Great food and service , they even set out a dedicated jain menu for us as we had mentioned earlier read more

Shizen - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Today I visited Shizen SF, came right at 5pm and got lucky to get in with no wait, even without reservation (but honestly you prob should book ahead, this place gets packed fast). Shizen is a 100% vegan sushi spot and Michelin guided. I used to have a very great dining experience at Tane Vegan Izakaya in Palo Alto (another vegan sushi spot), so I just knew this place would hit! And I'm not wrong!!! I'm having a coffee date later so I only ordered two rolls: Candlestick and Boddy & Soul. Candlestick came out with a whole fire presentation, I was surprised and almost forgot to film. The roll had spicy tofu, cucumber, avocado, seaweed pearls, shichimi, and it tasted just like California roll no joke! I was shocked! (I mean it's not 100% alike but definitely around 80-90%) Boddy & Soul is recommended by staff. It's one of the most ordered item and I totally get the hype. The roll has tempura spicy tofu, green onion, sesame, spicy aioli, sweet soy. It's crunchy and the sauce was super flavorful, even better than some regular sushi I've ever had. You have to try it!!!!! Honestly I'd go back again multiple times just for this roll. Overall vibe was nice, service was good, food came pretty quick too. I'm not a vegan but I really enjoyed this place and for sure it converted me into a regular now! read more

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One of the best vegan/Vegetarian restaurants. The food is amazing and one everyone should try. Service is always great and the staff helpful. Minor change I do book this for birthdays and anniversary anything small they can do to make it special would be a bonus. The ambiance is amazing! They do a great job! read more

Came to try out this place with a couple friends! One of my friends has been here a few times and recommends it! We got gyoza and three of the specialty rolls to share! All were very delicious and I love that everything here is vegetarian/vegan. The service was very good as well and I loved the ambiance! The servers came to check up on us often. The restaurant itself does have limited seating, but they also take reservations through Yelp! Overall, definitely a fun and fresh dining experience, and I'd come again to try new dishes!! read more

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Very good vegan sushi! The rolls were super tasty and similar to normal speciality sushi rolls. The proud peacock was similar to a rainbow roll and the variety of toppings were all very refreshing. Boddy and soul resembled a fire cracker roll - this was a group fave. The mushroom platter was also pretty good. I thought the agedashi tofu could use a lighter batter. the nigiris were probably the only items i feel were furthest from actual sushi but were still tasty in their own way. read more

Shizen - secret weapon - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Shizen sushi bar located at San Francisco. They are famous for their vegan food. They have amazing menu with varieties of sushi options available. If you are vegetarian and want to try sushi, i would highly recommend this place to you.They have pretty good ambiance with fast service. read more

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Absolutely love Shinzen food is always delicious & fresh, came for my bday celebration & was treated to a lovely dessert, thank you Boddy & soul my absolute favorite all other rolls spot on. read more

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Made a res but wasn't busy when we arrived. We got seated right away and service was great. We tried some drinks, nigiri, several rolls, and dessert. It's cute inside and sorta unsuspecting from the outside. Nigiri was prob our favorite. The rolls were great and creative. We loved the veggie ones more than any that had tofu. Maybe the texture with the rolls threw us off a bit or something. Drinks were refreshing and dessert was so so. The mochi with red bean wasn't too sweet and had great texture. We didn't love the ice cream texture but flavor was good. It was nice to check out Shizen and a great vegan restaurant. read more

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I've been wanting to try Shizen for a while and was finally able to snag a reservation for a Saturday night, and I'm so glad I did! We arrived and were sat promptly at the reservation time. It's a small spot so you for sure need to secure a reservation to avoid a long wait. I ordered the Karaage, Boddy & Soul and Secret Weapon rolls shared between two people. I also ordered the mango soda which sounded good but was just ok. The Karaage was so good, I just wish it came with more. The boddy & soul was my favorite roll, as it was crispy and flavorful. I would definitely come back to try more rolls! read more

Shizen - Boddy & Soul, Secret Weapon - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

The perfect evening! Reservations through the Yelp app for dinner at 6:15 pm. Free Sunday parking right across the street. Christy the amazing Manager and hostess welcoming us so warmly and seating us 18 minutes before our reservation time. Wonderful, attentive and prompt service from our server Alan( extra ginger - twice, the birthday dessert surprise, great suggestions). Beautiful food - lovely mushrooms, best Miso soup ever, surprise ending with the shot of sake in the middle, Brussels sprouts , a smooth Shizen lemonade and wonderful hot tea. The freshly prepared red bean donuts were to die for. Best seats in the house. Shizen the upscale, recent Michelin star recipient was a unique, fun, delicious and memorable experience. read more

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The food here never misses, however service was lacking at my last visit. We made a reservation and watched ~15 people get seated before us so we weren't seated until 30 minutes after our reservation. The restaurant was busy as always, but once seated we didn't get any menus and couldn't get anyone's attention, and eventually we walked over and grabbed the menus ourselves. Not to mention, it still took a bit after getting someone's attention for them to come over and take our order. I love the food at shizen but our recent experience was disappointing :/ (Boddy and Soul is my favorite roll) read more

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Very cute restaurant with fully vegan menu! I love trying out vegan sushi places and this one is incredible. Service was prompt and our waitress was very kind. Would definitely come back read more

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A very sought after vegetarian restaurant in SF where you shouldn't go without a booking. Reach on time with a booking else you would have to stand outside in line. Food does live up to the hype. My suggestion is to try new food that you may not commonly see/ have. It is on the pricier side (with alcohol added), so definitely a place for a special event. Spicy Miso Ramen and vegetable tempura were pretty usual, but the veg ceviche, secret weapon special rolls, and the cocktails were new, refreshing, interesting. Service is good, and staff is friendly. Tables are very close together so it's hard to find a place to keep your stuff - esp jackets and backpacks. read more

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Vegan sushi is so incredibly fun to try as they are inventive and using ingredients in ways that make the texture and taste stand out. We enjoyed it! Service was great! Unfortunately it was difficult to remember what we got. read more

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Used to my yearly anniversary spot but sadly the food and service both are compromised. As usual we ordered everything from specials/last page Service is so slow and pathetic. I feel the changes after the star. This place needs to manage reservations or find better way. read more

Shizen - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Was really surprised by how good the vegan apps and sushi were here! As someone who loves raw fish, I was skeptical of the idea of vegan sushi but came here with a vegetarian friend wanting to try the specialty rolls. We started with the Bean Curd Katsu and then shared the Open Invitation and Colonel's Pipe rolls which was the perfect amount of food for 2 people. Loved the Bean Curd Katsu which had a great texture and really crispy, crunchy crust! The rolls were delicious and full of flavor. The shredded tofu in the Open Invitation roll reminded me of the imitation crab in a California roll and the lotus chips added a great crunch. Colonel's Pipe was great as well - loved the creamy tofu and smoked beet combo! Overall such a yummy spot that everyone would enjoy regardless of if you're vegan or not! And the space is gorgeous as well with natural wood all around. The perfect spot to take visitors from out of town or a date night to try something new! read more

Shizen - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We had a good experience at Shizen on a Sunday night. We managed to get a last-minute reservation and were impressed with the food and ambiance, though the service was just okay. We could not find street parking, so we opted for the paid parking lot next to the restaurant which was 20$. Coming to the dishes we tried: Boddy and Soul: 5/5, this was best amongst the dishes we tried with great flavors. Open invitation: 5/5, looks great and tastes equally good. Sweet potato roll: 4/5, this classic roll was good but felt the specialty rolls were better. Mushrooms and Gyoza: 3/5 both were underwhelming and a bit bland. read more

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I'm a vegetarian (gasp!), so I've been to plenty of sushi restaurants where I'm relegated to the vegetable tempura* or a boring cucumber avocado roll. So, whenever I find a restaurant that specializes in vegan/vegetarian sushi, I jump at the chance! But, Shizen was a big disappointment. I started with the Secret Sake cocktail, which was tepid and flavorless, and I paired that with the Shizen Shitake. For an eponymous appetizer, it sure was bland and mushy. 0 for 2. For the main, I had one of their rolls, the Secret Weapon. It was (spoiler alert) also bland and mushy. To make it worse, the rice tasted old. Sushi rice, especially at this price point, should be plump and tangy. This was mealy and dull. It's places like this that give vegetarian food a bad wrap. For a 4.5 star average Yelp review, I expected better. *By the way, did you know that the typical veggie tempura dipping sauce is decidedly NOT vegetarian. Instead, try squeezing on some lemon with a sprinkle of salt. It tastes better and doesn't have that sneaky fish stock! read more

Was super excited to try this place after hearing about it from my other vegetarian friends! I got three special rolls - Boddy and Soul, Secret Weapon, and Surprise Ending. Boddy and Soul and Secret Weapon are tied for my favorite! Secret Weapon is great as a more "normal" roll, served cold and with veggies/tofu to replace the meat. This had a nice spice to it. Boddy & Soul is a tempura roll, served warm and crispy, and I loved the flavors from the tempura. This was also a bit spicy, but not too bad. Lastly, we had the Secret Weapon which is a roulette style roll where one of the six pieces is very (and I mean very!!) spicy. It's also served with a shot of sake for the person who eats the spicy roll. My friend and I had a lot of fun making a game out of it! The restaurant itself has a nice ambiance and you can tell that it's more of an upscale place. My server was very friendly and helped us decide what rolls to get. I would definitely come back if in the area again! read more

Shizen - Surprise Ending - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I have to be honest, the idea of a vegan sushi place did not jump out at me as a great one. This place was chosen by some vegetarian friends and I approached it with an open mind but a fair bit of trepidation. Man was I wrong. We tried a bunch if different dishes and each one was balanced, incredibly flavorful, unique, and downright delicious. Seriously, not a single miss on a table full of vegan sushi. I'm as shocked as you are but am very glad I went. Would be more than happy to come back and it'll be an easy recommendation for my meat-averse and meat-loving friends. read more

The sushi here is beyond excellent. I'm not vegan but my girl is vegetarian and she put me on. Very delicious rolls, you won't miss the fish! The ramen was just okay. The Katsu on top was delicious, but I felt there was too much noodle. Service was also great, friendly & accommodating. Beautiful decor as well. It's very cozy inside. If you visit, try the candlestick roll! It's our favorite! read more

Shizen - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This review is strictly from the perspective of a non vegetarian who enjoys sushi. I've always thought why would I ever resort to vegan sushi when I can have the real deal? However with my vegetarian company I decided to be flexible and try this place out. The rolls are insanely creative. I can see how creating a vegan/vegetarian sushi is HARD WORK you can't have the fish do all the work for you. While everything I put in my mouth was delicious, I can't see myself opting for vegan sushi unless I have to. Especially when the prices are about the same. Definitely a hit for those who can't do sushi and would like to see what the hype is about. read more

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Shizen was one of my favorite and unique dining experiences in San Francisco. It is a fully vegan sushi restaurant with apps in addition to the sushi roll options. I loved the signature rolls, it was hard to pick a favorite but the Boddy And Soul is a must try. You can tell that the chefs put a lot of thought and creativity into the rolls, and making sure the flavors worked together. I would highly recommend Shizen, and it would be a great place to take someone who's visiting SF! read more

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Not a vegan, but this place satisfied my sushi cravings AND was a great experience! A non-vegan friend recommended this place for great sushi. Reservations were still available two days out, so I was able to grab a table for Wednesday at 6:30 p.m. What we got: - Brussels Sprouts ~ very crispy and served on a sizzling plate. Very saucy on top. Can get oily towards the bottom. - Candlestick ~ perfect to start with. Essentially a spicy California roll with avocado and "tobiko". Literal fire! - Boddy and Soul ~ Base roll is tempura-ed. Spicy and paired well with the sauce. Highly recommend, especially when paired with a drink! - Surprise ending ~ a great experience in dining! Visually stunning. Served with a shot of sake or a non-alcoholic shot. Highly recommend for the table! All in all, this place was a great experience. With a clean and natural aesthetic, the small cozy place accommodated ~12 tables. Bar seating is available near the door. Highly recommend bringing a non-vegan to Shizen without their knowledge of this place being a vegan sushi spot, and seeing their reactions to non-traditional sushi. read more

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Like with most folks, getting a reservation took a while, but I finally made it and had a great time! Its a small place but that gives it a more intimate feel. The service itself was great with good recommendations and they never made us feel rushed even though it was a Friday evening. There were three of us so for starters we split the garlic edemame, the agadashi tofu and the tempura vegetables. The tempura batter was great, super crispy and it was nice to have a few interesting things like pumpkin. The agadashi tofu also came with a delicious sauce. For rolls, we also ordered a bunch but the real stars were the colonel's pipe and the secret weapon. The first was a real winner because of those beets. Secret weapon tells you it has a kick, and it does, but its worth it. Can't wait to stop by again! read more

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Have been wanting to visit this place since a while now. As i was in SF, i took a chance. This place has a great bar area, delicious cocktails and beers. Also the staff is welcoming but the place usually is busy & is open evening hours and not entire day. I ordered sushi, edamame and a cocktail and the drinks were strong, food was delicious, and ambience was really amazing as it was facing the street. read more

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Cute date night spot! Soo many great vegan choices in one spot. They had a great selection of sushi rolls (loved second act and hidden agenda). Would recommend a reservation. read more

Been here a couple times and it's a great spot! Food is great and comes out fast! Only thing I wish they did was maybe space out in bringing each item out. The tables are pretty small and it's almost like playing Tetris in fitting the plates onto the table. Becomes overwhelming. We ordered drinks, and wish we had gotten them first but they only came out after we finished our appetizer and were onto eating our rolls. read more

Shizen - Hidden Agenda and Open Invitation - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food was very average. Definitely prefer Tane Vegan more. Both in terms of quality, taste and freshness. Good ambience. Decent service. read more

Shizen - Secret weapon - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here with a friend and we had a feast! Started with Nameko mushroom miso soup- rich and delicious, not too salty. Perfect. We went on to try the many things. My favorites were the shizen shitake and proud peacock roll. read more

Shizen - Yakisoba, Shizen Shitake, and Mushrooms Yakimono - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I am so glad to see people do well. We had been regulars at a Japantown restaurant before the pandemic. A waiter there was getting started as a cook. He mentioned to us this place, Shizen, where he had an opportunity in the kitchen. Years later, we finally went. The local newspaper has put it on their top 100. It was my wife's birthday. So it was an occasion. Our waiter has been there since the place opened. Everyone around us seemed to be having a good time. Service was brisk. I would have liked to linger. We plan to return. We'll embrace slowness next time. We had a roll. It was excellent. These items are not vegetables masquerading as something else. They are presented in a straightforward manner. I eat so much raw fish I need to watch my mercury levels. I've had vegan sushi elsewhere, the type that is done as if it were piscine protein. I prefer this preparation. They have so many rolls to try. We also had agedashi tofu. That is available at non-vegan establishments. Theirs was excellent. We had the leftovers the next day. The dumplings and the yakisoba were fine. They were not the highlights. The dessert can be recommended. I believe that might change; not sure. Two final notes. First, as to the neighborhood. We took an Uber to/from. It was priced such as that, minus tip, it was only about as much as the nearby parking lot. Second, that much roughage was more than I am used to. I need to eat more vegetables, that is for sure. The effect was positive. It just made me realize I should adjust my diet. read more

Food still great, service has gone downhill. I first tried Shizen two years ago and became a fan. I've since visited all of the other sister locations (Tane Vegan Sushi), including the one in Hawaii. Food is great! But like some other Yelpers have mentioned, service has become bad. My last visit to Shizen disappointingly included brusque service with some servers (hostesses) being rude when responding to questions. I noticed the Berkeley (Tane) location was the same way with service. read more

Favorite vegetarian-friendly sushi in the city. Delicious and unique flavors in each roll that I haven't found anywhere else. Service is always great and the restaurant is usually very lively. Can sometimes be hard to get a reservations on weekends but it's worth it. The surprise ending is a fun roll to get at the end if you want to get a spicy kick, but I like the other rolls more personally. read more

Vegan sushi that tastes near close to the real thing! Favorites of the meal include the karaage and the boddy and soul roll. The boddy and soul roll has this filling that tastes really similar to a spicy tuna. Mango nigiri was okay. And maybe we would pass on the ceviche next time. It was definitely really crowded, and even though it was Wednesday night, I assume it's the same every night. We were sat by the bar window, and it was very cramped. It was tough putting all of our plates on the table without being a bit too close to the other party next to us. I think the lighting, interior, and tableware could be elevated, especially since this place is so hyped up and was a previous Michelin star holder. read more

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Love it here. Food is 10/10, service 10/10, ambiance 10/10. this place should really have 2 Michelin stars with how well everything is. We come here every 8 weeks and even had our wedding rehearsal dinner here in late Sept! read more

The inside of the restaurant is warm, inviting, and instantly sets the tone. It's cozy but still feels elevated, and the atmosphere alone makes the experience memorable. Service was smooth from start to finish. We ordered as soon as we sat down, and the sushi came out fast, maybe ten minutes at most? Everything was perfectly paced, organized, and thoughtful. Food wise, Shizen continues to prove why it's one of the best vegan restaurants in San Francisco. Fresh, creative, and beautifully prepared. It's the kind of place you look forward to coming back to. Warm atmosphere, quick service, and standout sushi every time. read more

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So after dining at Shio we were still hungry and luckily Shizen was nearby and even though we did not have a reses we were fortunate to have 2 seat open immediately on a Friday night. Avocado Nigiri- wanted to see what beet aioli was like but it didn't have much flavor however the avocado on its own was fresh and silky. California Roll- don't know how they made shredded tofu taste like imitation crab, but they figured it out! Could rival any "original" Cali Roll. Hidden Agenda Roll- for a non rice roll it was unique in that the tempura eggplant was the vessel that held all the other veggie elements together and I felt an actual "taste" of fish after finishing each bite. Boddy & Soul Roll- Hands down the best dish of the set as the blend of heat and sweet with a little crunch made the evening! Service was friendly and efficient and being a little skeptical about an all veggie sushi place I was pleasantly surprised and definitely worth a return visit into SF just to dine here again. read more

Shizen - Hidden Agenda roll & Cali Roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Just another absolutely fabulous meal!! This is our go to place when visiting SF and we had a wonderful birthday celebration this visit. Service is always wonderful and food just beyond. read more

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Body and soul roll is mouthwatering. I love love eating here. My partner took us here for our anniversary. The staff overheard and brought us a dessert on the house. The staff made our day feel extra special. The food here is incredible! The ambiance is great for anniversaries or celebrations! I can't wait to be back for more goodness. read more

We made a reservation well in advance and got seated fairly soon after arrival. A busy place but such an aesthetic and beautiful spot to have dinner! Shisito peppers - 10/10, well blistered with just the right amount of bite and we even got blessed with some spicy ones! Ceviche - the best dish!!! Great tomato-y flavor and there were pieces that really tasted like squid/octopus! Gyoza - it's got that gummy/chewy texture that meat normally has. Boddy & Soul - this tasted just like a tempura roll, they've got the right breading and you wouldn't really guess that this wasn't regular fish sushi! Missing piece - this looks so much like sushi! They've done a fantastic job on the presentation and it tastes very fresh and light too Also had the shizen margarita- not super strong with a nice Asian twist of flavor! Overall a good eat and a good time! I do actually like vegetarian sushi and would come back to have it again. read more

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