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Sushi Restaurants in San Francisco: 9 Top Places Around Town
by Jill Loeffler •
Updated: April 11, 2024
There are dozens of sushi restaurants in San Francisco, but which are the best? You will find a large concentration of great places in Union Square as well as in the Financial District and in smaller neighborhoods around town.
My list includes high-end options that only serve a prix fixe menu to casual places where you can quickly grab some rolls to go.
Disclaimer: I receive a small commission from some of the links on this page.
5 Best Japanese & Sushi Restaurants in Union Square
You will find a variety of great sushi restaurants in San Francisco in and near the Union Square district. These are a few of my favorite places and what you can expect from each one.
1. Sushi Toni
This tiny, local spot is a great place to grab sushi any night of the week. They offer the basics at a reasonable price. I usually order their rolls and have never been disappointed.
It's the perfect place for a casual night out on the town or when you are looking for a quick place for takeout. Plus, they're open late (5 pm to 11 pm daily, and until midnight Fridays and Saturdays)! Their rolls start at $9 and their entrees around $15.
733 Bush Street (Union Square district)
>> More great places to eat in Union Square
2. Oma Sushi
This casual spot is another great sushi restaurant in Union Square. It's small, but the good thing is they're open for lunch every day except Monday, and they offer a variety of traditional Japanese dishes.
Two of my favorite dishes here are the French Kiss roll and the Salmon Crunch roll. Head over for a quick bite to eat or grab it to go. Their most basic rolls start at around $6 and their entrees start at $16.
330 O'Farrell Street (Union Square district)
3. KUSAKABE
Steps from the Union Square district is one of the top high-end sushi restaurants in San Francisco. They serve prix fixe or Omakase-style sushi dinners, so you can expect a different experience each time you eat. This one offers two options each night.
The petite Omakase prix fixe option is available only Tuesday through Thursday and costs $148 per person. The regular Omakase menu offers a larger portion size and is around $198 per person.
Once you order one of these prix fixe options, you can add on more dishes from their menu.
They are open Tuesday through Sunday and have two seatings per evening, the first at 5 pm and the second at 8 pm.
584 Washington Street (North Beach district)
>> More great seafood options around SF
4. Akiko's Sushi Bar
If you are staying in Union Square, you don't have to go far to find one of the best sushi restaurants in San Francisco. This affordable option offers some of the tastiest sashimi and nigiri in the area. Don't get me wrong, I also love their rolls.
However, the fish is so fresh here that I recommend heading straight for these other two options. If you do prefer rolls, steer toward the fun options such as the Volcano or the Firecracker Rolls.
You can also order other Japanese dishes such as salmon or chicken teriyaki. The nigiri (two pieces per order) start at $7, the sashimi (five pieces per order) start at $19, and their specialty rolls start at $13. They are open every day for lunch and later for dinner.
542 Mason Street (Union Square district)
5. Maru Sushi
This casual spot just two blocks north of Union Square is known for their sushi rolls. The Dragon, Spicy Tuna, and Cherry Blossom rolls are all delicious. These start at just $7.
They also offer a range of Japanese dishes, from katsu to teriyaki, udon to tempura. Main plates start at around $13.
They are open daily from 11 am to 10 pm.
529 Powell Street (Union Square)
Restaurant Discounts
You will also find some great deals for restaurants all around town on Groupon. It's a great place to look if you want to save a bit on your food budget while you are here. They have deals for sushi restaurants in San Francisco as well as for other cuisines.
How it works is you will buy a certain amount of dollars to spend at a specific restaurant. You will buy this at a discount so you are able to stretch your dollars.
For example, you might be able to buy $50 worth of food for $25 or $30. Make sure to tell them you are using the deal before you order just in case there are any restrictions.
Visit Groupon today to find some great deals around town.
Other Top Sushi Restaurants in San Francisco
6. Ryoko's
Ryoko's is a popular, colorful sushi bar in the Nob Hill neighborhood. From the street entrance, you'll walk downstairs into what feels like part lounge - part Japanese Izakaya gastropub.
Here you'll not only get good sushi, but also a casual and fun atmosphere that gets more lively as the night goes on with a live DJ spinning music. They are open from 6pm until late every day of the week (until 10:30 pm on Sundays, 11:30 pm Monday through Thursday, and 12:30 am Fridays and Saturdays).
They have a large selection of fresh sashimi and sushi rolls, as well as other Japanese appetizers like yakitori and gyoza.
619 Taylor Street (Lower Nob Hill district)
7. Sanraku
Another one of my favorite sushi restaurants in San Francisco is Sanraku. This small place is a happening spot as it's popular with locals and visitors. You will find it in the Lower Nob Hill district not too far from Union Square.
Their menu offers a variety of options including sashimi, nigiri, some standard rolls and teriyaki. They offer most classic and signature rolls, as well as main dishes other than sushi, for less than $20.
They serve both lunch and dinner. They open at 11:30 am daily and close at 9 pm Sunday through Thursday. They stay open until 10 pm Friday and Saturday.
704 Sutter Street (Lower Nob Hill district)
8. Sushi Zone
One of the top sushi restaurants in San Francisco is Sushi Zone. It's another casual joint with a great selection of items, located in the Duboce Triangle just between the Lower Haight and the Mission districts.
My two favorites here are the rolls. They have creative options like the Hawaiian rolls with macadamia nuts and a variety of rolls with their special spicy mayo.
You will also find a variety of vegetarian options. If you're into seafood and want to venture outside the realm of sushi, their baked mussels are also popular.
They are open from Wednesday to Saturday only for dinner. Closed Sunday through Tuesday.
1815 Market Street (Lower Haight district)
9. Sushi on North Beach
My final recommendation for sushi restaurants in San Francisco is in North Beach. It's one of the few options in this district, so you will find that it's often busy.
Some of my favorite items here include the Bincho Jalapeño Sashimi, Fire Balls, and the California Dinner (which includes rolls, teriyaki, and a tempura dish).
745 Columbus Avenue (North Beach district)
>> More great options around Fisherman's Wharf
More Top SF Restaurants
Buena Vista Cafe: Historic Buena Vista Cafe in Fisherman's Wharf is the place that first introduced Irish coffee to cocktail lovers in the US. In addition, they serve up one of the heartiest breakfasts in town. My favorite is their crab benedict, but they also make some mean omelets and scrambles. Buena Vista Cafe serves lunch and dinner as well.
Irish Pubs: Do you love Irish pub food as much as me? If you do, you have to check out this list of the best in the city. You will find one of my favorites right in Union Square as well as in the Mission and the Outer Sunset.
Italian Restaurants: You will find a high concentration of Italian restaurants in North Beach, but there's actually great Italian food all over this city. On this page, you will find some of my favorites in several SF districts. They range from the higher-end Acquerello to a local place in Pacific Heights called Jackson Fillmore.
French Restaurants: I love, love, love French food, so this list was easy for me to pull together. It includes five of the best French restaurants in the city, from the popular Cafe Claude near Union Square to the small, local option, Zazie, in Cole Valley.
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