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We visited Nono Baru based on all the high reviews, but unfortunately, the experience fell a bit short of our expectation. The Lemon Salmon Don was enjoyable overall, but I was surprised that it was served with regular rice rather than sushi rice. My husband chose the chicken curry rice and was disappointed by the curry. It tasted more like a Chinese-style curry, which wasn't what he was expecting. The only standout dish of the meal was the Mango Tuna Poke. The tuna was fresh, the mango was exceptionally sweet, and the crispy chips added a nice crunch. I also ordered a matcha mocktail, but it tasted more like an iced matcha latte than a mocktail. Service was friendly but our waiter's humor felt a little awkward and didn't quite land with us. Overall, given all positive reviews, we were expecting a bit more.
Checked out the Nono Baru x Bubu happy hour on a Wednesday around 5 PM and got seated at the counter right away. They have two different happy hour windows (4:30 to 6:00 PM and 8:00 to 9:30 PM), and the deals are seriously good. There is a 60-minute time limit and you can only order a maximum of 2 rounds, so make sure you make it count! You get a dedicated happy hour paper menu to fill out with a pen, but you can also order off the regular menu if you want to supplement your meal. Service was super friendly, though it did slow down just a bit toward the end as the space completely filled up. Overall it was a great experience, just make sure to make those two rounds count!
Think this is my 4th time here, I believe Bubu and Nono Baru have combined into one restaurant. Today I ordered only from the happy hour menu (4:30-6pm) since the non-HH options weren't too impressive last time. Basic hand rolls and apps are $3, with more premium options at $6-8. We noticed the happy hour menu had different options, and staff confirmed that it changes frequently (last time they did not have uni handrolls!). I really like the hot hand towel they give out at the start to wipe your hands, very warm and refreshing. One uni handroll did not arrive as ordered and was almost charged for it, but was fine when I asked them to take it off the bill. Note that the tip percentages/suggestions are calculated on the total after tax & surcharge, not the food order subtotal. The salmon sashimi is my favorite base sushi fix. The tostadas are better than expected. The baby lobster roll mustve had a whole teaspoon of wasabi in there or something. The uni was a little fishy, and the uni/ikura was funky--I'd skip this next time but would reorder the uni wagyu. Overall today the taste was a bit less fresh than last time but still not bad. Staff are generally nice, attentive, help out as needed, and willing to call others when there are questions they may not initially know the answers to.
I came here on my own for a solo dining experience. Good: The miso soup was super refreshing, and I was really tired, so it gave me a lot of energy, and the cup is pretty big. The place has a really fun energy. It reminds me of dining in Japan, where you can watch the chefs cut really fresh fish right in front of you. Even sitting there solo, it's still quite nice. Bad: It takes a while to get service. I had to find a waiter myself. I thought that the kimchi udon carbonara is good. It was just a little weird, the flavor profile, so I couldn't actually finish the whole thing. Overall would suggest if you want to pop by for a quick meal!
My friend was visiting from out of town and we decided to grab a quick bite around 6PM at Nono Baru. We were confused looking on the maps at first because it showed separate restaurants but after speaking with an employee, he clarified that the two had combined. SERVICE Friendly and attentive! Really, everyone we chatted with was great. SEATING We were seated quickly at the bar/sushi station. The dinner rush did occur during our dine-in so the tables filled up quickly. Most seating are inside but there are a few tables out front of the restaurant. FOOD We ordered quite a few items to share and everything was delicious! Listing them below. -Yuzu Lemonade drink -Spicy Tuna Tostada -Nono Crispy Balls (they can with in squares) -Spicy Hamachi -Salmon Avocado -Nego-toro -Salmon Skin The last 4 are simple rolls, and you can request them to be hand-rolled, but we completely forgot because of our interesting conversation and excitement about trying this place. The salmon skin hands down was absolutely DELICIOUS. The Nono crispy balls we're really good too. I don't remember the exact name but I'm sure the server could identify if the photo is shown. Overall, we had a wonderful experience! The food was absolutely delicious, and the generous portions made every bite even better.
Another great dining experience at Nono! This was our first time coming by since the merge with Bubu. There were many more tables added to the restaurant as well as many more staff members working. Service was super fast and friendly, and portion sizes were impressive! :) recs: spicy tuna tostada, salmon sashimi
enjoyed everything other than the unagi spider roll - the soft shell crab just didn't have much flavor and didn't feel fresh. we were very full for the price we paid. they only do one round of orders now so we probably over ordered. still very good value for happy hour, but food itself is nothing special
Came here for happy hour! I really thought I'd have to wait a long time because I arrived 10 minutes after they opened but there was just a small wait. The sushi and sashimi are really fresh and price is amazing but just know that the cost will sneak up on you after getting many small bites. Lemon sour is also really good reminds me of Japan! My bf got the mango mojito and it was also delicious! Will have to come back again.
Would say this is a 4 star sushi restaurant that gets 5 stars on the back of the happy hour - make sure to get there before or near opening to take advantage. Service can be a little slow given the crowds but portions and fair and the food is very solid
Finally got the chance to check out Nono's new location just down the street from their old spot on Fillmore and happy to see that they kept a good chunk of their old menu, while having added some new favorites to their rotating list! Parking's a little tough so if you've got an appointment here, account for it. A friend and I came on a Friday at 7:20 and waited around a half hour for a table, with our first dish arriving at 8. The interior features a sitting bar when you walk in and booth tables towards the back and maintains a modern worn-in izakaya feel. Udon Carbonara: Unimaginably decadent comfort dish, with the kimchi-heavy flavor of the sauce almost drowned out by the sheer volume of cream that also allows it to adhere so well to the noodles. Dependable but not particularly novel. Chicken Gizzard Skewers: Grilled perfectly with a satisfying cartilaginous chew to every bite. The chicken flavor is very intense and amplified with the provided lemon and togarashi on request. Crab Butter Mapo Tofu: This might be one of my favorite restaurant renditions of a family style staple, with the characteristic flavors of mapo tofu taken to another level thanks to the addition of the crab butter. Save for the presentation in a crab shell, the inclusion is subtle and lends a savory complexity to the typically one-dimensional spice profile of its base recipe. Hope this stays for a while! Hamachi Scallop Ceviche: Served with tortilla chips, ikura, and a *very* sweet and tart passionfruit dressing that grew on me fairly quickly. No complaints and no surprises. For the volume and quality of food we received, our bill was just over $60 - a steal in my opinion. Glad to see that the location change did not come at the expense of experience. See you again soon :)
We arrived on a Sunday afternoon and tried the lunch special, 3 items for $15. We selected one special from the hot menu and one from sushi menu. I tried the salmon kama and salmon Okoge stone bowl, the Salmon kama was crispy and fresh with delicious crispy skin and a large portion as well. The Okoge was a little less unique with steamed veggies and grilled salmon. Overall loved both. The nigiri sampler and bluefin tuna looked great as well though I didn't try. Overall ambiance is traditional and trendy, and service was prompt and as expected. I'd definitely return to try the other dishes such as cabonara udon. Also minor note: I chose this restaurant for the scallop risotto dish, only to find out upon arrival they no longer offer that dish on the menu.
None of these Yelp reviews mention the lunch special?? My mom and I were walking by, looking for a lunch place. Twas the Sunday before Christmas and every place was packed and there were long waitlists! Nono had a tiny line but we were seated within minutes. We were drawn in by their attractive lunch special--pick 3 items (1 from each list) for $15. They have a variety of items so it was fun to pick and choose. My mom got sashimi and poke and sparkling water. I enjoyed unagi rolls and chirashi and the sparkling water. Was it the best fish? Or the biggest portion? No, but it was amazing value. It was fine and good and we were extremely happy. We were slightly sad that hot tea was $3 extra but it does require more labor, so that's understandable. Each table was full! Service worked hard and was kind. The decor is nice. We lucked out and got a nice corner booth, very intimate and cozy and comfy. It looks like they have a nice happy hour too. I can't wait to come back.
Food (4/5): Very, very solid! We ordered a wide variety of things, both food and drinks, and I was pretty impressed with it all. I LOVED the Matcha Cloud -- it's a mocktail but absolutely delicious. We got an assortment of rolls, and not a single one was disappointing! Fish tasted fresh, and the quality and portions were very solid for what you're paying. Ambiance (4/5): Nothing crazy here, but it's very cozy and "Japanese" feeling. Definitely lives up to the Izakaya-style vibe that they're going for, and seating is very ample. I like that there's a decent amount of space in between tables. Value (5/5): Considering portion size, fish quality, and ambiance, I think this place is a very good bang for your buck. Japanese food and sushi can get pretty pricey, but this place was extremely reasonable. Overall: I will DEFINITELY be coming back here! I can see this becoming one of my new go-to spots in SF for sushi. And I for sure wanna check out their Happy Hour next time, they have some very solid deals!
1 day ago
Not bad for a lunch special! While this isn't entirely an authentic Japanese restaurant, you cannot beat this price for a lunch set! My meal was roughly under $20 and I got a lot of food! Normally I would go for some kind of sushi lunch, but it was my birthday and I just wanted noodles so picked udon soup with tempura. I'm generally a healthy person and don't eat fried food often so I was only able to eat 2 pieces of tempura and tried to remove the batter. Interestingly the batter had a sweet taste. But again, the appetizer and the noodles was all I needed. If you want udon, I suggest going to udon mizugo a few blocks away at Japan town or murakame udon at stonestown. Servers were pretty attentive. They gave me. A box for my leftovers. Also note they don't take American Express. Pretty chill atmosphere and a lot of the customers seemed to be on their lunch break too. I give this place 4 stars because it's hard to find a lunch set in sf for less than $20!!! read more
1 month ago
We visited Nono Baru based on all the high reviews, but unfortunately, the experience fell a bit short of our expectation. The Lemon Salmon Don was enjoyable overall, but I was surprised that it was served with regular rice rather than sushi rice. My husband chose the chicken curry rice and was disappointed by the curry. It tasted more like a Chinese-style curry, which wasn't what he was expecting. The only standout dish of the meal was the Mango Tuna Poke. The tuna was fresh, the mango was exceptionally sweet, and the crispy chips added a nice crunch. I also ordered a matcha mocktail, but it tasted more like an iced matcha latte than a mocktail. Service was friendly but our waiter's humor felt a little awkward and didn't quite land with us. Overall, given all positive reviews, we were expecting a bit more. read more
Checked out the Nono Baru x Bubu happy hour on a Wednesday around 5 PM and got seated at the counter right away. They have two different happy hour windows (4:30 to 6:00 PM and 8:00 to 9:30 PM), and the deals are seriously good. There is a 60-minute time limit and you can only order a maximum of 2 rounds, so make sure you make it count! You get a dedicated happy hour paper menu to fill out with a pen, but you can also order off the regular menu if you want to supplement your meal. Service was super friendly, though it did slow down just a bit toward the end as the space completely filled up. Overall it was a great experience, just make sure to make those two rounds count! read more
Think this is my 4th time here, I believe Bubu and Nono Baru have combined into one restaurant. Today I ordered only from the happy hour menu (4:30-6pm) since the non-HH options weren't too impressive last time. Basic hand rolls and apps are $3, with more premium options at $6-8. We noticed the happy hour menu had different options, and staff confirmed that it changes frequently (last time they did not have uni handrolls!). I really like the hot hand towel they give out at the start to wipe your hands, very warm and refreshing. One uni handroll did not arrive as ordered and was almost charged for it, but was fine when I asked them to take it off the bill. Note that the tip percentages/suggestions are calculated on the total after tax & surcharge, not the food order subtotal. The salmon sashimi is my favorite base sushi fix. The tostadas are better than expected. The baby lobster roll mustve had a whole teaspoon of wasabi in there or something. The uni was a little fishy, and the uni/ikura was funky--I'd skip this next time but would reorder the uni wagyu. Overall today the taste was a bit less fresh than last time but still not bad. Staff are generally nice, attentive, help out as needed, and willing to call others when there are questions they may not initially know the answers to. read more
I came here on my own for a solo dining experience. Good: The miso soup was super refreshing, and I was really tired, so it gave me a lot of energy, and the cup is pretty big. The place has a really fun energy. It reminds me of dining in Japan, where you can watch the chefs cut really fresh fish right in front of you. Even sitting there solo, it's still quite nice. Bad: It takes a while to get service. I had to find a waiter myself. I thought that the kimchi udon carbonara is good. It was just a little weird, the flavor profile, so I couldn't actually finish the whole thing. Overall would suggest if you want to pop by for a quick meal! read more
My friend was visiting from out of town and we decided to grab a quick bite around 6PM at Nono Baru. We were confused looking on the maps at first because it showed separate restaurants but after speaking with an employee, he clarified that the two had combined. SERVICE Friendly and attentive! Really, everyone we chatted with was great. SEATING We were seated quickly at the bar/sushi station. The dinner rush did occur during our dine-in so the tables filled up quickly. Most seating are inside but there are a few tables out front of the restaurant. FOOD We ordered quite a few items to share and everything was delicious! Listing them below. -Yuzu Lemonade drink -Spicy Tuna Tostada -Nono Crispy Balls (they can with in squares) -Spicy Hamachi -Salmon Avocado -Nego-toro -Salmon Skin The last 4 are simple rolls, and you can request them to be hand-rolled, but we completely forgot because of our interesting conversation and excitement about trying this place. The salmon skin hands down was absolutely DELICIOUS. The Nono crispy balls we're really good too. I don't remember the exact name but I'm sure the server could identify if the photo is shown. Overall, we had a wonderful experience! The food was absolutely delicious, and the generous portions made every bite even better. read more
Another great dining experience at Nono! This was our first time coming by since the merge with Bubu. There were many more tables added to the restaurant as well as many more staff members working. Service was super fast and friendly, and portion sizes were impressive! :) recs: spicy tuna tostada, salmon sashimi read more
enjoyed everything other than the unagi spider roll - the soft shell crab just didn't have much flavor and didn't feel fresh. we were very full for the price we paid. they only do one round of orders now so we probably over ordered. still very good value for happy hour, but food itself is nothing special read more
Came here for happy hour! I really thought I'd have to wait a long time because I arrived 10 minutes after they opened but there was just a small wait. The sushi and sashimi are really fresh and price is amazing but just know that the cost will sneak up on you after getting many small bites. Lemon sour is also really good reminds me of Japan! My bf got the mango mojito and it was also delicious! Will have to come back again. read more
21 days ago
Would say this is a 4 star sushi restaurant that gets 5 stars on the back of the happy hour - make sure to get there before or near opening to take advantage. Service can be a little slow given the crowds but portions and fair and the food is very solid read more
Finally got the chance to check out Nono's new location just down the street from their old spot on Fillmore and happy to see that they kept a good chunk of their old menu, while having added some new favorites to their rotating list! Parking's a little tough so if you've got an appointment here, account for it. A friend and I came on a Friday at 7:20 and waited around a half hour for a table, with our first dish arriving at 8. The interior features a sitting bar when you walk in and booth tables towards the back and maintains a modern worn-in izakaya feel. Udon Carbonara: Unimaginably decadent comfort dish, with the kimchi-heavy flavor of the sauce almost drowned out by the sheer volume of cream that also allows it to adhere so well to the noodles. Dependable but not particularly novel. Chicken Gizzard Skewers: Grilled perfectly with a satisfying cartilaginous chew to every bite. The chicken flavor is very intense and amplified with the provided lemon and togarashi on request. Crab Butter Mapo Tofu: This might be one of my favorite restaurant renditions of a family style staple, with the characteristic flavors of mapo tofu taken to another level thanks to the addition of the crab butter. Save for the presentation in a crab shell, the inclusion is subtle and lends a savory complexity to the typically one-dimensional spice profile of its base recipe. Hope this stays for a while! Hamachi Scallop Ceviche: Served with tortilla chips, ikura, and a *very* sweet and tart passionfruit dressing that grew on me fairly quickly. No complaints and no surprises. For the volume and quality of food we received, our bill was just over $60 - a steal in my opinion. Glad to see that the location change did not come at the expense of experience. See you again soon :) read more
We arrived on a Sunday afternoon and tried the lunch special, 3 items for $15. We selected one special from the hot menu and one from sushi menu. I tried the salmon kama and salmon Okoge stone bowl, the Salmon kama was crispy and fresh with delicious crispy skin and a large portion as well. The Okoge was a little less unique with steamed veggies and grilled salmon. Overall loved both. The nigiri sampler and bluefin tuna looked great as well though I didn't try. Overall ambiance is traditional and trendy, and service was prompt and as expected. I'd definitely return to try the other dishes such as cabonara udon. Also minor note: I chose this restaurant for the scallop risotto dish, only to find out upon arrival they no longer offer that dish on the menu. read more
None of these Yelp reviews mention the lunch special?? My mom and I were walking by, looking for a lunch place. Twas the Sunday before Christmas and every place was packed and there were long waitlists! Nono had a tiny line but we were seated within minutes. We were drawn in by their attractive lunch special--pick 3 items (1 from each list) for $15. They have a variety of items so it was fun to pick and choose. My mom got sashimi and poke and sparkling water. I enjoyed unagi rolls and chirashi and the sparkling water. Was it the best fish? Or the biggest portion? No, but it was amazing value. It was fine and good and we were extremely happy. We were slightly sad that hot tea was $3 extra but it does require more labor, so that's understandable. Each table was full! Service worked hard and was kind. The decor is nice. We lucked out and got a nice corner booth, very intimate and cozy and comfy. It looks like they have a nice happy hour too. I can't wait to come back. read more
Food (4/5): Very, very solid! We ordered a wide variety of things, both food and drinks, and I was pretty impressed with it all. I LOVED the Matcha Cloud -- it's a mocktail but absolutely delicious. We got an assortment of rolls, and not a single one was disappointing! Fish tasted fresh, and the quality and portions were very solid for what you're paying. Ambiance (4/5): Nothing crazy here, but it's very cozy and "Japanese" feeling. Definitely lives up to the Izakaya-style vibe that they're going for, and seating is very ample. I like that there's a decent amount of space in between tables. Value (5/5): Considering portion size, fish quality, and ambiance, I think this place is a very good bang for your buck. Japanese food and sushi can get pretty pricey, but this place was extremely reasonable. Overall: I will DEFINITELY be coming back here! I can see this becoming one of my new go-to spots in SF for sushi. And I for sure wanna check out their Happy Hour next time, they have some very solid deals! read more
10 months ago
Nono was a little sushi spot my bf and I decided to check out for happy hour while in Japantown area. Located a little higher up on Fillmore from copra, Nono had a fresh and delicious happy hour with sashimi offerings, and tacos. When we went we decided to get the salmon sashimi and also decided to get the chirashi bowl and share. Both the happy hour sashimi and the chirashi bowl were incredibly fresh and buttery. This chirashi bowl was also one of the most fresh chirashi bowls I have tried. Topped with a variety of fatty fish and uni this chirashi box was well worth the cost and definitely left me wanting more! read more
9 months ago
This place is awesome!! Wanted an early dinner so my friend recommended me this place for their happy hour. The sashimi was $1/piece and the small plates of skewers ranged from $5-10. The quality is unmatched! Got two plates of the Tuna flights, one sashimi one nigiri style. I usually don't like the first cut of blue fin tuna as it's usually more chewy to me but this was probably my favorite piece here. So tender! My favorite was probably the tuna platter and the beef tongue skewer. The beef tongue was nicely bouncy and grilled with a slight sweet sauce basted on it. Everything was 5/5 I'm definitely coming back. read more
9 days ago
The employees were super nice but the organization was not polished. At multiple times we had to ask for items that we ordered and it seemed like they were forgotten. Took 30 minutes to order a beer and have it brought to us. One of my friends got his sushi roll while we were closing out the tab. The servers were super nice and I felt bad but holy god, there's some organization or processes that need to be worked through. read more
9 months ago
Randomly decided to go here the day after Christmas at around 9:20pm. My friend and I wanted small bites after a quick night out and we were happy that this spot was open! Luckily, we came right before happy hour ended at 9:30pm.I love how this place has happy hour everyday, so defs check out the hours and come through. This place is pretty spacious with tables for 2, bigger booths in the back for bigger parties, and bar seating. We got seated right away and ordered within the next 5 min before happy hour ended. Our food came out quick! The cold sake was really good for being on the happy hour menu and sushi was pretty decent. I would love to come back for happy hour and try their drinks! This spot seems like a great place to hangout with friends. 4 stars only bc the food is okay to me, but it's worth to come back for! read more
We recently checked out Nono Baru at their new location--just a block up from their old spot on Fillmore--and the upgrade is real. The new space is much bigger with significantly more seating, which makes it perfect for groups and celebrations. I like the simple modern vibes as well. I came here with my girlfriends for a post-tournament celebration and an early birthday dinner, and we went all in--almost half the menu. Every dish was a hit, but my absolute favorites were the Crab Butter Mapo Tofu, the chips & dip, and the kaisen don. All were packed with flavor and beautifully balanced. I'm so glad we made it in time for "Happy Hour" which is actually only 30 minutes long, so make sure to have your order ready. We ended the night with the Purple Gokuri and Nono Pudding for desserts, and the staff went above and beyond by helping me surprise my friend for her birthday--complete with a candle I had secretly brought in. To top it off, they treated us to a mocktail on the house to share, which was such a thoughtful and unexpected touch. Overall, the girls loved everything, and honestly, every bite was delicious. I've already tried most of the menu over multiple visits and I'm rarely disappointed. Consistently great food, warm service, and now an even better space. I'll definitely be back. read more
Really enjoyed Nono at their prior location, particularly the scallop risotto. They've moved to a bigger space now and the decor is super pretty, although I am not the biggest fan of their metal chairs. This time, the risotto was not on the menu (I understand that the price of scallops is way up), which was a little disappointing. However, we enjoyed the happy hour selection and it made our meal reasonable. We thought the salmon belly was the standout, but found the thick-cut sashimi a bit difficult to eat. The other meats were very lightly flavored (in a good way) and the rolls had a good balance of fish in them. I really enjoyed the dessert as well! I find that in the 3 times I have come to Nono, the wait staff is super kind but can be a bit hard to get their attention - I usually need to make hard eye contact and wave if I need something (like the check). read more
10 months ago
I'm a big fan of Japanese food, so when my gf wanted to check out this restaurant I was instantly down. We came here for dinner while we were in Japantown, and we were able to be seated pretty quickly for a party of two. The interior decor is modern and minimal, but still had a sleek vibe to it. For the food we decided to get the kaisen don and the NoNo pudding for dessert. The Kaisen came with uni, crab, toro, scallop, mushroom sushi rice, and wasabi while the Nono pudding was a recipe from Osaka apparently. While the seafood was fresh for the most part, the uni unfortunately tasted a bit off and was on the bitter side. The pudding however was delicious and I would definitely recommend that, as it had great texture and was really flavorful. Overall besides the uni I think that the meal was good, and I hope their other dishes are good too. read more
5 months ago
Not authentic Japanese restuarant. Don't waste your money if you are looking for good quality Japanese food. Sushi makers are not Japanese.. I think this is a Chinese own fake Japanese resturant with lots of buying reviews on yelp. Long wait for service - take orders & wait for foods. Over 30+ mins waiting. We got the Chirashi bowl. Rice is not Japanese rice. Ikura doesn't taste good at all. Sushi, sashimi & chirashi bowl are 0 score. However, the teriyaki chicken rice is really good because the non-Asian stuff inside the kitchen cook well. We will not come back. Good luck. read more
16 days ago
If you're looking for somebody cool to tell you which izakayas to try in town, hey, don't look at me. I only found out about this place on YouTube when a vlogger less than half my age extolled about it on her cursory city eats tour. It's only a couple of blocks from Japan Center, and I do remember the space when it was Pizza Inferno just a few years back. Walking by, Jamie W and I decided to give it a try for dinner because hey, we can be happening people. We sat ourselves against the window facing Fillmore and kept seeing young couples strolling by as they licked their ice cream cones from Philmore Creamery. Our food order was pretty spontaneous as we started with the $16 Tempura Sampler, an abundant bowl of deep-fried indulgence with tiger shrimp, ika squid, and seasonal veggies, all of it drizzled with a sweet tare sauce (Photo 5). You would've thought we had enough oil in our meal. But no, we also ordered the $10 Crispy Gyoza, which were tasty but a bit on the heavy side with housemade ground chicken and mushroom stuffed into crispy chicken skin wraps. Topped with scallions, they came with a kimchi aioli (Photo 3). We needed a sashimi break from the oil, so we took advantage of Happy Hour and had two orders of the 2-piece Hamachi slices (Photo 10). Fresh and satisfying. We finally hit our home stretch with three pairs of skewers. They were prepared robata-yaki style. We went with two $6 veggie orders - Trumpet Mushrooms (Photo 6) and Zucchini (Photo 4), both bathed in soy butter. Since we love a bargain, we also ordered the Chicken Skin Skewer (Photo 8). Normally $8, the Happy Hour price was $5. Yummy though we were back to the oil. We finally shared a dessert, the $8 Purple Gokuri, a really delicious purple yam cheesecake topped with black sugar boba (Photo 9). We done. FOOD - 4 stars...hearty small plates, quite tasty, just a bit on the heavy side AMBIANCE - 4 stars...spacious SERVICE - 4 stars...cordial and attentive TOTAL - 4 stars...definitely a cool izakaya with plenty of tasty choices RELATED - Exploring Japantown? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/DrSI3z_qIx read more
1 year ago
What an amazing find! We came as a party of four around 5:30 PM on a Saturday and were seated right away. One big plus--they don't use MSG in their cooking, which is so rare these days and really lets the ingredients shine. We ordered a variety of dishes izakaya-style to share, and every single one impressed. The flavors were balanced and thoughtful, never heavy-handed with sauces or soy. Highlights for me were the agedashi eggplant (a new favorite), the rich and creamy risotto, and the "dirty karaage"--super flavorful, crunchy, and unlike any fried chicken I've had before. They were out of wagyu that night, which was a little disappointing since I had my eye on the footlong wagyu roll, but that just gives me a reason to return. Overall, creative menu, fresh flavors, and a memorable dining experience. Can't wait to come back! read more
1 year ago
We stopped by right before a concert and got a mix of dishes including sushi rolls, udon, skewers, and some refreshing drinks. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful, especially the creamy udon and the perfectly seasoned skewers. The drinks were also super refreshing and beautifully presented. The staff were GREAT! They gave us warm towels to wipe our hands with and consistently came to check on us. We came during happy hour prices were great -- even cocktails were part of the deal. The only downside was that the service took a while, so it required a bit of patience. But once the food came out, everything hit the spot. Overall, great food and vibes -- just expect a slower pace if you come during a busy time! read more
1 year ago
Walked in on a Saturday night. It was quite busy considering it was early in the night. The area isn't huge though either. Waited maybe 30 minutes for a table of three. Ordered a few things to try. The hamachi was fresh and good. Nothing to complain about. I like the crispiness of the paella from the pan. The risotto was really good. I liked the balance of the creaminess without it feeling too heavy and overwhelming. I've had better karaage - would skip. The skewers were good. I liked the variety of them and special cuts. However for $45, for the amount, it is a bit more expensive. The pudding was close to flan. I enjoyed it, and it wasn't overly sweet. Drinks were very easy to drink. The plates are relatively small so don't expect to get full here. I think this would be a great place for a round two or even just a lite happy hour before you get dinner elsewhere. read more
2 months ago
Disappointing Experience It was my husband's and my first time eating here since it's within walking distance from where we live. Unfortunately, our experience was very disappointing. It took a very long time for our food to arrive, we weren't given extra napkins, and the staff barely checked on us. When we received the check, we were automatically charged a $15 tip, even though the service was not good. We also found out that you're not allowed to take your leftover happy hour food home. Overall, we felt like we were being charged for a level of service that we simply did not receive. We won't be coming back. I hope the restaurant improves its customer service and is more transparent about automatic charges. read more
Excellent restaurant near Japantown SF. You will have to walk outside of Japantown, but it is worth the wait. Seems to be a pretty new restaurant in the area, but food was excellent with a lot of options and staff was on top of things. They also have happy hour prices so make to make it in time for that. Their skewers were all great. Overall, an amazing spot in SF and really enjoyed everything. read more
6 months ago
Came for happy hour, stayed for the salmon sashimi! Great HH spot if you know what to order. The salmon sashimi and tuna crispy rice were the clear standouts. The shrimp and chicken wings also hit at happy hour prices. Skip the miso cod, pork cheek, and wagyu hand roll - not worth it when better options exist. Would return to try the carbonara and mapo! read more
Was so excited to check out Nono Baru after being a big fan of the old Nono, but honestly left a bit disappointed. We had such a great time at the previous spot, so expectations were high, but this visit just didn't quite hit the mark. The good: the uni toast, pork cheek skewers, and Udon Carbonara were solid. The not-so-good: the dirty karaage and most of the other dishes were pretty bland and under-seasoned. That said, it was still early days when we went, so maybe they were still working out the kinks. The staff was super friendly and really open to feedback, which we appreciated. Plus, they gave us a complimentary dessert to end the meal. Might give it another try down the line once they've had more time to settle in. read more
1 month ago
I had a catchup dinner with friends and this place was pretty good. We made a Resy for 6pm and it was pretty packed inside already. So come early and make a Resy for this place. We started off with the tacos which pretty much everyone else ordered too. It was flavorful and so good! We also got the garlic shrimp, seafood paella, tesbaski chicken skewer, the beef skewer and chicken skin skewer. All of these were pretty good but the timing also took a while for everything to come out. The pudding at the end was amazing, definitely get it, it's perfectly custardy and smooth with a delicious brown sugar sauce. We definitely loved the food and it was delicious , they just need to work on the service kinks. We will definitely be back here in the future! Total for 2:$90 read more
We were excited to try out the newly opened Nono because we loved the original one that closed down the street. Sadly our recent visit here didn't live up to old expectations. Their menu is now largely Japanese-Mexican fusion, but the dishes we tried under this category missed the mark. My favorite dish is the kimchi udon carbonara (5/5), and boyfriend says the pork belly skewers are his favorite (5/5). The karaage had a confusing flavor and texture and was the least favorite (2/5). The Mexican street corn was good but unremarkable (3.5/5). read more
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