Ryoko's Japanese Restaurant & Bar Reviews

The place is very cool and the food is very good. We also liked the service. The variety of sushi is not very large and when you order you are not notified that it has wasabi.

Called the restaurant before hand to ask about the wait.we were told 30 minutes. The restaurant is rated 4 stars so I naturally expected fresh ingredients specially sushi. Arrived ,signed name in waiting list .Be aware that there is no waiting place and some people sat literally on the stairs to wait. To this i thought "must be good" Then we were seated and after 20 minute wait we called the waiter. I wanted sushi salmon to be exact so asked how fresh was the salmon .the reply was very fresh I think, so I asked to please check with the chef. Final answer was "we ordered yesterday and we receive it today". Well,no sushi for me 😁. Then I order instead an onigiri , miso soup,soft shell crab and Pokemon roll and green tea. Onigiri arrived first, the onigiri was wrapped in an extremely chewy not crispy wakame (sea weed sheet) this happens when you put onigiri in a microwave to reheat or leave it outside too long (moisture will affect it ( I used to work in a Japanese shop which specialized in onigiri) anyways , I told the server that the onigiri was either microwaved or left out too long.Server told me " you can tell the chef in Japanese . (lucky I speak a little ) so I explained to the chef that the wakame was not crispy ,their embarrassed face told the story so immediately they ask me if they could redo I said yes thank you so much, Meanwhile soft crab arrived , super yummy good tempura on it.and not stinky at all. Then ,Pokemon roll arrived ,to be honest not a fan the sweetness of the mango over powered the other vegetable and salmon taste. Finally onigiri arrived and it was amazing fresh seaweed wrap so nice and crunchy and the salmon was real salmon 💖💖💖 Oh the server also recommended the day special which was shrimp rolled in bacon and grilled.💖💖💖 this was super delicious.( I think they should keep the bacon shrimp in the regular menu.) In short,3 stars because I think food was ok but could be better if attention was paid to freshness a bit too noisyfor my taste but then again is a bar too. Thank you to the Japanese chefs for making my onigiri again it was perfect the second time. And please, please make the bacon shrimp a regular item.

Dark. Dirty. Noisy playing the weirdest old Skool 90s dance pounding soundtrack. And on top of that it’s expensive for mediocre sushi. I can think of dozens of Better places than this.

We loved our sushi dinner here on Saturday night! The DJ was fantastic and the sushi was very authentic. Service was satisfactory.

Headed for this place just after it opened at 6pm and glad I did. By 6:20 this place was full and there was a lot of people waiting to get in and I could tell why. The sushi was really great and the atmosphere really had a buzz about it. Highly recommend

I found this restaurant based on the TripAdvisor review. I arrived around 7:15 and was able to get seated at the sushi counter. The restaurant was packed but not the peak busy time. Service was just ok and could be more attentive. I think the restaurant is slightly under staff which affected the services negatively. The hamachi sushi which were freshly delivered from Japan, were very good, though not cheap. The teriyaki rib eye was delicious with rice & miso soup ordered separately. I was satisfied with my meal at reasonable price. The sushi & sashimi seem pricey. By the time I finished my dinner, there was long queue waiting near the counter. It was a bit noisy with loud music & staff were shouting whenever people arrived and left. Definitely will recommend local to try but for tourist, good to have if you are eager for Japanese food.

Came highly recommended by friends, so we weren't surprised, but it was as good as advertised. Opens at 6PM and doesn't take reservations. We got there at 5:58 and saw about 30 people in line, but the place is big enough to fit all of them and us and a few folks after us. By 6:15 there was definitely a line up the stairs, though! Huge menu, we had the octopus and some sake sashimi (so good!). Also the Jumping Tuna, Shrimp Tempura, Volcano (jalapeno and peanut butter ?!?!) and a couple other rolls. Quite reasonably priced as well.

Ryokan is in a dark basement with loud disco music and a raucous crowd - about as non Japanese as you can imagine BUT the food is wonderful. We had several appetizers among them just mouthwatering agedashi tofu & seaweed salads. The Chirashi Sushi at $30 is pricey but flawless. Would I return - the one hour plus wait was the true downside and it’s not really Dining once you are in. I would probably not return.

The sushi here is extremely fresh, and you can taste it in each bite. The only problem here is that they have just your standard fare of sushi, with little special type rolls. If you have never been here it can be confusing, you have to go in and write your name down, then they call you when they have space. We had three people and they sat us down next to the piano at a two person table with a tiny stool for the third seat. It was very uncomfortable. Service was mediocre.... I still liked this place despite the criticisms, but I do not think it would be high on my repeat list.

When everything was closed at 9pm on a Sunday night, Ryoko’s was recommended and it was fantastic. The sushi is very fresh and there is a lot of people coming and going so it turns fast. It’s open until 2am and has a high energy bar feel. It’s now my favorite sushi in the City. Love the variety between fish from Japan and local.

Perfect ambience; all staff greet in Japanese when one comes in. Very friendly staff & cosy place. Food was excellent, not your average sushi experience.

every time i come to sfo, this is a must for dinner. when you get there, make sure to go down the steps and put your name on the pad... it is indicated , but easy to not see the sign if its the first time you go there. the fish is fresh, look at the board behind the sushi bar.... they always have different selection of TORO (fatty tuna) and UNI (sea urchins). Ambiance is very good. techno music in background. and every single guest that leaves the place is thanked in japanese and english. (its kind of part of the experience... :-) ) when the sushimans get really busy, they shout undescriptible stuff in japanese to get going.... that is also part of the experience. the miso soup is excellent. in fact, everything i ever eat there is great. their billing system is outdated.. (manual invoices). so for business expenses, might be a bit tricky... i will go back as always..... your guys are great :)

Excellent food in a very casual atmosphere, with fast service. However, they don't take reservation and usually there is a line to get a table, but they will serve you drinks while you wait.

This was a TripAdvisor inspired visit, and the high ratings are worth it. Don’t forget the specials, as their sushi selection included some hard-to-find offerings. My favorite was the volcano roll, with fried shrimp, peanut butter and jalapeño

Had an amazing meal here whilst visiting SF, the food was delicious, really beautifully presented and of a really high standard. The staff were lovely and friendly and the atmosphere was great, couldn't fault it! I would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a great Sushi restaurant

Came here late night Saturday. The sushi was great... the toro, scallop and uni was amazing! It is shipped straight from Japan. Fun atmosphere, but the music is decently loud so probably not a first date

Easy to miss as the small storefront leading to the basement is very modest. They regularly have specials based on what fish is currently available, which is great for trying types of sashimi that I’ve never had. The 49ers roll is my favorite and the fried baby octopus is amazing.

I really enjoyed this restaurant when I came here four years ago, and was really looking forward to coming back again. Unfortunately I cannot say we had a good experience this time. We were sat next to the men's bathroom and the smell of pee was so bad I had to have my boyfriend switch me seats. Our waitress was not friendly at all and even rude at times. She gave me a hard time for getting two refills of 7up and charged me for the second refill. I had to ask three times for a water. She was taking plates away without asking and overall we seemed like an annoyance to her. The sushi was good but nothing spectacular. The DJ was the best part of the experience. Unfortunately I don't think we will come back or recommend to others.

The place could be in Tokyo with the same warm welcome and amazing sushis. My favorite, the salmon skin roll. give it a try.

This place is a gem, and clearly folks in San Francisco know it, judging from the line of people waiting to get in. We got there relatively early on a Friday night (around 6.00) and there was already a short wait. If you love to watch sushi chefs work, I recommend a seat at the sushi bar - the chefs are fun to watch and very friendly, talking knowledgeably about the dishes they were preparing. Service was fast and friendly too.

We showed up as a group of 4 for dinner on a weeknight and it was about a 40 minute wait. This place was packed and seemingly very popular. We took this as a good sign and waited for a table. When we were finally seated we were served quickly and ordered some really interesting rolls we had never heard of before. Some of them really had a nice spicy bite to them too! The seaweed salad was fresh and tasty-I even had 2! The atmosphere is great in here; dim lighting, but not too dim that you can't see your food. There was music playing and the bar area is all lite up with different coloured lights. You have to walk down some stairs into almost a basement-type room to get into the restaurant. It was a really cool place.

This was my first time visiting this spot... I'm a sushi fan, so I can appreciate the different atmospheres in all places... but it's the dinning experience that I care about most... My girl and I had just spent the night out in the town... she took me to this place at 12midnight... it's small in size... but, man the food is very tasty!! Prices are well worth what you are served... the staff was very courteous... we ate until they closed down and it was a great experience... Definitely going back and recommending to friends...

Ryoko's was recommended to us while we were here in SF and we enjoyed it very much. The place has a very underground vibe, the staff are very hyper and ready to serve you. There are cheers as you come in, don't know what they are saying but it's very enthusiastic and intense. We ordered the California, Philadelphia and Dragon rolls were awesome and was filling - great combination.

We placed ourselves on the list and then had a quick drink at the bar next door . When we were seated it was at the bar which was perfect for us . The music was great and the staff were pleasant and friendly, we had too many things to list but everything was excellent. I would return without hesitation.

... I finally managed to visit again and I still loved it, this time I had a table and just had to order from the menu, always a bit tricky as I don't know the names of the different sushi's but there seems to be no risk in Ryoko, what every we ordered it tasted wonderful, some more of my taste some less, but don't get it wrong it complaining on a very high level, I will go again, and hopefully I don't wait that long (still it's a long way from Switzerland)

Great little sushi restaurant....with a great buzz and great music. Sat at the bar and were able to watch the chefs do their thing. Monkfish pate was delish as a starter.... then followed that with soft shelled crab....miso soup and then great BBQ Eels which were perfect....we all loved it 👍

I sat at the bar when I was in town on business. It was a Monday night yet still people were piled several deep on the descending stairway down to this basement spot. The food was very good- I had seaweed salad and flying Unagi roll with some lovely sake. Nothing too fancy or overdone, just good. My server was relatively attentive, but their busy-ness did show a bit, but this would in no way keep me from going back.

Stopped here for some late dinner. Place was v busy and the wait was about half an hour. Our server was average. The food was a little above average -we got some roles and they were good. Atmosphere is really chill. There was a DJ spinning some dope music. Cool place!

I love love love this restaurant’s Sushi, although it is usually crowded, it has such a nice environment. I want to go there again on my upcoming trip to San Francisco

I was googling the best Japanese restaurants near my hotel and came across this place. It is a fun restaurant in the basement. Atmosphere is great. Ramen was good too. Would eat here again.

Nothing has changed since my last visit a few years ago: you're still greeted on arrival and departure by shouts from the staff, and the food is on par with what I found in Japan. Decent sake choices. Go with the daily specials.

Walked past this restaurant and was lured in by the funky disco music and bustling, lively atmosphere inside. As we walked down the stairs we were greeted by a warm welcome! from the chefs. We arrived at 6 (the opening hour) and were surprised that the place was already half full!The service was very attentive from the moment we arrived to us leaving the restaurant. The music choice and decor gave this place a quirky and fun vibe. The sushi was honestly the best sushi I have ever had. I have not been to Japan but this was some seriously good food and the fact that place seems to always be busy must be a testament to this. Must visit in SF

Extremely worth the wait! There will be a line of people queued up at 6:00 PM for Ryoko's doors to open and the best news is they serve until 2:00 AM! To get a table, hustle down the steps and write your name on the list. Once seated, I recommend hot sake or cold beer, along with any of Ryoko's scrumptious sushi. We had delicious salmon skin hand rolls, tobiko, tamago, hamachi with shiso, and their "Shrimp Symphony" which is a maki roll of cooked shrimp, cucumber and avocado, along with an order of crisp chicken karaage.

Walked in around 10 pm.Crowded,mostly locals,rather noisy.Still very friendly staff,got a nice table afterv20 min.Really excellent sushi and sashimi.

Delicious food in a fun atmosphere. Great vibe on a weeknight! They had a DJ playing 80s rock. Sushi was incredible, and reasonably priced.

Managed to not even take my order. Sat at bar with my wife. Somehow waiter managed to take her order but not mine. they charged me full value for her meal. But they did give free ice cream. Yeah like that makes up for it.

Visited twice in a week. Love the place. Do go early as the queue starts on the street before 6pm. Place was packed every time. The service is OK but the food is really nice. Had Beef teriyaki and fried vegetables for starters. Both were really good. The sushi selection is wide. Some are not traditional sushi choices and are quite American ( with peanut butter for ex) but the taste was surprisingly good. I would definitely recommend this place.

This is a nice place. It's down in a basement, but it's cozy and cheerful. The staff was very friendly and the sushi and sashimi was outstanding. Not sure when I had sushi and sashimi this good, it's been a while I think. No reservations and we got there just after opening at 6:00 pm on a Wednesday night so we had no trouble getting a table. When we were leaving, there were a crowd of people on the stairs waiting for tables (again, on a Wednesday night). A testament to how good this place is. Prices weren't bad for good sushi in SF, between 30 to 40 bucks a person including appetizers and drinks. Best advice, come early to avoid the wait...

You walk down the stairs into this below street level sushi restaurant, and you are greeted loudly by all the employees! This is NOT your typical sushi bar! There is techno dance music blasting, and on the wall are pictures of Jimi Hendrix, and John Coletrane. Doors open at 6pm, and by 6:45pm there's a wait for a table. But service is quick and friendly, and the sushi is fresh and delicious. Prices are good but portion sizes are slightly small. The rainbow roll and checkerboard roll were particularly good! Fried cheese appetizer was great for my non-sushi eating kiddo. If you can handle the nightclub vibe, this is a great sushi restaurant to try!!

This cozy restaurant was great and the services was pretty good. We arrived and there was a queue but the staff were super quick organizing tables and the wait was not long at all!! Totally recommend it if you are staying in the area!

Very loud, sleazy crowd, poor menu options. The guy and the girl at the table next to us were hanging all over each other the whole time we were there. There was no crab on the menu-- only imitation crab. Not a good sign. We ordered drinks and appetizers to judge whether we should stay for dinner. Drinks were good, but the shrimp tempura only included two pieces of shrimp and the salmon sashimi was not great. We got the check and got out of there asap. Plenty of other good sushi options in San Fran. Don't waste your time here.

Terrible service, rude staff! I am usually not somebody to write bad reviews, but our dinner at Ryoko's was just a horrible experience. We met a friend who we haven't seen in years, but instead of having fun and enjoying our time, we constantly had to deal with the waitress's rude behaviour throughout the whole evening. First, instead of greeting us, she put the menus on the table without a word. Shortly after she came back and literally asked: "What do you want?" We weren't sure about what drinks to order and she rolled her eyes at us. When she came back to take the food order, she didn't ask our friend what she wanted, just grabbed the menus and walked off. I myself wasn't even done ordering! I tried to get her attention so we could complete our order, but she would just react really annoyed. Another thing is, that the staff kept walking into our chairs all night long..imagine, you are just about to eat your Nigiri and bam! And the most outrageous about this is, that nobody ever apologised for it! I spilled some miso soup on the table and had so ask for napkins, the waitress put (definitely not enough) napkins on the table and walked off without offering help. When we got the bill, we were wondering about the amount we we supposed to pay. We tried to figure out what was what on the bill, the drinks were not listed, but there was just a $70 behind beverages. We only had a small sake and three beers. When we asked the waitress, she blamed the cashier, even though it's HER job to check the bill before she passes it on to a table she has been serving. The food is tasty, but if you expect good service, you better not go to Ryoko's!!!

The sushi was great, reasonably priced. The wait is not long, make sure you sign in when you walk in.

Three friends and I visited Ryoko’s for sushi while on vacation in SF! All the food was delicious, some of the best sushi we’ve ever had. The restaurant was packed but the wait went quite quickly. Service was great and the place was very unique inside. Fun ambience. Highly recommend and hope to come back some day!!

Wow. Ryokos was absolutely outstanding! The service was amazing! Friendly staff makes a big difference to your time at a restaurant. A big tip... arrive at 6:00pm on the dot because their will be a long queue! Definitely will come back when visiting San Francisco again.

We ordered wakame su, karaaage, plain rice and shiitake tempura...all of these were delicious. They also serve alcohol and drinks. There was a queue when we entered for dinner and were greeted by a loud voice by the chefs. The food was super tasty..very much like you get in japan. I juat found the music to be too lous otherwise the staff was very courteous and helpful. Service was quick too!

We were fortunate to meet the owner. She is friendly with good energy. Busy night the servers were all fantastic. Favorite rolls were checkerboard, hot tuna, and Kentucky. Maguro sashimi is must. Ryoko pilsner is good.

Absolutely scrummy meal , just what we were all hankering for. Great menu, fresh and delicious . Staff were all lovely right from the security guy at the door .

This place is out of control in a good way. Super busy, loud, fun with awesome sushi and staffs are just amazing. Must try the fatty tuna nigiri, it's just party is in your mouth - Woo-Woop!!!

Girlfriend and I did enjoy this place. Despite the line up, it has a really cool SF vibe and the sushi rolls were also very good. Price is moderate for what you get. I recommend it.

This place reminded me of the basement restaurants in Tokyo and the food was just as good. So expect a dimly lit environment, almost like a nightclub vibe (but it works). They also play dance type music which is a bit random but might bother some people as it's a bit loud. We shared 3 starters (edamame, chicken karaage, baby octopus) and the sashimi platter and drank sake and beer. All delicious. The service was excellent and friendly. People were lining up as we were leaving. This place lives up to the good reviews.

We are from Miami and eat good sushi pretty often, this place rocked our world. Kevin was great! Cheers! Dragon roll and the jumping eel something was just perfect!

The quality of the sushi is very good, the feel of the cellar location is neat, some of the dishes seemed unique and the service was good. I ate here twice on this trip and will be returning. Sushi quality is very good - fresh, good portion size Some of the dishes were unique, at least to me, which made my dinner even better. The tofu appetizer fell into this category. There can be a wait for a table which should be kept in mind. Getting a single seat at the bar is easy. There was a dj on one of the nights there which was neat and added to the experience. A very good place to get your sushi!

You know what they say about hole in the wall places...normally some of the best. This holds to that standard. This is a hidden gem off the beaten path but so worth it. We managed to beat the crowd because by the time we left the the line was up the stairs and out the door. This is an old school sushi place, small and delicious. We had miso soup, tempura vegetables and shrimp and that night the Chefs dinner which was Chefs choice of sashimi. You had no idea what you were getting but it was all delicious. This was my second time here and I almost missed it, because I had forgoten the name. Lucky for me someone recommended it and it was the place I has looking for. Highly recommend you go here if you are looking for great sushi. My only knock was the service was a bit slow.

The sushi is exceptional and the DJ plays a wicked set. Ryoko is open till 2 am and has premium sushi made from fish imported from Japan. Be prepared to wait if you go before 10pm on any night. No host or hostess just put your name on the list and wait on the stairs.

The sushi was actually fresh, specially the amaebi, and the Dj and the atmosphere was very San Francisco.

A nice place to have sushi in heart of the city. The dragon roll was really nice We tried the karaage as well which is highly recommended

Ryoko's really surprised me when I was in SFO recently. My wife & I stumbled across it and saw people queuing out the door, so we figured it must be pretty good. We had quite a long wait to be seated, which was quite challenging with jet lag, but totally worth the wait. The quality of the food was top notch, some of the best Sushi I've ever eaten - everything was delicious. Service was good & very friendly, which impressed me - given how busy it was. I also thought it was great value for money, the portions were decent. I imagine this would be a great spot to hang out with a group of friends, as it had a lively atmosphere with a DJ in the corner. It's a essentially a loud basement bar environment, so won't be to everybody's liking, but I personally loved it!

We waited 45 minutes to get a table, which was no problem, and the food was ok, but the rolls we ordered were all deep fried and tasted similar, despite some being unagi and some vegetarian. At the end of the dinner, whoever, we were BLOWN AWAY when the waitress asked for a bigger tip and try to point out that we had not left enough. Good meal, but walked away with a very sour impression of service and attitude

Great small sushi restaurant, we had to wait for a table, but was worth the wait, loads of amazing dishes and great Sake!

When travelling to San Francisco I try to get to this restaurant as the ambience as its busy, dj playing and full of diverse audience which is really appealing to me. Food is great with a large variety of Japanese food with focus on sashimi, sushi and rolles Go here!

Very unassuming external appearance and terrific happening sushi activity inside. Worked my way through the posted menu; Japanese Aka uni; hamachi toro; wagyu beef from Hokkaido; o Toro; shiitake miso; and a salmon and daikon nimino. Completely satisfying. Vibrant young masters of the universe all around.

I like a little sushi along with other tasty treats. We sat at the bar and had an excellent meal. Tip - there's a sign up sheet at the hostess stand, just make your way up and sign in.

Was at the Rugby World Cup and out late with three friends when we popped into this fantastic sushi bar with a DJ spinning some good sounds at a perfectly good volume. The servers were all really friendly and the food was very good. We had lots of sushi plus a few other snacks and ice cold Sapporo. We really enjoyed this place and I would recommend it without hesitation.

I left the premises 30 minutes ago and I just finished vomiting. Still have that bad taste in my mouth. Miso-shiro was uninspiring, and that is always a good proxy about the chef's quality. However, receiving edadame cold is unacceptable... The venue looks and smells unhealthy already when you sit at the table, despite a welcoming music (which might be as well a lot quieter). The raw fish quality is really sub-standard, and considering the price they charge, I'd rather go to a better restaurant... this is not recommended.

We were 2 on a JP Morgan Conference and we had no reservation but could get 2 seats at the bar. Fatty tuna was highly recommended and we were not disappointed. Everything was excellent, fast (maybe too much!). Excellent service with the waitress. The moshi for dessert were the best I ever had.

Knowing they do not take reservations, we took a chance on Sunday for dinner. We were seated in the downstairs dining. The long counter had the better view of the sushi preparation, but we preferred a table. One caterpillar and one dragon roll were enough to satisfy us. I had a Sapporo draft. We paid $35 plus tip. Nothing to complain except for three homeless men bedding down a few yards away.

We stumbled upon Ryoko's by accident, and boy were we so not disappointed. We got in at the right time, and by the time we sat down there was a line out the door a mile long. We figured out pretty quickly that it was a VERY popular local hangout. The food was incredible and the place was rocking with a love DJ! Loved the atmosphere. Highly recommended to anyone and everyone...

I have been visiting Ryoko's for over 8 years and have always enjoyed my times. The prior visit was 2 years ago. My last visit was 4 days ago. The atmosphere is the same as I remember, but the prices are different. Fact, we ordered several rolls from the menu, but were told it costs from $2-$4 extra for the tuna or/or salmon. The waitress said they had tot get the fish from Japan. This seems unusual since the other sushi restaurants are not charging extra. Another nickel and diming of the customer. Opinion, the fish is delicious and we did enjoy the rolls, except for the extra charges. The service is still average, but it is a busy restaurant. You have to sign in at the bottom of the stairs which a lot of customers don't know. There is a SMALL sign stating this, but is easily overlooked. Vent, I do LOVE this place, but I DON'T like the extra charges. I know this is a trendy restaurant and that SF is expensive, but their pricing is getting a little excessive. For this I give them a 3* rating

I love sushi and Ryoko, is a very good restaurant. I enjoyed the food. Everything was delicious. The atmosphere was very good.

I haven’t had this great food for a long time! Excellent food quality! The sushi bar is amazing!! The guys behind the bar are really good at The moment the door was opened, people start to flock in! Don’t miss this sushi bar

Best sushi restaurant in San Francisco and probably whole world! Really worth of waiting the free table! Not too expensive and really good quality of the food!

We wanted to experience SF's sushi scene. Ryoko's was recommended on this site. We loved the freshness and the wide selection of sushi. The vibe was Millenial with a DJ and lots of excited young people talking loudly, as in any bar scene. The restaurant was open very late, which worked with our schedule.

We were visiting San Fran and were looking for a good place to have Sushi! We were planning on going to another restaurant but when we walked by Ryoko and heard the hip hop music and the fun atmosphere we went inside. We ordered sushi and had sake while listed to some old school hip hop. It was awesome. The food was great and we had a great time as well. When we return to San Fran we will definitely come back here again!

Don’t be fooled by this subterranean on Taylor Street. Descend into sushi heaven! One of the best in SFO if not the best! Small with a few tables and bar seating creates a wait if you don’t come early. Great Service and sushi that is amazing in quality and creativity. The best part is it won’t break the bank! Highly recommend Ryoko’s!

Went there for dinner. Loud rap music played. Crowded. Tables are tightly arranged. Ordered 2 dishes - Soft shell crabs and Chirashi. Soft shell crabs portion is fine, but the way they fried with flour isn't the best. Taste is average. The lights inside the restaurant is pretty dark and dim. Not sure what is being served in my Chirashi bowl. Taste like fish - Tuna, yellow tail maybe, chicken or tofu with some fish eggs. Overall, portion is descent. Taste is average, not a wow. Expensive - about $70 USD. Satisfaction?? Not really. Service is below average. I ordered hot tea, the waiter brought me spicy tuna roll. I told the waitress I wanted the receipt when I paid the check, she didn't get back to me until I was walking out the door. Over-rated. Not coming back again since there are many other choices of Japanese restaurants around town.

The food was absolutely delicious, as was the Asahi (draught and bottled). The place had a very good atmosphere too and service was pretty good.

My friends and I decided on Ryoko after reading several great reviews online. We went on a Monday night and it was crowded but we didn't have to wait for a seat which was great after a long flight from Washington, D.C. Upon entering we noticed the music was great...mostly 70s music and later techno, but each genre was lively band perfect for the place! I loved the ambiance of the place...small, quaint and outdated but so perfect for fun times! The sushi was great. I enjoyed the tiger shrimp roll and jumping veggie roll. I also had the fried tempura as a starter. One of my friends ordered the edamame and it was served cold. When she asked for it to be heated, our server happily obliged. All the dishes were tasty, however presentation was no better than I've seen in DC or Baltimore. I will say that my friends and I weren't adventurous so we didn't try some of the more unique dishes that they are famous for like the uni. There were definitely diners that had some great looking rolls with great looking fish. I highly recommend visiting Ryoko. If a Monday night had a lovely crowd, I can only imagine a Friday and Saturday night. Although, we did not have a wait, I have a feeling that the line would have moved quick...they servevyou quick and clean-up quick....almost too quick! Anyhow, put this on your "places to eat" list when visiting San Francisco, you won't be disappointed!

Ryoko is loud and fun. Polite servers, raucous Sushi chefs, lively music. The food is varied and excellent. The menu has a broad selection of sushi and sashimi and the quality is outstanding. The daily specials are very good- the chef’s selection is excellent but you must try some of the creative spicy rolls. Open until 2:00 AM, expect a wait but it’s worth it.

This is the best sushi I've ever had. The restaurant is in the basement and sort of a hole in the wall but from the line of people waiting to be seated, you can tell it's a hot spot. Service was quick and polite. We sat at the sushi bar and even the sushi chefs we friendly and interested in making sure we were pleased. Will definitely return again.

Had dinner at Ryoko's in SF and it was fantastic. The service was great and the food was amazing. It does come with a price (though perhaps I should have eaten less :)).

Wanted Sushi so looked on Trip Advisor and the ratings looked amazing. Don’t be taken back by the atmosphere. Local downstairs dark pub like place. Sushi was amazing! Service was excellent and prices reasonable. We got there about 600 and by 700 they were standing outside 20 deep to get in. So go and enjoy. Try the tiger roll!!!

As we decided to get a seat at this restaurant on Friday night, we were greeted by nice gentleman in front t who told us there will be waiting time for place but automatically told us put a name on waiting list, it did not took to long to see a call back (about 20-25 minutes.) After we were seated and provided recommendations for evening on menus we did made our selection of salads. Sushi and sashimi as well couple rolls that gave comfort of know food. We were seated at a bar where we can see amazing work of sushi chefs and how meticulous and perfect each set of food was made. We start receiving our order will order they never was approached by us, it serve to us to taste every single bit of sashimi or fish that melt in our mouth with every bite. Hostess was nice and pleasant to have discussion about food and learn more about Japanese cuisine. At the end of day we had pleasant dinner and evening with that group of people. If you in SF make sure you get a time to know and try food at this place. Definitely will visit next time we are SF. And if anyone will speak to me about places to recommend, they got my recommendation

My partner and I found this place from reviews on Tripadvisor. We received a very vocal greeting upon entering and sat ourselves at the bar. We ordered several dishes of sushi, plus miso and edamame. We certainly finished our plates but it was not anything to wrote home about. I think the appealing part for most is the warm welcoming you receive, however the loud house music was a little too much for a quant sushi bar.

The Restaurant was Full. Arrive early to avoid lines. Crowded, loud and Full. But good live DJ and amazing amazing amazing food

My husband and I went here based on a recommendation from a local. We absolutely loved this restaurant. The atmosphere has a “night club” vibe but it’s not overwhelming and you can still have a casual conversation without yelling across the table. The food is delicious, you will not be disappointed. Prices vary between $10-20 for a roll depending on what you order. This is the freshest sushi I have ever had and I highly recommend the tuna roll.

When you go down to this basement place you will find a noisy place packed with fibers and winners. The food is OK at most, nothing to travel a long way to. Sushi was fresh but I've never encountered a sloppyer prepared one like it. Can't be a proper trad sushi chef making this. With a price tag of over $60 it should have been better. Come early to order on their iPad or stay hungry for 45min minimum. The place is packed. Not the place for a romantic date but for groups

What a great hole in the wall... The fish was fresh, they have an interesting array of custom rolls, and the beer was cold. Good service and a DJ in the house mixing up the music. Vibrant basement room packed with people enjoying a little corner of SF.

After searching through various Japanese and sushi restaurants we settled at eating at this place and I’m so glad we did! The sushi plates were reasonably priced (5-15) and we had three great dishes of sushi that came out fast. They refilled our green tea frequently and the service was unbeatable. Loud music made for a fun vibe but not too loud to hold conversation. Would absolutely recommend!!

Great vibes in a basement style restaurant. Gets super busy so book ahead using yelp. Whisky highball was a good drink. Fresh sushi and sushimi. Live dj playing good tunes. Worth the experience.

I am a fan of Japanese cuisine. Did 2 and 3 star michelin restaurants. Even though we are not at this level here, the sushi served here are top notch! Everything is so fresh and the price are very good for the quality. On top of that the atmosphere is quite different from a traditional Japanese restaurant, disco music and tavern like atmosphere. I’ve been here twice, I’ll probably come back!

I have been going to Ryoko for at least 20 years. This basement (lower level) Japanese restaurant has always had good karma and great sushi and sashimi as well as other dishes. The presentation and creativity in traditional cuisine is quite nice, Quality is always good.

Arrived right when it opened and was shown to a spot at the sushi bar. By the time I had my miso soup there was a line out the door. Clubby music. Has sort of a dive bar feel. Sushi was fresh and tasty. Prompt service. All in all, worth the trip. Loved it.

Arriving from Europe, we went to the Ryoko for dinner on April 1st. Dinner there was a great experience. Great food and nice atmosphere (at least for people who enjoys electronic music). Service was equally excellent. Réservation is mandatory because the waiting queue has been long during our dinner there.

Definitely some of the best sushi quality I had outside of Japan but the moment you sit down, you feel that they want you out. They really let you feel that you are not supposed to stay. This totally ruins the experience. If you buy top sushi and pay to dollar, you should at least be given the time to enjoy it. It feels as if they know they can treat you bad since they anyway have good reviews. Cannot recommend.

THE GOOD x Fresh Sushi x Chef's welcome x Club music x Excellent ambience THE BAD x Long wait THE UGLY x really high price

I ate here twice. Once was nothing short of fabulous (comparable to upper end restaurants in Osaka or Kyoto) and once just ok. Price is definitely more $$$ than $$. This place always has a line, even at 11:30pm on a Wednesday. Food is variable (not only my limited experience, but the word from people in the neighborhood). I would expect the quality of maguro and toro to change from day to day, but was surprised by the variability in unagi. Suggestion: go LATE when it is less of a zoo.

Feels like your in Japan When you’re eating the chicken teriyaki very authentic and delicious!! The sushi grade is fresh clean. Not drenched in heavy sauces just pure and fresh. The atmosphere is very lively and could be little loud for some. It did not bother me i thought it to be fun. Expect a wait but they do move fast!

Came here based on reviews and was close to hotel. The place had a queue of waiting people to get in prior to opening(good sign). The atmosphere is a little unusual as it's in a basement and very cramped. Reminds you of a hole in wall but this one is a Japanese Sushi place. The food is fresh and good. Everything we had was prepared well and quite tasty. The only negative was the service. They lost our order and by the time we got our food, it had been 1+ hour.

Great vibe and really amazing food so so great so glad I got to experience this place it was a gem of nite very recommended

I knew this place was going to be good when I walked in and the DJ was playing Prince! Looks like a little hole in the wall but don’t let that stop you. It was busy when I went around 10pm on a Thursday night. You write your name on the waitlist but I couldn’t have been waiting more than 5 minutes. Small menu but everything was really good and the have a full bar!! I had raw oysters to start and it was amazing! I could’ve ate a dozen of those little things. I also tried the jumping roll or something like that, spicy scallop handroll, and a yellowtail avocado handroll. FYI I don’t eat rice so they were kind enough to accommodate me. A couple drinks later and a full belly I was living my best life😂 my only regret is that I’m only in town for 1 day so I can’t go back.

Just a few blocks from Union Sq. The food is great, atmosphere good though pretty noisy. The food is fresh, shushi was prepared in front of our faces. Recommended

Read the descriptions on the rolls because it’s not a traditional lineup. I had the rainbow roll and volcano roll. The volcano roll has a weird twist that works pretty nicely. I’d get it again. Service is top notch. I’ll be back.

Seeing the positive reviews, I was confident...what a disappointment!! Nice environment but it's very expensive for the quantity, and the taste is not great either. There were 8 of us, and no one liked it. FYI, I paid 88 dollars for a platter of 14 sashimi, 6 rolls (in photo) and a bowl of rice

Uno nigiri was the star of the night. Fresh and tasty. Everything else was very much average. We ordered chirashi, typically a visually attractive dish where the sushi chef can be creative and brag about it. This version was simply a messy collection of fish on a rice bed. We arrived late, around 10:30pm on a Friday night - which is not late by San Fran restaurant standards- and they had ran out of 3 of the sake brands we ordered and a number of fish cuts. We are sushi lovers and we have eaten better for less elsewhere. Won’t come back

This is a very busy place that is alive. The sushi is very fresh and the presentation is good. Not shi-shi, rather a below ground cellar restaurant that makes you feel like you are in a local Tokyo everyman's hangout. Very good selection of sake. If you like sushi, you should not miss this one!!

There's always good energy and savory food at Ryoko's! The food is always fresh and never gets boring; I recommend trying a few sashimis, nigiris, and rolls, with a stable miso soup! They're open late and the service is bomb! You'll definitely be transported to Japan

Fresh, outstanding and creative, in lively atmosphere. Listen to the Sushi chefs saying or yelling hello and good bye to customers.

It took almost an hour to get a seat, but it worth. We set on the bar, appreciating the ability of the sushi men and the quality of the ingredients. We had a plate of naguiri and some options of sushi. Gentle taste, fine pieces of fish and interesting combination. Beer menu is limited, but ok. The NZ white was a good wine option. The service was nice and helpful

The restaurant itself is excellent, service is fine, food is tasty and the atmosphere has a good kind of moody. However, when we ordered the fresh fish we didn't expect a member of our party to get food poisioning! Within an hour of leaving the restaurant said member was keeling over the toilet throwing up... Overall, a good restaurant, if you are willing to face the risk...

This place was really neat and different from other sushi restaurants. There was a DJ spinning, the rolls were good and the price was fair. We met some really nice people sitting beside us as well!

They have a couple of great ingredients: - fresh fish - great ideas - great ambiance I absolutely loved it, the sushi/sashimi/roles (what every you call them) tasted wonderful . We've been sitting on the bar right opposite of the chefs so we order by this fish and just make something out of it and we didn't get disappointed, in fact every new piece was an new surprise and tasted absolutely gorgeous. I will go again, highly recommended.

If you like sushi, it’s a must do in SF. Short but efficient menu, from the most traditional to the most creatives ones, and everything is made under your eyes. Super cool place, nice service, live DJ mixing chill-remixed hits over a piano. We had to wait a bit to be seated but it definitely worths it!!!

The sashimi was very fresh also the peanut butter roll was so good. Noisy but fun atmosphere. Service was great!!

Super trendy, fresh and delicious. Fresh fish shipped in from Japan is awesome and the fact they have a dj playing music is an extra bonus. Open until 2am, gets busy, when you go in put your name on the waiting list clip board and they'll sit you right after.

I can vouch 100 per cent bona fide quality fare. Living in Asia (mostly) and being tough on the quality and calibre of Asian food, please accept a heartfelt recommendation for Ryoko’s. Especially the seafood - top quality and very fair price for above fair, fare. Fair enough? TIP: get there by 6.15pm to race the locals and avoid lining up at the door

Phenomenal place. The sushi (Chirashi) was outstanding, fresh. The place is small, busy and charming... it has an atmosphere that can;t be bought, you feel if you were in Osaka. Also, they have their own bouncer :) I recommend Ryoko's Pilsner. This place is the real thing.

Just arrived in San Francisco we found this place on Google Maps near the hotel. A good choice. Cozy atmosphere and sushi of excellent quality.

Holy wait! I called Ryoko's to see if we could make a reservation for dinner but they said they didn't do reservations for Friday. We got here about 7 and waited for 45 min to be sat. When you enter, walk down the stairs and to your left there is a clipboard with a pen, sign your name and play the waiting game. Don't try and attempt to make your way through and take the bar seats without your name being called. It's not your typical sushi restaurant where bar is open seating. We saw multiple guests do this and the servers were so quick to notice and asked them to get up. Now to the good stuff, FOOD: -Sake (Salmon) (4/5): Very fresh! -Hamachi (3.5/5): Ok, didn't like the wasabi smeared into the rice. -Beef oroshi (4/5): someone on yelp said this was Wagyu, but it's definitely not Wagyu. It tasted ok though. Not super chewy but just right. -Dragon (4.5/5): Delicious! Probably my fav roll here. The eel set the roll just right. -Jumping unagi (4/5): Yumm! -Hot tail right (4/5): Very fresh! -Crunchy crab left: My friend ordered this so I didn't try it. -Nigiri Sushi Dinner (3.5/5): If you don't like wasabi on the rice please let the server know because authentic Japanese sushi restaurants serve nigiri with a little bit of wasabi on the rice. I'm not a fan of wasabi so this ruined it for me. It comes with a side of miso soup and a California roll. The egg sushi was not my fav. Cheap and delicious sushi. Quick turn around time!

I give this place a five for food and atmosphere. There is little attention paid to maintenance but I can forgive for amazing sushi and service. There is a wait after 8pm but grab a drink from the bar and wait on the stairs leading down to the basement dining room. Cool DJ spinning awesome tunes and he was pretty fun to watch. Love this place and will return.

My family and I just landed in San Francisco and stumbled across this awesome restaurant. The food was fresh and delicious. Best California Rolls I’ve ever had. Our server Bianca was quick and really lovely. Definitely try this place.

When we first walked up to Ryoko’s door I thought for sure I had read reviews wrong or was in the wrong place. It appears to be a dark, loud, basement club! But I was assured by some other people walking in that this was indeed the place for delicious sushi and they were right! The atmosphere was a bit weird and different than I expected but it made for a fun dining experience and the sushi was fresh and delicious. We even tried one roll with peanut better in it - very unique and yummy.

This was a fun place!!! Great atmphosere to let loose and enjoy a night out. It is small and packed but that adds to the atmosphere. One of the best Sushi I have had in a while. Fresh and a good selection with quick service and very attentive. Prices are reasonable. Definitely coming back!

Its a hidden gem. If it wasn’t for TripAdvisor, I wouldn’t have gotten in and I would have missed and amazing experience. I walked by the front door a few times and never noticed it. Don’t miss it on your next trip to San Francisco

This past week on a business trip to San Fran, I stumbled upon Ryoko’s. Wow! This is maybe the best sushi I’ve had in many years. The fish is so fresh, and from Japan for much of it. The o toro was awe inspiring. The eel also. The restaurant is small but comfortable, hidden down a set of stairs. The people there are great! Very friendly. The Chef was amazing to watch. I sat at the bar while I ate. Such an artist. I will go back when I return to San Fran. Or I might make a trip out there just to eat great Sushi!! Thanks Ryoko’s!

Great Restaurant with own DJ. Top Sushi quality 👍🏼. The daily specials are written on the white board behind the Bar. Very friendly Service 💪🏽

We maybe were just unlucky, anyway i cannot recommend this place and i will not come back. Pros - Sushi was good - different atmosphear Denpending on what you like - loud music - guys in the sushi bar screaming every few minutes Cons - the place was smelling bad - a whole in the ground just near to my chair, so the chairs leg was sticking there - sloooowwwww and bad service - the sauce of the tempura was having dressing rests...just horrible... - beer was not cold - the carpet..well...no comments....

Cannot see the restaurant from the street, yet once you walk down the stairs it is fun and lively! Above sushi that is wellvpruced for the Bay area. Definitely worth a stop!

Very lively restaurant with live dj. Great vibe, good food and good service. We visited one evening after 9pm and despite it being very busy we were seated immediately at the bar where we could see the chefs preparing the food. We had a pitcher of Asahi and tried some sushi, sashimi and chicken teriyaki, all of which was very good. A great find.

Was looking for a good sushi and found it The restaurant is in the basement of a building, and you can easily miss since only the entrance is at street level You descend the stairs and greeted in Japanese by the staff... and the music from the 80' Ample selection of rolls in addition to sushi, sashimi and maki/nigiri They have a board with the list of the special and fish of the day Got a chirashi: fish was really excellent but 30+ $ The place is small and can't seat many people, but they have the sushi bar in addition to the tables if you are alone or a couple Service was nice, fast and efficient

I tried this restaurant based on its high ratings, as well as professional reviews, and was not disappointed. This is a very good sushi place based on the quality of the food, different types of sushi and atmosphere of the restaurant. Food: Fresh, flavorful and there are some combinations not seen at other sushi restaurants; such as one roll that has peanut butter. Atmosphere: Underground with a DJ on weekends. Bouncer outside the door. Hours: Love that they are open late on weekends so one can go there after being out. Wait time: Expect a potential wait even if it is after midnight. Singles are seated just at the bar when busy.

Best sushi we’ve had in our lives. Food is fresh, environment is groovy, service was great. A MUST in San Francisco.

This place has a great, below street level vibe reminiscent of small restaurants in Tokyo which I have experienced. Ryoko doesn't disappoint ...we had some starters (edamame, karaage, octopus) first class!, followed this with the sashimi dinner ...fresh and incredible! Highly recommend!! Cannot fault this place If you are looking for the real deal Japanese.. this is it

there is a lack of ambiance but the food more than makes up for this. nigri sushi quality is second to none

Small place, expect a wait of 20 to 45 minutes as there are people in line and the restaurant is small. Write your name on a list at the bottom of the stairs. Party of 2 will be able to sit much quicker. Bar is not 1st come, 1st serve - it is also pulled from the waiting list. Checkerboard (this was my fav, could have ordered another) and Jumping Tuna was also very good. Great meal. But simple. Even the soy sauce was good.

We found this place a few years ago and always find our way here while in town. The sushi is good and the atmosphere is busy and fun. So if your looking for a great place to have sushi come here and enjoy but be prepared to wait because it gets very busy. Enjoy!

Were we here on an off night? We walked to the Union Square area from the Financial District even tho we passed maybe 6 other sushi places along the way because of the excellent TA reviews. Wish we hadn't skipped the places along the way. We were there on Friday night so we knew there would be a wait. Walked down the steps and put our name for a table of 4 on the list. Was able to ask about how long the wait might be so we could maybe get a drink across the street while we wait. She said maybe 20 mins to an hour. Not wanting to loose our spot we decide to wait, but she doesn't offer to have us order a drink there to not leave, I made the choice on my own. 20 minutes later and no one waiting had been seated so we ask about ordering a beer and sake while we wait and she seems so put off by the idea of it. She does bring the drinks, the bottle of beer and the sake, both barely chilled. Should have been tipped off there. After waiting 1 hour we were seated downstairs in the second tiny room and it was dark and very warm in there. A bus boy came by and turned the floor fan on and I turned it toward our table so that helped. A pitcher of beer and some hamachi sushi to start to try it out. Both warm. Yes warm beer and warm fish, dry fish and no flavor fish. Geez. Our friends are unfazed and I know we have to stay. I order octopus sushi. They are out but have baby octopus for $9.60 for 2 pieces. Guess what? It was mushy and slimmy and not even a light squeeze of lemon to enhance the flavor? We also tried the hamachi belly because we do love yellowtail and maybe the belly would be good, not the case. The kicker...no tuna tonight but they belly or blue fin at $16.90 per order. However we ordered the checkerboard roll, one of the few non fried rolls and it was topped with hamachi and yes you guessed it...tuna. So tuna on the rolls is available but not as sushi. Yes the place was packed, our server was niceish, although slow and there is a dj that starts at 9pm and gives the place a nice vibe. The fish selection was minimal. They claim theirs is fresh fish from Japan but won't serve us tuna and don't have a snapper option or white tuna or albacore in on a Friday? The roll selection was super boring so many were fried or had a cooked element, that is not traditional Japanese sushi. I hope we were here on an off night because after reading all the positive reviews I almost wondered if we were in the right restaurant.

Went here for dinner. Long wait, but excellent Sushi!! So fresh! best i've had in a long time. Techno music was a bit out of place, but it did make fo a fast paced get-in-get-out theme, freeing up the tables. Overall awesome experience. The fish was delish! Highly recommend.

Nothing special despite the hype. Average food in an extremely loud small place. Music is loud and painfully meaningless. The waitress did not explain price discrepancy and brought another dish instead of the one we asked for. Overall, average food in a very loud place. Would not recommend it to friends and family and would not come back to this place. San Francisco has better to offer.

Went there at 9p Sunday evening. The line was out the door. We decided to wait and it was totally worth it. Our kids ate with us. We had the beef teriyaki and tofu to start - both great. The sushi was amazing. The fish just melted when you ate it. The place is dark, loud, and full of activity. The sushi is just truly worth it.

We've been to Ryoko's multiple times. It's our favorite Japanese restaurant in SF. We've had sashimi, sushi, kabayaki (?), and homey fried foods which were all amazing. On our last visit, because the food always exceeded expectations, we asked the Chef to prepare anything he wanted. There are no words to describe the food or the experience! JUST DO IT!!!

We actually selected this restaurant because of the good reviews on trip advisor and we were not wrong. The food was excellent and we didn't have to wait long. the service was quick. we highly recommend this place.

I went here with the business group that was in town for a convention. We had great saki several rounds of excellent sushi and everything we tried was outstanding. Very cozy, very nice, and wonderful service. I will go back anytime.

Too loud the music and very crowded that makes hard if the idea of the dinner is talk … the food regular standard sushi. No real japanese

Suggested at our hotel the sushi dinner was promising to be one of the beast in San Francisco. In the heart of the city, we were surprised with such in underground place. Very packed and without ceremony, and despite the huge line we only waited a bit to get seated. Just the time for a beer. The wine list is not fantastic but the sushi amazing. Traditional way with fresh fish and very tasty. Deserved the wait. At the end we spent more than expected but what else in San Francisco?

This has become a spot I visit each trip to San Fran. Fun energetic setting. Helpful but non bothersome staff. Good value and freshest sushi.

Tasty sushi and fresh seafood. Fast techno music obnoxiously LOUD!!! Not able to converse. Service ok. Did not explain which sushi rolls were on plate so pieces did not get shared equally with my partner. We each missed eating one of the roll flavors. Cannot recommend when there are other local tasty options due to atmosphere.

Went here today and after about an hour wait got the Mackerel fish which was good but seemed overcooked a bit. Service was very slow as well.

After exploring the city for the day, my friends and I realized we hadn't made reservations anywhere for dinner. We found a last minute reservation for this spot. From the street, it doesn't look like much, so I wasn't sure what to expect. As we descended the stairs into the restaurant from street level, we were greeted with a super dark and SUPER packed restaurant. We were seated at one of the very first tables and were served immediately. EVERY single thing we ordered was delicious. We got the chicken karaage, edemame, and then asked the waiter to bring us his all time favorite rolls or what he recommended off the specials board. I can't remember what he brought, but there wasn't a stinker among them. YOU MUST EAT HERE WHILE IN SF!

The service is a little on the lax side, but overall the experience was fun and the food was incredible. They could do a little more, however, to service the waiting customers in the long queue, so if you are wanting to visit, be in for a seriously long wait.

We were recommended to come here by the lovely barman at the Westin St Francis and were so glad we did. A short wait then a table at the sushi bar and some of the best food we've had anywhere in the US. Tempura was light and delicious. The sushi rolls were amazing though and we managed to trough our way through 2 x jumping California and rainbow rolls plus seaweed and some soft shell crab rolls too. Atmosphere and sounds were great. Loved it and will be back

The crowds here tell it all. This is a very popular place. The food was excellent. My only complaint would be the long wait due to the restaurant not taking reservations.

Small place but was pack after 15 minutes being opened. We ordered Alcatraz roll, dragon roll, they were soooo yummy delicious. The chicken Karraage was tasty and perfectly crunchy.

Visited while on a business trip and was impressed! They have a great menu - we tried quite the selection of rolls/dishes and enjoyed all. If you visit, check out the roll with peanut butter. Yum!!!

very busy place even you come to there late. so expect to wait a bit, but their turnover is pretty ok. we waited about 20 minutes to sit, the waiter did mess up our place in queue and we had to remind him. rather than that, the service was pretty good. food was excellent, very authentic and creative - unique combination. we ordered Pokemon, jumping unagi, jumping tuna, spider roll, Crunchy Crab, a few others. all taste very good.

Always ha e been a fan of this place. In the heart of the Tenderloin it has always been my favorite sushi spot in the city. Lively crowd, great food & drink with DJ mixing can't got wrong. Plus open till 2:00. That really has kept me coming back here over 17 years....

Every time I visit San Francisco I visit the restaurant. First class fresh fish, always lively but never impersonal as a result. Great music often a DJ. Sake options never disappoint either. Go!

A must sushi dinner every time visiting SF. Those who don’t know, be on time, reservations onsite, then follow your wait status via Yelp at local Shutter pub at corner of Taylor and Shutter up on the hill. Worth it, both of them :) Not going to describe the food, it’s simply good and tasty and service is fast. For people with bad taste of music, this isn’t your choice as this place rocks!

Went to Ryoko's looking for late night eats and found a diamond. You have walk downstairs but they had a DJ and the atmosphere was great. I really enjoyed the sushi and the drinks were really good.

Great and fresh sushi in a little hole in the wall. The place was nothing fancy, but the sushi was excellent

Ryoko's doesn't always appear on yelp or google, however, this should not stop you from standing in line. Yes, if you arrive after 6:30PM, any night, expect a wait line. I frequent eateries in many cities and this is a wonderful spot for adults. While children are welcome, I would not classify it as child friendly, but if your children love sushi and a high energy atmosphere then this is your kind of place. Don't be fooled by the hole-in-the-wall entrance to a basement restaurant. If you're looking for good food and drinks, and in Union Square area, visit Ryoko's.

The sushi here is incredible but if you are HUNGRY bring you checkbook because it can get expensive. But worth every penny. My family and I go here every time we are in San Francisco. Also they DON"T take reservations so you might have to wait but again it is WORTH THE WAIT!!!

I absolutely love this place! We got there just in time before the rush, but we still waited about 35-minutes. However, the servers were so nice. They took care of us while we were waiting and let us order hot sake shots, which made the wait bearable. The food was delicious. We ordered the Chirashi, which is the chef's selection of fish. This was good and the fish was very fresh. The rice was perfect. Make sure you order raw wasabi, which enhances your sushi experience. The best things we tried were the orange delight and the uni. By far, hands down, no doubt about it, best uni I have ever tried in my life. The unagi was great as well. Service was fast and friendly. Love the atmosphere. Food was great. Overall, I would definitely go back. Happy Dining, J Tran

I discovered this place when looking for a late dinner near Union Square. I visited on Thursday night at about 11 and they had a DJ. The sushi is good. I also tried the teriyaki steak starter. The steak is a Ribeye and was very good as well. San Francisco has limited late dining options and this one is a rare find. I will visit again.

Stopped in as it was close to my hotel, but wow so good! Easy to sit at the sushi bar. Friendly and attentive service! Sushi so fresh and baked sushi who knew. The jumping rolls were so good, plum wine and sake was nice. Just overall great... even went back for a second night!