The three of us had lunch here today arriving around 11:30am. We entered to an empty restaurant but not for long. We sat at a table for four. The restaurant is narrow with tables of four on either side. Tons of photos and hand drawn pictures are taped on the walls. We were warmly greeted and both sushi, lunch, and dinner menus and cups of hot tea were brought over. We each ordered off the laminated lunch menu. Miso soup came with each order. They offer a daily student lunch special as Lincoln HS is located nearby. When I asked about the student lunch special I was told anyone could take advantage of the special. Our orders were quickly made and brought to our table - * daughter had bento combo lunch A - chicken teriyaki, tempura with one shrimp, and four pieces California roll * I had bento lunch combo T - tempura with one shrimp, four slices sashimi, and four pieces of California roll. All good. * hubby got katsu chicken donburi - it was like chicken karaage rather than chicken cutlet. He said good. Once again we were pleasantly surprised at the number of to go orders placed while we dined in. I can't tell you how many times I've walked by this restaurant thinking how does a small business owner survive. Goes to show can't judge a book by its cover. Each time a local entered he/she was greeted by name. Service was attentive and our tea cups constantly refilled. So far I'm sticking to my 2026 eat local in the 'hood list. This being #6. read more

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Veggie tempura roll: not every place does it, and this place does is extremely well. tempura is always cooked in fresh oil, sauce on the side. Chicken teriyaki: sweet glaze on the chicken, it was stacked two high. Tea is always provided. Staff is amazing and checked in on us the whole night. Welcoming environment with pictures of patrons on the wall. Sometimes you might spot yourself! read more

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To sum it up: Family-owned restaurant with reasonably-priced and delicious Japanese eats! And different party trays options to take to-go--perfect for small or large parties and gatherings! Checking in here at least 16 times (thanks Yelp for keeping track as usual!) shows how much my family and I love eating here. I'm not even embarrassed to say I've eaten here that many times lol This restaurant is family-owned with the owner/head chef named Kevin and his family helping out. Coming to eat here is like eating with family at home (except you don't need to cook or do the dishes lol). They are friendly, accommodating, and very nice. Their menu has many food options: from the usual combo dinner options such as chicken and salmon teriyaki, to classic and specialty sushi rolls, to udon, soba, and donburis. One of the reasons why I keep coming back here is that in addition to the usual chicken katsu that they offer, they have fish katsu. My toddler and I were going through a fish-loving phase, so that was what we ordered for a long time. Also, I noticed not a lot of Japanese restaurants has this on their menus. Their portions are decent sizes, and most of the time we have leftovers to take home. The main sushi chef, Kevin, was also very accommodating in that my toddler loves mini sushi, so he made an imitation crab maki for her: perfect for her little hands and mouth. Another reason why I love this place is the sushi trays. They have 5 sushi tray options as to-go orders only, from serving 2-3 people to 4+. I like that they have a fully-cooked party tray option because when I was pregnant and could not eat raw fish, I ordered this and it satisfied my pregnancy craving. You can also substitute or add sushi rolls as well in the party trays (with extra cost depending on sushi roll prices), which again shows their accommodation. My husband and I also love their Crazy roll: shrimp tempura inside, spicy tuna on top with house sauce. It's a given order whenever we go there because it's so tasty! Sometimes, Japanese restaurants have many sushi rolls, which can be overwhelming, and we tend to be indecisive on which roll(s) to order, but at Sushi Zen, we love their Crazy roll and we order it all the time. Like, all the time LOL They are not a fancy Japanese restaurant, nor are they trying to be, but Sushi Zen is our family's go-to Japanese restaurant. With the many times I've eaten here, I also see many regulars. My family and I just ate there last night and I won't be surprised if we go there again next week. Haha read more

Got a sushi party tray here and it was a hit! We got the Party B+ tray which served over 10 at a picnic. The restaurant staff were very friendly and helpful in coordinating the pickup day of (they don't do delivery). I called ahead a few days in advance and the process was super smooth! The platter turned out beautiful and everyone enjoyed it! I like how you can customize 2 of the rolls so every time you order it could turn out different. The variety of fish & toppings was great as well. For ~$140 I think it was great value considering how many people it fed. Definitely recommend for your next sushi party needs. read more

Sushi Zen - party b+ - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

First time, and last time for me. First and foremost, service was great and staff were nice and friendly. They were very sweet and threw in a free piece of inari sushi. I ordered two rolls, I think it was the 49ers roll and a dragon roll. Rice ratio of roll was good. The tempura shrimp in the dragon roll was nice and crispy but the shrimp was not a big piece - more tempura. The roll that was sketchy to me was the 49ers roll as I'm not clear if what was supposed to be tuna, was actual tuna. The fish or faux fish fell off the top of the roll, and left a red mark on the rice that looked like dye. I don't believe real tuna should leave a trace of red color. Also, not sure if the inside of the roll was crab, taste and texture tasted like krab to me. read more

I have been coming to this restaurant for 20 years and the service has always been great. The owner Kevin is very friendly and always willing to show his customers a great experience. The staff is kind and it's always easy to get a seat. I love their selection of specialty rolls. So try whatever looks good to you. Some of my favorites are the lazy summer and the salmon roll with lemon on top: I can't remember the name lol. It's a little cozy inside but very family friendly with pictures on the walls of old customers going back 20 years. I can't recommend it enough and hope this place is still around in another 20 years. read more

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I was just looking for a small meal. But then I came across Sushi Zen. The people there were very nice and helpful. The food tasted very good and was more than worth the price. My mom said the prices were very fair. (Reviewed by my son) read more

I ordered the party C tray, amaebi nigiri, and soft shell crab. This more than fed 6 people. Everyone enjoyed the rolls. The amaebi nigiri was good but I didn't like the fried head. In total, it was about $191 after tax. The restaurant was very lively on a Friday night and the workers were very welcoming. read more

Sushi Zen - Party c tray - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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GREAT PRICE GREAT SUSHI I regularly order their party packages. Never disappointed with them. One of the few restaurants that still offer affordable sushi without you feeling hungry after $50. Fish are fresh and decent sized. FAST SERVICE Takes 20 minutes for a party package. LOVELY FAMILY OWNER They are nice people and welcoming. The host offered my kid some children gummy candy after we picked up our order. Cantonese owners. SMALL RESTAURANT WITH JAPANESE DECOR Looks like the common 90s sushi restaurant. One customer restroom (clean). DON'T USE DOORDASH FOR PICK UP I compared prices and it turns our doordash marked up the party tray by $10!!! Even for pickup! Also, doordash estimated a 40 minute preparation time VS when I called the restaurant directly it was 20 minutes only. Overall, I hope this small business will last on. I will continue to order from them! read more

Sushi Zen - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

i love this spot. we come here with friends probaby once every couple months and it's good for small or larger groups my favorites are the poke salad, wasabi hama roll, salmon teriyaki dish. i've tried many things and they're all great. staff is so welcoming and friendly. read more

Service was great! Cozy spot with super friendly staff and everyone greets you when you enter and leave. Food was quick as well. We ordered 1 miso soup and they gave another on the house which was nice of them. Food quality is 4/5. I was underwhelmed by the salmon nigiri. I also thought the agedashi tofu lacked flavor/sauce. If you're looking for a casual sushi spot though, i'd say this is a decent option. I did think the roll variety was good and all the other rolls were tasty. I think I may have to try out the bento next time instead of just having an all sushi night. read more

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Easy to order over the phone. My go to restaurant for sushi platters. I ordered the party C and all cooked sushi platter. Both platters are reasonable prices and super tasty. Organized and clean restaurant Super friendly staffs. Meter parkings. read more

Sushi Zen - Party C platter - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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First time trying the sushi at Sushi Zen through Doordash. All the rolls looked fantastic and the prices were very reasonable for how big the rolls are. The fish is super fresh and the rolls are very well balanced. Also ordered the Poke salad appetizer and it did not disappoint. Also, the restaurant included a Dynamite Roll on the house with our order. Super sweet and very generous of them. We will have to try it in person next time. Looking forward to meeting the people behind the great sushi. read more

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Still, a terrific, go-to choice for sushi in the Sunset District. Their menu offers good variety, the sushi is fresh with generous cuts, and their service is friendly and attentive. On the other hand, on this instance, the food took a while to arrive, and again, the place is compact and feels a bit tight, especially on rare warm days, and being located so close to 19th Avenue, parking is definitely a downside. But, the last two I give the benefit of the doubt; could use a little outdate. Nevertheless, a wonderful option when dining out in the Sunset. read more

Great little family-run sushi spot in SF! Service was quick and friendly -- our server kept checking in and gave great recs from their daily specials. The sushi was solid, fresh, and tasty. They've also got sushi tray combos for parties, which I'm definitely planning to order for my next get-together. Only heads-up: parking can be a bit tricky, so give yourself a little extra time. Overall, a great sushi place in SF. I'll totally be back and would recommend people to check them out! read more

Ordered the "all cooked" party tray here for my birthday. The staff were very polite and quick with my order. I didn't get to eat in the restaurant but the day I went it was fairly busy. The chefs were making multiple party tray orders and so I assume they're probably pretty known for it. The tray had so much rolls, I honestly loved it. One thing I noticed though is that any rolls with the avocado all started to taste the same. So while I didn't mind, my friends wanted more of a variety. For the price of it, I thought it was a good deal and honestly would get again. I maybe would try a different tray too. read more

Sushi Zen - All cooked party tray - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Love this place for takeout and a casual dine in. My family and I enjoy the sushi here - they also make a great chicken teriyaki plate for my kid! The folks here are so friendly and nice. The service is fast and amazing! read more

Went here on a Saturday for lunch since I was craving sushi. This is a small restaurant, but there was no wait. We got the Lion King Roll (hidden menu item) and the Dragon Roll. They didn't have as many baked options as I hoped, which was why they told me about the Lion King roll so I got that. The food was warm and everything tasted fresh. I'd recommend this place! Sushi pieces are big, the rolls are tasty, and service is good too! read more

Sushi Zen - Dragon Roll (front) & Lion King Roll (back) | IG: @nomwithelaine - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is the second time coming here! We were starving and wanted to have an early dinner. They open at 5 during the weekdays. I didn't have a chance to take a lot of photos but we were very satisfied. Our sweet waitress was a plus! Attentive, accurate in taking orders and so sweet... Parking is the only thing that might be hard to find. read more

Sushi Zen - British Columbia, Sunset strip and Wasabi Hama - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Haven't grabbed lunch here in a while and decided to order 5 rolls to-go. I walked in and was instantly reminded of the good old days when I came here as a student. The owners still had the same warmth and happily greeted me. So polite and kind just how I remembered it. The sushi rolls are still amazing and delicious as always especially the Salmon Delight roll. When I went home I finally realized they gave me an extra roll I believe is the Super Dynamite without my knowledge but my wife said the owner told her it was on the house and I completely missed it. I will definitely take care of you guys next the time I return ! read more

Sushi Zen always serves quality Japanese food at reasonable prices. We love their sushi rolls! Their combo meals are also a great value. We go early so seating is never a problem. Wait staff checks in very quickly and is ready to take your order asap. Chef serves up your order in no time so you won't be hungry for very long. Restaurant is not huge but there are plenty of tables and some bar seating as well. Nice local neighborhood restaurant clean and organized. Photos of happy customers are proudly displayed on walls. Going to go there tonight!! read more

The sushi, tempura, gyoza, sukiyaki, salmon teriyaki, and steak teriyaki are solid and items we order frequently. Honestly, there hasn't been anything I didn't like when I ordered. Staff is always friendly and welcoming. The place has a warm, homey vibe and one where we go out to eat often. We've also ordered the sushi platter for 2-4 (?) people for takeout and it was delicious. Only critique is the temp of the raw fish is inconsistent; sometimes it's good, other times it seems it's still a little too cold--borderline to being just thawed from frozen. read more

We order our food to go and it was so quick! It's a little whole in the wall but the sushi was really good! read more

Sushi Zen - 111. Winter Wonderland Ocean Beach - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is one of my go to sushi spots and the owners are soooo nice! It gives such a homey vibe and definitely a hole in the wall. Good sushi for a good price. They add in little freebies sometimes. I've gotten free inari and avocado rolls before which is such a nice surprise no other sushi place has done this! Please give this place a visit whenever you're in the neighborhood!! read more

Sushi Zen is my go-to sushi spot in the Sunset! Food is fresh and all the chefs and employees are super nice. My favorite roll is their British Columbia. Once in a while I try new things from their menu and I'm never disappointed! Their salmon nigiri, bento boxes, and other specialty rolls are yummy. I've seen other places try to do the British Columbia roll and it's never as good as Sushi Zen's They were take-out only for the past year, but are now open for both dine-in and take-out! read more

Sushi Zen - Tuna maki, avocado maki, British colombia, can't remember the last roll.. - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food is consistently good. I mainly come here for lunch but dinner as well. This establishment has been on Taraval for as long as I can remember. Service and ambiance is great. Hot tea hits the spot on cold foggy nights. The place feel like home when you are a frequent customer. The pictures of good times and art grow on the walls. read more

The best sushi spot I've been to in the Bay Area! I ordered the salmon delight to-go. The fish was fresh and tasty, and they threw in a miso soup for me, too! It took about 10-15 minutes for the food to be ready. The inside is small but nice, and they have a lot of pictures and drawings on the wall. I am definitely coming back soon! read more

Sushi Zen - Salmon Delight 10/10 - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Haven't been here in quite awhile. I used to enjoy their Oyako-Don but this time I tried the Beef Sukiyaki, one of my all time favorite dishes. It was bad enough where I recommend to take it off the menu. Watery bland broth of onions, fish cake, cabbage and transparent noodle. No carrots or tofu. The beef was precooked beef strips, not the fresh thinly sliced rare beef to add the main flavor to the broth. I skipped 90% of the beef. Miso soup accompaniment was fine along with good friendly service. On a side note, there was a group of diners where 2 had pet parrots on their shoulders. Knowing how restaurants are trying to make a living, I can understand not refusing service, but the big deal was one of the sushi chefs and a server took the parrots onto their arms. I didn't notice them handwashing their hands afterwards. Nice to offer water or tea complimentary. read more

Always get their party platters to share with family It doesn't even need to be for a party If you're having decision fatigue, get the party platter I normally call the day before and order to be picked up the day after Service is really quick and friendly They let me swing by and pick up before my pickup time I never ate inside but there is no outdoor seating read more

Sushi Zen - Dinner platter A - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

First timer here. If I lived in SF I could see how this would be a gem for the locals. Lamb chop yaki sauce was great! I've never had SALMON tempura inside a roll- must try! & the spicy tuna and enoki miso soup was wonderful. Service is friendly and attentive. Ambiance is cozy and homey- the walls are filled with pics and drawings. Def would come back! read more

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I ordered Party Tray B and arrived a bit early for pickup. The order was ready ahead of the estimated time, which was very efficient. The staff were friendly and polite when I walked in. The sushi and sashimi looked fresh. As for the taste, the sashimi had a very mild fishy flavor. Considering the tray costs $109, I still find it worth the price. I would definitely return for more. read more

Was out in the Sunset District for business and was looking for a place to get sushi for dinner on a recent Friday evening. Called a friend who lives in the area and she recommended her favorite neighborhood place, Sushi Zen. Parking in the area is a little challenging, but I did find a space on the avenue a block away. Arriving at 6:00pm, the restaurant was about half full, so we had no problems getting seated. The menu consists of sushi nigiri and rolls, dinner / combinations, noodles, and appetizers. We decided on: Chicken teriyaki and sashimi combination with miso soup and rice and mixed green salad. Good amount of chicken, which was moist. The sashimi consisted of three pieces of salmon and two pieces of hamachi. Fish was fresh. Dragon roll and Rainbow roll - both rolls were good. Real crab meat was inside the rainbow roll and fish was fresh. One piece of the rainbow roll was topped with avocado rather than fish, which I've never seen before. Overall, service was friendly and efficient. Restaurant is quaint with one wall covered with pictures of patrons and the owner. A non-nonsense neighborhood restaurant or sushi and dinner items. read more

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Sushi was fresh and tasty. Service was nice and responsive. Cool little neighborhood spot for quality sushi. Prices are also reasonable. I enjoyed all the pictures on the wall gave it a real local feel. Adding this place to the rotation for sure! read more

I like all the neighborhood pictures and artwork on the wall. Friendly service. Fresh sashimi.

So I was starving but my belly fat told me to lose it since I want to look fit for the summer. Decided to grab some sushi cause it's a small portion. The experience picking up here was wonderful. She spoke English and Cantonese and was extremely friendly. They take card here but obviously all businesses prefer cash. They even offer students discount during lunch, which I'm sure a lot of Lincoln high schoolers frequent. Prices are in my pictures - CASH ONLY though for student lunches. Law of attraction - stay positive and you will only get positive experiences. As such, I recommend this place with my utmost respectful regard! read more

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very cozy local spot with kind owners. sunset strip roll and spicy tuna roll were fresh and tasty.

Came here with a party of 3 for dinner. It was around 5:30pm on a Saturday and was already starting to get crowded in this small little restaurant. I love chicken katsu so I ordered it here and the portion size is big! Along with the tasty sushi rolls, everything was excellent here and I could barely finish my order. The staff is friendly and food is delicious. Would come back again next time. read more

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Great portion. Sushi was on time. Order to take home so I have no idea about service. read more

Sushi Zen - All cooked. - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Fantastic food, family environment, at a great price. Definitely a neighborhood gem! We will be returning here

Kevin is a very experienced sushi chef. I met him many years ago at a different place and recently tried this sushi place in the sunset where I found out he owns. Simply put, fresh and tasty sushi at a reasonable price. Very homely restaurant where a lot of locals would frequent. Worth trying if you have not. read more