*3.5 stars My boyfriend and I were in SF for our anniversary and chose Shizen as our anniversary dinner. I'm vegan, he's not, but regularly eats vegan with me! The good: -the sushi, duh! This place is known for their sushi rolls and I also enjoyed their tomato nigiri! -cool interior -bf's mango mojito drink! The not-so-good: -everything besides the sushi! I would recommend steering clear of the appetizers. We both got miso soup that was completely flavorless. We both added soy sauce to it just so it had some flavor. The brussel sprouts were ridiculously under seasoned. Even the sauce they put on top couldn't save it. The bean curd katsu was okay, but nothing special and lacking in flavor. -the service. very weird vibes in there from the staff. Our waiter was off-putting and not professional. It took about 15 minutes for our order to get taken and our drinks didn't arrive until almost 40 minutes into our reservation after several of our appetizers had arrived. Glad I tried Shizen but I definitely wouldn't go back if I was back in SF. Tables are super cramped together and the place is very loud, so keep that in mind! I've had much, much better vegan sushi. read more

Shizen - Tomato nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This is an amazing vegan sushi spot and I feel like it will be a part of my staple restaurants when I visit SF. It was pretty crowded and I would recommend coming here with a reservation but even if you don't they seem to be pretty accommodating of walk-ins. The food comes out lightning fast- within putting in an order, it will maybe take 5 minutes for your order to come out? I love tofu and veggies and I am amazed how they can change the flavor profile to mimic sushi but there doesn't really need to be a comparison to "real" sushi because their specialty rolls stand out on their own. I got the open invitation as well as the missing piece and both rolls were great. I wish that I could have tried more rolls and the nigiri as well. The rolls are interesting through their texture and the flavors and the waitress was very nice and enthusiastic. I also tried their mochi doughnut dessert with strawberry ice cream and even though I don't like red bean, it was still a pretty good dessert. My favorite part about this place was that even though I felt full, I still felt like the food was pretty clean and healthy. read more

Shizen - Mochi doughnut - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Went to Shizen last night and honestly, it lives up to the hype. The vegan sushi is not just "good for vegan" , it's just really good sushi. The textures and flavor combos are creative without trying too hard. We tried so many rolls and all were standouts. The rice was perfectly seasoned, the sauces layered, and it never felt heavy. The space itself feels warm and buzzy, but not chaotic (you can still actually talk at your table) Service was easygoing and kind, even though the place was packed. It's one of those spots where you forget you're eating vegan until halfway through the meal, and then it makes you rethink what sushi can be. Definitely coming back to work through more of the menu! read more

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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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Its always nice! I love "Boddy and Soul" and "Candlestick". People who work always provide good suggestions based on taste.

Loved the food and the service. Will go back. It is expensive but worth it. Thr ambiance was good too. Not very loud

Very creative sushi options. I took my sister here for her bday since she is vegetarian. Made a reservation for 4:30pm on a Sunday. We enjoyed the rolls and particularly enjoyed the vegan karaage. We also got a lychee cocktail which was rlly sweet. The only thing would be the items feel slightly overpriced - great to try once! read more

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Fantastic sushi, even without the actual fish it's amazing. I had to make sure to get a reservation as soon as I could but 100% worth. Everytime my family flies out to vist me, this place is on their list. read more

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I love that there's a sushi place that celebrates flavors with vegan ingredients. Everything we got was so flavorful and packed with surprising tastes! We loved every single thing we got! The ambiance is very chill, light and airy. It is quite small so definitely make reservations if you want to come here!! They have so many options and they all sound so good that it was hard to choose which ones to get! Just means I need to go back to try the rest! I can't wait to go back and try the other sushi! read more

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Great Vegan sushi! Expensive but worth it! Ambience 10/10. Service was good too. There's always a line and wait time, good to reserve in prior. But the wait is worth it! Tried multiple items here! read more

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Amazing food and service! We didn't have very high expectations from vegan sushi but this place definitely blew our mind. The sushis are so unique and perfect. The service is very quick. It is quite hard to find a table though but we were lucky to walk-in and find seats at the bar. read more

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Listen, I know vegan sushi sounds like an oxymoron but hear me out... you don't miss the fish! Crazy right? Ahí en does such a good job of bringing in multiple textures and flavors. Worth the visit for a cute vibe. (They will ask you to get up if you sit for too long though. We were catching up before a show and talking a bit long.) read more

Who would have thought that vegan sushi would be a thing?!?! Well, I'm not vegan but this place is definitely delicious. From the customer service at the door, the waitresses, the Itamae, this place is definitely worth a splurge! We started with the Brussel sprouts, gyoza and the bean curd katsu which was amazing. We then ordered several rolls from the open invitation, the Philadelphia to boddy & soul. I guarantee you will want to try every roll on the menu but feel free to ask your waitress as they were very helpful when we were making decisions. When you arrive, don't forget to take a picture of the decor and table setting as this place definitely pays attention to detail. If you try out this place, don't be afraid to invite me but also try a little bit of everything as you WILL BE BACK. read more

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In my book Shizen is a solid 3 star restaurant. It has good vibes, it's not overly loud where you can't hold a conversation, our server was very friendly and bubbly, and the food was okay. There wasn't a single dish where I was blown away, so I likely won't be returning for the food. What was off putting though was the host--Asian guy with a RBF. My partner told me he wasn't greeted after standing there a while. Then was asked very curtly whether he had a reservation, and was later waved over to his table. As we were leaving and I was heading for the restroom, I got similar vibes from that guy. No smile, no thank you for coming, and it just seemed like he was generally irked that we were there. read more

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Finding vegetarian/vegan sushi that is more than just bland veggies and rice is really hard. But somehow, Shizen has gotten it right with every single one of their dishes. Boddy and soul/Hidden agenda: my favorite rolls in terms of flavors! Amazing ingredient combinations. Candlestick: This one comes out on fire (literally), and tastes great too. Surprise ending: This is such a fun idea, to be eaten as a game of roulette with one of the rolls filled with a spicy sauce (and a shot of sake or milk for whoever picks that roll). I'd recommend making a reservation beforehand as the restaurant is generally pretty busy. The restaurant is simply decorated with wooden tables and chairs. The food did take a while to arrive, but we saw it as an opportunity to digest and try more rolls. My non-vegetarian, (fish) sushi loving partner was a huge fan, which says a lot! I'll definitely be back. read more

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Amazing food as always! The sushi is so good I only think of this restaurant when I want some.

Fresh ingredients, novel inventions. Shizen is a vegan sushi restaurant situated in the mission district. They're quite popular and only allow reservations of max up to 4 people. We got several dishes. The ingredients are fresh. My favorite is the surprise ending. The beets are juicy and tasty (There's an added surprise to the dish which made the dish fun). Overall, the food was a bit under flavor for my liking. The price doesn't justify for the quality of the dishes. There wasn't much service. The place was quite busy and it felt like they were rushing for us to pay the bill by clearing our dishes super fast and handing the bill immediately afterward. read more

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the food was beautiful and creatively made! i was able to park at the lot, right next to the restaurant. parking fee was NOT at all cheap but i didn't mind - close and safe! service was ok! i mentioned twice that it was my daughter's birthday but nothing...although the hostess said she'd bring a candle by...nothing. for the price of food, a little more attention could have been given. read more

Everything on the menu was delicious, it was one of my first vegan restaurants in the city, and really a great unique spot. The price are similar to sushi with raw fish, but it makes sense given the uniqueness of each plate. It's a really small place so I'd recommend making a reservation ahead of time. A lot of their dishes are a little bit, but still not too salty which I appreciated. in one of the dishes, they're supposed to be one sushi piece that is spicy with a shot of sake in the middle of the bowl but for some reason, none of us felt like we got the spicy one so they're spice level here is pretty mild IMO. I'd still prefer raw fish in sushi, but a great spot for anytime I want to eat sushi with a vegan friend. read more

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Loved the speciality rolls! 10/10. Ramen was good, but i have had better at other places 7/10 read more

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This place is so special. Food is amazing, super fun presentation and concept. One our favorite places on mission district! Hard to get in unless you have reservation. Great team! read more

TLDR : Wonderful ambiance, good vegetarian food, quick service - but wait times to get a table can be long. Been visiting Shizen with friends who love Sushi and want to try vegetarian options. Shizen provides an wonderful experience while accommodating dietary preferences which is amazing. They have a great selection of Sake and the cocktails are good as well. Highly recommended. read more

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A great spot to try with a group of friends! The specialty rolls are always the highlight. The Boddy and Soul is a must-try, though we've also loved the Open Invitation and Foxy Scarlet. Interior is elegant and well-designed. Reservations fill up very quickly, so plan ahead! read more

Shizen...how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...one, two, three, four...you get the idea! Everything is so good! The food, the service, the atmosphere! Can't wait to come back! 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

Yes yes yes! Love the creativity at shizen, I would recommend this spot to everyone and not just vegetarians and vegans. I really love the pumpkin roll that we got and the concept of surprise ending could be a fun roll to enjoy with your friends. Basically there's one piece of sushi that is extremely spicy and of course I got it and it was the first piece lol read more

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Incredibly unique restaurant with delicious vegan sushi! Ambiance & Service: The interior is modern, clean, and trendy. However, the service was a bit disappointing. I understand they are super busy, but we felt overly rushed and the servers weren't very attentive. Food: - Miso Soup: Very light and tasty, but I wished for more tofu--I only got two tiny pieces. - Boddy and Soul Roll: Absolutely delicious! Loved the spicy tofu and aioli paired with the fresh saffron. - Candlestick Roll: Also a winner! It's like a vegan California roll. Would order again! - Yuzu Cheesecake: Super soft, creamy, and not too sweet! Loved the balance between the yuzu and fresh blueberry compote. TL;DR: The food is fantastic, but we felt a bit rushed, and the servers could be more attentive. Definitely order the Boddy and Soul and Candlestick rolls! read more

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Incredible Food, love the speciality rolls as well as the starters and dessert! Would definitely keep coming back read more

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My favorite vegan sushi spot! The mind, body and soul is our favorite roll. I would highly recommend. Great atmosphere although it's not too spacious. Highly attentive staff and food comes out quick. They don't do walk ins often so make sure to make a reservation! read more

Shizen - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Don't be turned off by the idea of vegan sushi - this place is incredible! Honestly one of my favorite sushi spots in the city and I'm not vegan. Absolutely everything I have ordered has been delicious. My favorites include: the surprise ending, which is pictured here, eggplant nigiri (also pictured), and the gyoza. I have yet to try the ramen but it is next on my list and I'll update this review when I have! Service is always great, very attentive without being over the top. As an FYI, you do need a reservation, even on a week day. I've been lucky enough to score same day rezzies but normally have to plan a week+ in advance. read more

Shizen - Eggplant Nigiri, asparagus Nigiri - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Very nice vegetarian sushis. Service was good too. My Kids love this place. Need to open more such restaurants in San Jose too. read more

One of the best vegan/veg sushi's in the bay that I have tried! I came here for a birthday dinner and was able to get seated even though it was veryyyy crowded. The staff was really helpful in accomodating us but it's a very small place with limited seating. Loved all the rolls esp "body and soul"and the tempura was great Very cute place with nice ambiance for a date read more

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This vegan sushi restaurant is so delicious. We ordered five rolls, and each one tasted so different. The ingredients are not too overpowering, and my favorite roll was the one where one piece has wasabi and everyone has to try it not knowing who will get the wasabi piece. The waiter even substituted our sake with soy milk instead. Each roll has its one flavor set, which I appreciated since I'm tired of the avocado cucumber rolls everywhere else. The ambiance is very chic and clean with the wooden panel roofing and wooden plates. It feels very earthy and mindful. This place is always packed, and also difficult to get reservations. I just wish there was a way to make reservations for more than four people at a time. read more

Shizen - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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everything was amazing, don't let the absence of fish deter you. waiter was very friendly and warm. the boddy and soul roll somehow tastes like toasted marshmallow. read more

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BEST VEGAN SUSHI and we've been around to try many places and SHIZEN is definitely #1. Vibes, service and food are amazing.

Was a little hesitant coming here initially since I haven't had the best experiences at vegan restaurants, but wow I was so impressed by Shizen. Located on a quieter street in the mission, the entrance is subtle and unassuming, but you walk into a long rectangular dining room with dim lighting and wooden arches on the rooftop. very intimate setting mainly for smaller groups or parties of 2. there's a large selection of sushi rolls on their menu and I loved the unique plant-based options they offered. My friend and I ordered 2 small plates and 2 rolls: Gyoza: well fried with a crispy bottom. There was celery in the filling so that most prominent flavor. Very simple but flavorful appetizer Agedashi tofu: Very large pieces, and I liked how the tofu was firmer with a thin layer of crispiness on the outsider. The shoyu seeped into the tofu nicely and the scallions were a refreshing final touch Proud peacock: Loved how light and refreshing this roll was! Each bite was packed with flavor, the seaweed pearls provided a different texture to the otherwise very smooth vegan fish Boddy and soul: slightly spicy, which gave a nice kick to the rolls. the tofu was fried so it was very flaky and crunchy, and there was a really good combination of spicy and sweet. Super fast service and our waitress was really nice. The food was incredible and I honestly didn't realize I was eating vegan sushi at all. Highly recommend getting a reservation since they have limited seating and popular. Definitely on the pricier end but well worth it if you're looking for a lowkey, classy well rounded dining experience! read more

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This is my go-to spot for sushi that never disappoints. Every visit leaves me feeling perfectly satisfied. I've made my way through most of their specialty rolls, and each one is a masterpiece--beautifully balanced and expertly crafted. The atmosphere is wonderfully welcoming, and the sushi chefs are a true pleasure to talk with. They're clearly passionate about their work. A meal here is the perfect excuse for a day out, and I love that it's just a short trip from the ocean for a post-meal walk. Don't be afraid to explore the menu; you really can't go wrong! 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

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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This was a great vegetarian sushi experience. The portions were good and decently priced. Be sure to make reservations as this place fills up quick. We went with the chef's suggestions. I really enjoyed the prime suspect. The karaage could use more flavor. Service was quick and the ambiance was cozy. Overall a pleasant experience. read more

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