Lunch in Japantown?

[katelynne]

We'll be visiting in mid March, and plan to spend a few hours wandering around Japantown. Where do you recommend for lunch? We're open-minded: sushi, noodles, okonomiyaki. We are towing a 13 yr old who will not eat raw fish, but we enjoy it.....

[katelynne]

Thank you all for the suggestions! We go in a week. Looks like Ino, Maki, and Sushi Tombo are not open for much, so I think it's between Suzu's if we're in a noodle mood or Takara's if we want sushi.
For dessert--what do you recommend at Benkyo-do? Kuri-manju has been suggested.

-----
Suzu
1825 Post St, San Francisco, CA

Ino Restaurant
25 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941

[Windy]

I think Takara's the best option for lunchtime cooked food (not a noodle shop or sushi bar). They have a fine quality sushi bar too.

Mifune is a long-time favorite. I always get the same things, so hard to say what's good besides the Mifune special with the cold noodles and tempura.

-----
Mifune Restaurant
1737 Post St Ste 375, San Francisco, CA 94115

Takara Restaurant
22 Peace Plz Ste 505, San Francisco, CA 94115

[pauliface]

I like Suzu best for noodles, in japantown. This would be my first pick.

Definitely go to Benkyo-do afterwards. That place is a treasure, my favorite are the kuri-manju (baked cakey coating around white bean deliciousness)

-----
Suzu
1825 Post St, San Francisco, CA

[myst]

San Wongs for Korean/Chinese. Dry-fried anything (try the chicken wings).

[Frids]

I like the smaller version of Mifune Don in the mall, close to the hotel.

-----
Mifune Don Restaurant
22 Peace Plz Ste 560, San Francisco, CA 94115

[rln]

If you go on a weekend, I recommend Maki. They are only open for dinner during the week. It's right in the mall. A small restaurant but good.

[katelynne]

Thanks for the information, however it'll be a weekday (Thurs or Friday).

[wolfe]

Sapporo-Ya

[ikb]

I think tanpopo is better for ramen.

If you want something entertaining and more American than Japanese, there is Benihana which is teppanyaki.

There's a boat sushi place called isobune which is pretty good even though not made to order. Your 13 yo can look at all the food before picking something and you can also order off the menu.

There's a Japanese pasta place on the bridge in the mall. It's more different than great, but you can try some pasta dishes that Japanese people eat.

Ino sushi is great but very traditional and doesn't have much of a menu beyond raw fish.

After lunch you might want to walk north one block to a coffee shop called Benkyo-do to get daifuku.

[wolfe]

On the Bridge is on the bridge.

-----
On the Bridge
1581 Webster St # 206, San Francisco, CA

[ML8000]

I'm a fan of Tanpopo. Maki is very good...but no lunch as metioned. I think of Sapporo-Ya as a late night place...as in it's good late at night but otherwise not.

[DezzerSF]

No offense, but Sapporo-Ya is probably the worst ramen I've had.

Suzu and Tanpopo are probably the best bets in J-town for ramen.

Ino & Sushi aka Tombo for sushi.

Doobu for Korean fare.

Mums for all you can eat Shabu Shabu.

-----
Tanpopo
1740 Buchanan St, San Francisco, CA

Suzu
1825 Post St, San Francisco, CA

Doobu
1723 Buchanan St, San Francisco, CA 94115

Ino Restaurant
25 Miller Ave, Mill Valley, CA 94941

[rln]

I really like Suzu too. They close between 3 and 5 but are open for lunch every day but Monday, I think. My husband and I have often wanted their food between those times! Often a wait on the weekend.

-----
Suzu
1825 Post St, San Francisco, CA