WOW! This restaurant is incredible. The food, wine program, bar program, hospitality and ambiance all knock it out of the park. We loved the Wagyu Ribeye with the corn side dish paired with the Dancing Duo Zinfandel by the glass. Justin who was our bartender, made us the Tomatotini and their take on a margarita, which was a great way to start the meal. Matt Montrose who runs the wine program, has created an incredible wine program with an expansive selection by the glass and by the bottle. Matt Dulle, the sommelier, truly understands hospitality and went above and beyond to make our visit special. It books out fast so make sure you book your reservation ahead of time. read more

First time visiting Niku and everything we ordered was delicious. Highly recommend the pig ears (not pictured) if you like fish sauce taste. Arguably the best service I've had in the US. Felt super attended to, but not hovered over. They immediately took empty plates and refilled water. Very nice restaurant as well. Enjoyable experience overall. Will come back for Wagyu tasting. read more

Niku Steakhouse - Wagyu tomahawk and house rolls - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My hubby and I have been to several Michelin-rated dining establishments around the world. This place was disappointing. We will not be back. The food was lackluster. My hubby and I order steak and seafood all over the world, and honestly we expected more flavor from a prime cut of tomahawk. It was more rare than medium rare as ordered. The flavor wasn't there. It wasn't bad, just not top steakhouse material. The apps/sides were a 6/10. Highlights being the crispy potatoes and bone marrow. There was a raw fish appetizer that was beautiful, but lacked acidity. The fish tasted buttery, but fishy. There were interesting citrus peel notes. The salad was supposed to have a cherry vinaigrette, but the salad was dry? No dressing... unless we are both blind and dumb. We ordered some "grilled summer beans". They were the worst beans we've had at any fine dining place. The beans were pretty much raw, flash-grilled, and some were pickled. The goat cheese and candied walnuts just made them worse. We had multiple people help clear plates and give us new silverware for every dish who were pleasant. I wish they put a little more effort into recognizing a special occasion for a dining guest. Do not celebrate here or you will be severely disappointed. I didn't want to complain in person since it was our 10-year anniversary. We let the restaurant know it was our 1st time dining here and we were celebrating a big life milestone. No card, no champagne, no candle, no dessert...nothing. Like they couldn't care less that people save up to celebrate with them? Save your money. This place is over-hyped and transactional. We enjoyed our experience at Miller and Lux much more. read more

Niku Steakhouse - Tomahawk - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

came here to celebrate my partner's bday and was super excited after hearing so many good things! first of all, i agree with many people saying the appetizers and sides were the highlight of the show. 100/10 for all of them. our favorite was the beef tartare. we got the 14-day aged ny strip. this was not our first time having aged steak and this steak almost tasted off to us. the flavor was earthy and cheesy but the texture was slimy!! sadly was off-put by the texture and couldn't finish it :( super sad also bc it was $100. honestly i don't mark them for that maybe thats just the way aged steak is and i don't enjoy it. something that left a bad taste in my mouth was that a couple celebrating a birthday received a dessert with a candle. however, at the end of our meal, we didn't received any dessert. note: we received a card at the beginning of the meal acknowledging the birthday which was nice but this made it obvious that this was an oversight. and to spend $600 for two on a dinner, i wouldn't expect this mistake. also, this made me feel sad since i was the one who planned this for my partner. i don't expect a free dessert for an occasion and we ordered our own dessert but for it to not come with a candle when another couple's did was not chill don't think i'll be coming here again because of these things but i would still recommend trying for those who love steakhouses. read more

Celebrated our anniversary dinner here with our Chase Sapphire Reserve Dining Credit. I recommend making your reservation ahead of time. I definitely would say the starters were the stars of the meal. Overall it was very good but pricey. Starters and Sides: - Beef Tartare: My partner LOVED the tartare especially with the crispy beef tendon. He almost wanted to order another one. - Crispy Pig Ears: Pretty good - Crispy Potato: was good as an addition to the meal. Would have liked it to be more crispy on the outer texture - Bone Marrow: I thought it was good but small portion Mains: - Ribeye: This was good but by the time this came out, I was already stuffed from all the starters lol. Dessert: - Wagyu fat brownie: Pretty good, would recommend getting read more

Niku Steakhouse - Inside - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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3.5, rounded to 4 because of the friendly service, drinks, and delicious desserts. I expected so much more from their Wagyu steak. Isn't that weird, given that's their specialty? But it didn't taste like A5 Wagyu flown in from Australia. If someone fed this to me blind, I'd have guessed it was overcooked filet mignon from the US. Maybe it was an off day, but it was a bit tough. Luckily, I don't eat much meat so they made me halibut and oysters. Oh boy those were good! The sides were hit and miss, too, but oh boy. The Wagyu fat brownies la mode was 10/5! I'd come for those brownies alone and the Hibiki highball with gold flakes and pear. read more

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I had an 8pm reservation at Niku to celebrate my husband's and my anniversary. Upon entering, I fell in love with the sleek décor, and everything was so tastefully designed. Unfortunately, our counter seats were not available due to the previous party still working on their meal. We sat at the bar and ordered 2 cocktails while we waited. Both were underwhelming and I was surprised by reviews recommending their cocktails. After 30 minutes, we were finally escorted to our seats. I was a bit disappointed by this since our reservation was already late. Once we were seated, I was impressed watching how the meat was cooked and prepared. It was cool learning how they use a special grill that prevents smoke from entering the area. For food, we ordered: 1. Wagyu tsukune: Well-seasoned and juicy - 4/5 2. Australian wagyu filet mignon: Delicious. So tender and flavorful. You know it is great meat when you don't need any sauces - a 5/5 3. Crispy potato wagyu fat: LOVED these potatoes but absolutely hated the chickpea miso, which tasted like mayonnaise to us so not sure what else was in it. Overall, a 3.5/5 4. Morel mushroom rice: A bit salty in my opinion and nothing wowing about it. A solid 2.5/5 5. Wagyu fat brownie: The most disappointing part of the meal. It just tasted like a boxed brownie. I would skip this; it was a 1/5 in my opinion. Overall, the restaurant was a nice experience, and their wagyu is very good. However, since Niku is a Michelin restaurant, I was expecting to be wowed more. read more

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Delicious steakhouse located just outside the city. There's really not much to dislike about this place as the portions are large, steaks are flavorful and service is stellar! They also have an excellent cocktail, wine and sake menu that pairs nicely with your order. read more

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4.5/5: Parking: Street parking. Fairly easy to find. Service: Everyone is so attentive. Ambiance: A little noisy and the music in the bathroom was loud. Food: Amazing! Went with Tasting of Japanese wagyu and it is a bit buttery for me especially the A5. I can see why its served with wasabi. I much preferred the Australian Wagyu. Pig ears: they were so good. I would say the sauce they used is a bit heavy at the bottom. Bone Marrow, crispy potatoes, morel mushrooms, all satisfying. Can't forget Kakigoro! Went with this for dessert that a staff recommended and I throughly enjoyed it although she did mention other popular ones as well. read more

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Street parking only location. Made reservations on OpenTable and came in a bit earlier than our time. My first time here and did not know reserving a table next to the bar is a room away from the main restaurant. Not a fan of this unless you like to be away from the restaurant crowd. We were seated next to the bar right away. Our Server was attentive. Always stop by and check if we need water refill or anything. Ordered bone marrow, potato bites, fried pig ears, beef tartare, and the aged rib eye steak to share. Appetizers were excellent and delicious. Quality and portion sizes are decent. From the flavors to the textures, it was excellent. However, my daughter was not a fan of the Ribeye steak tasted gamey. read more

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We came for a dinner at 8:45 pm on a monday night and it was fairly easy to get a reservation as well as find parking. Ambiance is nice, really great for a date night. Service was impeccable - everyone was very friendly yet still professional and knowledgeable. Our host, Daniel, was especially awesome - he advised us against getting pig ears (since it would be too much food), but still brought out a gigantic sampler tray of it for us on the house so we could try it. Amazing service! The food itself was all pretty amazing: Tartare: 4.5/5 Pig ears: 6/5 (we are coming back for this in the future) Potato cubes: 5/5 New York: 4.5/5 Ribeye: 4.5/5 Brownie: 5/5 read more

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Don't sleep on the desserts! The sweets bumped it up from a 3 to 4/5. Had reservations to celebrate a birthday for Monday 5 pm. The decor and ambiance of this place were breathtaking: the bar, the shelves of wine, the grill. Got a window seat, which was great for lighting, but if you want more entertainment, a counter seat gets you front-row seats to the massive grill! What we got: - Beef Tartare [3/5]~ very peppery. The jammy egg yolk was cured in duck fat, which adds a rich and buttery consistency. Fried beef tendon was an interesting vehicle for the beef tartare; however, it was slightly greasy and got gummy mid-eating experience. - Crispy Pig Ears [6/5]~ THIS! The fish caramel sauce was a perfect balance of salty, umami, and sweet. Crisp from the pig ears satisfies the fried, crunchy cravings! And the allium flowers added a pungent break in flavor and a nice decor! HIGHLY RECOMMEND! - wagyu bone-in short rib. huckleberry jus [3/5]~ huckleberry jus added a great sweet accompanying sauce. The cut we got was extremely fatty and the crust of the short rib was chewy -- even the knife struggled to cut through. About 30% was inedible due to fat. - crispy potato, wagyu fat. chickpea miso [2/5]~ slightly disappointed. Not crispy and the potatoes were slightly under. The aioli served didn't provide much except for more grease. - lobster mushroom rice, salsa macha, toasted pine nut xo, crispy shallot, scallions [3/5]~ served in a coconut husk shaped bowl, this was tangy and had a great chew from short grain rice used. paired with the crispy pig ears was an unstoppable duo. Alone, the slightly sour taste was offputting. - pickled market vegetables [3/5]~ Comprised of cauliflower, cucumber, eggplant, fennel bulb, and scallion bulb, this dish was a variety of flavors. Each different vegetable had different levels of tang and savoriness-- some better than others. - Sweet yellow corn tarte [5/5]~ The saving grace! Custard tarte was perfect in texture! Ice cream paired well. Slightly sweet from corn, the dessert stole the show. Included in the service was avocado toast with roe as a palate starter, black sesame sandwich cookies for meal end, and coffee tarte for birthday celebration. THE COFFEE TARTE NEEDS TO BE ON THE MENU as it stole the show. Sweet. Cold. Full in coffee and chocolate flavor, I would fight the birthday boy for more. All in all, pretty solid. Didn't slap as hard as I anticipated it to, but the service was amazing. Plate changed after appetizers and we even got to pick our steak knives from a selection of knives! Would return for crispy pig ears and dessert! read more

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To give context, I've eaten at Niku multiple times. With my most recent experience I am left dumbfounded how it got its Michelin this year. Let's start with service (or lack thereof). As a standard if the table has clearly finished with a dish why would you leave the empty plates on the table and put new dishes on it? If a guest steps away don't you generally fold their napkin before they return? Prior visits usually there was a sommelier who attended to drinks and poured the wine. For a $80 corkage fee it's understandable to expect this. Not this visit. Slow turnaround on receiving food. The food. The only "hot" plate we received was the bread.... The tomato salad was a little heavy on the vinegar. Lobster rice... cold. Crispy potatoes.. room temp. The tomahawk was chewy and at best room temp. Can't say about desert because we chose not to order due to the experience. The best thing of the evening. The wine I brought. Ambiance. What in the world happened to the staff uniform? It is like it's taken its lead of being overly "casual". What happened to a crisp look? Where is the pride. Truly a dissapointment and a waste of time and money. Niku used to be a dependable establishment unfortunately this is no longer the case. read more

Came to celebrate my brother's graduation from his master's program and Niku is the perfect spot to treat someone to an amazing experience. We sat at the chef's counter so we could watch them prepare every dish and grill some beautiful steaks. Service was exceptional, from the moment we checked in at the front desk, the team made it a point to congratulate my brother. They remembered his allergies from my OpenTable comments and let him know that he could have everything on the menu. We ordered the bone marrow, beef tartare, ribeye, 3oz of the off-menu A5 wagyu, broccolini, and the hojicha dessert. Everything we got was a hit! Loved their take on avocado toast as the first bite, we knew the meal was going to be amazing from the first bite. The beef tartare was the best I've ever had and I've never had bone marrow that I didn't enjoy. This version was delicious with the toppings of short rib pieces that were balanced with the pickled bits and mustard seeds. Both appetizers were must gets for us! The ribeye came out overdone, and luckily it came out again shortly from the kitchen along with some on the house pickled veggies. The second time the ribeye came out was the perfect medium rare. The meat quality was delicious, the ribeye was tender and marbled very nicely. The A5 was an 11/12 on the wagyu marbling scale and it was truly a treat, 3oz for the two of us was definitely enough. I loved the fresh grated wasabi and the pickled veggies to cut through the richness of the meat. Dessert was fantastic, and I can't finish this review without shouting out their cocktail menu! The two drinks I had were super delicious and I would come back just to explore more of their drinks. It's a special occasion spot and worth it to experience at least once! read more

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The picture of the tomahawk speaks for itself... so small compared to all the others that went out. You can see the differences between the other steaks on this yelp page. We were comped for it though which gave it an extra star. But we were disappointed that we had to speak to three people to get an answer. We sat at the bar right in front of the grill, waited 1 hr+, and we got the smallest steak of the night. read more

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Honestly the sides were the stars! We've been eyeing this place for a while but never pulled the trigger until I wanted to use my Chase Reserve dining benefits. Reservations open 30 days in advance and they fill up quickly! The restaurant isn't that big so it makes sense. I made my reservation the morning it opened for a standard table and any time between 6pm-7:30pm was already taken. They do offer alternative seating like counter seating, bar seating, and high top tables. The restaurant is very sophisticated and has a dark sleek modern vibe. The staff were very friendly. We had: - Bone Marrow: Bone marrow is just so good! - Crispy Pig Ears: perfect blend of crispy, salty, and sweet. - westholme wagyu tomahawk: This was decent and a large portion for 2, but we weren't amazed. - Koshikari rice: definitely a splurge for a small portion of rice with a piece of crab on top, but it was good. I would seriously considering coming back just for the bone marrow and crispy pig ears. read more

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After checking in, we were seated at the bar while we waited for our table to be ready. The bartender greeted us with a warm smile and kindly helped us navigate the drinks menu. I was intrigued by the tomato martini, and the bartender explained the intricate process by which the flavor is extracted from the cherry tomatoes. This is among the best martinis I've had in a while, and it was a perfect way to start the evening. It was smooth, delicate, and sophisticated, with the olive oil-washed gin tying everything together beautifully. We then ordered the Shigoku oysters and the short rib bone marrow. The oysters were super fresh and perfectly complemented by the mint oil and melon gelée. The bone marrow was rich and decadent, while the grapes provided a nice contrast and worked surprisingly well with it. I ordered the A5 Bushu Wagyu paired with the menu-recommended sake, while my partner ordered the aged New York. We also ordered the maitake mushrooms and the crispy potatoes in Wagyu fat as our sides. My A5 was everything you would expect from an exceptional Wagyu: incredibly marbled, buttery, tender, and packed with flavor. The fat practically melted in my mouth, giving the steak that luxurious texture that makes A5 so special. Sadly, however, there were a couple of small bites that were not quite as enjoyable because there happened to be a small nerve in the steak, which made those particular bites a bit chewy. The sake recommendation on the menu paired nicely with the subtle richness of the A5, and it finished cleanly after a couple bites of steak. I have to say the aged New York was phenomenal! It was robust and savory and ate like a very fancy cut of meat (my wife was kind enough to share a bite with me). It had a wonderful depth of flavor and, honestly, made it difficult to decide which steak I preferred. The mushrooms were excellent as well, delivering exactly the kind of deep umami flavor I was hoping for. But the potatoes were the star of the show! They come as these perfect golden cubes, made from thinly sliced potatoes that are neatly stacked together. They are beautifully crisp on the outside while maintaining a soft, buttery and decadent on texture on the inside. The chickpea miso is a really nice complement, adding another layer of savory flavor without overpowering the potatoes. These might honestly be the best potatoes in San Francisco. The one thing to keep in mind is that this is definitely a bit on the pricey side. With several drinks included, our final tab was around $600, so this is not exactly an everyday dinner. That said, for a special occasion or when you're looking to splurge, I think the quality of the food, creativity of the cocktails, and overall experience make it worth considering. Overall, this was a memorable meal from beginning to end. The cocktail was inventive, the seafood and bone marrow were thoughtfully prepared, the steaks were impressive, and the sides-- especially those potatoes-- were standouts. The service also made the evening feel welcoming and relaxed. Aside from the small nerve in my A5 and the fairly steep price, there wasn't much to fault. I'd happily come back, and if you go, do yourself a favor and order the olive oil washed gin-tomato martini, aged New York steak, and the potatoes. read more

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They have 1 Michelin star and they are worthy of it. We had an excellent dinner. We chose the chef's counter seating which was fun to be right next to the action. Everything was excellent: service, food, ambiance. The entire experience was 10/10 from start to finish. Each dish was perfect but the agnolotti pasta dish was 12/10 for me. It's been days since I had it and I can't stop thinking about it!! Maybe the best pasta of my life so far? Get the wagyu brownie. I highly recommend this spot. read more

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Outstanding 1 Michelin star steakhouse. The crispy potatoes were one of the best potato dishes I've had. Thought the Wagyu tsukune was good, better some places I tried in Japan. White asparagus dish was skippable. We had a 14-day dry-aged ribeye from bryan flannery (Cali farm). It had such a good dry aged flavor (great beefy flavor without being too funky), was cooked perfectly medium rare, and also had a smoky charcoal taste with a hint of white oak since they cook with both. read more

Niku Steakhouse - Ribeye - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I came here with my boyfriend and had a great dining experience at Niku Steakhouse, made even better by the excellent service from Kelvin. He was attentive, friendly, and really helped make the meal feel special. We ordered the mushroom, pig ear and potato, and the iron steak. The mushroom dish wasn't quite to our taste, but everything else was absolutely amazing. The pig ear and potato had great texture and flavor, and the iron steak was cooked perfectly. read more

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I've been hearing about Niku since I moved here, and finally got around to give it a try. Overall, I'd have to say I'm underwhelmed. We tried different steaks and sides, nothing really stood out. The bill came out to be over $500, and I don't think I'd rush back any time soon. read more

Best steak in the city hands down. Wine selection is super, and ambience is next level. Try the pig ears and guava sorbet. read more

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Came here for a special occasion and ordered a couple of things: market vegetables, Parker rolls, beef tartare, crispy potatoes, flat iron, and the A3 wagyu. Market vegetables were too sour for my taste. Ordered it to pair with all the meat to offset but it ended up being too fermented to enjoy. Parker rolls were good but nothing extraordinary. Unfortunately the beef tartare tasted too gamey for me. The A3 wagyu was not worth its price tag. It was quite hard to chew and didn't stand out at all. At the rate of this review, I should've given it two or three stars but what's saving it and pushing it to four stars are the crispy potatoes and the flat iron. I will never forget those potatoes. I never had anything like it, and it completely blew my mind. The texture, flavor, and balance of the sauce was really out of this world. If you come, you must order this dish. Also, the flat iron was amazing. We ordered it medium rare, and it was cooked pristinely. Very soft and buttery texture with just the right amount of salt. Overall, I had a fine experience. Probably wouldn't come back just because I don't think the price tag is worth it. Definitely an upscale restaurant with attentive service, but I'd probably put my money somewhere else. read more

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The food was very savory and rich, however, since most of the dishes are cooked in wagyu beef fat, it can also be heavy-- My boyfriend and i couldn't finish our meal and had leftovers. I felt a bit 'oily' afterwards and it definitely put me in a food coma haha, but it was a nice experience and the dim lighting created a romantic ambiance for my boyfriend and I's date night. The restaurant is $$$$ but you are paying for the great quality and friendly service. I got the ribeye medium rare and it was cooked perfectly, no complaints. As someone who values texture when I eat, the crispy potatoes could've been crispier, they're a bit more potato-y but still tasted good. The complimentary maitake mushrooms were a nice side to pair with our steaks, very umami and nice crunch but again, somewhat heavy since they were cooked in wagyu fat. If I were to recommend a dish it would be the beef tartare--i'd come back for this app alone; texture, taste, balance, quality...I still think about it. final thoughts: is it gas or a$$? GAS. :P read more

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Nike Steakhouse is a bustling restaurant with elevated decor and a cool ambiance. Service was attentive and friendly and despite how busy it was, we had no trouble connecting with our server and the manager was very hands on and did a great job assisting the staff. Food was amazing, definitely recommend the pig ears and chawanmushi read more

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Scored a last minute reservation a day before on Open Table. After visiting, I can see why it's a Michelin Star restaurant, the service, ambiance and food are all impressive. The staff are so knowledgeable and made us feel very special as we were dining to celebrate a special occasion so thank you for that. We got to sit at the counter seating, which was cool because you get to watch the cooks grill the meet over the open fire. However, it did feel a little cramped and it was hard to speak to our servers who were behind us. Everything was really tasty but I will say it is HEAVY and SALTY! I had a hard time falling asleep after dinner because of that and even had a headache all day next day LOL. Overall, still glad I got to try and highly recommend. Out of all the dishes, I'd say the crispy potatoes, brownie and bone marrow are a must! Seasonal corn pasta was also a big highlight. read more

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Great service, great ambiance. Favorite was the beef tartare. I also really enjoyed the mushroom rice. Potato was okay, a bit too thick for my liking. Steak came cut, and perfect temp. It was put on warm dishes, which made jt less steakhouse vibes that I am used to. Steak was good but definitely not the best I ever had. read more

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I've been to Niku Steakhouse a few times before and always loved it, so this visit was a bit disappointing. First off, the ambience is still 5/5 beautiful, cozy, and perfect for a special occasion. They also gave us a cute slice of cake for my friend's birthday, which was a really nice touch. But the food this time was just... okay (3/5). We ordered a few wagyu cuts, and surprisingly, they all tasted pretty similar not much distinction in flavor and not as fresh or memorable as previous visits. Other dishes were decent, but nothing really stood out like before. Overall, it felt pretty standard for a place that's supposed to be more special. Service was the biggest letdown (3/5, honestly closer to 2/5). Our waiter didn't feel attentive or polished like you'd expect here. At one point, we asked if we could get the same large knife for photos (it was really cute), and he just said "no" with no explanation came off a bit rude. He also kept interrupting us while we were taking pictures, telling us multiple times to eat the steak before it gets cold. I get the intention, but being reminded once is enough, doing it 3 times felt pushy and kind of killed the vibe, especially since we were celebrating a birthday. Overall, still a nice place visually, but between the average food and disappointing service, it didn't feel like the same Niku experience this time. read more

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Made a reservation for counter seating on OpenTable a couple weeks before to celebrate my husband's birthday. We specifically chose this restaurant since they were on inKind. They are a 1 star Michelin restaurant and right next to the Butcher Shop, which we have been there twice for their delicious smash burger. I'm glad we made a reservation because it was packed on a Monday at 6:30 PM. I really like the ambience inside. My husband specifically wanted counter seating because he wanted to watch the chefs cook. We ordered different dishes, such as Pig Ears, Tsukune (Japanese chicken meatballs), Potatoes, Parker Rolls, and a New York steak. My favorite was definitely the Pig Ears as it was chewy and extremely savory. The other sides didn't wow me since the flavors tasted very average. We really enjoyed the steak because it melted like butter after each bite. We order drinks, and I did enjoy my Yuzu Shiso. I'm glad we were able to stop by and check this off our list. I wished I liked the food more but it is what it is. Our server was nice and friendly, which made our experience enjoyable. read more

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It's expensive - really expensive. With that out of the way - Niku was truly an exceptional experience that we saved for a special occasion. We sat at the counter - the service was fantastic (shout out to Zach and Celtin), and the food was a hit from start to finish (tomato salad, bone marrow + bone marrow luge, a5 wagyu, a5 kobe, lobster rice, corn w/ truffle) - just wow - probably the best steak i've ever had. And the cocktails were exceptional (and i don't say that lightly because many cocktail programs in sf fall flat with over-engineered or uninspired menus) - these were cocktails that would do great even as as a standalone program. One of the better meals we've had in sf - definitely a 5 star meal but the price knocks off a star. read more

Something was just different this time around, as soon as we stepped in, to the meals itself. Wasn't greeted or acknowledged as we walked in, I felt service wasn't as attentive this time around thru out service. The cuts of steak wasn't as tender as the last time I was here, the potatoes was good but the chickpea miso had a very strong acidic taste to it which was not what I tasted my last go around, I ordered it again because it was one of my favorites things in the menu but not this time. Also the broccolini had a very citrusy/acidity to it as well and I just did not like it. Brownie wasn't as soft either. Just not a good experience coming back. Only thing I give 10 out of 10 this go around is the bone marrow. read more

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Best steak in the bay with interesting sides and desserts to try. The coconut kakigori was a light a refreshing way to end our meal. Love that they let you pick out the Japanese knife of your choice. Reducing one star because the service was extremely slow - we waited a whole hour for our main course with no updates in between. Thankfully we had good company! read more

Niku Steakhouse - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

We came here for our anniversary on a Sunday evening at 6pm. Reservations for the restaurant come out 30 days in advance on open table and we were able to book our reservation pretty easily. Walking in, the restaurant is designed a warm ambiance. You feel a little cozy in the restaurant. Plenty of seating and bar seating options. We got the crispy pig ears, short rib Wagyu, bone marrow, and the crispy potatoes. We really were not expecting the portions to be so big. We were left full and satiated and didn't have enough room for dessert! My favorite dishes were all of them to be honest. The potatoes were perfectly crispy and the sauce it came with helped balance the heaviness. The Wagyu was cooked to perfection, it melted in your mouth! The pig ears were a nice snack- very crispy and the sauce it was coated with balanced well. The bone marrow was balanced with some mustard seeds and fresh grapes with offset the heaviness from the marrow. Overall, we had a great experience! Do note though- the dishes were a little more on the saltier side read more

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I highly recommend! It was a great experience. They are known for their steaks but I was definitely more impressed by the various "side" dishes. My favorite dish was the bone borrow dish. The tartare was very unique and worth trying as well. We also had the flat iron, potatoes and pound cake - all tasty. They also gave us a small mini app before the dishes we actually ordered. The interior feels very classy - you can see the chefs grilling the steak and they have a wall of wines on display. The staff were very friendly. My partner and I celebrated an anniversary and they wrote a cute note for us so we appreciate the thoughtfulness. read more

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To start off, I was very pleased with how accommodating they were with our 2 year old. We were hesitant on doing date night here at first, but we didn't feel uncomfortable in anyway. I enjoyed the elegance of the restaurant yet still being casual enough with music in the background and lots of conversations flowing around us, so if my daughter dropped a fork or something, all heads would not turn and look at us. My overall favorite dish was the crispy potato Wagyu fat with chickpea miso. It was absolutely perfect. The crispy layers of the potato and the smooth chickpea miso were delicious. I even ended up smothering the chickpea miso on our ribeye. Overall great experience, attentive service and ample parking, which is a huge plus in the city. read more

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Came here to celebrate a friend's birthday. We had reservations and were seated at a hightop table near the bar right when you walk in. The potatoes were honestly the best thing of the meal, and the pig ears were good at first but...after a few bites, they became a bit overwhelming. The tomahawk steak was disappointing. It was chewy, and to make matters worse, all of our knives were dull, which made it very difficult to cut through the meat. Since we were seated near the entrance by the bar, it was hard to get a sense of how large the restaurant actually is. Overall, the tomahawk felt overpriced and not worth it. read more

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We came here for Valentine's Day and our anniversary, and the experience truly felt special from start to finish. The service was the standout of the night. We were seated at a high-top table, and the staff went out of their way to make the evening memorable. They brought us complimentary champagne to celebrate. For cocktails, I ordered the Shiro Negroni ($24) and my partner had the A5 Guyana ($24). Both were creative and balanced. For appetizers, we kept it simple and ordered the pig ears. They were super crunchy, saucy, and flavorful, with a generous portion size. A great start. For mains, we split the wagyu bone-in short rib and the ribeye, along with crispy potatoes and broccolini on the side. The short rib had a deep, smoky flavor and was served with the bone on the side. It was excellent overall, but we both agreed that the meat around the bone itself might have been the best part of the dish. The ribeye was easily the best ribeye I have ever had. It was unbelievably soft and tender, noticeably better than what you typically get at standard steakhouses. I was genuinely surprised, in the best way. The broccolini was solid and well prepared. The crispy potatoes, however, were outstanding, especially with the sauce that accompanied them. The only thing that I didn't enjoy as much was the dessert. The pandan honeycomb cake ($18) had a guava sorbet on the side, which I didn't enjoy paired together. Still thought it was a creative dish! I understand why this place has a Michelin star. The service and food were both 10 out of 10. If I could afford to come here all the time, I would. They made our Valentine's Day and anniversary feel truly special. read more

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Came here on Valentine's Day (Saturday), and reservations were no joke--you have to book exactly one month and one minute in advance. We arrived at 7 pm, about 30 minutes early since we needed to use the restroom, and they were able to seat us right away, which was a nice surprise. We ordered quite a few items from the menu. We started with the chicory salad, which was my favorite dish of the night. I honestly wish I could eat it every day--it was so fresh and refreshing. The crispy potato with wagyu fat and chickpea miso was absolutely delicious. The buckwheat Parker House rolls with cultured butter were good, nothing over-the-top but still enjoyable. The grilled broccolini, unfortunately, was too charred--most of it tasted burnt. I wish it had spent less time on the grill. For the main, we got the grass-fed New York strip. My fiancé ordered it medium-rare, but about halfway through, it was clearly rare. They were able to grill it some more. But for a $125 steak, we expected it to come out correctly the first time. The local ling cod was amazing--definitely a standout. The rice grits were packed with umami flavor, and everything about the dish worked. For dessert, the wagyu fat brownie was my fiancé's favorite. Super rich and delicious, paired with Okinawa brown sugar ice cream. The staff were all very kind and attentive--service overall was excellent. There was some flooding in the restrooms during our visit, but the staff handled it well and worked hard to keep it under control. By the time we finished our meal, it had been resolved. Thank you to the person that chased us down to bring us our Togo bag. Will definitely be back often to try out other items. read more

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I'm shocked this place has a Michelin star. I took my partner here for his birthday, and I wish I didn't. Ambiance (4/5): Well-decorated restaurant with a cool, modern interior. Dimly lit and felt intimate yet not pretentious. ------------------------------------------- Food (3/5): *Toki Whiskey Highball (5/5): I really enjoyed this. The cocktail was smooth and pleasant, blended well with the taste of Hojicha tea, and I especially loved the candied ginger garnish. *A5 Manhattan (4/5): Interesting drink. Pretty savory and smoky. Went down smoothly. *Corn Cappalletti (5/5): Our favorite of the night. We were blown away by the flavor profile, ingredients, and texture. *Crispy potato (4/5): Texture was nice - outside was perfectly crispy and inside was soft. However, it's pretty heavy, which the sauce helped with a little. *Pickled market vegetables (1/5): I normally love anything pickled or fermented. This was gross. *Australian Wagyu filet mignon (3.5/5): Ordered medium rare and came out medium rare. Taste was underwhelming. It wasn't bad but it didn't really impress me either. *Abatti ranch ribeye (1.5/5): Ordered medium rare and came out very rare. There was a lot of fat and gristle, which made it nearly impossible to chew. Taste was mid. My partner said he could have gotten a better steak at Costco, which, frankly, I agree with. *Okinawa brown sugar ice cream (3.5/5): Good, not great. ------------------------------------------- Service (2/5): The host was great. Our main server (I'm actually not sure if he introduced himself to us) was polite but disappeared after taking our order. No one checked in on us during the entire meal or bothered to ask how everything was, which I was waiting for so that we could let them know the ribeye was undercooked. I tried making eye contact with servers walking by but everyone seemed pretty locked in on wherever they were heading. I eventually gave up since I didn't want to spend the dinner trying to flag someone down. They did give my partner a nice birthday card and complimentary cake slice (which was tiny but delicious). Overall, insanely overpriced for pretty mediocre food and inattentive service. If this was a regular restaurant, I'd give it 3 stars. This place being Michelin starred sets a certain expectation for food and service that Niku did not come close to meeting. read more

Honestly, I came here without high expectations as comments online were pretty negative. We had a reservation at the counter, which was extremely cool, you get to see how they prepare the food and talk to the chef. Made it a completely different experience. Complimentary Small Bite - interesting take on avocado toast, not quite showing theme of the restaurant though Beef Tartare - actually pretty good, the size of the chunks of meat shows quality of their ingredients, also attention to detail, egg was marinated Crispy Pig Ears - definitely unique way of cooking pig ears, slightly salty, recommended to share for a big table Ribeye - it is a good steak, not over seasoned, crispy on the outside, nice and pink inside, generous portion too Sides - very soft house rolls with a little bit of salt on top, crispy potatoes itself is good but the sauce wasn't doing much. Pickles are highly recommended, so need that acidity to tone down the oiliness of the meal. Sorbet - guava sorbet, thick and cold! Overall a very cute place for date nights, counter seating highly recommended. Servers are very attentive too. read more

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