YAY new soba spot in SF! We spontaneously went on a Sunday around 5:45pm and got seated really quickly :) I'm not experienced with soba, so I'm not sure what makes a good vs great soba, but everything we got was very yummy imo! I liked the flavor of the dipping broth for the kamo zaru better (it had duck), but I liked how the ten zaru dipping broth was cold. The tempura that came with the ten zaru was very crispy and yummy. I really like how their assortment was very unique. For example, it came with scallop, tamago, and brussel sprouts. The duck meat that came with the kamo zaru was SO TENDER and flavorful. The agedashi tofu was solid, but nothing special that special. Portion size was good! Lots of noodles, but as usual, soba places don't have much protein options. Servers were very nice, and place was very cute and clean :) Great experience overall. read more

See all

I read about this place and found the reviews for it quite good. During a quick trip to Japantown I decided to give it a try for lunch. The space is contemporary and very appealing, light and airy for a small restaurant. It's very clean and comfortable. We were greeted right away upon entering and they beat a drum to announce new patrons entering. A nice touch that adds a bit of charm to the experience. Given menus we weren't rushed or pressured to make our selections. The menu gives you plenty of tidbits, including a full page on how to eat soba noodles. Slurping is OK! We ordered drinks first and I got an iced green tea... it was quite refreshing and tasty. For our order we got a plate of soba noodles and an order of the nine piece teriyaki to share. Both came in good time and the soba is cold. There's a bowl of warm broth to dunk it in, with slices of meat and other accoutrement. I suggest soaking the noodles in the broth as it's far more flavorful. The noodles are excellent, but not the easiest thing for a confirmed Westerner to eat, so go ahead and slurp! The Teriyaki was excellent, well breaded pieces of vegetables and fish plus the largest prawn I have ever seen anywhere. It all was very satisfying. It comes with small bowls of soy sauce and other dipping things including macha salt. Overall a very nice experience. Service is good, attentive and professional. I do recommend trying it out if you're in the area. read more

See all

We arrived for lunch on Sunday and waited about 10 minutes before being seated. Service was pretty quick and we got our food promptly. The place is great for small to midsize groups or solo dining. Not too loud but definitely some noise. Very clean. This was my first try with soba so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. It was a hot day so I thought soba would be a good idea. My favorite part was definitely the dipping sauce. It had a lot of depth and flavor and balanced with the noodles well. Portion-size was good and was quite filling. I'm docking off a star mainly due to the price. This dish was $21 before tax and tip and was kind of a mild experience. The menu also mentioned a 5% surcharge if I recall correctly. I'm not from SF so maybe these prices are standard for the dish. Overall, I think it's a great experience and I would come back if a friend wanted to try soba. But I do feel like I'm paying more for the experience rather than the food. read more

Sora Dining Soba - Goma Zaru (COLD) - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

This was my first time at SORA SF in Japantown, and also my first time trying soba noodles! A friend suggested we check this place out since we were in the area. When we arrived, our waiter greeted us and let us know there would be about a 15-minute wait, which was no problem. Once it was our turn, they walked us to our table, but before sitting down, the server hit the taiko drum. Such a cool little touch and a fun way to welcome guests! Once we sat down, we looked over the menu, and I liked how simple and easy it was to follow. They had appetizers, entrées, and drinks, and the menu even explained how to properly enjoy cold soba noodles, which was helpful since this was my first time. Once our food arrived, I was honestly impressed. The soba was delicious and definitely a different experience from the noodles I'm used to. Every bite was flavorful, refreshing, and satisfying. The duck was served cold, which caught me off guard at first, but after trying it, I didn't mind it at all. Overall, everything about the experience was unique, delicious, and fascinating. From the taiko welcome to trying soba for the first time, I really enjoyed my visit and would definitely come back again! read more

See all

Hostess was approachable and took us to an available table quickly. Party of three was easy to accommodate. Menus and drinks were provided promptly. Ordering was easy and food was prepared quickly. Cold Ten Zaru Soba was delicious and came with dipping sauce and matcha. We also order the Agadashi tofu, karaage and potato chips. Highly recommend all. The hot Egg Soba was delicious. Ambiance is very clean. read more

See all

Virtually no wait for a late lunch on Sunday around 3:00pm, the service was fast and friendly. We ordered the Tori-Kara-Oroshi to start, similar to chicken karaage, though the batter wasn't as crispy (almost having a thin mochi like texture) the chicken was still juicy and paired nicely with their light dipping broth sauce. I ordered the Kamo Zara which was especially nice after walking around Japan town under the sun. The warm duck dipping sauce and tender aigamo (duck) were the highlight of the meal for me being very fragrant and tasty. My only complaint was my soba wasn't as firm/ springy as I'd like as they kinda clumped together. read more

Sora Dining Soba - Kamo Zaru (COLD) - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

What do you eat at a soba restaurant when you're allergic to soba? I can't eat buckwheat because my throat starts to feel constricted, and things go south...if you know what I mean. You would think I'd avoid this place like the plague, but I give the owners credit for presenting an allergy notice warning. I guess I'm not alone. However, I took a closer look at their sandwich board menu (Photo 6) and noticed they made side dishes that sounded appetizing. Since I was a solo diner, I was seated at the counter, which was fine since it wasn't busy. I decided to go for two items on the appetizer menu. The first was the $18 Seared Aigamo. Aigamo is a special breed of duck that acts as a sustaining biological engine for rice farming in Japan. Lightly smoked and broiled, the unusually tender duck was thinly sliced and served with a mustard sauce, green onions, blistered peppers, and shredded daikon (Photo 10). The other dish was simply the $9 3-Piece Kushi-Tempura Set. It was an ample serving consisting of a large shrimp, a squid leg, and a summer squash cut in half. It came with matcha, horseradish, and a light dipping sauce (Photo 9). The entire meal was the right size for me, and frankly I can get other noodles elsewhere like next door at Hinodeya. This spot is quite open and airy compared with the rest of Buchanan.St. You must tell me how the soba is. FOOD - 4 stars...didn't touch the soba but the duck and tempura were tasty AMBIANCE - 4 stars... spacious and airy in here SERVICE - 4 stars...pretty polite and unobtrusive TOTAL - 4 stars...life can be more than soba RELATED - Exploring Japantown? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/RjgRaXDD0A read more

See all

Good food but pricey for starch and noodles. Service is good. Everything is very OK. Good clean food. good portion. Good service. Nice comfy environment, but nothing to memorable. I just recall the $100 price for 3 bowls of noodles. lol read more

See all

Excellent. After our spa date, we decided to grab some soba noodles to recuperate. We ordered the nine-piece tempura set to share. The most varied tempura I have ever had as they had lightly battered seafood as well. In addition to the traditional tempura dipping sauce, they also had grated radish and matcha salt to dip into. Definitely would get again. For the entree, I had the cold duck soba noodles. The dipping sauce had green onions and a citrusy sweet umami taste to it. I enjoyed it so much that after finishing the soba, I drank the sauce on its own not realizing that staff would come back around to pour the soba yu - the hot water used to boil the soba noodles - into the dipping sauce to make a hot soup broth to drink. Oops. Note to self: read ALL instructions on how to eat soba prior. Lesson learned. read more

See all

Date of Visit: 6/29/2026 One of my favorite Japanese dinner choices is the soba! The Sora Soba Dining located in Japantown is a great place to have soba. This is a casual sit down restaurant specializing in buckwheat noodle. There are four popular selections of buckwheat noodle, including the traditional Zaru, mixing with sesame sauce Goma Zaru, mixing with duck and green onion Kamo Zaru, and mixing with tempura and special sauce, the Ten Zaru. Kushi Tempura 6 piece set $17 If you are not getting the Ten Zaru, then highly recommend to get the kushi tempura! There are 3, 6, or 9 pieces options. Each piece of tempura is carefully prepared in a mix of soybean oil, rich lard, and sesame oil, and chef selection is balancing in meat, seafood and vegetables. Zaru $19 Made with 100% Japanese buckwheat flour. On the side there were a bowl of crispy tempura skin and wasabi. The traditional soba sauce paired great with the cold soba noodle. Kamo Zaru $24 Husband got the soba noodle served in a bamboo steamer with warm dipping sauce rich in duck flavor and green onions. On the side there were also pieces of duck breast to enjoy with the soba noodle! read more

See all

Sora Dining Soba has been on my list to try for a while now, and I'm so glad I finally got around to it! Was looking for a late lunch option (~2:30pm) so I figured this would be a good option since I've heard the line can get quite long during peak hours. We were seated right away and there were about 3-4 other tables filled even during non peak-hours - no line though. Service was efficient and polite! Once I entered, I noticed the clean, aesthetic decor and traditional music which brought flashbacks to Japan. Nothing will compare to Japan of course, but this experience as a whole definitely satisfied my cravings. Items ordered: - Zaru - delicious sweet/savory dipping sauce for a refreshing simple yet satisfying meal. Comes with a side of green onions, wasabi, and tempura bits to add to the dipping broth. Noodles had the perfect consistency. - Goma Zaru - sesame dipping sauce was so rich and flavorful, love the addition of the sesame seeds to grind yourself as well as the standard green onions and wasabi. Also came with soba-yu at the end which was a nice addition! Overall, really enjoyed my experience and the food was super flavorful. Would definitely come back to try more of their menu like the duck or tempura options! read more

Sora Dining Soba - zaru (bottom), goma zaru (top) - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

We came here because my brother recommended it and loves the soba noodles. When we arrived, we were the only people waiting in line and were seated quickly. Unfortunately, service was quite slow after that, though it did give us plenty of time to study the menu. As a vegetarian, I found the options limited. There are essentially only two meat-free choices: the plain cold soba and the sesame cold soba. Everything else seemed to contain meat, lard, bonito flakes, or a meat-based broth. I ordered the sesame cold soba, which came with a cup of cold dipping broth and a bowl of sesame seeds with a mortar for grinding them yourself. At the table, we also ordered the chicken and egg soba soup and the soba with tempura. According to the menu, the tempura is cooked in lard, and even the Caesar salad contained bonito flakes. The sesame soba itself was fine, but it came with no vegetables or protein, making it feel like a rather plain meal for $21. One interesting tradition I hadn't experienced before: about three-quarters of the way through the meal, a staff member brought over a small pitcher of warm water and instructed me to pour it into the remaining cold dipping broth and drink it. While I can see why soba enthusiasts might enjoy this restaurant, vegetarians should know the menu is limited. read more

See all

The soba noodles were a standout! They had the perfect bounce and a satisfying weight to them, with a generous portion that left me feeling completely satisfied. The dipping sauce was light and refreshing which allowed the flavor and texture of the noodles to really shine. The chicken karaage was also good. They were lightly fried with just the right amount of crispiness while still keeping the chicken juicy and tender inside. The pieces were generously sized as well. Definitely a great spot to try if you're looking for well-made soba and delicious Japanese comfort food. I'd come back again! read more

I came here with my 4 year old because she loves soba. Everything was good; except it wasn't as accommodating for younger kids. I enjoyed my duck soba and the service was mediocre. Food took a bit to come out. Update: My daughter and I came back. Everything was good until more than 3 fruit flies were all over our food and especially hers. She was so repulsed that she refused to eat and she's only 4. It didn't bother me a lot, since they didn't land on my food. read more

Sora Dining Soba - A bunch of fruit flies today. - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Delicious dinner with fresh ingredients leaving us full yet not heavy. Everything I ordered felt light, even the karaage chicken which is fried and usually is seen as heavy, but the lemon and thin fry was just right for me. I enjoyed the matcha beer and was pleasantly surprised to have them prepare it in front of me. I thought it was going to be the bottled kyoto matcha beer, but they actually whisk fresh matcha into the house beer. Soba noodles were great quality, including the duck which was carefully prepared. I do think prices are a bit steep. Our two sobas, karaage, and beer with tax and tip added up to a $100+ dinner. There was also a long line to get in, I think we waited around 20 minutes. Because of the wait and popularity, you don't really get a lot of time to dine once you get in since they really try to move things along. I enjoyed the food, but not sure realistically if I will return often. read more

See all

What a fantastic soba food option for Japan town San Francisco. I ordered the combination cold soba with tempura as well as a special egg appetizer. The soba noodles were perfectly prepared. The right texture, flavor, and temperature. The broth was also terrific with the right temperature, umami, and saltiness. The tempura was also a highlight, perfectly battered and fried with generous portions of shrimp, squid, and vegetables. They even provided a Matcha salt, that I have never experienced before, that offered a wonderful additional taste to the tempura profile. To top it all off, the restaurant is run efficiently with polite service. You can easily eat solo or have a party up to four people comfortably. The space is modern, clean, bright, and pleasant to sit in. The music is laid-back, jazz and classical music so that you can easily have a conversation with your dining party or just enjoy the food on your own. All in all, highly recommended and well worth the price of admission!! read more

See all

Delightfully delicious soba in San Francisco Japantown, in a lovely serene & elegant environment with good options, reasonable prices and good service. We came early for lunch to beat the crowd and lines. We had soft tofu, fresh soba, duck, and tempura. Everything was very good. Located across from Peace Plaza and the Japantown mall. Street parking or there is also an indoor lot across the street at the mall. We will be back for more yummy food. read more

See all

Between events and stopped in with the family and extended family for a late afternoon meal. Chosen by one of the cousins and it was such a GOOD CHOICE! Ended up sharing the Goma Zaru and enjoyed grinding our sesame to dip with our sauce. Also got the Seared Aigamo and Kushi 3-piece set. The duck was so tasty and tender! And the tempura was great with a delicious matcha dipping salt. Also grabbed an ice cold Asahi which went well with the meal. It was super busy and we just beat the dinner line and sat outside. Service was quick and helped us get in and out as we had to get to our event. Loved being outdoors on a beautiful SF day. Felt like being back in Japan! Would come here again and again if we lived closer! read more

See all

Sora Dining Soba is a great new addition to Japantown. The soba I had was delicious, I would also recommend their tempura appetizer. The restaurant has a nice vibe that is good for both friends or a date. Service was also good and I had no issues. read more

Sora Dining Soba - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

We were able to be seated right away. We requested outdoors because we have a small baby and didn't want to disrupt other diners in case she woke up. We ordered the Ten Zaru and Kami Zaru which came shortly after the Tori Kara we ordered for an appetizer (not pictured). The Tori Kara was perfectly crispy as was the tempura set in the Ten Zaru. I really enjoyed the matcha salt. The duck was a wonderful complement to the Kami Zaru dish. The soba noodles were chewy not mushy. Excited to come back for more! read more

Sora Dining Soba - Ten Zaru (COLD) Kamo Zaru (COLD) - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I ventured to Japantown in San Francisco to try a new restaurant. Back in Taiwan, I had never tried soba noodles before, so this experience was truly eye opening. The broth was light yet deeply flavorful, with a subtle tangy note woven into every sip. Only after finishing the soup did I realize the base contained something similar to preserved plum peel, which kept the entire bowl from ever feeling greasy or heavy. The shredded chicken on top paired perfectly with the silky soft egg, creating a wonderfully balanced texture and flavor. Served on the side was traditional Japanese chili powder for an extra kick. To finish the meal, the cheesecake carried a refreshing hint of lemon, making it the perfect ending to this visit. Highly recommended for food lovers who enjoy delicate and lighter flavors! 來舊金山的日本城冒險試試新店，在台灣我都不曾試過蕎麥麵，這次的嘗試讓我耳目一新。清淡卻很香濃的湯頭，絲絲流露出一些清酸味，喝完湯才知道是類似陳皮梅的東西在湯底，讓整碗麵一點都不膩；蓋在麵上的雞絲和絲滑柔軟的蛋搭配的恰到好處。擺放在一邊是傳統的日式辣粉。麵後的起司蛋糕帶有一些檸檬味，為這一次訪店做一個最棒的結尾。推薦給喜歡清淡口味的老饕！ read more

See all

Very yummy soba. It is a very small place so I would try to make reservations ahead of time. We went on a weekday for dinner and it was fairly empty. The soba sets are so flavorful. It is kinda pricy but equivalent to sf prices. read more

I've been to Sora three times now and have gotten to try a lot of their menu options! The soba is fresh and delicious, and I prefer the cold noodles over the hot noodles in broth because they keep their chewy texture and you get more of the flavor of the noodles coming through. The tempura and sides are tasty but a bit pricey for what you get so I'd pass on them in the future, and opt to just get the cold soba or the nabeyaki udon which I also enjoyed. It's nice to have another soba spot in Japantown, and Sora delivers on good service and a very aesthetic ambiance too! read more

See all

I tried Sora Sat 4/11/26 for lunch, I didn't have to wait. They bang the drum when you dine there. I got free tab water in a bottle and a glass. Got the Kamo Zaru $24 - cold soba noodles, warm dipping sauce, 4 slices of duck. It was good, I liked the duck. Dipping sauce was good and salty. One unisex bathroom in the back, can be a wait. Charged my meal. There is a 5% SF mandatory fee for their healthcare. read more

See all

I decided to try soba in Japantown to compare it to the soba I had in Tokyo, and honestly it was sooo good. My soba was around $30 with tax, but it came with tempura on the side plus complimentary scallop rice. I thought it was definitely worth it and I would come back next time I'm in SF. We chose to sit outside since the weather was beautiful with a nice little breeze, and it made the whole experience even better! The service was great too. They were super attentive the entire time even though we were seated outside. Highly recommend! My new fav soba place :) read more

Sora Dining Soba - Ten soba (with tempura) + cold soba - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

The hype of the new resturant got to me. I've been wanting try this for a while. There was a line but staff got to us quickly. We were all greeted by the staff with "Irasshaimase". Staff were friendly and treated us well. Interior reminds me of the a place where locals in Japan go after work. Very inviting atmosphere. Soba dining sora is renowned for its freshly crafted soba noodles, made entirely from 100% buckwheat imported from Japan. I opted for the zaru soba and accompanied it with a side of age dashi tofu. The soba noodles were undeniably chewy, and they even provided instructions for beginners who were unfamiliar with soba. The dipping sauce, however, was slightly salty. On the positive side, the tempura was light and fluffy. While the price of the soba noodles was a bit steep, it was still worth it. To enhance the savory soup, they provided hot soba water to add to the dipping sauce at the end. read more

See all

Wow, was able to get a table right away! Japanese ambiance and attentive service! We started with the tofu app and it was light. Roast and so clean tasting- what I love most about Japanese cuisine. The star of the meal was the cold soba with tempura. The experience of crating and customizing your sauce is so enjoyable. Swirling the perfectly bouncy noodles into the sauce and slurping was a dream! Sooo delicious!! We chose wisely coming here! read more

Sora Dining Soba - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

While delicious I have a hard time justifying the price point in my mind for soba. Between the search for parking and the wait outside, although I had a good experience I'm not sure I would return in the near future unless a friend wanted to try it! I thought the soba was a good texture and not overcooked, but the dipping broth was a smidge saltier and didn't come with a lot for the price point. I like the tempura, but I've also had better. The things I did enjoy were the ambience and the service! The greeting was fun with the percussion sound and welcomes when you enter. I also like the temperature that the restaurant was kept at. They were also kind enough to split up the check at the end. A side note: I'm used to soba coming with a dipping sesame sauce to add more flavor but this location didn't have the option to add it on when I asked. It seems like the sesame sauce is part of its own set! read more

See all

Just when I thought Sobakatsu was the only soba bar in all of J-Town, we have Sora Dining Soba that satisfies every hungry and adventurous customers. Like Sobakatsu, we get to see the same hot bowl of buckwheat soba noodle soup and the same slices of duck meat prepared in separate ways. The interior compared to Sobakatsu is spacey, airy, and relaxing, which means shorter lines to none, and no reservations necessary. The moment you let the staff know you're dining in SDS, the hostess sounds the drum and say "irasshaimase". With that aside, I be waiting to have all the food and drink at my table so I can declare "let's eat" before I start digging in. I start off with Yuzu Uji Matcha Sparkler, a familiar drink from Best Boy Electric but with a different sweet earthy tone. Next up, Sukui Tofu with both the soy sauce and matcha powder on the side. Delicate, yet rich in umami flavors! Now comes the best part: Goma Zaru on a clean bamboo tray, a cold sesame dipping sauce, white sesame seeds to add a modified touch, and a bit of wasabi and green onions. With the chopsticks at my right hand, I pick up a long modest amount of soba noodle, dip and swirl. What a splendid texture! It's like taking a gorgeous ride towards the countryside so far from home! The soba noodle is as firm as it's chewy. Enhanced with a sesame dipping sauce, and I get this type of flavor profile like no other. An overall experience for Sora Dining Soba is nearly an outstanding achievement. No taste can be too overwhelming as long as they're done in well trained modest hands. I know there's so much I might yet to discover in Japan when it comes to clean eating and table manners. I now know through YouTube instructions that there was no tipping in any Japanese eateries. I feel that I'm still far from ready to visit Japan this year. Therefore having such a good experience without leaving the Bay Area is enough for me. read more

See all

A delightful lunch at Sora Dining Soba. We came here for a weekday lunch. There was a line, but the wait wasn't bad; given most diners were in & out, we waited only a short time, ~20 mins. Service was pleasant and helpful. The soba was tasty, as was the tofu appetizer, super refreshing. It's fun also that they provide the soba-yu here for diners to enjoy the remaining dipping sauce. My only complaint is the temperature control. We were here on a warm day, with a full room of diners. Either the air conditioner was busted or otherwise not turned on, it was slightly uncomfortably warm dining in that day. Given this experience, I would avoid coming here on warm days but would definitely return under cooler weather. read more

See all

Absolutely loved the soba here! I got the smoked duck one and my boyfriend got the tempura one. The soba is definitely delicious and really tasty, not too salty at all and we even enjoyed all the broth at the end. Service was quick and helpful even though this place is packed we were able to get a seat and the space is bright and clean! My only low point is the meal is definitely on the pricier side and I don't know if it was as filling based on the price but still delicious! read more

Sora Dining Soba - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

We were in Japantown and my parents have been raving about soba noodles, saw there wasn't a long wait and decided to give it a try. First and foremost, I have to say, the customer service here is some of the best I've ever received at any restaurant. Everyone we interacted with were so cordial and accommodating from start to finish. It was easy to tell that they work well as a team together and it definitely shows! For the food, we ordered a couple of different dishes. The chicken karaage, Kamo Zaru Soba (cold), Ten Soba (hot). I never usually order cold noodle dishes but this was really tasty. The duck broth was tasty and rich. The noodles had a very nice bite to them, although I feel like the portion of noodles, I could've used more. The ten soba came with tempura and it was some of the best tempura I've had. I think I prefer the hot over the cold but that's just my preference. The chicken karaage was good, although I do wish it was a bit crispier. Either way, we didn't order a bad thing here. The interior and ambiance of the space is beautifully decorated. It was perfect for an impromptu date night. The space isn't large so definitely recommend coming with a smaller group of 2-4. For solo diners they do have some counter seats available as well. The food did take a while to come out but I was ok with it because you can tell they take a lot of time and care with the things they make. If you are interested in dabbling into the elevated soba world, this would be a solid place to start. read more

See all

Excellent service and food with comfortable seatings, mostly for 2 seaters perfect for couples . read more

See all

Service was great. Vibes are great. Food is delicious!! Came here and got the kashiwa tamago. Friend got the Kamo namban. Kashiwa tamago- Noodle was deliciousss. The broth had soaked into the buckwheat noodles so well. Broth was light and still a bit savory with salt. Chicken was ok but all together the bowl was exactly what I was craving. 10/10 Kamo namban- similar dish slightly more savory broth - friend thought it tasted more like a beef broth base- duck was meh. Liked it so much came again with visiting friends the week after and they loved it too. Looks like they added a side of rice to the dishes ? It's a small bowl of brown rice that's seasoned like Chinese sticky lotus rice! Overall friends said it was the best soba experience they've had most similar to in Japan! read more

See all

I had high expectations for Soba Dining Sora because of all the hype on social media, but this visit was just... okay. Food (3/5): Honestly pretty overrated. It's not bad, just very normal and nothing really stood out. We order 2 Mix Tempura, 2 Chicken Karaage, 2 Duck with Soba Noodles, 2 Tempura Soba Noodles. Ambience (4/5): The space is really nice, clean, cozy, and well-decorated. Definitely a good vibe for dining. Service (2/5): This was the most disappointing part. We were seated right by the entrance, and our server (a guy) didn't explain the menu at all. We asked if the tempura included shrimp, he said yes, so we ordered the 9-piece mix... and it came with only one shrimp. When we tried to get his attention, he was chatting and laughing with another server and didn't respond, so another staff member had to step in and explain that we needed to pay extra for more shrimp. It also took multiple tries to get his attention he'd finish talking with coworkers first, then come over like "yeah what can I help?" which felt a bit off. What's surprising is I came here when they first opened and it was super busy but the service was great. Kind of disappointing to see how much it's changed in just a few weeks. read more

Sora Dining Soba - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Usually on the weekends when we passed, the line was super long; this time when we passed at 3 PM on a Friday they had tables open so we had to try it. Love that they have 100% buckwheat soba noodles. Great flavor dipping sauce which you add broth to at the end and drink like soup. Tempura was crunchy. Cute interior and quick service. Overall great experience. read more

Sora Dining Soba - Soba and tempura - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

My friend and I had a really outstanding Japanese meal at Sora. We had to line up for it (and we barely missed the first seating) but it was totally worth the wait. We shared the Karaage, tamago and tempura as appetizers and we both got the duck buckwheat noodle soup. I judge Japanese restaurants on the quality of their tempura and Karaage. The tempura here was excellent - very lightly breaded. We ordered the six piece and it came with two skewers of shishito peppers, one squid, one tofu, one scallop and one shrimp. The Karaage was crispy but not oily - perfectly executed. The tamago appetizer was also very tasty. The star of the meal was duck buckwheat noodle soup. The duck was really tender and it came with some really fresh wasabi. The dashi broth was nice and light. I loved the texture and "slurp" quality of the buckwheat noodles. This was just a great meal. Service was fast and efficient. We were in and out in less than an hour. The restaurant was nice and bright. We were seated in the bar counter and those were great seats. The line before they opened was long - we lined up 10 minutes before they opened and we barely missed the first seating. The restaurant staff were nice enough to give those in line some hot tea as well. It wasn't too bad though - the first people finished their meal in about 40 minutes. With tax and tip, this was about $65 per person - well worth the line for the great quality of food. Highly, highly recommended!!! read more

See all

I had the pleasure of dining here with a friend on a Thursday night around 5:30 pm! It's a new addition to SF Japantown. It's super popular on social media and people were already lining up 20 minutes before it opened. We managed to get there early and fall in line. Since they're a newer restaurant, they took each party one by one at the door. The staff are enthusiastic, friendly, and warm in greeting their customers. Each time a party enters, they bang a drum for the staff to welcome them in. It's a beautiful interior that's spacious for groups, solo diners, or pairs. Great wooden furnishing that gives off an authentic atmosphere. Since it's SF, the menu can be pricey ($$$). Service was quick, attentive, and efficient. We ordered the: - Seared Aigomo: Tender slices of duck with minimal fat, with shredded daikon, and mustard sauce. It was an alright appetizer; we couldn't really taste the smoky flavor but the mustard did enhance the flavor. 3/5 - Kashiwa Tamag: This reminds me of chicken noodle soup and soup is always warming on a SF chilly evening. The serving was great with lots of egg and chicken, but the broth wasn't to my liking; it was underwhelming and needed more seasoning. 3/5 I would try this place again but try a different dish. read more

See all

This place is fantastic. Came by on a Saturday during lunch time and we were able to get seated right away. There was plenty of seating, both for small and larger groups. Loved the interior - lots of wood finishes, felt very cozy and clean. We ordered the following: - dashi-maki tamago: I was a little underwhelmed by this - the tamago was soft but it had very little flavor. the dashi sauce was interesting too, with how thick it was - ten zaru: dipping sauce was cold and refreshing, paired very well with the noodles. The tempura was perfectly fried - I really liked the tamago tempura, which was crispy on the outside but still maintained the fluffy egg inside - kamo zaru: this duck dipping sauce was by far my favorite - rich duck flavor, paired with duck slices that were tender and savory. also came with a small side of rice The soba noodles were chewy and delicious. Great service and staff were very observant and attentive - they also stepped in halfway through our meal to offer the soba soup. The portions were large but this is definitely on the pricier side. Regardless, would recommend a visit! read more

Sora Dining Soba - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Such a great try! I came here at 11:30am on a Friday, and it was full, but no line! The line started forming around 12. A quaint space with lots of tables and bar seating, so perfect for a lil solo date, too. Kamo Zaru: 9/10! Perfect amount of noodles, meat, and broth! I'm used to the broth being cold, and even though it was warm, it was still delicious! Pairs well with the tempura. Sukui Tofu: 10/10! So refreshing, love the soy milk taste in it! Great appetizer. Overall, great service and would love to come back especially on another hot day. read more

See all