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Izakaya Sozai

3.8 (2.2k reviews)
ModerateRamen, Izakaya, Noodles
Open • 5:00 pm - 10:00 PM
Updated 1 month ago
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Order Izakaya Sozai Takeout or Delivery

Izakaya Sozai Photos

IZAKAYA SOZAI ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Happy hour specials

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Recommended Reviews - Izakaya Sozai

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Reviews With Photos

Menu
Kari M.

Very crowded venue and enthusiastic staff~we had. A great time here with our son. Food was great, fried. Chicken, dipping noodles and sushi. We were very happy with our small plates.

Sake
Christine M.

It's been a million years since I've been back! We had a girls night and decided to do izakaya. It used to be really hard to get a table and the waits were crazy! But now, it's much easier and not as crowded. Yay for us but sad for them. Also the clientele has vastly changed. They have more families coming in with kids. Guess that just means I can bring mine next time! All the things we ordered were just as I remembered! Tasty and hit the spot! Tuna tartare and the hamachi carpaccio were very tasty. We had a couple skewers, tried the uni scallop udon which was good. The pork belly curry special was fun to eat! A deconstructed banh mi. The pickled veggies were a nice touch. Service was wonderful and food came out quick. We did get a bowl of ramen to share at the end of the meal. Broth was a tad bit too salty but I like their springy noodles. Get the kikusui sake if you go! Easy and smooth to go with the food. I'll be back with the kids! Satisfied!

gyudon
Katie H.

I love coming here. I have come here for two past birthdays and various other special events, but also nights when i just need a cozy meal in. I usually make reservations (sometimes days out, sometimes day of). I like getting an assortment of dishes - gyudon, dipping ramen, fries, meatball skewer with egg, bacon wrapped enoki, squid, there are so many more dishes i want to try. I find this place very comforting and warm.

Grace M.

When we arrived we were greeted by the only server of the night. She was diligent while the kitchen of 3 people had a hard time getting orders out. We weren't impacted but the server was incredibly apologetic/ bless her. We wish we'd know the portion sizes a bit better because we had a ramen, pork cheeks, and pickles for around $55! Which is steep even for sf. It was a 2/3 filling meal for 2 people who weren't even that hungry to begin with. Also feels like a crime to have one small piece of chashu pork on a $19 bowl of ramen, and then for other common toppings to charge minimum $1.50 to add. See bowl below this is a $23 bowl with added mushroom and bamboo shoots.

Exterior
Scott L.

Izakaya Sozai is a quaint Izakaya located in the Sunset District on busy Irving Street. Street parking can be a challenge in the semi commercial and residential area. Went on a Wednesday night for early dinner right when they opened at 5pm. QRCode menu for their specials and a hard copy menu also available that lists most of their items but not all. They were out of Shisito peppers, miso clams, and fried sea bass Kaarage that night. No worries as the menu is extensive. We had: - Chili Fried Crab Appetizer, which was nice and crunchy, with a good sweet chili garnish. Perfect with a pitcher of beer - Chicken Kaarage, nice large chunks of fried chicken, also good with beer - Eggplant Miso, the chunks of eggplant are roasted in the oven and comes out on a hot sizzling platter, my wife loves eggplant whereas I like but don't care for the chewiness of the outer skin - The Early Bird Tonkatsu Ramen and Veggie Gyoza Combo, like the soup stock, didn't care for the veggie gyoza - Spicy Tuna on Crispy Rice, wished it was Poki versus very chopped up tuna - Bone Marrow with Toasted Bread, decadent and a dish to be shared by at least four people because it is rich - Miso Cod, wish there was more tasty fish, my MIL loved the fish... - Kinako Mochi with Matcha Ice Cream and Red Beans, the fried mochi was crispy on the outside and chewy on the inside, complemented by the creamy matcha ice cream, not a fan of red beans though.... Ambiance was dark, with plenty of windows since the restaurant is on a corner. It gets dark early after switching to daylight savings in California. Can get pricey...Service was excellent by the lone front end employee that night. Liked the chili fried crab, chicken Kaarage, and miso cod...

Tonkotsu Ramen
Elvira V.

Very disappointing tonkotsu ramen. The broth tasted like watered-down gravy with a heavy dose of black pepper rather than a rich, slow-cooked pork broth. It lacked the creamy texture and depth of flavor that make tonkotsu ramen worth ordering. Not something I'd come back for.

Tonkatsu ramen with pork belly
Katie R.

Came here for the ramen on a chilly night and it truly hit the spot. The broth was hearty and full of flavor and the noodles the perfect texture (sometimes ramen noods seem a little undercooked to me). I loved that the broth had cracked black pepper in it, don't think I've ever had/noticed it in ramen before but it was a nice addition. We also tried one of the yakitoris, the chicken thigh, it was good but the ramen was the showstopper for me. The menu had a nice variety of yakitori, fried options, and even some sashimi. The restaurant has a very cozy and intimate feel to it. It's fairly small with the tables close together and has pretty dark lighting, there was only one server, and she did a great job taking care of everyone. Would definitely come back for the ramen and to try some of the other yakitori.

Fried cheese and cartilage!
Michael Y.

They have excellent food and a family-friendly environment! It was already packed and busy at 5:30 pm, so plan ahead! It is an intimate setting, for sure. The people there are wonderful! It is a lively place hustling and bustling. It is a local joint. The izakaya and tapas were amazing! It is perfect for sharing. Get the gizzards, cartilage, beef tongue in a savory broth - spicy, and spicy tuna rice crisp!! It was all amazing!

Shishamo Skewer
Sarah M.

Friendly and quick service, everything was yummy! No wait for a table of 2 later on a Thurs night. Will definitely come back.

Spicy Tuna Crispy Rice
Michael R.

Love this spot the service is alway very good and quick. Ramen broth is out of this world it's hard to eat ramen anywhere else.

Jack R.

A bunch of misses....let's start with the Tonkatsu Ramen: This has to be one of the saltiest broths I've had in ramen in awhile. Noodles were mediocre, but for us it was basically I edible due to the high salt content. 0/5 Uni pasta: tasteless and very small uni pieces for around $30. Definitely a skip. 1/5 Bone marrow: thin sliver of bone marrow not enough for 3 small pieces of bread. It was tasty though 4/5. Duck skewer: 2/5 chewy duck with a strawberry sauce. Spicy tuna crispy rice: 5/5 best dish of the night with a good spicy and good portion People kept slamming into our table, this is a crowded place which isn't good for children running around which happened since so many parents brought their children on the weekend. $150 later and a meh dinner....

Tonkotsu Chasu Rice Bowl
Amelia D.

Izakaya means "stay-drink-place" in Japanese. One of the few Japanese restaurants I have been to that showcases the full palate of Japanese cuisine, my friends and I shared seaweed salad, chicken skin skewers, and soft shell crab bao. We especially liked the soft shell crab bao and the chicken skewers. For my main I got the grilled squid, which came with a spicy dipping sauce. It was cooked just right, not very flavorful without the dipping sauce. My friends got the Tonkotsu Chasu Rice Bowl and ramen. For dessert, we tried the green tea cheesecake, the yuzu cheesecake, and the black sesame mochi. The green tea cheesecake was our favorite with the mochi as a close second. Overall, great dining experience with excellent service (the server was attentive and made recommendations on her favorites). Definitely worth the trip to the sunset.

Wine Advocate A.

What can I say, it never misses a beat. The food, the ambience and the service. I just came back from Japan and I swear, this place is better than most Izakaya's I went to in Japan.

Menu

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28 days ago

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7 months ago

Their dip noodle is nice as well as the service. Skewers were a bit more pricey and taste fine.

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Izakaya Sozai Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Izakaya Sozai

Do they by chance offer gluten free noodles with the ramen?

Does this place have outdoor seating?

Yes - it's located on the right side.

Will they sit you if your party is incomplete?

Probably not if it's close to full

Where's the ramen?

they have their full menu on their website. and according to the menu (as of 09/2021), they have: tonkotsu ramen, chicken tsukemen, and veggie ramen.

I don't see the ramen on the menu-do they offer a vegetarian broth?

Yes, the serve ramen and yes it is a vegetarian broth

What's the price range for a bowl of ramen?

The base price is $11, but I recommend adding the spicy miso for a small extra fee. https://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/izakaya-sozai-san-francisco?select=AcdsZQ6h5tF5fw8TKrym7g

How long is the wait?

45-60 mins for 2 people

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Mensho Tokyo - Vegan Miso

Mensho Tokyo

4.1(3.4k reviews)
3.6 mi•Lower Nob Hill
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Waited about 30min at 730pm on a Monday night. The line moves relatively quickly, but there are…read moreonly about 30 seats inside. The line was twice as long at 830pm, so would recommend coming earlier. Service was very quick, food came in less than 10 minutes. I really enjoyed the TKO Ramen as compared to the Classic Toripaitan it was more unique and flavorful. If you want something you can only get here, I'd go for the more unique options like TKO. For the TKO, they really packed it with garlic and the fried carrots paired very well. The Classic Toripaitan was delicious, but more similar to Ramen you get elsewhere. Love the chewy noodle. Portions are on the smaller side. Given the small restaurant, would recommend coming here as a smaller group. Parking is pretty easy since there's usually street parking around the block.

After trying Mensho, I understand why there's always a line! Once we were seated and ordered, the…read morefood came out quickly. The place itself is small so expect to be sitting next to someone. They do have plastic dividers on the table to separate parties though. I had the vegan GKO and was surprised by how creamy the broth was, especially for a vegan ramen. The vegan fried chicken was a creative twist, too. It looks like regular chicken karaage on the outside, but it's actually made with mushrooms! Tip: arrive about 20 minutes before opening for a better chance of getting seated when the doors open and avoiding a longer wait.

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Mensho Tokyo - Counter seating

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HINODEYA Ramen Japantown

HINODEYA Ramen Japantown

4.2(2.4k reviews)
2.9 mi•Japantown, Lower Pacific Heights
•$$

I don't care if it's tourist-y, I've tried every ramen place I can in the city and Hinodeya stays…read moremy favorite. I always stick with their Hinodeya House Ramen. I wish they kept the spice level adjustment option but you can add spice at the table. It's very fairly priced for the city and for everything you get, noodles are a great thickness, egg is always cooked consistently, menma is always just soft enough. And the staff is attentive. If you go during the weekend, especially around dinner time, you could probably expect a wait, but I've come to go during week nights and it's never an issue. Parking in J-town is probably my biggest gripe but we'll deal. I've also been to the Hinodeya in Chinatown, Union Square, and in San Jose near Valley Fair. All have been consistent but this one is my go-to. They once accommodated my party of ~14 people on a Saturday and we didn't wait longer than 30min.

Hinodeya Ramen House Ramen - $17…read more2x spicy miso butter corn ramen $21 Addictive garlic crisps that really added an extra umami and depth to the ramen. The ramen noodles are perfectly al dente, and the broth is salty and umami. The spicy miso butter corn ramen has a blob of butter and corn, which made it instantly flavorful. There was a bit of a wait because there was a huge line. Once inside, it was hard to flag down someone to provide us with menus and water, but after we got their attention, it was all good.

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HINODEYA Ramen Japantown - Inside restaurant

Inside restaurant

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Nojo Ramen Tavern - Our signature ramen!!

Nojo Ramen Tavern

4.2(1.4k reviews)
3.0 mi•Hayes Valley
•$$
Free WiFi
Outdoor seating

Alright Yelp friends and others, strap in for this. I really don't leave reviews but I've been here…read moreseveral times and feel compelled to share about my experiences eating here. For some background I actually lived in Tokyo and also have worked in restaurants for a few years ranging from your favorite Mexican joint to high end dining, so I know a little about ramen and service. I understand ramen is completely based on your own palate and opinions so I will try not to yuck anyone's yum here. That said this pace is extraordinary. The service is always 10/10 and impeccable. I'm consistently left speechless by the amount the staff knows about the menu and their different offerings. They are so efficient and wonderful. Do you want to be in an out!? Too easy for these pros! They will have you checked in, fed, and happy within 30 minutes of walking through their door. Want a sit down for a nice date night? Easy! They will talk you through menu options, what food goes well with what beverage you want or whatever your palate desires and will not rush you. I cannot emphasize this enough, the service is incredible. Now for the food... AMAZING. 10/10. I have never left here wanting for more... trust me that happens to me as a big guy lol. Their chicken paitan soy sauce ramen has become probably my favorite ramen I have ever had. Nothing out of that kitchen has ever disappointed me The prices are a bit expensive and it may not be for every week or everybody. It's around 25$ just for the ramen and is a special occasion and treat for me. I really do wish I could eat here more often So all in all, if you're looking for a good ramen place with amazing service and food, please check out Nojo. I love them so much and am looking forward to continuing eating here and enjoying all their amazing work.

The chicken ramen is really good. Broth is viscous and gelatinous in the best way, without feeling…read moreheavy. Noodles are quite special - they taste so fresh, bouncy with the perfect bite. Salmon hand roll is in taco format - not cheap but very delicious and tender fish, and plenty of ikura.

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Nojo Ramen Tavern - Chicken chashu, Ginger, Corn, Daikon sprouts, Green onion, Yuzu peel, 
Ear mushroom, Radish

Chicken chashu, Ginger, Corn, Daikon sprouts, Green onion, Yuzu peel, Ear mushroom, Radish

Nojo Ramen Tavern - Shio Ramen with home made chicken meatballs.

Shio Ramen with home made chicken meatballs.

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Ippudo San Francisco - Karaka Spicy Ramen, 9/10! So much flavor and minced tofu on top

Ippudo San Francisco

3.8(1.6k reviews)
4.1 mi•Union Square, SoMa, Financial District
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Great food Good amount Portions for the food…read moreService was great Will definitely come back again

First and definitely last time dining here. Food is pretty mediocre but customer service was…read moreatrocious. I've ever felt so unwelcome at a restaurant before. We were a group of 5 (4 adults and 1 child) and needed a place to unwind and eat at after a long day at Pokémon Worlds XP. After standing and walking around all day, we were relieved to find something nearby and the wait didn't seem too long. We put our name on the waiting list and the server called our name to be seated so we went and sat down. During this time our friend had gone to move his car but they never mentioned that our entire party had to be present to be seated. We proceeded in ordering for 5 of us and it actually took awhile for anyone to take our order. As we sat waiting, the server who seated us started giving us a hard time about our missing friend. He continuously harassed us and even passive aggressively moved our tables apart stating that he would give our table away if our friend didn't return. We had explained that our food order was already placed and since we were all waiting for our food anyway it shouldn't be a problem. Additionally, he was the one who seated us instead of making us wait for our entire party to arrive to be seated. Eventually, our friend arrived and the server had started to raise his voice in front of everyone including the child in our presence. The manager got involved and helped deescalate the situation but the situation had already left a bad taste in our mouth. There were also some hiccups in our order and apparently certain things ordered weren't even placed. Overall, with so many food options nearby there really isn't a reason to pick a place that doesn't value their customers.

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Ippudo San Francisco - Inside. Dining room. Busy on a Sunday early afternoon.

Inside. Dining room. Busy on a Sunday early afternoon.

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Taniku Izakaya - Spicy beef ramen

Taniku Izakaya

4.6(355 reviews)
3.3 mi•Tenderloin
•$$

I've been there twice and everything I've tried is delicious!…read more They have vegetarian ramen and different, unique appetizers. Their sake is also great! There is a line to enter, but it usually goes fast. The ambiance is cozy and nice.

We were exploring town late at night and found this place on Yelp. Unfortunately, it shocked us in…read moreall the wrong ways. I'm still a little speechless 48 hours later. Granted, we came in around 9 PM, about an hour before closing, so we understood that the kitchen was getting toward the end of the night. We ordered a few dishes to share and there were actually some highlights. The scallops: These were great! Easily one of the better dishes we ordered. The karaage chicken: The chicken itself had great flavor, but the creamy sauce on top was extremely rich and ended up overpowering the chicken. I think with less sauce, this could have been a really good dish. Now, the ramen: This is where I was genuinely left speechless. I don't think I've ever had ramen with absolutely no umami. Like, none. It was one of the strangest things I've ever tasted. I was biting into something, there were textures in my mouth, it smelled great... but that was it. No depth. No richness. No umami. The broth, meat, and even the noodles somehow had almost no flavor. The only thing that really came through was the greasy chili oil that lingered on your tongue afterward. After a couple of bites, we looked at each other and decided to leave. At that point, most of the food was still sitting on the table practically untouched. Maybe we caught the kitchen on an off night, especially coming in later in the evening. The scallops showed us that there's definitely potential here, but unfortunately, the ramen was such a miss that it overshadowed the rest of the meal for us.

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Taniku Izakaya - Interior

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Izakaya Sozai - ramen - Updated October 2026

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