Nakama Sushi - San Francisco

Review summary

1. J

   Jean

   San Francisco

   1 review

   4.0

   1 review

   Dined 2 days ago

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 3

   I had high expectations for this sushi restaurant based on all the hype, and while it was certainly authentic, fresh, and well-prepared, it didn’t quite live up to what I was anticipating. The fish quality was excellent, and you can tell the chefs take pride in their craft. Each piece was beautifully presented, and the flavors were clean and well-balanced. Service was attentive and professional, with staff ensuring everything was to our liking. The ambiance added to the experience, making it a great spot for sushi lovers. However, despite all these positives, I left feeling that it didn’t quite exceed or even match the high expectations I had coming in. Perhaps it was the overwhelming hype that set the bar too high, or maybe I was expecting something truly exceptional. Overall, it’s a solid choice for quality sushi with great service, but if you’re going in with sky-high expectations, you might find it very good—but not mind-blowing.
   

   Is this helpful?

2. K

   Katherine

   Sacramento

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 7 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   If you are going to a performance near the Jazz Center, Opera, Davies or other places around City Hall, skip the overcrowded Hayes St. venues and head for Nakama Sushi. All the fish is incredibly fresh, the service is prompt but not cloying, and there are a variety of great sushi choices, plus several sake choices. Tonight we had the zucchini skewers, deceptively simple looking, but with wonderful flavor and texture. Then Double Red Roll. Again, excellent texture and flavor. Highlights were the black cod and the chawanmushi, which we order every time we come. While the takeout menu is good, do yourself a favor and eat in the restaurant, where there are more choices and a lovely atmosphere.
   

   Is this helpful?

3. B

   Brooke

   Los Angeles

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 6 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   The fish is super fresh and the service is great! My new favorite go to place
   

   Is this helpful?

4. I

   Ilaria

   Chicago

   1 review

   5.0

   1 review

   Dined on 2 February 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 5

   Great quality of ingredients and reasonable prices. Excellent hamachi carpaccio, nigiris, volcano scallop and crab roll, and dry sake. Cute interior. Friendly service. Will definitely go back again, very yummy!
   

   Is this helpful?

5. r

   robert

   VIP

   San Francisco

   48 reviews

   4.0

   48 reviews

   Dined on 2 February 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 2
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 4

   I loved the service and the space,… but the food was only okay. The tempura was awesome as was the gyoza. The rainbow roll, cucumber salad and edamame were fairly tasteless. How you fail at edamame(?). Well, they did. They do offer a garlic version that I would try if I went back. I’d say go but just now that it’s hit and miss, at least for us. Oh, the green tea cheesecake was sublime, the mango panna cotta, not so much.
   

   Is this helpful?

6. O

   Olga

   San Francisco

   30 reviews

   4.0

   30 reviews

   Dined on 1 February 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Overall we had a good experience, our only dissatisfaction was the O-toro 2 piece for $22 and the it was not as smooth, rich, or had a buttery texture at it should’ve.
   

   Is this helpful?

7. r

   ron

   San Francisco

   45 reviews

   4.0

   45 reviews

   Dined on 26 January 2025

   1. Overall 4
   2. Food 4
   3. Service 4
   4. Ambience 4

   Sashimi was very good. As was the miso soup. Nice interior.
   

   Is this helpful?

8. J

   Joseph

   Baltimore

   11 reviews

   5.0

   11 reviews

   Dined on 25 January 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Very good authentic sushi and relaxing atmosphere.
   

   Is this helpful?

9. R

   Ralyn

   San Francisco

   3 reviews

   5.0

   3 reviews

   Dined on 23 January 2025

   1. Overall 5
   2. Food 5
   3. Service 5
   4. Ambience 5

   Ambiance is nice. Had appetizers and sushi roolls, all were delicious. Staff are friendly. This place gets busy so it would be ideal to make reservations.
   

   Is this helpful?

10. E

    Elizabeth

    VIP

    San Francisco

    38 reviews

    3.0

    38 reviews

    Dined on 19 January 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 3

    The black cod appetizer was delicious! Special Rolls were small enough to eat in one bite (thankfully) yet long enough that two rolls with some apps was a good meal for two. Some options were slightly Americanized (why?), e.g. one had cream cheese and many things had avocado. The spicy summer roll was especially good with salmon, spicy tuna, and hamachi wrapped in slightly too-thick cucumber wrapper. Service was a bit uneven (rarely saw the same person twice), but all was friendly and generally attentive. Decor was thoughtful if a bit stark with wood paneling throughout. Though on a somewhat barren block, it was a solid pre-concert choice. I look forward to going again.
    

    Is this helpful?