I love Rintaro and it's truly some of the best and most authentic Japanese food you can get in SF. I started with the yosedofu which is their housemade silken tofu served with shaved katsuobushi and shitake soy sauce. It's a great cold dish to start. Then we got the oden with the mochi filled tofu purse, beef tendon and fish ball. Really yummy and the tendon is so silky soft. Then finally we shared chicken oyster skewers, chicken thigh and green onion skewers, the pork katsu and tuna don. It was really fantastic meal and good progression ending with the final rice dish. The skewers have a great charcoal taste and we loved the seaweed they give you with the tuna rice to make little wraps with. It's a really delicious combination. My only complaint would be that the back room is a but stuffy and doesn't have much air flow. I'd definitely try to sit in the front room or on the patio if the weather is nice. Can't wait to come back! read more

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Very very average all-around. We had a party of 8 and did the set menu. We tried a decent variety of sakes and light cocktails. At the $100+ per person price point, I would expect better allocation of service and dishes. My expectations were high based on the reviews, but the food tasted pretty mid/average. Additionally, our courses came out of order so we had appetizers much later in the night when it didn't seem fitting. The main entrees (minced pork rice and udon) also fell flat. The servers brought out shared plates for our courses but it was a very confusing experience for the add-on options. The regular vs. Premium dishes were all mixed and people at opposing ends of the table were expected to share from one bowl with all the premium ingredients. I was waiting the whole meal for a showstopper dish but overall I wasn't excited by anything. Unfortunately this dinner experience missed the mark for me! Note: they give you the tiniest portion of individual soy sauce for the sashimi course. Please put a soy sauce container on the table. I wanted more but couldnt flag down a server. read more

I'll caveat this review by saying I came here for a private event, so this is not taking price into consideration! The food though was amazing. Everything felt very fresh and flavorful, with my favorite courses being the tonkatsu, sashimi, chicken skewers, and hojicha panna cotta. The roasted duck chrysanthemum greens salad was a surprisingly good combo! Waiters were very attentive, checking in with dietary restrictions and drinks a lot. read more

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Went to Rintaro recently, first of all the service is excellent. However the food is not. The sashimi plate is $45 which is overpriced since the fish are not quality. It feels like some cheap fish sashimi that u can have anywhere. The oden is $19 for 1 piece of dikon and some fishcake. Its so average. We also order the yakitori but all of them are too burned and they taste bitter a bit. Overall, i probably wont come back. Food is average and overpriced. read more

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Rintaro is a beautiful restaurant with gorgeous wood accents and thoughtful Japanese-inspired décor that makes the experience feel special from the moment you walk inside. As for the food, it was unfortunately just okay. We ordered the yellowtail appetizer, gyoza, chicken katsu, grilled mushrooms, and the tuna rice bowl. While everything was well presented, the flavors were fairly average and didn't stand out. The chicken katsu was a bit dry, and overall we expected more given the restaurant's reputation. Nothing was bad, but nothing really wowed us either. We made a reservation and ate quite quickly but we felt a bit rushed towards the end (understanding they probably needed our table). I'd still recommend visiting for the ambiance, but I was surprised that the food didn't quite live up to the beautiful setting. read more

Another great spot in the city focusing on chef'd up izakaya dishes. Swing by, order a bunch of plates to share and drink up! The venue itself is beautiful. You can tell that everything was hand crafted with care and detail. The beautiful wood beams, bar - even the door to the bathroom is custom and beautiful! It really feels like you're stepping away from the city and straight into a restaurant in Japan. Servers were super knowledgeable and friendly. Pacing was good and fast. Fried dishes come fresh from the fryer, grilled dishes hot from the drill. Every dish had that simple elegance you find in Japanese cuisine. Everything was super yummy, balanced and flavorful. Definitely adding this to our sf rotation! read more

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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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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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I recently dined here with my friends and had an excellent meal. The chicken heart and liver was especially tasty. The vibes and service are excellent and their food is just top notch. great sake selection too! we had some incident that they also took care of which I really appreciate it. I know I wrote a review 8 years ago but my POV is that things are way different and better now. read more

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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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

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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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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Came here for an anniversary dinner and got the set course menu since it was our first time here. We made a reservation so did not have to wait. We were sat at the back of the restaurant which had a nice wood aesthetic and mood lighting. The service was great. They gave us some mock aperol spritz to start since neither of us drank. We went with the prefix which had an item from almost every section. The standouts of the course were the cod with pickled cucumbers, the chicken katsu, and the panna cotta. Definitely the juiciest chicken breast katsu I ever had and the cheese was good addition. The hojicha panna cotta was also yummy with a nice bold flavor and syrup on the side to adjust the sweetness. The sashimi and oden soup were also very good and refreshing to balance out the more greasy items on the menu. The skewer, udon and mapo tofu don did not standout as much in flavor and heaviness. But overall, glad I got to try them! The tasting menu was good overall and definitely interested to try some of the à la carte items next time. read more

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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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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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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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Amazing! I came here to celebrate my 6 year anniversary and immediately felt very welcome. The hostess was very kind and even offered champagne to us which was very kind. We both got the pre fixed menu which was $90 a person and we added the $15 addition for more sashimi and uni. I also added separately the silken tofu. Everything on the pre-set menu was amazing and such high quality and thoughtfully put together. I especially appreciated a description of each dish when delivered and what best way it was to eat. My favorite of the night was definitely the sashimi and uni. Such incredible quality of the fish, some of the best I ever had. I will say that my only mistake was ordering the silken tofu as I was not a fan of this one much at all. I normally really like tofu but I do think this one was not for me. Overall amazing food, service, and ambiance. I especially appreciate what they have curated in the space at Rintaro. 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

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

Food was good however as individual of a different race of my colleagues that I was getting dinner my service was very different by one of the individuals in the restaurant. On three separate occasions, I did not receive water when my cup was empty but my colleagues did by this individual when the individual already refilled their cup. I refilled my own water. Then again when I told this individual thank you for their assistance- no response practically ignored me but when my colleagues thank you individual was very vocal about their appreciation. Good food but service very off putting would not go back read more

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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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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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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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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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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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'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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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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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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Our first time trying Rintaro. The dishes were all amazing. Surprisingly, our favorite was the potato and squash cutlets followed by the chicken thigh skewers and tofu. We finished off with panna cotta which was great as well. Found the chicken wings and pork cutlets to be average. Overall 8.5/10 read more

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