Hand rolls are extremely fresh and high quality. We didn't have to wait at all and service was very efficient. The tempura roll was to die for and every piece was so satisfying! You can also tell the wasabi was high quality. Definitely coming back here! read more

Saru Handroll Bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Biggest sushi scam in the city. This place is clearly an imitation of socal's famed Kazunori, although lacks everything that makes Kazunori perfect. 1. Service. Staff seemed stressed, unhappy to be there. They were more focused on selling the more expensive menus items than actually catering to guest's needs. No one I talked to was particularly nice. 2. Portions. These are the smallest handrolls I've ever seen. Literally tiny. I was starving after spending well over 100 dollars on just myself. 3. Affordability. Unlike Kazurnori, that offers very reasonable pricing on handroll combinations, literally everything on the menu seemed incredibly over-priced. Even the beer, a 330 ml Asahi (SMALLER THAN A REGULAR BOTTLE) cost a whooping 13 dollars, easily twice what neighboring sushi restaurants would charge. I have zero reason to return. read more

Saru Handroll Bar - Menu - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I've had Saru Handroll Bar on my list for years now. My friend and I decided to check it out for Friday night dinner. Your entire party has to be there for you to be put on the waitlist. It is easier to get seated if you're a smaller party just because they are bar seating only. It was busy for dinner and we probably waited a little over 30 minutes. I did the 5 handroll set which included Fatty Tuna Spicy Tuna Yellowtail Roe & Mountain Yam Eel The fish quality was great. I loved the fatty tuna and yellowtail. Melted in my mouth. The eel was good too. I hated the roe and mountain yam. The texture was not my favorite. We also got a side of the seaweed salad which was fine. It was a good dinner spot. If you don't want to do a set, you can order rolls a la carte. Definitely expensive for what it is. I've been to cheaper handroll spots elsewhere that were better but this hits the spot if you're in the city. read more

Wonderful service, wonderful ambiance, and great quality fish. I love how we get to watch the chefs at work! They work in the center of a 3-sided rectangle, so it's also good for people-watching. Some unique hand rolls and some ol' reliables like lobster, fatty tuna, and shrimp tempura. The real wasabi was a treat. Knocked off a star because drink prices are not low--over $10 for beer? It does feel upscale and elevated. I wish the hooks for bags (or is it for jackets?) were underneath the bar seating. Service was very quick, you'll be out of there in no time (which is good, because you will likely wait to get seated.) Will be back and they also offer a nice box for takeout. read more

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Incredible fresh handrolls. Everything we ordered was a 10/10. Service was fast and overall a great place for a nice date night. read more

Saru Handroll Bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I thought I knew good hand rolls, but I'm still thinking about eating dinner here weeks ago. The romantic chic ambiance, the great service, it has it all. I had the 4 piece set that came with fatty tuna, salmon, shrimp tempura, and cucumber and plum. Every roll had a good amount of meat to rice ratio, and the nori was warm to hold. I'm a big fan of salmon, so I had to order another salmon handroll; the salmon was sensational. This place has become my new favorite place for handrolls. read more

Saru Handroll Bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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10/10 on everything I've had here. The only downside to the place is that there are limited seats so you have to make sure you are getting there at a good time or you will be waiting. read more

Nice hand roll place in the Polk area. They don't accept any reservations and seating is first come first served. We came on a weekday and was seated promptly. I got three handrolls based on personal preference since I didn't like the options for the 3 or 4- piece set. It was very good and ambiance was great for conversations. Also, the prices include service and gratuity already so no need to double tip! read more

Love the ambiance and vibes inside Saru though coming in a group of more than 3 makes it difficult to talk. Rolls were good but expensive for the size and getting the add ons. The fresh wasabi is a must! Drinks are also limited but overall a decent sushi spot! read more

Saru Handroll Bar - Salmon - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I dined here with my husband yesterday (Friday) evening and the gentlemen tending the bar were very friendly and attentive. Great customer service. We ordered various rolls that were all so yummy! Fresh..flavorful..I loved the shrimp tempura roll and the yellowtail to name a couple. The ambiance is perfect as well, nice lighting, great volume and choice of music. Thank you for taking great care of us! read more

We ordered takeout via DoorDash and this place was great. Very quick and fresh. I particularly liked the presentation and how much we got for the price ($38 before tax and delivery). I also liked how the takeout was very simple which it made it easy to decide. Next time will try eating at the restaurant! read more

Saru Handroll Bar - Choose your own box set - take out option - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Updated review: We don't get to come by as often anymore since we've moved to the other side of the city, but every visit we get the same consistency and quality in service and food. We stopped in during a quieter hour (around 4pm) and pretty much had the place to ourselves. Service was quick, and the quality still as spot-on as always. Ryan took great care of us, and as usual, it was a pleasure chatting with him. One of the things I really appreciate is that they're open all day, no need to wait until 5pm like most top-tier sushi spots. When the craving hits, you can just drop in for an exceptional sushi fix, no resy needed. read more

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Really great service. Got seated quickly. Great staff. The ambiance is very first date/girls night. Open kitchen and very pretty decor. Functional and easy on the eyes. Cute table setting. Miso soup was yummy, not extraordinary. Daikon shishito salad. Spicy. Good acid Fatty tuna and scallion was good. Good flavors. Red crab (my favorite order) Yellowtail and scallion Spicy scallop Bill was ~80. It was good but not amazing for $80. High price, okay quality, great service. read more

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The restaurant has a very interesting layout as the chefs make the handroll right in the middle of the restaurant in a very open layout, and the customers sit around and watch them make the handrolls. The ambiance was very cozy and perfect to sit down and chat with others with some small bites and some drinks. The handrolls were delicious and it was calling for more beer and sake. These handrolls will not make you full, so it would be better to think of this place as an izakaya. read more

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Have to start with saying that service is IMPECCABLE! It's such a fun experience to enjoy the meal with bar seating, it's very intimate and the staff make it feel even more special. We came at 6:00PM and only had to wait ~5 minutes, but after that it seemed like there was more of a wait. I chose my hand rolls a la carte but I would definitely recommend the sets if you're feeling indecisive! My favorites ended up being the Red Crab roll and the Salmon roll (add avocado)! I would skip the eel roll though, nothing too special. I had 5 rolls and was perfectly satisfied. Also love that they include gratuity in the menu price!! I wish more places did that. read more

Saru Handroll Bar - Fatty Tuna - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Very cute handroll bar! I ordered the fatty tuna, spicy scallop, red crab, and tempura shrimp. The service is fast and they make it really easy to order. The bathrooms are really nice and they have a section with dental items to freshen up. The bill does add up but its worth it for the quality and the price includes tip which is really nice! read more

Saru Handroll Bar - Sake - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place is so good! Not only does is have amazing and high quality food, but the service is fantastic and so fast. Waitstaff if kind and it is a unique restaurant experience. I'll be back here! read more

If you want an omakase experience without paying $$$$, then saru handroll bar may be the spot to go to. beautiful interior with great ambiance. They are open for lunch too! The ingredients are very fresh and well handled. The chefs make the hand rolls right in front of you and is extremely accommodating and attentive to your requests (if you have any). I can confidently say this may be one of the best customer service i had at a Japanese restaurant that is comparable to a Michelin starred restaurant. read more

Saru Handroll Bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tasty rolls!!! My favorite has to be the roe and mountain yam. So unique. Good service. Plenty of spacious seating. Hooks for your jackets. Cool decor. read more

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After knowing Saru since it opened I finally came here. Now this is a long bar for handrolls which seems to be a common format. It's funny as there is so much empty space behind the sushi bar here, which makes it feel somewhat cavernous. Two people eating here will cost you about the same as a premium (but not Michelin) sushi meal. The hand rolls are not the sort of taco style in a U shape but a taquito style rolled up (which I prefer). Everything was great and I'd say the Cucumber and Ume with the Shiso addition is a great bite as was the shrimp tempura handroll. Everything else was yummy but not standing out. It's a fast meal which is great to pre-game a night out in Russian Hill. Now here's where I get a little perturbed. The rolls come fast with no real rhyme or reason. My aforementioned Ume-Kyu role came out before the Unagi (you want the former last as it's a refreshing bite). More so, rolls are thrown in front of you fast...actually they are kinda just dropped as someone is saying something without presence. Blink and you'll miss what was just given to you and leaving you wondering 'what is this again?' Crazy it wasn't even busy when I was in there...but I do wish they would just put the rolls down and wait 1 or 2 seconds (yes seconds) to make eye contact and tell us what was just dropped in front of us. So I'd say I'd totally come back here if I'm in the area and need a quick expensive bite of sushi no doubt but for the cost I'd rather go find a traditional sushi bar seeing how I can have a more full meal somewhere like Chisai for the same cost. But if you don't want a full mean and just a light bite this works for an alternative to an expensive burger nearby. read more

We heard about the hype with this place and decided to check it out when visiting the city. We came around 1PM on a Friday and were seated right away. However I've heard the wait can be long, so make sure to check their online wait list before coming. The place is cozy and has seats around a bar area in which you can watch the chefs make your hand-rolls. I ordered five different handrolls: the salmon, spicy tuna, fatty tuna, spicy scallops, red crab. The handrolls were honestly mediocre and was lacking some flavor. The seaweed also tasted alright compared to other handroll places I've been. The red crab was probably favorite of the five, but it wasn't too special. Although the staff and place was very nice. I don't think the handrolls were worth for its price. read more

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Came here for a little date night as it's been on my bookmarks to try! Interior wise it's an open space with minimalist decor which has a cute ambiance. The servers were also very attentive and kept checking on us. I've tried different handroll bars and this one is definitely in my top favs. We both got the combo sets and the rice they use in the handroll was flavorful and the fish tastes really fresh and creamy. Overall, a cute little spot for a date night or get your handroll sushi fix. read more

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Just ok hand rolls. Hand rolls: -Fatty tuna -Unagi: best one -Salmon: just ok -Yellow tail Logistics: -accepts cc -street, metered parking only -limited seating (~25 people) read more

Saru Handroll Bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

vibey, intimate atmosphere with bar seating that gets you a behind-the-scenes view into the craftmanship that goes into making a saru handroll. no wait when we came here on a thursday evening, and due to the nature of the restaurant and how the rolls are made to order, we were in an out within 30 minutes! (super duper quick service and very attentive staff - and tips are baked into the price of the rolls!) i opted for the set of 3, plus a salmon handroll a la carte. the total was about $40 for 4 handrolls. though the fish was deliciously fresh, a wonderful combination with the vinegary sushi rice and salted seaweed, i found the price point to be a bit steep and i left feeling a bit hungry still. i still do think saru is worth a shot, especially if you're a fan of sushi, but be prepared to order an appetizer or eat dessert afterward to feel completely satiated! read more

Saru Handroll Bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I ordered food via delivery which has a required minimum of four rolls. Out of my selections, the lobster roll was the clear winner of the bunch. The others (fatty tuna, red crab, and salmon) ultimately fell into the "decent" category. While they clearly put effort into maintaining presentation for delivery, the overall experience didn't quite justify the price point with so many excellent options in SF. read more

Saru Handroll Bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I love this place :) as a neighbor and frequent solo dinner its great for popping in to get a quick bite to eat when im craving sushi. No reservations so its walk in only. If you dont want to wait just come in at off hours and usually you can stroll in Similar to kazunori you just mark the handrolls you want on a sheet and they come out one by one. Eat them quickly because the nori is just excellent and crispy when fresh I always get: - Chopped fatty tuna and negi - always one of my faves and so so good - Salmon - your basic undressed salmon with some sesame seeds - Eel- perfectly sauced and so yummy with the hot rice - Bay scallops - these small scallops are dressed in a mayo-like sauce with tobiko for extra texture - shrimp tempura- my friends non asian husband turned me on to these and I have to admit that its really good and comes with avocado Overall its always a yummy meal but it is pricey. I always spend nearly 100 bucks for 5 rolls and a cup sake but I do love that they include tip so paying is an easy process read more

Saru Handroll Bar - Negitoro! - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sorry the handrolls here are super meh. Only good one was the spicy scallop. For the price you're paying and the quality of the handrolls it's not worth it at all. Arrived here for lunch on a Saturday and it wasn't busy there were only 2 other couples. I got the uni handroll hoping it was gonna be great, but it tasted like it was semi icy and just wasn't what I expected at all. The fatty tuna and yellowtail and scallion was also disappointing too smh. read more

Saru Handroll Bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Somewhat met my hand roll fix. It was good enough. Nothing spectacular. Cute ambiance & set up inside. Bar table seating around the hand rollers. Not sure if they were short staffed that night but the ambiance seemed a little frantic & hectic. They were still friendly & welcoming. FYI for those that don't know, mountain yam is slimy. It's in one of the rolls, interesting combo to me. Uni hand roll was just ok to me & I love uni. Miso soup was good, good amount of seaweed & tofu. My favorite roll was the hamachi with green onion. read more

Came here for a girls night and the rolls were delicious! I got the following: * Fatty Tuna for $14.00 with Caviar (10g) for $22.00 * Spicy Tuna for $10.00 with a Shiso Leaf for $1.00 * Salmon for $10.00 * Spicy Scallop for $14.00 * Bafun Uni (JP) for $27.00 * Hot Tea for $6.00 * Shrimp Tempura for $11.00 read more

Saru Handroll Bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I can't wait to dine here one day!!! The sushi was sooooo fresh and every roll I ate was amazing. the spicy tuna and fatty tuna rolls were my favorite!! agh can't wait to order again. easy to door dash too and pickup! read more

Saru Handroll Bar - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

I wanted to love this. Avocado was almost black and not fresh. Service was ok. So bummed!

This place has become my go-to for handrolls in the city! Simple menu of handrolls, but oh so satisfying when you're craving sushi. It is an easy weeknight stop with good quality fish and different options to mix and match for your taste and level of hunger. You can either choose a set mix or pick your own a la carte which I usually do to accommodate for dietary restrictions. They also have options to dress up your handrolls, and make great suggestions as needed! It's all bar seating with no reservations and can fill up pretty quick, but I've never had to wait too long to get seated when I come with a friend. Great for dates and wouldn't suggest for big groups. Service is pretty quick too, so you won't have to wait long to eat once you're seated! read more

I AM ALWAYS AT HIGH RISK FOR SUSHI!!! The way Saru crafts their handrolls are sooo good, you feel RICH eating it! Their sushi rice is perfectly balanced with vinegar and sweetness and their fish always taste so fresh. My favs are: Yellowtail & Scallion, Salmon, Shrimp Tempura (a must!) and the Roe & Mt. Yam. The seaweed wraps...the seeweed wraps! They are consistently crispy and never soggy. Their miso soup is really good too...comes out piping hot which is noiiice and it's perfectly umami. This location is spacious, neat & tranquil. Friendly staff. You can be BYOB for a corkage fee. Will always be back! :-) read more

Saru Handroll Bar - MENU AS OF APRIL 27TH, 2025 (1 OF 2) - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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What I ordered: -Fatty Tuna & Scallion -Spicy Tuna -Salmon -Yellowtall & Scallion -Red Crab _ I visited Saru Handroll Bar on a Friday night. While I had to wait a bit, it wasn't too long. We were seated at the bar and given papers to fill out our orders. I was really excited to try this place since I hadn't found a good handroll spot in San Francisco yet. The staff were attentive, and the ambiance was pleasant, but the food was just okay. Nothing stood out, and it felt pretty mid-tier to me. I probably won't be back. read more

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I really wanted to give Saru 5 stars after almost a year of waiting to try it, but I'll have to reevaluate during my next visit. We joined the waitlist remotely and had 11 tables ahead of us. Got seated after 30-40 minutes. The food was good, the crab being my favorite. Uni was a close second but I'm definitely biased. Fatty tuna wasn't super special and I would skip the spicy scallop. It was ok. The interior is pretty cute and I like the bar style seating. I felt pretty rushed during this entire experience and we were in and out in less than 25 minutes (not by choice). I could feel the chef eyeing us to see if we were ready for our next rolls but I would take the last bite and be immediately served a new roll. Totally understand seating is limited and there's people waiting but I definitely feel like I didn't have enough time to digest or enjoy the food the way I usually would. I would like to come back on a weekday when it's less busy and I feel less rushed. read more

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I've had Saru on my list of places to go to for a while, and I'm so glad it didn't disappoint. We walked in for a Saturday dinner around 6pm and were seated right away. It's all counter seating here, so everyone has a good view of the food being made right in front of them. Our server gave good recs, and we started with the set of 5 handrolls and 2 glasses of sake. I love that the handrolls are made right in front of you and put on your plate right as they are made. Everything was so fresh and the crispy nori was a highlight of every bite. The fatty tuna and yellowtail were standouts from the set and we ordered a la carte from there. We loved the spicy scallop and shrimp tempura out of the a la carte options. The premium uni handroll was insanely sweet, creamy, and fresh and definitely worth the splurge. This spot is more expensive than regular sushi but I think it's worth it. The ambiance is relaxed and casual yet the food is elevated through the premium ingredients. I'll definitely be back if I'm ever in the area, this was such a good dinner. read more

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Delicious food accompanied by amazing staff and service. Would recommend! Handrolls were very traditional with fresh fish and natural flavors. Nice pacing of food service and ambiance of sushi bar seating was perfect. I was a solo traveler and I appreciated I was treated with great service even for a party of 1. read more

Cozy, intimate spot in polk for delicious hand rolls. You feel a transformation as soon as you walk in from the bustle of Polk to a moody oasis. The restaurant has a center kitchen with bar stools surrounding it (kind of reminded me of what a kitchen looks like on overcooked lol) with lots of hooks for bags and coats! We ordered miso soup with the set of 5 hand rolls and while they look small, they do leave you very full! The fatty tuna roll was definitely my favorite - you can also do various add ons to your rolls. I liked how the menu had a QR code so you can see pictures of the rolls. I know it wouldn't have maybe matched the visual aesthetic but I only wished there was space on the stools to rest my legs and back support. Otherwise, service is very quick and heads up they only do walk ins but there are lots of spots nearby to explore if there's a long wait. read more

Saru Handroll Bar - Miso Soup - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The staff at Saru Handroll Bar are courteous and efficient, offering helpful guidance without being intrusive. The food delivers solid hand rolls with fresh ingredients and good flavor. (I might be partial to sushi :)) read more

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So yummy! I'm glad that I was able to find a handroll bar in SF that serves delicious and fresh handrolls! My boyfriend and I walked into Saru on a Sunday night for dinner, and were seated immediately at the counter. Everything was already set up with a menu and a pen, where you can check off the items that you'd like to order. I opted to order a la carte, whereas my boyfriend decided to order the Set of 4 + 2 handrolls a la carte. For my handrolls, I decided to order the salmon, yellowtail, fatty tuna, and the shrimp tempura, and my favorites were definitely the fatty tuna and the shrimp tempura. The shrimp tempura is already dressed, and offers a crunchy bite, which is like heaven in a bite. So so so yummy, I think I would have to go back just for the shrimp tempura handroll LOL The ambiance of the restaurant is quite nice as well. It's dimly lit, offering an almost-intimate ambiance. Service was quick and friendly, no complaints whatsoever. read more