Japanese hot pot are words you don't often see together in the Castro, but that's exactly what this is. I randomly passed by this restaurant while walking around in the neighborhood with friends and we just went inside to check it out. It was pretty empty when we went on the weekend a few months ago, but since then I've passed by a few times and there is a line out the door consistently. Their personal pots are around $40 which for San Francisco isn't cheap for sure but not entirely surprising. They have a few different soup bases and I really liked the spicy miso one. The beef was tender and noodles nice and chewy. I tried some of the sukiyaki broth one too although a bit too sweet gor me. Ambience inside is nice though it's small inside. I would come back if it's not busy, probably would skip if there's a huge line. It certainly is cozy and comforting to eat on a cold SF day. read more

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Healthy, fresh meal. Filling, yet light. Felt kind of a splurge just for a casual lunch, so maybe come here with more dedicated time. I finished the nabe just by myself. I got the pork one, and thought the meat was good quality. I wouldn't say portions are big here. The flavors are also very light, even with the sauces. The mushrooms were not satisfying and we tasted more of the breading in each bite rather than the mushroom itself. Our waiter was pleasant. Overall, the price of the meal was a bit higher than I expected for what we got (like $50pp). I feel like hot pot restaurants are cheaper and would offer ayce. read more

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Fire the receptionist answering the phone. Called to make a reservation for 2 people and she was rude said "this is not a reservation". Like what!? Who says that to customers trying to make reservations? read more

Cute little restaurant with a clean aesthetic. I was hesitant to come because it is pricey for a la carte hot pot ($39), but the meat was high quality and the ambiance is quite nice. I got the sukiyaki nabe, which was all around good. I think the sauces are unnecessary because the nabe itself is salty enough that a quick dip in there imparted all the flavors needed onto the meat and veggies. We also ordered the karage, which I would order again. Good spot overall. read more

Potto - Sukiyaki Nabe - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

SO GOOD UGH I can't wait to come back, I tried a little of everything and gyad dayum it's so fire. read more

Potto - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I normally get full off of a meal quite quickly, but there was literally not a crumb of veggie/meat nor drop of soup leftover from my meal at Potto. Great service, cute ambiance, delicious food! I ordered the Spicy Miso hotpot which came with 2 plates of meat (beef + pork), a veggie plate, as well as rice. The quality of the meat and veggies were pretty average, but the broth was exceptionally rich and flavorful. The induction countertop was really unique, though it was harder to use because of the "minimalistic" UI. I got seated around 6PM on a Thursday and the restaurant quickly filled to max capacity. The cost is a little pricey at around $35 per bowl; I wouldn't recommend sharing unless you are not hungry as one bowl was a perfect serving size for me. Overall, Potto was a pleasant experience! I would come back for another chance to treat myself but wouldn't make this a regular place. read more

Potto - rice & veggies & house sake - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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If you plan to co to Potto during prime dinner hours would recommend to make reservations. It was really packed and several parties were waiting. The seating ranges from high tops, standard tables and bar seating. It's a smaller restaurant so it's pretty cozy. Restaurant is bright, clean and modern. We sat at the bar and I ordered the Butatama Kara Udon (pork belly) and a side of waygu. My friend ordered the Hamachi Kama which was a friend hamachi collar with rice. The pork belly udon was much spicier than I expected, but super flavorful. It was a good size portion so I ended up taking some home. My friend said her dish was tasty and there was enough fish meat around the collar. Prices for the entree section were somewhat reasonable. The Nabe section is like your own hot pot experience and a bit more. Side note, the restroom lock was a little different so it was hard to tell if it was locked or not. . read more

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My friend who lives in the Castro loves Potto, and I can't say that I disagree. We ordered the spicy miso set to share, and this was more than enough for the both of us. The meat is very marbled and the veggies are fresh! The tables are so cute and are like induction stoves? Service was good and we took our time with this meal together. The interior is so chic and cute, it feels like you're transported into Tokyo. You truly cannot go wrong with shabu shabu! read more

Potto - Spicy miso set - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Amazing nabe spot! The meat was incredibly tender (loved both the beef and pork belly slices) and the broth was flavorful and went well with all the toppings. We tried both the sukiyaki and the spicy miso broths and both were great. I'm not generally a fan of hotpot type restaurants but this place was so good and I would definitely come back to try more. I also loved the yakiniku rice dish -- steak is so tender and flavorful. It comes with rice and mushrooms and runny egg and tastes amazing with all the sauce after mixing. Highly recommend! Service is friendly and pretty attentive, although we did run out of water after a while. On the pricier end but worth for a special treat! Reservations are easy to make. read more

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This isn't your regular hot pot joint - the place is well maintained and the induction stoves at the table are super sleek. We got the nabe and the seafood udon and they did not disappoint. Only the service was kinda off and they forgot about us and our requests a few times. Heard their matcha is also good so will be back to try next time! read more

Potto - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I learned about Potto from an Insta foodie account. The meat looked really fresh, which interested me in visiting for lunch with a friend. Like other reviewers have pointed out, the inside is small, but updated. While I was expecting myself to order the sukiyaki nabe, I ended up ordering a king salmon nabe instead, which comes with scallop, shrimp, and fish balls. My friend ordered the sukiyaki nabe, so we were able to share. My overall thoughts: Service was a little slow, but when we visited, there was only one waitress doing a phenomenal job servicing all the tables. The food was very delicious. The meat and seafood was pretty fresh. While portions looked a little small, my friend and I actually felt like we had enough food. Just thought the menu was a bit overpriced for what we got (~$40 per person), but the menu prices at Potto are comparable to other nabe/shabu shabu/hot pot places in the Bay Area. I wish this place were more affordable, so I could come back sooner. But I do think Potto is worth your while. read more

Potto - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Cozy little spot in the Castro! Each set was enough to fill one person up. We tried the salmon and sukiyaki set. I preferred the sukiyaki set a lot more and would recommend that. The service was quick and accommodating. Great place to yap with a friend! read more

Potto - Salmon set - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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A newer Shabu place in the Castro, with individual pots. A friend told me about this place so we showed up on a Sunday for lunch and was seated immediately. A cute, clean decor with a really cool stone table that has a built in, seamless Shabu pot heater. FOOD : Tonyu nabe. Excellent. Broth was milky, hearty, and delicious to give a nice smooth flavor to the meat. The American Wagyu was delicious as well and their house sauces were the right amount of salty, tangy, and spicy if you like it like that. Paired well with some fresh veges and Udon to complete a full meal. Highly recommended. Hamachi kama. Goodness, this was way better than I expected. Deep fried in a panko batter to give a perfect crunch and saltiness while not being overcooked or dry. Served with a nice ponzu sauce and lime to give it that extra kick. This is so so good over rice. Highly recommended. Overall, an excellent experience. Great and friendly service, with overall excellent food. It is a tad pricy, but honestly well worth it for the quality. I'll definitely be back. read more

Potto - Hamachi kama - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Good beef. And the pasteurized egg was a good addition for dipping. The sukiyaki was good but probably a little sweeter than I expected. Very slow service since it's a small team. Tables are very close to each other so I have to listen to another family's long conversations and debates lol. The hot soup from the next table also splashed up to my face. read more

Potto - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here on a Thursday right at opening and we easily found street parking right in front of the restaurant :) It was empty just us and another party. It's a small space so the restaurant got packed fairly quickly. I would reccomend going right at opening to avoid waiting. We got seated fast and the inside is super cute. It was very modern but it's hard to tell if you are pressing on the buttons or not. It's hidden in the table We ordered the spicy miso nabe & the tonyu nabe. It was quite good I would definitely come back! I loved the sauces For the tonyu nabe just be careful it boils quickly and would spill over which stressed us out about the heat setting. I want to come back to try their yakiniku don! read more

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Arrived right at 5 PM on New Years Eve (Wednesday) and was able to get a walk in table for 5 people. The space quickly started filling up over the next hour. Definitely recommend getting a reservation if you're dining with a bigger group as it's a small space. The individual Nabe's are great. We started with the miso shishito peppers for the table. I ordered the Tonyu Nabe and my friends ordered the Spicy Nabe. We all were impressed by the fresh vegetables and the quality of the meats. The stafff talks you through the experience if you're unfamiliar with hot pot. We all left feeling full and the price was on par with other hot pot spots we've tried in the bay. Will definitely be back! read more

Potto - Tonyu Nabe - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here with a friend because we were both craving hot soup in the cold weather! And Potto definitely came through! The service was amazing, and the waiters were nice and attentive! The ambiance was also quite cozy - it's not the biggest space, but I really liked the interior! My friend and I sat by the windows, so we had a nice breeze as well. The restaurant is conveniently located right off 16th street, so it's quite easy to find as well. My friend and I shared a Tonyu Nabe, soft shell crab, and shishito peppers! The meal was amazing, and definitely hit the spot for me. Definitely enough food for my friend and I to share! Keep in mind though that if you get the Tonyu Nabe, it contains soy milk so it boils quite quickly. It was perfectly milky and flavorful! The meat was also of high quality in my opinion, and there are a lot of other sides, like mushrooms and veggies. A 10/10 meal! Overall, I would definitely come back to re-order as well as to try new dishes! read more

Potto - shishito peppers Tonyu Nabe - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wow the yakiniku don filled a whole in my heart that I didn't even know I had. That meat just tastes PREMIUM and the sauce it comes with is such a tangy delicious accompaniment. The nabe was soothing for the soul and came with plenty of meat and veggies. Spicy miso broth could've had more flavor, thought the sukiyaki broth was better. The interior is bright and sleek, with the high tops and bar being slightly cramped-feeling but super cool with the built in heater tops. But nonetheless their food is so comforting and delicious. Service is very friendly. Have been here twice already and can't wait to come back! read more

Potto - sukiyaki nabe + nikutama udon + fries - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Parking can be a bit challenging in this area, especially after 5 p.m., so planning ahead is helpful. The restaurant does take reservations if you call in advance; without one, expect a wait or try to arrive right when they open. The food is immaculate--very authentic, incredibly flavorful, and clearly made with care. The pricing feels completely justified for the quality and overall experience. There are usually only one to two servers on the floor at a time, so during peak hours service can be a bit slower and could be improved. That said, the food itself truly shines and makes the visit worthwhile. read more

Potto - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My new favorite for individual hot pot that's NOT all you can eat! I love sukiyaki and this one was the perfect amount of sweet and salty. Decent amount of meat too! I tried my friend's spicy miso and that was also super flavorful. Come early or make a reservation if you can. The restaurant is small and fills up quickly. read more

Potto - Sukiyaki on the bottom, spicy miso on top. - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came by randomly for a special event Dassai sake + appetizer flight and had an amazingly filling meal here. For $25, we got a flight of three Dassai Blue sakes -- Dassai Blue 35, 50, and Sparkling. This came paired with light appetizers of edamame and fried tofu. We were able to pick our favorite sake and get a full pour of it, which rounded out the meal really well. We split a spicy miso hot pot, which came with thin slices of beef and pork along with a portion of fresh veggies, a bowl of rice, and three dipping sauces. This was the perfect meal for a cold, windy winter night, and we both left completely stuffed. The meat was super high quality, and I was especially impressed by the pork slices, which I typically have trouble eating. We drank all of the broth because it was that good. We came by at 5pm on the dot and managed to get seats at the counter, but it would be worth making a reservation for peak dinner hours by giving them a call! read more

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SERVICE: Service was great, it was only us and another table so not sure how is it once it's busy. WHAT WE GOT: We got the Yose nabe with an extra order of pork belly and it was more than enough to share between two people. Also ordered the yakiniku don, it was cooked to perfection. The unagi sauce on the side makes it soo much better. EXTRA MENTIONS: Beautiful restaurant and cute bathroom. It is quite small so i would recommend placing a reservation just to guarantee a spot. read more

Potto - Yakiniku Don - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Excellent individual hotpot with a sleek modern aesthetic! Dishes (ranked by best): 1) Yose Nabe ($38): a pretty big portion, enough for 2 ppl. The wagyu steak is soooo good with additional seafood 2) Tonyu Nabe ($32): pretty much the same but smaller portion and no seafood. Broth was more nutty. Logistics: -highly rec making a reservation! -allows doggies -accepts cc -limited, street parking only read more

Potto - Menu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great nabe. Sukiyaki was a kinda too sweet and the portion size was good for one person at most. The yakiniku don was very well done with medium rare wagyu, this was the star dish hands down. Although the food presention was very well done and, service was lacking and disorganized. We couldn't sit until 20 min after our reservation due to the small restaurant size and parties staying around for too long. People without reservations were seated before us which defeats the purpose of having reservations. read more

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Potto is a cute concept of a Japanese restaurant in a very hipster area of SF. The waiters immediately greeted us and showed us a table, even though we didn't have a reservation. Once we were sat, I admired the surroundings. The interior and layout has an authentic Japanese style, and the intimate tables with the individual shabu burners looked so cozy. I just wished the food presentation with my dish was the same calibur. I had the udon soup with seafood. I was hungry so I went in a little too eager and burned my tongue on the boiling soup. Then I realized the soup was so hot that the tempura shrimp and soft shelled crab was already soggy. I didn't want to wait for a plate, so I set the seafood on my napkin. I think if it was placed separately, it would've been a better experience. The tempura crunch is thicker than usual and had great flavor, but didn't save it from the sogginess. The softshelled crab was a darker deep fried color and tasted burnt. It had a lighter batter, so I was eating mushy crab by the beginning of the meal. This place is quite the splurge, compared to other shabu and udon places in SF. Though it gives great variety for the Castro area. read more

Really love the nabe, the ingredients are very clean and satisfying! Lots of extra things to order including a drink menu and lots of appetizers and entrees. Recommend the nabe sets though! Interior is cozy and very airy during a nice day. Love coming back because there's something for everyone! read more

Potto - spicy miso nabe - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

A new way of hotpot/shabu! If you ever have had Mokoji in SoCal, this place is just like it! Your own pot with a great selection of meat! The quality of the meat is 100% worth the money! Honestly 1 order of the nabu with what is given is good enough for one person, obviously if you have a big appetite, order another meat on the side! They have some good appetizers as well! The Niku fries, fried squid, and chicken karage are my favorites! Definitely worth getting to share with your party! As for the nabe, the sukiyaki is the most popular one and I went with that one which was a great choice! If you want to try other options that is not beef or pork, they offer the king salmon! All of the meat and vegetables were fresh and amazing quality! They are quick and super helpful with recommending something for you if you don't know what to order or how to order! So don't hesitate to ask!! read more

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Cute little lunch spot in the Castro/Duboce triangle area. Came here with my friend on a Saturday afternoon for lunch around 1. We had a reservation but there were seats so we could've just walked in We got the karaage, Yakiniku Don, & the Sukiyaki Nabe. Honestly was not expecting the portions to be so big. Karaage - Crispy, flavorful 9/10 Yakiniku Don - huge portion, the steak was so tender and soft, seasoned perfectly 10/10 Sukiyaki Nabe - Lots of veggies, the beef was so tender 9/10 Would definitely come again! read more

Potto - Wagyu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Made a reservation for Saturday night at 5pm and got lucky since it was starting to get busy when we arrived. I love when they have individual pots so you don't have to share your broth. Food ordered: Sukiyaki Nabe (8/10): this set had shirayaki noodles in the broth and I loved it! I got rice with my meal but you have the option of rice, udon or vermicelli. The pasteurized egg is a raw egg but they gave us the option of switching it to an onsen egg. The wagyu was thinly sliced and tasted fresh, but there's roughly about 10 slices per set. So if you eat more than that, I would definitely recommend ordering extra sides. The broth was a bit on the saltier side for me, but still delicious. I love how you have 3 sauce options (garlic, sesame, ponzu) too. I do wish they gave more than one tiny block of tofu though. It's been a while since I had nabe so I enjoyed it but I wish the portion size was a little bigger. We ended up ordering a side of the wagyu short rib which we split between the two of us. Had we ordered appetizers or other entrees options, it would have been enough but I definitely wanted nabe items more. I'm excited to come back and try their other menu items at some point! Their servers were so helpful and gave good recommendations that we will be trying next time. read more

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Enjoyed Potto on a Wednesday night for dinner. Their prices are pretty decent for the amount of food that you get in a set. Moreover, I enjoyed the service and the ambiance was great. The vibes were very modern and the pots used to cook the pot were so cool! I would definitely come back. My favorite things of the night were Sukiyaki Nabe and Yakiniku Don. read more

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This was a cute spot and I loved the interior. The waiters were attentive, though they did seem busy. Specifically for the udon though, the broth was a bit too salty for my liking. I got the udon with the fish, and the fish did not melt in the mouth, but was rather chewy making it feel like that the fish was not fresh. I also wish there was more veggies with the dish. I would not go back for the udon specifically. read more

Potto - Shellfish king udon - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place was Amaaaazing! Unique broth hot pot and great wagu rice with osen egg was 10/10 read more

Potto - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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First hot pot in Castro! What a blessing. Very nice deco and ambience for this small restaurant, food ingredients are very fresh, food is a little bit pricy but given the neighborhood it is not beyond reasonable. Drinks are way too overpriced and I wouldn't recommend. The service is kinda slow, they are trying to be attentive but you can tell they are understaffed and overwhelmed sometimes when the restaurant is full. Overall I'd give it 8/10 and I would come back again because a good Asian restaurant is hard to come by in this neighborhood! read more

Potto - Hot pot set - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here twice in 1 week... yes it's that good and satisfying. Service is very friendly and not overbearing. The broth choices are excellent and perfectly flavored so not too salty or spicy. Highly recommend calling ahead for reservations since it seems to get packed during dinner time. read more

Potto - Nabe - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Fantastic shabu shabu place with very kind and friendly service. The portions aren't huge but the quality is excellent. They keep the place really clean and don't seem to rush customers out. The pots come out quickly and we were told to keep an eye on the Tonyu Nabe because it tends to boil over. You can move it a little to the middle so it only boils half the pot - nice tip Denise told us. The beef was really good and the veggies were fresh. The miso broth was creamy and good. The shaved ice with strawberry was a nice way to end the meal. Strawberry sauce was fresh and they gave us more on the side and condensed milk. Will be back! read more

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Their strawberry matcha latte is so addictive. Their food is good too, but the matcha really stands out. Go during off hours or be prepared to wait if you walk in! They do take reservations. read more

Potto - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The best hot pot in the city bar none. Excellent, clean, cool atmosphere. Very Japanese The bar looks great, the service is impeccable, the wait staff is very friendly. Extremely fresh ingredients. The meat is phenomenal, would highly recommend! read more

Potto - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I came back for a second visit and it totally redeemed my first experience. Everything I was frustrated with, lack of customization, miscommunication, was fixed. The server was kind, helpful, and made sure I got exactly what I wanted: the Spicy Miso broth (so good), beef only, and my veggie preferences customized. The broth had the perfect kick and depth of flavor. Service and food were both 10/10. The space itself is cozy and well-designed and perfect for a casual night out that still feels a little special. Glad I gave it another shot, this place is now officially in my rotation. Highly recommend the Spicy Miso Nabe! read more

What a cute spot! My friends and I made a reservation to come in for dinner on a Friday night--if you are able to, definitely make a reservation so that you don't have to wait! The restaurant was completely full and the wait seemed fairly long. I went with the Nikutama Udon, while my friends ordered the Sukiyaki Nabe. Everything tasted great. I loved the flavors of the broths, and the ingredients also felt like they were good quality. It was also just a great experience; the ambiance is super cute, so I think it'd be perfect for a date spot or girl's night. My main complaint is that service was very slow--it took a while for us to get things like more water and the check. The prices are also pretty steep (especially compared to other hot pot options in the city), but the portions were at least pretty filling. Overall, I think this place was quite yummy and a welcome addition! read more

Potto - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Potto is a cute new Japanese restaurant in the Castro! They specialize in Japanese hotpot but also have a bunch of other Japanese dishes like udon and rice bowls. The inside is very modern and nice. It's a bit small, they have a few tables and counter seating. Each seat has a personal hotplate which is built into the table which is pretty cool. It doesn't have an open flame and is safe to touch. Definitely recommend coming with a small party or calling to reserve a table for large parties. We had a party of 5 which was a bit awkward since the tables only had an even amount of hot plates. But it's doable, we shared or I would recommend someone ordering one of their other non-hotpot dishes if you come with an odd number of people. The highlights were the hamachi crudo, fried mushrooms, the sukiyaki nabe, and the spicy miso nabe. The crudo was very fresh and well balanced. The fried mushrooms were perfectly fried and crispy. The nabe sets came with a good amount of meat and veggies. The sukiyaki and spicy miso broths were very flavorful. I also liked the condiments they served with the nabe. Great meal overall, this spot is a nice new addition to the Castro! read more

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