I did not realize how popular and poppin this place was. My girls and I chose to eat here to catch up, and I did find it to be a great place to dine and catch up with the girls. We lucked out without a reservation and showed up the moment they opened. However, I noticed this place has A LOT of reservations; therefore, they did give us a time limit (we had a good hour and 30 mins!). If you're looking for an authentic Japanese izakaya experience, Rintaro is definitely worth checking out. I've been to Japan before, and actually felt like the food we ate was just as good as what you would get in Japan, but more expensive, haha. I also love that their menu focuses on traditional Japanese izakaya dishes rather than just sushi. Everything is meant to be shared, making it a fun dining experience where you can try a little bit of everything. FOOD: 9/10 SERVICE: 9/10 AMBIANCE: 10/10 FOOD: 9/10 The food really showcases the craftsmanship that goes into Japanese cooking. From the handmade udon to the charcoal-grilled skewers that we ordered, every dish felt thoughtfully prepared. I especially appreciated that nothing felt overly complicated. The flavors were simple, balanced, and let the quality of the ingredients shine. The only reason I'm giving it a 9 instead of a perfect 10 is that a few dishes didn't completely wow me for the price, but overall it was a fantastic meal. SERVICE: 9/10 The staff was knowledgeable about the menu and happy to answer questions or offer recommendations. The restaurant gets busy, but service still felt attentive throughout the meal without making us feel rushed. They do recommend ordering everything at once, as they do run out of things due to the high volume of customers. AMBIANCE: 10/10 The first thing that stood out to me was the ambiance. From the moment you walk in, the warm wood interior, open kitchen, and charcoal grill make you feel like you've stepped into Japan. It has such a cozy and intimate atmosphere that's perfect for a date night or catching up with friends. Rintaro is definitely more of a special occasion spot than an everyday dinner. The quality is there, but because the menu is made up of small plates, the bill can add up pretty quickly. That said, I think it's worth experiencing at least once if you're looking for an authentic izakaya in San Francisco. Overall, I'd definitely come back. The atmosphere alone makes it memorable, and I love that Rintaro focuses on traditional Japanese comfort food instead of being another sushi restaurant. It's the kind of place where you come for the entire experience, not just the meal. read more

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We decided to try Rintaro after seeing all the great reviews on Resy and to use our Amex Platinum dining credit. We went on a Monday night and were surprised that there was still over an hour wait, so I'd definitely recommend making a reservation if you can. Thankfully, we were able to grab some drinks while we waited. The Yuzu Chu-Hi was probably my favorite drink of the night, it was light, refreshing, and easy to drink. For food, we started with the Teba No Karaage, which had a perfectly crispy exterior and juicy, flavorful meat. We also ordered the San Ten Mori, and the fish was very fresh. We especially enjoyed the yuzu wasabi that came with the dish, which added a nice kick and complemented the fish really well. We also tried the Chiizu Tori Katsu. The chicken itself was juicy, but I wished both the chicken and the cheese had a little more flavor. Most of the flavor came from the sauce on the side. I was also a bit disappointed by the snowy cabbage dressing, although that may just be because I'm used to the dressing being on the sweeter side. One thing that really stood out was the warm and welcoming service. The atmosphere was cozy and inviting, which made the whole experience even more enjoyable. Overall, we had a great time and would definitely come back to try the skewers next time. read more

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I chose Rintaro for the Amex Platinum dining credit and its glowing Resy reviews. We ordered many of the restaurant's signature dishes and came away thinking it was good, but not as exceptional as the hype suggests. Service was warm and welcoming. We were celebrating my son's graduation, and the personalized menu the restaurant prepared for him was a thoughtful touch. The clear standouts were the chicken karaage and duck salad. The karaage was crispy, juicy, and universally loved at the table. The duck salad was the best dish of the night, an easy 5/5. The panna cotta and cheesecake were also excellent and worth ordering. Several highly recommended dishes were less impressive. The Negima yakitori was solid but forgettable, while the black cod was good without being remarkable (3.5/5). The sashimi moriawase offered good variety for the price, but the fish was sliced paper-thin and lacked any standout pieces. Having recently dined at Sushi Sam, the difference in quality was noticeable. I'd rate it 3/5. The Kurobuta tonkatsu was the biggest letdown. The breading was soggy and failed to adhere well to the meat. I'd skip it entirely. For drinks, the Ume Shu Fizz was refreshing and easily the best choice. The sake and beers were fine but unmemorable. The rice and udon are also easy to pass on. They're decent but nothing special. Don't waste your stomach quota on those. Overall, Rintaro pairs excellent service with a handful of standout dishes, but too many of its most-hyped items underdeliver. Glad we have tried it. read more

Rintaro - Nice touch for new grad ‍ - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

We lucked out and got seated briefly after their opening time without a reservation. My picky 4 year old really liked the vibe of the restaurant and they actually had coloring stuff prepared for little kids. My daughter devoured the rice crackers, chicken skewer and udon. I really enjoyed the tanginess in their kamo salad and we enjoyed pretty much everything we ordered. My daughter was requesting to return mid way during dinner and we can't wait to return. read more

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It's been a while since I dined in at Rintaro but I had the pleasure of trying their seasonal bento box: winter, spring and summer in the order. Those are very thoughtful creations that take advantages of the seasons, fresh unique local ingredients, and fish of the chef's choice. They come in neat bento boxes, with a printed menu, cover sheet with custom art. And each comes with a dessert / mochi / Japanese sweet that is also season e.g Mikan mandarin. The service is good. Pick up is easy at the window. The porch is beautifully designed, decorated with lanterns leads to you a Japanese anime like magical world. The oden station in the yard is especially iconic. Beautiful place. But impossible parking. Seriously, just uber or Lyft there. read more

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We had a great dining experience here & felt lucky to get a reservation. Being from Nashville, we don't get a lot of authentic Japanese flavors or fresh fish for that matter, so this was a welcome palette cleanser from our usual southern fare. From the udon to the tonkatsu, to the sashimi, the quality of each item was very fresh, clean, & cooked very well as you would expect for a casual upscale Japanese restaurant. I have no complaints. The ambiance was nice & the service was attentive & efficient. Highly recommend for a special evening. read more

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Came here with a reservation at the bar on a Sunday at 6pm, we were seated right away after checking in with the host! ~the food~ Although they have a tasting menu, we decided to do a la carte and choose our dishes. - San ten mori ($45): Very fresh sashimi! I think the slices were quite generous and the sashimi tasted very fresh! - Teba no karate ($16): Personally, this wasn't my favorite dish as it tasted a little burnt and oily? - Yakitori negima ($11): Really tasty! Wished they used green onion instead of regular onions, but it was seasoned nicely! - Yakitori Tsukuno ($12): had a really nice char to it! Loved the seasoning as well. - Yosedofu ($15): super refreshing dish! The tofu tasted very fresh and was just perfect dish to balance out the rest of the meal! - Hojicha Panda Cotta: Definitely the highlight of the night! Not too sweet, nice and creamy! Overall, I think the food was pretty good! Maybe a tad bit overpriced, but the ambiance is quite nice, so I suppose we are also paying for that a bit :) The staff were also very friendly! read more

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It's been on my list of places to check out for a long time. So I went here on my birthday. We always prefer to sit at the bar, and at this restaurant, you can see the chefs at their station preparing all the food. The smells are incredible from smokey fish as they sear the final touches with a blow torch, to the sizzling goodness from the yakitori grill. It's such a fun place, and the freshness (especially the fish flown in from Japan) is unbelievable. The service was pretty good. Our waiter was a bit forgetful, but it could be because he had a packed bar of guests. We had an incredible experience, and will be back again! read more

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I was able to lock in a 7pm reservation here after checking for weeks, this was a hard one to get! I got seated on their patio which was nice, it was like being seated outdoor but indoors at the same time haha. We ordered the following items: Chiizu Tori Katsu - Chicken and cheese katsu, this one was our fav, I think we need more chicken cheese katsu in the world. $23 Kama Tama Udon - Basically a carbonara style udon with a raw egg on top, really flavorful. $16 Maguro no Yukke - Chopped tuna chunks on a bed of rice with seaweed on the side, we enjoyed making hand rolls out of these. $26 All the options we had were good and I'd recommend them all, but if there was one you can't skip, I'd say either the katsu or tuna. Pro tip: If you have an AMEX card, you can use your Resy credits here if you pay with the Gold ($50) or Platinum ($100) read more

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Had one of those dinners you don't stop thinking about. Izakaya Rintaro absolutely nailed every detail. We went for our anniversary and were immediately greeted with a complimentary glass to celebrate, which set the tone for the entire night. The service was genuinely incredible. Warm, attentive, and effortless without ever feeling overbearing. From the moment we sat down, it felt like we were transported straight to Japan. The ambiance, the pacing, the precision in every dish. Everything just flowed. We skipped the spring set menu and went à la carte, and honestly, it was the perfect move. The San Ten Mori sashimi was pristine. Every cut was clean, fresh, and beautifully balanced. The teba no karaage had that perfect crisp with a smoky depth and just the right hit of sansho. The negima skewers were simple but executed flawlessly. Juicy, flavorful, and exactly what you want them to be. The kake udon completely surprised me. Comforting, delicate, and deeply satisfying with that clean dashi broth and perfectly textured hand-rolled noodles. And dessert... the hojicha panna cotta was the kind of finish you remember. Light, subtly sweet, with that toasted green tea flavor that lingers in the best way. Paired everything with a few cocktails and it just tied the whole experience together. This wasn't just dinner. It was an experience. Thoughtful, intentional, and genuinely special from start to finish. Already counting down until we can go back. read more

Rintaro - Kake Udon - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

Brought my mom here for her birthday and this place completely delivered! The moment you sit down and scan the menu, the hardest part of the evening is deciding what not to order. Now I completely understand why reservations are so difficult to come by. The sashimi was impeccably fresh, every skewer off the robata was cooked to perfection, and the chicken wings were tender and juicy in a way that made us wish we had ordered two rounds. The mochi in the oden was a revelation, soft and yielding in the most comforting way. And the carbonara udon and maguro rice bowl? Still thinking about both of them. If you can snag a reservation, do not hesitate. Rintaro is the kind of meal that stays with you long after you've left the table. read more

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Finally made it out to Rintaro, which was highly recommended by fellow foodies so I had high expectations going in. I'm glad to report that these expectations were met! It was a meal with casual, homey Japanese dishes that were quality and well executed. I ordered the spring set menu which came with a bunch of their classics. Before going, I looked at photos online and it looked like it wasn't a lot of food. But I left really full so I think a set menu is enough to fill you up. The first thing you get is this tofu paste w spring peas and sesame sauce which was decent. I also ordered their silken tofu because I heard they make it in house and yea if def tasted like tofu. If you love soybean you'd like this dish. But personally I wouldn't get it again. Next, they came out w the sashimi and tho the pieces were really small and thin, it was so flavorful and soft. Beware of the little sauces though because some of them are quite spicy. The chicken yakitori was sooo succulent and had a nice glaze on top. The egg yolk and sauce paired nicely with it as well. Oden isn't a super common Japanese food in the US but is pretty big in Asia as a comfort food so I was excited to finally get to eat oden again. The dashi broth was perfectly umami and not too salty, I ended up drinking all the broth. Their fishcakes had sweet potato in it which was quite unique. I don't actually like radish and I enjoyed the radish here. Love that they paired it with some Dijon mustard just like in Asia. The chicken katsu was crispy, juicy, and had a nice cheese pull but nothing mind blowing. Once again the udon broth was amazing, especially after the nori melts and mixes in with the broth. The udon texture was good but nothing too special. The mochi tasted like those Asian salty crackers and had a nice char to it. The softer parts of the mochi had a super satisfying mochi pull. I don't actually love mochi but this mochi was honestly really yummy. The thing everyone raves about is their hojicha panna cotta and I get it. It has a fragrant tea taste, super silky smooth, and came w a not too sweet hojicha syrup for extra flavor and a thin yummy almond cookie. For my drink I got their homemade Ume chu-hi cocktail which was very sweet and tarte. Service was average. It was a 10 minute wait to check in. Sometimes it took a while to clear my plates which wasn't great considering I was in a counter seat with limited space. The sauce pouring dish would leave a puddle of sauce after each pour so it was a bit messy, but if they did see it they would come clean it up which was nice. They also didn't automatically provide tissues, only a warm towel, which I found a bit odd. However all the servers were very nice and helpful, so no major issues. Overall, I get the hype and was glad I was finally able to try it. If you're trying to enjoy a little bit of everything and want well executed Japanese food, I recommend checking this place out. read more

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Made reservations for a Thursday night at 7pm with a friend, restaurant was very busy, almost every table was take. So definitely try to grab a reservation if you want to give this spot a try. Drink: Ordered their take on a French 75 with shochu - nice and light, sparkling, with a subtle citrus note, balanced sweetness, a great pairing with the food we ordered Yuzu Highball - light yuzu flavor, nice level of carbonation, balanced and refreshing Food: Silken Tofu - a chilled first course, tofu was soft and silky accompanied by high quality katsuobushi really made this dish with it's smokey umami punch, it paired well with the neutral flavored tofu, scallion, ginger and shoyu allowed you to customize each bite Scallop Sashimi - solid, very fresh scallops that were pretty small in size maybe a 1/2" in diameter, these had a subtle sweetness, meyer lemon added brightness and wasabi added some spice, wished scallops were a bit larger but a solid option for sashimi Ika No Nuta - overly spicy from the mustard miso sauce, squid had good texture but couldn't really enjoy it given the imbalance of flavor, rapini and scallion were cut into larger chunky pieces making it difficult to get a balanced bite, apples somewhat helped to reduce the mustard impact, rarely dislike a dish completely but this one was a big miss for me personally Yakitori Momo Sancho - good, tender grilled chicken thigh skeweres that were juicy with a nice char, dipped in the sansho spice mix added a slight kick and a little punch of salt Kama Tama Udon - chilled udon which had a great bounchy chewy texture, garnished with an egg yolk and the same katsuobushi, scallion and ginger, along with a small amount of butter, wish this was served warm personally but great flavor and creamy rich texture Yakitori Tsukune - fantastic, a surprising last dish, the grilled chicken meatball was so tender and flavorful, packed with umami punch, the grilled char added smokiness, the slight glaze added a hint of sweetness, don't miss this one Hojicha Panna Cotta - good, nice soft giggly texture with rich creamy flavor, subtle tea notes, the almond cookies added a great textural contrast to the panna cotta Service was good, attentive and thoughtful, staff is knowledgeable about the menu and courses were well paced. Water was refilled throughout our meal, dish pick up after were were done was super quick and efficient. Team checked in regularly. Overall Rintaro was a bit mixed, some dishes were exceptional while others really disappointed, had high expectations given how difficult it is to score a reservation here after, if you do visit the yakitori and the udon are worth ordering. read more

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One of the chicken skewers was served raw, and even the second attempt still came out undercooked. Instead of focusing on correcting the issue or ensuring the food was safe and enjoyable, the servers immediately asked whether we wanted it removed from the order. There was no apology, no acknowledgment of the mistake, just an attempt to resolve it through the bare-minimum protocol of dumping the item without charging us. As a customer, I ordered the dish to enjoy it, not to have it dismissed as long as it's taken off the bill. The way the situation was handled made it feel like the food itself didn't matter, only the transaction did. Very disappointing experience. read more

Rintaro - Chicken skewer with onions - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

My partner took me here for my birthday because I love izakayas, they can't do any wrong. The restaurant was very cool; you start in a rock garden type of waiting area before entering, which definitely gives the Tokyo night market vibe. The service was great, and I always notice and appreciate those extra little steps the wait staff take to make your experience enjoyable. We decided to follow the waiters suggestion and pick a dish from each section of their menu, which gave a good variety of things to try. All the fish was amazing and fresh, and the yakitori was perfectly cooked and flavorful. They had so much more on the menu that we wanted to try, but after ~5 dishes and some beer + sake, we had to call it. I would love to come back, but probably for another special occasion. read more

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I've never been this hyped up to dinally get to go to a restaurant that's been on my list for a while. And truth be told, I was a little disappointed. We went for the set menu each and I have to say the only two memorable items were the yakitori and the pana cotta dessert. The katsu was good but I've had better, udon tasted pretty mid(?), and the oden just tasted like something we can make at home. Service and vibes are excellent by the way, but for the food quality and the price point for said food quality? Even though I'm giving four stars here, I'd still say it was a bummer. read more

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I've been pining after a Rintaro reservation ever since I moved to the city a year ago, and I'm not disappointed! My partner and I came here for our anniversary and had an amazing time. What we ordered: + San Ten Mori (assorted sashimi) [4/5]: The highlight of our meal was the yuzu wasabi that came with the salmon + amberjack in this set. It was sooo delicious and spicy. The fish were plated beautifully, and the quality was pretty good. + Shungiku Kama Sarada (chrysanthemum greens & duck breast) [6/5 - would recommend]: WOW. I was so pleasantly surprised by how fresh, crunchy, and acidic this salad was. The greens are amazing. On top of that, the duck breast was so tender and delicious-- I just wish the dish came with a few more slices. + Chicken Oyster [4/5]: I really loved how juicy this was. I normally don't like chicken because of how dry it is, but this was a great skewer. I wish the skin was a little less burnt. The chicken was also so thick that while the outside was juicy, the inside was a little drier. + King Trumpet [4/5]: Wow! These looked amazing when they arrived. I thought the flavor was great but the texture was a bit rubbery. + Kama Tama Udon (carbonara) [4.5/5]: Delicious! I couldn't stop eating this udon slathered in amazing thick sauce. + Chiizu Tori Katsu [4/5]: This was sooo good. I wish the cheese ratio was 3x as much, but the flavor and tenderness of the katsu is delicious. Huge props to Rintaro; my Resy reservation was initially cancelled due to an accident in booking, but the staff was so friendly and went above & beyond to help me get my reservation reinstated at a similar time. read more

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I really enjoyed my first time here, the food, servers, and ambiance were absolutely top notch. We came the day before Valentine's and enjoyed the set menu with a bottle of sake. Some of the standout bites for me were the uni add-on, oden radish, the chicken skewer with egg yolk, and the udon. My favorite course was the dessert of hojicha panna cotta, the flavor of the hojicha was concentrated yet balanced with the sweetness of the syrup that it was infused into. The sake we got was very unique, the finish was more like a nice white wine. I liked the balance of raw fish, izakaya classics, and comforting soups in the set menu. Our server was super sweet and welcoming, she described the different options on the menu and how we could accommodate a pescetarian diet. Next time, I'd love to come try their housemade tofu! read more

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Rintaro might be my favorite Izakaya in SF right now. Loved every dish I ordered, it has a modern touch and the flavors are spot on. We opted for the a la carte instead of the set menu so we can try everything we wanted to which ended up being perfect! Everything we ordered: Ika no Nuta, $17 Hikari Farm mizuna, tokyo turnip, fuji apple, scallion and Monterey Bay squid with mustardy sweet white miso Gindara no Sunomono, $23 Saikyo miso-cured Ft. Bragg black cod with Hikari Farm cucumbers in sweet vinegar Shungiku Kamo Sarada, $22 Hikari Farm chrysanthemum greens with charcoal-grilled Sonoma Liberty duck breast and kumquat Kurobuta Tonkatsu, $28 Becker Lane Berkshire pork loin katsu with Acme panko, black Hatcho miso sauce and snowy cabbage Rintaro Hanpen, $12 Steamed fluffy Ft. Bragg lingcod fishcake Kimoto/Yamahai Taiheizan Akita Junmai Draft Asahi, $10 Tokyo, Japan (Rice Lager) Yakitori Sori - Charcoal-grilled chicken oyster Hojicha Panna Cotta, $12 Japanese toasted green tea panna cotta with hojicha syrup and almond cookies read more

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Rintaro SF has been on my list forever, so we planned ahead and reserved 2 weeks in advance for a Sunday dinner at 7:45pm. Definitely needed it as the place was busy and buzzing (typical izakaya energy). The space is beautiful, probably added to my expectations going in. And maybe that's why the food didn't quite land the way I hoped. It wasn't bad by any means, just... underwhelming for how hyped it is. A few dishes stood out, but overall it didn't feel as memorable as I expected for the price ($90 per person spring menu set) What I had: Ocha no ponchi cocktail: We started with some alcohol to warm ourselves up as it's cool outside. Light, refreshing and easy to drink. A nice start to the meal. Haru no shira-ae: First dish, seasonal veggies with tofu sesame sauce, nothing particularly exciting. San ten mori (sashimi plate with bluefin, yellowtail, halibut): Fish quality was mid, slices were very thin and small. We added uni and sea trout (+$10), was just ok Hitokuchi oden: Had simmered daikon, lingcod hanpen, and sweet potato satsumaage fishcakes. The broth was bland (or maybe because we had a very great oden at a omakase place at lunch that same day, so this broth flavor was less comforting. Yakitori tsukune: One of the best dishes of that night. Juicy, smoky, and very fatty dipping into the egg yolk. Would love to try it again. Chiizu tori katsu (chicken and cheese) & Sakana furai (fish): We had 2 people so we ordered both to try a bit of everything. I prefer fish katsu Chikara udon: Comforting broth and chewy noodles. I like the texture of the grilled mochi. Hojicha panna cotta: My 2nd favorite dish of the night. Smooth, nutty, not too sweet (if you don't pour the syrup - I don't of course). A perfect finish. We also get a free strawberry jelly as a birthday present, so very appreciated the staff! Overall, I'm glad I tried it, but for $100++/person and lacking flavor, I wouldn't rush going back soon. read more

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Such a delicious dinner in a cute little spot! We loved the beautiful ceramics and dishware, curated for each dish we ordered. We got 9 dishes for a party of 4. Every dish was delicious and so thoughtful. My favorite was the cold squid dish. The squid was a perfect texture, which is hard to pull off! The miso mustard dressing was excellent. Service was great and attentive. Parking is street parking and can be a little tough! Also reservations only! read more

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First thing, the decor is so cute. It really transport you to a different world compared to the neighborhood right outside. The staff were so nice and even tried to offer me a drink before I even sat down at my table. We got the winter set of 7 dishes. Overall the food was pretty good but something stood out more than other things. Add on the duck salad with hazelnuts. Thank me later. The best part was the panna cotta desert and the sushi with the Yuzu and real fresh wasabi. Freshly ground too. I could pass on the minced chicken meat skewers. I did love their soups and udon. Very earthy with light dashi flavor. Overall, great place and good food. Would return. read more

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I've been wanting to try this restaurant for a while now and I'm so glad to say it was worth the wait. We had the special sashimi platter ($110) and it was well worth it. The fish was so fresh and you could tell because there was no fishy flavor and some were even sweet. The uni and ikura were my favorites. The skewers were so delicious as well. The chicken was tender and juicy. Karaage was unique. Chicken wings with a flaky crust and ponzu sauce. Tonkatsu was juicy and flavorful even without sauce. We had the Oden with mushroom stuffed with fish cake which was warm and wonderful. Both udons were delish but I prefer the kake broth. Noodles were bouncy and perfect texture. And to finish we had the soufflé cheesecake which was delicious. Overall I would come back again. The quality is unmatched. read more

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Rintaro has been on my radar for a long time and I've been meaning to try it and finally did! We made a reservation a few weeks in advance and snatched one of the later times at 8:30pm on a weeknight. It goes to say how popular Rintaro is. We got seated a few minutes after arrival. The ambiance is great inside, the restaurant is dimly lit which gave it like an izakaya feeling. The dishes were quite small and they were all quite expensive. Our meal came up to be $150+ and we were barely full. We had the croquette, the tonkatsu, pork belly skewer, some sashimi, mapo tofu rice, and a hojicha panna cotta. All were prepared pretty good. The tonkatsu kind of just fell apart immediately which I expected more coherence in the piece. The sashimi was fresh. The croquette was the highlight. Overall, the meal was expensive, the quality was good. I would say it's worth at least trying once! read more

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My husband and I had a great time at Rintaro! Definitely felt the izakaya vibes as soon as we walked in - casual setting, dim lights, big open bar. If you can, highly recommend sitting at the bar. It was such a joy watching the sushi chefs prepare the fish. The menu seemed a little too intimidating for us, so we opted for the tasting menu, which included 7 courses for $90/pp. We upgraded the sashimi for $15/pp and had no regrets! We added the sake pairing which was also a good value. The three generous pours were delicious and got me buzzin', but all tasted similar. Our faves from the set menu: 1. SASHIMI! I couldn't stop saying "wow" after every piece of fish I put in my mouth. I don't normally like uni because of the fishy taste, but this time it was such a delight! And I usually avoid wasabi, but the wasabi took the fish to a whole new level. 2. Yakitori with egg yolk - what is this concoction!? *claps hands* 3. Chiizu Tori Katsu - can't really go wrong with katsu, but the added cheese was heavenly. 4. That panna cotta dessert was one of the best I've had. It was so light and refreshing; a great ending to our meal. Can't wait to come back to try more of their dishes! read more

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Food (4/5): I had really high expectations for Rintaro, as I'd heard a lot of really good things about it from friends. I'll say I was slightly disappointed, but I do think that's mainly because my expectations had been set so high. Nothing was bad by any means, and it was all very solid. It's just that nothing was mindblowing. Ambiance (5/5): This is what I was really impressed with. The moments I stepped in, I immediately felt like I was transported to Kyoto or something. I love the ambiance that they're able to curate here -- Even the outdoor patio seating area was very nice and quiet, the perfect ambiance for a more upscale-ish dinner. You definitely need to reserve far in advance if you want a shot at getting an indoor table, as reservations filled up fast. Value (3/5): My only complaint here is I wish the portions were a little bigger. It is an Izakaya, so the dishes are more "small plate" style and meant to be shared instead of large entree portions. But for 2, expect to spend at least $100-150 to be full. Overall: It's a solid nice dinner choice, but you're definitely going more for the ambiance, though the food is still very solid all-around. read more

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For the price, I'm unsure if it's worthwhile to go back. Sure, the food is good quality, and you can tell everything is fresh, but I feel like you can find other restaurants in the area that serve these dishes for a better price. Nothing felt particularly unique, and the food served was typical for its genre. The only thing that really stood out to my group was the panna cotta, which I don't see frequently, nor do I see made with hojicha, especially with a green tea syrup on the side. Otherwise, felt like an unremarkable restaurant to me read more

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Highly recommend rintaro and would say overall it is NOT overrated! Food: Negima (fave) - Chicken + onion skewer grilled to perfection. Juicy, smoky, and full of flavor. The sauce was delicious and the char on the chicken was so good. Tsukune - Had a slight lemongrass flavor and felt like a Japanese-style kebab. Tasty, but not as memorable as the Negima. Kurobuta Tonkatsu - Fresh pork, but a bit heavy for me. Good, just not my fave. Gindara no Sunomono (fave) - Absolutely perfect. The cod was tender and paired beautifully with the pickled cucumbers. No notes, just get it. San Ten Mori (fave) - Super fresh and flavorful fish. The tuna was decent, but every other piece was unreal! Kake Udon - The homemade noodles were fine, but nothing special to me (I'm sorry!). The broth was the real standout -- loved the umami flavor. Japanese cheesecake: I was hoping it would be lighter but it was dense. Really liked the sauce and mangos with it tho! Drinks: Yuzu Cocktail - So refreshing and bright. Paired perfectly with all the seafood. I'd honestly come back just for this. Strawberry Milk - Sweet and good strawberry flavor, but better as a dessert than with dinner. Overall: Service was amazing -- everyone was super thoughtful and kind, and they made our anniversary feel special. We loved sitting at the counter and watching the chefs do their thing. Such a fun experience overall! read more

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We ordered the tasting menu with a few off menu yakitori skewers and the carbonara udon. Portion of the tasting menu was big, everything on the menu was impressive. I especially enjoyed the yakitori skewers, the texture of the meat and the seasoning were both authentically done. They made the udon in-house, probably the best udon you can get in bay area. Casual vibes and great service, suitable for both big and small group gathering. read more

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I've been coming to Rintaro for years and have always appreciated its unique atmosphere and traditional Japanese cuisine. The quality of the food is still good, and the restaurant remains a beautiful and inviting place to dine. That said, my recent visits haven't felt quite as special as they did in the past. The service and overall experience seem less polished than what I remember from earlier years. While it's still a good restaurant and worth visiting, it no longer delivers the exceptional experience that made it one of my favorite spots in San Francisco. I hope they can bring back the consistency and attention to detail that made Rintaro truly outstanding. read more

i've been to rintaro before, a couple years ago, and really enjoyed the experience; so i went for my birthday this year! to be honest, i was a bit let down. the hostess checking us in wished me a happy birthday, but that was all. staff was friendly but not really at the level of attentiveness that i'd expect from a restaurant at this price point? the food was solid, but not spectacular. the san ten mori (sashimi dish) WAS fantastic, definitely the best dish of the night. the fish was excellent quality and very fresh. everything else was good. there was a special chef from japan cooking unagi for two nights only, so we had to get some. it was just okay and barely warm when served. the mushroom skewers were tasty but not as juicy as i've had before? tonkastu was also not as juicy or tender as others i've had before. the maguro no yukke was slightly better than the rest-- rintaro's fish in general is fantastic quality. the nori comes in a little box with some coals underneath to lightly toast it, which i thought was a fantastic detail. it is a beautiful restaurant and i would go again for their sashimi, but i probably will try a different restaurant for my next birthday :,) read more

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I wanted to like this place so bad!!! It's honestly just ok!!! I came here for a birthday dinner and it was enough people that they had us order the set menu - fine. After add-ons and drinks the bill came out to around $200pp?? Truly nothing was memorable :/ Also if you're a large party they sit you in a back room that's kind of stuffed with storage items which totally ruins the vibe. read more

I finally had the opportunity to try this restaurant out! Make sure to make a reservation if you plan to dine here, especially on a weekend, because more than likely they won't accept walk-ins due to limited space. My friends and I went here to have a little Friendsgiving dinner. When you walk in, you'll see the patio, where it has some seating, and then going down more will be the inside of the restaurant, with booth seating and counter seating. Don't worry, if you sit at the patio, there are heaters to keep you warm on a cold da/night. You can choose what items you want, OR if you don't want to do that, they do have a set menu option where it has the selections laid out for you. We ordered from each section, minus the cold dishes. The yakitori were very delicious! The one I may skip, however, would be the chicken knee. It was way too hard and crunchy, it did hurt my molars when I bite. Other than that, sashimi was buttery and melt in your mouth, and the carbonara udon was the star!! The green onions and ginger elevated the dish exponentially, so highly recommend that! And lastly, the hojicha panna cotta finished off the entire meal and it was so smooth, not too sweet, a perfect sweet treat. Definitely recommend coming here!! read more

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Make sure to make a reservation!! We were kindly offered indoor seating when we originally booked the patio, which was a plus! Teba no karaage: I enjoyed the crispy coating and the large pieces of wings. It came out piping hot, just a warning! The meat was tender and flavor was there but it was really salty. We felt like we needed rice to balance out the salt. Shiitake satsumaage: This oden was pretty tasty. It was a tasty and soft fish cake stuffed in a shiitake mushroom. The broth had a great umami flavor and delicious, but also too salty. The horseradish on the side was a nice touch for an extra kick. Kuronuta tonkatsu: The tonkatsu was beautifully cooked in a light crispy layer. There was a good ratio between the pork and fatty parts. I liked the large pile of shredded cabbage on the side as a palate cleanser. Yakitori sasami: These chicken skewers were our least favorite of the meal. The chicken itself was really salty and the ume-mayo made it even saltier. The chicken was fairly moist otherwise. Kama Tama udon: The udon carbonara was a nice touch to our meal. The udon tasted fresh and had the perfect bounce to them. The raw egg made the dish extra creamy and enjoyable along with the savory katsuobushi. Hojicha panna cotta: My favorite!!! It was not too sweet and super smooth. The hojicha flavor of the syrup and panna cotta was not overbearing. It had a nice texture and cool temperature to end our meal. Much recommended! The place itself gave a warm and welcoming ambiance. The servers were attentive and kind! read more

Came here on a double date and had a lot of fun trying different dishes! We made a reservation in advance for 7:30 on a weekday, which was very much needed since it was packed inside. The ambiance is very cute and great for catching up with friends. We ordered a bunch of different items a la carte (although they do also have a set menu). My favorites were the yosedofu (silken tofu that was perfectly chilled and creamy), the yakitori (especially the chicken oyster one mmmm so tender), and the katsu which was so so crispy. I also found the hojicha panna cotta pretty delightful as a light dessert. The kake udon and sashimi were good as well though less memorable. Overall, we spent exactly $50 per person after tax and tip and I felt pretty satisfied after the meal. Would love to come back and try more things! read more

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Delicious! I thought the set menu was a good sampler of everything. But for next time, I'll know better of what to pick & choose. - Sashimi plate was pretty average - would skip on this next time - Miso black cod was total yums! - would get again - Oden tasted like pure comfort - would get again - Katsu was meh, imo. The cheese made it taste off to me - skip - Yakitori tsukune was also comfort - would get again - Kake udon with its hand-made udon noodles was good, but broth had subdued flavoring - pretty neutral about this one. - Mabodofu don - skip, my hubs makes better mabo, sorry - Hojicha panna cotta - a perfect dessert to end the meal Enjoyed the meal. Can't wait to come back again and try their other offerings! read more

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My husband took me to Rintaro for my birthday, and it ended up being such a fun dining experience. We were seated at the bar right in front of the charcoal grill, which meant we had a perfect view of the open kitchen and all the action happening behind the scenes. Watching the skewers being grilled over the charcoal while the kitchen moved in sync added a really special element to the evening. The service was excellent throughout the night. Attentive, warm, and helpful in guiding us through the menu. Since it was our first time dining here, we decided to go with the late winter set menu so we could try a little bit of everything. Everything included in the set is pictured, along with the additional chicken thigh + onion skewer we added on. Overall, the food was very good, but a few items stood out more than others. Between the skewers, I personally preferred the chicken thigh over the minced chicken. For my fellow Filipinos out there -- the minced chicken skewer reminded me a lot of bola-bola, which just isn't my personal preference. If I came back, I'd probably skip that one and go straight for the chicken thigh again. The sashimi was excellent. The freshness and quality of the fish were immediately apparent, and honestly I wish I had a whole plate to myself. It came with two types of wasabi -- one was meant specifically for the fattier cuts of fish. The server explained what it was mixed with, but I can't quite remember the details now... all I know is that it had such a unique flavor that I ended up putting it on everything. While the meal itself was great, like many other reviews mention, the absolute star of the night was the panna cotta. It was beautifully balanced with hojicha and matcha and not overly sweet. It was the perfect way to end the meal without feeling heavy. I'd definitely come back to explore more of the menu and without question, to order that panna cotta again. read more

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Went here for a birthday dinner. Loved the vibe walking in and the natural wood structures throughout the space. We sat at the bar too so we could see the behind the scenes but if I went again I'd opt for the booth seating. We got the tasting menus for food and sake. The service was great overall, but when it came to the sake tasting it was a little disappointing. They forgot that I was a part of the sake tasting after during the 3rd round and didn't give me a cup. So we flagged that and the server looked hella sus at us and had to chat with someone for a hot minute to give me a cup and continue the tasting, so that felt a little weird. I also didn't receive an explanation of what sake we were tasting multiple times but my partner did, so that was also weird. Despite the service, the sake itself was good but compared to other tastings I've experienced I don't think this one was as worth it. Focusing on the food, the tasting was great! The cooked fish and nigiri tasted fresh and was wonderful. I really enjoyed the rice based dishes and I love udon and fish balls. The skewers were tender, juicy, and full of flavor. We also got the pudding/panna cota dish with the hojicha syrup which was so good. Overall, aside from the weird service I encountered it was a good experience and I'd still recommend trying Rintaro. The food course tasting is great and I'd recommend it for first timers so you can figure out what you like but honestly you can't go wrong if you choose to go through with ordering the full sized dishes. read more

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04.27.2026. My brother's birthday dinner. Spring set menu. 90pp. Haru No Shira-ae (sugar snap pea, aspargus, cauliflower with tofu and sesame sauce). This was a little meh. Very refreshing but a little weird. San ten mori (sashimi plate). This was soooo good. the pickled wasabi and pairings with the wasabi/pickles were so appropriate and made the fish shine. Hitokuchi Oden. omg I love the daikon. soooo flavorful and soft. The fishcakes were okay. But overall the soup was sooo nice. Yakitori Tsukune (minced chicken skewer). I also really liked this. The chicken was nicely flavored and had the grilled charcoal flavor. Chiizu tori katsu (cheese chicken katsu). Sakana furai (basically yellowtail amberjack katsu). both of these were nicely fried. The chicken was a little one note for my liking but was good with the katsu sauce. I really liked the fish tho. Esp with the tartar sauce. Chikara udon (udon + grilled mochi + nori). I really liked the udon and nori. I think I just don't like mochi in savory foods. I've seen mochi grilled with soy sauce and nori but I think this mochi lacked flavor. It really would have benefited from the soy sauce. So this fell a little flat for me. But the udon was nice and soft and perfect texture. Hojicha Panna Cotta. My fav of the night. Green tea panna cotta with hojicha syrup and almond cookie. the panna cotta was so smooth with the roasty hojicha flavor. I loved the syrup too. It had the perfect balance of sweet and smooth and then crunchy from the cookie. I'd come back for this. Overall, a good meal, not sure if I'd do the tasting menu again but there were definitely standouts. For service, they really took care of us. There was a special happy birthday menu for my brother and they put a candle for his dessert. They were also attentive to allergies, which as a peanut allergy girly, I really appreciate. read more

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I don't like going to San Francisco but since my son wanted to treat his dad to a good dinner and made reservation here we are. It is a happening place as they were fully booked and had to turn away many walk-ins. Strawberry milk was tasty but I think I can make it myself in the future. The food overall was good with the black cod as my favorite, second was the very tender beef tendon. The grilled skewers were decent but nothing to rave about. The sashimi was fresh and thick and tolerated by even for a non sashimi person like me. The katsu... the pieces I tried were 1/3 fat... tender but fatty. The carb dishes... maybe I was full with the pork fat already, I could pass. The dessert- the panna cotta was definitely much better than the cheese cake. The cheese cake was okay but the sauce was overpowering the cake and the mango slices. The overall atmosphere was hip and I can see it was popular and packed with younger generation. The service was good. Like I said I don't like going to San Francisco but if my family wants to come back I would entertain the idea...but definitely give it a try if you have not been here. read more

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