Excellent fish. Lovely owner Loved the intimate dining space. Quite a few regulars. read more

Hubs and I used to come here when we were dating and decided to stop in on a Friday night that was our 33rd wedding anniversary for old times sake. We ordered: Kaki fry 4/5: The kaki fry was nice and hot and not too much batter and the oyster was just right. Not overcooked so when you bit into it you got a great texture of oyster. It was yum! Of the 6 pieces maybe one was a bit more batter than oyster but the first few bites were delish so eat them while they're hot! Noodle salad 2/5: Sadly they didn't get the recipe from the original owners so the noodle salad was not the noodle salad of years ago. It was good to try for nostalgia but I think I can do a better job at home. We ordered combos of Fried chicken teriyaki/tempura and fried chicken teriyaki with white tuna but I'm going to break it down. Fried chicken. teriyaki 1/5: Sadly this was our favorite dish in the past and in our excitement we both ordered it with our combos. Note to self: don't be so greedy and just get one order till you know it's good! Back in the day it was our favorite but maybe it's because korean fried chicken didn't hit the scene yet. Their fried chicken seemed to be chinese fried chicken that was refried with teriyaki sauce on top. It was dry hard which made the skin on the roof of my mouth rub off! sorry. Tempura 4/5: The tempura batter was light and I enjoyed the half mushroom that was part of the veggies. Don't often get mushrooms in tempura! White tuna 3/5: Not the best, not the worse, it was all right. They charge you $2/pp for tea which I didn't realize until we got the check. Oops! My bad, it says so on the menu! My only complaint with that is that you should leave me a teapot or keep filling my tea cuz I only got 2 cups of tea. The place felt like a cozy small place that has a lot neighborhood regulars which made the volume go up as more people filled in, so I'm happy for the owners that they're doing well. But for me, I think we'll be moving on to our other spots. read more

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Husband and I were In the neighborhood recently and decided to eat at Tanuki to bring back the nostalgic feeling of our dating days. This was an old stomping ground for us as we used to frequently eat here. We were surprised to see it is still around and the reviews on Yelp were positive so we decided to go back. The inside of Tanuki is just like how we remembered it. There is a couple that now runs the restaurant. The wife is the only server for the entire place. For a Friday night, the restaurant was about 2/3 full. The wife did a fantastic job handling all the tables and making sure we were all taken care of. The husband is the sushi chef. We got a tempura appetizer which was pretty good. Husband got the beef teriyaki and rock n roll. I got the nigiri combo that came with 10 pcs and a tekka maki. The food was average. The sushi was fresh but not the best quality. Husband enjoyed his beef teriyaki and the roll. We also got a small bottle of sake. We were disappointed to not get the noodle salad that we used remember so well here. It used to come as a complimentary starter but we didn't realize it is now something that needs to be ordered off the menu. The total with tip was $180. That is way too expensive for average Japanese food for two people. I'm happy Tanuki has stayed in business all these years. It seems to be a regular place for many locals in the area. I, on the other hand, enjoyed the trip down memory lane, but will not be coming back. read more

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Went there for dinner on a Thursday night and it was about half full. The quality of the food is typical for a local sushi spot, not bad but also not the best you've had. The owner and the service were amazing! We had a great time chatting with her and she was very accommodating. The restaurant had very strong "family dinner" vibes so great for that, not very exciting for dates etc. Would recommend! read more

A tasty decently priced pop-in spot. The available choices for Japanese food in the area have become costly and Tanunki offers a great selection for a decent price. The appetizers are amazing by the way. Hits for starters include fried oysters that are crispy and battered on the outside but tender, hot and juicy on the inside. The soft shell crab app is a delicious addon. The signature Tanuki roll is also a definite must try. The low light vides at the table and sushi bar keeps the mood intimate and helpful staff keeps the pace of food coming. A gripe is that on some rolls there can be a bit too much rice, and the price has increased but still significantly cheaper than other options nearby. read more

Too many good cheaper sushi restaurants in San Francisco why come here for expensive bad food and insignificant service? My food was served 15 minutes after everyone else. They shoved the cold miso soup in front of my tablemate last as if it were for him. I felt completely ignored and insulted. The soup was watered down and flavorless as if they forgot about me and rushed my food. The teriyaki chicken was a very small dark meat cut into haphazard slivers portion. It was chewy, overcooked and tasteless. The tempura barely battered with small small cuts of vegetables and tiny prawns. Tasted ok, probably because I was so hungry! Just praying not to get sick. Everyone else in my party had raw fish options or something fried. Maybe its better if you don't order cooked food. The hot sake was nice and hot. Online menu is not same as service menu. Its a very small place with adequate seating for small parties. Clean restroom. Candy on table as you exit tasted like garlic. I'll never go there again, the waitress was rude and insignificant. Too many restaurants in San Francisco they need to treat everyone equally. read more

This is a neighborhood family style restaurant with about 25-30 seats including the sushi bar. I have been here a few times with my close friends and their relatives, here with a few friends, and also here with the kids, etc. This is the kind of place that you go to, if you want a Japanese restaurant to yourselves, if you are the largest party. We had a table of 10 today, and aside from regulars at the sushi bar and take out, we were the main people in the restaurant. Some tables came and out, but the restaurant was 'ours' for the night. What does this mean? It means, if you are friends of the staff, you will be taken care of and people stop by to support their friend's restaurant, etc. Hence the 3 stars from me, since I want to be truthful for a Yelp reviews, but also not knock down a family owned spot for my friends. If you have a large group and wanted a restaurant to yourselves, come here. You will have a chill restaurant experience. Read all the other reviews and they are spot on. read more

They have the best tempura donburi with one of the best teriyaki sauce that I've ever had. I'm always asking for extra sauce because it's good on everything including their teriyaki beef, though my go to is their tempura with that killer sauce because man, it's the bomb. On weekends they have this mayonnaise noodle salad that I just can't get enough of. I'm always ordering 3 to-go regardless of the $5 each price tag. It's my favorite Japanese comfort food. Their sashimi is fresh, they pack things to go well, and they're always super friendly and on it. If it wasn't for the incredibly difficult parking I'd be here twice a week! read more

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The fact that Tanuki isn't rated 5 stars is unbelievable, and it has nothing to do with the restaurant. It has everything to do with people's questionable taste! Tanuki is hands down the best sushi restaurant in SF. The quality is outstanding, the atmosphere is cozy and welcoming, and the whole place feels like home. Plus, Tommy (the owner) is warm, fun, and truly cares about his guests. This place is a gem that absolutely deserves all the love. read more

Great little spot! The staff were very nice and welcoming. Cleaned up the empty dishes very quickly! Food came out at a moderate speed. Sushi and karage came out quick but Udon took a long time. Food was very tasty, standard Japanese food you'll find at any other restaurant! Portions was okay, but could be much more. Otherwise, everything else was great! I recommend going here, great restaurant forb cozy dinner! read more

The restaurant is smaller in size and has around 10 tables and a sushi bar. We always sit at the bar so we can talk to the owner. He learned his skills from Japan so the food is really authentic. Must order (all 5/5) - California handroll with salmon skin (not on the menu, need to special order) - o toro - chu-toro - hamachi toro - monkfish liver - clam soup - tonkatsu - noodle salad - live scallop - Kobe beef read more

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The restaurant is clean and neatly organized. We had dinner at around 6pm and they started to fill up after 6:30 with many reservations. The sushi was fresh and the cooked food was well made. The price was acceptable but on the higher end of the spectrum. read more

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I've been coming to Tanuki since I was a young girl. My parents used to go on dates here before they were married, so this place has been a staple in my neighborhood long before I was even born. I absolutely adore this place, the owner is such a kind man, and I've never had a bad meal here. The service is always friendly and attentive, and the sushi quality is amazing! Do yourself a favor and do a chef's choice option on the menu and the chef's skills shine and try some unique and tasty nigiri! Another one of my favorite things to order here is a combo meal. I often enjoy having a little surf and turf with the beef teriyaki and sashimi combo. I also really enjoy the appetizers that come before the meal too, the miso soup and the noodle salad are very nostalgic for me and remind me of my childhood. The tempura is always hot, crispy and tasty, never soggy. The restaurant itself is small, but intimate and warm. There's usually sports on the small tv by the sushi bar and I have to say this is one of the only restaurants that I love enough to come eat at by myself. That's a big statement for me, as I usually just order to-go if I plan to eat alone, but I love the owner and staff so much I will often opt to eat here by myself. read more

Tanuki remains as consistent and delicious as ever. I got the yam noodle salad and the beef teriyaki donburi to go. They were both fantastic and taste the same every time. The portions are very reasonable and the cost is quite affordable ($50 for 2 noodle salads and 2 donburi). The staff are so friendly and kind. Love you, Tanuki! Thank you for the excellent service and tasty meals. Highly recommend. read more

Tanuki Restaurant - Beef Teriyaki Donburi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Really fresh sushi and great ambiance! I love this place because their sushi and nigiri hits the spot. they also have amazing service, making me feel like I am well fed and taken care of! read more

Hello people, I just want to start by saying the service at this restaurant is absolutely impeccable, every single time I go; everyone is always so nice and welcoming, I love that. The restaurant itself is clean, smells good, while small, it has a great cozy feeling to it. The bathroom is also always super clean, which is very important to me when it comes to restraunts. For the food, they really do not disappoint, the sushi and sashimi is super delicious and really fresh. Now for the reason I come here, my most favorite thing is the oyster shooters. They are soooooooooooo good, even addictive; the shooter is made up of, ponzu, sake, quail egg, caviar and ofcourse the oyster. The combination of this shooter, is so sweet, spicy, has a great kick and the caviar pops in your mouth when you bite into the oyster, it is the best taste; CAN YOU SAY UMAMI, after this shooter that's all you will be saying. read more

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Amazing sushi! I've been coming to Tanuki since 2017! Tommy is an amazing sushi chef who will always greet you with a smile and make sure you have a great time. The fish is fresh of very, very high quality. read more

Tanuki Restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

How in the world did this place get 4 stars? My boyfriends friend is a regular here and recommended us over. The restaurant was pretty empty for a Saturday night. That should've been a sign but since we heard such glowing reviews, we decided to try this place. Waitresses were very friendly and pretty attentive. Now on to the food. Uni: vibrant colors and very creamy texture. Not the best I've ever had but definitely pretty good. It's funny cause I heard one of the chefs say in honest "Uni is very fresh but I'm not too sure about everything else" Oyster shooters: oyster wasn't very fresh. Even with all the sauce, I could still taste the funky after taste. California roll: $8.50 for 6 pieces? They used real crab which was well blended with the mayo, but I still can't justify that pricing. Beef teriyaki: we order medium rare and they gave us rare. My boyfriend was ecstatic about the rare steak but I definitely would've done without this dish. Toro: it had that melt in your mouth texture which was great. Lobster tempura: saltiest tempura I've ever had in my entire life. It felt like the chef accidentally knocked over a salt shaker on to the batter and just decided it wasn't worth his time to start over. My boyfriend and I aren't ones to waste but we only had one piece each and couldn't bring ourselves to finish it. Really wanted to like this place but it's a no go for me. read more

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Had a great time the food was delicious the service was great everyone was so friendly and personable. you have to try the brussle sprouts and the sushi boat. read more

Tanuki Restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Maybe it's just me, but I've always thought of Tanuki as an institution - it's been around since forever, and it looks mostly the same as it did years ago (other than periodic touch-ups). It's small and quaint, but it just feels like a legit Japanese restaurant. Plus, as far back as I can remember, Tanuki was my first experience with Japanese food. Maybe that's why I love the stuff so much...or maybe it's just because it's good. Growing up, I mostly stuck with Tanuki's combinations, but I usually go with their sashimi/sushi nowadays. You can't really go wrong either way - the food is generally solid regardless. The rolls are reasonably priced for the most part, though a few top out around $15 or so. When I dropped in with my friend last night, we ordered four between us and they were all pretty decent. None were fantastic, but the Tanuki (shrimp tempura topped with unagi, marinated eggplant and avocado) and Scallop Lover (spicy tuna topped with hotate and spicy tobiko) could have been with a tweak here or there (like using raw spicy tuna instead of cooked). To get the best out of Tanuki though, the sashimi and their more "authentic" dishes are the route to go. The sashimi is generally really fresh, and the cuts are tasty. I haven't tried everything they have to offer, but their hamachi has been my favorite. Also, the Uni and Oyster shots (with raw quail egg, lemon, and ponzu sauce) were awesome, and the Chawan Mushi we tried was terrific (though a little different since they use chicken instead of shrimp/seafood). Depending on what you order, parts of their menu can be relatively pricey...but you also pretty much get what you pay for. And considering they've maintained the same level of quality after all these years, it's not a terrible difference to get that type of consistency. read more

Tanuki Restaurant - Uni shot (left) and oyster shot (right) - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

PSA: This place isn't it if you're expecting a hidden gem or a good deal. I don't think I've skipped out on taking pictures of sushi for a while. I wish I knew that from the start, but the reviews here skewed my expectations. Fish wasn't very fresh - sashimi and nigiri was expensive and forgettable. Best things I liked was the hot tempura soba and the mushroom soup. While good, that does say a lot about a sushi restaurant. This place is an unassuming neighborhood Japanese restaurant that serves pretty decent cooked foods. It doesn't make sense to go here unless you're in the area already. There are tons of neighborhood sushi restaurants in SF, go to the one in your neighborhood, it will most likely be similar. read more

I am a fan! Even my Japanese friend recommends it!! That's gotta count for big points. Ok, to be fair, I've only been there 3 times. 2/3 times my experience there was great, the 1 time... well, i'll call it a tempura tantrum.. keep reading.. Let's start with the positive experiences shall we? (Check out my close up pics of the fish and oysters. YUM) First of all, I've got a majorly weak stomach. So, I'm really picky about my sushi because sometimes I can get really sick. That being said, I was fine after my trips here :) Tanuki has great fresh fresh seafood. Their portions on the fish are pretty good and meaty which doesn't make you cry when you order a sashimi combo. Their flavors are overall very clean and fresh. GOOD EATS - various sushi/sashimi (hamachi, uni, saba, hirame) - soft shell crab - oysters on half shell - seared tuna something - gyoza (fresh handmade) and that's all I've had because why get anything else?? the sushi is really good here. japanese owner, japanese friends thinks it's great and so do i! OK, want to know my bad experience? one time we got a tempura order. I swear, one of my 2 tempura prawns had no prawn in it. i love shrimp, so no, i am NOT going to let this slip. It was like just a crispy long piece of batter. Brought the waiter over and he looked at it and asked, "did you eat the shrimp?" I laughed and so of course, I was immediately deemed guilty. GUILTY. I said "uh.. no.. there was no shrimp". After he gave me a dirty look and I gave him a "you gotta be kidding me" look we were given new tempura. Forreals though, did I eat it?? No!! NOTE: easy to miss this place as it's at the "triangle" meaning it's off the main road. The sign is a simple blue sign and the store front is a bit lacking. Makes you kind of wonder if good sushi can come out of this place but it does! Overall, very small place but good food and good service... unless you have a tempura tantrum that is... read more

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Small, cozy Japanese restaurant that has great oyster shots! I went here for a birthday dinner and rest assured, we ordered plenty. The oyster shots were the highlight! Went down zesty, smoothly well! The yellow tuna, hamachi and salmon sashimi was fresh! Their unagi eel was cut thick with generous portions and hamachi Kama was grilled with moistness and great flavor! Service was good - dishes were rolled out in a good amount of time! A great place to enjoy Japanese food! read more

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Been going to Tanuki since 1994. Absolutely fantastic in every way. The family feel, the warm caring kind service, the INCREDIBLE Japanese food AND sushi. Top notch. 10/10. read more

If you've never had a California Roll with REAL crab meat, you should check out this place. When you dine in, they bring you a complimentary cup of tea. You'll also receive some pickled cucumber and daikon to munch on while you wait for your food. This place isn't very big and wasn't too busy when I went there around 2 PM on a Wednesday. While I was glancing over the menu, I noticed that they didn't have a crunchy California Roll available. I thought that I may have missed it on the menu, but the waitress told me they didn't have it. Even though they didn't have it on the menu, the waitress said they could make it for me. The California Roll was $6 and I was charged a $1 extra for my special request. I think that was a pretty good deal for 8 pieces. My friend ordered a lunch special for under $11 and she got a lot of items. I found it a little odd that her lunch special didn't come with rice. Anyhow, the service was wonderful and I would probably come back here again to try something new. FYI they don't stay open all day so make sure you call them to see if they're open. read more

Tanuki Restaurant - Deep Fried California Roll. - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We've been coming to Tanuki for a couple of years now and it is our absolute favorite sushi spot in the city. The service is top notch and the food is always delicious. The fish is fresh and Tommy, the sushi chef, is a master. We always leave full and happy. We love Tanuki! read more

Great Japanese restaurant. The service is wonderful as is the sushi. Ate here regularly when we lived in SF. Went back recently and it was just as tasty as when we lived in SF. Reservations helpful. Good service, fresh sushi and tasty plates read more

Tommy is a Richmond District legend. His practice in the art is 2nd to none, and in the chance you have time for him to feed you, take it. read more

Tanuki Restaurant - a bottle of beer and sushi - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wonderful neighborhood restaurant. Great food and good friendly service . Lots of great fresh fish and wonderful sushi rolls .

i absolutely love this place that it has now become my go-to sushi hot spot! The seating is a bit cramped if you sit at the tables so I prefer to sit at the bar. The staff are super friendly, but the Japanese owner is probably the funniest and friendliest sushi chef you can come by! He loves to watch all types of sports ranging from football, to basketball and even baseball, so there's always something to talk about when you're seated at the bar. He will sometimes hook it up with free small appetizers if it's slow too. I love how the fish is super fresh. I always get the Alaskan roll, negitoro, or the hamachi sashimi. My boyfriend usually gets the chirashi bowl, which has an assortment of different types of fish over rice. The bowl looks small, but don't let it's looks fool you, because the bowl is pretty deep that it actually gets him pretty full and leaves him satisfied by the end of the night. It also comes with miso soup and a really refreshing side salad that I'm not quite sure what it's made of but it's really tasty and light. We've been to a couple different sushi spots, and this place is probably the best deal you can find for a chirashi bowl in the city. It has a wider variety of fish compared to a lot of other places too. I highly recommend you swing by this place because the sushi and food overall is amazing. Chat it up with the owner and buy him a drink, cause he's not shy about taking sake shots with you! You'll know he's already had a few if you walk in and his face is already red. Nothing but the best here. Kanpai! read more

Tanuki Restaurant - Chirashi Bowl - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Open for dinner - takeout! Yes, our favorite Chef Tommy is still open and continues to serve up all of our favorites. Teriyaki beef, sashimi, sushi, edamame...it was so nice to get our Japanese food fix. Takeout service is seamless and well thought out. Parking was easy! Try to do pickup and tip well! Keep this great place alive and well. read more

Good food, excelllent service and a real treat to eat there! Love Tanuki's food and ambiance, Love Tanuki!

Girlfriend and I waited over 40 minutes when tables were clearly open. Waitress told us to wait a minute, then never got back us.

This place is a gem. Great quality food. Went here for takeout due to covid. Very surprised with the quality of food! The Hamachi Kama was cooked to perfection. Not too dry and the sauce was yum! The tempura was really fresh and crispy. Nothing to complain about. we even enjoyed the California rolls. 10/10 would return and support this place read more

Tanuki Restaurant - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I love this place. Not only is it a block away from my boyfriends apartment, but the staff is incredibly friendly and they remember the rolls we order every time. I come atleast once a week now and every time the fish is fresh and the Asahi ice cold... which is pretty much all you need when it comes to a good local sushi spot! read more

You MUST get their cold noodle salad. If it doesn't come with your meal, you should definitely order it as a side. It is my favorite thing here. I usually get the beef teriyaki or an udon bowl. They put a lot of teriyaki sauce and also make the beef pretty tender. Their noodles are not too chewy and the soup is delicious. It is nice that some of their entrees come with the cold noodle salad and the miso soup. It's definitely a good deal. Their unagi is so soft and just melts in your mouth. I would definitely recommend trying this place. read more

Every time we visit, we always say it has been way too long since our last visit. Tommy is an excellent host, his sashimi is always fresh and the variety is excellent. If you can get a seat at the bar, just ask Tommy to pick a selection for you. The fish is delicious, the atmosphere cozy and we've enjoyed sitting at the bar with the other regulars. One of a kind! read more

Small restaurant with great food choices. The fried teriyaki chicken dinner is my favorite.

A tasty egg yolk from a quail A delicate piece of uni Went on a date with a drop of ponzu and hand squeeze of lime The rush of the uni shot was sweet, sensuous and sour. Divinely intertwined, worthy of contemplation in the midst of a charming ambiance by the sushi bar. Encore, hit me with the uni shot again as my palate rolled, jolted and awakened. Looking for the chase, the chef's choice of colorful sashimi teased and unpacked my most discriminatory imaginations. Some fresh, others not, hamachi super, impressed and impressed again. Intrigued and wanting more, the added uni nigiri and ikura were dreamy and extravagant. As I whisper to spill all the secrets, it was the torpedo lobster and tobiko handroll that was my fave of the night. Soup-wise, miso heaping, clams unrevealing. Finally too much salt as I waved to the chef and call it the night. The end had me one eyebrow raised. Chef outstanding, food decent, service waned. Thanks to Yelper B.B, the walking bookmark who always has a place in mind. Was the experience worthy and super fresh? Some sparks, few sigh, it was excitable enough as I look to return time after time. *3.5 stars* read more

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Have you ever felt like dancing as hard as possible and finishing it with moon-walk because the food is good? I have here at Tanuki Restaurant. I have sushi at least twice a week for the nutrition. I love Tanuki Restaurant since they serve fresh raw fish. Just one block from the busy Clement Street, this restaurant sits quietly. I visited this restaurant by myself for the 5th time the other day. Sushi on a chilly day? I must be crazy. I order the combination of nigiri sushi which cost around 18 dollars. I am not against sushi rolls, the great American sushi invention but I want to enjoy the original flavor of fish and that is all. Still I never order anything with spicy sauce since the sauce was originally invented to hide the bad color and the taste of old tuna. Have you ever wondered why we always see "spicy" and "tuna" side by side and not "spicy yellowtail or "spicy eel????" At this restaurant, you can enjoy anything with spicy sauce without worries because the chefs are sincere and the fish is fresh. They serve a pot of green tea and pickles first and I like that. Green tea and sushi match very well. My nigiri sushi was beautiful on the white plate. Here comes my "zen" moment. I closed my eyes and prepared for my eating sushi with the calmest mind. I usually have sushi in the order of "from subtle flavors to bold rich flavors" but there is no formal order to eat sushi. I usually turn nigiri 90 degrees so one of the chopsticks holds fish and the other holds the rice, and then dip it in soy sauce lightly. If you see something on your sushi, like mackerel here, you can't turn your sushi 90 degrees. The best way is to use your ginger piece as a soy sauce brush. It is a good sushi manner which doesn't cause a mess. I may look cool to others but when I have sushi, I am very excited. Here was what I was thinking. Geoduck......(Hmmm, the subtle flavor of oceans as if I were sitting by the seashore) Octopus.......(Hello, Taurine. Go ahead, control my cholesterol!) Tuna............(The beauty in red, lower my blood pressure, please.) Salmon Roes..(Oh boy, they are dancing in my mouth. Delicious! ) Sea Urchin....(I can see the grain! This must be fresh. No bitter taste so this must be from Santa Barbara, not from the East Coast.) Salmon & Yellowtail...(Gosh, they are so buttery and delicious!) Mackerel......(O-M-G! They were cured very well and very fatty. No hint of fishiness. Hello, Omega 3, improve my blood circulation.) So I ended up ordering extra mackerel. Some Japanese people order egg sushi first to see how sushi is good at a restaurant but at some restaurants, they buy the egg omelet from stores so it always doesn't work. To judge the skill of sushi chefs, I recommend you order mackerel. Do they make home-made omelet here? Yes. When I was there, they were making it for dinner time and I received the sampler. It was good as well. I haven't tried many hot dishes here but if you like sushi, I highly recommend this restaurant. This restaurant is often visited by Japanese celebrities from Japan so if you see them, please get me their autographs! It is a little bit hard to find a parking space, but it is worth while visiting. read more

Tanuki Restaurant - Nigiri Combo + some extra order (lunch) - Sushi Bars Near Me - San Francisco, California