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    Friends Only

    4.7 (54 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndSushi Bars
    Closed Closed

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    FRIENDS ONLY ATMOSPHERE

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    Recommended Reviews - Friends Only

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    Linda H.

    Have heard so much about this place, been wanting to check it out and finally did. The experience is def elevated. I've been to quite a few omakase in SF and this place reminds me most of Juni. Everything was prepared beautifully, I kinda wish we had more dishes. That would be my only complaint. This place isn't cheap so be prepared to pay. My faves were everything with Uni, which there were quite a few. I also loved my drink, the smoke show. Def very beautiful presentation. I'm usually not a whiskey fan but this was smooth and not overly strong. Def loved it! Overall great experience, just expect to pay a lot for it!

    Jessica Y.

    Absolutely amazing experience, and probably one of, if not the best, omakase I've ever had. Each dish flowed well into the next, with every course feeling unique from the last and elevated beyond something "simple." The chawanmushi was complex and savory with the crab, ikura, and truffle, the uni was extremely creamy and melted in your mouth, almost like ice cream, and the fish was extremely fresh. If I had to pick a least favorite, it would be the abalone since it was on the chewier side, but it didn't take away from the experience at all. Would definitely recommend. The chef was also super accommodating with requests. I needed my pieces cut smaller, and they happily adjusted my course to be served in tinier pieces. Food: 10/10 Service: 10/10 Ambience: 10/10

    Uni
    Rachel R.

    Friends Only packs in a solid experience. We arrived and immediately received friendly and thorough service at the door. As you start the meal, they auto lower the blinds for optimum privacy and a special vibe. My favorites: - (opening round) wagyu canape, croustade, parmesan, jidori egg....amazing flavor - sea urchin handroll...oh man, so good I had to order a second one. If you place the side with the uni layered in closest to your tongue, the flavor hits strong - black sesame ice cream with a crunchy topping, could eat a giant pint of this

    Hubert L.

    Came with 2 friends to celebrate an event. It was a rainy thursday (we couldn't get seats other than the weekday). This is a highly sought after seat so of course we were excited. This is a very expensive meal. We knew that, and the menu reflects it- 17 courses with fancy ingredients like gold, caviar, truffle, etc. The inside of the store only seats ~10 people. The service is of course, great. We got champagne on the house and nice towels to wash our hands Now for the fish. They specialize in dry-aged nigiri. You can really taste the dry aged effect in some courses. They also torch the nigiri creating an amazing umami taste! Our favorite was the dry aged, torched, golden eye snapper. Such a mindblowing course. The dessert was also quite good- matcha chocolate with honey. Very soft. The whole experience was sublime and I wholeheartedly recommend this place!!

    Nhung D.

    $$$ but if there's one omakase you gonna try, let this be the one! Dry aged sushi is much better than regular sushi, including the unagi! This place is also known for uni. The amount of uni they give is satisfying.

    Rosemarie D.

    Phenomenal experience at Friends Only! To start, they greet you at the door with such professionalism and finesse. The place was small and private but nicely organized and clean. The food was superb - beyond words can explain. My favorite was the Bluefin Tuna Belly (Toro) and Sardine (Iwashi). I am not a fan of sea urchin but The Friends Only reserve sea urchin was so creamy and sweet and not grimy or fishy at all. Their service throughout the entire experience was magnificent. This is a once in a lifetime experience I will always remember.

    Fiona Y.

    Friends Only is an unmarked corner spot by Polk Street where, upon entering, you're greeted with a modern, minimalist decor that quietly highlights luxury and intimacy. I took my fiancé to Friends Only for his birthday dinner and we were immediately welcomed with birthday wishes by the host. Guests at Friends Only start with a glass of champagne, which was only the beginning of a great evening. It was also great to see fellow diners who seemed like regulars at Friends Only. For every dish that the chefs served us, one of the staff members stopped to explain what to expect. It made the experience much more personal and it made me feel that much more connected to the menu. I expected omakase, but I didn't expect to walk out of this eatery having the best uni ever. As someone who isn't a fan of uni, I can genuinely say that the quality at Friends Only was incredibly buttery and fresh. I thoroughly enjoyed every bite! At the end of dinner, the staff presented my fiancé his dessert with a birthday candle, which was a nice touch to finish our wonderful evening at Friends Only. Overall, we felt well taken care of and had one of the most memorable meals to date at this highly recommended restaurant!

    Jennifer T.

    First of all, the location of this venue is very strange. It's on the corner with no signs and there's nothing much going in the neighborhood as it's pretty quiet during the evening. We came a little early and had to wait before everybody inside was done prepping. Went here with my husband for birthday and the sushi was delightful. The seating is all bar seating in front of the staff and chef as patrons sit to watch the prep, and we all eat the same courses from the same menu as prepared for that day. This was an 18 course meal. Sashimi and fish here is prepped and dry aged (jukusei) in an air and temperature controlled fridge. This is a method used in Kyoto to preserve fish and the region's style of sushi. The fish was a little too thinly sliced, wish it could have been a little bit more thick. The texture, smell and taste of the fish is tender, and the flavor is well kept. Because the dry aging process is contained and monitored the fish doesn't have a pronounced fishy smell or taste. I was curious about the caviar and our server brought it out for me to take a look, and was very surprised to see that there is caviar that Akikos (same owner) uses and places their name on the tin. Food and quality is overall very good. Chef informs us of what we are eating beforehand. Items that stood out to me were the canapés... it was striking to see the ostera caviar glisten under the lighting with some gold foil! Uni here is very good: we had short spine, triple A rated uni from Hokkaido. The owner did come in but didn't greet us, he seemed a little busy.

    Elizabeth T.

    Friends Only offers a 17-course tasting that's refined, well-paced, and full of standout bites. The space is intimate and modern, with a quiet confidence - you immediately get the sense you're in good hands. Every dish was beautifully executed. From the opening canapés to the final savory course, the progression of the meal was smooth and thoughtful. The sashimi was pristine, the chawanmushi with duck liver and truffle was rich and layered, and the ensui uni was some of the freshest I've ever tasted. The uni hand roll was probably my favorite of the night - simple, high-quality, and packed with flavor. You could tell the rice was perfectly seasoned, and the balance of texture and temperature was spot on. Even dishes I wouldn't normally think twice about, like the corn potage, were done at an impressively high level. Everything was clean, bold, and flavorful without trying too hard to be different. The fish was clearly handled with care, and the progression of the meal kept things interesting throughout. Service was warm, the pacing was seamless, and the attention to detail really stood out. If you're looking for a memorable omakase experience that delivers across the board - from quality to creativity to hospitality, Friends Only absolutely delivers. I'd come back in a heartbeat.

    Closing soup
    Sung Hee P.

    My husband and I chose "Friends Only" to celebrate my birthday this year as we wanted to try out new sushi/omakase spots. The concept is to have a small intimate environment (10 seats) for "friends" to mingle and enjoy a meal together. The chef or hosts introduce each meal before people indulge. It was a good amount of food and we did not go hungry ;) The service was organized yet flexible. Just a piece of advice more for my fellow Yelpers than the restaurant: when the chef is in front of you introducing your next course, try to pause your conversation and listen before you pick up the conversation again. This is basic etiquette. You are not only there for the food but an experience. Enjoy the people you came with, but the people who are serving you as well (and it shows respect to your fellow diners who may want to listen to what the chef is trying to say and not your private conversation)!

    Priscilla W.

    We dined at Friends Only last month, which offers a 17 course menu for a 90 minute dining time. Everything was delicious, the ambiance was very modern and clean, and staff were friendly. Chef was friendly too, but not as interactive as other chefs I've met at other omakase places. The restaurant seats 10 and is available by reservation. My favorites were the refreshing sunomono, flavorful bluefin tuna, crispy and peppery eel, delicate chawanmushi garnished generously with truffle, and fatty otoro. There were three courses that showcased uni, which is more than your average, so if you love uni, you're in for a treat. Friends Only dry ages their fish anywhere from 1-3 weeks, and they also have a nice display of them. The food and drinks are a little on the more expensive side, but Friends Only is worth the experience.

    Matcha Ice Cream (Dessert)
    Jackie O.

    This was the most expensive omakase I've experienced, priced at $350 per person with a mandatory 20% service charge. Given the cost, I was expecting something truly exceptional--well beyond any omakase I've had before--but unfortunately, it fell short of those expectations. Only 10 of the 18 courses were nigiri, with the remainder consisting of starters and palate cleansers. Several of the nigiri offerings also felt surprisingly basic, including lean bluefin tuna and mackerel, and the sashimi course featured salmon. To be fair, the non-nigiri courses showcased high-quality, luxurious ingredients and some interesting flavor combinations. However, when those are the primary dishes I remember from an omakase of this caliber, it suggests an imbalance in the overall experience. That said, the ambiance and service were excellent. We visited to celebrate our anniversary, and the staff thoughtfully surprised us with complimentary champagne and a handwritten note, which was a lovely and much-appreciated touch.

    Michael C.

    Phenomenal service. The wait staff took special attention offer patrons details behind each and every bite of nirigi served, which was a delight! Unforgettable choices of fish and the level of attention to detail was top notch!

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    Ask the Community - Friends Only

    How long is dinner? If wr have a show down the street at 7, will we make it?

    Dinner runs almost 3 hours. You won't be able to do a 7pm show for a 5:30 seating.

    What is the dress code here?

    Smart casual

    If I finally reserve a seat, I don't wish to have chawanmushi. So do I need to have all of what's on an omakase special menu?

    Call them in advance, and ask to speak to the manager/front of house staff. Ask before you get there.

    View All 6 Questions

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    This place is on the second floor of the Japantown mall. Went with someone in crutches, and there's…read morea lot of stairs. Elevator is on the other corner of the center, so you do have to go a little around to get there if you need an elevator. Not too bad though. Small restaurant. Most of their tables are great for a group of 4 but I'm guessing they could just push together tables if your group is a little larger. Service was good. All our dishes were great. The sushi wraps were good but they can be a bit messy. 2 sushi wraps, 1 ramen, 1 sushi roll, seaweed salad, 2 sodas, came out to about $90. We'll be back to try more.

    Small unassuming sushi spot on second floor of Japan Center Mall. The restaurant is on the inside…read morepart of the floor, so no windows, which made it a little dark. We were seated pretty quickly on a Sunday evening, and there were a couple of other parties there. They had a sign advertising a special where you can order two items from a list and it comes with soup, salad, and rice, but we ended up just splitting two house special rolls - the Salmon Mango roll and Rock N Roll roll (tuna, avocado, spicy mayo). Both were delicious. I particularly liked the Salmon Mango roll - it was a perfect mix of sweet and savory. The rolls came with 8 pieces each and each piece was a good size, so it was plenty for two of us. I also got a Sapporo beer (bottle) to sip on. Overall, good experience - quick, efficient service and satisfying meal.

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    Hikari Sushi & Bar - Fujis Roll

    Hikari Sushi & Bar

    3.9(560 reviews)
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    We went to visit my daughter in SF. Took her to Hikari Sushi & Bar for dinner, this place is more…read morethan just a dinner spot, it's an experience! From the moment we sat down, the sushi train immediately caught everyone's attention. Once we submit our order in the iPad, the bullet style train brought the food to our table. It made the whole meal feel interactive and exciting, especially for a family night out. The robot food server was also a huge hit at our table. It added a fun, modern touch and definitely made the experience memorable. It's not every day your food is delivered by a robot and train. It brought a lot of smiles and conversation to the table. On top of the entertainment, the food itself was fresh and delicious. There was a great variety of sushi to choose from, and everything we tried was flavorful and well-prepared. I think the combination of good food, unique service, and a lively atmosphere made this a standout dining experience. If you're looking for a place that's both fun and tasty especially with family, Hikari Sushi & Bar is definitely worth a visit!

    I'm obsessed with this place. We came in starving, we were sat immediately and got our food shortly…read moreafter we ordered - via a sushi train. The pure novelty already sold me on this place, you tap a screen to order, then it's delivered on an electronic conveyor belt. Loved the miso soup. The rice in the nigiri was so good. I'd recommend the double spicy salmon, it was a little expensive but worth it. The flavor stayed in my mouth for so long after.

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    Hikari Sushi & Bar - A Shinkansen delivers your sushi a few minutes after you place your order! It even sounds a little like the real deal! :)

    A Shinkansen delivers your sushi a few minutes after you place your order! It even sounds a little like the real deal! :)

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    Tenroku Sushi

    Tenroku Sushi

    3.7(595 reviews)
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    Fun, efficient, simple. Nothing to add…read more I've been to a few conveyor belt, boat-sushi type spots in Japantown and I always end up back at Tenroku! Is it the best sushi ever? Not quite. I think expectations are usually low when going to these types of spots but given the quality and price, it's actually pretty surprising. I usually stop by for dinner on weeknights. It can get busy sometimes but I've never waited more than 10-15 minutes. Service is quick and friendly. The goal is to get you seated and taken care of right away. Once you sit down, it's game on. Chefs are busting out all different kinds of dishes for you to try. They also take requests if there's something on the menu you'd like to try. I love not having to commit to a roll and being able to try a ton of different things. Admittedly, I keep coming back for the seared walu. The plate color lets you know the price of what you're getting. Most plates come with 2-4 pieces and run from $3 - $8. I can make this dinner as cheap or expensive as I'd like!

    First of all, this is a sushi boat spot in the Japantown Mall--so let's set expectations. You can't…read morecompare it to a Michelin-star Japanese restaurant. Sushi circles around on a conveyor belt, and some of it has clearly been riding for a while. There are also packaged, grocery-style items on the belt like cake and uni. That said, it's good and possibly fresh, and the chefs are clearly working hard. It's not creative or romantic--it is what it is. We had several solid items, left full, and that was the goal after seeing a movie. It was pretty quick, too.

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    Oma San Francisco Station

    Oma San Francisco Station

    4.3(351 reviews)
    0.7 miJapantown, Lower Pacific Heights
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    Actual rating: 4.5 stars…read more Definitely recommend making reservations as there are only eight seats available. It kind of makes me feel like I'm in a station since it's a counter space is right out in the open in a corner amongst all the cute little boutique shops and dessert places between Peace Plaza and the indoor bridge. $120 for the sixteen-item omakase set when we went back in February 2025. Courteous, polite service. They provided a wet towelette for us to wipe our fingers and instructed us to eat each sushi piece in one bite. The temperature of the fish was not too warm and not too cold. I loved the variety of sashimi offered, especially the charred ones! Out of all the dishes, the smoked trout with the egg yolk and the Hokkaido scallop stood out. Only dish I wasn't too crazy about was the squid and pickled lotus root/eggplant, which was shocking to me since I normally love all those things! The texture of the pickled lotus was starchy. Aside from that, we enjoyed our omakase experience at Oma San Francisco Station and would definitely recommend!

    We were in the area for the cherry blossoms and decided to try our luck with a walk-in. We knew…read morethis spot was tiny--tucked away in a corner with only 8 seats--so we weren't expecting much, but to our surprise, there were only two people inside when we walked by. We were able to snag seats right away. We ordered the Tsubame set, and it was a great experience from start to finish. It began with a cabbage salad topped with mentaiko dressing, snow crab, and a firefly squid--such a unique and flavorful opener. The first round of nigiri included iwana, miyabi tai, inada, and kanpachi, all incredibly fresh and well-balanced. Then came sashimi with three slices of umi masu, followed by another round of nigiri: itoyoridai, kurodai, hirame, and a rich, melt-in-your-mouth otoro. YUMMM Next was a standout chef's dish--grilled miso black cod--perfectly cooked and deeply flavorful. We also added Hokkaido uni and hotate as extras, which I'm having mixed feelings. Dessert wrapped things up nicely with green tea ice cream, a slice of strawberry, and a flaky cookie. Everything was so, so good. We'll definitely be back to try their other tiers.

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    Izumi Kaiten Sushi

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    3.6(270 reviews)
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    We've been coming here for over 10 years, and it's still one of our absolute favorites in…read moreJapantown. The quality has been consistently excellent -- fresh fish, beautifully prepared rolls, and simple dishes done right. You can tell they care about the ingredients and the craft. What keeps us coming back isn't just the sushi, though. It's the whole experience. The staff is warm and welcoming, the atmosphere is relaxed, and it feels like a place that values its regulars. Over the years we've celebrated casual lunches, quick dinners, and special occasions here, and it has never disappointed. The nigiri is always fresh and clean, the rice perfectly seasoned, and the specials are worth trying every time. Even after a decade, we still find ourselves saying, "This is really good," with the first bite. A true Japantown staple -- reliable, authentic, and consistently excellent. The only suggestion is to not wipe tables with as much bleach.

    Been eating here when we are in Japantown, cute little spot- Conveyer Belt sushi place. Mostly bar…read moretype seating area, and three tables to sit. We were seated at the bar area since the tables were occupied. The waitress was very quick and fast, setting us up with waters and chopsticks. Sushi is plated and charged by the color of the plate- blue is their most pricier options, which I got a lot of so I had stop eating that option, and I went for yellow or orange! Sushi was fresh, I am a Saba fan so that's what I mostly ate. Uni was fresh, and Amaebi was good. Overall, if you want something fast, the wait wasn't long, (of course it'll change on the weekend) times would be long because of the seating, try this place out! We will be back!

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    Friends Only - sushi - Updated May 2026

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