Akiko's Sushi Bar and Restaurant Reviews

Family of four adults, first night in SF and wanted something authentic to the city but not traditional American menu. This hit the spot! Fantastic food, great service from Theresa and a chilled out atmosphere. A genuine experience, recommended.

Was the best Sushi I had in a very long time. The Uni was recently flown in from Japan and of the highest quality. The Toro tuna was excellent! All the food was excellent!

Atmosphere was great, food was great and the service was also great. I recommend! While in San Francisco we were walking back from Fisherman's wharf when we came across this cute restaurant on Powell st.

A tiny little place with great sushi. Travelling on business I had a night to my self and randomly chose to eat here, walking past. Sat at the sushi bar watching the slice the fish. A great place if you're dining alone. Probably good with a small group too.

Excellent food, nice atmosphere. A bit up-market for a solo meal for me but I was craving sushi and I wasn’t disappointed. The quality and price were evenly matched and the service was attentive, especially for a solo meal. A lot of times I’ll get less than attentive service when I’m alone- the server thinking a tip at a solo table is 1/2 the tip of a larger table but that wasn’t the case. I got impeccable, attentive service with my delicious food. I’ll definitely visit again with friends next time!

We decided to eat here on a Friday night. We had already looked the place up and saw that there were only four tables so we were ready for a wait. The wait list is comprised of a piece of paper on a clipboard that you personally write your name on, it was the first note showing off Akiko's laid back atmosphere. The server came out almost immediately and let us know that there would be a bit of a wait- no problem! I just appreciated her coming out and letting us know what was going on. We talked to a nice couple for a while then headed in. The atmosphere is awesome. There truly are only 4 tables (there are four seats at the bar but it is a really small space, more for waiting for carry out). There is one server and she runs the place well. We were waited on immediately and throughout our experience were never in need of anything for more than a minute. We got the house saki, the chef's choice of sashimi and three specialty rolls. Everything was absolutely fabulous. The sashimi was incredibly fresh and the rolls were pure perfection. It is a laid back atmosphere and while small, it is fun and cozy! Give it a try, you won't be disappointed.

I was not blown away by Akiko. It struck me as unusually cramped, uncomfortable, and unrelaxed. Had I known that it was the size of a closet and the four seats at the bar gave less room than a coach seat on United Airlines, I might have gone elsewhere. But I had walked across town due to the great TripAdvisor reviews and decided to give it a try on food quality and service. Food was actually pretty good. Miso soup, seaweed salad, and sashimi deluxe were all quite tasty. Unfortunately, the sashimi platter was quite heavy on the salmon, certainly in contrast to the one prepared for the woman who arrived 30 minutes after me. I guess the chef was trying to get rid of excess fish before it got too old. Speaking of which, the sole server was anything but relaxed. She seemed nice but harried, and I never felt like she cared at all about my satisfaction. Rather, she whisked me along and abandoned me as soon as she dropped off the food, including my final disco roll that I ordered because I was still hungry after the salmon-enriched sashimi deluxe. It was an excellent roll, but I really had to get her attention to get more wasabi and ginger. It felt like borderline factory material. The stool was wobbly and space at the counter very limited. One server was not enough … and one chef might not have been enough, too. Food preparation was relatively slow. This is a place where you don’t want to eat things piecemeal: order once, get the chef’s full attention, and then move on. Kind of defeats the purpose of eating at the bar. In all, I can’t see what all the hoopla is about. Comfort does count for something. Dinner is more than raw fish in a Styrofoam container. Maybe takeout is Akiko’s specialty, but that’s not what I look for in a sushi restaurant.

I have been here a few times and had great sushi every time. The fish is fresh and high quality. One of the best sushi I've ever had. I always try to come back whenever I am in San Francisco. A bit on the pricey side but I feel the quality is superior so worth the price.

I was in this restaurant 2 days ago and I have to say I did not find myself well ... bad service, very small portions and very expensive portions ... plus we had not finished dinner that brought us the bill ... bad I do not recommend it right !!!

The reviews were all so amazing that I thought this would be one of the better West Coast sushi spots. Quite frankly any Sushi restaurant that still carries White Tuna on the menu is being farcical. This stuff is NOT tuna. It is Escolar. And to be fair to Akikos they have it labelled as such on their menu. But fact is, this is banned fish in Japan. We all know Japan does not lead the way in avoiding eating odd things (dolphin and whale anyone?). But aside from that pet peev of mine, I found the place to be average at best. The size is ridiculously small but they pack it tight...which wouldn't be so bad if the sushi was better. The Eel was not warmed to crunch level, and certain flavors did not seem right. I didn't hate the place and would go back if in a pinch. Just not anywhere near my expectations.

This tiny sushi spot was staffed by friendly people, but the food did not deliver. The edamame was not as firm and fresh as I expect. I tried a few nigiri choices; all were on the small side and seemed ordinary. The mochi was very nice, but next time I’m looking for sushi in the area I’ll try another place.

Very friendly service and a good sashimi salad. They do take-away, which is what I had, and the miso is excellent too.

Staff is very welcoming and friendly. The restaurant is appealing to the eye and clean. Ordered a 12 pc tasting to share with a friend and it was delicious. We had lunch and were sat right away.

We arrived for an early dinner as soon as they opened at 4:30pm as other reviews indicated that it fills fast. As we were quickly joined by two other parties, we were happy to have made that decision. We enjoyed the spicy tuna temaki (it was so good, I ordered the chef's special temaki after) maguro nigiri, salmon, toro and maguro sashimi and the Lizzy roll (so delicious with thin sliced lemon on top). We washed it down with the house hot sake. Everything was fresh and delicious. We are very particular about sushi/sashimi and Akiko did not disappoint, certainly ranking with among the best sushi experiences. Highly recommend and will return the next time we're in San Francisco.

Tiny restaurant with 5 tables and 3 bar seats. Sushi good but nothing to write home about. Heard from the hotel concierge this Akiko is « not the good one » - seems the other is much better, but ran out of time to try it.

Small bar with a couple tables but absolutely awesome fresh sushi! I would recommend it to everybody who loves sushi but don't like busy restaurants. This is a quite place with a great atmosphere.

I went here, and everything I ordered was a 10-10, it was the best sushi I have ever had in my life. If you are going to San Francisco, you come to this restaurant.

THE GOOD x tasty sushi x fresh x friendly patrons x small & cozy (fits 12 people total) THE BAD x $15 salmon appetizer had 6 anemic rolls x rolls under $10 were seriously smalller than rolls one finds at grocery stores...basically conveying the message to patrons to order the larger more expensive rolls THE UGLY x waitress never cleaned up after patron left. She stopped by to deliver food several times...looked at the dirty plates and walked away.

My mother and I were taking a short trip to San Fransisco, and just WOW. This place was such a hidden gem!!!! It's a very small restaurant so we weren't expecting something to special, but it was so delicious that we even came back two days later for another dinner. I ordered the chicken udon soup, and all of the noodles were perfectly chewy, the broth steamy, the cooked veggies were so soft, and the chicken very tender. All of these components created a perfect soup; with aromatic flavors that weren't overloading. The only thing I have negative to say is that the portion was BIG. Though that isn't that bad for a negative piece :). My mom got the Lizzie roll and a miso soup, which she said were very delicious. When we came back a couple days later (because it was so good), we decided to opt for many smaller dishes. I ordered an avocado maki roll and pork gyosa, my mom took another Lizzie roll and the Hamachi roll; plus we shared a seaweed salad and the Japanese eggplant. Everything was so great and tasted so fresh, and I tried the Lizzie roll too, which was very good. That added lemon slice on top was such a great addition! Lastly we finished with the vanilla crepe cake, which was fluffy and sweet. Overall, the food was divine, and everyone was very attentive and the customer service was wonderful. They have so many options and this place really helped make our trip as good as it was!

Great sushi, friendly service, a bit chaotic but absolutely delicious food. San Francisco roll and Toro were particular highlights. Would recommend booking a table in advance.

Restaurant is small and handled a decent number of take out orders while I was there. Beer is a bit expensive, but it is San Francisco. Service was good. Would go back!

I've just been to Akiko's, I'm not a person that usually complains and I liked all the good reviews. But when I sat at the sushi bar tonight I ordered my sashimi and after 5 min I've notice that the young chef was not closing the little fish fridge. So fish was in contact with air for the 30min duration I was there even when he was searing a roll with the small torch. I ended up deciding not eating my sashimi. I told the server why I didn't eat them. Hope they'll change there way to conserve the raw fish.

If you are in the Union Square area this is the place to go if you can get as seat. There are ~10 tables in the place. It is very small but the sushi is fantastic. I ordered the sushi boat. Basically they put on it whatever the fresh fish(es) of the day is and then unagi and other delicacies such as quail's egg. On this occasion they had amazing salmon as well as toro. Yum! It was really great. I've eaten at a bunch of sushi restaurants around Union Square and I feel this is the best.

So we went here for the outstanding reviews and thought it was fine BUT….found a big issue. The 2 waitstaff were friendly and hard working and juggled takeout orders along with all the tables…it was a little chaotic but they managed but would have benefitted from a third… unfortunately the place is really too small for 3 waitstaff. We have had great sushi at many places and this was very good indeed but not all is perfect here. The primary issue is the sushi is being prepared by a chef with bare hands, no gloves. We sat at the bar 2’ from the chef and all food is being touched by bare fingers touching not only all the raw fish in the bar fridge in front of us and all the other ingredients for all the orders but also the sauce containers, take out containers, and the same wipe rag that is used to clean the prep area continuously after each order as well as clean the knife. There was a prep sink 2’ from the chef but for the entire 2 hours we sat at the bar no hand was washed with either water or soap at any time even after the chef needed to bandage his finger. All sushi places we have frequented have exhibited ultra sanitary food prep practices but not here and for that reason alone would not go back.

We are a small dinner there, the food was good. We ate sushi, sashimi and teriyaki chicken and drank Asahi beer. It was expensive!

This was my one sushi restaurant while I was in San Francisco, and I was not disappointed. You know when the table next to you has three Japanese business men being greeted by the head chef, you are in the right place! Definitely make a reservation. I was running late and called and they very graciously still sat me, even though I was 20 minutes late. The fish is very fresh and very high quality and included some options fresh from Japan that I'd never gotten to try before. I let the server pick what I was having and I was not disappointed. If I go back, I'd do the omakase tasting. It's a pricey restaurant, but the freshness of the fish makes it worth it.

Excellent sushi, not over priced, great presentation and great atmosphere. Would definitely recommend!

Interesting that there seem to be so many negative reviews lately. I would have to disagree with any criticisms about the sushi. We went twice in May and sampled about 7 or 8 sushi rolls. All were very fresh, creative, and delicious. Some of the highlights. The Lizzy Roll is simple and amazingly refreshing - salmon and avocado with lemon. The Rock and Roll was a very tasty combination of eel, cucumber, and roe. The Swamp Roll is a creative combination of spicy tuna and seaweed salad that is surprisingly delicious. And the Lion King Roll is one of the better baked sushi rolls we have ever had. The sushi technique is flawless: nice, thin layers of rice, fresh nori, very fresh fish, and beautiful presentation. The restaurant is tiny. Four tables and a bar. If you don't have a reservation, you might be out of luck. But the atmosphere is authentic, and the staff (really, it's basically just the owner and a sushi chef, and maybe another chef in the back) are very attentive. And before you start worrying about the price (expensive, yes), the size (very small), or the chicken dishes, maybe just remind yourself: it's a sushi bar. In San Francisco. It is predestined to be tiny, expensive, and serve sushi. Try the sushi. It's excellent.

Wow. We had probably the best sushi, sashimi and nigiri ever! The fish was so fresh and had the best flavor. I love that in the sushi they use brown rice and it's rolled thin and tight. The sashimi and nigiri came out beautifully presented and we could not believe how amazing it all tasted. The quality and freshness of the fish makes such a huge difference!

It's the second time i went and i really liked it. It's really really small, but quality is great. Good service, suberb food and really authentic decoration.

So happy we found this one on trip advisor with great reviews. Absolutely agree this sushi was delicious. Only down side was having to wait a while even with a reservation but once you step inside you understand why… there are like 3 tables and 4 bar seats. This is one tiny place and clearly popular for a good reason.

Initially picked Akiko's because it was a block from my hotel and I had a sushi craving. The minute I walked in, I just had a feeling that I might have discovered a gem. It's tiny: three seats at the sushi bar and four tables. I ordered a few rolls that seemed interesting and a few orders nigiri from the fresh stuff listed on the wall. It was all melt-in-your-mouth fresh. I remember Anthony Bourdain saying how you could judge a sushi chef by the rice (paraphrasing) and I never understood what he meant until I ate at Akiko's.

We had to wait 45 min to get seated as they forgot our reservation. The place is super small very low key and not fancy at all. Even with the slip of missing our reservation I still give them the top rating as the sushi was the best I have tried so far. Very fresh and very tasty.

Really good dining experience. First time trying fatty tuna, the best! Class act and memorable dinner. Hard to find!

Found this restaurant on Trip Advisor, it was a nice walk from Chinatown, so we gave it a try. I hadn’t read the reviews closely enough to realize how small the restaurant was, but after my initial shock, we enjoyed every moment! The sushi and sashimi was outstanding! The people were very friendly, and they were taking reservations and to go orders the entire time we were there. So glad we came!

This is one of the best sushi restaurants I’ve been to outside of Japan. The toro and hamachi belly melts in your mouth. The udon noodles are the best I’ve ever had. And the broth is so rich and flavorful. I will definitely dine here again whenever I’m back in SFO. Highly recommend for people who like traditional sushi.

A very good place to eat sushi. The place is small with 16 seats. But it's very nice. I highly recommend it.

The place is tiny - 2 places for 2 people, 2-3 tables for a group of four and 2-3 spaces at the bar. Reservations recommended and often required. Sushi was fresh but not a lot of variety. Lots of rolls but all seemed similar.

Really cozy place with wonderful service and great quality japan cousine. We enjoyed sake and gyoza was awesome!

This is a really small restaurant but it is really good. Specially the fish quality is suberb. We ordered toro sashimi and it was fantastic. Very very recommended

This was a wonderful find. A small restaurant with outstanding sushi. Their menu provided quite a selection and it is a place that, if I am in the area, will plan to return to. Reservations should be a must since there are so few tables in this quaint little place. A delight.

Looked forward to having a great sushi but after arriving to the restaurant we were seated in a small table next to the entrance. It was a chilly evening but quite warm inside. The door had a mechanism that delayed the time it took the door to shut, so as people came in and out we were freezing. We asked to move and the Owner asked for a minute. We were sure she was going to sit us down somewhere else but instead she organized a place for another party, totally drying us out. Angry and cold - we left.

Very small restaurant with excellent food. Nice, friendly service. Definitely worth a visit.

This is a great place with only 17 seats, including 4 at the bar. You can make reservation or write your name near the entrance door to be able to get in it, which worth the wait if you are a sushi and rolls aficionado. You can also have Udon and Teriyaki, as well as the chef menu, if you like this kind of food or experience. So basically if you have a chance to try it, do it !

The pictures of the food were misleading! Extensive menu online. Went for Valentines dinner, (also my wife’s birthday, reservations for 5 pm. First ones to arrive were seated at a 2 top at the front window. Very tight seating. Had other tables, larger for 3-4. Subsequent couples were seated there with more table space. We were not given a choice. Server wanted to know immediately our complete order. Usually in a sushi bar the ordering is open-ended depending on items available and the preparation style, and how the movement feels. Servers did not understand any Japanese! This is what we ordered: Sapporo beer (ok), hot tea, needed to wait for them to heat water. Yellowtail belly sushi (good taste but not appealing…fish not properly sliced…left strings attached), Maguro, (good, but very tiny pieces which were fragmented on the rice which was dry and cakey), Veggie gyoza (acceptable?), Caterpillar roll, (mediocre, not finished well), Ikura with quail egg, (sorry shapes that differed and very small), the worst thing was the spicy tuna hand roll…mealy and not spicy. Not a great dining experience for sushi lovers. Bill was $ 197.00 with tip. Worth maybe less than half the price. Suggest going to a real sushi bar.

Stumbled upon this place by accident. Super tiny place, maybe 20 seats (including the 4 at the sushi bar). The sushi is really good and the staff is friendly. Sake and beer are available.

While visiting my daughter in San Francisco, she wanted us to experience the "best" restaurants. Her choice for sushi was Akiko's. We went for lunch on a weekday to avoid the busy dinner times. The restaurant had excellent sushi as advertised. The only issue was the waitress. You would think that at a classy restaurant like Akiko's the waitstaff would be great but not the case. We ordered then the issues started. The waitress insisted that I did not order what I ordered and everyone at the table was in agreement. After some rude exchanges, the situation got resolved. Lunch cost more than $35.00 per person and I expected excellent food and service. The food was excellent.

Food is expensive as you can imagine for a sushi restaurant in San Francisco, but the taste justifies the price. Besides traditional sushi, they also have some creative dishes which are amazing.

This is one of my favourite spot for Sushi in San Francisco. Tonight was interesting - their point-of-sales / till was off so the waitress (Theresa I think her name is, she's there most of the time) was fighting major battles with customers coming in, orders, serving, and... having to get the bills manually. Nevertheless she was still calm and composed, still serving with a (stressful) smile. Well done guys, despite the problems you were having the Sushi / Sashimi were excellent and still good service! I'll be back!...

Great atmosphere Elegant location with two exposed cold rooms with display of cod and red snapper A Japanese chef at our total disposal (counter for five people but there were two of us) to prepare the portions of the scheduled fixed tasting menu. Practically sashimi with a minimum support of rice treated with various flavors. All very good Good choice of wines Elegant and professional Wine glasses. Good service and excellent willingness of the chef to illustrate the dishes (rectius the individual morsels) that was preparing in a time sequence well calibrated, neither fast nor slow Very interesting experience

Beautiful very little restaurant. Service was good. I gave it a 3 rating as even though the food was good it was as amazing as I had expected.

This si a small place with less then 20 seats offering great fresh sushis. A great combination of classic sushis and more exotic rolls. Greta service and fair prices. A must for sushi lover when in San Francisco.

We came here for dinner one night while visiting SF. As mentioned in other reviews, this restaurant is tiny. Not sure whether there's usually a line but we came here on a Wed. evening around 6pm and there was no one there so we were seated immediately by the window. We ordered some rolls and sashimi. It's not over the top amazing (we've had better sushi in NYC) but still everything was fresh and portions were not skimpy. The green tea was very good and piping hot which is always very nice. The only I would suggest is the height of the tables by the window. Since I was sitting on the window ledge, it's not really at the right height for the table. Overall, a good experience and would recommend.

I can only talk about the sushi bar. We did not eat in the restaurant. I have nothing but praise for the sushi bar. It exemplifies everything I value in one: very fresh fish, an interesting variety, deft preparation, a little banter with the itamae. We had saba, some exquisite baby squid as well served as nigiri with a sliver of shiso between fish and rice, amberjack, hamachi, and some unbelievable salmon from New Zealand served as sashimi. Each bite was better than the last. If I lived in SF, this place would be a regular stop. The only reason I didn't award 5 stars is that I've only eaten at Akiko's once. A fifth star requires consistent excellence. I have no reason to think I'd be disappointed. This is a very small sushi bar. Plan accordingly. Make reservations. We didn't but happened by early and were lucky. Two places were found for us at the bar.

2nd visit to this outstanding but very small sushi restaurant and it is truly good. It is not outstanding as they buy their tomago (omelette) but the fish is super fresh, the rice the right temperature and the service is professional and charming. There are less than 20 covers so get there early. Well worth the premium price. I will be back!

We went there for dinner and it was really great. Sushi were all handmade and with the most fresh fish, you can feel it in each bite. Service was pretty efficient. It is a small restaurant so I would recommend booking in advance as it is probably only 15-20 seating. You should take the chef's omakase, which is more than enough for one person.

Outstanding Fresh Sushi spot. A great tiny spot for sushi in San Francisco. Personalized service and absolutely delicious. It’s very small- maybe 150 Sf and only 2 - 2 top and 2 -4 Tops. Low cost and hit the spot

Loved this visit based on the TA ratings and reviews. Yes this place is tiny. So what! We had a party of 6 and the place barely sits 16. The sushi is the best I've had. We ordered the Sumo Roll (it was the bomb), Dragon Roll (superb), 49er Roll (blew my mind goooood), Cherry Blossom Roll (to die for) and the Futo Maki (crazy good) Mind you I brought 4 Japanese doctoral students from Osaka with us to eat. They agreed it was an American dream how good this was. Every mouthful got a very noticeable yum! Please tip the staff well. This place is so worth the size.

We were staying in Union Square and were very tired on our first night in town, so we walked over to this sushi bar which was right by our hotel. We were very pleased. It is a very small place, but the service is excellent, and the sushi first rate. We enjoyed all of our appetizers, and our sushi. It was all arranged very nicely, and we thought it was very fairly priced for what we got.

Fantastic sushi in a very small sushi bar. I was traveling on business and came for dinner by myself. The sushi & sashimi platter was fresh and very tasty and I also ordered the toro special roll which was outstanding.

What an amazing little sushi spot!! My friends and i were looking for a spot near the Curran theatre where we could grab dinner between part 1 and 2 of the Cured Child and this was a perfect choice. It's a small little restaurant, so recommend making a reservation! They offered a great selection of specialty roles, and everything we ordered was delicious. The fish was fresh and the staff was so friendly. I highly recommend this spot for an early dinner before going to the theatre!

Superbly recommended and it didn’t disappoint. Small 16 seater restaurant- you may have to write your name on the wait list and join the queue. Delicious egg plant starter followed by great daily special suggestions. The Toro and Butterfish Nigiri were top notch. Friendly efficient service made it a memorable experience.

4 of us visited and had the best meal. The sushi was fresh and authentic, the salmon with veggies was to die for, the service was quick and attentive. It’s a very small place so reservations are recommended. Best experience! Not to be missed!

Surprisingly small place, 6 tables, can fit max 20 people or less. Sushi were Sashimi good, the soups average, lacked a bit of taste. It's a good place for a basic good Japanese dish, lunch break or quick dinner. Priced accordingly.

I think they have a few tables but I always walk in and order to go without even looking at the tables. Fresh, tasty, well presented and at the lower end of a high priced neighborhood.

It is the best sushi restaurant, recommended! the sashimi was delicious, the presentation of the dishes beautiful! The location is good and it has a parking lot right next to it.

One of the best sushi restaurants I have ever had. Service was great. Staff was very friendly. Quality was amazing. Would defiantly recommend.

We went with a party of four, made reservation but it seems this doesn’t work. The food is ok, price is medium/high, service is bit hectic but not sure if it is because of tiny space. We asked for water that never came, even asked twice. Not comfortable for groups.

The place is small but centrally located with easy access to Bart and other public transport. Better to call and book first because seating are limited. Service is good and fast but the food is just ok; nothing to shout about.

So delighted to have found Akiko's during my recent trip to San Francisco. The standard of food, presentation and quality is 2nd to none. The dishes are more authentic Japanese than 'Californian' and this is a great thing. Experience was so good that I went back a 2nd time! Well worth going out of your way for!

I have tried toro and blue fin tuna but order also an Unagui salad that had anything but Unagui; just two very tiny pieces — the size of a jeans button. The waiter is the asset and very nice but herself and the sushi man are both chinese, which surprised me but whatever....

Hands down some of the best sushi I’ve tried. The freshness and taste come through so well. Great menu selection. Pity I don’t live in San Francisco.

Good atmosphere, friendly staff and great food! Ask the staff for a mix of their food so you csn discover what they have to offer!

Loved my dinner here and decided to try their special blue fin tuna. It was stunning and very fresh. Excellent service and I got to sit at the counter to watch over what the sushi masters were preparing. Will definitely come again.

noticed this restaurant on our way back to the hotel and decided to check it out. Glad we did. Solid Japanese food and quick service.

Very small place, booking is necessary, but food was absolutely great:) Especially fatty tuna roll, go for it!

It is a tiny place - perhaps 15 covers with a few more at the bar area. Service is super friendly. The sushi was v fresh. We were there weekday late lunch so had a table straight away. The food was a delight. The place was nicely full but quiet ... so nice to be able to actually chat without muzak over nice food.

We went my cousin and me and fish ss usual was amazing. Specially Albacore Tuna was spectacular. Very small place but i reallly like it Very recommended

Really nice little sushi place with friendly service. Good sushi - but nothing special. Very small place, seemed ok clean.

This place has the freshest sushi Options I've ever had. It's tiny but so worth the wait if there is one. Happy hour is excellent. Fast and efficient and friendly people. Will be back! (Gluten free soy!)

Found this place on TripAdvisor. Highly recommended and it didn’t disappoint. Was by myself and was going to eat in, but it is very small place. Sushi bars sits 3 ppl and there are 4 tables. I opted to do take out, and it was fabulous. Had the SF Giant roll and the Spicy Tuna Maki roll with seaweed salad. Everything was excellent!

This is a lovely spot for amazing sushi and sashimi. We ordered the mixed plate that had fresh tuna and salmon. Staff are friendly, they have an extensive menu and the produce was very fresh. Great spot to stop for a quick lunch while exploring San Francisco!

So the first time we visited this place we absolutely loved it. It's a tiny little restaurant and was very busy but the food was so good so we decided to go two days later. The fish tasted amazing and the combinations were so flavorful The second time around we went there, the waitress was different and she mistook our order. That was fine but what I didn't think was fine is we saw big flies flying all around the place and the fridge door where the fresh was kept open all the time. I didn't see flies going in but it was kind of unsettling. Nevertheless, loved the sushi, loved the place and would recommend it.

Incredible sushi in this little gem of a restaurant. Seats 18-20 people. Small bar where you can see the sushi chef compose your meal. I opted for the 12 piece nigiri, chef’s choice or omakase as the Japanese would call it. Super fresh seafood, excellent sushi rice. Nice, friendly service. One of the better sushi’s I ever had in this country.

Absolutely delicious, particularly the veggie caterpillar, which was fantastic. Staff excellent. Highly recommended!

A small sushi bar in San Francisco, near from Union Square. The restaurant has many options of sushi and makimonos. The food is excellent and the staff is very friendly.

Friendly staff! Found this cute little place while shopping in union square! Great sashimi & miso soup! A nice little break from shopping!

This was a great restaurant!! The sushi was prepared in the restaurant and everything had great quality! This might be the best sushi I ever ate. The restaurant is really small and only about 16 people fit. The employees where really nice and the service was fast. I really recommend this!!

Recently, I went on a business trip to San Francisco. One of the goals I had was to go to a good sushi restaurant (in San Francisco, is there any other kind?). My boyfriend and I researched on cheap eats in the city and Akiko's is listed as one. So we decided to go there on our last day. The place is quite small, with bar seating enough for no more than four people, two tables for four and two tables for two. We were sat in one of the two 2-person tables (with one sitting in a chair and the other sitting against the window on a cushioned bench. The quality of food and service, however, more than made up for the small space. We ordered Sake, a sashimi platter that included a couple of slices each of five different fish that the chef chose, as well as an order of of the Escolar sashimi (five pieces of Hawaiian butter fish). The sashimi platter contained VERY FRESH slices of tuna, salmon, albacore, hamachi, and what looked like tuna belly. The tuna belly was a "melt in your mouth" experience, while the salmon (my favorite) was just buttery and smooth. It was the first time we tried Escolar sashimi - it was very flavorful and smooth on the tongue as well. The Hakutsuru sake was nothing too special (I'm a little bit of a Sake snob), but it was nonetheless good, cold, and provided a great taste combination with the sashimi. The bill came to about $70 for two people (certainly not cheap, but definitely a good price considering it's San Francisco and the quality of the fish). I highly recommend this place if you are a sushi/sashimi lover and looking for a relatively inexpensive sushi restaurant. I would definitely go back to this place!

We went for lunch, the food was delicious with great portion sizes, and the waiting staff were lovely. The restaurant was perfect for a simple lunch or a nice meal out with friends! Would recommend the duck ramen and the sesame chicken any day of the week!

This is decent sushi but I totally disagree that it is the 2nd best in the city. We walked in hoping that it was going to be a fantastic hole in the wall. It was a hole in the wall but it wasn’t as good as we hoped for. It is worth a try but don’t go in with high expectations.

Horrible quality and the amount of food is a joke. Very over priced I’ve never seen a chirasi bowl so poorly presented and only few fish over a lot of rice

Quality sushi, great people! Small little quaint family place with three tables. The fish was very fresh. Very friendly warm people. Fish portion size a little small, but that may be a San Francisco thing or a reaction to the fish prices increasing due to Covid. The fish had excellent flavor. I recommend this place.

Read the reviews and booked a table. Super tiny place, maybe 20 seats (including the 4 at the sushi bar). The sushi and sashimi is really good, dishes look nice and the staff is friendly.

Tiny place that you could easily walk by, but don’t, it’s fantastic! Only seats 16 and we were lucky a couple had just left, great selection and all made fresh at the bar and quickly. Cannot recommend enough. Try the lion king rolls and the blue fin tuna

It is a very small and seemingly popular neighborhood spot, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here. I'm sure that there a many better options in SF. It was cramped, pricey and the sushi was uninspired at best. If you're looking for great sushi, I would pass.

We have been here a couple of times before. It is a very small restaurant with about 5 tables, and 3-4 seats at a bar. You need to write your name down on a wait list at the door, but it is WORTH THE WAIT! It has the freshest sushi, good Chicken don buri, and pretty quick service. We will go return next time we’re in San Francisco!

At 8:30 i completed my onlne order and got my sushi by 9. It was fast but above all Super delicious. Great quality. Surely on of the best for a de lux take away

I wanted a quick budget lunch, So I checked it on tripadvisor and got in.I had a wonderful Udon soup. Definitely recommended

3rd visit to this lovely but very small sushi restaurant and it is generally good. It is not outstanding as they buy their tomago (omelette) but the fish is super fresh, the rice the right temperature and the service is professional and charming. My most recent visit included a young stand-in chef and the quality dropped significantly. No attention to amount of rice or the finish. May have to look elsewhere for my annual SF sushi dinner.

Came in expecting an Irish pub as the outdoor signage indicates, and was pleasantly surprised to find a top notch sushi restaurant. Travelling on business dining alone at the sushi counter feels slightly less pitiful. Ordered the chef sashimi plate, fried baby octopus, a la Carte sea urchin and a beer. Check came in under USD80 and I left full. Sashimi was fresh and flavourful. Service was prompt and prices are reasonable. I was lucky to get a seat without a reservation. Saw them turn away a number of guests as they were fully booked

Order the SUMO roll!!!!!! And their daily specials are also surprising. Fresh and less conventional. I am always drawn back to Akiko--it's all I talk about when I'm enroute to SF. It is super tiny so expect a wait. I can't even find a website for them. There are two restaurants named Akiko. This is on Mason and it's close to Union Square. The best way to describe their sushi is delicate and complex. While I've never had to wait I've seen people wait to get it. The fish portion is a little smaller this past visit but I would still go back. The only drawback is the bathroom is a trek. It isn't in the restaurant.

Thus teeny little sushi place seats only about 15/20 at any one time. Makes for quite an intimate setting. I stopped here for lunch and had some really great dishes including the Lion King Roll - the first time I have ever eaten baked sushi!

Our first dinner in SF. We had planned for a great sushi place and were not disappointed. We went back a few days later for take away! Really helpful with food allergies!

I read that this was one of the top sushi restaurants in SF and was not disappointed! The fish is fresh, service is good and prices are reasonable. I also had the vanilla crepe desert which was great. There aren’t that many tables, so should expect the possibility of a wait.

This is the smallest restaurant in town. Only 3 seats at the sushi bar and three tables, so there may be a wait. But the sushi is right off the boat and prepared with style and flavor. Not a trendy, yuppy sushi, but authentic and superb. Good service, very limited bar, reasonable prices.

We were seated promptly and given menus. Not asked if we wanted a drink. Another couple was seated next to us who were asked right away what they wanted to drink and also ordered soup. They received their drinks and soup and still no server came back to us. When the server came back to take their order and hadn't yet been to see us we walked out.

Amazing place. Little but cozy. Best guioza ever. And seaweed was really special. Will come Back for sure., to taste rolls and niguiris.

Don't really think sushi gets any better than this. And the fish is so fresh it just melt in your mouth. I'm sorry to say, this place has absolutely ruined me for sushi in the future...

Great fresh sushi. Although it was weird they were out of Maguro but happened to have plenty of the expensive tuna of the day. Not sure how they made the rolls...... There might be 16-20 seats max. One table for four so don’t plan a business meeting or group here. This would be great place for carry out. So, great sushi - no atmosphere or space.

Wonderful selection and presentation. Our waiter made great suggestions for our food and drinks. He was prompt and friendly. Nice table near front window.

Awesome super fresh sushi with friendly staff. Fish quality is excellent and the quality is fantastic.

Worst customer service ever seen, and we are foodies who have traveled around the world. We made a reservation for 7.30 pm, just to be then waiting outside for 30 mn until 8 pm in the cold with 2 other groups who were also waiting for more than 20 mn despite a reservation made. The waitress even lied to us saying that a table for 2 was about to be free, but it was not the case at all (we waited another 20 mn). They are basically taking any reservation whatsoever without being able to respect them. We left without having eaten anything.

We arrived there early, and were surprised how tiny the place is! 5 minutes later and we wouldn’t have had a table. Book if you can. My wife and I both went for sushi’s and sashimi, so so fresh, so tasty, beautiful. Highly recommend this place. I might have to come back.

This is such a tiny place wish it were bigger, go early great sushi Good service nicely decorated. Dont sit by the door, as it is so small people trying to get a seat etc tend to disruot the experience for the person by the door. Goid sake selection, other goid japanese dishes too

The food and atmosphere were equally amazing. The menu is creative and the food incredibly well prepared. The service is also fantastic. The location is also great. The fried baby octopus is ridiculously good. The sashimi was also amazing. Make a reservation and enjoy!

4 Tables for 12 people in total, 3 spots at the bar and I would consider myself lucky if I was 1 of them. Great variety of Sushi, fresh and very tasty! Good service and good wine as well. You probably need to be lucky if you can find a table, but definitely give it a try!

We have always had consistently great sushi here and were not disappointed. We started with miso soup. Then ordered seaweed salads, a cherry bomb and vegan roll. The bomb had salmon, tuna, avocado and mango which was excellent. The vegan had plenty of avocado and a very interesting stuffing. It was also very good! This place is small 4 tables and 4 seats by the chef. Two are 4 seats and the rest 2. So it is small and often has a line outside. They do a lot of carry out and it might be slow, but it is worth the wait.

I tried last time I was in San Francisco to get into this tiny restaurant and failed, but I got there very early and was able to snag a spot at the 4-person bar. There are four tables as well. The lady running the show does a wonderful job and made the meal all the more enjoyable, but even without her positive presence, I would have found this place delightful. The specials were indeed special, and that is where I focused my choices, including a dungeness crab roll, a four-piece set of salmon and one of tuna as well as a few others.

Located very near my hotel (Chancellor Hotel on Union Square), and checked this charming little establishment out for dinner. Loved the sushi and sashimi- very fresh and tasted amazing! Friendly servers too :)

This place is in our top5 of fantastic places to eat - try the chefs choice and wash it down with a delicious glass of rose. It's on the pricey side, but so worth it!

For the price of the restaurant we expected a more pleasant atmosphere. The restaurant has only 4 tables, but we had no problems to enter, only one table was busy. The fish were fresh, with good variety and we had a good care.

I was with my family in this restaurant, a very small place with 8 seats, very fresh and delicious fish and a fair price for the prices in the city

Very small place so try to make a reservation in advance because the place is tiny. Somehow this on sushi chef place had excellent food and good service. Very cozy place and the high end sushi - tuna and salmon belly was some of the best that I've ever tasted.

Went in a few times when I stayed near by for an extended business trip. Fish was all super fresh and tasty where other places I went to would not compare. Sake selection was small but good. The Toro was tasty, hamachi belly was good, the escolar roll was just fantastic, lots of flavors not too heavy. A great hole in the wall near Union Square

The sushi was very good and the rolls were unique. However, considering the restaurant has 4 tables, the wait staff should be a little more with the program. It's a good thing we were not in a hurry and are very laid back because we had to deal with items forgotten, reorders, and a waitress with very little brain cells. If you can overlook that, the place is great.

Excellent sushi in the Union Square district! The fish is fresh and of very good quality. We were at the bar and could enjoy the view of the chef's work. Be careful, the restaurant is very small. And rather expensive when you add up the taxes and tips

We decided to go because most of te reviews of this tiny place were good; however our experience was very bad. The place is extremely small, 4 tables. Crowded and overpriced. The Seafood Udon was just udon with some fish. The "Cheff sashimi" was very bad with no presentation at all. It seems that this place is specialized in sushi, not sashimi, udon or Teriyaky. There are much better Japanese Restaurants in San Francisco. No doubt it was a mistake to visit this place

Super little sushi restaurant. About 15 seats and what you order gets made while you can see it. Fresh, tasty, top. Nice atmosphere, nice price level. Worth going to, but would recommend marking reservation since there was a long line when we where eating.

Staying nearby the restraint we thought we would check it out. The restaurant is cute and small. Staff are very friendly and are very helpful. We had sashimi which was fresh and melted in your mouth as well as the sushi. There udon was ok as well as their teriyaki dishes.

Quiet and tiny restaurant with just 4 tables. We met a patron who helped us order since we are not used to Sushi menus. The sushi was fresh and delicious. So glad we took a chance on this. Do not pass this one up!

Great last minute find. Close to my hotel which was nice. Yellowtail carpaccio was an excellent recommendation from the server. The sumo roll was perfect. Small place so be prepared to wait if your just walking around.

First when you get in to the restaurant you wonder, it is small, when the door opens the temperature fall in the hole restaurant not cool, but then they serve the sushi and everything don’t matter, it is sushi from heaven, delicately, super quality, extremely refined, it is a bucket list restaurant for sure. Service is also over the top.

What a memorable meal! We had the delicious Miso soup. It's subtle flavor was delightful. Our first roll was the Special Yellowtail roll. It was wonderful! Thinly sliced green onions and toasted sesame seeds on top of hamachi over a roll of hamachi and avocado. The chef used rice conservatively. Our second roll was the Lion King roll. We hadn't realized the sake was lightly broiled but the roll was terrific. Our last roll was the Special Salmon roll. Salmon with avocado and cucumber inside topped with salmon, spicy sauce. Yummy. This was a fabulous find for lunch! Close to the theatre district and Union Square.

The staff was fine, and the seaweed salad excellent. Apparently they thought I was a tourist and could sell me anything. I got a bill for $15.95 for two pieces of toro sushi that was incorrectly cut and full of membrane. In my 25 years of eating Sushi in San Francisco this was a surprise. On my visit, I could only see a very small selection of fish, and felt limited in my ordered. I did sit at the counter!

Just had great Sushi at a hole-in-the-wall. Literally, 2 tables for 2, 2 tables for 4 and 4 seats at the bar. For the price of the meal I could have dined at the Ritz.

I hate to leave a bad review as the service was very good. We decided to grab sushi here based on so many excellent reviews but were very disappointed. Tuna roll was fatty and the kappa maki roll had a very fishy taste. While the vegetables with the chicken teriyaki were crisp and fresh the chicken was rubber and an odd color. They graciously took it back but my husband and I stopped elsewhere for dinner. Shouldn’t be at the top.

We have been to japan and tgis place was awesome! Small place but HUGE on taste and textures! Excellent fresh sushi with very nice choices! Lion king roll delicious! The San Francisco roll was awesome and the udon noodles were a treat! GREAT SUSHI!!!!

Great choice if you're up for sushi. Excellent quality food on a really small but cozy place. Good service as well.

Very small dining area, so get there early or plan to wait. If you wait, it will be worth it! Some of the best sushi I've had. Very fresh! Cool little place, but packs powerfulmfun flavor into every roll! They offer a pretty large variety on the menu, so come hungry. Moderately priced. Street parking only.

We were told about this place by the bartender at our hotel and let me just say, this stuff is touched by an angel. Don't be put off by the small space when you arrive (there's a Zagat sticker on the window for a good reason...). This sushi was the best we have ever tasted. Fresh and absolutely delicious - I even had a vegetarian roll that BLEW AWAY any other rolls I have ever eaten. The other roll I had, the Cable Car roll, is certainly one that cannot be missed...butterfish is not something you see on sushi here on the east coast, and it just melts in your mouth. We will return here when we're back in Frisco.

Although small and hard to get a table, we waited 15mins and it was well worth it. One of the best places for sushi, just be prepared the venue is very small

One of the best food experiences I've had. The food was excellent and the small atmosphere added to the uniqueness of the visit. With no more than 16 seats, it really made you feel like you were at a family dinner.

I recently dined at Akiko and was unfortunately left feeling misled. When we arrived, a tasting menu suggestion was already placed on our table without any additional explanation or visible pricing. Assuming this was the standard offering, we decided to go with it. However, to our shock, the bill came to $700 for two people. What made the situation worse was that it wasn't until the dessert course that we were informed there was also an à la carte option available. Had we known this from the start, we would have certainly considered other choices. This lack of transparency left a sour taste and made us feel like we had been taken advantage of. I expect more clarity and honesty from a restaurant of this caliber.

This is a very small restaurant with only 15-20 seating capacity. does not look very fancy from outside. But when you start eating sushi, then you will understand why this restaurant is highly rated. The food (sushi) is very delicious. Prepared fresh once you order. You will definitely love it.

A small business that - like its owner - is discreet, efficient and peacefull. The best and freshest sushi prepared as you look. The guy making them moves fast, secure, routined but yes enjoying himself. We stayed at the bar so we had a look at the products (all fresh) and at him. The prices are more than ok for the quality you get. Book in advance rather than pass by, there are only a few tables in the dining. Warm 🍶 sale, temaki , edamame, marinated eggplant skewers, vegan sushi- all delicious.

Hirosan, Chef is transcendent! If you can get a reservation at the sushi bar try and sit in front of him, tell him what you like and don't like and let the magic happen. You will be in great hands Seriously one of the best meals I've ever had. Squid ink sushi rice with foie gras. Baby shrimp for"rice" topped with uni, trust him. Hiro will not disappoint. Amazing. They open for dinner, try and walk in without a reservation. Great food and service.

Jet-lagged and a bit dazed after our long flight from Australia, Akiko’s was the perfect introduction for my son and me to San Fran hospitality. Outstanding food and even better service, this cozy little place is perfect for a light meal. We had miso soup, gyoza and sushi for our supper, it was beautifully done and very authentic. Recommended!!

We had an excellent dinner here & it's only a short walk from Union Square. The venu is VERY small, we got lucky as a party of 2 with no reservation and were seated right away. The waitress was very nice, food was fast, affordable and delicious!

Very small shop with 1 chef who makes fresh sushi. We opted for some sushi and got a small Miso soup beforehand. The place was packed in no time. We asked the chef about his specialty and got a great sushi with eel, scallop and a delicious sauce. Highly recommended to eat sushi here!!!

Tiny restaurant booking essentials. Amazing food , fast service , friendly staff . Highly recommend , a great find near UnionSquare

The food was out of this world, and the waitress's recommendations were spot-on, elevating my enjoyment to new heights. The authenticity and premium quality of the dishes made it the best sushi I have ever tasted. The impeccable service added a touch of luxury to the entire experience, leaving me thoroughly impressed and eager to return.

Sushi was ok; not great. I was shocked when I received my bill as I wasn't full and didn't eat a lot. Alos, I did not order any alcohol. Restaurant is small: 4 stools at sushi bar that are very close together, probably only 3 normal sized people could sit comfortably and about 4 small tables. If you have to use the rest room, you have to go outside, down in to the basement and well, some ladies may not be thrilled at this. If you are a sushi purist: you want your sushi chef to be Japanese: this is not the place for you as the waitress was talking Korean to the young sushi chef.

Incredible Japanese specialties. Everything was perfect. The fish, their choice, their freshness, the ginger… and the service!

We visited Akiko for dinner on the advice of reviews on Trip Advisor. We are glad we did. Very small place - seating for just 16, including the sushi bar. Very nice people. Owner/chef (we think) was very friendly and recommended certain types of fish, including providing a free sample of buttery-textured bluefin tuna (toro). All of the sushi we tried was excellent and prices were about what we expected. Local patrons stopped in for take-out while we were dining. Would dine here again.

Very small place just like most eateries in Japan. Loved the flavours and the freshness of the fish especially the tuna sashimi. Green tea and plum wine excellent accompaniments too. Recommended.

Great sushi, excellent service. Reservations are a must. The place has only four tables! My only quibble is that the nigiri are small. I ordered the deluxe platter for $69 or so, and it was tiny, half-bite sized pieces.

Everything is so fresh, friendly service & genuine care about quality of food and what they serve. Cannot fault in any way. Perfect

He must have a good relationship with the guys on the docks because the fish here is incredibly fresh and high quality. It's a tiny setup but the sushi is first rate. Go if you get the chance.

the place is quite small (4 tables) and the chef is doing the sushis in front of you. Almost everything we ordered was delicious!

Tucked into a small space on Mason is a real find if you're looking for good sushi. The staff is friendly and the food fresh and delicious. Especially inviting on a cool night in The City.

The food is very very good, but bring lots of money. One might think that a "hole in the wall" place with three tables inside and no outdoor seating (hilly street) would be reasonably priced. That same somebody would be wrong. $30 for 2 pieces of uni sushi is too much, as are $15-20 hand rolls. Hot tea is extra. Really? Beer is reasonably priced. The wait person was friendly and attentive. But little value here.

Fantastic food - lovely and fresh. Cozy authentic Japanese place with excellent service. Just turn up and queue. There are only around 5 tables and a small counter, but definitely worth the wait!

Superbly recommended and it didn’t disappoint. Small 16 seater restaurant- you may have to write your name on the wait list and join the queue. Delicious egg plant starter followed by great daily special suggestions. The Toro and Butterfish Nigiri were top notch. Friendly efficient service made it a memorable experience.

Small and welcoming place, fabulous nigiri and very high quality fish. If you are in San Francisco and fancy sushi, play it safe!