Wako Japanese Restaurant
| Address: | 211 Clement St, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA |
| Phone: | +1 415-682-4875 |
| Site: | sushiwakosf.com |
| Rating: | 4.7 |
| Working: | Closed 5:30–10PM 5:30–10PM 5:30–10PM 5:30–10PM 5:30–10PM Closed |
Location
Photos 100
Reviews 12
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Diana Chuang
I first discovered Wako while wondering the streets of Clement. The exterior caught my eye…it was simple and clean, gave a very traditional Japanese vibe! We ordered their 7 course omakase, chirashi bowl, and grilled miso black cod. The place is really small - seat max 25 people. The chef and the waitresses were all Japanese. The service was amazing...the waitress was very attentive. She promptly took our orders, brought out the dishes one after another perfectly timed, cleared the table as soon as we were done with each dish, rearranged our plate settings for prettier presentation as she saw fit, wiped the table in between dishes, filled tea/water frequently. Service itself is always an experience at a traditional Japanese restaurant! Now the food…. It was definitely quality over quantity. Omakase was a good option for variety. We tried the house sesame tofu, small salad, 2 slices of eggplant (or was it 1 slice?), tempura, 4 slices of sashimi, 7 pieces of nigiri, miso soup, and blueberry panna cotta. Hmmm I’m missing one dish but can’t recall what it was!! Everything was so delicate, fresh, delicious and nicely presented! The chirashi bowl was equally impressive. One thing worth of noting – sushi rice was warm….yumm. And oh boy, my favorite was probably the miso black cod. It was so moist, tender, and just melted in your mouth good. Overall a great experience, so excited for another authentic Japanese restaurant in the Richmond! Tho probably can’t return too often due to $$$!
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Catherine Chang
This is very close to a 5-star for me, but not quite there. Tomo, the sushi chef and owner, has endless patience answering our pestering questions about sushi, food, and life in general. Yes, if you go to Wako, sit at the sushi bar. Watching Tomo, a three-time U.S. Sushi MasterChef Champion, make your nigiri is a pleasure in itself. The ambiance is modern, clean (but not sterile), and comfortable. Great place to go on a fancy date. Now onto the food itself: Chirashi - Fresh but small slices. Has a dabble of uni included. I was disappointed that Tomo decided to use smoked salmon instead of fresh salmon though. For $36, I expected better. Best nigiri: yellowtail, scallop, mackerel, tuna, scallop (ask to keep scallop raw/un-grilled). Mediocre nigiri: chinook king salmon (too soft and mushy) Drinks: Abbey Road sake (smooth, fruity, no aftertaste). The barley tea here is delightful too. Desserts: House made black sesame daifuku (mochi) by one of the waitresses = #amazeballs she also makes a killer panna cotta and green tea mochi.
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Alena Perez
The first time I went to Wake, I was impressed. Everything ordered was high quality, great flavors and nice atmosphere. I was really disappointed with my experience the second time around. We had a reservation and was never told our time was limited. After ordering Omakase, we werent allowed to order anything more because they wanted to seat the next party. It really ruins the experience when you want to sit down and enjoy a nice meal (and we were not taking our sweet time). They could have at least told us upfront that we had to be out by a certain time so we could have ordered what we wanted ahead of time. For a Michelin star rated restaurant, they sure dont care about the customer experience.
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Jen Chou
Wako has become one of my favorite sushi spots in the city. However, it is pricey enough that I cant justify coming here regularly. The omakase is a great deal, but my greediness always gets the best of me and I end up ordering more on top. Tomo, the sushi chef, is the most pleasant and friendly guy youll ever meet. If you can, sit at the sushi bar so you can chat with him. After the meal, save room for dessert. One of the waitresses makes the most flavorful daifukus I have ever tasted. They are quite expensive (I think $5 a pop), but definitely worth a try.
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Eisar Lipkovitz
Everything we tried was very good, but for $100/pp I expect to be wowed and we werent. The waiter suggested we should try the Nigiri Omakase menu as they are known for the fresh fish. I love Japanese food but at the end of the day I prefer Kaiseki or Izakaya style, with some Sushi. The cooked dishes here werent as impressive. Every fish we tried was super fresh, the Scallops, Yellow Fin and Tuna Belly were spectacular. Go here if you love Sushi, order the Omakase and next time do a-la carte.
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Andrew Pikul
Small and intimate, Wako Sushi was definitely one of the best sushi experiences Ive ever had. We selected the omakase option with the sake pairings and were delighted at every course. The dishes are well constructed with incredible attention to detail and color. Suffice it to say, each plate was more delicious than the next but left you more than satisfied. The price was a bit hard to swallow but overall, its still a great spot that should be checked out. Be sure to get reservations!
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Caleb Morrell
For the past 3 years, I was unable to find a sushi place in the city I felt comfortable recommending to people. Ive finally found it! Its a bit expensive, but the sushi is top notch. Everything is delicious, and meticulously prepared. The service is great, and the wood interior is warm and welcoming. I recommend the 7 course Omakase. Its just the right amount of food, but you might have room for 1 extra dish of a repeat of your favorite course. You wont be disappointed!
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Wendy Hu
First Michelin Star restaurant Ive ever tried. I had the 9 course meal, but was quite disappointed to learn that only 2/9 courses involved sushi, totalling 8 pieces of sushi (4/course). My favourite was the sea urchin sushi, but all of the sushi were delicious. The other courses were composed of interesting soups, puddings, and bits I cannot name. The food was great, but its not a place Id go more than once.
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pie app
Snobs. White cloth blocks the doorway. Waitress give me bad look. I ask f i needed reservation and she says there is a table but minimum is $35. B****. She judged me. I had the money if she interested me in the restaurant. I walked out and took chance with "good noodle" next door and when I peaked in the waiter gave huge loving sincere smile as he pulled out a seat so I was in and food was great!
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Anh Trinh
Weve been going to Wako for a while, and the food never disappoints. If you see giant clam, uni from Hokkaido, or the local abalone on the menu, definitely order. I love their omakase offerings because theres always somthing new to try. Their desserts are deceivingly refreshing, and the homemade nama chocolate bites are excellent with tea. Service is very good as well. So yes, 5/5 stars!
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Daniel Soski
Absolutely amazing nigiri! I dont normally like salmon but that was the best Ive ever had. They also have some more obscure items like urchin, tuna belly, and raw wagyu beef. I sat at the bar with two others in my group and the service was great and they were very helpful in picking sake. Only downside is that this place is quite expensive; nigiri is about $6-$12 per piece.
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Jenn W
Wako is the most amazing sushi restaurant in San Francisco. The food is so perfect and delicate and delicious. Each dish in the omakase is at once a piece of art and super tasty morsel. The fish is super fresh and you really wont find anything like it elsewhere in SF. Tomo has created a great atmosphere in side - wood paneling and flowers make everything beautiful.
