Ebisu Reviews

Good sushi rolls and udons. However, it was a very crowded and noisy place.

Very good. Would recommend. Casual and good for family. Close to the park. The portions were large and the food was very fresh.

I went for lunch and sat at a table and enjoyed watching the sushi chefs and patrons at the counter. The decor is very pleasant, but it is a bit dark. I had a good Miso soup and very well prepared shrimp and vegetable tempura. I finished with one of the best desserts I've ever had -- Vanilla Pot du Creme with Lemon Glaze and Warm Strawberry Compote. The service was excellent and friendly. I will go back.

We were advised to visit by our guide from the Japanese Tea Garden. Her 93 year old mother-in-law enjoys this place. We treated our teen daughter to authentic cuisine which she really enjoyed. The dishes are varied and priced right. They have a good wine and beer selection. Adults enjoyed some delicious plum wine. The sukiyaki was delicious. We also had tempura, sushi, cucumber salad, and some other side items. Many locals were dining. We arrived early, but it was packed when we left. Parking is very difficult. If possible, take a cab or public transportation .

Thank you TripAdvisor for another great recommendation! Had a variety of sashimi and a seaweed salad that were fabulous. Very enjoyable to sit at the bar and watch the chefs at work. (Caterpillar role was not my fav, but that's just personal preference.) And for dessert, Green Tea Matcha Brulee - ooh la la! All for a very reasonable price.

Great when I'm in the neighborhood.

For lunch to compliment our visit to the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate park, we were delighted with the bento box lunch. It was the most beautiful and best bento I have had ever, and I lived in Japantown San Jose. The tempura was perfect with a pleasant selection of vegetables, salad selections were fresh and tasty with two kinds of seaweed (hijiki and wakame) and blanched spinach plus a mixed green salad with tomatoes and radishes lightly dressed in a ginger vinaigrette. Salmon teriyaki was delicate, perfectly cooked and was served deliciously skinned. Tonkatsu was crisp. No overcooked, overdressed, overseasoned food here, only thoughtful fresh selections of traditional favorites. Service was politely efficient.

hands-down, my very favorite sushi place in the city. SO good. if there's a long wait, just cross the street and go to hotai. same owners, same sushi, usually no wait ;)

Best sushi

Definitely the best japanese restaurant i have ever tried. Delicious sushi/sashimi/nigiri compositions. Majority of them looks like pieces of art thanks to the master skills of the chefs. The best.

My wife, not a sushi lover, declared that this was the best she had ever eaten. The appetizers I had (edamame, seaweed salad, and Tenpura (the way they spell it) were all perfectly cooked and very tasty. Crowded. Noisy. Long wait.

Great variety of signature rolls and specials. The sushi chefs are very fast and the creative playing is fabulous! I suggest sitting at the sushi bar rather than the tables. Too cramped. This place is always busy....even at lunch. We always call ahead

Ebisu is a small cozy Japanese restaurant on a block that is a virtual UN of ethnic restaurants. We discovered it decades ago, and its longevity is a tough restaurant city speaks to the quality of the food and service. Anything with shrimp is excellent, whether you go for sushi or other mealtime dishes including delicious ramen. They never rush their guests, so if they are completely full, you have lots of alternatives on the block. There is also one at SFO in the United terminal, but it is not as good, unfortunately.

Wonderful miso soup with fresh fish and daily fish and specialty cool specials. The service is attentive and rapid. The sushi chefs are excellent. We had lunch bento boxes, 2 and 4 and all the dishes were fabulous. We also had a rotate nigiri which was one of the freshest I have ever had, a pure delight at very decent prices.

We are sashimi lovers, not really big sushi roll fans. The service was prompt and friendly, we sat at the sushi bar and took sashimi recommendations from our Sushi Chef. Edamame and miso were great-thumbs up! Most sashimi were excellent, some very good and one or two great, but not to our taste. Best was they has an impressive range of daily fish specials, we ate our way down the list! We enjoyed our lazy lunch here, thanked our chef by sharing a glass of saki with him. I would venture back here again. Nice atmosphere, friendly staff, good service, reasonable prices and SUPER fresh fish. Great!!

On of the best Sushi places,

these guys are really good with their rolls. We had the dragon, spider, and caterpillars. We also had their Hamachi Sashimi but I think the rolls were superior. Their Bento boxes looked great as well A lovely evening in San Francisco

I grew up in Marin and have eaten a lot of sushi in the Bay Area - this is by far the best neighborhood sushi bar in San Francisco. When I lived in San Francisco I was a regular here, and I make a point of stopping by whenever I'm in town. The traditional Japanese decor has gone sleek and modern and the laminated menus have been replaced by leather and silk menu books, but the fish is as fresh as ever and Steve Fujii, the chef-owner, still runs a tight ship. I love the double hamachi roll, an Ebisu creation which is a must for hamachi lovers. On my most recent visit, I also tried some hamachi-toro and salmon-toro handrolls which melted in my mouth. In addition to sushi Ebisu has hearty donburi and feather light tempura, while across the street sister restaurant Hotei specialises in ramen soup. At long last they have finally added mochi ice cream to the dessert menu at Ebisu (formerly it was only available at Hotei)! When flying out of SFO I make a point of arriving a bit early so I can get a final sushi fix at Ebisu's airport branch - the menu doesn't have the specials or all the bells and whistles you can get on 9th Avenue, but it has the rolls and excellent nigiri and sashimi. I fly business / first and can eat in the lounge, but I'd rather pay for Ebisu!

I'm vegetarian and had just had oral surgery so I put them to the test to accommodate my no chewing restriction and they happily adjusted a tofu dish to fit my already picky needs. In spite of a busy lunch hour, the staff were very attentive and sincere in trying to welcome and help everyone in our party. And everyone loved the food.

Coming from the Midwest, all we wanted for one of our meals in San Francisco was some high-quality sushi. This was by far the best sushi meal my boyfriend and I ever had! Ebisu is a tiny place, but cozy. It's clean, has lovely decor, and feels both casual and fancy. Service was excellent and our server was attentive. Sushi was extremely well-priced for the quality we received. Everything tasted great, but if there's one roll you have to get, it's the 49'er roll. I don't even know how to describe it other than to say that you shouldn't be fooled by its simplicity - it's outstanding! I almost cried knowing that I may never be able to taste that roll again. If you're visiting San Francisco, make this place a priority to visit. Highly recommended!

Ebisu is a fantastic neighborhood oriented sushi restaurant. The staff is wonderful, the fish is fresh - the food great. It never disappoints. the wait can be long - but it is always worth it.

There are a few hints that provide a glimpse of why there is always a line at this restaurant. Could it be that the food is authentic Japanese food that is prepared by Japanese ? Or is it that it feels like an intimate restaurant where family members work and take pride in their service and quality? Ebisu is a Sushi/Japanese restaurant that provides speedy service with great food for a reasonable price. I normally don’t sit at the Sushi bar but given that I was hungry and my daughter said it was fun to sit at the sushi bar I decided to give it a try. What a treat!! Sitting at the sushi bar adds a flair of entertainment to the meal. The sushi chefs’ were friendly and entertaining. Watching them create an edible masterpiece was both intriguing and awe inspiring. What they can do with a knife and seafood was impressive to watch. They were truly food artists at work. While they were working they also talk and interact with the customers. My daughter had spent a summer in Japan so the chef was able to trade experiences with her. The restaurant has many regulars as both parties on either side were obviously patrons who frequent the restaurant. We ordered sushi and a combination dinner which were both excellent. The bento box/combination dinner was probably the best combination I have ever ordered ( and I’m Japanese so I’ve experienced a lot in my life ). My exchange student from Switzerland was also with us. She is a novice when it comes to sushi but the chefs were very patient and kind. She wasn’t sure what to order but tried a few things and really enjoyed it. This is definitely a restaurant to try. They don’t take reservations but the wait is worth it. Service is incredibly quick so the line moves rapidly. Highly recommend.

I had sushi at Ebisu a couple of times. The products are fresh and tasty, and the sushis are well prepared. They're not the best in town, but it's still a good place to go after a long walk in the Park.

Excellent, fresh sushi, good price. Negative is that it can take a LONG time to get a table.

We sat by the sushi bar to have sushi palate adventure. We wanted to be surprised by what the chef had in store for us. I was very skeptical bec I hate food surprises. I prefer to know what I'm about to eat before delving in. As soon as we sat down, I noticed all the raw fish displayed by the bar facing us. I already knew the quality of fish were not up to par and wanted to leave. Couldn't make a run for it as it was my friend's choice to eat sushi. An array of sushi came after one another for 40 mins and the only sushi I was impressed with was salmon toro. On top of the surprises, we ordered blue fin toro, maguro toro and hamachi toro which are my ultimate favorite sushi that I always order when eating at sushi restaurant. Their sushi looked like and tasted like they were old. Also, the chef sliced the sushi in such small and thin size. At the end of our meal, the bill came down to $129 excluding tax. That is the most expensive, bad quality sushi I've ever had, not to mention for lunch! I usually spend more than $150 when dining at a sushi restaurant with better sushi and better quality. I would not recommend this mediocre restaurant at all.

The food was great- highly recommend the 49er and family affair rolls, along with the edemame trio. Only downside was that our waitress was new and although she was doing a great job, the other staff kept rudely correcting her in front of the customers which we thougt was very unprofessional. Otherwise, great place to eat.

YUM.

New decor is nice, and the sushi is still great - one of the classic SF sushi joints!

Every trip to San Fran includes Ebisu for sushi. They really out do anywhere I've ever had sushi. Fresh and fantastic. Great menu. Usually busy. Definitely a not to be missed! Enjoy!

We were neas UCSF looking for a place to eat about 9PM and found Ebisu. Small and tasteful interior. He service was flawless and the food terrific. I had sukiyaki filled with seafood and my partner delighted in the deluxe sushi combo. The place was staffed by 4 sushi chefs as well as back kitchen staff. Fish was fresh. The whole experience was delightful.

While visiting friends in San Francisco and looking for a last-minute spot for a late lunch, I checked out TripAdvisor mobile for the top sushi restaurants and came up with Ebisu, near Golden Gate Bridge park. We did not regret the decision, as the sushi was absolutely some of the best we've ever had. We tried the tuna, sea urchin and salmon sashimi and sushi, as well as an order of the chirashi bowl. We also had the hamachi kama (grilled yellowtail tuna cheek) and gindara appetizers, which were really, really good as well (especially the tuna cheek). For all the amazing food that we ate, the tab came out a lot more reasonable than the top-flight sushi places that I've tried in NYC and Boston. My friend from SF (who loves sushi and has tried pricier places in the city) was really happy with the quality of the dishes, and surprised that she had never tried Ebisu before. This place definitely gives you tremendous quality for your money while providing warm, friendly and unobtrusive service. It's a small restaurant (maybe 10 small tables at the most?), so it may be hard to seat more than 4 at a time without a reservation.

I have been going to this restaurant since it opened its doors over 30 years ago. All I can say is that (Steve, owner) and it's team have not lost touch with superior quality in sushi. Always bringing out plates of perfection. Tonight's celebration was exquisite. We introduced Sushi to our son and daughter and they loved . Thank you Steve, your son , and your team of professionals for making this B-day a very very special one.

Walked by Ebisu at the end of a busy morning sightseeing and couldnt resist going in for lunch. A beautiful selection on the menu, all prepared fresh. I chose one of the lunch specials, goyza plate which came with seared broccoli, carrot and salad. Served with rice and miso. Delicious. Ebisu serves a wide variety of fresh seafood plates, all beautifully presented. Highly recommended.

Out by Golden Gate Park and UCSF this restaurant continues to amaze. Excellent quality fish and preparation. They also have a wide range of fish not carried in other restaraunts too such as Bonito, a nd Ali which are hard to find anywhere but here. Rolls are also amazing and unique for example the Louisiana Hot link, and no there is no sausage in it. Only draw back is the wait which can be long and they don’t take reservations, but the wait is well worth it. Try late afternoons when not so crowded.

This restaurant was recommended by a native of San Francisco as The best sushi restaurant in SF, even better than any in Japan Town. It was indeed wonderful. The sake sampling was interesting and I loved the salmon roe (ikura) and the octopus. Tempura was cooked to perfection, not oily and heavy.

A group of us was visiting from the East Coast and were very impressed with Ebisu. We went there upon the recommendation of a local friend. FIrst of all, the wait staff was very patient with us, explaining the different parts of the menu, which was set up differently than what we were used to. The miso soup, delicious, was served to be drunk directly from the cup, also uncommon for East Coast restaurants. We had a variety of food and everything was delicious! We would definitely return here to try more items.

So, when you have to wait this long, it better be a great experience. Next time I would get there very early, just to avoid the line... and to struggle for parking. There were an average amount of hits and misses here, so it didn't seem like a great experience worth the wait. The menu is more than overwhelming or, as some would say, there are a lot of choices. A Lot! There were many "exotic" offerings, so I thought I would try some different items. Nothing thrilled me. The sushi rolls were crumbling, which made it difficult to enjoy them, and even harder to share. There are a lot of great ratings here, so statistically speaking, you'll probably like it, but I was not as impressed as I had been led to expect. And be aware... it is NOT inexpensive. Even by sushi standards it's a hefty tab. There are a lot of fine sushi restaurants, and full menu Japanese restaurants out there, without some of the pains you have to go through to eat here. Or maybe try it here at Ebisu, for lunch.

The sushi is delectable -- it melts in your mouth -- have not had better anywhere. Miso soup is a bonus -- rich, delicious broth. Nice atmosphere, excellent service. Only downside is the place is loud, but this may have mostly been due to a trio of loudmouths sitting at the sushi bar just behind us.

The sushi here is really good <excellent Firm, clean(not fishy), like a jello, but better and healthier, forget about it The people are nice This place is the standard for our sushi, whenever and wherever we have sushi, because we do not live in SF anymore

The sushi is what brought me here, and these guys know what they're doing with that wonderful sea food. The service is always warm and helpful, and if you don't know that much about the cuisine they will help you sort it out. One of SF's best! Enjoy!

Fantastic flavours, deliciously fresh, easily recommended. We had the sushi deluxe combo with tree appetizers and miso soup which was ample for lunch. The fried mackerel and the fried eggplant were dishes I'd never had before and were amazing but even the soup and gyoza were exceptional. Definitely coming back for dinner!

After flying Singapore, Seoul and then into San Francisco we were all pretty tired. We flew across to see my son and his family and our new baby granddaughter. So after freshening up, we went across to their apartment and sue enough after a short while the topic of conversation turned to what shall we have for dinner,, a big deal when u have 8 people to feed. Well one of favourites here is the Japanese at Ebisu. Given the new baby, we decided on takeaway and Of course we had all the usual Japanese fair and all very delicious, very safe With all in the family very satisfied, I hope to return before we fly back.

We shared several delicacies and the fish was very flavorsome and melted in the mouth. Service was quick , friendly and efficient. I will be back.

Lady was really rude on the phone. My friend gave me a g/c because she loves the place. Sushi was decent but I would not go back because of the service.

Sushi was excellent. It was fresh, beautifully made. Service was perfect. Enjoyed nigiri, rainbow rolls, seaweed salad all paired with a lovely cold Sancerre. Came in at 5 pm on a Thursday after seeing an exhibit at the deYoung.

I live in Reno NV, and I will make a special trip out to this restaurant for the fish. It never NEVER disappoints. I have lived in Japan, and the sushi here is as close to the quality that I found in Japan as I have been able to find. Great standards, great balance with flavors. Always busy for a reason - may be a little slow, but totally worth the wait. Just plan it for a weekday and avoid normal meal times.

Ok, maybe the rice of the nigiri does not taste as great as the one you could have in Tokyo, but, the freshness of the fish - melting in the mouth - and the whole quality makes the global meal excellent, clearly the same standards as in Japan for upper class places (I mean the ones you go to have a good dinner with friends, not the top class ones). And the price is absolutely fair for the experience. On top of that the different sushi chefs are very nice and friendly, giving appropriate recommendations. Not to forget the standard measure I use in Japanese restaurants: the gyosa were great, perfectly cooked and served with the mixed vinegar and soy sauce, this clearly differentiate from the Chinese-Korean-Japanese something restaurants.

I have been going to this restaurant for over 35 years and it is still the BEST sushi and dinners!!! Tonight, we ordered several plates of Sushi, miso soup and Edemame. Everything was FRESH and DELICIOUS !!! I have known Steve the owner all these years and tonight was extra special because he came to our table to greet us. He actually does all the time that we’ve there. He remembered our children when they were little and now adults. You need to have proof that you have received both shots of the vaccine(fully vaccinated) or else you are not allowed to dine. Completely understandable. The restaurant has a sushi bar with 6 chefs and 10 tables for seating. It’s very small but don’t let that fool you because the fish/food is FANTASTIC!!! The staff is very friendly and accommodating to your needs. A personal message to Steve: You have a tremendous love of providing the BEST sushi and Japanese Cuisine for many many years and a staff that is top noch. You still continue in bringing out the BEST AND IT REALLY SHOWS!!! Thank you!! We will continue to come back!!!

great sake steamed clams. Even the rolls you see everywhere seemed to taste better.

Steve, the owner, is a world class sushi chef. His family lovingly indulges all of their lucky patrons and makes everyone feel at home. With their new renovation this classic Sushi spot feels fresh and well cared for. Keep up the great work! Favorites include the Salmon and Lemon 49er roll, the Amazing Dragon Roll, Caterpillar and New York (like a California roll but with shrimp instead of Crab). Also the shrimp tempura appetizer, Kobi Beef skewers and scallop skewers are great.

My friend, who's come here a lot, brought me here. After 1 experience, I was not disappointed. The seaweed salad was sublime, and a highlight of the experience. The gyoza was about as perfect as it gets. We did the "Chef's Special" sushi roll for entree, and both were different and quite good to excellent. The service at our table was efficient, if lacking a bit in warmth. The prices seem pretty good, given how expensive San Francisco is.

For our last dinner in SF, we ate at Ebisu for Japanese. The food was excellent, but the parking and wait for a table affected our experience. We had a very long wait for our table and in the end the four of us had to eat at two separate tables because the wait was too long for a four person table! The menu included many of the Japanese specials that many more simple Japanese restaurants do not offer, such as Sukiyaki, which I love and ordered. It was wonderful. We also shared sushi and special rolls and other salads and appetizers. The food is excellent and very authentic. I appreciate the simple and clean decor and subdued nature inside. Once we were seated it was a great experience. The wait was not fun. Do put your name on the list as soon as you enter, you can do that yourself instead of waiting for someone to add your name for you at this restaurant.

My kids (9 and 7) and I spent the day at Golden Gate park and wanted somewhere to eat that was fairly quick, healthy and delicious. A friend recommended Ebisu and I am so glad he did. It was FANTASTIC! The sushi was fresh and flavorful, the service was quick, the sushi chefs were super friendly (they let my son try some octopus before we ordered it), the location was perfect after being in GG park all day ... I have nothing bad to say. And, there's an ice cream shop right across the street. Yay! Apparently you can get live sea urchin there. They were out when we were there, but we will be back to try it. A few reviews say there is a line. We were there on a Wednesday at 5:30 and waited for 10 minutes to sit at the sushi bar.

Went there with my wife for dinner as it was highly recommended by friends and we weren't disappointed. We sat up in front of the sushi bench and after chatting with Eric (Who's one of the owner's son) we agreed to let him serve us whatever he created and we weren't disappointed. Its a great way to experience Ebisu if you like to be surprised and to banter a bit to understand what you're eating. Really fresh sushi and a nice atmosphere, we came early just as it opened and didn't have to wait for a seat but must have been about a dozen people waiting for a table by the time we left so recommend getting there early. Would definitely come back.

Having just left the De Young Museum, in search of a place for lunch, we happened upon Ebisu. WOW! Fabulous bento boxes and sushi, at bargain prices for lunch. Service was friendly and fast. Our only regret was not ordering the Omakase!

Very good Japanese food and beer. Making a reservation is a must since the place is small and always busy.

Tasty fish, inviting compositions, propitious personnel and late hours. As George puts it: What else?

They told me it was the best Japanese Restaurant in town and this is not exaggeration! We had to wait 15 minutes even if it was on Tuesday and then we sat at counter. In front of us there were the cooks that prepared the sushi, they were very gentle. I was so happy that I when I read the menu that I could not beleve it: They had Melon Soda!! It is hard to find it outside Japan!. Then we ordered several type of Sushi: it was delicious and well done! The price was a little high, though.

Very very good sushi at a reasonable price. The miso soup was good, but miso soup is not so much to write about. The edamame trio was really good; I personally enjoyed the garlic one. The fish was really fresh -- we ended up ordering three orders of salmon sashimi between three of us because it was so good. We had a yellow tail roll that was also outstanding. The rainbow roll we had was solid. The other roll we selected had tempura in it; it was good, but I would opt to stick with fish next time. I've had more "creative" sushi before, but the quality of the fish is as good as any I've ever had. Service was good as well. I'll definitely be back when I'm in the area.

A Japanese restaurant that has been in business for a long time. Excellent & fresh sushi. Just a warning that since reservations are not taken sometimes you have to wait for a table and street parking is at times difficult to find, but it is worth the effort.

went to school with Eric.

My best friend and I went for Lunch. We sat at the table not at the sushi bar. We had the 2 person sushi plate plus we had one of several specials of the day. To finish and top off our meal we had them make 2 orders of Eal in a cone with a Quail egg on top. SUPERB. Everything was so fresh that it melted in your mouth. It didn't even seem that you were eating raw fish. Thank you Steve(the owner) and you crew of chefs and waitresses. I have been coming here for over 30 years!!

There is fresh sashimi in abundance in San Francisco. I stopped by and enjoyed all my favourite dishes.

I took my family of five here. We arrived by 7:00 pm and it was already getting crowded. By the time we left the line was out the door. The food was authentic and delicious. The trio of Edamme is a must. The price was fair and the service was great. I highly recommend this restaurant.

Fresh and tasty sushi in San Francisco! Nice place and very good service! Different kind of sushi and large choice of Japanese drinks! Must try if you're downtown!

Excellent Japanese restaurant. Long waiting line, but it's worth it. The fish dishes were excellent. The tofu steak was not worthy. Some say it's the best sushi restaurant in SF. Recommended.

We visited here mid-afternoon and there were 7 of us including a 14 year old, 11 year old, and 7 year old. So, not an easy crowd to serve. However, when were seated we had immediate service and drinks. The extensive menu was intimidating but the kids found what they wanted. After we ordered the server warned that we may have over ordered as that was a lot of food. The plates came out timely and, thanks to the kids, we finished everything. The sashimi was great and I highly recommend the grilled squid but ask for extra sauce. I will definitely go back.

Always ranked high for their sushi, but I think they've been slipping for a while.

While waiting to pick up food on New Year’s Eve I watched one of the sushi chefs preparing food with his ill fitting mask sitting below his nose. Watched for full five minutes and he never adjusted over his nose. Disgusting that he was breathing all over the food he was preparing. Canceled my order and got a refund. I will never get takeout again because restaurants don’t really care or take measures to ensure food safety during pandemic. He was a big tall guy with dark baseball cap and glasses. Shame on the people working there not to correct him.

Out of the touristy confines of downtown San Francisco, Ebisu is a gem worth seeking. Unusual sushi and sashimi options, using the best fresh ingredients, are presented in an eye pleasing manner. The superb tastes enhance the pleasure... The $50 and $100 omakase sashimi plates are in fact excellent options for two or 4 people respectively; they hold generous portions of seafood, especially uni. The very fresh shrimp in these dishes hold a surprise; the heads come separately, fried tempura, crisp and delicious, with a dipping sauce... I wish we had more time to go back again and again to taste all the special dishes... Some other time. Highly recommended...

I've been going here for about 20 years, and it is always some of the best sushi in the city. Yes, it can be crowded, and yes sushi isn't cheap, but you get good value for your $, and the service is always outstanding (even if you aren't a regular). If you want cheaper fare, try the Hotei noodle house across the street (also owned by Steve-san, and run by his son).

We think Ebisu is the best Japanese Restaurant in Sunset area. We went there during the July 4th weekend. We did not have to wait long. Quickly seated and hot tea served. We ordered all the Sushi's noted at TripAdvisor- #29, XXX and Spiders. They were all different in taste, texture and presentations but all great. We also ordered the Toro( tuna belly) were fantastic, Kobe Beef which were so tender it melted in your mouth. Also, Fried squid which were great as well. Services were also top notched. We were all very satisfied and no doubt will be here again.

My family and I went to Ebisu for lunch . They have a great selection of fresh sushi. Besides fhe traditional sushi, they offer some of their own specials. we tried a combination with mango and avocado . Everyone in my family loved it , including my daughter that usually does not like to eat sushi. I recommend going for lunch; It is less crowded and less expensive .

My wife and I are regulars as are many others. We eat at Ebisu almost every week and have been doing that since they opened many years ago. The quality of the food is consistently excellent and the service is always friendly. My only resistance to writing this review is that it may bring more people into our favorite restaurant.

Often dined here with friends and colleagues. The food (usually sushi, sometimes sashimi) was universally good.

After a long walk in the park and visiting the Science Centre we stumbled on this place. The restaurant had a great vibe and it was matched by the food and service. Had the usual suspects which were well presented and very tasty.

The place is a medium-size restaurant in the inner sunset district. Close to the Golden Gate Park. The menu has a great variety of options, and the bento combos are all great. The lunch time is up to 2pm, don't try to go there late. Lines are usual.

My fiance went here for our first dinner as fiances. We initially went to another restaurant, but I felt the atmosphere of the other restaurant didn't have that special zing we were looking for, for our special night. I'd been wanting to try Ebisu for a while so we went there. It was busy when we arrived, however we didn't have to wait long for a table. We were seated in front of the sushi chef and ordered a set menu and a couple of floats of saki. The food was delicious and immaculately presented. However it was their thoughtful touch that made our night so special. When the chef heard that we were only just engaged that day, he made us a special sushi - one that was sweet and spicy, just like marriage. We were touched. It made our beautiful night, that much more beautiful. Thank you so much to the wonderful chef who served us that night. An amazing night to remember!

San Francisco is known for great international cuisine. Since we have many neighborhoods with distinctive ethnic backgrounds, China town, Japan town, Mexican, Italian etc. you would think the best of these types of foods would be found in those neighborhoods. I'll tell ya it ain't necessarily so. Wonderful food of all types know no boundaries. Wonderful burritos can be found at Gordo's in the Richmond district. Also the best dim sum on Geary St. with lines of people down the block Saturday mornings. Also Sushi. For many years I ate at Ebisu when it was on Geary, out around 18th ave. A small place. Great sushi, sashimi, and other Japanese delectables. far from Japan Town. Then Steve the master chef and his wife Koko created a much bigger place in the Sunset district. Quality remained at the same marvelous level and Steve's twinkling eyes and ever present humor continued to bring joy to our wits as well as our pallets. Then they opened a noodle bar across the street. Beautiful decor which that diminutive rascal took credit for even though it was Koko that did it! I've had many fine times there in the joyous atmosphere with many friends. They then opened a place at SFO. Same quality, and a life saving last bite before you take off to parts unknown. There is only one better place I know of in all my considerable travels, also in S.F. but I won't tell you where because it only has 9 seats and you have to wait an hour outside in the cold to get one. Steve knows which one. No Bu Sit. Right Steve? You just have to be content to be #2, 3 and 4, which ain't bad by any standard. If you love great sushi, don't miss Ebisu. See you next time I'm in S.F. so.

Sushi in San Francisco means Ebisu for me. It's reasonably priced for a place with this range of sushi product. You will pay, it is not cheap, that is the nature of the delicacies they serve. But you will not be fleeced either. This is a long standing multi-generational family owned and operated business. Some of their chefs have come and returned. There are plenty of rolls and such made fresh. I also appreciate the full kitchen and have enjoyed great delicacies from that side of the menu as well. I also like this place because I see and meet neighborhood families, young couples on dates, and regulars like me from out of town that return when they can. No reservations, there is often a line. Not cheap, not prefab or fast food, it's the real deal and an excellent value for San Francisco. I will leave you with an image of the raw clam special. On the left is a salad made with the connective tissue. On the right you can see it served as sashimi with the different parts of the clam separately sliced. Everything about this was great especially being able to try the different parts separately which I have never done with clam before.

Highest quality. Ebisu continues to provide the best in sushi including the elegant tradition of classic Japanese food.

A little pricey but the sushi was really fresh. I'm not a fan of Uni but when my bf ordered fresh Uni, they brought out the sea urchin. I tried it and it's probably the only way I'll eat Uni again. Yum!

We love sushi and Japanese cuisine. With this restaurant's Japanese trained chefs....This is the place to be for authenticity. This Japanese restaurant is tiny, tucked away in obscure section of SF (close to GG park) in middle of block on 9th Ave. This was the ONLY Restaurant in SF we were asked for our vaccination cards and ID's to prove we were "legal". Japanese food here is "HIGH END" in flavor and price. However, not so much for the ambiance of the tiny crampt together tables with chairs with other patrons constantly bumping into you. Loud customer conversations distracting from the enjoyment of the food. (If you are one of those loud, know it all, screechy voice ladies that need to let everyone know your you are in the room. Please TRY to think about others around you. Not just about yourself. ) We had numerous dishes. the highlight was the daily special of "Black Sea Bass" and Oysters filled with lobster pieces in cream reduction and panko crust toping. Seabass presentation was very nice, extremely mild and melt in mouth buttery flavor that hardly tasted like any fish I had ever eaten. This $18 appetizer size was rather small to share, maybe 3 ounces of fish but was delectable and a dish which flavor I will long savor. see pictures Lobster was served hot from broiler in 4 oyster shells. Again, small appetizer size portions. Pricey for amount served but each shell was like a jewel of creamy flavor. We all know jewels are pricy and small. Again a true treat... Both were truly highlight of our meal. Nigari was exquisitely presented and fresh. However, I would stick with the specials if truly want to be impressed with unique exquisite culinary temptations. Would return... would request a table in corner next time

I"be been eating Sushi for over 40 years and this is by far the best i've ever had! The bluefin melted like butter in my mouth. Hamachi Toro was delish! I kept ordering more and more. The oyster on the half shell with Uni blew my mind. Well worth the market price! I cannot wait to come back.

It was our first time at a Japanese restaurant in the US and we didn't know what to expect. At first, the waitress wasn't friendly at all, maybe because we were asking too many questions about the dishes, and we couldn't decide what to order because she would not explain anything to us. That was really disapointing. Thank God, the owner (Koko) came to us and finally we got help. She was really nice to us, patient enough to tell us about the dishes and even recommending a few of them. That was exactly what we were looking for! The food was perfect, the desserts were really delicious (very different from what we were used to). After all, we enjoyed our meal and specially the kindness of the owner. Thanks Koko! We hope to be back visiting soon.

Heavy flavorings (sushi rice heavy on vinegar). Tamago very sweet. The kimpiro gobo and hijiki also too strongly flavored. No subtle nuiance. My dining mates enjoyed their meals and liked the strong flavors. My dinner (chirashi) was delivered long after my companions finished eating their main course (they waited awhile after they were served in hopes my entree would arrive). There was a nice selection on fish and seafood in the chirashi. Everyone raves about the food, but I thought it just okay. The remodel is very attractive.

This sushi restaurant is worth the drive wherever you live, in the Bay Area or further. Steve has been the owner for over 30 years and that is how long I have been coming here. My single life, marriage and my children. We all love sushi and the Japanese Cuisine. Tonight was date nite so we celebrated by have a sterling meal. We both chose the sushi house special, avocado, eal, in a spicy roll.plus two other combinations. Delicious and honestly not that expensive. We were full and satisfied. Thank you Steve and your chefs!!

Decided to try this place as it was recommended. No booking so long wait for a Saturday night, eventually split our group into a 3 and a 2. Sashimi was fine, good selection for omakase. Maki rolls were excellent, potato bug outstanding. Don't order the teriyaki as it didn't taste at all Japanese, stick to rolls and all is good! Will come back again but for lunch.

We stopped in for a bite for lunch. I ordered the XXX special roll with salmon, mango and salmon outside a spicy tuna roll. It was the highlight of our visit! My husband got some nigiri and the Hawaiian poke, which were ok but nothing too special. It was a hopping spot, lots of people, but the service was friendly and on point.

Perhaps we were lucky in timing our visit, but our party of 5 was seated within 6 minutes, followed by a meal outstandingly prepared, wonderfully fresh, and simply delicious.

Really good sushi and service! You have to be lucky to have a table without waiting too long but it's worth waiting for! The fish is fresh and taste exquisite, the waitresses are the best!

A friend and I met before visiting the de Young museum in Golden Gate Park and had lunch at Ebisu. It's a little challenging for me to order at a Japanese restaurant because I don't eat seafood. I chose a vegetable donburi, which was very good. Sometimes vegetarian dishes in Japanese restaurants are disappointing but this one was not. My friend had a seafood donburi that he liked. The place was filled, but the noise level did not inhibit conversation. I would happily go back again before or after a trip to the park.

Service wasn't great but the sushi was good.

The plethora of sushi shops in SF means that I will never try them all, hence my headline may not be correct. And my need to assure a restaurant’s cleanliness is tripled when I ponder eating raw fish, so I have rejected many sushi spots just on a (probably mistaken) hunch. No problem there with Ebisu, a beloved institution on 9th Ave. You have a full view of everything happening with food prep. Chefs are meticulous, and the ingredients are arranged with precision. Every dish looks and tastes great - from the agedashi tofu to the more complicated sushi creations. Everything seems to be fresh-caught that day - not sure how that is possible. And the miso soup - perfection. You may have to wait for a table on weirdly uncomfortable chairs but you can order a beer to drink whlie waiting. Tables are close and service is efficient though aloof.

I keep coming here whenever I'm in the sunset neighborhood. Fish is fresh. I prefer the bar where the chef is friendly and knowledgable. Be sure to look at their specials board!

I eat here periodically for lunch. I always order the Bento box lunch, it's so good I'm reluctant to risk ordering anything that might not be as delicious. The service is swift, the preparation is detailed and very pleasing to the eye, and the food is killer. The lunch prices are also very reasonable for food of this quality. Ebisu is also right down the street from the SF Botanical garden in GG Park. It makes for a great combination, a fine meal followed by a relaxing stroll.

Have been going to Ebisu for years. The quality of the sushi continues to be excellent. The redo is lovely, you feel as if you could be in an upscale restaurant in Japan. Service was attentive

Could be better.

It is a friend's favorite restaurant and we now understand why: it was delicious, fresh and perfect. The waiter's suggestions were also wonderful. Should I be in San Francisco again, I will definitely be back.

We've been loyal fans of Ebisu since it opened over 30 years ago. The emphasis has always been on fresh, quality sushi, seafood and classic Japanese cuisine. The owners are a delightful couple who epitomize hospitality and a wonderful sense of a warm welcome to every diner. It is like having dinner at your best friend's house -- you know you will be treated well and have a wonderful meal. Enjoy the sushi bar -- you can also order every item from the tables.

We went to Ebisu on a Wednesday during lunch hour. It was packed but we were seated promptly. The service was fast throughout our time there, from the ordering to when our meals arrived. I had the sashimi lunch set and everything in it tasted very fresh. I was pleasantly surprised with how smooth our meal was given the amount of people there and because there was only one waiter for the whole restaurant. I would definitely recommend Ebisu to anyone in the area. I heard that Hotei, the Japanese noodle restaurant across the street, is owned by the same people so I will be definitely heading there to try it out some time.

SF has no shortage of sushi restaurants and many are top notch. We are lucky to have so many great options, there are sushi places for almost every mood (romantic, kitschy, formal, quick, traditiona, etc). But ebisu is my favorite because of the consistent quality of their product and the numerous interesting options. It doesn't hurt that I used to live around here. My favorite roll from here is the swamp roll, spicey tuna with seaweed on top. I'm also a big fan of their grilled squid. I've seldom if ever had a bad roll from this place though so you won't go wrong no matter what your preferences are. This is definitely a place to check out if you have been spending a day in Golden Gate Park and are craving a sushi experience.

For me, Ebisu is a high quality sushi restaurant. The omakase was very good, with the octopus being surprisingly nice. We also had the 49er roll and the Hanukah roll. The 49er was excellent. The Hanukah roll was the only miss on the food front, with the ratio of rice to fish being too much and the roll being too salty. We also enjoyed the gyoza, shrimp tempura and miso soup. Each of these appetizers were very good and I would get each of them again. The service of the restaurant was attentive and the food came out fast. Lastly, I think the value of this sushi is very good, with the bill being around $70 pre-tip.

This restaurant was recommended to us by an employee at UCSF. The sushi was delicious. Extremely fresh fish. I would definitely recommend this restaurant. I hope to visit it again soon.

I went here with my brother whilst on holiday. The service was entertaining, helpful and knowledgable too. We sat at the open sushi chef bar and chatted to our chef George as he prepared exquisite sushi to our order. To boot we stumbled in during happy hour, which includes some great Japanese beers at just $1 (5-6pm). The price is very reasonable for sushi. If ever I'm in town again I'll be sure to come back here. Oh, and I would thoroughly recommend exploring at least one thing from the daily specials board!

For the first time in 30+ that we’ve been going here, we ordered online. Quality was sterling as always!! I would suggest not cramming the sushi in one container. We ordered the 49er, the Caterpillar, the Unagi and the Dragon. They were all very fresh and excellently prepared. May I suggest not charging the customer for the containers and to use containers that are compostable. The containers used say they are recyclable but they are not, they will end in a landfill. Thanks Steve to you and your team for having a great establishment for so many years.

Long wait, crowded seating, warm thick cut fish, uninspired taste. No pizazz in the big city. Just disappointing.

It's a VERY small place and parking is always a hit or miss. I recommend if you're dining with a group, have someone get dropped off to put your name down on the waiting list while the driver looks for parking. This will save you A LOT of time. We had a party of 4 and we waited 30-40 mins to be sat. The food was well worth it though. We are from the South and wanted a more varied sashimi list. This should definitely be the spot if you're looking for more fish too. We got yellowtail belly, amberjack, butter fish, and ocean trout nigiri. Roughly $10 for the two pieces. More on the expensive side ish. This was worth every penny though. Decent sized and the fish quality is AMAZING. Very impressed and happy with our choice of eating here, especially when there are SO many choices of restaurants in the bay area. We also got the crunch and romeo & juliet roll, and Gyoza dumplings. All good, plus cold sake. Overall, small space and squeezed tables (literally was 6 inches away from the next table). Really busy and crowded. But the food is SO, SO yummy!!!! So it will balance out.

I got omakase and it was very good.. you get the typical sushi chef choice but I didn't mind because I'm from East Coast and just wanted to try some fresh/quality sushi. they had live uni, if you're into that. But bc they had this, it was legit. Had grilled yellowtail cheek - must get! but you need to get there before 6pm because it's in limited qty. We went at 5pm on Saturday and it was fine.. but come 6pm it was packed.

Good place to go if you like sitting at the sushi bar. The sushi chefs here are pretty good at socializing with their customers.

Ebisu Combo Sushi is a great selection if you want to try Ebisu’s excellence in making sushi. The Softshell Crab roll is also very good. Ambience as usual is just wonderful. The restaurant is also just a muni from the beach or golden gate park.

This is by far the best sushi restaurant in SF. I’ve been coming here for over 20 years. It’s a must when my son comes into town from college. Steve and his team serve the best quality and the most diverse menu. Try the cold saki, get the tsunimono set and a nice appetizer (too many to consider, they are all good), have a yakitori (my favorites are the beef or eggplant), then start heaven with your sashimi and nigiri, then end with a Forty-niner roll and a bowl of miso soup (traditional style and eases digestion).

I have been going to Ebisu for years. We always choose to sit at the sushi bar as service is excellent and it is overall a better experience. I have eaten the the regular menu and while everything is good (best miso soup ever) I tend to stick to the sushi. My favorite is the mackerel and the live sea scallop.

For the quality of sushi that you get at Ebisu, you'd expect to drop a massive amount of money, but it doesn't happen. For how packed the place is, how long the lines can get and the reputation, you'd expect them to be impolite or at least impersonal, and yet they're as nice as you can imagine. Even the owner waits on tables, buses dishes and greets people. This is honestly, without peer, my favorite restaurant in the world, and the top thing that I miss about not living in SF anymore.

Thank goodness one of the best Japanese restaurants in the outer Sunset has opened up! Take out menu is currently available.

The staff was nice and attentive. Only thing is that its overpriced and our bill came to be about $50/person.

Everytime when we arrive in SF we stay in Ebisu. The sushi is great and the sushi masters really worth every penny! The sushi is quite expensive but still worth every penny. Just the location sucks and we really had problem to get a cab sunday night... not a very pleasent area to walk around. But still worth the sushi. Thanks George! :)

My first trip to San Francisco.....what a bright lite in my trip. Loved the 49er roll it's a salmon roll topped with very finely sliced lemon. It was so clean and bright. You'll see what I mean. I also got spicy tuna with which was nestled in avocado. WONDERFUL!!! Don't miss this place. We got there just in time for a seat at the sushi bar but as we watched there was a line the whole time we were there.

the most amazing sushi i have ever had.

We ordered a few rolls and hot tea during a recent stop. We arrived close to the lunch hour closing time and were greeted warmly. We were seated and quickly served our food. The waitresses were all very friendly and hospitable. We had the Cherry Blossom, Dexter Carter, and the Swamp. The Cherry Blossom was disappointing but the other two rolls were delicious...especially the Swamp.

Love this place with it's quality of sushi and the fantastic service of the owner & staff! I have been coming to this friendly restaurant for over 28 years now, Steve, the owner has been keeping it popular. ( He informed me that they celebrated their 35 years of anniversary for this year ) The quality of the sushi is extremely fresh, it is totally worth the wait for the sushi bar, the sushi chefs offer awesome service with their knowledge and skill!

The wait was only 20 minutes. I have been coming here for over 35 years and I introduced sushi to my wife here at Ebisu. We both love it. The quality of the fish is Sterling. Steve the owner is always pleasant and if he is there he comes and greats the customers. The place is small, a few tables and a sushi bar. The menu has been updated and the prices are very reasonable. As always, we had an excellent dinner, we ate 7 different plates of sushi. Thank you Steve and your team!!!!

fresh fish... long lines... worth waiting though.

I went to this place a bit by chance but when I saw the number of persons waiting to be seated, I realized there might be something good there. I stayed at the sushi bar which was a great experience! The menu is big but if there is one thing (sushiwise) you need to try are the "specials". They were all very different from Each other and every time a culinary orgasm! After this, all other sushis become tasteless! The sushi masters are very competent and for once, Japanese!! Great great place and a must go when visiting golden gate park!

A million stars just wouldn't cut it for this place! The sushi is seriously excellent & it's incredible how each & every piece just melts in your mouth. We love anything toro & tonight had the salmon & hamachi toro which were out of this world. The albacore toro was sold out by 7pm so we settled for the non toro cut & thank goodness we did as it was amazing too. Other superb standouts tonight: escolar & the scallop. We tried the red clam which was ok but not my favorite as well as the xxx yaki butter hotate. I thought it had a touch too much lemon. We adore this place & we highly recommend sitting at the bar & conversing with the sushi chefs....they are super friendly & have great recommendations!

DO NOT ORDER A GIFT CARD!! You will never get it!! Awful customer service. Called three times. Spoke to three different people. Hard to understand. Each passed the buck to someone else. Lost my money. Couldn’t give this as gift!!

Highly recommended. Great atmosphere, great chefs, excellent food. We'll definitely be back!! We sat right at the bar, it was fun watching the sushi chefs!

We go all the time and have since Steve opened in the 1980s. Try the mussels, lobster, blue fin toro, and his wonderful agadashi, or pretty much anything on his amazing and ever-changing menu. Small, unpretentious and often noisy when busy, but always a great meal.

Pretty bold statement to make, especially for a restaurant in a city renowned for some of the best cuisine on earth. And yes, I have read the bad reviews both here and on Yelp about Ebisu's supposedly poor quality and bad service. But my family, friends, and I have patronized this place for the past 25 years and they have consistently provided very good service and the sushi has always been first rate.

I love this restaurant! I know one of the chefs, the cuisine is exquisite (expensive but worth it), beautiful and some are what most people probably never thought of eating!

My friend and I have been coming here for over 35 years. We introduced our family and our kids to this wonderful restaurant and have never ever been disappointed. Steve is still the owner and he has a fantastic crew of chefs and servers. The restaurant is very clean. It has a sushi bar and a few tables. My friend and I ordered two sushi combos, 1/2 dozen oysters and to top it all off, unagi temaki with a quail egg.AWSOME!!! The fish was fresh that it melted in your mouth. Thank you To you Steve and your staff for making today a very special day for my friend and I because it was our retirement lunch. We have been friends since grammar school!!

Ebisu has been a regular stop on most of my frequent trips to San Francisco. It is out along Golden Gate Park, so if you are out in that area, or are just looking for top flight sushi, Ebisu will do the satisfy your fish fix. [Hint: Ebisu is very popular, especially for dinner, and you need to go in and sign up on the waiting list. You may want to plan ahead, so that you don't have too long a wait.] Everything on the menu is as fresh as can be, and there is a great selection of fish to choose from. You can order a sashimi platter, or if you are adventurous, let the chef pick for you. They are more than happy to create whatever you want, and if you pay attention to what regulars around you are ordering, you may notice some amazing looking off-menu items go by, so ask your waiter what that was, and then order it yourself.

This place has some of the best sushi in the city. The fish is fresh and the food is consistently good. The rolls that I love are California roll and the spicy tuna. They carry Bluefin toro most of the time and its good. They also have noodles and other Japanese dishes. One bad thing is that they don't have ramen and they have it at their other stores.

Since my parents brought be here when I was still crawling Ebisu has been synonymous with sushi in my house. It isn't really even an option to go anywhere else. The freshness, quality, service of the sushi chefs and waitresses and especially Steve, the man himself, make this the best place in the city for sushi. So close to the park that it's great to take nice a walk, build up a hunger and go feast at Ebisu.

Menu is primarily fish and seafood. Waitress was informative and great. The manager checked on us. The food was fresh and tasty from the sushi to the dinner combos. The pickles were fresh and tasty. The soup was not good. Tables are a little crowded. Nice safe area.

Rated this very good (after all its all abut food ;-).No reservations and first come first served - which I like. So be prepared for a long wait at busy times (They have a nice waiting area so not so bad. Food was very good. Love the Black Cod - also the pork ribs were succulent could cut through with chop sticks. Service was OK'ish but would 100% come again - worth wait.

We came here in search of ramen but they didn’t serve any. Instead I head the Tempura Udon. The broth was delicious. Service was friendly. Some of the staff were still wearing masks. Great atmosphere.

This restaurant is not only a sushi place; they also make traditional Japanese dishes and bentos. I’ve been there twice during my stay in San Francisco, and both times were a great experience. The atmosphere is elegant and quiet, yet informal. It can suit any type of diner (couple, friends, informal business). The service is attentive and polite, Japanese style. Food is very fresh, authentic and tasty, qualities that are not so easy to find in most of the so-called Japanese restaurants outside Japan. Prices are also very reasonable, as usual in the US, so make sure to try other dishes than sushis, the gyozas for instance are to die for.

I went with a friend who told me Ebisu was highly recommended. We got there just before 5 so it was quiet for a while. The waiter was wonderful about helping me decide which sushi would be a good choice and it was excellent. I also had the special roll and it was great. Service was quick and friendly and the fish was superb. I liked the combination of high quality with high accessibility. My friend doesn't eat raw fish; he was able to get rolls that he loves and they tasted good to me as well.

We forsook dinner for an array of appetizers: grilled squid, stuffed squid, monkfish, tuna, spinach and seafood salads. We were very please with everything. They also served a lot of sushi but you can have our share of raw fish.

This place has excellent food. Come. Here during the week for lunch to get in without a wait. On the weekend and for dinners the place can have a long line. Love their be not boxes and sushi.

Plentiful portions, good value in this small casual Japanese restaurant. Drawbacks include the lack of tables for four or more forcing long waits to get one . Staff efficient and cordial. Good food . Altogether merits 3 1/2 stars rather than four.

Since my last review in August , I have to say that tonight's sit down dinner was another sterling one. We all had sushi and sashimi; combo plates,individual portions and we also had the special Giants plate- we were hungry. On top of that we also had sake and a desert called Mochi. I personally want to thank the staff and the chefs for making this day even more special.

one of my favorite japanese restaurant, owned by the nicest, most genuine, down-to-earth man. innovative sushi, like arch deluxe - i wonder if they still make this?

Service is very attentive. Great menu with items that you can't elsewhere. Try to live sea urchin.

I am an avid sushi eater, and I was in San Francisco just for the day. I searched online for hours trying to find the best sushi restaurant and this came up. Ok so first of all parking is a nightmare so either walk or take the bus. But the food was amazing! We sat at the sushi bar and the chefs were so adorable and fun. They have us recommendations, told jokes and just seemed to be loving their job. This is definitely some of the best, freshest sushi I've ever had in the most fun atmosphere. Loved it and can't wait to come back

I've eaten here twice on two occasions that I visited SF. The restaurant had been recommended to me by my dad, who has been coming here for years every time he travels to SF. It certainly lived up to expectations! Everything was delicious. The first time I went, I sat alone at the sushi bar, and the next time I sat at a table with friends. I preferred the experience at the sushi bar, not sure if they give you better fish when you sit there, but both times were amazing. Super fresh fish, and worth the wait. You can order a beer while waiting and they will add it to your dinner tab.

My husband and I stopped here while in San Francisco after visiting Tokyo for a week. We were still craving Japanese and decided to try this place out. The place was packed (seemingly due to New Years Eve) so we ended up being seated at the sushi bar. We were given a hot towel and some soy beans to munch on while we ordered. They also only had chopsticks. So far very accurate to a Japanese experience. We each ordered a meal combo and got an eel sushi roll. The sushi was amazing! Exactly what I wanted. The meal came with some miso containing tofu and a cucumber salad. Then, they brought our combo meal which was huge! We were almost full by the time it arrived. We were never served this much food in Japan. The combo meal contained what seemed like a lot more salad (why give salad before a meal with salad?), some teriyaki meats, rice, and tempura vegetables/shrimp. We were barely able to eat any and most went to waste due to us having to catch a flight the next morning. I would definitely go back here and just stick to the sushi next time.

I have been going to Ebisu Sushi on 9th Avenue in San Francisco for at least 30 years. During that time, I have seen many sushi chefs behind the bar come and go, although at least one has been there from the beginning -- Suzuki-san, my favorite sushi chef in the world. In addition, I have gotten to know the owner, Steve, who always comes over to say hello and chat whenever he sees me. But this is no big deal, since I share that experience with hundreds of other Ebisu fans in the San Francisco Bay Area. Ebisu is the Japanese Restaurant by which I judge all others, wherever I may be. So, fair warning: I may be a bit biased in my exceedingly high evaluation of this particular sushi restaurant. Nevertheless, I think it's fair to say that anybody may confidently step in the door of this place and expect to get a top-flight Japanese meal, particularly if they are lucky enough to sit at the sushi bar, and even more so if Suzuki-san is their sushi chef. If you are fortunate enough for the latter, I would recommend simply placing yourself in Suzuki's hands, and asking him to serve you whatever he chooses. This is not to say you are limited to good nigiri sushi or sashimi at Ebisu. There is a fabulous menu chock-full of every conceivable variety of Japanese udon, nabe, cold or hot entree that you may desire. All for a reasonable price, considering the quality. This is not a cheap restaurant, of course. Nevertheless, for the quality of what is served, it is (in my opinion) reasonably priced. Significantly, the local newspapers have repeatedly reported that Ebisu ranks at the top of sushi restaurants in the Bay Area for the healthiness of their raw fish, both in terms of freshness, and in terms of lower levels of mercury. Ebisu is not a big place. It is rather small and generally pretty crowded, with a waiting list to get a seat at the bar. I find it's best to arrive as close to 5 p.m. as possible in order to get a good seat.

Ebisu is a great japanese restaurant and I loved the food I got. Whenever I get to Ebisu, I smell the miso soup and I can't wait! Usually when I've gone to Ebisu, there is only about a 15 minute wait, which is definitely worth it. However, one time when I went to Ebisu on a holiday weekend, there was a huge number of people waiting and I thought at first to leave, but I waited the hour and felt that it was worth it still. The food is superb!! When I go to Ebisu, I usually order the lunch bento boxes, and even though it doesn't sound like it would be enough, the bento boxes come with a salad (with an awesome dressing!), and various seaweed salads, as well as vegetables on the side depending on the combination. Just making sure you know, the bento boxes are HUGE!! At first, I thought that the waiters and waitresses would take a while because it was so busy, but they came right away! Anyways, this restaurants is worth the wait (if there is one!) and has SUPER fresh sushi and fish as well! I ordered a 49er roll which was outstanding as well. AWESOME FOOD!

Whenever we are in SF we will go out of our way to eat at Ebisu...since we only make it there about once a year it is certainly a treat! This time we enjoyed Sunday lunch on our way to the Outside Lands Festival. Our party of 5 enjoyed the omikase sashimi selection from the chef which included skipjack (tuna), uni, ebi, makarel, squid, salmon and probably 3 more varieties I've since forgotten. They had a cooked hokke special that day and it was so good we ended up ordering a second so everyone could get an extra taste. That plus 3 other rolls (the Cherry Blossom is the best version i have had anywhere!) and drinks got us ready to for a day of fun in Golden Gate Park! We planned on heading back for lunch on Monday, but unfortunately that was their day off!

Incredibly fresh fish, excellent service, a fun atmosphere. Recommend sitting by the sushi bar and watching the action! My favorite place in San Francisco.

it's all about the pieces (rolls are only ok)

Ebisu serves fantastic sushi at a good price point. I've never been disappointed when I've chosen the special and I've always enjoyed my food here. There can be quite a wait, so make sure to go early if you want to nab a spot quickly.

Since remodeling, the restaurant is very pretty. The sushi has always been outstanding - some of the best in San Francisco. I highly recommend you sit at the sushi bar.

We fell upon Ebisu sushi after a friend recommended it, and becuase it was open a bit later than the others, we decided to try it. We arrived just as the kitchen was closing and they very kindly invited us in to experience only the raw dishes. (Just what we came for anyway!) We sat at the sushi bar and were entertained by a lovely sushi chef and the quality of the fish was beyond impressive! Next time I am back in San Francisco, I will be sure to return to Ebisu!

Ebisu is a sushi restaurant gem in the Sunset District of San Francisco. Located a block from Golden Gate Park, you will find authentic Japanese sushi and bento selections. Ebisu Restaurant is open, Monday-Saturdays 11AM-2:30PM 5PM-10PM but closed on Sundays.. It's a cozy restaurant enabling you to glance at other's selections. Sign in and have your party ready as Ebisu does not take reservations. If you still have an appetite after your epicurean's delight, there is a creamery across the street!

We're visiting the golden park, Ebisu japanese restaurant is very close to the park. We ordered to lunch the bento box, very good taste os food, like japanese taste. We higly recommend.

This restaurant has excellent sushi. My partner and our friends went for sushi and it did not disappoint. Everything we ordered was perfect, and we ordered a lot. The sushi is excellent - fresh with beautiful presentations. You can always count on it for great sushi. We also knew to get there early as they do not take reservations and it is first come first served. Reasonably priced too. If you like sushi, this is the place. They have other Japanese food too. I highly recommend.

We had a very limited amount of time for lunch and stopped in this fantastic sushi restaurant. The food and service were both excellent. I would eat here often if I lived in SF.

used to go here all the time, but find the quality to be very hit or miss over the years.

Simply delicious sushi for a very reasonable price in San Francisco. Service also very good. Can't make reservations though so you might have to wait for a table

Food at Eliseu is high in quality and variety. Extensive selection of Sushi and other Japanese items. Service is friendly, efficient and quick. Pricing is reasonable for quantity and quality. Will definitely come back soon.

Excellent service, very good food. This is a neighborhood gem. I recommend walking around Golden Gate Park first to work up an appetite, and then to stop here early for dinner. Try whatever the special of the day is - you won't be disappointed.

Best sushi, best service, best everything. Don't go here so there's more for me. This place is so great, I don't know why I'm writing this because it's going to be too popular and then we won't be able to get in! We LOVE this place. Friendly, great service and the food is just way up there in quality. Beautiful presentation too. A terrific place for really great Japanese food. Go early.