AKIKOS

The Japanese sushi chef was knowledgeable about sushi down to where the rice was coming from and the different grades of uni. Food tasted great and really enjoyed it until the young waiter came to start collecting my dishes and took away my chopsticks holder while I was still eating my pickled ginger. It was a good meal though. Just the service could be more polished.

Visited 4 months ago

The omakase was excellent. Every dish and every nigiri were well thought of and delicious. The service and sushi chef were also superb. Now, this is my opinion, and I do not claim to be any great authority about this. However, I think that a torched baracuda which has a strong bold flavor, should go after the sweet shrimp and scallop which are much milder. That is my only suggestion which should be ignored for the reason that I don't know anything.

Visited 4 months ago

Incredible dining experience every time. Best high quality lunch restaurant in SF, and was able to get a reservation for lunch for a Tuesday afternoon (a difficult day of the week for omakase).

Their menu, flavors, quality all of it is on point. I will surely return.

Must have --> toro milk toast with kaluga caviar & gold flake is literal heaven on earth...

Visited 4 months ago

Omg this is by far the best set menu Japanese restaurant I have ever been to in the U.S. The service is phenomenal and friendly. The food is by far the best! Excellent quality fish and combination. There were items I don’t even like like sea urchin and eel but here they were great! Amazing experience and I will definitely come back.

Visited a year ago

Fantastic omakase with interesting dishes. Their take on cioppino might be one of my favorite cioppinos I have tried. Shari is on a vinegar-y side, but it works well with the flavor profile of the neta. Overall, it was one of the best omakase experiences in San Francisco.

Visited 6 months ago

Really great experience all around, service was top notch, the restaurant itself was not too packed and very upbeat, I was able to try the Omakase which was very delicious. Whiskey was solid as well.

Visited 8 months ago

Edit: Since they moved to a new location serving different food and kept all their old Google reviews.

We have dined frequently at Akikos when it was still located near Dragon’s Gate and was a la carte. It was excellent at the time which made us inclined to try their new location that is fixed omakase with a la carte add-on options.

Our bill came to $350 per person (without alcohol or drinks) and I have to say based solely on the food, the meal was worth 2/5 stars.

Albeit the decor of the restaurant and the plates are more high end, the quality of the omakase is sub par. We specifically requested to be seated at the bar so we could observe the chef at work.

Cutting skills were amateur, the way the nigiri was prepared was nothing worthy of the price point. For example, the uni on the nigiri was scooped up with a spoon and using fingers, mashed into a lump on top of rice, many pieces of the nigiri were of varying sizes, one big one small. Aesthetically this performance was lacking. One of my nigiris literally keeled over on its side shortly after it was placed on my dish lol. There was a lot of lag time during our omakase courses when the chef would be preparing other people’s orders (like 8 others’ portions) causing long wait times in between ours.

A lot of the dishes lacked flavor or that excitement of eating super delicious foods. Like one of the other reviews mentioned, their caviar on sweet bread was melt-in-your mouth creamy but is also a $50 option, if you put that much caviar on Wonderbread, I can’t imagine it tasting bad. No stand out dishes for me which I expect for a restaurant at this caliber.

Ginger was a bit on the salty side, though it should be a palate cleanser it stayed in your mouth for a bit too long and strong.

Staff were busy chitchatting behind counters the whole time.

All in all, the vibes were a bit lacking. Super pricey for what it was, I could name 5 Japanese restaurants more worth your time and money.

Unfortunately we were disappointed for a highly anticipated meal to celebrate my husband’s birthday. We tried really hard to like it, but it just isn’t it.

Previous review at prior location and restaurant structure: Deliciously fresh Sashimi, no fishy taste. All of the dishes were fresh, deliciously flavored. Got us wanting to go back and bring more friends.

There was one hostess that did not provide the nicest service. She's always near the front of the restaurant. However, willing to overlook for the food.

Visited 7 years ago

Impressive high end omakase spot in the financial district. I went there for a birthday dinner and it really hit the spot. The interior is defined by clean lines and beautiful rugs, and service was friendly and top notch. The sushi was delicious and fresh, prepared with modern touches: a brush of sauce here, some blow torching, or surrounded by light fragrant smoke. The flash fried lobster claw, deconstructed ciopinno, toro milk toast, sea bream nigiri and variety of uni were highlights for me. There was plenty of food but I wasn’t overly stuffed at the end. Well worth a try for a work expense dinner or special date. Parking is pretty limited in the area.

Visited 10 months ago

Came here for a New Year’s Eve omakase dinner with sake pairing. We sat at the chef’s table which was a great experience to talk with the chef and watch them prepare the food. The service was top notch. The uni, akamutsu and shirayaki were the stand outs. We plan to return with friends! Thank you!

Visited 3 months ago

The omakase was excellent. Every dish and every nigiri were well thought of and delicious. The service and sushi chef were also superb. Now, this is my opinion, and I do not claim to be any great authority about this. However, I think that a torched baracuda which has a strong bold flavor, should go after the sweet shrimp and scallop which are much milder. That is my only suggestion which should be ignored for the reason that I don't know anything.

Visited 4 months ago

The Japanese sushi chef was knowledgeable about sushi down to where the rice was coming from and the different grades of uni. Food tasted great and really enjoyed it until the young waiter came to start collecting my dishes and took away my chopsticks holder while I was still eating my pickled ginger. It was a good meal though. Just the service could be more polished.

Visited 4 months ago

Ambrosial aliments parsed perfectly, exquisite ambience, attentive and discreet service! Ingredients for a consummate culinary expedition into the art and science of Japanese comestibles.
Ray Lee and his curated staff purvey a complete experience that delights the senses. Patrons will be immediately struck by the attention to detail in every aspect of the experience beyond the fare itself-from bespoke lighting to the serving stage to dishes to the hashi and hashioki.
The Japanese concept of “Kaizen” is evidenced in all aspects of AKIKOS, from fare to service to the every material aspect of the setting.
An apt reflection of an approach and attitude to restauranteur-ship that is amply worthy of exploration and experience.

Visited 4 months ago

Incredible dining experience every time. Best high quality lunch restaurant in SF, and was able to get a reservation for lunch for a Tuesday afternoon (a difficult day of the week for omakase).

Their menu, flavors, quality all of it is on point. I will surely return.

Must have --> toro milk toast with kaluga caviar & gold flake is literal heaven on earth...

Visited 4 months ago

We like to have fancy Omakase every year on our anniversary and Akikos really lived up to the hype! Every single dish and beverage were exquisite. We are simply giddy from the pleasure

Visited 4 months ago

Visited 4 months ago

Double-check your charges if you dine here!

The food was excellent, but I was extremely disappointed with the billing experience. After dining, I noticed that I was charged a 100% tip on top of the check amount—an unauthorized charge. Thankfully, I caught this while reviewing my statement and contacted the restaurant.

Jack, a team member, was helpful in reversing the charge, which I appreciate. However, the fact that such a huge overcharge occurred in the first place feels like a fraudulent practice and left a bad taste in my mouth. I hope this was an isolated incident, but it’s concerning enough that I would hesitate to return.

Visited 5 months ago

Great service, good variety of dishes, 17 course omakase dinner. Nice atmosphere.

Visited 5 months ago

We just love, love, love this sushi spot, elegant setting, professional staff and consistently amazing sushi.
Chef Ray Lee ftw!

Visited 5 months ago

Pricey, but good and quite satisfying. Didn’t feel like I needed another meal or snack after

Visited 6 months ago

This is a really upscale place that only serves omakase for $250 per person. when you factor in tax and tip it comes to $350 per person. although the service and quality are very good, I have has this type of omakase in various places around the country and I think the price is way too much. I think it is worth $150 per person. the meal was great - I Just don't think it's worth the price. the Nigiri was excellent. wasn't a fan of the desert and several of the appetizers I didn't like either. the quality of the fish is amazing.

Visited 6 months ago

Extraordinary food, especially the Otsumami. Shokupan was a favorite! Intimate dinner with knowledgeable and friendly staff. Would have liked a drink pairing offer, but was not available.

Visited 6 months ago

Visited 6 months ago

Fantastic omakase with interesting dishes. Their take on cioppino might be one of my favorite cioppinos I have tried. Shari is on a vinegar-y side, but it works well with the flavor profile of the neta. Overall, it was one of the best omakase experiences in San Francisco.

Visited 6 months ago

Edit: Since they moved to a new location serving different food and kept all their old Google reviews.

We have dined frequently at Akikos when it was still located near Dragon’s Gate and was a la carte. It was excellent at the time which made us inclined to try their new location that is fixed omakase with a la carte add-on options.

Our bill came to $350 per person (without alcohol or drinks) and I have to say based solely on the food, the meal was worth 2/5 stars.

Albeit the decor of the restaurant and the plates are more high end, the quality of the omakase is sub par. We specifically requested to be seated at the bar so we could observe the chef at work.

Cutting skills were amateur, the way the nigiri was prepared was nothing worthy of the price point. For example, the uni on the nigiri was scooped up with a spoon and using fingers, mashed into a lump on top of rice, many pieces of the nigiri were of varying sizes, one big one small. Aesthetically this performance was lacking. One of my nigiris literally keeled over on its side shortly after it was placed on my dish lol. There was a lot of lag time during our omakase courses when the chef would be preparing other people’s orders (like 8 others’ portions) causing long wait times in between ours.

A lot of the dishes lacked flavor or that excitement of eating super delicious foods. Like one of the other reviews mentioned, their caviar on sweet bread was melt-in-your mouth creamy but is also a $50 option, if you put that much caviar on Wonderbread, I can’t imagine it tasting bad. No stand out dishes for me which I expect for a restaurant at this caliber.

Ginger was a bit on the salty side, though it should be a palate cleanser it stayed in your mouth for a bit too long and strong.

Staff were busy chitchatting behind counters the whole time.

All in all, the vibes were a bit lacking. Super pricey for what it was, I could name 5 Japanese restaurants more worth your time and money.

Unfortunately we were disappointed for a highly anticipated meal to celebrate my husband’s birthday. We tried really hard to like it, but it just isn’t it.

Previous review at prior location and restaurant structure: Deliciously fresh Sashimi, no fishy taste. All of the dishes were fresh, deliciously flavored. Got us wanting to go back and bring more friends.

There was one hostess that did not provide the nicest service. She's always near the front of the restaurant. However, willing to overlook for the food.

Visited 6 months ago

Esos platillos son como para matar la curiosidad a como sabe la comida japonesa porque para salir satisfecho croe qué con unos 4 más o menos te llenas..
Y josue para que esperas 2 horas en la calle acaso ivas a pedir te ivan a regalar la comida hermano si ami no me atienden con cortesía desde que llego o en los primeros 5 minutis no hay nadie atendiendo en mi mesa Chao prefiero una marucha en mi casa y nobestar como pendejo

Visited 7 months ago

Really great experience all around, service was top notch, the restaurant itself was not too packed and very upbeat, I was able to try the Omakase which was very delicious. Whiskey was solid as well.

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

Got the lunch omakase. 5 delicious small plates (chawanmushi and robusuta are my favorites). Have been several times for lunch, planning to try dinner soon. (Looks like many of the same items but at a significantly higher price). One of the few places in the city where a special coursed lunch is available.

Menu is good but rarely changes.

Visited 8 months ago

Great restaurant. Very creative menu. Service was superb.

Visited 8 months ago

Amazing Omakase dinner! Worth the experience. Service was impeccable 👌 Thao who helped us pair a nice bottle of Sake with our meal..made it more elevated.

Visited 8 months ago

Visited 8 months ago

Excellent food and service. Very expensive though.

Visited 9 months ago

In a city with many great omakase meals, this place stands out for its quality and creativity.

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

If you want an amazing experience go to KEN. This place is not worth the price point. Food was ok. Sushi chefs seem to be in training, no guidance from staff on etiquette, my drink was always empty… I feel I could go on and on. But let’s get to it - the. Smoked fish is a gimmick. The knife skills I observed were amateur. I go to watch this stuff and I was so disappointed. I appreciate the people that work to put on this production, but it’s not something I’d ever do again.

Visited 9 months ago

Really great omakese experience! Thanks so much for opening at lunch time so busy parents can go while kids in daycare.

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

Visited 9 months ago

Three years ago, I’d gone to Akikos at their old location. It was the best sushi I’d had. I’d remembered it fondly and always aimed to make it back here for its authenticity and impeccable quality. I came back and not only has the price had gone up for two people for about 800$ (omakase and a sake bottle), but every serving had some form of overlooked detail (some too salty, some no salt, many overcooked, some cooked and left too long (soggy), etc). The sushi rice, where 鮨飯implies vinegared rice, had no flavor. Many other items had too much vinegar. The ginger that was meant to cleanse the palate was way too sour. For the price to quality (more than dinner at the French laundry, let alone Noma itself), it is not worth it.

Visited 10 months ago

Premium place! One of my new favorites! The freshest fish and impeccable service! Very nice selection of whiskeys as well!

Visited 10 months ago

Impressive high end omakase spot in the financial district. I went there for a birthday dinner and it really hit the spot. The interior is defined by clean lines and beautiful rugs, and service was friendly and top notch. The sushi was delicious and fresh, prepared with modern touches: a brush of sauce here, some blow torching, or surrounded by light fragrant smoke. The flash fried lobster claw, deconstructed ciopinno, toro milk toast, sea bream nigiri and variety of uni were highlights for me. There was plenty of food but I wasn’t overly stuffed at the end. Well worth a try for a work expense dinner or special date. Parking is pretty limited in the area.

Visited 10 months ago

Omg this is by far the best set menu Japanese restaurant I have ever been to in the U.S. The service is phenomenal and friendly. The food is by far the best! Excellent quality fish and combination. There were items I don’t even like like sea urchin and eel but here they were great! Amazing experience and I will definitely come back.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Went to Akikos for lunch omakase on the counter. The service and atmosphere was great, like the chef as well from Kyoto. Food was a bit average compared with other omakase places I have been though. I can’t believe my favorite nigiri was Spanish mackerel. The tuna, sea bream, scallop etc was all fresh but it didn’t turn out amazing amazing, eg for scallop it was a bit overpowered by the seasoning and I got a really salty bite.

Visited a year ago

Went with colleagues. Unbelievably fantastic. Sat at the chefs table, watched him create each dish.

Visited a year ago

We had the omakase and it was the right amount of food for me. Three stars only because while the fish were fresh, I felt the success or marinades slightly overwhelmed the taste of the fish rather than enhance the bite. It seemed the fish wasn't center stage but the sauce/marinade was. Three star for service because when they set the next dish down, they begin describing the dish over our conversation rather than waiting a second for us to pause and look up before beginning their descriptions. I felt this more with the women staff than men, as if we were dining at their convenience. The atmosphere was nice but it was pretty cold at 6pm with only a few guests; my yes got cold and had to be replaced. These little touched of improvement would make the price point worthy of my return.

Visited a year ago

Best one and freshest one. 5 stars and more.

Visited a year ago

Amazing foot, amazing service.

Visited a year ago

One of the best culinary experiences I’ve had. Certainly a worthwhile omakase. Quite diverse and the service was entirely on point.

Visited a year ago

A+++

Visited a year ago

We had a lovely meal at Akikos. The sushi was mouth watering and one of the best we have had! The omakase came with a series of pre-sushi appetizers that were seasonal, delicious and refreshing.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Top omakase

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Amazing experience. Incredibly fresh, amazing creativity, and simple but attentive service; with a great drink lineup. Top flight omakase. Their new location is certainly an upgrade aesthetically.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Really nice atmosphere and the food was extremely nicely presented and super yummy.

We came here on a weekday and the place was relatively quiet ... Perfect.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Absolutely delightful sushi experience.

Visited a year ago

Fantastic experience ♥️ It’s got lovely interiors and a great modern design. I loved the ambiance and the menu sounded fascinating. Food is high quality and magnifique. I enjoyed the lunch trying new things on the menu and had a great time. Thanks to all high professional people working there and managing this place.

Visited a year ago

Phenomenal omakase. Perfectly paced meal. One perfectly balanced dish follows the next. Service is impeccable without being overly formal. Very special experience.

Visited a year ago

hands down best sushi experience ever

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

A perfectly reasonable spot, but you're paying for the ambiance more than the quality of the sushi -- the sushi is good, but you can have sushi this good for a fraction of the price elsewhere in SF.

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

My wife and I enjoyed everything.

Visited a year ago

Great omakasa. We really enjoyed the dishes. Their signature dishes are top notch and nigiri was amazing. They also have a great sake pairing to go with the meal. Beautiful space and ambiance as well.

Visited a year ago

AKIKOS may have moved locations, but the food and service haven't changed a bit. The restaurant over delivers on both fronts. If you're looking for an incredible omakase experience, look no further than AKIKOS.

Our menu consisted of:

1) Osechi - tako, herring roe, blackbeans
2) Sashimi - akami, shirako, makogarel
3) Robusută - lobster, leek, caviar
4) Chawanmushi - egg custard, duck liver, king crab & lobster gravy
5) Cioppino - cod, tomato & clam sauce
6) Shokupan - milk bread, toro, golden kaluga caviar
7) Sunomono - mirugai, pear, raspberries, muscat, cucumber
8) Zuke - soy cured bluefin tuna
9) Kawahagi - trigger fish
10) Ji-Kinmedai - goldeneye red snapper
11) Aori Ika - bigfin reef squid
12) Uni - sea urchin
13) Buri - matured yellowtail
14) Kohada - gizzard shad
15) Kamasu - young barracuda
16) Toro - bluefin belly
17) Anago - wild sea eel
18) Dessert - White sesame

We also ordered an additional serving of Hotate (scallop) nigiri.

Visited a year ago

I think this place is truly overpriced. I wasn't happy with the service and didn't find the food/drinks that impressive to be honest. Especially the drinks were not good!

Visited a year ago

Visited a year ago

Long time patron and fan of chef Lee. Thanks for so many incredible meals.

Visited a year ago

Amazing experience

Visited a year ago

Went for lunch for our anniversary. Whole experience was great, nicely balanced omakase and staff was very friendly and made it feel special.

Visited a year ago

11/10

Visited a year ago

high level sushi - can defo recommend. great service too!

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Amazing food. Nice relaxing atmosphere and great staff! Highly recommend !

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

The menu as written does not do it justice— many creative and wonderfully executed treatments, aging and otherwise. Extremely private and relaxing ambience. Certainly in the top tier in the country.

Visited 2 years ago

I went there for the first time ever to celebrate my early birthday dinner. This was probably the best omakase restaurant I've been to, compared to NYC level.

My guest and I was greeted by a friendly host who showed us to our seats at the sushi bar. I recommend getting seats here, so you can watch the chefs make your nigiri.

Every item they brought to us to eat were amazing, flavorful, melts in your mouth, and no fishy after taste. My guest is a picky eater, but they loved everything we ate! We also ordered the wagyu nigiri at the end and it was better than some wagyu i've had in Japan.

Everyone was very hospitable and made my birthday dinner special. Thank you! can't wait to be back and will def. be telling all my friends to come here!

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Great Omakase in San Francisco

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

The food and staff are outstanding!

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

A very good sushi place.

It is expensive.

They casually watch your every reaction to every single thing you do.

However, if you have an important guest who is unconcerned about the type of food that they eat, or an important guest who is very very concerned about the type of food that they eat, or if you simply cannot stand another meaningless day in your life, it is exactly where to go.

It will break your mother effing brain.

Visited 2 years ago

Amazing Omakase at the coolest venue I think I’ve ever visited. Really awesome atmosphere!

Visited 2 years ago

Much larger and more modern. They serve omakase directly on the wood of the bar! Sit bar, not table.

Visited 2 years ago

10/10. The omakase at lunch was amazing and the service was superb. A great first meal in San Fransisco. Hope to go back again in the future.

Visited 2 years ago

This is a new find for us for Omakase. First time to do Omakase for lunch. Very good selection of dishes and nigiri. Highly recommend.

Visited 2 years ago

This is a good place if you are entertaining business guests, but from a pure culinary experience it comes up short. We had the dinner omakase. Except for the shokupan the initial menu seemed like a show with fancy presentation..the nigiri was the best part, particularly the rice, just the right proportion and best quality.thr quality of fish was okay, nothing mind blowing
The ambiance and service was good. But I would not eat here on my personal buck

Visited 2 years ago

Stellar dining experience for our anniversary. Easily on par with Michelin 2 star Omakase. Service was impeccable. Staff picked up immediately I was left handed and promptly adjusted setting. Top quality fish and some really nice dry aged items on the menu. Omakase included specialty fish and mollusk difficult to find in the U.S. Overall nice mix of local and fish from Japanese waters. Beautifully plating. Well curated cocktail, wine and Japanese whiskey list with limited release bottles. Highly recommend the kombu infused ocean forest cocktail. The truffle ice cream was a huge hit to end the night. Perfect ambiance that felt like a pre-covid dining experience. Kudos to the AKIKOS team.

Visited 2 years ago

Not sure if worth $250 experience. Wasn't that much different/better than other omakase experiences I had ($120-$180 price range). But don't get me wrong. Still great food. The service was excellent.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Updated review in new location: still good/ok sushi, but even more overpriced. Minus another star

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Overall great service, location, decor and food. A bit pricey for one star. Will go back.

Visited 2 years ago

If you want a nice night out, don't come here. Service is terrible and not worth the $800 splurge. There are plenty of other better places with great quality food combined with great service, often costing less too.

Terrible service:
We had a reservation and were the first to arrive and first to be seated right at the front counter, but for some reason kept consistently being served way behind the others the whole night. By the end of the night, we were ~10 dishes behind everyone else who was part of our timed group, and even those who came later finished before us. We were waiting an excessively long time between each dish while others kept being served and prioritized. Even when our bar mates finished eating, they got their post-meal orders often served even before our main order. We felt snubbed and ignored the whole night.

In addition, my partner asked for still water, but they kept pouring my sparkling water in his cup so we kept having to ask for new water and I lost out on my overpriced sparkling water. They never even tried to fix their mistake or ask us how we were doing. By the end, we became late for our other planned bar reservations and missed them because of how long this meal took just sitting around waiting.

Okay food:
While the food was generally good (although there were some duds that were extremely bland--I personally didn't like their take on chawanmushi), it was nothing spectacular or memorable compared to equivalent high end places. Maybe just the caviar toast was unique, but it'd be hard to go wrong with a spoonful of caviar on anything. Also the cocktails were weird--I like trying unique cocktails, but the flavors didn't work well for the drinks we ordered. Overall, the food was nothing more than what I could find at other nice restaurants for much cheaper and at better service.

Overall:
We felt snubbed the whole night. It ruined a perfectly great outing for a special occasion. If I want to spend $800+ for a nice meal out, I expect way better service.

There are plenty of other nice choices in the area for high end Japanese. Don't come here and risk ruining your evening. I wish I had paid more attention to the other 1 star reviews.

Visited 2 years ago

Upscale modern ambiance, good food and service, a bit overpriced but worth a splurge.

Visited 2 years ago

Rude hostess, turned us away with no reasoning. Ended up going to a cute sushi restaurant in Chinatown that is more affordable with great food

Visited 2 years ago

Love the omakase experience by the counter top. Food is just amazing — like little parcels of surprise 💜

Visited 2 years ago

Food is good, except service is terrible. Came here for lunch on Fri and told them I have a shellfish allergy. There were 3 other tables and more waiters so it was a light time. Multiple waiters repeatedly kept bringing me the shellfish dishes, and duplicate dishes. For the price we paid I'd expect better service and wait time.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

The previous location was SO much better in every way. There was an almost total lack of interaction from the staff when we arrived at the Chefs stage. Basically ignored by the sushi chefs for a good 10 minutes and almost throughout the meal. This is So different from the highly personal service at the old location. What happened? Add to that, the meal was lackluster. Our last experience at the old location was one of the best sushi meals I’ve ever had. This just felt like going through the motions. One stand out example was the dramatic difference in the signature toro caviar toast. The version last night just felt pre made and stale. A huge difference to the stellar and outstanding version at the old location. For a $1,000 total check for two people we were disappointed in every way. We were regular customers when we visited from NYC. Never again. (this is a copy of the review my husband posted on Open Table).

Visited 2 years ago

Layers of flavors. Awesome. Take note of the very high price point though. Highlights were chawanmushi, uni, many of the nigiri. The grilled yellowtail likely needs a rethink by the kitchen though.

Visited 2 years ago

Fantastic experience, some really memorable courses and friendly and knowledgeable staff. Omakase took almost 3 hours total and by the end I was full. Note: allow some extra time to find parking.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Incredible food and service. Enjoyed the lunch service with my family to celebrate my birthday,

Visited 2 years ago

An utter treat at Akiko's new SoMa location.
Vibe is much more upscale and modern (which did make me miss its alley style on Bush). Probably the only place in town you'd find lunch omakase.

Menu was streamlined, elegant, and delicious. Fresh ingredients and great flavor combos. I love the way they season nigiris: from the traditional soy sauce brush to onion jam and salted cherry blossom. We got a lesson on fish with it! Highly recommend.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

What a great fine dine-in experience!

The first thing I noticed was the aesthetic sushi bar and they greeted me a warm welcome.

For the start, they served the fish soup which was light in flavor. Next was the chawanmushi, which has deep flavor coming from the truffle. The glorious golden caviar with toro tartare up next, this was deliciously good, rich in flavor, tho was just looking for different texture. Then Nigiri were prepared, they used fresh seafood but one thing that stands out for me was the rice! It was seasoned well and cooked perfectly!

Do not forget to get a warm sake to pair with your nigiris.

They are very responsive in my inquiries about the reservation.

Food: Excellent
Ambiance: Excellent
Service: Excellent

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Beautifully executed top to bottom. Impeccable service. Unique play on omakase pushing modern expression of the genre in their own direction. Gorgeously well-designed dining room. Dry aged fish was the star for me but everything really tickled me right.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Amazing omakase experience. Beautiful new space and presentations, and flavors are nuanced and defer to that of the fish, nothing over-powering.

Visited 2 years ago

Words cannot explain how good the omakase at AKIKOS is. All I can try to say is, if you love sushi, and want to spend your money on an experience like no other, this place is worth the tab. A true gem in SF 🌉

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Dinner overall was fantastic, with very fresh fish and elegant plating. Compared to other omakase places I’ve been, you do get a lot of food and everything was delicious.

They didn’t have a bartender on for the 7:30 seating, which was a bit off. And then I felt like a few of the dishes were really good and the rest a bit mediocre. To me, the strangest part was the ambiance of the restaurant, in that the inside is beautiful and very feng shui, yet they were playing rock and alternative music like AC/DC?

Visited 2 years ago

Strictly Omakase and undeniably delicious; a fantastic meal and experience!

Visited 2 years ago

Please can you provide a telephone number and website link? Thank you

Visited 2 years ago

It’s a delicious fresh food but it’s overpriced.

Visited 2 years ago

This was one of the better sushi restaurants my wife and I have had the pleasure to eat in. Unfortunately we only had a couple of combinations (Rainbow & Sumo) as we weren’t terribly hungry, but will definitely return for more. Price felt fair for the reasonably-sized portions, staff were extremely kind and helpful

Visited 2 years ago

It’s an experience, worth it. Excellent food and excellent service. Try the lunch if budget is tight.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

No children allowed. I cant give a rating on food because they made it really clear children are not allowed.

Visited 2 years ago

Delicious quintessential SF sushi spot. Totally worth the splurge. Great service and excellent music was played. Come here for a date, casually or for business.

Visited 2 years ago

San Francisco has so much culture and delicious food throughout the city. Akiko's is one of the good ones that provide sushi!!

Here, we went with there omakase and each dish was mind blowing. Everything from the smoked sashimi & uni to their snow crab soup and unique creations tasted great!!

We made a reel/TikTok on @phidingthefam that showcases each dish. Only reason we didn't give it 5 star, is the price. It was expensive and it may deter people.

Visited 2 years ago

Visited 2 years ago

Just an unbelievable experience. Shokupan is a must.

Visited 2 years ago

a high quality sushi, in addition to an excellent attention

Visited 2 years ago

excellent food and team, 100% recommend it

Visited 2 years ago

The quality of their seafood are worth the money except one we had; however, the seasoning is a bit off. A few dishes are too salty. I normally find some Japanese food are too sweat, but it's just the way they are. The sesame ice cream is not pleasant. We like Otsumami and wish the fern charred instead of taste watery. Wagyu dumplings and Chawanmushi are yummy. Nama Uni are divine.

Visited 3 years ago

I cant say for sure that what I ordered was worth $70 but its what I paid. I walked down bc of the reviews. The place sits maybe 16 but there were definitely less diners between 8-9. In any case I initially stepped in to take out and then someone left so I asked the male waiting tables if I could sit, he said yes cleaned the table and then I was asked to wait outside to allow a table of two to be seated. In any case- I wasn’t impressed by the food, its exorbitant cost or the service.

This was also the amount of soy sauce I was given… the packets give you more! =\ wish the reviews were right!

Visited 3 years ago

Small and intimate sushi restaurant. Omakase selections were top notch and so was the sake. If you’re in the Union Square area you have to try this place.

Visited 3 years ago

Decided to treat myself to a dinner Omakase in San Francisco's Akiko's. Although I can't compare to the restaurants I've had in Japan, (where I felt the bustling energy of San Francisco within my sacred dining space), I left the restaurant feeling fairly satisfied.

Mind you here are some hits and misses. Here are some of my personal favourites:
1. Cold smoked sashimi
2. Wagyu dumpling
3. Toasted shokupan
4. Some nigiri (I'm personally biased to the scallop and the uni and ikura bowl)
5. Goma sorbet

So, if you have about $300 to splurge on yourself, wanting a taste of Japanese Omakase with a slightly non-traditional feel, give Akiko's a try. I'd bring my partner here if I'm in town on special occasions.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Wonderful experience! Food was exceptional and presented beautifully. The server was kind and knowledgeable. You will NOT be disappointed in Akiko's Restaurant.

Visited 3 years ago

I had an excellent lunch on the omakase sushi counter. Everything was great. It was one of very few top sushi places open for lunch. 👍🏻

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Great food, even greater service!

Visited 3 years ago

Trato con el cliente nefasto. No sabemos como será su comida pero el trato es muy malo. Al llegar nos apuntamos en la lista de espera que tienen en la puerta, nos vieron y nos dieron la carta para que fueramos pensando que queriamos, después pasamos 2 horas esperando en la calle y pasaron a otros grupos que llegaron más tarde porqué eran más personas que nosotros sin decirnos nada. Preguntamos si tenian previsión de cuanto tiempo esperariamos y nos dijo que lo iba a comprobar pero no salió a decirnos nada hasta que llevabamos 2 horas esperando para decirnos que en 5 minutos cerraban la cocina, que si queriamos pedir para llevar... obviamente no pedimos nada. Si sois 2 personas como nosotros no vayais, priorizan los grupos de 4-5 personas porqué saben que les va a dar más dinero. Parece bastante caro.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

This was a fantastic experience. It was like a perfect dance from start to finish. The kitchen and sushi chefs we perfectly synchronous. The food was elegant with breathtaking delivery. One of the best meals of a lifetime. The cost is quite high at 250 for the experience plus plus for saki and tip… but worth it for the once in a lifetime experience. It may be useful to have one tier lower of an option to get more repeat visits…but… if they can sustain on this then keep the magic going.

Visited 3 years ago

Some of the best, freshest sushi I've had in a very long time.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

We had the tasting menu. Impeccable food, service and presentation. I absolutely had an amazing experience at this unique restaurant. Excellent wine selection as well.

Visited 3 years ago

Omakase was amazing but $$$

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Excellent Japanese food! Very small restaurant. Rug up. It was very cold inside when we went

Visited 3 years ago

Just delightful. Each dish is like a small memory. The staff is so helpful and quick

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Food was delicious. We had the tasting menu and most of the dishes were excellent, though some were oversalted, which really is unnecessary for sashimi. Service was attentive in serving dishes and clearing plates but I would have expected more conversation with the staff about how the food was. They were talking amongst themselves and to just a few of the guests they appeared to know. Prices were exorbitant. While I can expect that for top of the line Japanese, the aforementioned service gaps made it feel overpriced.

Visited 3 years ago

Friendly staff, intimate seating with only 12-16 patrons at a time! Delicious food.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Always AMAZING!!! Treat yourself to the best omakase tasting in California!

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Ambiente agradavel. Comida boa.

Visited 3 years ago

It is one of the best Japanese restaurants in SF city. A must try place

Visited 3 years ago

What an amazing (and very expensive) experience! I think this tops one of the most exquisite experiences I've ever done.

Currently, Akiko's is only offering Omakase menu sets; no a la carte offerings at this time. They offered a Seasonal Omakase - $150, and their Grand Omakase - $250. I believe the difference 7 small dishes and 10 nigiri on the Grand Omakase vs the 5 small dishes and 7 nigiri on the Seasonal Omakase. Is the extra $100 difference worth it? Absolutely! For the extra $100, you get the Anko and the Shokupan for the small dishes, and 3 extra nigiri (can't remember which one though).

My faves of the Grand Omakase:
+Anko - barbecued monkfish
+Chawanmushi - egg custard, snow crab, duck liver, black truffle slices
+Wagyu Dumpling
+Shokupan - milk toast, toro, golden kaluga caviar
+Nama Uni - hokkaido uni
+Zuke - Soy cured bluefin
+Coconut sorbet dessert! YUM!

My so-so's and less liked items from the Grand Omakase:
-Ji-Kinmedai - goldeneye red snapper
-Tsuri Aji - horse mackerel
-Toro - bluefin tuna ..... Yes i owe an explanation as to why this made my less liked items.... They topped it with too much salt!!! I would've done less than half the amount of salt, or none at all. The salt really took away the flavor and experience of the Toro

Akiko's features a top not wait/server staff that knows their stuff and can speak to the flavors and characteristics of each dish they bring out to you. The dishes are all delicately and well plated for the utmost best presentation and tastes.

Alas however, sitting at the sushi bar does not yield you any extra benefit to sitting at the table. The sushi chef's just tell you what the items are and puts it on your plate and is done with it. They're not very personable nor do they really interact. This is really killed the mood and experience for me, as I was very much excited to see the masters at work. But from the way the counters are set up and the "shield barriers" are placed, you can't really even see them work their magic in creating the dishes. It really takes away from why you'd want to sit at the sushi bar.

TLDR:
- Order the Grand Omakase
- dont bother with sitting at the sushi bar, a table is fine
- staff is awesome (but sushi chefs at the bar are just "there")

All-in all, this is a pretty good experience, but I can see why this ultimately only become a Michelin "recommended" restaurant in their guide, and not actually earned a star. They over-try on some of the dishes that ends up just making it "ok" instead of "great".

Visited 3 years ago

FANTASTIC

Visited 3 years ago

Dinner was amazing. The food was excellent and the service was stellar. They serve an Omakase style meal which tends to be a bit up there in price, but the presentation and quality makes it worth it. I would definitely recommend this place.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

오마카세를 먹었는데...너무 짜다 정성을 들여 만들었지만짠 맛과 뿌혀진 쏘스들로 인해 생선의 그 맛을 알수가 없었다..그리고...너무 추웠어...짠 맛과 추워서 티 를 10잔 정도 마신듯.....추천하고 싶지 않음

Visited 3 years ago

A lovely meal overall. Nicely designed dining room with a lovely staff. Sushi was on point for the most part. Nigiri was all solid. Chawanmushi was stellar and a must do. It went a little sideways on a roll that should have been amazing but a bit unbalanced with too much salmon roe overpowering the rest of the fish. Also, a recommended last bite was otoro with caviar, where the toro overpowered the caviar. Overall, the fish and service was great, just a couple missteps. Would give it 4.5 stars if I could.

Visited 3 years ago

Visited 3 years ago

Might be the best omakase in the city. Highly recommend. Extremely fresh fish and delicious/creative presentation

Visited 4 years ago

The staff were extremely knowledgeable

Visited 4 years ago

Let me first set the stage: I am an American foodie who lives in Italy so I’m quite particular with taste and quality. Full transparency, I was underwhelmed and disappointed. The service was great. There was a large nat (or fruit fly idk?) that kept pestering me towards the middle to end of my meal that wasn’t pleasant but didn’t affect my overall rating. Maybe I ordered wrong? I had one piece of sake (salmon) nigiri that was very good, but not phenomenal. Then I had two rolls: negitoro (not sure the spelling, but I’m talking tuna belly) and the yellowtail one (forgot the proper name). I didn’t care for the rolls size - they were Korean style in the size and proportions but this is supposed to be a Japanese restaurant. Both rolls had an unexpected mint flavor because mint wasn’t listed as an ingredient - was it mixed in with the green onion? Idk. I feel bad not giving this restaurant stellar reviews, but I left disappointed. On the bright side they had Aesop hand wash at the tables!!

Visited 4 years ago

This is what I want when I go out for sushi. I want to feel like I am ordering things that I couldn't get from other places and if i can that is it done in a way that is worth going out for. Everything about the set up of this place and the quality of the food made it worth if for me.

The place is incredibly small so be prepared to wait for a seat or if you are lucky to be squeezed in next to several people. Once you are finally able to get in you are greeted by an eclectic menu of sushi. We ordered the nigiri and several rolls when we went.

The sushi was so delicious and fresh and I wanted to come back and try more. The only problem was that I would not want to wait in that line again or have to sit in the cramped building again. It is worth stopping by and trying once but unless you are able to go during non peak hours its hard to recommend it being your only stop.

For the sushi lovers out there it is a great little spot near union square and should be checked out if you are looking for alternatives to Ryokos.

Visited 4 years ago

Amazing. Some of the best nigiri I’ve ever had. It’s pricey but the quality was just spectacular.

Visited 4 years ago

The rolls were great! The service was incredible and super friendly. The mochis were also great! The only thing I didn’t really like was the coke, it tasted expired, other than that great!

Visited 4 years ago

I came on a Saturday since I saw the amazing reviews, But the service was HORRIBLE and the food was in so small portions and did not even taste good. I do not recommend.

Visited 4 years ago

The price doesn’t match with the quality. Which authentic Japanese sushi restaurant will use rice with soy sauce?

Visited 4 years ago

Restaurant seems to pride itself on not having it's moniker outside. We arrived to brusque service and offhanded treatment. Menu is limited and there is a $250 tasting menu which I won't get even if I wanted to because of off-putting service. Negiri was good and of the 4 rolls on their menu 2 were excellent. They need to work on their manners if they want to be where their airs seem to suggest.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

I was brought here a couple of days ago for my 21st birthday and it was the best experience I ever had. The people were super nice and accommodating, our chef was really great and fun, and the food was delicious! This was the best birthday and I'll always remember it. Thank you all to the owner and the chefs!Thank you for celebrating with me!

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Great establishment. All tasted freshly made in house. Even in takeaway boxes it was great. Roasted eggplant could have been a main dish, it was exquisite. Salmon nice and clean, nearly tasteless (a good thing). Gyoza were pretty standard but above average. Nice crunch on the exterior and a buttery inside. Friendly service!

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

Romantic, cozy, classy. Great date spot, excellent quality sushi. A bit pricy, but worth it. 👍

Visited 4 years ago

Fascinating experience! The fish melts in your mouth, leaving behind a buttery rich flavor on the tongue. There was a great balance of flavors in every bite. The caviar was rich and well paired with Champagne. At the top of my list for sushi and fine cuisine in the city!

Visited 4 years ago

Akiko's is an absolutely marvellous restaurant with an exquisite staff. The venue is intimate, cosy and warm. I have had the pleasure to engage in interesting conversations with said staff, and enjoy the incredible cuisine that is offered at Akiko's Restaurant. I would recommend anybody to visit Akiko's and have an experience as lovely as I did. I can promise that you will not regret it.

Visited 4 years ago

Visited 4 years ago

The takeout experience was not good :(

To begin with, we are provided with the wrong number of chopsticks and soy sauce dishes. And they are found at the bottom of the pickup bags with no cover. So I am not sure if they are safe to use.

We ordered Washoku Dinner Set, Jūbako Nigiri, Ikura + Uni Don and Unaju. I was very disappointed with the wagyu beef (was kind of cold and not tender at all) and was not impressed by the Nigiri set either. The Unaju was okay and the Ikura and Uni Don was the best one among the four.

Overall, I would not recommend doing takeout with them.

(I just have one picture before I opened the boxes since I was not very motivated to take another picture after tasting them.)

Visited 4 years ago

Solid quality. Taste wise it's a bit bland. With this price level, I was expecting more, but I felt they are skimping on the quantity.

Visited 4 years ago

Take out experience and food were great. See my photos, food are, so, good. (Door is a little hard to find due to all the shut down boards, etc, but they are open for to-go’s.

Visited 4 years ago

Fresh sushi, friendly staff and an incredibly intimate space. Menu was limited, but the food was delicious either way.

Visited 4 years ago

I ordered pick up. Its just took 5mins to my home. When I open the box, the rice is cold and it taste like expired. The takeout food is not worth its price! I’m so disappointed!

Visited 4 years ago

The most delicate sashimi and sushi one can come across.
The Itamae are skillful at their craft, the menu is phenomenal, the fish is the freshest and hand selected. This place is wonderful.

Visited 4 years ago