By Joshua Duvauchelle
The Best Sushi Restaurants in San Francisco
is one of the largest cities in California and is home to landmarks like the Golden Gate Bridge and the biggest Chinatown outside of China itself. The combination of a large Asian population and the city's location on California's Pacific coast means a wide selection of delectable sushi restaurants can be found throughout the region. Discover the best sushi restaurants that serve fresh seafood with creative culinary twists that exemplify California's adventurous spirit.
Ebisu
Originally opened 30 years ago, the family-owned-and-operated Ebisu is one of San Francisco's premier sushi joints. Owners Steve and Koko Fujii use only the freshest seafood for impeccable rolls like saba nigiri sushi and freshwater eel with cucumber. Try their famous Ebisu sushi dinner, a meal featuring salmon, spicy tuna maki and flying fish roe nigiri sushi, amongst others. Be warned: The sushi is so good that there is often a line outside the restaurant and little available parking.
Ebisu Restaurant
1283 9th Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94122
(415) 566-1770
ebisusushi.com
Grandeho's Kamekyo
Robbie Owen-Wahl
This boutique sushi restaurant has limited seating, making long waits an unavoidable reality when you want to sample some of the restaurant's perfectly crafted sushi rolls. Decor is simple and modern, and the atmosphere is subdued, which makes Grandeho's Kamekyo a great destination for a date or casual business meeting. All of the seafood is the freshest possible, meaning items like the albacore sashimi are literally sweet and buttery.
Grandeho's Kamekyo
943 Cole Street
San Francisco, CA 94117-4315
(415) 759-8428
Kyo-ya
Located in the luxurious Palace Hotel, Kyo-ya elevates Japanese sushi to a whole new level. Take their '49er sushi roll, decked out in edible gold leaf. Their sushi chefs have won numerous awards, giving credibility to the restaurant's claims that their sushi is like precious jewels. Kyo-ya is perhaps most known for its specialty rolls, which incorporate unconventional ingredients such as the aloha roll's macadamia nuts, mango, teriyaki sauce and SPAM luncheon meat. Try Asian-inspired cocktails--like sake mixed with ginger and lemon juice--every day, with happy hour starting at 5 p.m. and ending at 7 p.m.
Kyo-ya in the Palace Hotel
2 New Montgomery Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
(415) 546-5090
sfpalacerestaurants.com/kyoya
Sushi Groove
Sushi Groove is a trendy sushi restaurant found in the Hyde Street district and is a hit among San Francisco's hipsters. Ask your server for the nightly special, which changes daily and highlights the best fresh seafood available. Consider yourself lucky if you get a chance to savor their toro sushi, which is made with decadently expensive fatty tuna.
Sushi Groove
1916 Hyde Street
San Francisco, CA 94109
(415) 440-1905
Resources
About the Author:
Joshua Duvauchelle is an editor and journalist who has been writing since 2000. His work has appeared in various national and international magazines, including "Honolulu Magazine." Duvauchelle graduated with honors from Trinity Western University, holding a Bachelor of Arts in professional communications, and earned a certificate in applied leadership and public affairs from the Laurentian Leadership Centre.
Photo Credits:
Jonathan Lonsdale
