Sushi Bistro

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445 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA 94118 (at Fifth Avenue)
San Francisco, CA 94118

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(415) 933-7100
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Reviews
( 70 )
( 14 )
( 4 )
( 3 )
( 5 )

Best

I like great Japanese food, and this is the place to go for sushi!

Worst

I do not agree with the good reviews here. We went there based on very good reviews here and on some other sites. We ordered 10 Nigiris each (combo), and one time 6 nigiries and 8...

Great food, service and place to have dinner 9/22/2005

We visited Sushi Bistro and were amazed by the menu- tons of funky rolls, good specials menu, good saki menu, on top of the ordinary sushi fair and other food items (non-sushi). This place epitomizes California/Hawaiian Sushi. They even have a good variety of veggie and non-raw fish items. The place is a small restaraunt run by a small staff which gives you a very warm feeling. I personaly enjoy small family style restaraunts any day over the big, chain style restaraunts. Parking was a little tough- but the side streets within a block or two seemed to have available spots. I knew this place was good when my Japanese/Hawaiian girlfriend even gave it thumbs up- a rarity for Sushi places in this city. Overall this was an amazing dinner with lots of good sushi, good saki and good conversations- the three musts of life! Pros: Sushi, Saki more
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ROCKIN SUSHI! 9/22/2005

If you are a sushi lover, this is the place for you! My date and I sat at the sushi bar for 2 hours enjoying the creations that the sushi chef prepared for us, some of which I've never had before! Great place, I'm defintiely going back! Pros: Service, Atmosphere, Price more
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EXCEPTIONAL SUSHI AT AN GREAT VALUE! 9/22/2005

I have only been to Sushi Bistro a few times, but I absolutely LOVED this place! The dishes were extremely interesting, and all were delicious. I highly recommend this place for a one of a kind experience! Pros: Great atmosphere, Affordable, Excellent food more
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Coming back for more 9/22/2005

After our first taste of Sushi Bistro, we had to go back for more. We just can't get enough! The list of specialty rolls seem to go on forever, its amazing that chef Xin can remember them all. Check the wall for "specials of the day", which really are specials with freshness written all over them. Pros: High quality fish, Friendly service, Left satisfied! more
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Go for the rolls - one of a kind!!! 9/22/2005

The rolls are just so good here, there is no need for soy sauce at all. The place is a little small and cozy, but the food is great. The chef is also very energetic. He mingles with everybody that sits at the bar, I like that. Parking is a bit tough, but its definitely worth it. Pros: Rolls, Chef Cons: Parking more
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Bistro prices... sub-bistro quality 9/16/2005

I, too, was lured to visit sushi bistro based on the remarkable reviews it was getting only to be extremely disappointed. Pros: baked items Cons: quality of fish, value, service more
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Good eats and entertainment!!! 7/27/2005

Not only were all the rave about this place right, but no one told me that the sushi chef, (I think his name is shin?) is also a good entertainer too. We sat at the bar where we could see him cut up the fish. Throughout the night he was talking to us and keeping us entertained. He also has a good sense of humor, and friendly too. Oh, by the way, the sushi was excellent. Price was was a little above average, and parking wasn't so great. But overall I had a great time. Pros: Chef, food Cons: Above average price, parking more
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go for the rolls 7/25/2005

Go straight for the rolls because they are unbelievable. I tried out the mango ones that everyone recommended and it was excellent. The cool and refreshing flavorings were just amazing. This place rocks!!!!! Pros: Mango Rolls more
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just too good 7/25/2005

i just started coming here about 2 months ago, and everytime i come here, they just amaze me. the flavors that are in these rolls are just so good. i don't know what it is but i can't help stuff myself everytime. my favorite roll has to be the crouching tiger hidden dragon roll. i'm determined to try every single roll that is on the menu, it is just too good. Pros: flavors, presentation Cons: parking more
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Gotta Go back!!!! 7/22/2005

Sushi Bistro is currently ranked #1 for Best Of Sushi on Citysearch for 2005 so we went to check it out. There are SO many good rolls to choose from! The nigiri sushi was fresh also. I even liked the rolls that had mango in them. It sounds strange but it works! Definitely going to go back and try some of the other rolls. Pros: Mango rolls, Fresh Nigiri more
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Voters were right!!!! 7/14/2005

Apparently they're the 2005 citysearch winners for best sushi. I went with my boyfriend to try it out. At first we didn't expect this place to be small, but its nice and cozy. After we the dishes came out, we were really surprised with the presentation. They were right, the rolls were were very delicious. It was a pleasant surprised, and we're definitely coming back. Pros: Ambiance, Chef, Rolls more
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Fish quality was pretty bad.. 7/13/2005

How is this place is rated so high???? There are much better places that get lower ratings than this place. I don't understand the reviews here that say it's the best sushi and I really think they have ever eaten good sushi. I don't think you can call this kind of food sushi.... Pros: hot food decent Cons: slow service, frozen fish, pricy 4 its quality more
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I enjoy my dinner everytime... 7/12/2005

This place was a nice surprise. The sushi is very fresh and the pieces are pretty large. We weren't headed for here, but went in when another restaurant left us sitting there for 15 minutes without as much as a hello, so we went here. Have been back a few times. Very gracious service. And as for the rolls, everybody is right, they are delicious. Pros: Friendly staff, Variety of rolls more
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Excellent Nigiri, Fantastic Rolls!!! 7/5/2005

The Nigiri is excellent, with the fish being very fresh. So many different rolls to choose from, but from what I had, it was fantastic. Nice intimate place, and the sushi chef there was very friendly. I am definitely going back there again. Pros: Nigiri, Rolls, Sashimi more
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Sushi of the highest quality 6/15/2005

Ever since the first bite, I knew I would keep coming back. The consistently high quality of fish and creativity in their beautiful and often unexpected dishes makes dining here special. This kind of discovery makes me happy I live in San Francisco. The nigiri sushi is always extremely fresh and melts in your mouth just like you would expect from sushi at its highest level. The menu is filled with progressive combinations - the chef confidently experiments with yummy new combinations of flavors-often of Hawaiian inspiration. While their menu includes classics you would come to expect, they go way beyond this into wonderfully creative and tasty rolls you could never have imagined (Hot Love Roll). I will say to anyone who loves sushi that this place is a must and will keep you coming back. Their extensive veggie menu is also excellent. The atmosphere is fun, cozy and relaxed. Pros: very fresh fish, creative rolls, wonderful flavors more
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real & real good! 6/14/2005

I love this non-pretentious inner richmond super sushi joint. The menu is extremely creative, the food is very fresh and the service is friendly. Pros: creative menu, fresh ingredients, non-pretentious vibe Cons: n/a more
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Toro, Toro, Toro... 6/12/2005

Best Toro in town. Pros: big slice, very fresh, cheap more
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More than 25 Creative Rolls!!! 6/8/2005

When you think sushi rolls, many people think, california rolls, caterpillar rolls, spider rolls...Well you can forget that at Sushi Bistro. More than 25 rolls, thats right, 25!!! You can see for youself on the their website, they've got descriptions of their rolls. I've only tried 3 of them, and it was fantastic. My favorite would be the New Legend - Shrimp tempura,spicey aioli,avacado topped with seared albacore,spicy garlic sauce,green onions. Another roll I ate was, baked Mahi,crabmeat,avacado, topped with mango salsa. These were just some of the rolls I had. I can't wait to go back and try the rest of them. Pros: So Many Rolls, Fresh Fish, Flavors Cons: Parking more
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A CORNICOPIA OF FLAVORS 6/5/2005

Well besides having a very cordial and helpful staff, the sushi at "The Bistro" which I like to refer to it as is unparralleled. Usually when I go to a sushi place, I find myself ordering typical rolls such as crunchy or caterpillar rolls. At Sushi Bistro, I am able to satisfy my taste buds with delicious creations such as the 7 Flavor Albacore (my personal favorite), Lover Boat (for you lobster fans), or for those who crave eel, I highly recommend the Mr. Brown. All in all, you can find it all at the Bistro Pros: Price, Taste, Staff more
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Fresh Fish!! 6/4/2005

The yellowtail was like butter!!! melted in my mouth. Great place to go to get great sushi with a twist. Mango additions etc.. Not much for atmosphere but will definitely go back for the food. Our waitress was a sweetheart with a nice warm smile which made the experience that much better. Great place to check out for a quick weekday dinner. Pros: great fish, different rolls, good apps Cons: atmosphere, bad chopsticks more
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Menu for Sushi Bistro


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Traditional Japanese fare gets an inventive spin at an Inner Richmond eatery.

Owner Message

  • Located in Northern San Francisco in the Richmond District, Sushi Bistro serves innovative new rolls that can only be found here. Owner-operated, Sushi Bistro combines fast, friendly service with an intimate atmosphere, making it a great place to go for dinner.

Editorial

  • This intimate restaurant offers a relaxed yet polished atmosphere for approachable Japanese cuisine. Casually dressed diners start with small plates like tempura-battered vegetables and miso-glazed...

  • 10/29/2008 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Daily 5pm-11pm
  • Payments: American Express, Master Card, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: Northwest, Inner Richmond
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