Second time coming here and can't wait to come back!! Ambiance: very quaint and cute indoor/outdoor setup. Have only been outdoor so can't comment much on the inside. But even though the outside Food: always amazing with options for warm dishes, yakitori, noodles, rice. I usually just ask the waiter for their recommendations and usually am not disappointed read more

Note: My rating is highly influenced by the fact that Rintaro is just expensive for what you get. The food itself, if it was half the price, would be great. My boyfriend and I got the set menu. The server told us we would likely leave feeling pretty full even though the set menu isn't full portions of the dishes if we were to order them a la carte. Overall my favorites were the fresh sashimi, oden, and the hojicha panna cotta. It's obvious the quality of the ingredients is good, but the flavor of the dishes are what you would expect and could honestly probably get for much cheaper at a less trendy but authentic Japanese place. We also added the chicken negima on top of the set menu, and while tasty it's not out of this world. The sashimi add-on was worth it for $15 pp since you get a bit of scallop and uni. The hojicha panna cotta was legitimately quite tasty and I could not stop raving about it. The other disappointing parts of the experience were that it took at least 10 minutes of waiting in line before we were checked in for our reservation. It was a chilly night so standing there waiting for the hostess was not a great first experience. Similarly, my boyfriend found a bone in a piece of sashimi and then a piece of wax paper or something in the udon soup. This to me signals a lack of quality control or care in preparation of the dishes. Arguably the whole point of sashimi is to be able to fully enjoy the fish without worrying about being stabbed by a bone. When we told the server, they comped us a dessert and some tea which was nice, but obviously would have rather just had a smooth meal. Overall, I can't say I really recommend Rintaro if you want a meal you will feel like you got good value and quality out of. If I came back, I'd order a la carte and focus on the yakitori primarily. read more

It was challenging to get a reservation at Rintaro before 7pm, but I finally managed to get one at 5pm about one month in advance. Got very lucky with parking across the street. There were about 12 people waiting out front just before they opened for dinner. Evidently half the people were lining up without a reservation, no idea how long it took before they were seated. The space is beautiful. Gorgeous woodworking crafted all throughout the restaurant from the bar, booths, rafter beams, etc. There's also a really nice patio decked out with plants. Ordering was a relatively lengthy process for four well-traveled foodies. We ordered some sashimi, an assortment of chicken skewers, a large fried fish, and some salad. I scoured the menu for a highball but they only had wine, beer and shochu drinks. I settled on Asahi, the only beer on draft. Was disappointed by the lack of highballs, Japanese whiskey, and extremely limited beer selection. They had bottled Hitachino Red Rice Ale but I prefer the Hefeweizen-esque White Nest Ale to pair with meals. First dishes to come out was the sashimi. The soy sauce was nicely aged and dense. The wasabi freshly grated. The saba (mackerel) was fresh but remarkably plain, with little to no vinegaring, which is a flavor I normally associate with saba. The hamachi was similar. Then came out the duck salad, which came with a heap of mizuna and thinly sliced stone fruit. The duck had a nice smokiness to it. Decent but simple dish. The gyoza was served with a crunchy layer on top of the dumplings. They were a bit plain and the wrappers lacked thin delicacy of a similar but better version at Ramen Nagi. I was a fan of the Yakitori skewers. The Momo with sansho pepper sauce tingled for quite awhile. It was bursting with flavor and the chicken thigh meet cooked to perfection. The Bonjiri had a bit of the crispiness you get from kawa aka chicken skin but a fatty taste within. The highlight of the meal for me was the Kama Tama Udon. An egg yolk on top of a small mound of fresh udon noodles with a willowy pile of freshly shaved katsuobushi. It had a buttery bonito flavor and the udon noodles had a perfect texture and chewiness. We also ordered a large fried fish that was described by the waiter as totally consumable, bones and all. I found that some of the bones were not as fried and broken down as expected. So I removed some of them to avoid the misfortune of getting fish bones stuck in my throat. The Hojicha Panna Cotta was smooth but a bit plain and the Hojicha syrup was very subtle and didn't carry much Hojicha flavor. All told, Rintaro had some great Yakitori and a couple of standout dishes such as the Kama Tama Udon. There wasn't much about the dishes that stood out to me in comparison to Izakayas I've been to in Tokyo or even Yakitori Kokko in San Mateo. It was solid but not mindblowing. The lack of highballs, Japanese whiskey and beer selections was disappointing. I will return eventually to try other items on the menu but Rintaro would probably rank in the middle of the pack for dinner recommendations in SF. read more

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What an amazing place for a beautiful meal. Service is friendly and helpful without being over bearing, and the menu is designed really well. We really enjoyed everything we tried. Sashimi - this fish is so good. Not even a hint of fishy-ness and texture is beautiful. Served with real wasabi which is so much less harsh than the usual dyed horseradish you get. Duck salad - unique and delicious! Loved the unusual greens and duck was cooked perfectly. Combination of flavors is amazing. Hamachi Kama - a classic done well. Lots of meat and nicely seasoned. Yakitori - chicken is juicy and comes with seasoning powder Carbonara - this was a highlight! Udon texture is so nice and chewy, and the rich, buttery sauce with the bonito flakes is perfection. Highly recommend! read more

Rintaro - Carbonara - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Visited twice and it was an amazing experience both times. Counter seating is fun and worth doing if you're by yourself or with a friend. You get to watch the chefs grilling yakitori and slicing the sashimi right in front of you. Out of all the skewers, the mushrooms are elite and on a different level from the chicken. Still recommend trying as many as you can because they're all good, but my rec would be mushrooms and chicken oysters. Service can be a bit disorganized, I guess I would expect more from a place like this. But it doesn't detract too much from everything overall. read more

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My husband and I went to Rintaro for our anniversary dinner. We had a reservation for 5:30 pm and got seated at 5:25 pm. The place is small, but very authentic and reminded us of Japan. We each had the Summer set menu with the sake pairing, and an extra order of yakitori chicken skin. Everything tasted sooo delicious. Our servers were very friendly and knowledgeable, and did a nice job describing each course. My favorites were the cheesy chicken katsu and the hojicha panna cotta (I loved the cute little container the hojicha syrup came in!). 10/10. I definitely want to come back and try more things. I'm not surprised Rintaro is a Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant. Everything was tasty! read more

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If you don't know what to get I highly recommend getting the tasting menu. Amazing options and flavors The sashimi is delicious (as someone who isn't crazy about fish I love everything they serve) The Katsu with cheese They also have gluten-free options We did a sake pairing with our meal and it was the perfect cherry on top. Our waiter was knowledgeable about the sake, along with the dishes. The whole restaurant is a vibe. I love the outdoor patio when the weather is nice. Otherwise the booths inside or chefs counter are great options. You really can't go wrong with this place! Perfect for date night or GNO read more

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I had a few items -- but we didn't take all the pictures! Rintaro easily ventures in to 4.2/4.3/5 territory. I used to work nearby so I came with friends, colleagues and it was always a delightful experience. From the simple but delicious skewers to the dessert.. highly recommend read more

Rintaro - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My wife and I made a reservation at Rintaro for her birthday celebration. We live outside the city and drove in; street parking nearby is a little challenging, but we found a spot two blocks away, and there are several nearby lots if it comes to that. We were a little early and it was a rainy winter day, so we ducked in next door at Pink Onion, the other excellent restaurant on the block, for a pregame glass of wine. We arrived at Rintaro a few minutes before our reservation time. We waited in the courtyard out front, which was nicely heated; a few people were seated outside for dinner and seemed comfortable. As you might imagine, Rintaro does emit some decently strong grilled meat aromas, so the courtyard might be a nice option if you're really sensitive to that sort of thing. We were seated in the back room, which has five or six tables, along with a noodle station where we watched an employee prepare some udon noodles. Our waitress seated us, wished my wife happy birthday, and then took our order. There were two choices involved in the tasting menu: there was a katsu choice of chicken+cheese vs. shrimp (we did one of each) and there was an option to get a sashimi upgrade which included a couple extra cuts (we declined, only because we weren't that hungry). It couldn't have been more than five minutes later that the food barrage started. Sashimi plate: Tuna, trout, and striped bass. All were excellent, and I particularly enjoyed the mild and tender striped bass, which I thought best showed off the quality, freshness, and preparation of the fish. What also sets the sashimi plate apart is the condiments: a little dab of flavor-packed yuzu kosho and another little dab of grated real wasabi which, if you've never had it, is a completely different experience from the ubiquitous wasabi-from-a-tube you'll find in less upscale sushi joints. Crab with pickled cucumbers and crab miso: Delicious, despite a tiny bit of stray shell. The miso got a little lost with everything else going on, but the whole thing was very tasty: it was a generous pile of crab atop an equally generous pile of cucumbers. Simmered daikon and fish cakes: Delicate soups like this are a testament to careful preparation. There are two things in particular I loved about this dish: the daikon was translucent but somehow still perfectly textured, and the lingcod fish cake was the texture of a souffled omelet (lest you were concerned, these fish cakes have nothing in common with the rubbery fish cakes you get with cheap ramen). This was a perfect homey comfort dish on a rainy winter evening. We both drank the broth at the end in one go. Charcoal-grilled yakitori chicken: This was my wife's favorite. Yakitori is kind of Rintaro's thing. They are also very serious about getting it to you right away, still shaking. It's served with a sweet sake/soy sauce glaze that you mix with an egg at the table, and a little spicy shichimi togarashi powder if you so choose. It delivers on its promise: grilled flavor with a luxurious texture that you would never believe was possible given the cooking method. Eat it quickly, not that you'll be tempted to do otherwise. Katsu: I got chicken & cheese, and my wife got shrimp. I liked the cheese, and thought the flavor was a necessary break from what would have otherwise just been two chicken dishes in a row. That said, I thought it was a little heavy. I much preferred my wife's shrimp katsu, which she was excited to share (she's a gem!). I also thought the shrimp went nicely with the mountain of unremarkable cabbage salad. The best part about the katsu is the panko breading they use to coat it. I don't know what kind of magic is happening there, but it somehow maintains a solid crunch factor without taking over the dish. Udon: This was our least favorite dish: it was much too salty, the duck was overcooked, and we didn't think the noodles were anything to go out of our way for. However, the dish was slightly redeemed by some excellent charred maitake mushrooms. Hojicha Panna Cotta: wow this is good. We have hojicha tea probably twice a week at home, so it's a flavor we know and love. One thing I enjoyed about this dish is that the hojicha flavor in the panna cotta itself is fairly light, but there's a syrup that goes with it that is also hojicha-flavored and really punches everything up when you pour it over the top! It's served with a cute little almond wafer, and they gave us a super fragrant orange jelly on the side. It was a beautiful way to end the meal. At $90 for a tasting menu, Rintaro is fairly priced. If I had one complaint, it is that the pacing of the tasting menu was aggressively fast. New dishes would arrive well before we had finished the prior one. I understand the need to turn tables over, but good hospitality needs to allow for time to digest. Next time we go, we'll likely order a la carte to avoid this issue. Overall though, the service was great, and the food was fantastic. We'll be back! read more

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Finally tried Izakaya Rintaro! Week night dinner at the counter for two. We treated ourselves to the early winter set menu and a bottle of sake which paired nicely with our savory dishes. I left very full, yet not heavy. Staff were attentive the whole time, and I noticed the management runs a tight ship here, all the staff know the menu well along with the drink menu as well. This set menu was $90pp, definitely not a modest dinner. Let me break it down: - first course was the miso cod w/ sunomono. Light and refreshing. I liked the crispy cod skin. Good start but honestly forgettable. - Sashimi was next. Delicious delicious, and the accoutrements were artfully paired. They had fresh grated wasabi, pickled topping, and shiso, and recommended each for the three fish. My favorite was the bluefin tuna. Melt in your mouth quality. - hitokuchi oden was next. Oden is light and warm especially for a cold night so I appreciated it. They have handmade fishcakes which were alright, and my favorite was the daikon anyways. My friend was not a big fan of this one. - yakitori was prepared by the cook right in front of us at the counter so it came out super hot and fresh. It's more of a chicken sausage because they minced the chicken. Solid, can taste the charcoal flavors. - chicken katsu was delicious! Huge portion, I was pleasantly surprised they gave us all that katsu. There's surprise melted cheese inside too, and I thought it added another layer of flavor and texture. Crust was nicely crispy. Did not feel too greasy, the slaw definitely helped. - kake udon was our choice of main. The noodles has a great bite and even though I was already feeling full, I devoured this dish. The onsen egg here was stunningly prepared. Perfect, jammy consistency yet soft and delicate in texture. I'm still pondering how they made that. - dessert was the hojicha panna cotta and wow they did not disappoint. I loved the light hojicha flavors cutting through. The smooth panna cotta texture is so easy to eat, especially to top off a set meal. They also gave us some french pear jellies and meyer lemon jellies. These were nice and tart. My friend was obsessed with the french pear jellies. I was wowed by three of the courses. Enjoyed two others. And could have passed on two. read more

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Because of all the positive attention on this place - numerous awards, a constant appearance on food critics' best of lists - I was really excited to score what is a pretty difficult reservation. Service for me was fine but unspectacular, and the timing of the meal was haphazard, with dishes arriving when they were ready, rather than with any plan at all. I went with a mix of options, and nothing blew me away (although the chicken yakitori tsukune was a standout). It's a good restaurant masquerading as a great restaurant, and in a city with so many options, one visit is enough for me. One major plus: the restaurant really is beautiful, and the vibe is great. If only my experience matched it. read more

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We came to Rintaro for my birthday dinner. The food is good, very flavorful and rich dishes. We got the miso cod, chicken thigh and onion skewer, minced chicken skewer, beef tendon oden, gyoza, tonkatsu and tuna rice bowl. The miso cod, beef tendon and tuna rice bowl were my favorite dishes. The miso cod was so flavorful and perfectly flakey paired with the cucumbers. The beef tendon was so soft and perfect texture with the broth. Also extra surprised because it came with two skewers! The tuna rice bowl was also really yummy with the garlic sauce and still warm roasted seaweed to make your own hand rolls. The one thing about the bowl is that the tuna was cut in very different sizes? Some pieces were big and the rest was small. The chicken skewers were good too but nothing super special. The gyoza was my least favorite dishes because the skirt was not crispy at all, the gyoza wrapper was thick and the meat inside was flavorless. The gyoza was also kinda lukewarm by the time it got to us along with the tonkatsu. The meat to breading had big gaps and the pork was really dense and tight. I think there is some improvement to be made with the speed and service, I felt like it was inconsistent throughout the night. The service was really good in the beginning, everyone was super attentive with drinks and water, saying happy birthday to me. The first dish came (miso cod) and then we waited like 25 mins until the next dish came. Whereas the couple next to us ordered the set menu maybe 10 mins after we ordered and were already on their second to last course?? I was so confused! (Also the guy knew all the staff so maybe he got special treatment?) Service picked up towards the end and all the dishes came out around the same time except for the tuna rice bowl. Overall, good food (sort of pricey), cute restaurant but service can be inconsistent. read more

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Super yummy food! As a pescatarian, I get nervous if there's no substitutions for a set menu, but they were very accommodating. The set menu left me stuffed, with my favorite bites being the miso black cod and the sashimi with a dab of yuzu paste. The panna cotta was also delicious and had a strong hojicha flavor! read more

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I was excited to try this place - and there were some amazing aspects and some that were not so good! Cute space that was packed and had a good vibe! We had some amazing dishes and some I could have done without. Let's begin with service as that was a huge let down! Our waiter was a flat out jerk! Not pleasant, sloppy attention, we were out of water for the second half of the meal and my husband had to flag him down for a second drink but the most annoying part was the condescending correction of the pronunciation of certain dishes! If he was such a linguistic genius my guess is he would not still be waiting at a restaurant as his age! We also asked for a recommendation on the number of dishes based on his knowledge of their size - and felt he over recommended which given the automatic tip - was in his favor! Could have done with 2/3 less dishes. The cadence was also very off - some dishes took forever and others were brought out on top of each other - by the end it just dragged on too long! My cocktail was okay - didn't care for ice cubes in what was supposed to be a take on a French 75. It was okay, not particularly flavorful. The sashimi was superb. Some of the best I had ever had, the tuna in particular was exceptional. We also had a silken tofu dish that was delicious. The Karie No Karrage - a whole fried sole with edible bones was also fantastic. We got the Oden bowl with a taste of all their Oden dishes and left half of that! It was basically a bowl of mush and each piece was barely distinguishable from the next. The Daikon was the best part. The rest lacked flavor or texture for me. We had a crab cake dish - my husband liked that, I liked the salad that accompanied it. They were tasty but a tad too heavy for my liking. Might be great for some but for me, in a city full of culinary gems - it's a one and done for me! Too many misses and poor service! When you include a 20% tip - unfortunately you up the odds for shoddy service read more

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Lined up early to snag a seat without a reservation and was fortunate enough to get in this time. The space is unique and I thought the counter would have been a great spot to watch all the action. I ended up in the back room on my own for a bit, so it's more quiet here. Servers are on it! They checked regularly on things and were very helpful with the menu. Food is very good, though I think the tofu may not be for me. Subtle flavors and a texture I wasn't too accustomed to. My favorites were the skewers and I probably could have munched on this all night. read more

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Love this izakaya place! This is actually my second time here and I still thoroughly enjoyed it. Reservations are a must here. Ambiance was great and service was great as well. As for food, I particularly love their oden!!! Their dashi broth is perfect in my opinion. Yakitori is great too, very smokey charcoal flavor, which I love. The highlight for the night was definitely the iwashi no nanbanzuke, which are fried sardines. They were soooo good. Definitely come check this place out! read more

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Rintaro is an extremely authentic Japanese experience (though with small influence from new American methods) with high quality dishes. If you like traditional Japanese food, you would enjoy the flavors a lot, though they are a bit muted compared to other high end restaurants. The presentation of the food is beautiful and ingredients seem fresh. The loss of a star is just that it's so expensive for what you get. Clearly that's not a problem for the restaurant since it's impossible to get a reservation at a reasonable hour, but their $25 average for small plate means you will have to spend $150 a person to be full. While their food is good, I'm not sure it's significantly better than other options (see echigo home cook) to warrant the price. read more

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Been wanting to try this place since I've walked by it multiple times and thought it was so cute. Was a bit hesitant going in since I heard mixed reviews. My group decided to go for the pre fix menu which came out to around $110 per person after tax and the automatic 20% tip. Nothing was bad but nothing was memorable. Portions are also not very big and I mostly felt full because of the dishes with broth. My issue with this place is that it felt pretty overpriced for what you are getting, since nothing about the dishes felt elevated compared to a much more affordable Izakaya. We started off with a small piece of miso cured cod that was decent. The sashimi plate fish were fresh but pretty small and thin. Chicken skewer and oden were very forgettable and the katsu is like any regular katsu. Last dish was udon in dashi broth with an egg which felt so basic. Hojicha panna cotta was good though but also panna cotta is hard to miss. For the price, I'd much rather go to a regular izakaya or pre fix menu at other restaurants where the dishes feel either more worth (where they use more high value ingredients) or are unique. Ambiance is very cute though and service was good but I will not be visiting again read more

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Really good food, very authentic yakitori reminds me of Piss Alley/Memory Lane in Tokyo. Great service and delicious drinks read more

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Had a fun time eating here. Their menu has a lot of items and their staff was very helpful. They suggested the tasting menu so we could taste a good number of things. The price was worth it. It's a nice dinner out spot and quiet enough to have a conversation. read more

Yum! We ordered a bunch and thoroughly enjoyed the yakitori and sashimi. The service was great and the server was knowledgable in the menu. It was fun ordering different types of yakitori! Try sometime! read more

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Pretty disappointed....been wanting to try this izakaya for a really long time given the popularity and how hard it is to get a reservation. Came with a party of five and we decided to order off the a la carte menu so that we could try more items. Got the popular items like the tonkatsu, croquette, sashimi platter, oden, yakitori, tuna bowl, udon, and dessert. The tonkatsu and udons we all agreed was a bit too salty. Oden was underwhelming. Yakitori was decent. Sashimi platter was good. Overall for the high price we didn't feel like it was worth it and the portions were small. There's other izakaya places in the city that aren't as expensive but delicious. I do want to say the atmosphere was very cozy and all the servers were extremely friendly. Parking outside is a little sketch but not hard to find. read more

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Overall I had a great experience at Rintaro - we had a reservation for a while and I'm glad I finally got to experience it. The service and vibe are 10/10 - we were tucked in the back section of the restaurant and it felt so authentic and hard to believe we were in Soma. Amazing music selection too. We started off with some sake that seemed strangely overpriced for the qty/quality. The cocktails were decent and had lots of fun and unique concoctions. The food was alright, but didn't blow me away. The cold apps (squid and cod) were interesting, but I definitely wouldn't get them again. The croquettes were definitely a highlight, as well as the Mabodofu Don - both were amazing. The chicken skewers are a must get - the thigh and onion was the best and the oysters were a surprising standout to me. We also got the Dungeness crab udon - this was a huge mistake and we all regretted not getting one of the other udons. Definitely not worth $40+. The karei no karaage was the most interesting thing we ordered - it was a battered fish you could eat whole, yes including the bones and teeth. Some crazy flavors and textures but made for a fun dish lol. We finished off with the panna cotta, definitely a must get dish here. So tasty. Overall a great restaurant if you want an amazing izakaya experience, but I would highly suggest sticking to the basics and avoiding the cold dishes. read more

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We had a glass of wine next door at Pink Onion before our resy here. Loved the ambiance of this dinner spot. Service is knowledgeable and attentive! Everything is great quality, portions are great to share between 2. My favorites were the skewers and sashimi platter. read more

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Great night out without a reservation on a Tuesday late night. Skewers are undoubtedly the star of the show. Katsu was wonderfully fried and delicately cooked with moisture retained throughout. Udon (not pictured) was traditional, no complaints but would order something else next time. Portions weren't massive but we left feeling satisfied after their lovely hojicha panna cotta. Only skip is their tofu! Gritty texture on the back end that wasn't the most enjoyable read more

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Cute Japanese spot! My friends said this is one of their fave spots and they knew just what to order: - gindara no sunomono- cod was so nicely cooked and pickles were nice and tart. One of my fave dishes - silken tofu - would not have ordered this myself but was surprised by how much I liked it. Really light and tasty - gyoza - nice and crispy - kama tama udon - their play on carbonara and was so good. Came out last so we were pretty stuffed - rintaro hanpen - love fish cakes and it came with a subtle but nice broth - negima- nice skewer but just ok - some other dishes that I cant recall / weren't too special Service was fast and decor was super cute and vibe was chill. Would definitely recommend for anyone in the area read more

Rintaro - Silken tofu - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came on a Tuesday night for our anniversary. Very busy but we had reservations. The ambiance is great. Feels very warm and welcoming but high energy. The food was overall was good. Sashimi was very fresh but the cuts of fish were very small. Standout dishes were the cod, yakitori, fishcake and the Hojicha Panna Cotta (my fave). The tofu don was a bit mediocre and the Pork Katsu was fried well, but the panko breading was extremely salty and took away from my enjoyment of that part of the meal. Overall, recommend coming for the vibes and small bites. read more

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we were lucky to get a bar table reservation at 6pm on the same day because someone canceled. we had called earlier and they said they don't reserve spaces for walk-ins. the vibes were lovely, mimicking a japanese zen garden. our server was great and gave a ton of recommendations! we tried the: - yakitori tsukune with raw egg yolk ($15): super flavorful and moist, the minced chicken was a pretty good portion too. the egg yolk dipping sauce was delicious - kurobi kare raisu ($45): a really huge curry dish, the short rib does fall of the bone but is a bit fatty for my liking. the fig chutney added a nice sweetness - gyusuji ($14): if you are a fan of beef tendons you would like this. I thought the tendon itself was alright but loved the broth - kurobuta tonkatsu ($28): really thick, juicy pork with a crispy batter! it was on the fattier side but that made it pretty moist read more

Rintaro - Kurobuta Tonkatsu - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We were asking if we were celebrating anything and we mentioned it was our anniversary, though our waiter dismissed our answer and it became a regular dinner. A variety of appetizers, skewers, rice and udon were ordered but what stood out to me the most seems to be the other dishes. Hojicha Panna Cotta - The entire dessert had strong notes of Hojicha in every bite, which is incredible Chicken Oyster - Chicken was so JUICY and packed with flavor Mandarin Milk - I've never had anything like this before Anyways, I definitely recommend y'all stop by when you're in the area read more

Delicious food and drinks. A VERY easy place to have a good time at. The inside and courtyard spaces are both very beautiful but casual. There's a range of interesting and scrumptious small plates. Drinks are nice and strong. Would recommend going with just one friend or a whole group! read more

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I highly recommend trying to get an earlier time for reservations because they close the kitchen at 10:30 on Saturdays and also the later you go the more things that are sold out. Their fish is very fresh and I enjoyed the different garnishes that came with the sashimi (not just wasabi and soy sauce). Their omakase/set menu is a good way to just try everything and you will definitely be full. However I think the yakitori is what really shines about this place. Definitely a fun spot to bring a date or a friend and just have some good beers and skewers. Ambience is beautiful though! Gives that Japan back alley vibe but with more space. read more

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I was in town to visit friends and family. The friend I was staying with had been wanting to go here for years - before the flooding shut them down for a while - so she was super excited to get a reservation. The only one available was at 9:30 on a Tuesday night. But that worked perfectly for our schedule. It was very cold, even though we were seated inside. I can't imagine how cold the folks sitting outside were. But I bet it's lovely on a warm summer evening! The food was excellent. We opted for the winter tasting menu. At $90 per person, I think it's a deal. It was a great way to taste some of their fan favorite items, and we got so much food. They even brought a bonus order of karaage because they didn't think the katsu was a big enough portion for 3 people! I do wish I had gotten the kake udon instead of the mabodofu don (rice bowl). But I wanted to taste the house-made tofu. I was not disappointed. It was just so filling! My friend got the udon. So I did get to taste that too, and it was delicious. We also probably over-ordered because we wanted to try the gyoza too. They were great, but unnecessary with how much food we got from the set menu! read more

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A great food experience and journey. They do everything well. But it's not cheap. Good service and ambience albeit a bit warm in the spring.

Hmmmmmmm, I'm glad I tried it, but am reluctant to revisit. The food was good. Not all dishes that we ordered earned 5 stars. The sashimi, hamachi Kama and chicken wings were exceptional. And if I return, that's all I would order. The tonkatsu and short ribs were just okay, but overpriced. The dessert we ordered was mediocre, but was suggested by our server. It lacked any taste whatsoever. I must say that the atmosphere and service are top notch, but I'm here to eat. read more

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Atmosphere and food were both excellent. It was pretty busy, so there was a bit of a wait, but the food absolutely made up for it. The chicken skewers with drinks are an unbeatable combo read more

Rintaro - Izakaya Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We did the set menu and don't regret it bc we got to try some of their most popular dishes and everything was so good! Service was great as well, as staff cleaned our tables in between each course, and gave good recommendations and checked in. Restaurant itself was clean and so cute inside. Fell in love with how cozy it felt just walking in. Huge fan of all the dishes and will definitely be back to try more through a la carte! If I could give 5 stars to the hojicha panna cotta itself I would. It was so perfect in every way and I'll be coming back for that every time!! read more

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Hate to say it, but the hojicha panna cotta lives up to the hype. If you only get one thing on the menu, get this. The panna cotta is light yet the hojicha flavor is rich, and it pairs perfectly with the cracker on the side!! In terms of food, some were hots some were misses. My favorites were: the miso cod (yes, it's served cold, but the cod is cooked really well. buttery soft without being overly fatty), tsukune skewer (so juicy, melts in your mouth), oden (the broth really cures you!), and the oyster chicken (really juicy). What I would not get again: the sashimi dishes (the tuna was not really fresh), kake udon (broth is flavorful but udon is a bit underwhelming), inner thigh yakitori (over shined by the oyster chicken and tsukune). Great ambiance inside, but service in the beginning was a bit slow (getting seated, taking our order). read more

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We really enjoyed our first visit to this cute restaurant. The food and service were both good. Will definitely go back to try other food on the menu. Highly recommend. read more

Rintaro is top notch! Best yakitori in the Bay Area. You can taste the binchotan on the skewers. My favorite was the momo sansho skewer and you have to finish off with the Panna cotta read more

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This review is a long time coming! I came here with some friends for a friend's birthday, and we were seated in the outdoor patio. Despite being close to the street, the wall of the restaurant blocked out much of the noise, making us feel like we had been transported to another world. The music was light and lively so conversation remained easy to hear. The decor is just beautiful -- from the patio to the interior architecture to even the bathroom, this place is really special. We shared many dishes together. Apologies if some of these dishes are outdated because this was a while ago. We got the Chicken Thigh Yakitori, the Yakitori Tsukune with Raw Egg, the Yosedofu, the Kake Udon, the Salmon and Tuna Don, the Kanpachi Kama, the Tomato No Sunomono, the Iwashi No Nanbanzuke, the Oden No Moriawase, and the Kurobuta Katsu. I also got a Yuzu Chu-hai. All of them were phenomenal, but my personal favorite was the Tofu Purses in the Oden No Moriawase -- they were so unique and beautifully plated, and I loved the mochi centers. The attention to detail for each and every one of these dishes is incredible and clearly full of care. All of these dishes I would happily recommend, as they were all standouts in their own right. The staff were all so kind and helpful with recommendations. We had such a lovely time, and I'm so glad to have been able to try this place. The higher price point is for sure worth it here, so if you're trying to find a place for a special occasion, I can't recommend here enough. Will definitely be back! read more

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