door. In the past, I've had to wait up to 2 hours, so be careful about when you go!
The sushi is good, and consistently fresh. The key term here though, is sushi VALUE., It's not the best sushi I've ever had, but it's some of the best sushi I've ever had for the price I had it at. At $5-6 for a decently ornate roll (I'm not talking california roll here), it's hard to beat. In mathematical terms, where deliciousness is measured in yums and price measured in dollars, the yums per dollar ratio is perhaps greater then any other sushi restaurant I've been to in SF.
Recommend: anything with Mango, such as the hawaiian rolls. Mango roll for 6 bucks? Sushi Zone is making Hawaiian's cry that they don't live in San Francisco. Tropical tears.
Also, the spicy rolls were done well. I'm forgetting the name of the roll right now, but I'm pretty sure it was a spicy roll and had lime in it. Their technique: they slice a lime into an impossibly thin piece, and it brings just the right amount of sour/fruity taste to make it a unique sushi creation.
I dropped by here last Sunday night for a sushi / karaoke combination. Very good idea!
I'm always leery of Sunday night sushi, but Sushi Zone delivered excellent cuts of several varieties of fish. Table favorites were the monk fish livers, as well as the "uni spoons" -- quail eggs perched on top of uni meat and roe, served in a single-shot spoon.
Service was excellent . Decor is fairly crappy, but at least you get a live feed of the karaoke bar next door.
I'd definitely head back here for Sushi Zone's happy hour sushi specials (and more uni spoons).
Deliciously fresh sushi in a cute and cozy Japanese restaurant. The boyfriend and I ordered a nigiri platter and the salmon mango roll. Both were blissfully divine. Apparently we missed the memo that sea bass with mango was the way to go -- 3G wasn't working and couldn't access Yelp!! :( It's okay though, it just gives us a reason to come back.
But next time, we'll pack some patience and snack beforehand since there was quite a wait for our food because there was only one chef on deck. I am not a patient or pleasant girl - especially when I'm hungry!! [Minus 1 star for the long wait.]
Word to the wise: Don't come big groups, this place is tiny -- think it can only fit about 16 customers max. Improve your average wait time and come in two's.
I hate waiting and will do anything to avoid it but Sushi Zone is worth it. I've been here 3 times, and the first time we got there 20 minutes before it opened, which many people do to avoid the 2 hr wait. Once you sit down and sip on hot tea, order your rolls and people watch it's not too bad. Once you get your food--- life is good.
We ordered the Indian roll which was chewy (octopus) but still amazing. I mean, c'mon it's cooked octopus! Spicy hamachi roll was really refreshing but where was the jalapenos promised on the menu? Hama-masa was perfect. The most simple roll of just fresh chopped up hamachi and scallions-- the freshness of the fish was evident. One order of Ikura and quail egg and one order of uni with quail egg. After I tried the uni with quail egg, I wanted to die. Seriously. It. is. that. good!!!! So fresh and amazing. The waitress said the Uni was delivered from Santa Barbara that day, yay for me =] !!!! I usually have a distaste for Ikura since it's a little too salty and overpowering for me, but it was phenomenal with the quail egg. It really helped tone down the flavor that makes me stay away. I have found two new regulars whenever I visit Japanese restaurants. The stuffed mushrooms and sea bass appetizers are a definite must. Succulent and juicy since they cover them with mayo to keep in the juices. They are a bit pricey-- almost $6 each (only comes with two per order) but they are well worth it.
After writing this review, it makes me want to go back to SF and order more. Delicious!
Nasu nigiri, divine...
And the mango/bass gratin in a mussel shell it's still to die for.
Oh well, I know, long waits, laundry fee for your clothing smell but hey, Sushi Zone never disappoints....with that "Aishite Knight" vibe :)
(http://en.wikipedia.or...)
Waited two hours for a table, the place stank of fried food and after eating the first mango sea… Read more »
I went yesterday to sushi zone with Cristina M. and we were left feeling underwelmned.
Everyone is right when they say the bakes mussles/bass is amazing, because they are. But I came to sushi zone for sushi not baked bass.
We started with the Alaskan roll made with salmon, avo and scallion. the roll was huge, filled with way too much soggy rice, and avocado. The avo over-powered the rest of the roll. I couldn't even taste the fish.
That's ok we thought, avocado does over-power. Maybe it was just one roll.
We then our striped bass and albacore nigiri. The fish looked like it had been cut by a dull knife with jagged edges on it's side, and to be honest it was subpar fish. It seemed like they remidied that by giving you a lot of it. The fish was hanging off the riceball reminding me that this was quantity over quality.
The spicy hamachi roll came out out and it was tasty. The jalapeno and lime was a nice change but I can't emphasis how much the roll lost by having horrible rice and loose rolls. It was bittersweet, as if you morn a roll that could have been amazing but turned out mediocre.
Next came a spiced scallion, and a yellowtail roll. The rolls tasted the same, the fish bland.
When I see a 4+ star rating I know the sushi will melt in my mouth. What I was left with instead was buffet quality Sushi. Don't let the hunger that the long lines caused fool you. This place is worthless
Good things come to those who wait!!!!
Just put your name down, order a drink and sit back and relax with your friends until you are eventually summoned to your table!!!!
I love the place and know what to expect when i go here and so prepare mentally that i will not be eating as soon as i walk in the door.
The wait can break you sometimes, many a comrade has fallen to the side whilst waiting for food here. I believe as legend has it that Sushi Zone uses an old method of Japanese torture testing those who walk through the door, and for those who pass this laborious task will be greatly rewarded......
Good Luck!!!
This place sucks!
I don't know what all the hype is, it's just another sushi restaurant.
Good points:
Restaurant is run by REAL Japanese people, not Juan Carlos and the crew.
Bad Points:
Waited 2 hrs, finally got seats in front of the sushi chef. Watched him make a Hawaiian #2, then realizing he mad a mistake, he scrapes off the saucy fish and throws it back in to the fridge. NICE!
After about 1/2 hr, we finally get our food order going.
Mango Hamachi - really?..Hamachi roll w/ mango - 1 star
Spider Roll - Possibly the worst Spider Roll I've ever had. I don't even think they put a batter on the crab. Crab tasted burnt and was mainly on the end pieces, hardly any filling the middle. - 1 star
The Hawaiian #2 - Macadamia nuts and mango pieces w/ saucy fish. I looked at the fish and it seemed familiar...ya! the shit the sushi chef scraped off earlier and put back in the fridge is now I'm my mother fuck'n sushi! WTF!
Nothing special about this roll either. - 1 star
I will never go back to Sushi Zone again. Just because you put mangos, papayas, or macadamia nuts in your sushi doesn't make it special or taste any better!
Overall - I give it a big 1-star on my middle finger! FUCK YOU Sushi Zone!
The only waiting I will ever do for sushi is for Sushi Dai at Tsujiki Market in Japan. Otherwise, absolutely not worth the wait.
Finally went here after months of hearing so many good things about this neighborhood sushi gem! Ace and I found parking literally across the street on Market, of course had to jaywalk but it was certainly worth it, if a cop busted us.
We sat right infront of the bar, two corner seats. Ordered a large Sapporo to share and a large hot sake for starters. This place seats 18 people and we were lucky enough to arrive early before the dinner crowd started to trickle in.
This cozy hole in the wall served to be the most best kept secret in SF and I kid you not, the food speaks for itself. Be aware of the long wait for food, from what I was told...it's actually the same kind of long wait if you were in Japan.
We had the baked mussels. These are mouth watering! I could eat six of these!
We also had the two hawaiian rolls with salmon and hamachi (with mango and generous amount of crushed mac nuts), the unagi with papaya, the salmon skin roll, etc. I absolutely loved the unagi with papaya roll -- this was refreshing and delicious.
I would recommend this place to anyone and definitely coming back next month!
Undeniably THEE best sushi you can get in the city. It's fresh, it's made with care - it's delicious. What more could you ask for? Yes, I'm well aware of the wait, but believe me and the many other yelpers - it is WELL worth it. If you wait in line outside before the restaurant opens you can pretty much guarantee yourself a spot when the doors open and if not, put your name on the list and chill at the bar around the corner.
The food, the friendly atmosphere, the cozy feel, the prices.. You really can't go wrong here. And even though I don't want to give away yet another 5 star review to talk about how awesome this place is in fear of the lines being even longer.. Everyone should really know about this treasure!
Just remember to bring cash and your smiling face. Cheers!
I found it! Finally, a neighborhood sushi joint that I LOVE (not just like). The wait is long and even after you sit down it will take some time but I'll basically do anything for delicious food. Sushi Zone really deserves a better name. It sounds so genetic which is why I stayed away for so long. What a mistake. The delicious rolls, sashimi, and nigiris have me kicking myself!
I first tried Sushi Zone two weeks ago before I went on vacation in Florida. My bf and I always have to get our sushi fixes before trips because it's so hard to find a good sushi place when you're traveling. We almost ordered every roll but here were some of my favorites:
The Hawaiian #2 - is similar to the Hawaiian. It just depends on if you like albacore or tuna better. Huge macadamia nuts and mango pieces make this taste like you really are in Hawaii. So good.
Papaya Unagi - This was just mouthwatering. I never thought papaya and unagi together but I'm sure glad Sushi Zone did. I know I'm ordering this one every time I come here!
Spider Roll - The tempura was perfect. Sometimes it's battered too thickly or it's BREADED and fried (yuck!) but this one was light and crisp. The crab was so fresh, you could taste the guts and juices. I LOVE IT.
Rainbow Roll - Each piece was wrapped with a beautiful piece of sashimi. That's awesome. Best rainbow roll ever!
Spicy Scallop - The sushi chef cut nigiri quality scallops to mix into the spicy mayo for this roll. It was sweet, fresh and had just a hint of spice.
The Sashimi combo plate was a great value too at just $20.50. I also tried the famous baked sea bass with mango. It was good but I'd rather have ordered more rolls! I was actually sad to leave SF the next day since the night before I found such a great sushi joint. The whole time I was away, I dreamt of Sushi Zone. I rushed right back after I got off the plane!
Very small place, so if you go there you should probably expect to wait a bit. The sushi is very fresh and they have several very cleverly put together rolls. I'm a fan.
My sister and I were visiting from Seattle over Thanksgiving weekend and were hunkering for some sushi after a weekend of turkey and Chinese food. After perusing Yelp while riding the BART into the city, we came across the reviews for Sushi Zone.
First of all, people are not exaggerating when they say you will have to wait... and wait... and wait to eat at this restaurant. However, if you have the time and the patience, I think it's worth it! Sushi Zone has barely any waiting space (one small bench and a few seats against the far wall), so after writing your name on the list you are likely going to have to wait outside. There were about 8 people listed ahead of us and not realizing the amount of time we'd have to wait, we stuck it out for 30 minutes. Then we realized that there are only 16 seats (yup, we counted!), did some quick math, and decided to wait at a nearby bar for awhile. We came back after an hour and still waited another 30 minutes before we were finally seated. So total waiting time: 2 hours.
You may at this point be wondering why I still gave Sushi Zone a 4 Star rating after such a long wait. The answer? The food.
I cannot remember the exact names of the rolls we ordered, but I'll try to do some describing. We both started out with miso soup and tea, which both came very quickly. Then, after seeing table after table consuming these delicious looking baked something or others in shells, my sister and I decided we just had to try them. After 30+ minutes of examining the menu, we deduced that they were baked striped sea bass with mango. And they were as tasty as they looked! There is a reason why everyone orders them and if you go to Sushi Zone, you should too!
In addition to the soup and bass, we also ordered a tuna roll (very fresh!), a hibachi (?) roll (yum!), and one more which I cannot for the life of me remember right now. Just know that it was delicious and you can't go wrong with any of their rolls!
To top off the delicious cuisine, a final element Sushi Zone has going for them... their prices! The rolls are relatively inexpensive for how many pieces (6) you get! The typical range is between $5 and $8, with a few more expensive specials. The total for my sister and my bill was under $40 with tip!
So, to sum up this review... Sushi Zone is well worth the wait.
Yes, it is worth the wait but the wait is c-razy and it is the smallest restaurant in the world. Everything I've had here has been delicious and so reasonably priced it's insane. But you have to have the patience of Gandhi and Mother Theresa combined to make this night work for you. Consider yourself warned!
Sushi Zone is a restaurant (yes, it's hard to believe as you take in the size of this miniscule hole-in-wall, but let me finish) that rewards you if you've done your research. I've been here a few times now, and each time has been fabulous despite the wait that you'll almost certainly experience.
Knowing that there is a wait, you can use that time to your advantage. The bf and I came here yesterday right at opening (5:00 pm), put our name down on the whiteboard, and didn't get seated until 6:15 pm. Pretty ridiculous, right? But the waitress brought us beverages during our wait. In the alternative, there's the Pisco Lounge right next door, and they serve delicious cocktails and wines to help pass the time. Or the bookstore across the street. My point is that knowing there's an ass-long wait to eat here, just be prepared for it and you'll be eating before you know it.
Once you get over it, the food is quite enjoyable here. I'd pass on the run-of-the-mill Rainbow Roll and the Spicy Tuna Rolls - they're nothing too special. However, you'll be blown away by the Baked Striped Sea Bass with Mango ($5.00). This is served in a mussel shell, and it simply melts in your mouth. Also, don't miss the Hawaiian Rolls ($5.75 each for HR#1 and HR #2), which come with your choice of macadamia nuts or not.
We were really full after getting all of the above (plus drinks and miso soup), and it only cost us about $55 tax and tip included for the two of us. Everything about this place is reasonable, aside from the wait, of course.
This is the only restaurant I go to at least once a month. The two hour wait is always worth it. To pass the time, just order a sake and take your time reading the Zagat Survey for America's Top Japanese Restaurants located on the counter. Or you can go to Pisco around the corner.
My favorite dishes:
*uni
*hawaiian #1 - the macadamia nuts are magical
*stuffed mussel (better than the stuffed mushroom or jalapeño; but they are good as well)
*hamachi - the regular cut almost tastes as good as hamachi belly
*spicy scallop handroll - you can ask for extra mayonnaise
*amaebi - like uni, so many things can go wrong with this dish but it's been consistently good
*unagi handroll - no wonder Japanese people have this for dessert
My least favorite:
*Mexican roll
*anything w/ mango in the sushi
Waited about an hour, but it was totally worth it. The stuffed mushrooms were really good, but they only give you 2 per order. The Hawaiian Roll #2 is my new favorite roll. It has tuna, mango, & crushed macadamia nuts. The Papaya Unagi roll was also very good.
So far, it's the best sushi I've had in the San Francisco area. I'd definitely eat there again. Just be prepared to wait.
First off this is a small intimate restaurant as others have stated. That's part of its charm. There are two booths that seat 4 people each and the counter which seats 8. Maximum seating capacity is 16 if the booths are filled, most times there's just a couple occupying them. When you walk up to the place based on the size you should expect a wait if the tables/counter are full. For those who complain about having to wait, what would you rather have? 1) A wait and then a leisurely meal where you can savor it all at your pace. 2) No wait and a waitress who delivers indigestion as she encourages you to inhale your food and stands over you breathing down your neck to get you to gulp your tea and vacate your seat.
If you get there and the tables are full, add your name to the whiteboard (it's on the sideboard). There's a bench near the door and four chairs against the sideboard for waiting. I recommend grabbing one of the chairs against the buffet so that you can watch the Sushi chef. While you wait you can enjoy a Sapporo or sake or nibble on some Edamame. We've waited both times we've gone here - a little over an hour the first time and almost 2 hours the second time. There's a rhythm to the waiting - some people come in, list their names, and reappear just as the seats with their name open up. NOTE: If you wander and then come back to discover that your name has been passed, don't despair. The server will seat you when the next table comes open.
The first time I came here I didn't know to get the baked sea bass with mango. A friend told me we absolutely had to get it the next time and we'd forgotten about it until we were waiting we saw a baked concoction on mussel shells go by us. It was as good as we'd been told. If you're with another person, don't get just 1 order (2 pieces for each of you), get your own order!
Also, if you have the choice between a booth or the counter, I'd recommend the counter. When we sat at the booth, the chef wasn't able to judge our pace and sent out the sushi at the same time. At the counter we were able to enjoy each plate on its own. Sushi is meant to be savored from the start as your eyes feast on the presentation to finish as your mouth experiences a symphony of balanced flavors.
HEY ASSHATS!!!!!!!!!!
stop complaining about the wait, we get it, you had to wait for hours, boho poor you!!!
Spoiled butbellys take your onestar and head over to TACOBELL it's just around the corner!
As good as it gets!
Indeed.
I have been a regular for more then a year and this is the first I write a…
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This place is AMAZING.
My cousin and I went out last Friday to check out Sushi Zone.....when we got in the place smelled delicious and it was packed with people. The place is TINY! Only two tables and bar seating. We waited an hour for a table, but it was all well worth it. While waiting we got to chat with a few others who all had nothing but great things to say.
Highlights:
Sea Bass with mango!!! My cousin and I decided next time we go back this is all we're ordering! :)
Stuffed jalapenos.....yummy!!!!
Salmon Mango roll
The people there are great too, very nice and very attentive to your needs. I can't wait to go back.
Yup, after avoiding this place for literally *years* because of the fabled wait, I finally checked it out myself, and I can tell you folks, it's all true.
It's teeny, and you'll wait. And wait. And wait. (Even at 8:30 on a Tuesday.) And the fish is great, the chef and staff are friendly, the atmosphere virtually non-existent, and the prices pretty good for what you get.
The wait is daunting, but if you're up for it, it's definitely worth it.
i dream of this place but have nightmares of the wait.
i only go here with one person. my sushi partner in crime and eat sushi til i can't eat no more. it is so good.....
I am an impatient person. I almost died waiting for dinner here.
This restaurant has great sushi - it is SO delicious and fresh and wonderful - but mostly because your wait was so miserable that sitting down and eating anything makes you unnaturally happy. You will wait for 2 hours, minimum. The restaurant has 2 tables and a bar that seats maybe 10 people. You put your name on a list and wait outside, hovering over all the folks who are eating. If there is a party taking a long time, you hate them and throw dirty looks in their direction. By the time it's your turn to sit down, you are ravenous and pissed off. The food is SO good because you've been waiting for such a long time. Overall, this dining experience is totally frustrating. My suggestion is that they take over the unremarkable Chinese restaurant next door. Otherwise, I will not be revisiting and I would not recommend the restaurant because the wait is atrocious.
For $60, my friend and I had loads of sushi and appetizers (the baked seabass in a mussel shell is to die for, I could order 10 of them) AND one large sake, small sake, and a beer. Really good prices!
The fish is excellent, and I love all the mango rolls they have. Alaskan #2 is bomb with the macadamia nuts sprinkled on top.
It can take over an hour and i hear sometimes two to get seated. But, just put your name on the board and head into the peruvian bar next door for a drink while you wait.
Did I go to the wrong restaurant? What I ate was nowhere near as good as these reviews.
Remember to write your name on the whiteboard and prepare to wait. After about 40 min on a weekday, we were seated at the bar. BTW, this place is super tiny. I don't think any table can seat more than 4 peeps. Food comes out pretty fast and service was great.
Chirashi was okay. I'm not sure if his knife wasn't sharp, but the edges were stringy and jagged. Hamachi kama was prepared in what looked like a toaster oven, but it was very meaty, tasty, and super fresh. Sea bass with mango was aight. Can I be honest? It reminded me of something you'd get at a Chinese buffet, not a 5 star yelp establishment.
I may have overly hyped up Sushi Zone in my head. If I walked in off the street and ate here, I might think they're a notch better, but not by much.
you'll wait. and wait. for this much waiting, there's far better fin fare.
Go early or expect a wait. Amazing sushi. You'll love it. Great crowd. Make sure to get the sushi sampler and the baked mushrooms. So great. Again, don't hate on the wait.
I don't really understand the hype here... I went with a few friends the other night and had a very subpar experience.
I got the Chirashi which I get at pretty much every sushi joint I go to. First off, it took about 45 mins to get our food. I'm all about lounging, having a good conversation over beers and sake with friends, but 45 mins!? We all got sushi so its not like they forgot to cook something in the kitchen and had to wait for it. Anyways, after the food finally arrived I was very unimpressed by the amount of food. There were 5 pieces of fish total (one of them being ebi, which I don't really even count so its more like 4 pieces). Sake, maguro, hamachi, unagi over some rice. Move along, nothing special to see here...
I've said time and again that once every so often, along comes a restaurant that creates a new standard for a specific food item, or cuisine.
For example - for brunch, I measure any restaurant serving breakfast items against my favorite brunch joint - Fifth Wheel in San Leandro.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
For gorging on meats, I measure it against my favorite red meat joint, Fogo de Chao.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
When it comes to sushi - I measure everything against my favorite Ino Sushi.
http://www.yelp.com/bi...
My old friend from high school swears by this place, so I made a true effort to try it out. I am VERY reluctant to try new sushi joints as I am invariably disappointed when comparing it to Ino, but on this night, it was 9 pm and Ino was closed.
I thought Ino Sushi was small.
Sushi Zone is TINY. I can see now why everyone is reviewing how long they waited - my bedroom is larger than this restaurant. Lucky for us, because we got there at 9:30 PM, we did not have a wait and got seated at the two remaining seats at the otherwise still full bar.
It's extremely casual (almost a dive, if you will) and doesn't have a Japanese feel at all, except the entire staff is Japanese. As "hole in the wall" as it felt, it looked clean.
The staff was friendly, and the chef, while I don't believe it was Aio-san on this evening, was nice enough.
Let's get to the fish.
First - my friend recommended the Omakase here, but I was politely informed that they do not do Omakase because they are just too busy. Perhaps they just do Omakase for my friend Kip and his wife - I am not sure, but even sitting at the bar, it was not chef's choice - we ordered what we wanted and said to include whatever is fresh and NOT COOKED at all Read my Ino Sushi review and you will see how I feel about getting Omakase.
First came the maguro, sake, and hirame. The tuna and salmon were totally underwhelming at best, the hirame was good.
The scallop nigiri was quite outstanding - as well as the hamachi-kama we ordered. Both fish were extremely fresh.
Having read some of the reviews, I knew I had to at least try a roll of some sort, and opted to order the hamachi spicy roll. While I didn't find it spicy, I had to admit this was a tasty roll - I loved the lime aspect of it and the hamachi was fresh. Other items, like uni, were good. Rob loved the tataki seared tuna - and I was not a big fan.
We ordered plenty of nigiri, and we were stuffed silly by the end of the meal.
Now, I started to hear the theme song to Jaws, as we requested the bill. The cost of the meal would be what would determine whether this was a 3 or 4-star experience.
Rob spends an astronomical amount of money on taking me out to dinner. While we both enjoy a good In N Out Burger, we also both appreciate luxury dining at any cost, so long as the food and experience made it worthwhile.
Having eaten at Sushi Zone - I knew what I was willing to pay for this experience. I also knew at which price point this dinner would have become a waste of good money.
We received the bill and for $100 total - including tip - Grace and Rob were full (read: we ate our usual enormous amount of sushi). This breaks down to $50 per person, including a small bottle of cold sake (which, by the way, was good stuff).
Now this was truly an economical meal.
Excellent sushi, I think not.
But we ate without crinkling our nose at anything or having to spit anything out, and more than once, we were impressed by the quality of SOME of the fish (though not all), and while the rice is not to my liking in taste or size (a bit too much rice), it was all in all pretty good.
The selection of rolls, however, was impressive - and the one roll we did try was very good.
This was also the first time in my life that I have entered a sushi restaurant and ended up being the only Asian party in the restaurant - which explains the popularity of the rolls at Sushi Zone.
For most of the food, I would only give it 3-stars overall. The ambiance of the place, while cool in an eclectic sort of way, is also not what I want when I am opting to eat Japanese food - BUT, you factor in the price and Sushi Zone just kind of makes sense.
Will I be back?
I'm not entirely sure. I am the type of person who'd rather spend double this amount and eat amazing sushi at Ino rather than eat "just good" sushi, but then again, Ino's last seating is at 8:30 pm (if that), whereas Sushi Zone seats until 9:30 pm.
Most definitely, though - I am not one to wait 2 hours to eat here as many yelpers have claimed to have done.
No way, no how.
The wait is long. The sushi is pretty fucking good. Come here at off hours to avoid the wait, or brown bag beer and socialize w/ the other parties waiting outside. This is not exactly traditional sushi, but unique and tasty. The appetizers are worth trying and the rotating specials are usually good.
Best. Sushi. EVER. Seriously the best. Worth the wait. We had sashimi, it melted in my mouth! Stuffed mushrooms, and a plethora of rolls. Amazing.
I do not understand why Sushi Zone does not get 5 stars from EVERYBODY!!!
For us, Sushi Zone still is the one and only Sushi place outside of Japan! WE try out different places all the time, just because we want to be fair but... it is simply NOT possible for anyone to keep up with Sushi Zone! The cosy atmosphere, the personal relationship you develop with the Sushi chefs and the waitresses, the selection on their menu! The Baked sea bass, the Spicy Scallop roll, the Sweet Shrimp nigiri... OUT OF THIS WORLD!!! Honestly, whenever I take a bite of anything they produce I can't help but close my eyes and sigh... HMHHHHHH!
Does the wait bother me?! NO, it's part of it. Enjoy a few glasses of Sapporo while you wait and even more so... enjoy the anticipation!
Sushi ZONE... we'll be back, very soon :) :) :) !
Mushy, pieces of shit sushi. I came here with 3 other people extremely hungry and waited over 2 hours to sit down. I was so pissed off that I had to wait so long on an empty stomach that I turned into a total bitch disregarding the company and just wanting to leave. But I could not leave. This guy that brought me there has some serious guns in his closet, and despite my misery I was afraid to leave in fear of being shot. So I thought to myself, just wait it out- it can't be that bad. But it was. After sitting down, it took another hour and a half for the Mexican sushi chef to make those shitty rolls. I desperately kept looking at the clock and it was like watching paint dry. Right next to us there was a couple vigorously making out and then I realized why this place has 4 stars. When you come here, the wait is so dam long that you go to the bar across the street and you get fucked up. By the time you are ready to eat, anything tastes good. Fuck you Sushi Zone; you have no respect for my time. I would rather be eating pigs balls than waiting that long.
I'm conflicted: 4.5 stars.
I ate here after a recommendation from a friend, and purposely set it after a day I had to take a big test. It was what I looked forward to for a whole week.
My boyfriend and I got here at 4:30PM (we did yelp research coming here) but we were still the 6th and 7th persons in line. The restaurant smelled good even in line. We got seated at 5, and ordered:
1. Mango Hamachi- Good.
2. Hawaiian #2- Good. Very generous with the macadamia nuts.
3. Rock 'n Roll- Good.
4. Nasu nigiri- Delectable. This dish alone attracted a lot of stares. Its aroma was amazing.
5. Baked Sea Bass appetizer- Forgettable. A little salty, and too little bass.
6. Miso soup- is miso soup.
Everything was good, but not as good as I expected. BUT, I couldn't stop thinking about their sushi afterwards. I think my unconscious is telling me that I secretly loved the place and was playing hard to get.
We sat at the bar, and we loved how we got to see the chef prepare each order. He has amazing skills. There is only one main chef, so the orders took a while to complete. I think he has a patterned way of serving the tables.
Food was fresh. Great place, great price. Place opens at 5PM and closes at 9:30PM. Small place, come early with small party if during peak hours. Have fun & ITADAKIMASU!
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Castro
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Hayes Valley
Category: Sushi Bars
Neighborhood: Castro
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Mission
Category: Sushi Bars
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