what to eat at Japantown?

[oohlala]

Thinking visiting Japantown friday night. Looking for a mid-range japanese restaurant to go with party of 10 (sushi or izakaya, as long as we can get a table!). Hopefully it's not too late to get some advice :)

[Paul H]

If you are looking for Izakaya in the North Bay you are pretty well limited to Ippuku, Nombe, and Oyaji and none of them are in Japantown.

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Oyaji Restaurant
3123 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94121

Nombe
2491 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94110

Ippuku
2130 Center St, Berkeley, CA 94704

[indigirl]

I don't know what you consider mid-range; Bushi-tei is really nice (though expensive for my budget), more upscale Frenchy-Japanese fusion rather than the izakaya or sushi you suggested. You might check to see how people like their bistro; I haven't been there but I see they've got sushi.

[shellshock24]

Unfortunately Japantown in SF lacks decent mid-range Japanese restaurants (it always frustrated me for the many years I lived there). On the high end, Kappa and Kiss are great for omakaze sushi meals, but expect to dish out about $80-100 per person. As for izakayas, there really isn't much in the sense of tradition Japanese izakayas. The Hotel Kabuki has O Izakaya, but its fairly western and a tad overpriced for the quality of food you get. Also, a table of ten is tough in general in SF. I would may recommend a shabu shabu place (like Shabu Shabu House in the Inner Richmond) for a large group.

For good, midrange sushi or izakayas, I would recommend venturing into the Inner Richmond or Inner Sunset.

I know I didn't really provide much, but hope this helps.

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Shabu House
5158 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94118

[oohlala]

thanks shellshock!

just what i found online about restos in jtown. Where will you recommend for sushi places at inner richmond or inner sunset then?

[myst]

In J-town I like the Korean-Japanese San Wong (dried fried anything) for Sushi try Koo on Irving but it is small....

[sfbing]

That table of 10 thing is tough. I would definitely call/make reservation. Some possibilities in the Richmond: Not sushi, but interesting food: Kappou Gomi. For a real izakaya atmosphere (but the food is just ok), Oyaji.

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Oyaji Restaurant
3123 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94121

Kappou Gomi
5524 Geary Blvd, San Francisco, CA 94121

[shellshock24]

I really like Koo in the Inner Sunset, and its possible to get a reservation for 10, but I would recommened calling right now. For a more non-authentic sushi experience (but a very lively atmosphere), Sushi Bistro on Balboa in the Inner Richmond is decent.

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Sushi Bistro
445 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94118