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Name: Ozumo
Address: 161 Steuart St, San Francisco, CA, 94105
Telephone: (415) 882-1333
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 3.68

Ozumo

161 Steuart St, San Francisco, CA, 94105

(415) 882-1333
Store is closed

Ozumo Menu

Soups Salads

Edamame Soybeans

Miso Soup

Yaki Tako

Kaiso Seaweed Salad

Beet Salad
Favorites

Hanabi

Yamabuki

Dohyo

Futago

Shiro Maguro Tataki

Age Dashi Dofu
Tempura

Ikakoromo

Tempura Yasai

Tempura Ebi
Meat

Kamo

Tontoro

Gyu Kakuni

Gyu Filet

Washu Gyu

Shacho’s Shabu Shabu
Seafood

Gindara

Burikama

Suzuki

Hotate
Vegetables

Nasu

Kabocha

Kinoko

Imo
Dessert & Cordials

Choco Chan

Dark Chocolate Fondue

Tofu Cheesecake

Passion Fruit Panna Cotta

Nashi

Peanut Butter Mousse

Rice Pudding

Healthy Meal suggestions for Ozumo

Soups Salads

Edamame Soybeans [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Miso Soup [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yaki Tako [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kaiso Seaweed Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Beet Salad [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Favorites

Hanabi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Yamabuki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dohyo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Futago [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shiro Maguro Tataki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Age Dashi Dofu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Tempura

Ikakoromo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tempura Yasai [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tempura Ebi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Meat

Kamo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tontoro [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gyu Kakuni [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Gyu Filet [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Washu Gyu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Shacho’s Shabu Shabu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Seafood

Gindara [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Burikama [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Suzuki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Hotate [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Vegetables

Nasu [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kabocha [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Kinoko [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Imo [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Dessert & Cordials

Choco Chan [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Dark Chocolate Fondue [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Tofu Cheesecake [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Passion Fruit Panna Cotta [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Nashi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Peanut Butter Mousse [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Rice Pudding [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

carol a.

Sooo my best guy friend and I had our 23rd birthday dinner here. We had reservations for around 20 people. We ended up arriving late for our reservation so we ended up hanging out at the bar for a bit (maybe like 15 minutes at most). So we took a couple of birthday shots before dinner. The ambiance was beautiful. Dimly lit. Very Japanese feeling. The bar had wooden benches instead of the typical bar stool. Very modern, yet natural feeling with plants at the same time. The bartender was amazing! My best friend and I got to talking with her about what her favorite shot was to take. She told us she was from Europe, and to try her fave. She poured us both 2 shots and it tasted like WOOD. OMG I almost threw up, but it made for a good laugh - and she did warn us. My friends ordered me the "tokyo glow" which was a fusion of citrus and sugar and it was delicious. Perfect strength - had a little bite to it, but not too strong. Out of habit I wanted a sashimi plate (i LOVE sashimi), but couldn't find it on the menu. My ex-boyfriend and I asked the waitress if they had such a thing and we were pleasantly surprised to find out that they did. She asked us if we wanted "quality or quantity?" - and I opted for quality. I expected to get a few pieces of sushi: some salmon, tuna, halibut, yellow tail BUT when it came out it was 3-4 pieces of that plus roe and sea urchin (which I did NOT try ew). The sashimi was PHENOMENAL. It was the freshest I've ever tasted (no exaggeration) - I mean melt in your mouth fresh. My ex-boyfriend and I shared that plus vegetable tempura which was an art form in and of itself (we were also surprised by the quantity that came out). The presentation of the food here is gorgeous. We ordered sake for the table, but by that time I was pretty sloshed so I can't really tell you whether it was good or not. My friend ordered the "hanabi" which was amazing - it had avocado with a ponzu sauce. Again, the presentation was prime. When the bill came out we realized why the sashimi platter was not on the menu - it was $200. Hahaha. I guess that's why it wasn't on the menu! Whatever though, it was SO worth it. This is arguably one of the best sushi places in San Francisco.
(5)
Andy P.

come for the ramen menu at lunch in the front of the restaurant. i haven't had their sushi for a couple years, but remember it to be pretty good. service is excellent.
(3)
Anthony V.

The food here is usually fresh and good every time i go here.
(4)
Ariel G.

Holy crud is this plae amazing. I was a little intimidated at first because, yes, it's pricey and fancy schmancy. I didn't want to pay an arm and a leg for a california roll. Fortunately I was pleasantly surprised and, dare I say it, this place went well beyond my expectations. We enjoyed a really great bottle of unfiltered chilled sake to start. The razor clam appetizer was ok, not great to be honest but it did have a little kick which I liked. The first roll out was one with lobster, tuna, mango and cilantro topped with caviar. WOW. Just AMAZING! The flavors were terrific together and something unexpectedly light yet intense. No rice on this roll, but some sort of flat bread or crepe like thing. We also enjoyed the filet mignon - I was worried about this because...well, there were no utensils except chop sticks. Fear not, the filet is the most tender piece you'll ever eat. It's served with some grilled green beans wrapped in bacon and a drizzle of pesto sauce which I'd like to take home in a 5 gallon bucket. Dessert was the chocolate fondue. At this point I was full enough but one taste of that chocolate would have made me consider getting another bucket to take that home too. We paired it with a port and it was just fantastic. Overall one of the best meals I've ever had in my life.
(5)
J S.

It was good but pricey!
(3)
Joon L.

Best sushi ever. Especially the albacore when in season.
(5)
Henry H.

Excellent, authentic food. Very fresh. Expertly prepared. Wonderful staff. Great sake selection. Good bar that is nicely separated from the dining room. I've been dining there for years and have never had a bad bite.
(4)
Chi-Kit C.

The dishes were unique and also the server was very knowledgeable. I have to say the fish was very fresh. We made a mistake and ordered the wrong fish so make sure you get the names right. There are some seats with a view. We were lucky enough to get one of them. It's better than the seating in the inside.
(5)
Vol T.

Nice lunch place close to Rincon center. If you don't have reservation you get to sit at the sushi bar. Even though the place is huge.. guess it's popular. I had the sushi bento box which was good. My hubs had the spicy miso ramen which was good. Nothing spectacular (ok the service is prob above average) but worth repeat business.
(3)
T L.

2.5 stars bumped to 3 (for good service!) You don't just pay for the fresh ingredients, you pay for the ambiance too -- which is so overpriced! That being said, we knew what we were getting ourselves into as we walked to Ozumo. A close 5 minute walk for us in a thriving SoMa neighborhood, there was valet available but hardly any other parking. We didn't have reservations which sucked dookie because I have an OpenTable account but we just didn't want to be ghetto and make reservations 5 minutes before leaving - oh what the hell, we'll do that next time if we need to :) Hostesses were very sweet - as she took us to our table in the back, I complimented her pretty blue suede boots and she told me where to find them and this and that. Super friendly! We initially wanted to sit at the bar in the front (so dark and trendy oooh) but we instead, had a table in the back near the sushi bar, where it's quieter. Our server was pretty nice too and read off the specials for that night. THEY HAVE KOBE STEAK TARTARE AS ONE OF THEIR SPECIALS. She didn't even need to say anything else, I was sold!! Steak Tartare with Gyoza Chips and Quail Egg: Holy moly, what. a. rip. The portion was uber small and it had a small DAB of dijon mustard to the side - I had to ask for more dijon. I take it back, it wasn't that good. It was literally just a small pile of ground beef with no seasoning and a quail egg on top. Worst steak tartare ever! Ozeki Roll: Really tasty, I liked it! Then again, I love cream cheese :) Spicy Tuna Roll: It had a peanut sauce on the side and it was a very interesting combo. Good roll too! Seafood Hot Pot: Dinky ass pot with a sweeter broth than what I usually like. Good array of seafood that came with a bowl of rice (no noodles). Not worth it - avoid. Sparkling Geisha: Delicious!! + 2 hot sake = about $150 after taxes/tip for 2 people. Of course, portions here were super small so if you plan on having a full blown meal here, be prepared to spend $$$! I liked Ozumo, it seemed like an awesome place to just chill and have a few drinks and nibble on some appetizers, but definitely not a place to have a good, hearty dinner. I'd come back strictly for a few drinks and maybe an appetizer or 2:)
(3)
Annie T.

Happy Hour = fantabulous. Dirty Martinis = hanger dirty. All of the bartenders know how to make a good one, and it's tough to do with a discerning palette. Happy Hour specials = eh, but you are in the fancy shmancy part of town, so what can you expect? For business dinner = 5 stars... perfect place to take a coworker and wow them with the sun setting behind the hills of the Bay Bridge. it's just an amazing view and I am in awe everytime I see it. Sushi Bar = great place to sit and eat. The chefs know what's fresh and they aren't afraid to tell you when something else is better. Recommendations have always been stellar. Sake = YUMM-o (squared). Great selection. Even better is that the bartenders and servers really know the menu inside and out. If you tell them the general type of sake you enjoy, they will recommend something fantastic, guaranteed. Servers = very attentive and knew when to leave you be. All in all, great place for dinner. 4 stars for value. 5 stars for ambiance. 5 stars for service. 4 stars for the yuppies that like to hang out there and crowd the bar. Thanks Ozumo! I shall be back!
(4)
Ol' L.

Came here for dinner. We might of ordered all the wrong things, but not worth the money you're paying for.
(2)
Jo R.

AWESOOOMMMMME! Me and the GF went out for dinner as a Christmas gift to me, which was very nice indeedy! I don't know where to start w/ the compliments... big factor is that it's been a few weeks since we ate there so I gotta bring it back from memory. So we arrive promptly for our reservation and we are walked over to our table, in the corner, which was nice and cozy :) Then we are greeted by the manager (which was a surprise), then he informed us that we had the option of creating a tasting menu according to our tastes (which again was a surprise). We had about 6 or 7 different dishes, each different from the one before, and each just as exquisite. I've eaten at many Japanese joints, and this place definitely set itself apart. Our server, who is awesome at her job, came to our table and talked w/ us about our tasting menu. She gathered our dislikes, which was basically the GF's dislikes, since I'll eat practically anything as long its dead and fresh! :) First came the very good edamame. It came out warm (surprise!) and in two different plates w/ two different flavors. The first flavor was plain, as usual, and the other dish had the bean pods marinated in garlic and soy sauce, damn I enjoyed suckin' on the skins more than eatin' the beans themselves. Then came the next dish, which I believe was the "Hanabi", basically Hamachi and avocado slices in a sour soy sauce, topped w/ cherry tomatoes, bean sprouts, and something else... it was EX-CE-LL-ENT! The GF does not like raw fish, but this time, it was a goodtogo! It had a sweet and tangy flavor, as well as still retaining its Hamachi flavor. The sauce was just right and did not drown out the fresh taste of the sashimi. Then our server brought out a small plate w/ roasted chili peppers to cleanse our pallet. Some of our peppers were spicy, which was fine by us! The next plate was... damn, cant remember! But it was HELLA good! I remember a dish that we did have. It was slices of "Washu" beef atop a slice of egg plant and cucumber, then it was topped with a sweet teriyaki steak sauce... mmmmmm.... excellleeennnttt. We were lovin' this dish let me tell you! (guess I just did...) The other plate was that of a baked fish... think it was butterfish or salmon, either way. We were wow'ed again! Prior, I believe we had two separate dishes of their signature rolls. Not sure what kinds, but they were very good, w/ fresh grade A ingredients. Then it was topped off w/ an awesome dessert! Think it was like a hibiscus ice cream on shortbread w/ a sweet sauce and fruits... BOMB! :) That was good food. Had a blast! Cant wait to go again. Now I must comment on our waiter/server. She was very attentive, charming, and knowledgeable in Japanese food and sake. She got the GF just right in the planning of our tasting menu. She also recommended just the right bottle of sake! That's how you get a tip peoples! We had a great time, even though we were going to go to 1300 Filmore because Ozumo informed us that they were not planning on opening after renovations on the day of our reservation... now they tell us, the day before. Anyways, everything worked out in the end indeedy! Nuff' said.
(5)
Terry A.

A few days later my friend Raj stopped me and remarked, "That was the BEST sushi and sashimi I ever had. I've been to "Nobu's," I've been to (etc.) and THAT WAS THE BEST SUSHI/SASHIMI I'VE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE." Raj has a pretty illustrious background so he ought to know. Then again, I am Japanese American from Hawaii and I ought to know and I do know and I concur that pretty much whatever Ozumo's serves, it's going to be stellar. Head Chef Mike worked the "Tabemasho" food event at the JCCCNC a few weeks previously and I had the opportunity to watch him work up close (Miyazaki Wagyu Beef ... no finer beef in the world). I noted his meticulous preparations and insistence that every bit that was going to be served was prepared perfectly, spiced perfectly and this was for a massive non-profit fund raising event with 3 other celebrity chefs. After an Uncle Mikey/Rat Pack sashay over at "Americana" I suggested we saunter over to Ozumo's since the festivities appeared to be in a lull at Americana. It was packed so our group situated at an outside table for drinks whilst awaiting a table inside. The MatreD was extremely courteous and Uncle Mikey and Colo went back to Americana because UM left his credit card there. At our table they noted that the drinks they were having outside were not delivered to the table but our waiter graciously replaced them with fresh ones "on me." We ordered indiscriminately. Our waiter made some scrumptious suggestions which we went with, adding some rolls, sashimi, the black cod which is de rigeur, more drinks, it was a Kettle One and Soda night for me ... EVERYTHING WAS EXCELLENT. You can't go wrong at OZUMO. A couple of platters of various nicely ripened fruit slices were delivered to our table with a elegant, clever lit device that kept the chocolate fondue dipping sauce at the perfect temperature for our salacious fruit chocolate fondue dipping ~ the perfect capper to another UM Gonzo Adventure. It's just like Japan. EVERYONE is really serious about doing the best they can do with the best ingredients that they can find on the market. Okay it's pricey but as mostly always: You get what you pay for. 5 stars Terry says.
(5)
Patrick C.

Been here many times and I must say that I do come back more so for the atmosphere...fun place! I'm not saying that the food isn't good or great, but it is overpriced for the atmosphere / location. Yeh...so why don't i give them this review a 4 star for their atmosphere, right? Their food? It's good...some great. Their fish is usually fresh...I only eat sashimi so when their toro, hamachi belly, ankimo, or salmon belly is fresh-fresh...it's great! Though I can get that at a lot of differ places around the city as well. I've tried their fusion plates which they are known for...their seared kobe beef is great! Everything else I had tried...I don't remember...so yeh... I will return to this place as it is a cool, fun place to go to. I will continue to drink here and continue to order their overpriced food where I can get at other sushi places around the city...just because.
(4)
Dawn F.

Recommended by a friend. I called last minute and was able to get a reservation at the sushi bar. Loved it! Great wine and superb sushi!
(4)
Colin L.

pricey but great... good happy hour too.
(4)
n m.

The service was personal without being overwhelming. Their suggestions were on point steering clear of traditional sushi towards the small mixed plates. The black cod was perfectly cooked and seasoned; some at our table said better than Nobu. The scallops and mushrooms were fresh and paired well. Our table looked out at the bay bridge. The Masumi Arabashiri Namasaki recommendation was a wonderful accompaniment. The desert though tasty did not keep with the progression of the meal and will be passed during our next visit.
(5)
Kathy S.

Their edamame was too salty and their sushi was warm. I have never had warm sushi, but it tasted wrong. Isn't it supposed to be served cold?? 3 stars because it was nice ambiance. Oh, and our waitress was a complete BITCH!!
(3)
Stephanie C.

I definitely loved the atmosphere at this place.. doesn't have banging music that blows your eardrums like Blowfish. Still very yuppie. We got to sit by the sake bar at the front o the restaurant. THey ahve these really cool seats there. They have a big selection of sake and even a girl promoting a brand of sake going around. Very expensive place... you're basically shelling out about $100 per person with food and sake there i'd assume.. food was yummy and they decorate it alll cute restaurant ambiance and decor is five stars would definitely come back with some work ppl
(4)
Boren S.

We usually stop here if we want sushi and I can say that I'm sort of a fan. Atmosphere is great it, very comtemporary and chic. As you walk in you are at the main floor which is also a bar where you can meet and socialize. Tables are usually in the back which you get a view of Embarcadero Street if I am correct. Food I can say is good and better than most Japanese restaurant. I usually try to stick with the rolls (dragon roll, spider roll, etc.) and my boyfriend loves their sashimi and nigiri style. Overall it's not bad but a little pricey.
(4)
Rodel B.

Contemporary, fresh and great bar
(3)
Anelya S.

Been there too many times constantly trying to discover why this place has high ratings. With my last night dinner there -- I realized that no matter how much you pay for your sushi here, it still just okay. Omakase, appetizers and fish quality overall does nothing spectacular to this place. Extensive sake menu and trendy designer atmosphere make it a fun place to have a dinner at.
(3)
Grace K.

Ozumo, Ozumo... When in doubt, I head over to Ozumo. For a good time - zoom zoom to Ozumo. The first time I ever went to Ozumo was with some good friends. We ordered martinis and beers - - sat in comfortable "booths" with nicely-cushioned benches, and had a ball. I love the atmosphere here in the front room - bar area. Since then, I've frequented Ozumo a lot, but never reviewed it because this place is, first and foremost, a restaurant. But, when wanting sushi, I always seem to end up somewhere else rather than coming here! I was finally able to order from their late-night menu a couple of months back - - and in all fairness, it was past midnight and perhaps not exemplary of their normal cuisine - - but the sushi was FAR from good. The sushi at Chaya next door is actually better, and theirs is nothin' to write home about either. So, this review is for the bar portion only - - I reserve my opinion on Ozumo food. Other times, we've gone here after dinner to finish off the night here w/ good drinks. Once, I walked in here to meet a man who, at that time, was "bigger than life" to me. Funny that this was only one of many, many nights at Ozumo before and since that night, but I recall that one moment... perhaps because he turned out to be such a dud, or perhaps because it's rare, but so enjoyable, to feel dreamy about someone, even if it's all based on bullshit or my imagination. One can't help what one's brain insists on recalling. And then, on other nights like last night, it's just a chill place for two girls to hang out and drink. Of course, by the time we got to Ozumo, Jacey was pretty well into a state of giddiness, mixed in with umpteen runs to the restroom - too funny. Guys found it adorable nonetheless - and it was good material for conversation. :-) Silly girl.... "Unni... you got me all ^&$%& up.... hee hee hee hee. Who's this guy? Oh hellooooooo hee hee hee!" So cute!! Or some guy will approach her and start talking, and she says, "Oh yeah, you're the one who was sitting here earlier... oh dear... no you're not. Unni, he's not, right? HEE HEE HEE". Oh, dear, indeed! Time to zoom zoom out of Ozumo, girlie.... hahaha!! Anyhow - - Ozumo's sake selection is impressive - and I think I've now had as much of the unfiltered Nigori sake here as I've had my dirty Martinis. They have valet up in front, always a good thing. Seating is very important in a lounge atmosphere, and Ozumo's seating is comfortable and inviting. Lighting is just dark enough to make you look good - haha, but light enough that there's nothing you miss either. Music is loud enough to get you in the mood, but never too loud that you can't hold a long conversation. Atmosphere here is just good. All that said - - I don't know what their business schedule is - - sometimes, last call feels really late, and other nights - - last call seems to come entirely too quickly!
(4)
Kevin K.

As a place for sushi, I want to love Ozumo but I just can't. This place is only two blocks from where I live so I have been many times. But I just never love the place. On the PLUS side: - The sushi is very good; sometimes amazingly good. And the selection is always good. - Good appetizer and dinner items. Mostly delicious. - It has a fun, trendy atmosphere and often has a fun vibe. Nice views depending on where you sit. - Good wine and sake list. - I go to sushi by myself fairly often and this is a good place to chat with other patrons. People are really friendly at the sushi bar. On the NEGATIVE side: - The prices are really insanely high. I am NOT a price sensitive consumer at all; especially with sushi. But my bill here has been more than I have paid for the finest, most exclusive sushi in Tokyo (including the bad exchange rate). And it can be twice as much as I pay for the best Omakasi in SF. The sake and wine is especially pricey. - Many (most) of the sushi chefs are not Japanese. Although they do a fine job preparing the sushi, it isn't the same thing as getting sushi from someone that apprenticed for years in Japan. - The sushi staff is pretty stand-offish. I like to have a conversation with the sushi chef. That has never happened for me here. - The rest of the staff can be just a bit full of themselves. They sometimes give the sense that their restaurant is "all it" and that you are lucky to be there. And overall, the place can be a bit more of a scene than I am looking for when I just want good food. - I don't like how the seats at the sushi bar are so low. I am 6 ft tall but the sushi bar feels too high. It makes sitting at the bar a bit uncomfortable. - The soy sauce is low sodium. You have to ask for regular soy sauce. Since low sodium soy sauce is really just watered down soy sauce, it doesn't work with sushi. Overall, this is a very good place but a very bad value. And, again, this is coming from someone that almost never pays attention to price.
(3)
Lauren J.

Just got back from lunch. Ordered an assortment of special rolls. Scallop roll was spicier than the spicy tuna roll. Too many rolls filled with the ground crab salad. Yech. Very frsh, good service, overpriced, campy. There are better and more authentic sushi places in the city, just fewer tourists reviewing them.
(3)
Darren I.

Expensive and not that good. I would rather go to Tsunami for the money.
(3)
Kayee I.

I loved everything about Ozumo: the location, the decor, the ambiance, the service, and the food ... oh the food. The restaurant was about 1.5 miles away from the hotel where I was staying, so a colleague and I walked it over to the restaurant. It was a beautiful night for a walk. We met up with the rest of our party of seven for our reservation and were promptly seated at the back of the restaurant even though it was really busy for a Wednesday night anywhere. The restaurant is located right off The Embarcardero, so from where we were seated, we could see the bay. The exterior of the restaurant is so trendy that I thought I'd be under-dressed (wearing jeans and a t-shirt) because it felt like I was walking into a club. The bar/lounge makes up the first half of the restaurant and the dining/sushi bar is in the back half of the restaurant. Both ends were full when we arrived. Some people in our party usually don't do sushi or raw foods, but all the dishes were so beautifully presented that they were willing to try almost everything. Our server was very knowledgeable about the food and gave us several great recommendations. We started off with drinks, a round of miso soups with tofu and wakame, and two different kinds of edamame soy beans (cold lightly salted and the other with a garlic-soy sauce). Then we moved into various small plates, trying a piece of everything: Hanabi (slices of hamachi and avocado drizzled with a warm ginger and jalapeno ponzu sauce), Futago (grilled Washu beef, sauteed garlic spinach and Japanese eggplant served with miso sesame sauce), Gyu Filet (grilled angus filet mignon sliced and served with shiitake mushrooms and arima sansho sauce), Ozumo roll (grilled unagi and cucumber roll topped with snow crab, tuna, avocado and spice sauce), Sekiwake roll (spicy tuna roll with cucumber and tempura flakes, wrapped in salmon and hamachi), and the Spider roll (tempura soft shell crab, tobiko, kaiware and cucumber) among other items. Everything was wonderful. For dessert, we shared the dark chocolate pot de creme in a sesame Florentine cup, a light and fluffy cream puff dessert and also a chocolate fondue with Japanese-style pastries with a fresh and edible hibiscus flower. All were delicious. I also understand that if you go to the restroom, you get to learn Japanese phrases played over the speakers. In the women's restroom, my colleagues were trying to learn how to say "Have you seen my husband?" In the men's restroom, "My wife is looking for me." Both of which we thought was pretty hilarious but makes dining at Ozumo a little more memorable.
(5)
Maureen B.

Those stars are for the food and the people. Another biased review, but the food actually is really good and they have a pretty extensive sake list. It doesn't hurt to know the managers and staff because the restaurant gets pretty crazy hectic on Fridays (and probably every other day of the week). I don't know if they still don't have an air conditioner, but a $7 million restaurant should have one...because no one likes a stuffy lounge/restaurant. Good for financial district lunch. Try the kaiso seaweed salad for a different salad. Their fish is very fresh and pretty much melts in your mouth. Go ahead...try it. (But they're pretty pricey too...$6 for green tea!?)
(3)
Janney B.

Ways Ozumo is similar to my first date in high-school: They were both hands-on: The boy a decade ago tried to grope me and got denied. Ozumo had two people that swarmed us from the moment we entered and immediately began showing us the available places we could sit. I didn't know what I was getting into: Fortunately, Ozumo wasn't a boy with acne and wandering hands. This place has a great atmosphere. Professional and classy, but not too uptight. They were both dim: Bad thing for the dumb teenager in the late '90s, good thing for Ozumo. I look way better in low-lighting. Reservations are suggested: Even the boy in high school knew that my time is precious and you need to schedule in advance. I went here on a Tuesday evening sans reservations and the earliest they could fit us in was 8:45. (Good to know people go out on Tuesday. Apparently they aren't all like me, rushing home after work to sit in sweats, eat ice cream, and watch The Biggest Loser) Since it was booked, we opted to be seated by the door, which encouraged people- watching. Normally, I try to refrain from gawking, but the crowd at Ozumo was almost begging to be watched. Far be it from me to make beautiful people feel ungawkworthy. I'm such a giver. I enjoyed the food: Now, eating at Ozumo is a little fancier than sharing the sampler at Denny's, but I'm pretty sure everyone but my younger brother will agree with that. Our dinner: The kobe beef entre was delicious paired with cabernet. The cod was flakey (just like my date in high school) and incredible. We also shared a tempura shrimp roll and a California roll. I didn't pay for either of them: In high-school, my mom picked up the tab (God bless that woman for feeding my batter-addiction) and last night, my friend picked it up (God bless that man for spending on a meal, what I spend on three months of groceries). One difference between Ozumo and my high-school date: I'll see Ozumo again.
(4)
Tim L.

Ate here for dinner once and the food was completely overpriced. Was the sashmi fresh? Yup. Was it Tsukiji quality that would demand such prices? Nooooope. Service was okay: our waitress was pretty but like... uh.. kinda, helluva, OMG!, young and not very knowledgeable. So what do I come here for? Yeah, you guessed it. Drinks. Gotta say the bar area is pretty nice. Come here to have some drinks and hang out. However, if you "break the seal", expect to have dumb Japanese lessons while visiting the can!!
(3)
Mark W.

Been wanting to come here since it was featured on Travel Networks "Top 10 Bathrooms" in the world. But when I came that is not the first place I visited. I waited until the end of our little Happy Hour experience. The Staff was very friendly. As soon as we walked in, we asked about the Happy Hour. It was about 5:50p and it ended at 6pm so she said it ends soon but just as long as you get your orders in by 6pm, you are good to go. So we found a seat and when we asked one of the bussers, he said he thought it ended but the waitress swooped right in and handed us a Happy Hour Menu. Not the best Happy Hour Prices but the lounge is comfortable and this would be considered a higher class spot so no complaints. She actually even came by around 6:15p and told us Happy Hour was wrapping up and asked us if we wanted anything else. Now, I thought that was really cool. So they had 3 sushi rolls to choose from in terms of food at $5 a pop. We had the Spicy Tuna and the California Roll. Not too bad. And then they had 2 types of Sake, also for $5 a pop. And then a list of beers for $4 a pop. All in all, we spent $35 out the door for Happy Hour for 2. Again, not the normal "Happy Hour" but a comfortable spot to have good conversation. But one thing I did notice as we were wrapping up our Happy Hour and on our way to that Famous bathroom of theirs, they had an open kitchen and whatever they were cooking smelled really, really good. Smelled like some beef but just smelling it, I could tell that it would be tastin' good so I definitely have to be back for dinner at some point. Oh, and by the way, the restroom was not all that... I knew from the show that it taught you Japanese but I thought it was at least nicer looking. Just a standard bathroom. Nothing special at all. I should charge Travel Network with False Advertising.. LOL.... HAPPY HOUR DEETS: (Until 6p) $5 Sushi Rolls $5 Sake $4 Beers
(4)
Tai N.

I experienced an unspeakable crime against sea bass here. Even the waitress seemed sorry about it. Out of the blue she told us the next time we wanted a nice dinner we should try Manresa. I would suggest you do the same.
(2)
C R.

VERY.....disappointing service at the bar....please change out the female server that was there on Thursday night at the bar..... Totally ruined my evening.... Very mean person blames everything that goes wrong on the kitchen... I'm done going here, I don't need this kind of frustration!!!!
(1)
Faith I.

I like this place only because. I like this place because; I can enjoy beautiful view of the Bay Bridge. Sushi can be a very authentic. If I sat on the counter table I can talk to Japanese sushi chef by Japanese. I love Hamachi Kama (Yellow tail cheek; most soft part of this fish.) and all other exotic sushi neta hard get else where. Sometime I don't like this place because; The sushi chef try to nice to me gave me piece of roll call "Syacho" was too spicy!!!! It was ruin everything I taste goodies. Also I don't like the little chubby bleached blond Hostess not try to let me sat at the main sushi bar. She try to convince the hall way corner sushi bar seat is better, because can view the out side more. However way of she said is little bit rude. She make me feel stupid in the way. But still OK. It was miner cat fight. Overall this place is food is good. But since I am master of the cheaper food seeker price is bit too high. That why I gave the 3 stars.
(3)
Elaine C.

The location is great. Service was wonderful. I'm such a sushi snob - but I can't give my 4 or 5 star rating yet as I need to go again and get the RAW stuff. Give me about 4 months though...I need to have this baby. Anywho, what I did have that was seared or cooked...was okay. It was good but it was the same caliber as Katsuya or just a nice, upscale Japanese restaurant.
(3)
Lauren B.

My awesome friend, Kim, took me here for my birthday. She is very awesome, as are the food and the prices (awesome meaning I am in awe of how much they charge). Kim and I hadn't seen each other in about 2 years, so we didn't do much people watching, but the view of the bridge was lovely and the restaurant itself is very sleek and classy. The service was close to impeccable. Though our server steered us pretty assertively toward certain dishes, we were not disappointed with those of her recommendations we ordered. Specifics: Sake flight: 3 sakes served rather generously. It was more than enough for us to share but we're not huge drinkers. Hanabi: Hamachi and avocado in heavenly sauce that makes one want to lick the plate. For the record, I did not. Listen to your server when s/he recommends it. Two orders of sashimi: Toro -- OMG -- this was melt in your mouth magnificence. We are polite and deferred to each other for the fifth piece. Kim's awesomeness continued when she let me have it. Hirame -- excellent, as well. Not only that, it was sculpted into a flower that was very pretty. Not too pretty to eat, but pretty nonetheless. We also had this amazing salmon off the robata grill. Very simple, grilled in miso, I believe. Two rolls: the Ozumo (unagi with crab and other good stuff) and the Sekiwake (spicy tuna, tempura flakes, salmon and hamachi). Delicious, both. So, we were that kind of full that's not a painful, bloaty, sort of sick-feeling kind of full. We were happy full. And we were celebrating my birthday (still, a month later. I've really milked this one.) so we had a nice green tea ice cream with hot chocolate sauce. One last awesome for Kim, as she barely cringed at the bill that I could not even pretend to offer to split. I look forward to coming back when she or anyone else is paying. It is fabulous. Let me know if you'd like a charming, witty and oh-so-grateful dinner guest. [Good, yet dangerous, news: Ozumo is opening a restaurant in downtown Oakland. Eek.]
(5)
Alli J.

This was a treat, I went here with a friend and Katy Perry was sitting at the table behind us. My friend and I sat at the bar. Great for people watching and toe tapping. Have a DJ against the back wall. Really sets a fun, clubby ambiance without being too intense. Bartender was a totally chatty cathy... something I usually appreciate. EXCEPT for when he acts like a Subject Matter Expert on subjects he's not too versed in. Obviously the bartender bothered me a little bit. The manager was very nice. I noticed how he was observing the guests making sure that everyone was satisfied. I can appreciate that a lot. Atmosphere is great. Wine selection: fun Food: meh I don't think people for there for the food. The rolls were on the small side and the rice was really dry. Don't go here for stand-still sushi. Go here to people watch, get dolled up, and hang out.
(3)
Carl L.

Food was so good! Service was top notch as usual.
(5)
Merci V.

This review is for Noontime Noodles. I had their Sapporo ramen, which was fine. 2.5 or maybe 3 stars for flavor and broth. The pork was great and the real crab was a nice touch but their broth was really lacking. Ramen is all about the broth for me. The serving is on the small side, especially for $12. If your appetite is bigger than mine was today (did you work out today? did you skip breakfast? are you a man?) then it will not be enough food for you. The edamame was overcooked. They lose a star for service. My check was wrong - charging me $15 for a bowl of ramen. If I was a less forward person I probably would not have said anything, but as it was I had to find my server and ask her about it. She apologized, obviously, but charging $15 for a bowl of ramen is both highway robbery AND ridiculous when every single table has a sign advertising the $10.95 lunch specials.
(2)
colleen w.

Delicious, stylish, impeccable. It's a terrific choice for a date or for just hanging out around the bar enjoying their sake flights.
(5)
Hillary H.

Ive been here a few times and each time I am truly amazed. I visited this weekend, for drinks with a friend and ended up having a full on meal. We sat at the bar and were served right away. We had a pretty bartender by the name of Kalia who was very attentive and suggestive to different sakes and martinis.(Bartender Matt was also knowledgeable of Sakes) The drinks were delightful, and the food was delicious. I highly suggest the garlic edamame as an appetizer.(Yes they are garlic, but very non-threatening to your breath) Each time Ive eaten here, I have been pleasantly suprised. The view is incredible with upbeat music going on in the background.
(4)
Debbie E.

Great atmosphere, large place. More than likely needs reservations but we walked in at 11:30 right when they were open and was able get seated. Sushi and rolls about average. Good service. Overpriced. but I was on an expensive account so it didn't matter too much. Lots of business people, even sitting at the main bar and sushi bar eating. Lots of business people having drinks at lunch. And we're not talking about a simple beer or glass of wine. Martinis, sake, highballs. Listen in the bathrooms to the Japanese lesson you're given, in place of playing nice, soothing music.
(3)
ãƒˆãƒ¢ T.

Updated February 2007: $6 for green tea!!!!!! I initially had Ozumo at 4 Stars, but I'm dropping them to One STAR after being charged $6 for a order of Ocha (green tea). I asked for green tea, assuming it would be free (our waitress did NOT tell me it would be at a charge). I started to get worried when each person that asked for tea got their own pot (very nice looking iron pot). When the bill came, I was shocked that they charged $6. Can you imagine if a sushi restaurant in Japan charged money for 'agari' (hot tea)? If you are not familiar with Japanese food culture, you might be thinking, 'why is Toro E. getting so upset about this?' For me, charging $$$ for green tea at a sushi restaurant is a crime!!! It's not right. Note that I got this $6 tea treatment during lunch at Ozumo. I could have had a full meat at The Taco Truck for $6!!!! ----------------------------- I just learned that the name Ozumo is actually written in Kanji as O-O-Zu-MO, which means Big Sumo. Which means you need to pronounce it with a long 'O', like OOOZumo. My math for Ozumo: + 1 Star for amazing interior design. + 1 Star for fresh seafood, including sushi. + 1 Star for excellent appetizer --- try their Hanabi. + 1 Star for proximity to my home. + 1 Star for offering Kirin and Sapporo beer on draft. - 1 Star for portion size. ----------------------------------------------- 4 Stars Total I expected that a nice restaurant like Ozumo would charge high prices on their meals, but most of their menu items were below $20, perhaps to provide a perception that prices are reasonable. You quickly find out that a $20 doesn't get you much as their portions are extremely small, so you end up getting a bunch of other things. I know that fresh-quality food isn't cheap, so I just wished they would give you more food and have the prices on the menu reflect that. LUNCH: Although it's pricier than lunch at places in Rincon Center, lunch deals at Ozumo is much more reasonably priced than their dinner. Many items are $12-15 range with some around $20. Their three course pre-fixe lunch is $22. Kurosawa bento ($19) came in a box with 5 compartments which included sushi and sashimi. Their vegetable curry don ($13) was quite unique (which doesn't mean good) with yellow colored rice with mild curry with lots of vegetables. I could see some people liking it, but it won't be ranked high in my top Japanese Curry List. Tonkatsu Bento ($15) came with pork, which was on the thin side, with higiki, boiled veggi, salad, and for some reason, edamame.
(1)
Vickie T.

It's a very nice restaurant for sushi and sashimi. The sushi bar has amazing chefs that would chat with you and make recommendations for your dinner. However, like most sushi restaurants in the city, it does not open on Saturday noon for luncheons.
(4)
Marianne S.

What an incredibly lovely experience we had here last night. My mom gave my partner a gift certificate for his birthday, and we were excited at first - but then we viewed the menu and thought - this won't go very far! We tend to avoid places that are as expensive as Ozumo, since we have spent quite a bit in the past at some similarly-priced restaurants and been very disappointed with the quality, atmosphere and service. We avoided using the card as long as possible, fearing that "the experience" would be awkward for us, pretentious, unpleasant. However, Ozumo is worth every penny, for all of those things. We had one of the most enjoyable and delicious meals I can remember! We arrived about fifteen minutes early for our reservation, but were seated immediately at a little table away from noise and bustle. Our hostess was friendly, warm and very sweet - complimented me on my bright pink purse! Our wonderful server, Riley, guided us expertly to the perfect choices, both for our tastes and our budget. We are hamachi lovers (although I think this will be the last time we eat this tender, buttery, but highly endangered fish - a perfect farewell) and Riley suggested the Tsukasabotan "Fu-In" Ginjo. The crisp, dry cold sake with green apple notes paired beautifully with the succulent fish. We began with some truly outstanding miso soup, and after that had the hanabi small plate - hamachi with slices of perfectly ripe avocado and cherry tomatoes in a warm ginger and jalapeno ponzo sauce. It was so delicious, if we had been at home I would have gotten a spoon to finish it! Next, we had veggie tempura. It was perfectly executed, and included (I think!) a slice of lotus root, which was incredibly delicious with a crisp yet creamy texture. This was garnished with a beautiful and very yummy spray of crispy tempura-battered and fried vermicelli - delicate and rich. This was followed by a big plate of hamachi nigiri and an order of perfectly fresh ikura. As I mentioned before, paired with the Fu-In, a very memorable experience. We decided to complete our feast with dessert. Riley brought a menu with some very compelling choices of confections and dessert sake. We decided on the chocosan, a slice of warm flourless chocolate cake topped with matcha ice cream and shaved chocolate and surrounded by tiny mochis, and at first selected a dessert sake to share that was described as having qualities of "strawberries and cream". However, Riley guided us to a sake (Harushika "Tokimeki") that was actually my favorite part of the meal - it was like the juice of some rare exotic fruit, at once earthy and ethereal, sparkling, lightly sweet, guava and lychee and fresh coconut water. Imagine our surprise when Riley brought *two* desserts - the chocosan we had ordered, and a wonderful "sundae" of bananas with carmelized sugar topped with ginger ice cream and accompanied by freshly-baked little shortbread cookies! (I did mention that it was a birthday celebration, now that I think of it - but what a cupcake!) Both desserts were so delicious, and it was so much fun to have the contrasting flavors and textures. My partner and I were absolutely beaming at the end of the meal. Throughout it, many different people came by to swiftly remove empty plates and fill our water glasses (just one man did that - such a sweet man!) The restaurant itself is very beautiful, but might have seemed too imposing if not for the graciousness and warmth of the staff. We are so grateful for this lovely meal. This is a place Iwe will save up for and return to again and again.
(5)
Candy T.

#NAME?
(3)
John S.

This used to be one of my favorite restaurants to visit whenever I'm in San Francisco. Haven't been to the restaurant in over six years. Dined there last night and was a bit disappointed. It still has a great atmosphere--particularly the bar area. I had great memories of eating rolls whenever I would visit---but the quality was definitely sub-par to my past experience. Maybe just went on a bad day--but wasn't all that impressed this time. The scallops we ordered this time was good though. Might give it one more shot since I'm in San Fran another week---Hopefully, there will be an improvement.
(3)
Sheila D.

Ozumo is one of my favorite places... It is expensive - especially cause it is so hard to resist the specials the servers recommend. I came her with a group of 4, we had a couple bottles of wine and it was well over $100 per person. The black cod dish is freaking amazing. The sushi is fabulously fresh, tasty with excellent presentation. How about the atmosphere? I prefer the bar area, I'm a big fan of the dim lighting, modern Asian decor, lotsa "pretty people" and comfy chairs to lounge in. The dining room is a bit too bright in my opinion. Definitely a place to go for special occasions.
(4)
Siu L.

I dislike to throw in 3 stars among a sea of 4 and 5 stars, but I have to be honest about experience and expectations. The decor/ambience of the restaurant is very hip and swanky, suitable for a drink date, dinner date, or business dinner. For us, we walked in on a Saturday night with one expectation - to be rocked by West Coast sushi and sashimi. My husband and I are seasoned sushi eaters and usually go for omakase at reputable eateries regardless of price. In this case, we have to report that we were not in love with the moriawase. The server asked if we wished for quantity or quality, and we chose quality. The items that came out on the plate, not piece by piece even though we were sitting at the bar and it was not busy by the way, were not higher quality cuts nor presented and seasoned for a knowing palate. We got the young chef the first time. When we ordered more pieces, we got the older chef, who took the time to season and present the pieces, and those tasted better. Perhaps, to the Chef or server's eyes, we did not look experienced so they thought to throw us the lesser cuts and put less effort to serving it until the older guy heard us whisper to each other? This is the touristy area of SF and also home of many "techno-riche", please do not underestimate someone for wearing t-shirt and jeans, so long as they act politely. The couple next to us were in cocktail attire but didn't know their aji from their ebi, so remember that looks do not tell you about a diner's palate nor experience. We finished with the chocolate cake and green tea ice cream, which was delicious and beautifully presented. As a nice bonus, we received an extra scoop of green tea ice cream for staying at the Harbor Court hotel next door. It was a nice sized dessert for my husband and I to share. Will we return to this restaurant? Perhaps after we hear that they have a better source for their seafood or they receive more raving reviews for their sushi/sashimi from experienced eaters. Weird thing is that our Uber driver said he stayed in Osaka for 2 years and loved Ozumo's sushi and there are plenty of reviews on here that praise their sushi and sashimi. Next time, I will try to get rezzies at a sushi spot known for their omakase or take an Uber to Ichi. Thank you for the excellent FOH customer service, beautiful decor, and yummy dessert.
(3)
Nic O.

This is a high class style of place, I'm from out of state and a local recommended it. Super easy to find, right next to the beautiful sites 2 mile walk from fisherman's wharf. I felt a little under dressed for sure! I felt like I got good service and knowledgable about sushi. It was hard to read the menus because it's uses the Japanese terms for fish.... I'd go back - and bring a bigger wallet and nicer clothes
(5)
Kim T.

A nice restaurant, but seriously lackluster and overpriced food. Service is slow, no hand towels in the bathroom, fish didn't taste very fresh.
(2)
David T.

Ozumo is an up market, americanized sushi restaurant It has nice ambiance. The service was good and the food delicious and attractively presented..
(4)
Ipsita B.

Found it disappointing for the price and hype. Bland bento bowls. Desserts were incredible.
(3)
Amanda C.

I just wanted to give an update, even though I can't give half stars, this is close to 5 stars! I had dinner for the first time here the other evening with my two bosses & coworker. We ordered a bunch of stuff to try from. We started with the garlic edamame and Hanachi which were delicious! The garlic edamame was flavorful and it just made me want to keep the entire shell of the peas in my mouth until I have sucked off all the flavor. We also had the Tuna Tartare which lacked a bit of flavor; bland - but it went well with the flavorful garlic edamame so it was a good balance. We also ordered oysters which were 6 small ones for $20. They didn't taste fresh, were small, and we only had a slice of lemon - which wasn't enough and wont be ordering that again. We also ordered two rolls - Bucho which was avocado with shrimp tempura & crab, which was not bad but nothing I haven't tasted before. Also had the lobster roll which was super unique aesthetically and tasted awesome - the lobster was fresh and soft along with the tuna, tobiko and the sauce to dip in. Too bad there's only 4 pieces. We also ordered the fish of the day which had the fish fried with the fish meat and bones separated. It came with mushrooms and BACON - which made every bite of the fish that much more awesome with some bacon alongside it. I thought the fish lacked flavor as well, but the bacon made up for it. We also had tuna nigiri which melted in our mouths. But my ultimate favorite dishes came at the very end of the meal - the A5 Waygu beef and Green Tea Panna Cotta dessert! The beef is the most amazing piece of beef I have ever tasted (since this is my first A5 beef too so I dont know if that's saying much). The beef was a really small slice, and between 4 people, we only had about 2 pieces each. The beef was so soft and not chewy like meat usually is. We bit down and it just melts in your mouth! The truffle sea salt and the matcha powder on the beef were AH-MAZING! The beef made my night! To top that off, we had the green tea dessert, which was like a green tea flavored flan. It was super delicate and soft, but not too sweet so I enjoyed every bite. I cleared my plate! The chewy nut part on the side (sort of like a peanut brittle) was my least favorite in the dessert since it stuck to my teeth when I chewed it, but it was one of highlights to this meal. Definitely want to come back for that beef :)
(4)
Mary N.

I went here for a team lunch on a Friday. It was extremely packed, but luckily we called ahead and got a table for 6. The hostess was very friendly and accommodating. The place itself is very loud and dimly lit. The service left something to be desired. We arrived at 12:15pm, seated by 12:25, ordered placed by 12:45... food out by 1:20pm. I get that it's a busy restaurant, but it seemed like we did a lot of waiting around. It also felt like we were kind of forgotten about as the waiters and waitresses would just pass on by. The food itself was pretty good. Each of us got a bowl of ramen. I tried the Ozumo ramen, which is a pork and seafood broth with egg noodles, fish, fish cake, bamboo. I also added an egg. The broth was quite delicious, everything else was very standard. Not bad at all. The ramen was $17 (plus some extra for the egg, I think). Overall, I don't regret it, but I would think twice before picking this place.
(3)
Archie G.

The company I worked for in 2006 held the company holiday party here. Well, it turned out to be an awesome choice. The restaurant is has a fabulous location. It's a good area and cabs are plentiful if you happen to have a little too much sake. The interior of the restaurants is gorgeous. In my drunken haze, I remember a lot of browns and the bathroom was very clean. As for the food, the sushi was stellar. It was so good that it sparked up more interest in sushi for me. Now I am a huge fan. The chefs here made me a believer. I need to come back. Soon.
(4)
Maria C.

Been here many times and it was always good. This time it was extra good. Service and food combined - a winner. Of course the cod is just to die for and Hanabi and Akebono so delicious. Great night with great views too . Just loved it.
(5)
P D.

Ahhhhmazzzinggg ! We will be back soon.
(5)
Brian S.

Sushi was very good. Also the atmosphere was superb.
(5)
Robyn Y.

My family, boyfriend and I attempted to dine at Ozumo this weekend, but our hopes were dashed by a snooty hostess and conflicting instructions. We arrived a little before 9pm on Saturday and were met by the doorman who was very nice - he greeted us, handed over a menu, and everything looked great. After entering we were told by the hostess that part of the restaruant was reserved, but we would be able to find seating in the bar area where it was "first come, first serve". A few laps around the bar quickly revealed that nothing would be available for a while, but then my parents spotted some open seats at a sushi bar just a few feet from the main bar. Not sure if these were part of the reserved area, my father and boyfriend walked over to the seats and flagged down a waitress to ask her if we could sit there while I continued to look for seating around the bar. The waitress went off to talk with the hostess, then the hostess tracked me down at the bar to say "only the bar/lounge is available right now" before turning heel and walking away. How were my boyfriend and dad supposed to know that: a) The sushi bar is not a part of the lounge b) Four empty seats set for guests would not be open to us? I finally found a table in the stuffy bar/lounge and sat down. Unfortunately, it is so dark that I couldn't see the "reserved" sign on on the table and a waitress informs me the table is taken; I get up wondering what happened to "first come, first serve"? Meanwhile, no one on the staff has gone to tell me dad and boyfriend that they cannot sit at the sushi bar and they are still standing by open seats waiting for a response. At that point I had enough, as I grabbed them to leave the restaurant I was again confronted by a now very agitated, sour-faced hostess, "only the bar/lounge is available right now," and she walks away again. They say one bad apple can ruin the bunch and Oaumo's sour hostess definitely ruined any chance of us returning there. If rude staff and cramped bars are your thing, Ozumo is for you ... otherwise: Stay Away!
(1)
Thomas C.

I was attending a wedding across the street at Yang Sing and on the corner of my eye I caught a glimpse of Ozumo. Curious and eager to try this place out, I patiently waited for it's doors to open. When I walked in, the lounge area was dark and had a combination of natural wood and slate feel. Very modern, sleek, and inviting for conversations. The bartender was very friendly and offered a few seasonal drinks and suggestions. I am a tequila person, however I was okay with stepping out of my comfort zone. The drinks came in a martini glass which I prefer in a tall glass instead, much more manlier lol. Can't remember the name of the drink but it was the only spicy one they made that day. The drink was complex and felt like a roller coaster of flavor seas rushing around my taste buds. On the other side of the room and up a few steps was the dining area with a grand sushi bar. It was artfully decorated with empty saki bottles... The was an actual private room separated by walls of saki bottle. I will return soon and see what the corner of my eye catches inside this establishment, cheers!
(4)
Kayla M.

Being in San Francisco, we pulled up Sushi restaurants on our Yelp app and came up with over 52 restaurants within 10 miles of us... holy cow! We asked the conceirge for their suggestion and they recommended Ozumo. It was only rated 3 1/2 stars so I was a little leery but we trusted them. We asked them to make a reservation for us and heavily tipped the concierge - ended up being totally worth it because after a 15 minute wait we were given the 'private' glass room in the middle of the restaurant! Super cool! Glass walls of floor to ceiling shelving filled with sake! We looked and felt VIP all the way! We had a group of 6 so we ordered and ate family style - everyone sharing with everyone. Our waiter was super nice giving us plenty of suggestions. Every single thing we ate seemed to be better than the last. Our taste buds were begging for more. We even ended up reordering one dish and adding 2 more rolls and 2 more orders of sashimi before we could call it quits. Here's what we tried: Edamame - fresh soybeans served warm with garlic-soy (2 orders) Yamabuki - fresh uni and shimeji mushroom genmai risotto Ozumo - grilled unagi and cucumber roll topped with snow crab, tuna, avocado and spicy sauce Sekiwake - spicy tuna roll with tobiko, tempura flakes, salmon and hamachi with peanut sauce Hamachi Maki - hamachi, avocado, cucumber, tempura flakes, jalapeÃ±o, roasted garlic miso sauce Hanabi - hamachi, avocado, warm ginger-jalapeÃ±o ponzu (3 orders of this!!) Spicy Tuna Roll Gyu Kakuni - Slow braised prime short ribs, spring vegetables, savory aka miso sauce By far our favorites were the the Hanabi, the Ozumo and the Gyu Kakuni (the ribs). We didn't try any of their sake but they had a HUGE selection, the menu was pages and pages and the bottles surrounded us! We loved the royal treatment here, and the food was truly amazing! It was pretty pricey, but usually is for quality sushi at an upscale restaurant. I would eat here again in a heartbeat.
(4)
B B.

"Ishimasay!" I heard that frickin word ALL night! We sat by the open kitchen. Every time new patrons walked in, the entire kitchen staff would greet them with "Ishimasay!" Two more guys in unison "Eee-Shi-Ma-Saay!" It went on ALL night! I mean, if you're trying to say "Irashaimase," pretty please say it right. Better yet, spend some time in the frickin' bathroom and learn Japanese! I'm not kidding. Go to their bathroom. You can learn some Nihongo up in there! (I'm not Japanese but my bf and his mom are. And I'm sure they were just as annoyed as I was. Next time, we'll sit somewhere AWAY from the kitchen.) This place is expensive. I guess you're paying for the trendy atmosphere and the view of the bay?? Can you believe their California roll is $9?! I couldn't either. Their portions are also very small. I was expecting their small dishes to blow my mind away (like Kappou Gomi) but it didn't. And where are all the Asian folks at?! They had a sushi omakase dinner for around $45-$50. I wanted to order it but I wasn't sure how many pieces it would come with. I was afraid I would only get 5-8 pieces. They also had a 6 or 7 course omakase dinner for around $125. Maybe next time. I ordered a hamachi kama salad yelp.com/biz_photos/PNxwâ€¦ (it was one of their specials), a spider roll ($13), and Maku-uchi roll ($13). I also got to sample my boyfriend and his mom's dish. Their sushi wasn't all that. Ive definitely had better. My hamachi kama salad was really small. It was good but I wish they hooked me up with a bigger portion. The maku-uchi roll was pretty interesting. It was actually a negi-hama roll with jalapeno and some other stuff. It was accompanied with a tasty dipping sauce. We also ordered some nigiri and some other rolls. 3.5 stars rounded up. If you want to impress someone on a date, take them here. Don't forget to buy a gift card from Costco. yelp.com/biz/costco-wholâ€¦ They actually sell a $100 gift card for $80. Just sayin. Wish I knew about that gift card BEFORE we came here.
(4)
Kim A.

Loved this place. Great trendy but comfortable atmosphere. Menu was familiar sushi with creative twists. Sushi quality was very good.our service was outstanding. Good value, great meal.
(5)
Arin R.

Really impressive place, ended up eating here twice in one week. Food and sake are as good as it gets!
(5)
Sunny D.

Ozumo's is a trendy Japanese restaurant that specializes in Sushi. Situated near the Embarcadero, we had a table that gave a slight glimpse of the Bay Bridge. We ordered a few small items that got us pretty full fast: Ikakoromo: AKA fried calamari. Probably the best I've ever had. No scent or taste of fish. Better yet, the texture isn't like the usual rubbery crap you get at other restaurants. Dohyo: Think of it as a Japanese chip and dip plate where the chips are Gyoza chips and the dip is a Tuna Sashimi tartare. This dish gives you a good idea of how fresh the fish is. The tartare sits on avocado cream and tofu. The taste is wonderful when all 3 ingredients are eaten together with the chips. Kani Croquettes: Pretty much your standard fried crab cakes. You get a lot of crab and less filling which is what you should expect for its price. Nothing out of the ordinary, but still good. If you are looking for a trendy Sushi place near the water, this is it. Good food, good atmosphere. But be ready to pay above average prices for the food. The miso soup I got was $5! Not a distinct difference in taste between that and a $1.50 soup. Shrug.
(5)
Jordan V.

Wow this place is amazing. Started off at the bar (happy hour merlot is gross, but never met a merlot i got along with). We then moved to the sushi bar and had a great view of the water off the embarcadero watching the sun set. The shacho sushi roll (lobster, mango, jalapeno goodness wrapped in rice paper) is to DIE for, the most delicate flavorful roll I've ever had. The ozumo roll was delish as well. We sampled a few gingo sake's which were delightful, the unfiltered milky ones were the best. I would def ask for recommendations though because their sake menu is HUGE. Fun place, a little pricey, but an excellent date place or for taking someone from out of town.
(5)
Andrew M.

My buddy lost a bet a while back, and I collected by making him take me to Sushi. We threw out a few places, and settled on Ozumo since neither had been for a while, and the vibe is normally pretty solid. We had a few of the apps before diving into the sushi. One, a preparation of duck, was really bad to be perfectly honest. The other was forgettable. A few rolls came out as we were tearing through the first bottle of Sake. There rolls are just OK. The fish is always very nice, but I think they take understated too far on their rolls. If I just wanted to taste the fish I would just order sashimi/nigiri, so I'm expecting something more out of a roll. One bottle down, and we get into the real stuff and start ordering nigiri. Our server has ALL kinds of suggestions, and she is really selling them, so what the hell, we start ordering. Second bottle of sake arrives (neither too outrageous, both under $50, but those are the rarity on their menu), as does the nigiri. There were some absolutely amazing things. I cannot lie. From the unbelievable blue fin toro, to the outstanding scallops, spanish mackeral, and several other things I can't even remember that were amazing. It was really something else, some of the best cuts of fish I have had in the city. We were stuffed, and a little tipsy. It was an amazing dinner, something worth a solid rating. And then......the bill comes. **BAM** (Left hook to the body) **BAM** (Uppercut) $400+gratuity!!!! My g*d. Next time just roofie me if you are going to do me like that. It was the worst fleecing I've had in years (and I wasn't even paying!). I have no problem paying for a meal that price range if it is spectacular and I know what to expect, but this just came out of nowhere. We really felt taken advantage of on the "recommendations", I mean these are coming out 2 pieces at a time for crying out loud. Yes we should have asked price each time, but give me a friggen break, other than the Blue Fin Toro, what could have cost that much? Know what to expect if you are going to order their real fish. And ask the price of each recommendation. Just be prepared for an extremely expensive meal of sushi. My buddy, a true gentleman and scholar, still paid, but I felt so guilty I took him out to dinner the next night.......
(3)
Boriana G.

Ozumo is by far my favorite sushi restaurant in San Francisco. Besides delicious sushi and gorgeous decor it has one of the BEST bartenders in the world. Ladies and Gentelmen, let me introduce you to Marcos. His charming personality and superb mixology skills are the main reason why my friends and I have become addicted to Ozumo. If you are not sure which cocktail to order, worry no more! Marcos is there to mix something extraordinary special for you and you will be coming back for more :)
(5)
Billy B.

Best sushi ever. I go there all the time for happy hour, lunch or dinner, but had the pleasure of the private room this time. The service was a+ amazing. The sashimi choice and the the fish was unbelievable. There were so many textures, types of fish and choices to satisfy any craving. recommend for a casual dinner or client meeting.
(5)
Harvinder K.

I've had both good and bad experiences as Ozumo and that it why i gave it 3 stars Good: When I sit in the dining room, my experience is usually great- the staff is friendly and accommodating. They are always willing to substitute rolls and are open to custom rolls. However it can get a little pricey, really fast ( ~ $30 -40/person) Bad: Last time I sat at the bar/walk-in section. The staff (waitress) is not as friendly and much less accommodating - unwilling to customize rolls, because they are too 'lazy' to walk over to the chef and ask about customizing rolls. The decor is nice, and i am usually pleased with the quality.
(3)
M. S.

Excellent sushi. Very pricey.
(4)
Alexia A.

Simply, no. Had it not been for the company of my friends and the fact they were so accommodating in the reservation. It would go zero. Let's start off by having to take off my shoes to go into your little room. We're not Asian, and we should not have to take off our shoes. I do not eat ANYWHERE with my shoes off. Let me keep my damn shoes on, and I would have given you a star. In fact, I was so unhappy about this I wanted to move to a different spot, but that compromised our party privacy. The server, though nice, was including herself in our conversation. No, honey, you are there to serve us, not to party with us. Know your boundaries. Do not give your opinion about our conversation regarding lesbians adopting children. You are simply not invited into our conversation. For a bill over $500, the best thing might have been...wait, there was nothing to brag about! The sushi was average, the sashimi was flavorless, the $130 bottle of distilled sake didn't taste great, the steak's mustard was simply and flat out a confusion to my taste buds (why sell steak at a sushi restaurant, anyway?) We also had sparking sake, which was something I hadn't tried before, and chocolate fondue. I'm not even sure how Japanese this was, but at least they threw some mochi in there. Also, we ordered enough food, and she kept pushing for us to order more. We're not idiots. We know you want to sell. If we want to buy, we will speak up and order more. Overall, there are a million other not as expensive sushi restaurants in the city where you can have any roll and it melt in your mouth...and have a completely private conversation with just your friends minus your server joining in. Avoid. Edit: So, they decided to charge my card a different amount than what I authorized. Just what I needed. Paying more than I ever wanted to for sushi and on top of that getting charged a little more. This server needs a new profession asap!
(1)
ET C.

Japanese people believe that we eat food with five senses.Because of that, Japanese food does not only taste good but is also visually appealing. Japanese chefs like to express seasons with food-in Spring food resembles a cherry blossom for instance. I had a full Japanese cuisine experience at Ozumo-this is where food meets Zen on a daily basis. Appropriately enough, the restaurant itself was inspired by a Zen garden. I should also mention that this was the best Japanese food I had in San Francisco so far. I can't wait to go back.
(4)
Andy S.

One of the most reliable Japanese restaurants in the Bay Area. Sushi is always high-caliber, and there are always 'non-standard' options available (on my recent visit we had kinmedai and burri-toro- irregular on US sushi menus). The non-sushi selections are diverse and tasty as well, and their sake selection is as good as any around. The location is physically gorgeous, settled on the embarcadero with a great bridge view. Nice bar, great sushi bar, and a cute 'private room' enclosed with sake bottles. Near the top of my bay area sushi list, I will be back again and again for sure.
(4)
Tiffany K.

If everything on the menu was marked down about $5 - $10, I would give Ozumo more stars. Don't get me wrong, I don't mind paying more for food, but quality has to always match the price. The food is good here, but not worth the prices you're paying. But I guess this is on the Embarcadero in the SOMA, so what do you expect? Last night my boyfriend and I ended up at Ozumo. We tried going to Izakaya Sozai (I know, totally in a different area) but after finding out that their wait was at least an hour and half, we said screw it.. And drove back home and walked out to the Embarcadero. We decided on Ozumo since we were still in the mood for Japanese. The one great thing about this restaurant is the decor. When we were first waiting in the lounge for a table, I thought, "oh.. just another typical swanky/contemporary city spot." But once you walk in the restaurant, the vibe completely changes. The inside of the restaurant is reminiscent of a traditional Japanese restaurant, just modernized up (lots of light colored wood, the style of the furniture, etc). I also enjoyed the view of their Sake display - gorgeous display of Sake bottles and the inside of the display case is a private dining room! Hmms, I might want to come back in a group just to sit in that room, heh. When I went to the bathroom, I noticed they have sushi boat style seating in the back - another thing I thought was cool. This restaurant has versatile yet blending rooms. Anyways, on to the food... For dinner, we had: - Dohyo: (Spicy Tuna Tatare w/chips) This dish was ok - our server suggested it as her favorite appetizer but I thought it tasted like every other Tuna Tartare I ever had. eh. - Tontoro: (braised Kurobuta pork jowels) absolutely delish - this was my favorite dish here along with the Gindara. The fat was yuhhhhhmy - definitely recommend this dish if you visit. - Gindara: (Black cod) very good dish - the fat on the fish was so delicious, sauce was good, and cooked perfectly - definitely recommend ordering this dish alongside Tontoro. - Shacho Roll: (Maine Lobster roll) this roll was creative and good, but I thought it was a bit overpriced - the roll wasn't all that amazing, just good. - Spicy Tuna Nigiri: disappointing - rice was not fresh at all, and spicy tuna wasn't that tasty - Big Eye Tuna Sashimi: also disappointing - texture was kind of weird, was very gelatinous and okay tasting. i think it would have been better if they sliced it a little thinner. Overall, beautiful setting and some food options are great while others I would skip. From what we tried, I would definitely go with their cooked food options over their sushi - I rather go to a hole in the wall sushi joint that serves up fresh, great tasting sushi. Would I return? Yeah, maybe for the environment and the good food options - would be a nice place to take friends out for special occasions - just order the right dishes. Oh, lastly... I had their Shi-Mitsu drink - Shishito peppers w/ginger - delish! (also a bit overpriced, but nonetheless delish and creatively handcrafted)
(3)
Laurel A.

One of my favorite sushi spots. You can always tell the level of a sushi place by their hamachi nigiri. Ozumo's is consistently fresh, melt-in-your-mouth, top-grade quality. I'm also a huge fan of rolls, and theirs are inventive and always taste amazing. At other places I'm always a little hesitant to try random rolls off of the menu but, at Ozumo's, it's hard to go wrong. Always have had great service. Ambiance is great too. Expensive but - if you're wanting a treat - definitely worth it.
(5)
Hilarie L.

One of the best placest I've eaten at in my life, hands down. This place was D-E-L-I-C-I-O-U-S!!!! I went with a large group of 8, and my friend had connections so we ended up getting our own private room that was closed off from the rest of the restaurant. Since we were a large group, we decided to just make a bunch of orders and just pass everything around the table. MUST-GET'S: -Oysters -Seaweed Salad -Sashimi Platter -Rib-eye -Chocolate Fondue Fountain with Cake and Fruit for dessert Everything was amazing. Every last piece of sashimi I tried, whether it was tuna, salmon, whatever it was, every bit of it just melted in my mouth. The oysters... I don't even like shell fish that much, tried oysters before and thought they were gross, but these were out of this world!! I had 3 or 4 of them and would have had more if there were less that 8 people I had to share with haha. We ordered seaweed salad and the beet salad. The seaweed salad was absolutely delicious, but the beet salad was probably the only thing we had that I didn't like. But that's probably just because I don't like beets in general. We ordered a rib-eye steak and one other kind of steak but I don't remember which it was. Both were delicious, tender, juicy, full of flavor with amazing sauces to dip each slice into. To die for!!! We also ordered 2 sushi rolls, don't remember which they were but both were delicious and I'm a sushi lover, not the average person who orders a california roll and calls themselves "satisfied". It was good. The desserts just blew my mind even more, of course, by the time dessert came, I was already drunk off of the bottle of sake, and 2 bottles of rose that we had all downed. But I'm sure the desserts would have blown my sober mind as well. I mean, PEANUT BUTTER AND CHOCOLATE FUDGE MAN!!! I would literally kill just to eat here again. I have no idea how much our bill was, but I'm sure it's out of my price range. Best meal of my entire life.
(5)
John J.

This is probably my go to date spot for Sushi in the city. I go there again and again and it always delivers. You can basically pick any of the rolls and they're going to be good. The nigiri is also wonderful. They bring out the sushi in waves and it's generally pretty well timed so that you don't have too much at any point but you're never waiting to long. They have an extensive sake list and, depending on the waiter, do a great job walking you through the different kinds. Fun trick: If you show up without a reservation and they tell you that there's a wait, you can easily just log into opentable or yelp and make a reservation on the spot. I saved myself a 45 minute wait doing this.
(5)
JJ L.

Good sushi, but not as good as Akiko's. Prices are FAR too high for what you get in terms of the sushi and fish options. Feels like they are playing a joke on you. Great huge space with a fun ambiance. Some good lunch bento options and I liked the agedashi tofu quite a bit. In sum --- good place to have lunch if you are here for a business meeting, else skip.
(3)
Belito L.

Decor is cool and space is large, reminds me of New York. You have a number of areas to choose to sit: bar, communal table, private table in front, private table in back, sushi bar in back...Fish is fresh and buttery, but prices are high. I just moved to the area so I can understand why, everything is pricey here. But at least you get quality. The shima aji nigiri "melts in your mouth", but for $12 for 2 pieces, I hoped they were at least large pieces..but no they were tiny. They have a large selection of fine sakes too. Wish they had a couple less expensive sakes, I like good sake, but the cheapest glass was like $9 a glass, and they aren't large glasses (really good tho). The girl who served me was really cute too, always a plus +++ If money grew on my house plants, I would come here all the time, but it doesn't, so I'll be limited though it will be tempting so near by. ***I have to add something, when I went to the bathroom I couldn't help but bust into laughter. At first I was confused, I was hearing a Japanese voice in my head while I was peeing? But then I realized they had speakers in the bathroom and it was playing a translation/teaching type cd for learning Japanese. Pretty cool one I might add, no rosetta stone shit, this had some thievery corporation acid jazz type shit smoothly in the background. but that wasnt what was funny, it was the translations. it started off something like this "Hi, do you speak english?" "...(Japanese translation)" Ok simple and innocent enough, next "What is your occupation?" "...(Japanese translation)" whoa gettin kinda forward there "Married?" "...(Japanese translation)" uh..loll wot at that point i started laughing and started existing the bathroom but i coulda sworn the next translation was something about a hotel, so yea def not rosetta stone, I guess this was more like the "Learn 2 Pick up Japanese Chics on your Business Trip in 15 min" cd thing is, i could only imagine what they translate in the woman's bathroom. *I'd like to add in response to the comment. Thank you I did have a good experience. In reference to the prices, I definitely understand the high/variable price of shima aji from Japan. However what bothered me was more towards regular fish on the menu, for example sake nigiri being IIRC $8 for 2 pieces. At even some of the best sushi establishments they do not charge more than $6 for great sake nigiri. I understand this may be a price inflation as a result of the nice ambiance that Ozumo offers, but still it just doesn't feel right and I end up ordering less.
(4)
Sandy C.

Sukiyaki hot sake soup! I Sake to you will you sake to me?!?!?!?! OK, so that's not the proper opening to a five star joint, but I couldn't help myself! Located on the Embarcadero, on Steuart Street Restaurant Row, Ozumo's doors open into the hip trendy dimly lit bar featuring DJ's some of the best down tempo and contemporary DJ's. Just a few steps above lead to the main Robata dining room with large glass windows giving you perfect views of the waterfront and the breathtaking bay bridge. Between the main Robata dining room and the lounge, are two brilliant private dining room that are perfect for your corporate dinner when you want to impress your guests. The Japanese Style Kotatsu room and the Sake Room, a private dining room encased in glass with sake bottles that surround it. Both offer the perfect blend of Japanese and American dining experience. Ozumo has a reverence for old world Japanese cuisine and it shows. You'll find things here at Ozumo that you won't find at any other Japanese restaurant, like Sashimi Farm Raised Tuna. It's so delicate and rare, unlike anything you've had before. Did I tell you, that you can only get it here? My old favorite here was the steak and lobster Japanese style tartar (no longer on the menu), but my new favorite is the Iron Hot Pot Sukiyaki with Washu Rib Eye Thinly sliced, tofu, shitake mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, cabbage and noodles. This is served in a hot sukiyaki broth over an small open flame and serves two. This a conversation piece for your large group or your intimate party of two. This was insanely yummy. The staff is knowledgeable on the menu so don't be shy to ask them what their favorites are on the menu. They are well trained on the menu, or you can ask for Alvin the GM. He has been with Ozumo for many years now and understand the meaning of "hospitality". Ozumo is sexy. The menu is amazing and the food is a culinary masterpiece. Enjoy many years at Ozumo. I've been there since they opened years ago. I'm a loyal fan. Upscale Japanese Fusion at it's best!
(5)
lesley l.

came here while on vacation with the hub with our two friends who live in the area. the ambience/decor was beautiful and view of the bay bridge was amazing. we ordered a bunch of dishes to share: vegetable/shrimp tempuras; soy garlic edamame; agadashi tofu; miso soups; black cod; filet mignon with bacon wrapped haricot verts; and two sushi rolls. my personal favorites were the edamame and filet mignon. now, i know... edamame? no, these arent just regular edamames! think of hot steaming/cripsy edamame with the flavor of soy garlic bon chon chicken. yes.. its possible!!! the filet was soo moist and flavorful and resting on delicious japanese mushrooms.. oozing with rich flavor. overall excellent meal with unexpected flavors and preparation. our server was soo sweet and attentive all night as well. i cant wait to go back one day!
(4)
Anne Y.

My boyfriend took me to Ozumo for this year's Valentine's Day dinner. We arrived about a half hour early because he wanted to avoid traffic. We were greeted at the front door by the hostess and were told we could either be seated or kill some time and have some drinks at the bar. So we sat at the bar and I ordered one of their signature cocktails while my boyfriend ordered a beer. To my surprise, the cocktail wasn't much of a cocktail, but rather a straight shot of alcohol. I forgot what the name of the drink was, but its sweetness was completely overpowered with a strong taste of alcohol. I didn't want to the drink to go to waste so I forced myself to gulp it down. (I should've ordered the moscato, since it's my favorite wine, just to play it safe!) I kid you not, by the time we were seated at the dining area, my eyes were half open because I was so buzzed. I didn't expect to get buzzed before dinner, but that's what happened... and it didn't help that I didn't eat a snack before coming to dinner. The menu had a selection of what seemed to be appetizing meals, from a variety of fresh sushi all the way down to the entrees. We ordered some sushi, unagi and a California roll. I ordered the kobe beef with vegetables and my boyfriend ordered the bacon-wrapped scallops. The sushi was delicious and so fresh; it was unlike any other sushi I've had in the past. However, when our entrees arrived I was a bit disappointed because the portion of my meal was so small! The kobe beef was cut up in small pieces, even the root vegetables were bigger than the pieces of meat! Despite the small size, it was delicious and tasty. My boyfriend's meal, on the other hand, was so good! The scallops were so big! We looked at each other with an unsatisfied look... we kinda wanted to order more food since the food we ordered didn't suffice. For dessert, we ordered a sweet potato bread pudding that came with banana ice cream. The banana ice cream stood out more than the bread pudding for me. This place is a higher-end Japanese restaurant. The atmosphere is warm and cozy, the food is delightful, but the portions are too small! I guess I didn't expect the portions to be so small because I'm so used to eating at Japanese restaurants that serve huge portions of food. If you choose to come here, I advise you to eat beforehand... otherwise, if you want to spend a lot of money for food to satisfy your hunger then go right ahead! I would come back because the food is delicious, but maybe just for the sushi.
(3)
Cass H.

Sushi is great but only if you want to pay a crazy amount. We had a total of 16 pieces for 100 dollars. We ordered salmon sashimi and had asked for five pieces. The chef gave us seven.... Thinking this was an act of kindness we were impressed until we saw the bill where they charged us an extra $4 for each extra piece. Will not be back.
(1)
Basil M.

Solid sushi. The uni and yellow tail were honestly awesome. The uni was some of the best I have had. In fact a I ordered more after we finished our first order. The rolls were good. Service was exceptional - honestly too notch. I would return if in SF.
(3)
Christopher B.

This place is terrible, it's an Asian resturant with only white people. How is that even possible in san francisco?!?!? The management is rude and service is slow even tho there was no I ne there. We had a mixed group of people and we were told that we could only be served one round of drinks at 9 pm I n a friday. Basically this place sucks.
(1)
Grace C.

I'm the one who always sit at the bar on Friday night!! I love this place after have happy hour at Americano then walk half block to Ozumo. The crow is upper class. Food is very good. Drink and service is awesome. I love Lulu and Laura ( Bartender) they both hot and good personality. i'm very enjoy to chat with them. Sushi here is veryyyyyyyyyyyyy good they also have happy hours and the price is cheap. Good crow and good music. Highly recommend :)
(5)
Sunny G.

Very good sushi and nice sides. Best to go for the sashimi/rolls rather than the hot entrees. Service was fantastic.
(4)
Nick S.

As simple as it may sound I love a place that greats me with a smile when I walk up to the host, add to that a 5 step greeting from every member of the team as I walk to my table, and that level of hospitality inspires me to put this place on my list of favorites. The hospitality is 5 stars at every level as I enjoyed my dinner from the sushi bar. The food quilt was a strong 4 as well as the well designed atmosphere and view of the bridge. I hope to see more people visit them allowing this to be the new standard for other restaurants to measure excellence to. -Nick
(4)
Ryan D.

Great food, not worth the price by any means. I get that because of its location it can draw the crowds willing to pay, but you can get equal and better quality fish elsewhere for a fraction of the price. I've been here several times now but more recently on the company tab, which is probably the one way I'll keep coming back here. The carpaccios/sashimi salads are all great, especially the hamachi with jalapeno. Well balanced with citrus and heat, and the fish is good quality. The specialty rolls are tasty as well, but quite small especially when given the price. Some of them, for example the Ozumo roll, have a bit too much going on for my taste, but that's just personal preference. The sake list is quite long which is nice, but again some of the bottles are twice what you'd pay in Russian Hill/Japantown. The service has always been good, especially during the weekday lunch hour when people are in somewhat of a hurry to return to work. I'll return, but again, only if someone else is picking it up. Otherwise, I'll stick to Ace, Okoze, and the like for my raw fish needs.
(3)
Karen T.

So I finally went to Ozumos, of course I made sure it wasn't on my dime! Thanks to the company I worked for we got to feast. Hmm..what can I say the 1st sushi roll that came out was not so tasty. The rice was hard, that was the Spicy Tuna Roll. Next! Rainbow roll, and the "Special" roll, those were yummy. Honestly though, I could have had the same quality at a lot cheaper place. I was impressed with the edamame of all things, it was garlic infused edamame. Had a kiwi strawberry spritzer, umm bland. Main course I had the Beef and mushroom Don, umm tasty mushrooms but bland beef. Ok off to desert, the best part! Had a green tea crepe, very light and tasty. The flourless chocolate cake, holy crap! That was the best thing, it had red bean in the cake, not super rich but rich enough. Overall OK experience. We got to sit in the "private sake room" that was cool.
(3)
Nichole P.

Meh... is the exact word that comes to mind when I think about my dining experience at Ozumo. At first glance this place my seem like a hot spot to grab sushi, but there are a few things to note before you venture down town to be let down. Normally, I like to have a bottle of sake with dinner, but at Ozumo there is no such thing as a bottle of sake under $90. This is quite absurd to me considering I've ventured to many-a-sushi spots and paid substantially less for a bottle of sake for two. I will say that the gomae was fantastic for a starter! I was happy with the sushi presentation, but once I actually picked up my chopsticks to eat a roll--my taste buds had a different reaction. I wasn't blown away by any of the rolls we had. My great company and I love blue fin tuna and we have had it a few places around town; however, I was not happy with the quality at Ozumo at all! Lastly, the interior space of Ozumo is sort of negatively random. The front entrance is super trendy, sleek and dark--then as you walk through the rest of the restaurant to the main dining area you feel as though you are in an entirely different establishment. To me, it was reminiscent of cafeteria?! The table and chairs were completely wrong for the space and were comber sum. On a nicer note, their plates and glasses were pretty. That's all I got. Ozumo is waaay overpriced and overrated.
(2)
Carlie C.

i came here with low expectations considering the mixed reviews on yelp. we were able to get seated right away even with no reservations for a party of two. i loved the ambiance and even sitting at the sushi bar was quite cozy with comfy chairs and a nice view of the bay. food: tuna tataki salad: small portion but good flavors with the pickled ginger. tuna tartare: a great appetizer to start with served with gyoza chips uni risotto: a very unique twist on a risotto and i absolutely loved the uni on top which started to melt agedashi tofu: i always love ordering this dish, although $11 was hard to justify for 4 pieces of tofu, i would have to say they were quite delicious and different with their panko crust salmon hamachi roll with salmon inside: our server warned us against getting another roll since it was sent back 3 times from other tables so we opted for this roll which was quite delicious. salmon and albacore nigiri: the fish was fresh i liked how the salmon was served with a lemon Yes, parking is hard to find around the area and it cost $10 for valet, but it's definitely worth a try if you're in the area and looking for good japanese cuisine.
(4)
Marco A.

Went there for lunch back in August, great place and I am sure it is even better for dinner. I ordered a few rolls that were all excellent, the fish was fresh and in abundance. The restaurant is very hip, the Sake bottles in display made me want to order some but I did not want to get drunk in the middle of the day! When I am back in SF and I am craving some sushi...I know where to go! It is a little pricey especially when you get a bottle of San Pellegrino and they charge you $7....for water!
(4)
Michele K.

This review is all thanks to Jessica for creating a concierge sake-sushi tasting party. Thank you Jessica!! Ozumo is a swanky, trendy, wonderfully delicious japanese restaurant. They have the largest sushi bar in the bay area and a cool sophisticated dining room w/ a trendy lounge bar area. They always have great dj's last visit Kwai Le Cheif was spinning. :) I was impressed to see they book such talent... The food is killer: some of my favorites japenese dishes include: Hanabi, sliced yellowtail sashimi and avocado w/ warm jalepeno ginger sauce. The Futago: grilled Washu beef, sauteed ginger spinach & jalepeno eggplant w/ miso sesame sauce...not to mention their sushi is incredible!! I will be back soon, sheik, sophisticated, beautiful restauarant with top notch service and to die for fish!~ OH and they have an awesome Lichi/champagne cocktail...I think it was called the Geisha Girl and I am in LOVE with it! yum.
(5)
Natalie L.

Ok, i've been back a couple times since my last review....and I'm bumping it up to 4 Great staff, FRESH FISH.....and real FUN sushi chefs. Kobe beef seared.....DROOOOOOOOOOLS.
(4)
Pamela R.

Not much to add to the other 800 reviews of this place, but I do have to say that the staff was friendly and willing to ask about cooking styles to determine if something was vegetarian. The waitress was honest about the fact that they use the same fryer for the veggie tempura as they do for the shrimp tempura. The curry was excellent and 100% vegetarian. Stay away from the noodles though since they use a seafood broth. Sushi lovers at the table were delighted by the fish of the day sampler and the hubby was very full and smiling after his bento box.
(4)
Deanna T.

I lost two limbs while dining here. We sat in the bright dining room (in contrast to the dark and lively lounge/bar area) with a view of the Embarcadero and the Bay Bridge, which made the perfect backdrop for my friend's birthday dinner. We may have over done it with the food, but everything was really good, and the bottle of sake gave us a reason to break between dishes. DON'T come here if you're not willing to fork up an arm and a leg. DO get the Shacho roll (lobster &tuna= O), grilled filet, and Hamachi in ponzu sauce. Just do it!
(4)
Anna H.

Really nice atmosphere - trendy, bright, clean. It's a great place to take clients - moderate noise level...just enough to cover-up any awkward silences, but not too loud so that you can't hear what the person right across from you is saying. Everything we ordered was fantastic. Super fresh sushi, with cuts that are hard to find at other places. I also liked how we didn't have to choose anything - we just asked our server to put together an assortment of fish, and they were able to accommodate (kind of like omakase, but just one course of sushi). All of the cooked dishes were good as well - the beef dishes were very tender and well flavored. Also, don't overlook the vegetables! The robata style mushrooms and the purple yams were some of my favorite dishes. Overall, very good service and great food - I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Eric W.

For the price I paid for dinner, I would have expected all dishes to be great quality. The sashimi and rolls were great tasting, but the experience was dampened when I ate a dish with tuna, a quail egg, and crushed yam that was really just over-priced sashimi with a tasteless, white paste that had the consistency of spit. You're really paying for the location, which is filled with restaurants with inflated prices due to its proximity to the Embarcadero and touristy Pier 1. Eric
(3)
Amy N.

We got some specials of the day: katsuo from Hawaii (skipjack tuna), shime-aji, and saba (last 2 flown in from Japan) The aji was really fresh and had a clean taste and melty texture. So good, as was the saba. I got the 5 pieces of katsuo sashimi to share and it was okay-good, but not spectacular. A little seared on the outside, drizzled with ponzu sauce. There was even a hidden sixth piece under it all. I knew I'd never order katsuo at Ozumo again when I realized it cost $30. Not worth it, even served in the beautiful abalone shell. Curry Rice had good flavor and tender veggies, but I'd rather go to Muracci's. Pork Gyoza - $6 for 5 and they weren't crispy on the bottom. : ( The pork tasty a bit smoky which was a nice surprise, and it comes with chili oil and soy sauce. As always, an expensive menu that can be hit or miss. We were able to get a table for 2 on Wednesday at noon walking in, but were tucked away behind the sushi bar. Our waitress was really friendly and asked whether we wanted everything at the same time and if we were sharing--touches that make dining so much easier. Still weird getting greeted in Japanese by all (including non-Asian) staff. Kinda like walking into Safeway where anyone working says hello, lest you're the secret shopper ready to snitch.
(3)
Jen C.

This is a review for their happy hour. I should deduct one star because hh is only from 4-6 and only if I'm home "sick" can I make it. Happy hour food here is wonderful and tasty and fried. But I'm mostly giving 5 stars because the Giddy Geisha martini drink is probably my new favorite cocktail! Oh and for the guys - the bartenders are usually pretty darn hot women.
(5)
Sanfrancisco S.

Ozumo gets my vote for the all-round best Japanese restaurant in all of San Francisco. I've been 6 times now, and each time, the food, cocktails, ambiance, and service are all on point. It's a chic and beautiful restaurant .....Thankssssss
(5)
Lance C.

Went here for a bday dinner. I'm very picky on sushi as I grown up in Japan so i went with a rather low expectation. The rolls are very much Americanized, but well combined. The nigiris were good, and the side dishes were creative with rather authentic taste. Ozumo is rather pricey, but I think it's nice for an occasion.
(4)
chester R.

yuppy priced sushi kind service tasty tartare views made my eyes smile
(4)
Webber B.

5 star food 3 star service Great fresh sushi. Get the Hanabi. Great mixtures of flavor. Some amazing yellowtail. Good sake flights and info on sake. Sat down at 9:10 on a Sunday night, door and website say open until 10:30pm. Immediately after seating the waitress informs us the kitchen closes at 10:00. Hmm. But anyway, the menu looks great. When I asked the waitress for suggestions on the appetizers she began a speech, when I interrupted to ask a question about one of the plates she got flustered and seemed irritated. We ordered a sake flight, drinks, soup, 2 appetizers, sushi, and rolls. The drinks and sake came late. We asked for them once when the appetizers arrived and still didn't get them until the sushi came, quite some time later. I would have enjoyed starting my drink and sake before even the soup came. She seemed to have forgotten about one of the rolls we ordered and it came pretty much at the end of the meal. All in all, the service was amateur. But for sushi this good I wouldn't hesitate going again.
(4)
Jenny S.

Solid sushi, and I do enjoy their small plates. It can get loud and can definitely be a bit of a scene, but after either of the Sushi Grooves it's still your best bet for good fish and a good vibe. They also have a great dessert with mochi and green tea ice cream. It's only the high price that pulls me down from 4 to 3 stars.
(3)
Ankur P.

Very expensive but delicious. Great ambiance and good service. Although the spider roll was good, the chocolate fondu and mochi ice cream were especially delicious. Great place and even better if someone treats you.
(4)
Dominic J.

ALL HYPE! Overpriced mediocre food! reservation service sucks I went here for a going away party for a friend. had 830 pm reservations and didn't get seated till 915 pm. While waiting at the bar the cocky bartender couldn't remember how to make some of their own signature drinks. Suits and Birthday crews fill this place up. The food is of good quality but nothing outstanding.
(3)
Janelle B.

I went here for my anniversary with my husband. We ordered vegetarian sushi rolls and had Saki. The food was delicious and the service was great. I am most definitely going to go back!
(5)
Connie Y.

Pricy, elegant , but sushi is soo good. They need to work on their meat however. I like the ambiance. There are nice tasting drinks like the sparkling geisha with lychee........ I don't think the dessert was really worth it though.
(4)
Anne P.

I do not recommend this restaurant. I understand the appeal of the bar and the "scene" but unfortunately it is very yesterday, which is demonstrated by the clientele. We came here for my birthday, thrilled that the restaurant featured an omakase. However, based on the price and the quality of the food it is not worth it. We specifically asked the waiter for sake and wine pairings which were not available and his suggestions were not very good. (I still have not found an excellent omakase in San Francisco). To top it all off, when we went to get our car from the valet someone had smoked in it. Again, there are better options elsewhere.
(1)
Ka C.

Good Japanese! It's expensive, so make sure it's a business lunch or a special occasion. You will see a lot of suits and ties here. I did like the quality of the sushi here and the service was good. It can get very crowded and sceney but all the better for people watching! If you can get a seat at one of the long raised tables in front, even better. They make some might fine mixed drinks here as well. Lastly, I highly recommend the sashimi here!
(4)
Dylan T.

*READ IF YOU ARE GOING TO DINE HERE, AND NOT GO HERE FOR HAPPY HOUR* Ozumo is an appealing restaurant with its interior design and japanese like atmosphere. It has a lot of faults though with all this. Food: My god, the food sucked. First off, the portions they give u are incredibly small ( not enough for 1 person) on most dishes, and cost WAAAAAAY too much for such a petite amount. Second, the food takes way too long to prepare. Lastly, for the cost of the dishes, u expect heavenly tastes. NOT HERE, the food takes like plastic sometimes and isn't worth the cost. Service: the service isn't great for such a high quality restaurant. The waiters rarely come by to check on their tables, and u have to actually wait to get refills on drinks. Also, everytime i've went, the waiters have either messed up an order or forgot to put it in, which shows how inexperienced they are or how bad the pay is if experienced waiters keep leaving Ozumo.... In the end, i do not recommend Ozumo. Food is overpriced and service sucks. If you do go, stick with sushi, you can't go wrong w/ their sushi at least. But as critics of SF have said about going to Ozumo, "Your money will be O-Zum-ing out of your wallet"
(2)
Ani C.

This is the place to take a date! Beautiful decor, amazing view and excellent service! Yes, its expensive. Yes, you can have the same sushi for a fraction of the price. BUT, you're paying for the ambiance and the ambiance is awesome! I love the bar, the drinks and the sushi. The fish is super fresh and flavorful. So, basically you pay for what you get. This is not the spot for your weekely sushi fix (unless you've got oodles of $$ to throw around) But, it is great place for a special evening out.
(5)
laura g.

Again, REALLY good my office paid for this (thank you office!) Went on my birthday for lunch and have to say it was good - ambiance etc, but not crazy good - worth that much money. Service was typical sushi - everyone got their food at different times. The service was good, but again, nothing out of the ordinary for a sushi place. At one point one of the servers was turning away with empty beer bottles, having to be asked for refills. I will say the mushroom salad - to die for & sizable! Sashimi was very good - agree with previous reviewer(s) expecting more diversion from the standard ameri-shi rolls. Also, VERY thoughtful - they brought a complimentary dessert. I would go again maybe for happy hour, but not drop those kind of dollars on a full meal.
(4)
J M.

This place is ok ... if you are in Las Vegas and are in search of a theme restaurant. But we are in San Francisco, folks. The place where restaurants don't have to build in themes and extravagant staging. Our restaurants -- the good ones -- have an inherent charm, an unstaged and unaffected greatness. I felt like I was in LA or Las Vegas or Phoenix, but not in San Francisco. Pros: Decent (but not transcendant) sushi, lively atmosphere, very busy bar scene. Cons: Watered down drinks, cold fried calamari, staff that seemed to all be quoting from the same script.
(2)
ting b.

The sashimi is great here, but it's really expensive. And it often feels like I'm at a club (cause there are lots of well dressed people drinking and walking around), even though I'm just having dinner. I recommend that if you're celebrating someone's birthday and you have lots of $$ and a big group, you come here. Otherwise, there are probably more intimate, affordable places to have quality sushi.
(2)
James G.

Had a holiday dinner here with the company a few months back and have also taken some dates here. The food is excellent, the atmosphere is awesome plus they play house music which is a quick way to win me over at any restaurant (all other things aside). The sake selection is huge but some can be a bit overpriced. The service has been great; both in the private dining area as well as the main restaurant area. The bar is usually pretty busy and it can be hard to get a drink but this place really shouldn't be reviewed as a bar. I'll definitely go here again.
(4)
Suepattra M.

There's nothing I can't add here that hasn't already been stated in the prior 600+ reviews. Three different types of dining options: the scenester-esque front bar, the main dining room, or the private dining areas. The food everywhere is fantastic and eye-pleasing, although quite pricey. Great place to go if you're on an expense account. :-)
(4)
H T.

can't say anything about the food since i didn't eat here, but the drinks here are good. i came here for happy hour last night, but i got there too late to take advantage of the happy hour specials. my friends were there earlier and said drinks were half off and apps were about $4. good deal! the space is really nice and sleek.
(4)
Divya R.

Great sushi & service. Nice choices of sake.
(5)
X Y.

We went here last week Thursday night for drinks as my friend was in town. I thought it had a really great mix of people.
(4)
Emily H.

Super fresh, delicious!
(4)
Heather T.

I agree that Ozumo probably doesn't need yet another 5-star rating, but it really is the best sushi! This was the first restaurant I went to in the city and I've been back lots of times because I can't get enough. Everything is amazing.. especially the fondue dessert! If you can't get a table they can almost always seat you at the bar, so it's really easy for me to go back again and again! Love it!
(5)
Kris I.

YUMO! Fantastic sushi - always, always, ALWAYS order the special sashimi, whatever it is, it has never done me wrong. The set-up/dcor of Ozumo's is awesome... love the trendy, young and fresh vibe. Love that you can look at the window to the bay while you're chowing down. Love that they serve some of the best Sake available. Love the service at lunch and also the bar service for after lunch cocktails. Love using the restroom and learning how to say "would you like to have a drink with me" or "how do you get to the airport" in Japanese. Do not love two things... the prices (though I rarely pay), but it IS worth it! Also, do not the service on a busy night. Great place for lunch and happy hour - dinner is debatable... you must have patience, which I do not. But that is why I love them for lunch! Kanpai!
(4)
Rajan S.

This place is one of the top sushi places I've been to! Amazing black cod in miso sauce dish, fresh toro sushi, great appetizer dishes. And a beautiful, trendy upscale environment. Prices are definitely on the high side so difficult to make it a regular haunt, more like a night out!
(5)
Drew A.

Great food, and super fresh. They have a lot of great dishes that are a great mix with traditional Japanese fare, as well as some great stand-by's. Sapporo and Chimay on tap was a big plus, and the staff was very quick and helpful. Not too sure I understood the seating situation; even on a normal weekday I would still make a reservation, or try to find a spot up front---they have the same menu, just not the view of the bay. Guess you could sit at the sushi bar too, but that isn't great if you have more than 2 in the party.
(4)
Emily C.

I really like coming to Ozumo. It's a consistently loud, dark and fun setting, and a sceney place to grab a bite to eat without dealing with anything too obnoxious. In terms of the food, I love their sashimi and hot dishes. I always order the same thing: the charcoal grilled filet mignon w shitake mushrooms, the hanabi small plate, and the sashimi martini (one of my favorites - yellowtail, tuna and salmon on seaweed). Good atmosphere, okay service, great food and drinks! Only downside (or upside, if you are so inclined) is you'll likely get hit on by some skeevy guy having a drink at the bar while trying to make eyes at you. Avoid at all costs, especially as the drinks kick in!
(4)
Miranda O.

Love it here! It's pricey, but what's new with Sushi? Excellent customer service sets this apart from most. The servers are very attentive and make educated and excellent suggestions with their extensive (and somewhat overwhelming) Sake list. Great place to bring out of towners, too.
(5)
Lisa Y.

Ozumo is one of the best Japanese restaurants in the city. Their sushi is a must because the fish is some of the freshest around and the grill items are super tasty too. I highly recommend getting a sashimi plate and if you like veggies, get the eggplant and sweet potatoes, they are soooooo good. The service is fantastic - especially if you get Felix! He had great recommendations and was very personable.
(5)
Annette T.

I'm changing this review to five stars because I felt bad about the four stars rating I gave originally as I do love this place. They have five star food and five star service. I run a business myself and i know how sad it is to receive four stars when you KNOW you offer five star service all the time, every day to everyone who walks through your doors. Anyone could have made the mistake of taking an order from the kitchen before its time...so I'm upping the star rating. :) I'll come back here.
(5)
Len K.

I've been here thrice perhaps for lunch and always enjoyed it. Last night took the bf out for a birthday celebration dinner (different menu entirely). This is what we ordered in the order in which it came also. Sake Flight- Nama Ichiban (Extremely fruity- I would recommend for the girly drink drinkers- try something else if you want more traditional sake fare) Sashimi- 5 pcs each: Beni Toro, Hamachi, Maguro, Hotate (everything tasted great except the Salmon Belly- oddly enough, i didn't enjoy that. I would highly recommend the Scallops) only complaint- no ginger slices to cleanse the pallet, I think the wasabi needs more kick! Believe me- i put a lot usually. Salad: The spinach with sesame dressing (nothing to die for but tasty) Small Plates: Yamabuki (my highlight!) For Uni lovers- gosh, ever wanted to take uni and mix it in a bowl of rice- well they did it for you here, but even better. It's a Uni Risotto- the creaminess i suspect comes from the uni and not cheese! Futago: Beef over spinach over eggplant over cucumber with teriyaki like sauce. Pretty good! The beef was extremely tender (but I think i was still too focused on the delish-ness of the uni risotto. Yaki Plates: Grilled Japanese sweet potatoes- deep purple in colour. Yumm... Must search for it at the markets. Nothing appealing on the dessert menu so we skipped. Yes- it's pricey- but it's a fancy establishment- what do you expect. I would bring anyone here for a treat. Service: The waitress was good (i did not get one of the pan asian ones that Ozumo is noted for). 4 stars for her too.
(4)
Liz S.

I've been down on Ozumo for a couple of years now, but after last night, it's back in my good graces. My frustration was that for such a beautiful restaurant with great food, why was the service so atrocious? I mean, seriously, it's a crime to spend a fat wad of cash, only to be subjected to long waits and general apathy. The key may be to go with a larger party and get one of the private rooms. There were 10 of us last night in the sake-tasting room, which is a delightful spot to enjoy a meal with good friends. It's a shoes-off affair in this room, so make sure your socks are in good order and try to pee before you sit down. We started with the edamame - 1 each of the salted and garlic. I always prefer the salted. For my appetizer, I got the sashimi martini which was pieces of yellowtail, tuna & salmon with a spicy sauce and seaweed at the bottom. The fish was extremely fresh and tender, and the sauce added a nice bit of unexpected flavor, but was not overpowering. I also ordered uni with a quail egg which is my usual guilty pleasure these days...and the pieces were huge and delicious. I think one of my other frustrations with Ozumo is that I always felt that the sushi menu was limited, so I decided to try a regular entree for a change - and I am so glad I did. I ordered the Gindaro, which is marinated black cod. It was delicious. The sauce was a wonderful mixture of salty, tangy and sweet - hard to describe but really great flavor, and the fish was incredibly tender. I love the skin as a contrast to the soft texture of the fish - it gives you something to chew on. At first the portion looked tiny (and for $24, I was surprised), but it turned out to be an ample amount and worth the price. I also tasted one of the hot pots, which is definitely on my must-have list of dishes for next time. It was the Iron Pot Sukiyaki, and the broth was so flavorful, with tender pieces of beef, vegetables, and a large bowl of miso sauce on the side for added flavor. They have an extensive sake menu, with a lot being offered by the glass, which I like. I had one glass of filtered sake, and one glass of unfiltered - I have forgotten which ones they were but the staff is good at making recommendations according to your taste. Most importantly, the service was very good and the server seemed to genuinely care about our experience. Plus it seems like we had our own staff of busboys to clear the plates. Everything came at the same time, and in a reasonable amount of time. BIG improvement from the past few times I've been there. The bar on Friday night is a clusterfuck, so unless you like to have your drink knocked out of your hand on a regular basis, I'd avoid it. It is a great deal on a weekday night for drinks and half-price sushi at Happy Hour. We ended up paying around $130 per couple including tip, which is expensive, but for a special night out, not unreasonable in my opinion. And now that the service is back on track, I no longer feel like I am being hosed.
(4)
Bono B.

Update 5/12/08 (subtracted one star due to crap service): Added Ozumo to my ever growing list of Japanese restaurants in the City I won't patronize. Went on a Friday this time around 8:30PM, with no reservations. The nice hostess said that we could either wait around 30 minutes or try to snag one of the tables in the lounge, as they are available on a first come, first served basis. Of course, all the peeps in the crowded lounge area have the same idea, so whenever a spot opens up, it's like a feeding frenzy of people gunning for the same seat. Well, we were chillin' and didn't mind the wait. We sipped our expensive beers (2 x Kirin drafts + 1 x Chimay draft = $21, LMAO WTF???) and waited about 15 minutes before we were seated in the dining area proper, a very pleasant surprise. A bonus for me- we got to sit in front of the open kitchen to see the culinary magic of Japanese fusion cuisine brought to you courtesy of pipe hittin' Latino line cooks. When our noob server came, that's when things started to go downhill. He didn't understand or know the menu. He required me to point to the menu items to take our order, and to say the menu items loudly and slowly. Now I usually don't mind doing this in a Chinese, Korean, Thai, or (fill in the blank) ethnic restauruant where you have to rely on body language and gestures to communicate with FOB service staff. But in a restaurant that charges an average mid $20's+ for plates? To add insult to injury, our server wa hakujin no America-jin deshita! Fuck that noise. Since I read Japanese, I pointed to the robata-grill menu in Japanese by the kitchen, with menu items written on wooden slats as is customary in Japan. Only problem was that this simple, reasonably-priced (read: cheaper) menu was more for display than actually being something you can order. The noob waiter tried to explain away the menu as being the chef's "experimental" menu. WTF? We gave up at that point. We quickly scarfed down the appetizers we'd ordered and promptly bailed. We wound up finishing the evening with a stellar meal with good service at Nopa. __________________________ Original review: It's an okay place to go if you're going on an expense account dinner, as prices tend to be high. But then again, they're not serving you crap like you get in other alleged Japanese restaurants in the City. Good Japanese food (especially sushi) requires fresh, pristine ingredients and folks, sorry, but Ozumo doesn't cut costs and serve maguro from Costco. If you want cheap Japanese food and value quantity over quality, go somewhere else like Ebisu or Kabuto. Relative to restaurants in Japan, Ozumo would probably be considered mediocre. Sadly, in San Francisco, Ozumo would be one of the better Japanese restaurants. Note, however, that there are plenty of places in LA and Manhattan that are better than Ozumo. Tasted following from menu: - Dobin mushi I enjoyed this simple dashi broth with matsutake, prawn, black truffles. - Dohyo Tuna tartare basically. Nothing special. - Hanabi Hamachi and avocado with jalapeno ponzu sauce. Why the fuck do they want to bastardize fresh fish with jalapeno? - Gindara Decent preparation of this nice, flaky fish. - Hitsuji Lamb chops, well prepared and tasty. Not sure if the hijiki and sweet potato salad work well tho'. - Gyu Kakuni Nice, savory tender beef short ribs. Delicious. - Assorted sushi Good stuff. We just had nigiri, and steered clear of the wonky rolls. Cream cheese in sushi? WTFOMG, spare me from culinary abominations like that. The coup de grace of Ozumo has to be the drama of conspicuous consumption unfold before your very eyes like a car crash in slo-mo. Lots of guys and gals fidgeting with their iPhones and Blackberries pretending to read important e-mail. Web 2.0 guys trying hard to be shabby chic with designer jeans with strategic rips, expensive limited edition t-shirt with ironic imagery, and even more expensive athletic shoes. Upwardly mobile guys and gals that look like their wardrobe is straight from the designer du jour catalog. Girls who obviously want to see and be seen wearing their sexy, but not too sexy to be skanky outfits (o-skanky-desuka?). Older folks 40+ who want to feel young and relevant... One great example- a "doctor," probably in his late 50's holding court in the main dining area across from the sushi bar with 2 super-hot 20-sumthin' chicks in dresses that didn't leave much to the imagination. These two chicks were clearly "professionals"...errr escorts I mean. Hahahaha. All the waitstaff were kissing this "doctor's" ass making him feel like the whale that he was. Naturally, the gals were fawning over him during dinner, as I noted the shopping bags from high-end boutiques on the floor by their feet. Thank you sugar daddy! I aspire to be like the the good doctor when I grow up! :)
(2)
Susuk L.

The rolls and nigiri here are pretty good - decently prepared and unquestionably fresh. The ambience is pleasant, and the waitstaff attentive. The back room has a great view of the bay. In terms of quality and dining experience, I have no complaints. Why only three stars, then? I view ratings as indicators of value - if the experience is good but nothing special, and the pricing isn't commensurate, I'm not inclined to give very good ratings. In Ozumo's case, the pricelist reflects their expectations of the clientele - moneyed tech yuppies and lawyers in wingtips. The formula works for them, given how crowded the place gets, but there's better sushi out there for less money ... even in SF.
(3)
Elizabeth B.

You can't really go wrong here. We've been dining here for years, I think since it first opened, and we've always walked away very satisfied. Although the last time we were here they rushed us along our meal even though we had a reservation, and the waiter kept bugging us what seemed like every five minutes. We haven't been back since but I'm sure we will soon because in my opinion it's one of the best sushi resturants in town. I know there are several really great places in the city but you can't really beat the location right on the Embarcadero looking out over the water at the bridge. The bar is a total scene so if you're single you might want to come in and have a looky look. Otherwise it's really dark with loud music and lots of people but hey, if you're into that who am I to judge. It's pretty pricey so bring your credit card or make sure your date is holding so you can enjoy the fine cusine and get dessert. PS. The miso cod is out of this world! It will melt in your mouth.
(4)
Claire C.

Too Fucking Expensive. **after much prodding on the part of others I will explain below why this place is too fucking expensive** A) I have eaten in sushi restaurants all over the world, including New York and Los Angeles and I have never paid this much money for my food. B) I got all of the standards I get at sushi restaurants, tuna sashimi, yellowtail, dragon roll and kobe beef shabu shabu, and it was totally and completely average. I did not drop my jaw in disbelief at the quality of the food. Which is what I expect when an entree is $42.00. C) What's up with the crazy Vegas atmosphere. I wanted a nice, boozing dinner with friends not a club vibe which included tons of inebriated suits who would drunkenly stare at my boobs every time I went to the bathroom. D) Too fucking expensive.
(2)
Art L.

I agree with most reviewers that the food is priced higher than average. However, the food is also a cut above. All the dishes have a fusion touch. If at all possible, try the sushi bar, service there is excellent. You can ask for any Japanese sushi and they're make it for you, even if it is not on the menu. You can also ask for suggestions from the sushi chefs, if you are not well versed in Japanese sushi. Aside from great sushi, their contemporary decor is very soothing and comfortable, especially the view of the SF Bay Bridge from most of the tables and the sushi bar. If you are tired from sushi, try their shabu shabu dish, it is a pleasant surprise that the soup is excellent as well as the nice cuts of beef. Spanish Mackerel sushi is also a freshing change from regular sushi. Their ama-ebi, toro, hamachi belly, and uni are excellent!
(5)
Jonathan H.

My friend took me here for dinner and I was not disappointed. I had the best Spanish mackerel ever. Seriously, no bite. All of the sashimi was very clean, cut thin West coast style. The rolls were OK. We had a rainbow-like roll that was incredible. Also had some CA rolls and Caterpillar which were just OK. But the sashimi was insanely good. Hamachi, yellowtail, salmon, & fatty tuna. I was pounding some Savingnon Blanc which was incredible (New Zealand) and went perfectly with the fish. Excellent service in a very trendy, yuppie environment for a Tuesday night. Cons: Prices are just OK, especially the rolls which are overpriced. I've had better quantity sushi of similar quality but a couple of "best ever" votes makes me confident in a 4 star rating. Go and be merry but have your business partner or friend pick up the tab!!
(4)
Jennifer L.

I'm writing this review several weeks after dining here, and no one dish really stands out for me...it was all good. I the service was great and nearly everything we tried was delicious. Oh, I do remember that the market price for toro was $10 per piece that night...ouch! Overall, it was a nice experience and I'd go back. Try the sake flights! One funny thing - while we were sitting near the bar waiting for our table, a group of loud, obnoxiously dressed people (drinking 40s of Corona, no less!) started addressing a waitress rather rudely. She was polite back to them, and THEN they called over a manager to complain about HER! I felt so bad for her! Our table was ready at that point, so I don't know how it all played out...hopefully they got the hint that this was not their sort of place, and went to McDonald's or something.
(4)
Natasha P.

DELICIOUS but overpriced. I came here for a weekday lunch. My friend and I got a spider roll, edamame, and a miso marinated black cod bento box. Everything was amazing. Especially the cod. So tender and tasty. The meal totaled about $40 - a bit much for a lunch that didn't fill either us up. But boy... it WAS good. Very hip and chic spot, too.
(4)
Lisa B.

Another overpriced pickup joint for older Marina-types. Yeah, I know that comes off as a little harsh, and the food isn't bad (I ate in the restaurant part about a year ago and then in the bar part last night)... However ---it's not great. And it's very pricey, and the clientele were just a little strange. For example, there was the boob job table - one of the girls there had apparently just gotten hers done and was still in the stage where she didn't feel the need to wear a bra. The problem with that was that her nipples were on FULL ALARM status code red, and it really looked like she was going to attack...like the robots in Austin Powers with the boob guns. Funny, in a scary sort of way. I don't normally see people like that in real life.
(2)
Ryan A.

For our second night in San Fran we ended up at Ozumo. My wife's selection since she is Japanese and was looking for a taste of home. Upon entering, we were both amazed by the decor and disappointed - obviously it was quite beautiful, but we knew we were in for Americanized-Japanese food... and our intuitions served correct. Overall, everything was decent-to-good, and I won't get into each dish since we tried a bit of everything. That said, it just doesn't compare to a place that really knows sushi, or for that matter even my wife's Japanese cooking. Call me spoiled. In any regards, it probably serves the clientele well, as we saw no other Japanese in the place, and it surely is fun to people watch. A respectable, if not entirely predictable, meal.
(3)
Angela A.

Went with my in-laws who were visiting from Atlanta with the nephew (he's two). We made reservations (it was a group of 10 + kid) and the hostesses were so friendly I thought I was in the twilight zone. We were put in the sake room (the walls were glass with sake bottles and it did not cost us extra nor was there a minimum). This place is GREAT for kids. It is just loud enough that a noisy two year old goes unnoticed but still quiet enough for the adults to talk to each other. Food was great. We did order the special but we asked the price first and even though the roll was $20 we ordered another two! It was that good. Two people did not want to eat sushi so they ordered gyu-kakuni and wahu gyu. They loved it! The wahu gyu was like $50 but he thought it was that good. It is great to find a Japanese restaurant serving more then teriyaki and tempura as an alternative to sushi and sashimi. The Dohyo was so good we had to order more so the entire table could have a taste. The food is expensive but it is worth it. The service was excellent. They refilled our drinks promptly, the server was quick, friendly but not intrusive, and he checked on us to make sure there was nothing else we needed. They even took special orders for the kid. My nephew wanted to eat avocado with his edamame so they brought him an avocado from the sushi bar sliced up to look like a flower or something. He was delighted. They charged us for it but we weren't expecting anything for free. Our server was totally accommodating and friendly. It was the best dinner experience with a large group and the kid. It was so good that we went back later in week instead of going to another restaurant as planned.
(5)
Courtney B.

If you want high-end Japanese food with a killer view, come here. Ask for the specials: one time I was lucky and got hotate (raw scallops) flown in from Japan and those suckers were SOOOO good. Deliciously sweet, fresh...to die for. All the sushi and sashimi are of the utmost quality, but you can find the same at a more reasonably priced restaurant. But the restaurant is beautiful. I recently had the Yakisoba (pan-fried noodles with a sweet soy sauce) and I wouldn't order that again, not for the price. It basically tasted like something I could have at a regular Chinese restaurant. A friend ordered the Kurobuta (braised pork short rib), and that meat was so tender and delicious. He was disappointed with the size of his entree and left hungry, but I told him that he should have filled up on the view instead.
(3)
Josiah H.

I have eaten at Ozumo at least 20 times and they consistently deliver a good meal. Make sure you eat in the back room on the Embarcadero side, which is much more pleasant than the front or the middle sections.
(4)
Chrissy Q.

I pondered giving this place 4 stars but considering tonight will be the third time I've had it this week, I s'pose I should give it 5 stars. The sushi here is outstanding, top notch, first rate, etc. Definitely some of the best sushi in SF. Fresh as can be and creative. Pros - BEST EDAMAME I'VE EVER EATEN. Its pan fried with roasted garlic and soy sauce. Incredible! - Sushi some of the freshest and best in SF - The guy at the front reminds me of Bear Grylls. Totally handsome. - Nice, tentative yet non-pushy staff - I often look like crap (casual, hair cleanliness questionable) when I go in there yet they still treat me nicely - Very large menus - large kitchen menu, large sushi menu, large alcoholic beverage menu Cons - They screw you on the specials! Of course they don't tell you the price and I picked a special roll. That roll added $18 to my otherwise $28 bill. - The front smells like spoiled eggs (??) - Expensive - The crowd is uppity, I prefer down home trash types. My girlfriend is visiting from LA and I'm taking her here tonight.
(5)
Ed B.

I think this is chill place to hang out for a few drinks after work with some friends. They usually have a DJ playing a mix of all kind of jams from old school to new. This makes for a good vibe while eating sushi and throwing down a few Nigori sakis and Kirin beers. The happy hour prices aren't that great, but what really is in the city huh?
(4)
Megan D.

D and I had dinner here for New Year's Eve. Delicious sushi rolls and lobster special. Sake was outstanding, although guidance through the list was confusing from our waiter. We loved the food and ambiance, but chocked this place up to another bizarre waitstaff experience. Waiter was quiet, shy, confused with specials and prices. We felt like we were helping him figure the menu out. Maybe it was due to the crazy night and crowded restaurant. I would definitely go back in heartbeat, but we've decided to start documenting our weird waiters in a photo book.
(5)
Trisha C.

I love the decor in this place. Food was good and the waiter was knowledgeable of the menu. Everything I ordered was recommended by him. fresh food very tasteful but, I dont think that Japanese food should be THIS expensive.
(3)
Nana S.

Food & sushi...very good. I've been here both during the day and evening, and always liked everything I ate Ambiance/vibe...not my cup of tea. But this place is very popular for those who are into crowded restaurants where the 'buzz' is more around drinking, HH, hanging out in the lounge
(3)
Jim W.

1,400 ... and yes, that be in Dollars, not Yen. Thankfully the person placing the orders for our party of 8 can't do exchange rates (or add, obviously), and besides the vendor paid so I happily give this place five stars and order more sake (hot, if you please). Ozumo dots the Embarcadero traffic stream next to Boulevard and the interior is classic SoHo Tribeca fusion. The server will gladly walk you through off-menu options that become steadily less comprehensible with more sake so just wave it through. Be the center of the universe. Crash a party. Wear a tie. Sit through a boring meeting if you have to. But whatever you do find a way to check Ozumo... on anothers' dime... it is class.
(5)
Josh F.

15 pieces of sashimi... two skewers of chicken hearts.... 1 bottle of junmai daiginjo sake... two beers.... $300. WORTH IT.
(4)
Kat M.

Eh, I want to give this place 4 stars, but b/c of their ridiculously "out of the ball park prices", they get three. Dinner was great and yes, we enjoyed ourselves tremendously! We had the iron skillet, salmon sashimi and tuna tartar. The food was very good. The decor is really cool and chic, as most have described. The bathrooms are clean! Yay! The wine list is ok; and the sake list is very good. Service was excellent and the pours on the wine were "good pours". I must say, FINALLY....a restaurant that knows how to pour a glass of wine. I've found many restaurants to be a bit stingy on their pours. The major downfall of the evening however, were the prices! Look, we're not chintzy at all when we go out. But if we pay, we like to receive something fair in return. The iron skillet was $35 and it was small. It had little meat; and more noodles. We mentioned this to our server and all he said in rebuttal, was, "Yeh, you don't get a lot for the price in SF." Eh! Look now, we've been to quite a lot nice and pricey places in the past and the majority of them offer a portion size = to their asking price. Here, you won't get that. What a disappointment.
(3)
Lindsay B.

I went to Ozumo for dinner with my fiance recently and I enjoyed myself a lot. The service was great and the sushi chef that we were seated next to was so nice. We decided to try a few of the small plates and an entree. The marinated black cod was very good, and we also had the ceviche and the fried calamari (I don't know why my fiance keeps ordering fried calamari everywhere, it was good, but you can get cheaper calamari). The ceviche was just okay for me, but my fiance liked it. I loved the view from the sushi bar. You can see the water and the Bay Bridge. We also saw Mos Def dining there (just had to throw that in! By the way, he's really nice.) I would take a star away for the price, but it's SF on the water, so it's kind of expected.
(5)
Monica R B.

Their rolls are great . Their cocktails however, are not so great; they're too sweet, with probably very little alcohol. They have room to improve on their cocktails . Im actually giving them three and a half stars.
(3)
c d.

Amazing service, terrific ambiance, great food, very clean and fresh. Big ups to the garlic soy edamame (a must) and the Hanabi- sooo worth your investment. We asked the server for reco's on best dishes and she failed to disappoint; also ordered a great bottle of cold unfiltered sake per her guidance and loved our lives. I have never given 5 stars. Until now...
(5)
Yan G.

Sushi has undeniably become the darling of the trendy dining circuit in the last decade or so and inevitably, many establishments have put forth a concerted effort to haute-ify the minimalist art of raw fish preparation. There are two distinct approaches to this trend: the movement from West to East (think Ron Siegel and the Dining Room) and East to West (Ozumo and Cha-Ya) come to mind). The fundamental difference between the two vectors is that the West-East integration is much more complete and harmonious (at least when successful). Siegel, David Kinch, et al have taken European techniques, integrated Japanese sensibilities and ingredients, and are now creating food that is more than the sum of its parts. Their cuisine worships at the altar of the ingredient, relying on simplicity and clarity. For this reason, they are at the forefront of Bay Area gastronomy. The East-to-West approach has yet to find a way to synthesize the purity of Japanese cuisine and the technique of the French, possibly because of an unwillingness to compromise. Sushi is best when the unadorned ingredient speaks for itself; when attempts are made to complicate nigiri and sashimi, most of the time, the result is muddled and flavors don't meld. Ozumo, which proclaims itself to be a purveyor of "contemporary Japanese cuisine" shines brightest when the "contemporary" is taken out of the equation. The restaurant consistently sources some of the best fish in the city but its inventiveness is stymied by an inability to venture past the established sushi norms. It, like many others, takes the "more is more" approach to dishes, weaving together myriad primary flavors or stuffing rolls with several types of fish. However, those that order sashimi or nigiri are in for a real treat. The supremely fresh, unctuous, glistening morsels are as tasty as anything served by traditional sushi joints. And there's the rub. Ozumo is the ne plus ultra purveyor of perfect and perfectly consistent fish, but it just can't deliver on its promise of "contemporary" Japanese cuisine.
(4)
Elizabeth K.

Favorite part about my experience here was the company I was with:(. Don't get me wrong...the sushi was tasty but I just don't feel like the price matched. We had to wait standing in the crowded bar for 25min even though we had a reservation and the hostess was very cold and short with us. Our server was very nice but 3 stars is all I can give...my sushi place of choice is still Sushi Groove on Hyde St.
(3)
Daniel D.

I love this place!!! My wife and I live close by and we've been here on several occasions. It is pricey, but worth every penny.
(5)
Alicia K.

This is my favorite SF restaurant. I frequent Ozumo's and I have yet to have a bad experience or a less than perfect dish. Everything is soooo good. I've tried things I've never tried before and loved every single thing, which is soooooo unlike me. Did I fail to mention that they actually carry my favorite nigori sake?? That's rare. You must have the summer snow and anything you order, you'll love. The bar is nice too as it brings in a mixed swanky SF crowd. I HEART OZUMO!! THANK YOU! =-) hehehe I'm hoping the Oakland location can live up to the SF location.
(5)
Halal E.

Good sashimi and rolls. But pretty steep prices for what you get
(3)
Kristen Y.

Um...it's fine...not great. Expensive, but good...but yummy sushi isn't exactly impossible to find in SF. The drinks are total novelties and pretty good - mango syrup honeydew rosemary thyme martinis (well, maybe not exactly) . I can imagine its a good place to go to try to pick up on rich banker types...but I'll admit that I didn't exactly give it my best shot.
(3)
Michael B.

Last night a few friends, my girlfriend and I went to Ozumo. I've been before, but it was a couple of years ago and I had good memories of the place. Last night reminded me why I liked it so much, and had me asking why it's been so long since I've been back. The food was awesome- first, the sushi. My girlfriend & one of our friends had the sushi and they absolutely loved it. I'm not exactly a sushi connoisseur, but I will say this: the sushi chef's there should be called sushi artists. The way they laid it out made it look amazing. We had a variety of appetizers, and my favorite was the hamachi with jalapenos. I wish I could remember the name of it - unfortunately I'm horrible at this. My entree was great as well - some sort of filet mignon with bacon & mushrooms in a sauce that was just incredible. Beyond the great food the service was amazing. Our server, again my memory is horrible (I blame the drinks!) was a girl named Danci, and she was really amazing. All smiles, and extremely helpful. My buddies convinced me to try some saki (I'm usually a cocktails sort of guy) and Danci helped us find a bottle of unfiltered saki that was as good as I could have imagined. I might be a convert! Thank god for friendly, knowledgeable staff, right? Anyway, the end of the meal was as good as the beginning, though honestly I didn't eat much of the desert as I was already in food coma. Sure, the place is a bit pricey, but you should go in expecting that - and the food and service are totally worth it. I'll definitely be going much more often, and who knows, maybe next time I'll try another saki :)
(5)
Daniel M.

Awesome appetizers during Happy Hour, and cheap drinks! Bartenders are really nice...making drinks less strong or MORE strong when I asked. Of course, I asked mine to be more stiff.... Street parking is a pain in the ass (at $0.25 for five minutes).
(4)
D S.

We went to Ozumo in the beginning of November, 2010 to celebrate our anniversary. The inside of the restaurant is very nice. We had a great view of the Bay Bridge from our table. We had calamari (good) and seaweed salad for appitizers. Unfortunately the salad was bland. My wife had Mahi-mahi for her main course. It was good but a little bland as well. I had mirin marinated and grilled lamb chops. Probably the best lamb I have ever had. Dessert was phenomenal as well and our server paired it perfectly with a sample of four different sake's. The service was excellent. Our waiter was well educated in the menu and had a great, engaging personality. Ozumo was expensive but worth it for a special occasion.
(4)
Ken M.

I've probably never had a bad time at Ozumo... atmosphere is OK and the food is decent. But to be honest, this place isn't as good as it's billed from either perspective, and then there's this: It's possibly the most overpriced place in the city for what you're getting. I mean... why do groups REALLY go here? You could go to Boulevard next door and pay the same thing... THAT's how much Ozumo adds up. I just hate this place. Sorry, but it sucks.
(2)
Susan K.

Went here for the first time a few years back for Valentine's Day, spent over $250 for two and was not impressed by the meal at all! On the flipside, why do I keep coming back? One answer...the bar.lounge area, it's always a reliable hangout for afterwork drinks with your co-worker or friends. if you want a consistent crowd in a hip and loungey environment. This is one of the places to hit up in the embarcadero area. Of course there's always Americano down the street...but why not make a few stop and make the night interesting :)
(3)
Ari G.

Last time I went here, I was with my boss (the fun type who says stuff like "That's how we roll") and a co-worker (looks like your average young father of three but he's a former UFC fighter). I'll skip right ahead to 10am the next day when we all got into the office: ME: Dude, I have a massive bruise on my elbow and it hurts like hell to move my arm. UFC: (Hysterical Laughter) You don't remember playing tackle football with (BOSS) in the middle of Howard Street (with no football in sight) and taking out a whole rack of newspaper dispensers with the body of drunk (BOSS)? ME: (Hysterical Laughter) Sort of.... UFC: Or when you asked the (obviously gay-date) couple next to us "Why aren't you pansies drinking?" ME: (Hysterical Laughter) I think so.... UFC: Or when the restaurant manager came over because we were dropping to many F-Bombs and you scared him away with the statement "Don't even F____ with me!" because you were in the middle of a great story. ME: (Hysterical Laughter) No. UFC: I should be in the hospital right now...do you realize the three of us drank 6 bottles of extremely expensive sake? ME: Wow...I need to stop drinking for a while. BOSS: No you don't - I haven't had that much fun in a long time...That's how we roll! Anyway, Ozumo is what you make of it. It can be a great date spot as long as you're not sitting next to me, my boss and my ex-UFC co-worker fueled by $X,XXX.XX of raw fish & alcohol. It can be fun for a (tame) happy hour. And if you know your sushi, a delightful dining experience for a special occasion. I have been going here about once/month but since I'm confident the Yakuza are looking for me, I'm taking a little break.
(4)
lisa m.

Had a great lunch here today. Great miso soup, wonderful kiwi, strawberry spritzer and really fresh sashimi.
(4)
Natasha S.

Scene, Yo! Friday happy hour here is an f'n scene! I saw me some Marina, some cougars, some Ruby Skye pre-partyers and heard me some paltry remixes of tunes I adore (Miguel Migs' "So Far" to name just one :/). But the food is pretty good even if overpriced for what you get. Get the hamachi small plate w/ jalapeno ponzu -- buttery slices of fresh hamachi complemented with the lovely tang of fresh ginger, jalapeno ponzu, baby radishes and avocado. Make sure you wrap a bit of everything in each slice of hamachi. Nigiri and shrimp tempura are also tasty. Would not recommend the ceviche nihon, however -- whitefish, scallops in yuzu lime juice -- absolutely no tartness and unnoticeable flavor. Drinks are superb as well. The raspberry sake cocktail was one of the best made drinks ever, perfectly balanced and incredibly smooth. The Geisha vodka cocktail (lychee, vodka, passionfruit) was very sweet, as warned our server. Still pretty good. I used to really dislike this place. Things change. Perhaps I changed? Naahhh.
(4)
Lora C.

Maybe I should write 2 reviews of Ozumos. One based on the restaurant/ bar itself and one based on the catering staff. OK, I will start with the good first. Great bar area. Get here early and take over a section of it. This is what being young professionals is about. Great food. Damn good sushi. Really nice staff. Good location. Now, the bad. I have been through 3 catering managers here. In 3 years. The second gentleman was great. When I ordered lunches, he would deliver them himself, he was upfront about Ozumo's capabilities and he was personable. The most recent manager upset me so bad that my team knows not to ask me to order from Ozumo again. I called a week in advance and ordered plates for 2 lunches to be delivered at 11:00am. I was well aware that this was a special request since their kitchen doesn't normally open that early, but asked IN ADVANCE if it would be a problem and was assured it would not. I was assured that they would happily deliver one of the orders themselves in time for a meeting that started at 11am. I informed the manager that I would be there at 10:40 to pick up the other order. I arrived to pick up the second order at 10:30, knowing I had to leave the restaurant by 10:40. I was assured by the manager himself that the orders would be ready shortly. When I was given the trays to BOTH orders at 11:35am, mad wouldn't even begin to describe how I was feeling. I have not ordered from Ozumos since and this incident occurred in Fall, 2007. Go to the restaurant for a great experience. Otherwise, forget it.
(4)
Katelyn M.

This review is for the Noodle Time Specials during lunch only. I went to Ozumos twice within a week. I have been looking... searching for my noodle place for a while since I got back to the bay area. the truth is, it is really difficult to find something in SOMA... I wish I was back in the financial district area, but its not really up to me at this point. so i am really glad I found Ozumos. I LOVED their Sapporo Ramen. First time I went, the service was really slow and it took FOREVER to get my ramen. But I patiently waited since my coworker said that it really is worth the wait. and it was... I eat slow... but in matter of minutes, I was done with all the noodles and realized I was slurping on the soup... Edamame was gone too... I am still craving for the real crab legs in the soup with a bit of butter and picked vegis... noodles cooked to perfection... Second time I went, we let them know that we were in a hurry. we had no issues waiting for our ramen then. they lose a star because it does take them a while for us to get the food but... it really is worth it...
(4)
N J.

Had this place recommended to me by a number of folks but I ended up being disappointed. Nice atmosphere - the food was good, not great. As some people here have said, not really worth the money and we were especially disappointed in the service. Not that the waitress wasn't nice, but she dumped an entire sake flight on our friend's arm and even though the manager came over to see if we were "alright", they didn't even offer to compensate by say, taking the dumped flight off the bill. When you're blowing $600 on one dinner, you'd think they could do THAT much. To make it worse, they automatically tacked on the 18% tip w/out even taking the waitresses's clumsiness into consideration. We won't be going back.
(3)
Vivian K.

Ozumo has great service and atmosphere, and I'm a fan of doing lunch there during the workweek. I've been there a few times for dinner, and although the food was good, I found that it was hugely overpriced for the quality. Again, the food was good; it's just that for the price I was paying, I expected to be wow'ed. Lunch on the other hand is a completely different story. If you sit at the bar you can order bar-sized noodles (which is perfect for me who is trying to portion control) for $11. Or, order the full size for $16. There also fantastic bento boxes for $16. I am in particular in love with their Nagasaki Chanpon noodles - the broth is to die for. And the seaweed salad they offer is so much better than other run of the mill Japanese restaurants, which is a testament to how well Ozumo pays attention to their foods. Their service is also always top notch.
(4)
Meghan E.

The boy and I decided to have a nice night out in San Francisco. Everybody always says to have sushi when you're in San Fran, so that's what we did. We hated this place. The only reason it is getting two stars is because our waiter really tried to make us feel comfortable when we obviously weren't. This place was pretentious, expensive, and somewhat uninviting. The first thing I wanted to do after I arrived was to leave as fast as possible. I understood that this place was going to be trendy with an expensive atmosphere, but I didn't realize that the sushi wasn't going to match up to the price. Our sushi was horrendous! I've had sushi from all over the country and this place is the bottom dweller. My sashimi was awful and didn't taste fresh at all. Very, very upset that I even gave this place a shot.
(2)
Lynn W.

I love love love this place! great atmosphere. good service. A little overpriced, so no full stars.
(4)
John D.

My favorite sushi restaurant in the city. Fantastic fish, great service - but beware the stealthy way they try to sell you sake. They hook you with the flights and get you to taste the good stuff, then just casually ask you if you'd like a bottle of something. When this happened to me, I just casually responded "yeah, we'll take a half bottle of that one" without looking at the menu or, more importantly, the prices. Stupid! Stupid! Stupido! When the bill came, and I was full of fish and sake, I wondered if I'd accidentally bought the chef's car from him or something without realizing it. It was so expensive, I think technically I must be a part owner of Ozumo or something. Oh, and they have taped Japanese lessons playing in the bathrooms, which is cute - but not really a practical way of learning Japanese.
(5)
Johann B.

Pricey but worth it! Best sushi in the bay.
(5)
Stephanie B.

Ichiban for sure! Dee-licious food, awesome happy hour, and when DJ Label was ruling the turntables, life was like a Zen garden whose gentle rocks, well, rocked. Though New Years Eve reservations were more populous than Shibuya crosswalk at rush hour, I managed to score the private Sake Tasting Room. Sugoi! The prix fixe menu was stunning (kobe beef, scallops, amazing sushi), the sake to-die-honorably-for, and the ambiance truly superb. A glitch in the matrix? Once I dined there and our waiter didn't know anything about anything and couldn't answer a single question, but I'm going to send that experience to the floating world of bad dreams and banish it from my mind. Why? Because Ozumo is happiness best served cold with soy sauce. Sure, the food is more expensive than popcorn at a baseball game in Tokyo, yet this inauspicious fact is mitigated by a very reasonable happy hour which you MUST attend! You won't even have to sumo wrestle with your wallet! Oh, life is incomplete without Ozumo!
(4)
Rebecca S.

Outside of this restaurant you'll see Ferrari's lined along the street, the not-so-good-looking men that drive 'em & the botox bitches that luv em.
(4)
Chris M.

Fantastic! Service is outstanding, sushi is super fresh, menu is very creative and diverse. Wine and sake list has great variety. All around a wonderful experience!
(4)
Alex H.

This place is never bad, never great. I only go there when I am using a corporate credit card. It is nice, predictable, and everyone will find something they can enjoy. If you want outstanding sushi...you will need to keep looking. But the combo of afterwork crowd, expensive food, and nice food will keep this place the same for years.
(3)
william b.

stylish bar, fast, friendly service and high quality fish....fantastic hamachi and scallops. plenty of room at each table to hear yourself speak.
(4)
Sebastien P.

Mixed feelings about this place: I've been here twice. The first time was awesome, each plate was better than the previous one. The second visit was kind of disappointing, as the service was poor. Hopefully they were just having a bad night.
(3)
sarah k.

I used to go to Ozumo frequently for their fun happy hour - which unfortunately ends kind of early. I don't go for it that often anymore but I do still really like it. The food is excellent and the ambience is swanky and fabulous. I recently had lunch there and everything was delicious. Make sure to have their handmade gyoza - sooo good! I hear they are opening a place in Oakland in November too! Cool!
(5)
Pete L.

I can't believe how nit-picky some of the reviewers on here are! The bench was tight so two stars. Wah Wahh. Don't listen to them. This place is five stars. They have it all from the ambiance to the food and service. I went here on vaentines day and It was outstanding. The sushi was the best I have ever had. Beautiful and flavorful. The sake list is extensive. I was with four people and we ordered everthing on the menu that was good. The desserts are also great. We had a chocolate fondue that would blow your mind. The service here is 5 star. Waiter recomendations were off the chain. Food came very quick even on valentines when the place was packed. I will go here many more times. I absolutely loved it. Just make a reservation early!
(5)
Lisa H.

Good variety of drinks, neat ambiance. I only went for happy hour but the food that was being served around me looked amazing!
(4)
Maome S.

188 reviews????????? Damn!!!!! The sushi is absolutely great here. They have this really neat low couches and low tables so having lunch or dinner there feels like you're in Tokyo! On a side note, it's too bad they closed their Newport Beach location. Everything on their menu is great and authentic. One of the best sushi places in the U.S.
(5)
Selene K.

Expensive as hell and the fish isn't even fresh. Had their toro and ankimo...tasted like both were sitting in the fridge for days. I make better sushi at home!
(1)
natashka o.

Finally agreed to dinner with the Boring Lawyer. All he talked about was tort this, contract that and pedophilia case. I wanted to smother him with big piece of raw tuna. Luckily succeeded at ignoring BL in order to watch masterful sushi chef, Ken-Sun, whose skill with his knife on big rolls of sushi was pure pleasure to watch. Bar area is also Hot, Anime playing on overhead screen a good touch, and my favorite was bathroom, with Japanese language tapes on audio.
(5)
Mitzi C.

Fresh fish, but it's pretty pricey for what you end up getting. Good bar with my favorite Hangar One vodkas.
(4)
Erik H.

Overall Ozumo would be a great restaurant if it was half to 2/3rds the price. What we normally get for $50 at other places (even in SoMa), cost us 100$ at Ozumo. Yes we should have read through the reviews before going. Save your money and go somewhere else for good sushi.
(1)
Julia G.

I had a really great time at Ozumo! I loved their appetizers. Cod was awesome! Sushi?? Had better before. I would not order sushi there. The interior design is great. I would love to return there for drinks and appetizers.
(4)
S. L.

Went to rediscover what it feels like to get off work at a humanly hour and experience "happy hour". I miss working market hours sometimes. In any case, i think we missed happy hour but stayed for dinner. Got a couple of sakes, that Sparkling Geisha, couple rolls, steak tartare, and seafood hot pot. I guess the best way to sum up how i'm feeling is if i went to watch Fast and Furious or Die Hard and criticized the movie for lacking substance in the plot, complex character development, or sheer intellect. I In other words, the food here sucks, but i've got to be kidding myself if i was trying to get exquisite food here. Sake was fine, the Geisha could be made at home.... rolls - awful, and the seafood hot pot was more like a hot cup. Tiny. Where's the pot?? That wasn't the sample of the much larger pot that's coming? Yuck. And the steak tartare... i think i'll leave that experience in Paris from now on. Price does not match food quality. Service, on the other hand, was fine. I would drop 150 large ones 99 out of 100 times at Koo over Ozumo's... which means to prove this point i will have to go to Koo 98 more times and not go back to Ozumo's during that stretch. Someone out there is a lucky girl.
(3)
Mika G.

Interesting foods. but is this Japanese? I am not sure. Sushi rice was not as soft as I like and the sushi was very expensive. Fish itself was fresh but sushi is more about rice, isn't it? Hanabi: Hamachi sashimi, sliced avocado, and ponzu sauce with A LOT of garlic, was good but I don't prefer garlic with Japanese food. I think it kills the flavor of fish. You should go there for atomosphere but not for sushi. Midioca food and hip atomosphere. Great intro to Japanese food. 1 star for creative appetizers 1 star for atomosphere and a good company 1 star for the view
(3)
Michael S.

wonderfully expensive sushi. it's a scene of sorts after work.
(3)
Stephan W.

I was there on Saturday for a birthday party -- 100 people who knew each other, and me & my two friends. I have to say that the decor of this place reminds me of EVERY restaurant in Vegas: "look how expensive I am." We didn't eat there, but the drinks were interesting. At $7 and $9, not the cheapest, nor the most expensive alcohol beverages possible.
(2)
Clayton P.

For some reason I was expecting worse. I had heard very little about Ozumo before coming here for an afterwork happy hour/celebration. Prior to coming here I was always wondering why this place was under utilizing one of the best views of the water off the the Embaracadero - they still are! We went in for happy hour and stayed about two hours. The clientele seemed to be mostly coat and tie finance guys who are overly loud just for the sake of being heard by the hanger on champagne sipping women looking so desperately to get a date with a guy who has some money. Service was good, sushi was solid, even though we mostly ordered off of the happy hour menu. As I mentioned we were there for a celebration and doing a couple sake bombs. The waitress asked us if we could refrain from dropping our shot of sake in the glass and instead pour it in. That alone has kept me from giving the place 4 stars. How can you go to a Japanese restaurant and be told to stop taking sake bombs. Ichi Ni San...Sake Sake Sake Bomb!
(3)
Alita M.

So I came back a few weeks ago to meet my guy and his business buddies here for a couple of drinks. The hostess was SOO nice to me, as I had this huge huge bag of stuff and took it off my hands for me. We had a great table and the waitress paid very good attention to us, which is refreshing considering the service I had last time was so poor. I'd say stick the bar and sushi bar and avoid sitting down to eat at a table, at least when it's busy.
(3)
Sarah B.

I'm a big time sushi fan. Went here for lunch with business clients. Nice view from our table...found myself wandering away from the conversation to stare outside. The atmosphere was pretty cool inside. Chic. Very New York. I liked it a lot. The food was pretty good, but I have had better. It was an average sushi joint to me, with a pretty sweet atmosphere. The service was a bit slow though. Overall, I'd recommend if you want decent sushi with prices that won't break the bank.
(3)
Yuan W.

Another late night business dinner. This time, I'm at Ozumo with 7 other people. The big boss is well known here apparently. We arrived around 7:45pm and I realized it reminded me of a place... oh yeah, Blowfish. Lots of city people around the bar drinking, trying to look cool and chic. And the music was pretty loud. We were shown to the private room in the back. The boss ordered sushi, main dishes, drinks, dessert. I don't eat raw fish so I had some of the other shared dishes: ebi tempura roll, edmame with salt and garlic oil, the black cod marinated in miso, and the seared sea scallops. Everything was good but very salty. Everyone was drinking, heavily, including 900 year old sake. Bill came and I took a peek - including tips, the total was $2500. WOW. OUCH. Glad that I didn't have to pay. We didn't have that much food because I wasn't even close to being full; it was probably the alcohol that dented the bill. The place was ultra modern and had a cool atmosphere. However, the quality and quantity of the food doesn't match the price you pay. I suppose you come here to be seen, but for me, I'd rather hide at a corner chowing down better tasting food somewhere else.
(3)
Christine P.

I had lunch here a few days ago. Anyway the food was good but it's very pricey! They charged us $6 for tea --- talk about overpriced. I had bento box (salmon teriyaki and tempura) and ordered the scallop roll. The bento was OK but the scallop roll was delish. Cute place but very overpriced. My friend and I spent $85 for lunch....for bento boxes and dessert. In my opinion that's way too much $ for lunch. We didn't even have alcohol.
(3)
Tina F.

One of the best Japanese restaurant in the bay!
(5)
Kathleen G.

Concerned you're not spending enough on a glass of wine? Disgusted that the price of sushi has plummeted so precipitously over the last few years that it has become the dinner of choice for commoners? Well, you are in luck. Ozumo is just the place for you. You can go there, feel instantly hipper the moment you walk into their sexy, trendy space (particularly if you're not at all hip to begin with), bask in their v flattering lighting, and eat generally excellent sushi for entirely too much money, accompanied by generous pours of lovely, overpriced wine. For example, I enjoyed a hefty pour of Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc (yeah, I know, that was so 5 yrs ago, but it's so good), for only $17/ glass. Delighted at the bargain, I ordered a second round. And the sashimi "martini" was definitely priced in the double-digits, but man was it delicious. Buttery, creamy, huge pieces of raw everything, even tuna belly. And hell, I wasn't paying. (Even the dessert was yummy, although there was some dubious attempt to incorporate wasabi into a chocolate concoction. No, no, no.) Bring on the expense accounts, sugar daddies, and travelers riding high on the decline of the dollar. Friends with money: This is your go-to-dining spot.
(4)
Shadi N.

O M G this place just does not disappoint. I think about it while i sleep, while i exercise, while i eat other foods. I think its safe to say i am IN LOVE with Ozumo. Nothing new to add from my last review except that my server Alice that i've gotten the privileged of having been served by twice, is amazing, and i will be asking for her again when i am back very very soon!
(5)
Shawn A.

I'm updating my review just incase you could not tell how AWESOME the sushi is here from it. I crave Ozumo every time I think of seafood. My last visit did not let me down and I continue to praise Alice's service, she is amazing! If you have not eaten here yet then what is stopping you?
(5)
Adam B.

Excuse me! Those were the words I echoed most of the night while dining at Ozumo. We arrived early for a friends bday party. The plan was to get drinks before everyone arrived and then get seated. We had made reservations and it was starting to get busy. When you walk in to the sushi restaurant, the area is lit dimly with a small area for the bar. We mingled in the area but it began to fill up by 8pm. Our waitress was very slow and hardly took the time to come check on us or get our orders. Once we did get the drinks..they were overpriced and crazy weak. Once the party had arrived, we began to get seated. The waiter came up and seemed to be out of it..literally. He couldnt focus and we kept giving him our orders and he couldnt understand us. Not because the place was loud, he kept checking out women walking by. I understand he has carnal needs but focus on us when we will be tipping you. We all placed our orders. We each ordered 2-3 apps each. He began bringing out food in odd amounts. Several people only got one of the apps that had been ordered. We waited 30 minutes..literally..before he came back. We told the server and there was no apology. He didnt say why our order never came but he just didnt charge us like it was acceptable. It was a friends bday and she didnt even get the apps that were ordered for her. We went to pay and the waiter just dropped the check. Not asking if we wanted to pay seperately or if we wanted more drinks...nothing. I was very disappointed. We had been planning all week on having a great time and it was a horrible mess. You might want to go by Ozumo for the atmosphere but not the food, drinks, or prices.
(2)
shadi m.

The sushi was ok, not fantastic but still good. I really liked the strawberry martini drink they have; was def. the highlight of my meal. I have a feeling the more I drank, the better the food tasted :-) The ambiance is nice though, especially for San Francisco. It's nice to see people get a little more dressed up even if you are just going to a bar. I did have the distinct feeling that most of the people around me worked in finance though. I wonder why....
(3)
Lise L.

Very very good but definitely pricey. One friend and I just returned from spending $180 on lunch. Yikes! The service was friendly and knowledgeable and the atmosphere is gorgeous. Just be careful with the sake recommendations - some of those bottles are pretty chere! We sat at the sushi bar and the chef serving us did a great job at finding less common fish that fit my finicky restricted pallette. He was also so sweet and cute and obviously loves working at Ozumo. We will definitely be back, but only when one of us is having a REALLY bad day and its been a REALLY long time. Otherwise, I'm gonna go broke fast.
(4)
Nancie T.

Fancy schmancy sushi - check. Servers dressed in black - check. Good looking patrons - check. Long wait - check. Extensive bar menu - check. Tredy decor - check. Yes. Ozumo is another trendy and modern hotspot for Japanese cuisine. Not sure how the place is at night since I came for lunch, but its dark interior at the bar area seems like a sexy place to see and be seen. Noise level is ridiculously high. Half of the time I was going, "huh? what did you say?". Server was trying to act cute but no, sorry, you're not that cute. Food was good - fresh sashimi, innovative menu, but my kobe beef burger was rough! My cow must have put up a fight...
(3)
Jonathan D.

Ozumo has a highly swanky and spacious interior, which got my group immediately excited about our dining experience. The menu has appealing dishes and the sake list is one of the best I've seen for a restaurant. Unfortunately, the food was a let down of mediocrity. Their salmon belly (which I have difficulty finding) was seasoned and cut too small for the price we paid. The shiromaguro was extremely fishy and should not have been served. Chocolate mochi as a dessert had too many flavors going on. The winners: "hanabi" (hamachi with jalapeno) intrigued my taste buds and the special dessert of yam and pumpkin ice cream was an outstanding way to finish. It is quite clear your bill ends up going to the decor and rent, not the food. For half the price I can get a significantly more delicious meal at Gochi in the south bay.
(2)
Stacey C.

This was dreadful. I love fine dining and this just simply was an insult to my evening. No matter what you put on your menu, a professional, well mannered wait staff is the cornerstone of your restaurant.
(1)
Karen C.

We visited Ozumo for my birthday dinner. Everything we had was amazing - better even than last time. I had a flight of three sakes, to match our meal of sushi, appetizers and small plates. The meal was pricey but each dish was impeccably prepared and presented. Highly recommended if you are a lover of Japanese cuisine with a Western twist!
(5)
Angela X.

This is a cute (or should I say kawaii??) bar that is really into creating a Japanese atmosphere (maybe even overly so). My cocktail was called the Giddy Geisha. They were playing shamisen music. The icing on the cake was when I walked into the bathroom and they were playing some type of Rosetta Stone Japanese learning CD. I learned a few new phrases in the ladies' room that evening. Awesome, ne? ^_^V
(3)
Harry T.

Rawr I got mauled by some cougars here. Beware. One was a doctor and the other a lawyer. At least Mom would approve. Great place to drink for the mature set. Or to go cougar hunting :P.
(4)
Riza A.

Good place for FiDI happy hour or a power business lunch. Not so good when you're not willing to drop serious dough on a lunch/dinner that will leave you hungry at the end of it. Beautiful ambience and venue though.
(3)
TopCat W.

Way overpriced. Under staffed during lunch, it took forever to get service. No water or hot towels for our table. Sushi was just okay. Do NOT order tempura and ramen. Very loud...
(1)
Anna P.

I've only been here once and my first experience was very pleasant. I came here with my previous coworkers and we were in the private room which was really nice. The service we received was friendly and the food was good. I think we tried almost everything. It was my first time drinking sake and the sake I had was gooood. Dessert was delicious by the way. Yes it is a little pricey but hey, I'd go back there after payday.
(4)
Drea L.

By far one of the best sushi experiences I have had on either side of the Pacific Ocean. Very very expensive but soooooo worth it. The sashimi was fabulously fresh and this spinach peanut thing was plate licking good. Not to mention the giant bowl of chocolate fondue I wanted to dive into and spend a few hours in! A great place to take your sushi connoisseurs! They won't be dissapointed.
(5)
Jessica W.

The food was pretty good (the black cod especially), but the portions are so small. My friends and I were still hungry after spending $30 each here, so we went to In n Out for cheeseburgers, fries, and milkshakes... and only after eating those were we full. We probably could have skipped out on Ozumo and been just as satisfied.
(3)
Barbara H.

These guys are very detail oriented. I love that they give you a warm welcome, by going you the best accommodations. Interior was a little tight, but they were well organized and manage to get things around very easily. The sushi was fresh and delicious. True to what they should be. Served beautifully with the sauces on the side and more fish than rice. Yes, sadly enough when you go to average sushi places, they tend to wrap more rice around it than the fish itself. I think my favorite here was their dessert of fruits with the chocolate fondue. It was definitely different and worth trying again.
(5)
Angela R.

Beautiful presentation, fresh fresh fresh, not just the ordinary Japanese food, excellent wine selection, beautiful people and lovely waitresses- simply a joy going there, either for the food or for hanging out at the bar. There is not more to say, love it!
(5)
Jess B.

Came here for lunch, its close to work. The bento box I got was gross! The steak was very stringy and the sides which I couldn't choose cuz they pre determine them were bamboo shoots and a cold piece of tofu. This place is a 3.5 star sushi place for a reason. They have the potential to be better but there not living up to their customers satisfaction. I will not be coming back here.
(3)
Jason S.

Excellent food and extremely trendy decour. However, it is way, way, way overpriced. Worth it only for a special occassion or for drinks and appetizers at the very cool, and sometimes very crowded, bar.
(4)
Amanda S.

I really love this place but I wish that they had a few more rolls on the menu and I wish it was a little less expensive. The rolls they do have are excellent, some of them have some interesting twists, like a peanut sauce drizzled over top and a roll with no rice and wrapped in cucumber (actual cucumber insides, not just the skin). And the presentation is incredible for every dish! Every time I go I order the chef's special roll and I have never been disappointed. The garlic-woked edamame are fantastical and you must try them! I love the Sekiwaki, Ozumo, and the sumo roll. The green tea mochi with chocolate sauce sounded terrifying to me, but my friend ordered it and I took one bite and was in love. So delicious! They also have an incredible sake menu, and their liquor drink choices are quite tasty; I especially like the Tokyo Glow. The bar in this place is crackin after work on Fridays and the crowd is mostly FiDi-ers lookin to get a little tipsy after the long work week. Oh, and if you're lucky enough to be seated near a window in the dining room, they have some really nice views of the Bay Bridge. So, if you have the money to spend, you should definitely check it out, especially for special occasions.
(4)
Lydia F.

We enjoyed this restaurant and went twice during our vacation. We were able to get same day reservations at the sushi bar, which was oddly half-empty when we arrived. The hostesses were friendly and we were promptly seated. The chefs were dressed formally which seemed a bit over-the-top. Overall, all the food was fresh and tasty, and some of it a little over seasoned for my taste. Drinks were all good, too, as was our service. The second time we went, we sat by the bar for drinks and apps. We thought we were far enough from the door, but the cold draft was a reminder we were not, and the server seemed a bit moody that evening. Maybe the dining room is better.
(4)
Angelo B.

Another one of those happy hour gems worth checking out. Ozumo is an upscale Japanese resto-bar with great food and awesome cocktails. During happy hour, which is between 4pm and 6pm, draft Sapporo is $3 and appetizers are pretty cheap as well. I got the spicy tuna roll for $5, Kushiyaki (skewered meat) for $4 (the sausage and beef skewers are fantastic). The Karaage (Japanese style fried chicken) was awesome. Spicy calamari was superb. (ok, I'm running out of adjectives). You get the picture. Great Japanese eats. Good happy hour prices. Nice atmosphere, great vibe. It would be a crime for you not to come here after work. 4.0 stars.
(4)
Mike D.

Took the now ladyfriend here for our second dinner date on a Friday night and was pleasantly impressed with the bar entrance / hostess greeting / service walking to the dining area / saki tasting / robota grill. Sushi was unbelievably well crafted and fresh. Must try the Ozumo's roll upon arriving if its your 1st time. The bottle of marshmallow / peach saki we decided on was different but not too sweet and had smooth pleasant taste of which I haven't tasted before. Will definitely be back to check out the robata grill next time around.
(5)
GA M.

The fish was very fresh and delicious and I was able to try some things I had never eaten like black snapper, but the service was horrible. I sat at the sushi bar on a Sunday night and was basically ignored by the waitstaff for the entire meal. I had to beg any server that happened to walk by for water, a beer, chopsticks and napkin. After sitting there for 15 minutes, the sushi chef asked me what I'd like. I told him a drink!. Ridiculous.
(2)
Wes T.

Everything you've heard about price is true. I was taken here for a birthday dinner, so YAY! I got GREAT sushi, and presents, without having to pay. Woo! To be fair, the sushi was superb. We had tuna, we had halibut, we had all other manner of fish. Portions were large, and meant to be shared, wich we did. The sake selection was very extensive, so we had a great bottle to accompany our meal. Service was a little erratic. To begin with they were very attentive. Once they had our orders though, they disappeared. It was sort of hit and miss from then on. I like the decor here. It's very Japanese with a modern (some might say distinctly San Francisco) twist to it. Clean and not smelly to my nose. :P
(5)
E S.

One of my three most favorite Japanese restaurant in SF! Love the food but wish it was slightly more affordable to go on a daily basis.
(4)
K. M.

Ok, lame service at the front bar.... Clearly serving people out of order. Then the sushi is so over priced and there is so much better sushi in other parts of the city. I used to think this place was a four. Sadly this last visit, we foung the sushi and everything else to just be so so... Sorry guys!
(2)
Filipe C.

This is the best Japanese restaurant I've ever been!!! It is a Must go!!!
(5)
Katherine L.

Took my clients here for a sushi making class. Sarah Eckersley (who works in events at Ozumo) was SO HELPFUL in setting everything up and came by multiple times to check in on us, which was so great of her. She really was a huge pleasure to work with. Charlie was THE BEST sushi chef you could ask for. He did a wonderful job of teaching us how to make sushi and kept it fun and interesting too! I will definitely be back! Update: I've done multiple sushi events here with clients and they've all been wonderful.
(5)
Doris P.

I took my parents to Ozumo to celebrate their wedding anniversary, and as expected, we had an excellent time! The toro melted in our mouths, and was so richly decadent that it tasted like it had been soaked in clarified butter... of course, the extensive sake selection didn't hurt. ;) The sashimi was great, as was the kobe beef - been there a few times now, and I'd definitely go back! mahalo!
(4)

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Address : 161 Steuart St
San Francisco, CA, 94105
Phone (415) 882-1333
Website https://www.ozumo.com/
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :11:30 am - 2:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Valet, Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Dressy
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Ozumo

161 Steuart St, San Francisco, CA, 94105

Ozumo Menu

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Seafood

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Soups Salads

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