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    Ryoko's

    3.9 (3.5k reviews)
    Closed 6:00 pm - 12:30 am (Next day)
    Updated a few days ago

    Waitlist - Ryoko's

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    Ryoko's Reservations

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    RYOKO'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Loud
    Casual
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Ryoko's

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    Brandon T.

    I've been coming here for years. Amazing sushi at late night for a great price. Amazing customer service and mountain water sparkling bottled was perfect! I love this place so much!

    Amyela A.

    Great spot near the Hilton hotel! Friendly staff and fast service. It's a small and cozy restaurant. I liked everything I ordered, especially the croquette and the udon.

    Chicken Karaage
    Danielle B.

    This felt just like any small restaurant in Japan. The menu was just right and the food was amazing. I had sashimi which was cut perfectly from the most delicious fish I've had since being in Japan the shrimp Nigiri came with the rest of the shrimp which was fried and delicious as an extra snack. The sake was warm and smooth, and the chicken Kara was cooked perfectly. The service was great. They were very attentive and great when suggesting certain cuts of fish when asked, I would absolutely not skip this place if you come to San Francisco.

    Marlon T.

    Been to Ryoko's a couple of times over the past couple of decades, with my most recent visit just last week. It's right in the heart of downtown SF, so the prices are definitely on the higher side. Thankfully, the food holds up. The sushi was fresh, the service was solid, and the atmosphere has that classic late-night sushi spot vibe. This place feels like a true Union Square staple that's here to stay. Definitely recommend trying the 49ers roll!

    Menu
    Veerawan T.

    Located in the heart of downtown San Francisco, this Japanese sushi spot offers a fun late-night vibe with rolls, sashimi, and drinks. It was pretty busy for a Thursday night, but the service remained efficient. We ordered two rolls, one appetizer, and a drink. The rolls were decent, though nothing particularly memorable. I do wish I had tried their nigiri selection to get a better sense of the fish's freshness. Prices lean on the higher side, but that's expected for SF. Their cocktails selection were excellent. We tried the Rising Sun, which had a tropical flavor with a nice spicy kick. Spicy Scallop Roll - A huge maki roll with scallop; good but fairly standard. Jumping Salmon Roll - Deep fried roll, but I felt there was more rice than salmon. Chicken Karaage - My favorite of the night. Crispy, tender, and fresh with great breading.

    Rainbow
    Slyvie S.

    Parking was the worst part for the experience. It took us nearly 45 minutes driving around the block to park here. We came here on a Thursday night. The nearby valet parking wanted to charge us $60 for two hours. That said, the food and service were pretty good. I would rate it pretty consistent w pricing for the quality of the sushi. It is definitely not cheap, but I think this place boasts more of the bar experience and late night experience rather than being an affordable pick. I enjoyed the experience and the atmosphere. We got a few rolls such as the rainbow roll and the sexy roll. I also got an appetizer of Hamachi Kama. My favorite item there is the Shoyu Ramen. I'm rating it 4/5 because the women's bathroom is upstairs in an extremely claustrophobic space and that I did not know there was a special menu until after we ordered due to it not being presented to us as a menu and only being written above the sushi bar on a blackboard.

    4 orders of nigiris (2 nigiris per order)
    Kong L.

    I've read that Royko's was a hole-in-the-wall Japanese bar with great vibes and sushi. Missing izakaya vibes in Japan, I had to stop by, and I did not regret it. Because Ryoko's was just that. Small, cozy, dark, lively. Great food and drinks. The sushi was top notch. The beers were good. And I had a few other items on the menu like the Shoyu Ramen and Chicken Teriyaki. All pretty good. I loved Ryoko's. The vibe was definitely reminiscent of izakayas in Japan. Good service. Id say come here for the vibes, the drinks, and the sushi! The sushi was more on the pricey side (around $12 - 15 for 2 nigiris). However, it was so good I couldnt stop ordering for more .

    Dollyrose V.

    Craving some late night sushi I decided to YELP it of course. Up pops this gem. Actually, I am a fan of a place kitty corner that is not sushi - so it was a pleasant surprise for me. This is an interesting spot for a long running restaurant. Hell it's downtown, like any downtown has a mix of good & bad. Don't fret it's got security out front if you're worried about safety. Immediately when you go in, there is a flight of stairs that goes down into a welcoming feel of the bar/dining area., A lot of small tables close together was the only issue. Otherwise - definitely great eats. The staff was pleasant & attentive. The sushi - wow! I ordered a spicy scallop and crunchy crab. Served quick with quality seafood.

    Sake Bomb
    Emily L.

    Always a good vibe here! Came here for dinner and got in without a wait. They have a decent variety of rolls. We got the salmon skin and the golden gate this time, along with a tonkatsu and sake bombs. It's not the best sushi ever, but everything is always good and you can't beat the price.

    Otoro, Tako, Tamago, Unagi, Tobiko
    Skeeter S.

    The best sushi that I have found in San Fransisco. Tucked into the lower level of a building, you know you're in for a treat when you walk through the door. Cozy atmosphere, quick service, and amazing food. The fish here is absolutely delicious. For the win: Otoro Nigiri...best that I've ever had.

    Ramen
    Mark W.

    A friend recommended this place, so I decided to check it out. The staffs greeted us warmly when we walked in, and I believe they yelled welcome together in Japanese. The restaurant is located in a basement with a security guard at the entrance. We arrived around 7 PM, and it was about half full. We ordered the raw squid with wasabi, sushi dinner, ramen, and two rolls. The raw squid with wasabi was my favorite -- super fresh and the sauce had a great balance. The sushi dinner was okay, but I was hoping for a bit more variety. If you're picky about sushi, this might not be the best choice. The ramen was solid and definitely worth the price (about $14). The pork was tender and the broth was flavorful. We also had the Kentucky and Golden Gate rolls. They were tasty and fun, especially the Golden Gate roll presentation was clever!! Our total was around $160 for four people, which is very reasonable for SF. Good food, great service. Glad to be in SF and try something new.

    Pokemon and Alcatraz Rolls
    Kathleen P.

    Great spot on a late Friday night. Had my first sake bomb here ($13 reasonably priced) and the waitress counted us off and even recorded the fun moment for us. Parking is pretty tough to find, typical for this part of the city, but the vibe inside makes up for it. I wish the nigiri sushi dinner ($60) came with fresh wasabi and more rice for the price. It came with 11 pieces and the quality of each fish was excellent. The Pokemon and Alcatraz rolls were tasty too. Bathrooms are upstairs and the highlight was catching the tail end of the DJ playing music. Catchy tunes that really elevated the atmosphere!

    Chicken Karaage
    Kalpita P.

    Ryoko's definitely emulates an izakaya from Japan! Dark, cozy, and vibey it's definitely a good spot to grab some sushi with a small group. The sushi was very fresh even if it was on the slightly pricier side. Service was fast but wished they would explain the various fish when presented with the nigiri and sashimi platters like other sushi places do. Make sure you join the Yelp waitlist ahead of time since it's bumping even on a Monday night!

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    2 months ago

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    6 days ago

    Food wasn't great. Nearly every roll had mayo in it. We were hoping for fresh sushi. Not here.

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    20 days ago

    Terrible service and the food was not fresh at all. Tasted like dry bland ass sh$t. Will never go or recommend this sh#thole

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    Page 1 of 88

    Ryoko's Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ryoko's

    Are you still open until 2am?

    Hi there! Is there a DJ performance every night or only on weekends? Thank you!

    Only Friday and Saturday, 7pm-12am. Thank you

    How do I make a large group reservation?

    Please call the restaurant

    Do you guys still open back up til 2am?

    No. Until 12 only last call at 11:15pm

    How can I make a reservation for tonight?

    Yes we are open

    When will be their food last call and booze last call times? Thank you.

    If I remember right, kitchen closes around 12:30 and drinks last call is around 1:15 or 1:30

    What time do they stop serving food? @Al L.: Most restaurants don't serve food until closing. The kitchen often closes before "closing," especially if they're also a bar. Food last call and booze last call times can be hours apart from each other.

    The restaurant closes at 2 am.

    Does their tempura have egg in it?

    Don't know sorry

    Are kids allowed in this place?

    I'm sure they are,but I have never seen any. It's more of a longe restaurant vibe.

    Do they have gluten free soy sauce?

    I am going to say no since that's pretty rare to have anywhere. If that's crucial to have gluten free soy sauce rather than an option, I recommend calling ahead.

    Is is safe to walk in without a reservation on a Friday night?

    From my experience, I recommend you to get there earliest possible if you want to avoid long waiting. I got there before they open the restaurant and ppl were waiting already!

    View All 17 Questions

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    Hikari Sushi & Bar

    3.9
    (562 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    It is such a fun place for the whole family. The restaurant itself is situated across the main…read moreJapan town mall. Once entered, you are greeted with a cute statue, great for little ones and adults. We got seated pretty quickly at a booth. Different from traditional sushi conveyor belt place, you don't see pre-made dishes around. Instead, each table/spot comes with a screen for placing orders. You can pick up to 4 dishes each time, then added to cart. When your dish is coming, you see the light flashing, then a nice train carries your happiness over. Once unloaded, you push a button and wave bye bye to the train departing. Yes. Super fun for kids. I ordered some sashimi, tofu salad and some sushi. They are super fresh! Service is fast, consistent and friendly. My kids enjoyed goyza, soup, onion rings and some cooked sushi's. We would love coming back again. I can see this to be our go to place in Japan town.

    great location for being in japantown, and certainly a fun experience if you've never had "bullet…read moretrain sushi" where the dishes get delivered to you on a train. however the food is pretty mid for the prices. especially didn't really like the hikari train roll which had mustard on it. - Salmon Avocado Roll ($ 9.50) - Negi Hamachi Roll ($12.95) - Dragon Roll ($19.95) - Rainbow Roll ($19.95) - Hikari Train Roll ($19.95)

    Photos
    A Shinkansen delivers your sushi a few minutes after you place your order! It even sounds a little like the real deal! :)
    A Shinkansen delivers your sushi a few minutes after you place your order! It even sounds a little like the real deal! :)
    Hawaiian Roll
    Hawaiian Roll
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    Green tobiko
    Yuji

    Yuji

    4.7
    (86 reviews)
    1.0 mi

    Came here to celebrate my husband's birthday and thoroughly enjoyed our Bar Kappo experience! This…read morehas definitely made my top 3 omakases I've tried in the Bay Area so far. The restaurant can be a little hidden, but it's pretty easy to find with the instructions they send before your reservation. It's located above Fermentation Lab. Just head up the stairs and you'll find it inside the old Ichi Pub space. The restaurant is small and intimate, with only 9 seats at the counter. When you arrive, walk through the Yuji curtain and check in directly with the chef since there is no host. My biggest concern with set menus is always whether I'll feel satisfied and full afterward, but that was definitely not an issue here. My husband and I were both very satisfied after the meal. Every dish was delicious, and you could really taste the quality of each ingredient. Highlights for me were the bluefin sashimi, which was so buttery and soft that it literally melted in your mouth. The skillfish was rich and decadent, and the citrus and ginger balanced the flavors. The fried fish was another favorite as it reminded me of the savory Japanese rice crackers I loved growing up. Since it's located in Japantown, parking can be challenging. We had to loop around several times looking for street parking and even had two cars take spots we were waiting for, so definitely give yourself extra time before your reservation. I would highly recommend this place! The chef changes the menu periodically based on what's in season, so it's a great excuse to come back and try something new in the future. Total spent for 2: $462

    Really hidden spot with no signage -- we had to ask neighboring restaurants for directions, but it…read morewas absolutely worth finding. The chef was incredibly warm, smiley, welcoming, and attentive throughout the meal. Every ingredient tasted exceptionally fresh, with careful selection of only the best cuts and portions. Highlights included the otoro, wagyu beef, spot shrimp, caviar, green eye fish, and hotaru ika. The omakase was perfectly portioned and thoughtfully paced from start to finish. A truly memorable experience.

    Photos
    Bar seating
    Bar seating
    Chilean sea bass with piece of truffle and pickled ginger on top
    Chilean sea bass with piece of truffle and pickled ginger on top
    Matcha crème brulee

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    Matcha crème brulee
    Domo

    Domo

    4.0
    (1k reviews)
    1.2 mi
    $$

    Was pleasantly surprised by this place. The service was friendly, and they allow dogs; outside of…read morecourse. My group of 5 + 2 dogs needed seating, which they were able to accommodate their cozy seating right by the front door. Fortunately they have heaters running outside, so that was nice. We ordered 3 rolls - spicy tuna (5 pcs), black pearl (8 pcs), crunchy California (8-9 pcs for $15). The rolls were pretty well balanced with ingredients. Spicy tuna was a bit, but surprisingly, their crunchy California was the best. Fried absolutely perfectly with whatever batter they use, and inserted with real crab - not imitation! Anyway, enjoyed this place for what it was. It's not a large restaurant, nor do they have a large menu, but the taste was good and we enjoyed the service from our nice waiters.

    Tried this place for the first time and I loved it! I came on a Monday night at 7pm, so getting a…read moreseat wasn't a problem. It's a smaller place though so that's something to keep in mind for a day that might be busier. The service was very attentive and friendly. I'll always order salmon collar if I see it on a menu and this one was huge! It's felt like a whole salmon fillet along with the collar. The black pearl roll was my favorite. It had a good seared flavor and the dollop of truffle pate on top wasn't overwhelming. The jalapeño hamachi was also a solid choice. I'd pass on the zesty salmon tempura roll next time, but I'm also not the biggest fan of shrimp tempura in general. I'll definitely come back here. I loved the quaint atmosphere and the generous amount of fish given in each dish.

    Photos
    Domo
    Castro Special Roll @colorful.eats
    Castro Special Roll @colorful.eats
    Crab and cucumber salad

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    Crab and cucumber salad
    Tenroku Sushi

    Tenroku Sushi

    3.7
    (595 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    Fun, efficient, simple. Nothing to add…read more I've been to a few conveyor belt, boat-sushi type spots in Japantown and I always end up back at Tenroku! Is it the best sushi ever? Not quite. I think expectations are usually low when going to these types of spots but given the quality and price, it's actually pretty surprising. I usually stop by for dinner on weeknights. It can get busy sometimes but I've never waited more than 10-15 minutes. Service is quick and friendly. The goal is to get you seated and taken care of right away. Once you sit down, it's game on. Chefs are busting out all different kinds of dishes for you to try. They also take requests if there's something on the menu you'd like to try. I love not having to commit to a roll and being able to try a ton of different things. Admittedly, I keep coming back for the seared walu. The plate color lets you know the price of what you're getting. Most plates come with 2-4 pieces and run from $3 - $8. I can make this dinner as cheap or expensive as I'd like!

    First of all, this is a sushi boat spot in the Japantown Mall--so let's set expectations. You can't…read morecompare it to a Michelin-star Japanese restaurant. Sushi circles around on a conveyor belt, and some of it has clearly been riding for a while. There are also packaged, grocery-style items on the belt like cake and uni. That said, it's good and possibly fresh, and the chefs are clearly working hard. It's not creative or romantic--it is what it is. We had several solid items, left full, and that was the goal after seeing a movie. It was pretty quick, too.

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    Tenroku Sushi
    Spicy tuna
    Spicy tuna
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    Shrimp Tempura Roll
    Oma San Francisco Station

    Oma San Francisco Station

    4.3
    (353 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$$$

    Oma San Francisco Station is an omakase restaurant inside Japan Center in San Francisco Japantown…read more They offer 3 menus: Mizuho with 24 items, Sakura with 16, and Tsubame with 12. The location is unusual, as the restaurant is open to the mall, which is a bit disruptive. I came for the 8:30pm seating, but the previous guests were still finishing, so I had to wait until 8:45pm. The staff did not seem very concerned. Bad start. You could also hear the mall cleaning crew during dinner, which was not very pleasant. I ordered the 24-item Mizuho Menu, as did all the other guests. There were 5 guests in total (the restaurant can seat up to 8 people). Here is the menu I was served at the end of May: 1. starter: ama ebi cracker with caviar, pickled lotus root with shaved bonito, crab salad 2. nigiri 4x: isaki, iwana, myabi tai, kanpachi 3. sashimi: chutoro, hotate with caviar, umi masu, sawada 4. nigiri 8x: hirame, suzuki, inada, kurodai, shima aji, kamasu, otoro, aged A5 wagyu, kinmedai 5. hot dish: miso soup with inari and shrimp head, hokkaido uni with marinated ikura, black cod, umi masu with raw yellow egg and caviar 6. dessert: matcha ice cream with strawberry Frankly, the food was excellent. The starter was not very creative, but the nigiri were great. The sashimi selection was very nice, with some fish you do not see as often in omakase menus, such as isaki, iwana, and myabi tai, a kind of tai. Sawada was delicious and is always a good inclusion. We asked for some wasabi and received a small cup of kizami wasabi, a chopped wasabi with a slightly crunchy texture, which was a nice touch. For the nigiri, all the classics of a good omakase were present: otoro, kinmedai, shima aji, uni, hotate, and wagyu. Kamasu was also included, and it is one of my favorite fish. It is also worth noting that they age both their beef and their tuna, including the otoro that was served. A few pieces were torched, maybe a few too many. Overall, the service was not memorable, although chef Ron Au was friendly and nice. The place itself felt a bit questionable, and my expectations were not very high after the beginning of the meal. But the food was truly excellent, and for that reason I think it deserves 5 stars.

    4.5 stars round down…read more It's a really small space and I booked a reservation for my bf's birthday! It's in a part of japantown which feels a bit open (which I think is part of the vibe and definitely really fun. We got the 24 piece course which is a Lot Of Food,, and we were the only people there which was really cute. They split across more traditional nigiri dishes and some cooked dishes.The highlight was the second batch of nigiri dishes but I don't remember the exact fish. I will say that of all the omakase places I've been to, its not the best on my list so i'm curious what other places look like, but it's a really special and unique experience! My ONE GRIPE (actually there are a few) but the smoked salmon they served didn't have some of the pinbones removed which is a HUGE FUCKING NONO. i'm just putting it here because as a small institution it's important to support but there were 3 bones which was a :////

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    Oma San Francisco Station
    Starter
    Starter
    Matcha ice cream made in house

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    Matcha ice cream made in house
    Izumi Kaiten Sushi

    Izumi Kaiten Sushi

    3.6
    (271 reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$

    Been eating here when we are in Japantown, cute little spot- Conveyer Belt sushi place. Mostly bar…read moretype seating area, and three tables to sit. We were seated at the bar area since the tables were occupied. The waitress was very quick and fast, setting us up with waters and chopsticks. Sushi is plated and charged by the color of the plate- blue is their most pricier options, which I got a lot of so I had stop eating that option, and I went for yellow or orange! Sushi was fresh, I am a Saba fan so that's what I mostly ate. Uni was fresh, and Amaebi was good. Overall, if you want something fast, the wait wasn't long, (of course it'll change on the weekend) times would be long because of the seating, try this place out! We will be back!

    Came here on a Saturday evening for dinner. It was busy, loud, and lively. I've been to other…read moreconveyor belt sushi spots before, but this one really stood out. It was hard not to grab a bunch of plates since the sushi tasted very fresh and there was a ton of variety going around. I got a mix of rolls and a Sapporo, which paired perfectly. Staff was quick and efficient, even with how crowded it was. Prices were also very affordable for sushi, especially considering the quality. Solid spot if you want fresh conveyor belt sushi without paying too much.

    Photos
    Extra plates are seen in the background staked up on top of that fridge.   There were only 2 other groups.  Why leave more raw fish out!
    Extra plates are seen in the background staked up on top of that fridge. There were only 2 other groups. Why leave more raw fish out!
    Corn nigiri
    Corn nigiri
    Seafood Salad @whaevaeats

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    Seafood Salad @whaevaeats

    Ryoko's - sushi - Updated July 2026

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