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    The Roll

    4.8 (121 reviews)
    Closed 11:30 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM
    Updated 1 week ago

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    House-made Karaage
    Shizuka T.

    Went by for a quick dinner after we dropped off our luggage at the nearby hotel. For its price and quality, 5 stars. Service was very quick and it was a very casual, relaxed vibe. I liked that the karate didn't have a thick batter like most places and you didn't feel oily and gross afterwards. Nigiri pieces were not stingy and I could t get over the fact that this $9 uni tasted better than the average $20 uni at most places!!

    Hokkaido Hotate Nigiri
    Vinkin Ken T.

    They have their own ordering app. I used a $10 off coupon I found on this Yelp page. Had it delivered and they use Uber. Ordered the The Moriawase Kaisen Don which came with: Dry-Aged Bluefin Tuna(2pc), Konbu-Jime Aged Salmon(2pc), Hamachi(2pc), Fresh Scallop, Ama-Ebi, Snow Crab, Unagi, Tobiko, Veggies and an order of the Hokkaido Hotate nigiri all for about $60. I like the variety of the sushi in the bowl. It was enough to share for 2. For delivered sushi it was not bad. It also came with some nori sheets.

    Eric Joseph D.

    I came here for happy hour with an old co worker and it did not disappoint. The 5 dollar hand rolls were really good and the 9 dollar high balls complimented the hand rolls really well. The server was also really nice and it's very comforting and welcoming in here. I can't wait to come back for lunch or dinner!

    Menu 1/23/26
    Allena C.

    We had an errand to run in the downtown area, so we checked out The Roll for lunch. It was around 12:30 pm on a Friday and there was only one other table occupied. Interior decor is modern and minimalistic. The service was friendly, yet professional. Background music playing was relaxing. It felt a bit high-end though the menu had a good range of affordable offerings. ***OUR PICKS*** CHIRASHI BOWL ~ Tuna, salmon, hamachi, snow crab, vegetables, ponzu aioli sauce. ~ $24. I enjoyed this assortment of fish though it was more like a poke bowl than a chirashi. The fish were diced up and not in slices. Other than fish, there was avocado, edamame beans, shredded carrots, seaweed salad, sliced ginger, and freshly grated wasabi. Ponzu sauce was a bit salty for me, so I only sprinkled it on the plain shredded carrots. I actually felt it wasn't necessary to further season my bowl. It was a decent amount for lunch to fill me until dinner time. 4/5 CURRY N KAARAGE CHICKEN ~ Japanese Fried Chicken and Beef Curry Rice Bowl with Salad. ~ $22. Fried chicken and curry were flavorful, but nothing spectacular to write home about. The curry reminded me of the cubed curry sauce you can get from Asian markets. Something you can do yourself. However, it was a filling meal. 3.5/5 5 PC SET TEMAKI (FLIGHT HAND-ROLLS) ~ Spicy Tuna, Snow Crab, Salmon, Hamachi, Scallop + Seaweed Salad. ~ $32. Tasty hand rolls! Every bite tasted fresh and yummy. 5/5 Chill spot to have lunch. Though there wasn't a lunch rush even on a Friday at noon. Maybe you can unwind with some sake, wine or beer after work. But if you'd like a peaceful place to grab a bite during lunch, the roll could be it too!

    Wendy C.

    Came here for lunch with some friends and so we all ordered different things and honestly, everything was really good. Usual street parking for SF. Bathroom is shared with the other businesses but kept clean and no line. Single bathroom. Small inside but brightly lit with large window exterior. More modern than traditional feel. Not much to say but that you can't go wrong with anything honestly. Good fresh fish, rice was perfectly seasoned (DIDN'T EVEN HAVE TO DIP ANYTHING IN SOYSAUCE!). food came out in a beautiful presentation.

    Happy hour salmon skin salad
    Quynh Nhu D.

    I'm really into temaki so when I came across pictures of this spot I gotta visit. Walk in about 10 minutes after they open and was surprised with a happy hour menu. All $5 for a couple of options for temaki, inari and some appetizers. Decided to get all of the $5 temaki and one inari plus a special temaki. The service was quick and very attentive. She kinda read my mind The snow crab inari came out first. It was good and a decent size. Each of the HH TEMAKI was pretty nice. Maybe the nice is a tad bit more vinegary than I preferred but it still was a pretty good deal. Though the size of these can't compare to my favorite temaki place in the world: Kazunori The amaebi and uni hand roll was also pretty good. I can't say no to uni Salmon skin salad was ok. Crunchy but maybe too much dressing They got a decent amount of seating and it was pretty quiet so definitely would recommend coming for an early dinner during happy hour 5-6pm for some good deals

    Ally W.

    There are few places in the city that offer great sushi for lunch. Sometimes you just have a craving for good sushi at 11:30AM, ya know. The Roll offers several weekday lunch specials. The sushi here has a good balance of fish, rice, and seasoning. They season their own sushi so you do not need to use soy sauce, which is how it's supposed to be. They also use brown rice for their sushi, which I like...but feels too healthy or "very SF" to others. Here is a list of what we got and enjoyed: * Snow crab temaki * Bluefine tuna toro temaki * Hamachi temaki * Chirashi bowl lunch special * 4-piece nigiri lunch special * Kombu-jime salmon roll * Bluefin tuna roll Everything tasted fresh and clean. I was not super full, but was super satisfied with my lunch.

    Inari
    Lisa N.

    My friends and I grabbed a quick bite before heading out for a show. the restaurant is kinda small but very dimly lit and intimate. Staff were very attentive and polite. He gave us a heads up that the kitchen was closing in 25 minutes so we quickly browsed to place our order. I ordered 3 pcs inari + bluefin tuna toro inari. Omg so freaking good!! Fish quality tasted fresh and was sooo yum! Also, ordered myself a spicy tuna temaki (hand roll) which was perfection!! I wish I ordered more. Server made a new spicy tuna temaki for my friend because she forgot to mention no masago egg on hers (on the house). So sweet and thoughtful!! To end the meal, we weren't set on dessert but when my friend said she never had basque cheesecake. The staff came back and surprised us with a small slice of complimentary basque cheesecake. Wow so wonderful!! Thank you. It was like a creme brûlée cheesecake. So smooth. Overall, we all had a lovely meal. Highly recommend!

    Dry-Aged Tuna Roll, Konbu-Jime Salmon Roll
    Katherine L.

    generally good quality though the tail end of my salmon roll was unpleasantly fishy. other components were tasty and worked well together, especially the shiso. ordered pickup on their website, food was ready in about 15 minutes. manager was very nice and poured me water while i waited. restaurant was very busy on a saturday night.

    Konbu-Jime Salmon Roll Lunch Special
    Caroline L.

    I had my doubts when I first heard about this place but it was absolutely delicious. I got the lunch special (which I think is a great deal). We got The Moriawase Kaisen Don and Kombujime Salmon Don. Everything about it was so delicious. The fish was fresh, there was a good variety, the rice was flavorful, and the seaweed as nice and crispy. The service was also very good. They were very attentive but not overbearing. They gave us extra miso soup that was hot. The place is also clean and there's a good amount of seating. We went on a Saturday afternoon with a reservation but there were still a lot of tables left when we were there.

    Suzi Z.

    I have taken people from out of town here twice now and both times, eveyone has had such a pleasant experience! I appreciate that the menu is on the smaller side - there are only select few quality items to choose from which makes the decision easy. I have tried the moriawase bowl, snow crab roll, and inari and all were great. This is specific but the small serving of seaweed salad that comes with certain dishes is SO good; like the best seaweed salad I have ever had. I would come back just for that. The ozeki sake (hot) was a nice accompaniment to the food. It is quite dry as the description states. Service is very kind and attentive and our waters were never not full. I will definitely continue to take people from out of town here. Location wise, it's on 5th street in Soma so not the greatest area but it is a very cute space inside with nice ambiance.

    The Roll Lunch Special
    Aaron C.

    Roll in the taste of Japan straight to you! SF, you need to give this place some love! Stumbled upon this local spot through Yelp. The ambiance is very clean and modern. Loved the simple and elegant atmosphere. The Roll should easily be on the list of top sushi restaurants in the Bay. They have a little bit of everything on the menu but is mainly focused on quality of the fish. The nigiri reminds me the level of quality I would expect from an omakase experience! I went with the set lunch special which offered a little bit of everything and is perfect if you want a light lunch. The rice is perfectly seasoned, cooked to the right consistency, portioned correctly to the ratio of the fish, and was served at the right temperature to not over power or off set the fish. I really appreciate the attention to detail from the chef and quality control staff. The miso soup had fresh shitake mushrooms which elevated it. The side of seaweed salad taste like it was homemade, there was just a certain freshness to it, not overly salty, and seasoned with sesame oil which gave it a lovely fragrance. Love that they serve Uni from Santa Barbara! I appreciated their handrolls and their inari items as well! The sukiyaki beef inari did not miss! Justin's take on the basque cheesecake was an amazing creation and perfect way the end the meal. The cheesecake is not too sweet, has a soft fluffy texture and you'll want to enjoy the whole slice yourself. Can't wait to be back to SF just to hit up The Roll again!

    Salmon and Hamachi nigiri
    Jodie S.

    Fresh nigiri with seasoned rice was the highlight for me. Hamachi and sake were amazing with plenty of other choices. Sake highballs in yuzu and peach were refreshing and light. Prompt and friendly service. Quiet and calm on opening. Will return!

    Sooooo gooood

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    Super fresh - quite excellent. A fantastic place for great food and vibes. Fish is super fresh and good. Owners are amazing ! Definitely go

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    Ask the Community - The Roll

    Okaeri Japanese Bistro

    Okaeri Japanese Bistro

    4.4
    (513 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$
    Casual dining
    Family-owned & operated

    My husband surprised me with a date night dinner here for our wedding anniversary. It was literally…read morea shot in the dark on how he found this place, as he didn't base it off recommendations nor knew anyone who tried it. He yelped it lol! It was a pleasant surprise though! The service was on point and they even had a cute signed postcard wishing us a happy anniversary along with a complimentary welcome beverage. Such a sweet gesture! My husband did not shy away from ordering and I felt like we tried almost everything on the menu. Their fish was very fresh and the sushi rice was paired very well. There wasn't anything that we tried that we didn't like. Their uni toast was a highlight! So much so that we ordered it twice! Honestly I'm not sure when we'll be back as kidless date nights are super rare for us. Parking out here can be tough and we took a lyft in. But if anyone is looking for a solid sushi recommendation in the mission district, this tops the list!

    Came here for Father's Day as it had really good reviews…read more I am conflicted on how many stars to give, 3 or 4?? They serve quality and good tasting food. Everything that we ordered were delicious. The staff were attentive. But I would be very hesitant to recommend this place. It seems upscale on some pictures but in person, it was not. The resturant is minimal, nice and neat but did not feel upscale. The dishes were overpriced compared to their smail serving,

    Photos
    Bar area
    Bar area
    Interior (new management/new ownership)
    Interior (new management/new ownership)
    Hassan omakase

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    Hassan omakase
    Ganji

    Ganji

    4.6
    (626 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$
    Locally owned & operated
    Free WiFi

    The service is friendly and helpful, and the food is delicious. Love the robust appetizer menu…read more Felt like a bunch of queens up in this place. "This is a banger."

    What a gem amongst all the restaurants in Japan Town! It's in the outside center near the…read morestationary store Paper Tree for reference. Been here a couple of times already and the service never failed. Even came here during the Cherry Blossom Festival and the staff were still friendly / accommodating. They even put a spicy sauce on the side of one of the katsu plates when we mentioned that my dad couldn't handle all that haha. This cozy spot mainly focuses on katsu plates, but I like how they had off menu or specials to choose from if you'd like another option. I will say though them katsu plates were just chef's kiss. The meat is pounded thin enough where it's still juicy and tender, but doesn't affect the exterior from being crunchy and a bit flaky. Nothing was dry here yallll! I also like how it already comes with miso soup and salad. Huge fan of that Hamachi Truffle special though. Think of a citrusy flavor from the ponzu, fresh fish, a bit of micro greens, and a thin slice of jalapeño that just ~works~ on a cute wooden spoon that you want to steal I could honestly eat like 5 spoons of this. I'd skip on the calamari as it was kind of skimpy to share with a large group. Only note was that their fried katsu curry was a bit underwhelming with having more slices of carrots than potato! Would love to come back if I am ever in the area.

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    Ganji
    Ganji
    Ganji

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    Tadaima - Mission

    Tadaima - Mission

    4.2
    (639 reviews)
    1.7 mi
    $$

    Amazing Matcha, I love the salted cheese one, even though there is always a huge line service is…read moresuper fast!

    Tadaima is a small matcha and Japanese Sando + snacks shop in the Mission District. The menu has a…read morewide variety of matcha base latte with adjustable sweetness, foam toppings, and other Japanese inspired drinks. Ambiance: A small clean store with a small high top area, another high top table outside, and a bench to sit outside while enjoying your matcha and food. Service: Food / drinks ordered via a worker at the front with a menu to the left to see options available. Staff were friendly and helpful during interaction. Wait time: Not an extremely long wait between ordering and receiving food and drink. A buzzer is given to you which rings when your food is completed. Food: The yuzu salmon onigiri had a decent serving of salmon inside and on top of the rice. Good salmon flavor but slightly lacking in yuzu flavor. Chicken Curry onigiri: a mild curry flavor which again had a decent rice to chicken ratio. The chicken did taste slightly dry despite the curry sauce likely due to the nature of being a ground meat. Matcha Latte c Pistachio Cream was easily one of the best tasting matcha drinks I have had in SF. The matcha had a strong flavor and the pistachio cream did not overpower the taste of the matcha. There was a nice sweet, slightly salty, and pistachio flavor from the cream and the addition of the crushed pistachios was not a weird texture for the drink. I would definitely be interested in trying more of their matcha beverages due to quality and size of drink compared to cost.

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    Tadaima - Mission
    Pineapple Tonkatsu
    Pineapple Tonkatsu
    This is my Tadaima Combo  - Hojicha Latte w/ Salted Cheese Cream, Matcha w/ Strawberry Cream, Unagi, Avocado, Spam & Egg ‼

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    This is my Tadaima Combo - Hojicha Latte w/ Salted Cheese Cream, Matcha w/ Strawberry Cream, Unagi, Avocado, Spam & Egg ‼
    Shoji

    Shoji

    4.2
    (545 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $

    Stopped by on a Friday at 1pm, pleasantly surprised to see there was no line at all! Their menu is…read morepretty small so I was set on the matcha einspanner. It comes already sweetened and no adjustments can be made, only added. I thought it was pretty decent, I do enjoy the soybean and matcha powder they sprinkle on the top. Definitely on the less sweet side so I appreciated that. As for the matcha flavor, it tasted pretty standard to me. Definitely nice how they have an indoor and outdoor area. The outdoor area gets pretty hot since it's similar to a greenhouse but nice for photos. We ended up coming back inside since it was too hot outside. The inside spots definitely fill up fast due to the AC and nice ambience but we were lucky someone had just left. Super nice spot to just chill or have a date!

    I actually came here twice while on a trip to SF. The Cafe turns into a bar at night. So the first…read morenight I had the Kohaku, which was a whiskey drink. I pretty much try any creamy drink that has a whipped egg white. This was an amazing drink, bright citrus, smokey whiskey, and a creamyness from the egg. Next the Miran Miyagi oysters were very fresh, I forgot what was in it, but there was some crunchy bits for texture and there was also a good kick of spice. The Hojicha Affogato was their dessert, and it was also great. It had dark chocolate gelato and a raspberry compote. I came back to try the Matcha Einspanner since I heard good things about it. I never had one before, but if they're all like this, then I love einspanners. It had a super thick whipped cream with a nice high quality matcha. The service was also very friendly. And since this is a bar/ cafe, it's super chill vibes.

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    Instagram: TianTianEats
    Instagram: TianTianEats
    Matcha einspanner
    Matcha einspanner
    Mocha: Espresso, dandelion chocolate, steamed milk ($6) + Matcha Einspänner: Seion matcha, milk, house sweet cream, kinako ($7)

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    Mocha: Espresso, dandelion chocolate, steamed milk ($6) + Matcha Einspänner: Seion matcha, milk, house sweet cream, kinako ($7)
    Izakaya Yoki

    Izakaya Yoki

    4.1
    (732 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$$
    Casual dining
    Family-owned & operated

    So glad this neighborhood finally has an AYCE sushi spot, and at a price that actually makes sense…read more For $40 a person you are getting a serious deal. One tip: get there early. The place fills up around 6pm so arriving ahead of that will save you a wait. They don't take reservations, so first come first served. The ordering experience is really smooth. Everything is done through an iPad at your table and the food comes out to you. They won't let you place a new order until your previous one has been delivered, which honestly is a smart system and helps with pacing so you don't over order right out of the gate. What sets this place apart from other AYCE spots is the variety. It's not just sushi. You can also order appetizers, salmon, teriyaki chicken and more, so there's something for people who want to mix it up beyond rolls. Delicious, easy, affordable and in the neighborhood. Highly recommend!

    My go-to spot for all-you-can-eat sushi in SF!! Come on an empty stomach. They have an impressive…read moreselection of specialty rolls, nigiri, and appetizers that make it easy to try a little bit of everything. On our most recent visit, we ordered several specialty rolls topped with seared fish, creamy sauces, and tobiko. You MUST try the Lion King Roll- our go to order. Beyond the sushi, we got miso soup, which is comforting and a nice palate cleanser, crunchy seaweed salad, hamachi carpaccio which was fresh and deserved a re-order, and poke chips which are a light and addictive appetizer. You can skip the chicken karaage to be honest, but the butter corn is a surprisingly sweet side that rounds out the meal perfectly. You have a two hour time window to dine, and you can order thru an iPad. Yoki gets quite busy so sometimes there were long gaps between orders. Depends on which day of the week you decide to visit. They're able to seat large parties and I have come here for intimate dates to birthday dinner of up to 8 people. This time we visited with a party of four and had to wait a bit before being seated. That said, Yoki remains my first choice whenever I'm craving best-value AYCE sushi

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    Tiger roll
    Tiger roll
    Sushi combo special
    Sushi combo special
    Special order ( $ 100 )

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    Special order ( $ 100 )
    Rintaro

    Rintaro

    4.2
    (1.2k reviews)
    1.0 mi
    $$$$

    I recently dined here with my friends and had an excellent meal. The chicken heart and liver was…read moreespecially tasty. The vibes and service are excellent and their food is just top notch. great sake selection too! we had some incident that they also took care of which I really appreciate it. I know I wrote a review 8 years ago but my POV is that things are way different and better now.

    I did not realize how popular and poppin this place was. My girls and I chose to eat here to catch…read moreup, and I did find it to be a great place to dine and catch up with the girls. We lucked out without a reservation and showed up the moment they opened. However, I noticed this place has A LOT of reservations; therefore, they did give us a time limit (we had a good hour and 30 mins!). If you're looking for an authentic Japanese izakaya experience, Rintaro is definitely worth checking out. I've been to Japan before, and actually felt like the food we ate was just as good as what you would get in Japan, but more expensive, haha. I also love that their menu focuses on traditional Japanese izakaya dishes rather than just sushi. Everything is meant to be shared, making it a fun dining experience where you can try a little bit of everything. FOOD: 9/10 SERVICE: 9/10 AMBIANCE: 10/10 FOOD: 9/10 The food really showcases the craftsmanship that goes into Japanese cooking. From the handmade udon to the charcoal-grilled skewers that we ordered, every dish felt thoughtfully prepared. I especially appreciated that nothing felt overly complicated. The flavors were simple, balanced, and let the quality of the ingredients shine. The only reason I'm giving it a 9 instead of a perfect 10 is that a few dishes didn't completely wow me for the price, but overall it was a fantastic meal. SERVICE: 9/10 The staff was knowledgeable about the menu and happy to answer questions or offer recommendations. The restaurant gets busy, but service still felt attentive throughout the meal without making us feel rushed. They do recommend ordering everything at once, as they do run out of things due to the high volume of customers. AMBIANCE: 10/10 The first thing that stood out to me was the ambiance. From the moment you walk in, the warm wood interior, open kitchen, and charcoal grill make you feel like you've stepped into Japan. It has such a cozy and intimate atmosphere that's perfect for a date night or catching up with friends. Rintaro is definitely more of a special occasion spot than an everyday dinner. The quality is there, but because the menu is made up of small plates, the bill can add up pretty quickly. That said, I think it's worth experiencing at least once if you're looking for an authentic izakaya in San Francisco. Overall, I'd definitely come back. The atmosphere alone makes it memorable, and I love that Rintaro focuses on traditional Japanese comfort food instead of being another sushi restaurant. It's the kind of place where you come for the entire experience, not just the meal.

    Photos
    Interior
    Interior
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    Teba no karate

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    Teba no karate
    KUSAKABE

    KUSAKABE

    4.6
    (1.2k reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$$$

    Kusakabe creates the kind of dining experience that feels carefully designed from the moment you…read moresit down. We walked into a refined but welcoming space where the sushi counter is the main focus, and the meal unfolds course by course in front of us. There is a sense of calm throughout the room, allowing the attention to stay on the chefs, the ingredients, and the details behind each dish without the distraction of a busy dining room. The omakase experience balances traditional sushi with more creative touches. Each course brings something different, from fresh sashimi and nigiri to warmer dishes like chawan mushi that add depth to the progression of the meal. The sushi highlights the quality of the fish while incorporating thoughtful flavor combinations, with dishes like scallop and the dry-aged fish courses standing out for their texture and seasoning. The sake pairing fits naturally into the experience, adding another layer without overpowering the food, and the sommelier's selections complement the progression of flavors across the meal. What makes Kusakabe memorable is the craftsmanship and pacing of the meal. The chefs take time to explain each course, making the experience feel personal rather than rushed. Sitting at the counter adds to the atmosphere because you get to see the precision and care that goes into every piece, from the way the rice is formed to the final brush of sauce on the fish. The pacing of the meal allows you to appreciate each course without feeling rushed, and the team's attention to detail creates a rhythm that keeps the meal engaging from start to finish. Kusakabe feels like a place made for special occasions, celebrations, or anyone looking for a more elevated Japanese dining experience. It combines technique, hospitality, and creativity in a way that makes the entire meal feel like an event rather than just a dinner. The balance of traditional and modern elements, along with the warmth of the service, leaves you with the sense of having experienced something complete and thoughtfully composed.

    What an experience! We were celebrating an anniversary and planned a bit last minute, but were able…read moreto snag a reservation here pretty easily. Immediately, the ambiance and service was quite nice. We were seated at the table, but typically I enjoy sitting at the bar to watch the chefs make our food. The service was amazing and they were very attentive. They also offered to take photos and gave us a little gift of hojicha tea since we were celebrating. We got the omakase, which was massive and had 18 courses. They gave us a menu so we knew what to expect for each course, and we ordered some sake. The omakase was delicious and more traditional than other places, each course was so beautiful and delicately made. This is definitely a lot of food, I would recommend the petite omakase in the future as I was stuffed, but it was a great experience if you come hungry! Courses: - Chawan-mushi - super tasty and every bite was delicious and umami forward! - Otsumami - 7 seasonal appetizers presented in a beautiful box, there was a stuffed crab claw in there that was delicious - 4 kinds of sushi - each piece came out one at a time, the first piece was my absolute favorite and blew me away, it was a seared chutoro that immediately melts in your mouth and tastes smokey - Hamachi soup - very tasty and warming soup with hamachi inside, was perfect in between the sushi course - 4 kinds of sushi - A5 Waguyu shabu - this course was extra $10 pp but was so delicious, the wagyu was melt in your mouth and had some grated daikon on top in a ponzu dashi, the toppings help balance the meat so it's overwhelming since it does melt in your mouth, one of my favorite bites! - 4 kind of sushi - they brought out some really great sushis, including more chutoro and an unagi handroll, but I was so stuffed at this point that I felt I couldn't enjoy it as much - miso soup - this soup was so tasty and kind of revived me after all that food, it felt comforting and a great way to end - dessert- I got the hojicha ice cream in a waffle like cookie and it was delicious!

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    Eight Kinds of Sushi

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    Eight Kinds of Sushi

    The Roll - japanese - Updated July 2026

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