Hamano's defines a classic "Cheers" type, neighborhoody sushi bar with some of the freshest fish in the city. I'd have to say this place is pretty localized in terms of always knowing at least one of the folks grinding at the sushi bar. The best seat in the house is on the bar; wish they had more stools at the bar... can get pretty zoo'd at the and if you don't catch a seat, you could be in for a long wait. Stand outs: hamachi belly sash, beast toro and endless orders of ocean trout. Reasonable amount of fish, but variety can be somewhat limited on some nights. It's the sushi chef's, staff and freshness of the fish that keeps me coming back for more and more! Bottom Line: incredibly fresh fish; I'm a huge fan. My go to sushi spot within walking distance! Hit it if you appreciate super fresh fish and don't mind a friendly environment. Toneman out!
(4)
Nancy L.
Two words: Mission Roll!!! This damn roll has kept me coming back on (almost) a weekly basis. The service is great and the clientele is usually a mix of families, couples, and singles. It's a good crowd but there's not usually a wait and it's not super noisy - so serious/romantic/deep conversations can happen. I'll wrap this up by saying: Mission Roll!!!
(4)
Soozie H.
3.5*'s Feeling quite festive after watching our World Series Champs' SF Giants parade on TV earlier, I decided to go out for dinner to continue the celebration as well as take advantage of the lovely weather in November. My mate and I had no particular place or type of cuisine in mind and so we drove for a bit before we came across Hamano Sushi. Hamano has been recommended to me by a friend awhile back and so we decided to give it a try. Fortunately, there was no wait and so we were greeted and seated immediately. It's a no frills place so if you're looking for something "trendy" or "sceney", Hamano is not that kind of place. Frankly, I don't care for the frills and only care about the quality of the sushi. I can happily say, the various sashimi I ordered was all delightful. I ordered Toro, Hamachi, Hotate, Amaebi (all sashimi) and it all was soooo sweet and fresh it was as smooth as silk going down my throat! We also ordered the Tuna Poke (quite spicey and just "meh") and Cod which was lovely. I am surprisingly pleased and would definitely come back to Hamano if I'm in the area and am craving sushi.
(3)
Tom A.
The "A-OK" description is actually perfect for this restaurant (I feel like I've said that before...). I had some edamame and gomae for an appetizer (hint: the gomae is great!) As for the rolls, they were rather small and decent. I don't really have one bad thing to say, nor do I have one great thing to say. Pretty average by my standards. The prices here were on the low side, but that may be one reason why the rolls were so small... The quest for my "staple" sushi spot continues...
(3)
Warren L.
This is my experience from a Sunday evening, two months ago. I finally have time to write this: I lost my appetite sitting at a table in the back (by the mirrored wall) because there were many, MANY, large flies languidly flying around, like they've just had a big meal. I am not exaggerating when I say there were at least 5 or 6 in the air, and another 5 or 6 crawling on that mirrored wall, preening themselves. It's a small space back there, by the entrance to the kitchen, so that's a lot of insects in a small, confined space. I notified two of the wait staff. They smiled, apologized, but seemed helpless. I realize there's nothing much they could do; they couldn't exactly pull out a can of bug spray while there were diners in the restaurant. But I was grossed out by seeing so MANY flying insects that my date and I decided to move to a different table, towards the front of the restaurant, by the sushi bar. Still, I'm afraid to go back to Hamano. It makes me wonder if the restaurant management has the proper controls in place for hygiene, notwithstanding the relatively high SF Public Health score of 94/100. The sushi might have been good, but all I can think of are the disgusting flying insects.
(2)
Aurora C.
The food is decent, the prices reasonable, the service respectable. The ambiance, however, is about as charming as a hotel with complimentary continental breakfast on offer. It's like they bought their tables, chairs, carpet, and decor from a hotel that was remodeling. The light jazz doesn't help either.
(3)
Anna-Lena S.
Go to the next supermarket and pick some instant food from the freezer. That is cheaper, fresher and better! This was the worst meal we had for years.
(1)
Kenny L.
This is the place to come for sushi. Amazing fresh and if you sit at the bar on the days Jiro is there he is SPECTACULAR. I've been here twice and each time he has amazed me with his choices for omakase. I would whole-heartedly recommend!
(5)
sage f.
Love this place. Great lunch special (which you can also get as take out!). I really enjoy sitting at the bar and getting tips and suggestions from the friendly and knowledgable sushi chefs. Oh and super yummy miso soup.
(4)
Angella S.
For me, Hamano is the most satisfying Japanese food in the area. Now granted, it's not the best, but it's not the worst and it's certainly better than average. What can I say...good food, good prices, good location. Being that I'm a vegetarian, I'm sometimes limited whenever I do Japanese. But Hamano usually has some nice soup or other vegetarian choice of the day, in addition to the regular veggies I find on the menu (agadeshi tofu, veggie tempura, etc). I've never been disappointed; I always walk away pretty full :) If you decide to eat here, I recommend sitting at the bar. The dining area is fine too, just no real ambiance.
(4)
FairReviews A.
A lot of care goes into the sushi here. Chef Jiro and Jimmy really try to find not only crowd pleasing fish, but fish for people that really know and love sushi. Once in a while, if you time it, you can get their homemade tofu which is exceptional. Also their chawan mushi is pretty darn good too. And, if you want to make the leap and go all uni crazy, this is the place because the uni is always good and they'll even tempura it if you want. And, you can bring the non sushi folks too because there are lots of cooked Japanese dishes on the menu.
(4)
Bryan S.
It's not really the best sushi place I've been to but it's a nice place to be with a friend or two. The sushi's are really good, honestly, and so are the appetizers and so forth. Miso soup is... okay, I guess. Service was very good there, nice people, and they respected us when we were talking, being patient. I was talking to my friend and the waiter came up to us and didn't interrupt, waiting patiently. Overall, it's not bad, not the worst thing ever, not the best.
(4)
ABC Z.
Hella good sushi, but was expensive~ Cashier was hot! keke!
(4)
Michael G.
Average sushi, but way overpriced. Good service, which isn't that warm, but is efficient.
(3)
Len M.
Best Japanese in town. Friendly service. A little pricey for lunch, but worth it.
(5)
Inigo M.
Decent grilled chicken curry. Pricey boiled spinach salad. Pleasant service.
(3)
charles h.
This place has a small cult of devoted fans, but I can't figure out why. The prices look at first glance similar to other places, but you get a lot less for the money, so it is actually one of the most expensive sushi places in San Francisco. Seating is also badly managed--they seem unable to give a decent estimate of the wait, or even whether there is a wait. Some reviewers here have commented on all the "creative" rolls etc. For me that's a negative. Sorry, I'm a purist, but at least you know that's where I'm coming from. All that "creative" stuff simply distracts from the essentials, and on the essentials, this place is no better than middle of the road.
(2)
Aaron L.
Very good neighborhood sushi joint in Noe Valley. Hamano isn't flashy or pretentious in the least, but turns out very decent sushi at a reasonable price. If you're looking for widly exotic hand rolls or rare fishes this may not be your place, but for well executed basics, they consistently deliver. Decent but limited selection of sakes. Service is prompt and pleasant.
(4)
Allan D.
Outstanding sushi, wonderful service. I have not had sushi on the west coast before this evening, and I was very pleased.
(5)
Gino R.
When I lived in Noe Valley (90s - 2001), this was the place to bring friends and sushi fans to try the freshest fish. The quality has always been top notch. Occasionally the service slows down (during peak times). We still visit Hamano and recommend it to any sushi lover.
(4)
Dominique Y.
So.. a couple of friends and I are walking around looking for a place to eat.. Oh, look at this cute little Japanese restaurant ! Let`s go here ! BIG MISTAKE. The four rolls we ordered weren`t bad.. but seeing as how I can barely remember what they were called or what they tasted like is not a good sign. Unmemorable, to say the least. Even worse was the fact that each roll was about the size of my eyeball [Sorry, can`t think of an appropriate alternative] ! Where do they get off making rolls this small without reducing the price ? Alright, I could *almost* deal with that. What we couldn`t deal with, however, was the wait ! It`s like the staff was playing games with us !! We received our first roll in about 10 minutes [coo], our second one around 10 minutes after that [that`s fine], the third one about 20 minutes after that [..] and finally our last roll arrived a good 30 minutes after we had finished eating [UHHHH..] ! It was very clear that they had simply forgotten us, but to have the waitresses come over and tell us multiple times that it`s "on it`s way" and giggle is not cool. Luckily the three of us were lost in a major catch up session to care too much, but it was still quite ridiculous. Also, no apologies of any kind. Rude !
(2)
Britt C.
When a bar has everything, how can you detract a star? Two for dinner Saturday night, a little wait bar for the bar was made pleasant with a hot sake at a window seat (4 window bar seats available that night for those waiting for the bar - table seats were immediately available for two). Hamano 'gots' mad ~ han-ro~ skillzz with the Mission: yellowtail & jalepeno, topped with (seared) white tuna, radish sauce (sublime)and green onions. Yea, I said it b*otches. The 'miso soup with clams' was delicious but a huge appeizer so a warning to those that would like explore the sushi menu: don't fill up on this delicious appeitzer!... ...because the Hasami age - chopped shrimp, ginger flavor, stuffed in an asian eggplant served tempura style could be a "last thing I would want if I were stranded on a tropical island" food is all that (pardon my French). Shira age (mackrel) was sliced so beautifully thinly yet long enough to satisfy a hungry bite was a testiment to the chef's abilities. The seaweed salad is perfectly crisp, not overly slimly and appropiately seasoned. This is the kind of bar that has the strength to offer a great selection of fish - like three different kinds of salmon while we were there: farmed raised Scottish, farmed Tazmania salmon (so sue me if i get that one wrong, but I 'm pretty sure he said something about Austrailian salmon) and the third, the absolute best and most precious: wild sockeye salmon. I felt guilty about straying from a sushi-pure dinner but the fried oyster ( panko) was so delicious I can't even begin to describe them. I could eat two dozen of those if nothing else, easy. The wait-staff was wonderfully attendant, and the chefs are really nice, knowledgeable, and attentenive. It's highly unlikely you'll feel underappreciated - they're great. Go for sure for the food, and the service is great! Brix stamp of approval here for Hamano.
(5)
Demarest C.
Perfectly pleasant sushi restaurant, although limited in vegetarian selections - even the usually standard ones. Several special maki creations. Never seems crowded at lunch. Recently changed ownership, which has affected its quality.
(3)
Andrew L.
I'm not sure I understand how others can review this restaurant's sushi so highly. As someone who knows fresh fish, I can't find evidence of particularly fresh or sublime sushi here. There's certainly nothing "incredible" about it, as another reviewer superlatively proclaimed. The selection is unimaginative, with the usual suspects (yawn) like maguro and sake at the centerpiece of the lunch sashimi plate. The hamachi was no better or worse than hamachi I've had elsewhere. The uni was past its prime, having begun to liquefy, as uni will after about four or five days in the cooler. I didn't eat my second piece of it. The shiromaguro was bland and a little mushy, a disappointment. Most shocking was the fact that they couldn't get one of the simplest of sushi dishes right: saba. Saba should feel firm and briny because of the pickling process. Instead, Hamano's saba was mushy and weakly flavored. The saba more than anything suggested to me: "I don't care about the quality of my fish." While the wait staff was very friendly, the sushi chefs themselves did not make eye contact with customers sitting at their bar. This is yet another of those awful sushi restaurants where you cannot order directly from the itamae, but have to order from a waiter instead. Where did this trend come from? It's utterly inauthentic. Itamae should be more like bartenders than bar backs. Which brings me to my final point. I believe it was Trevor Corson in The Story of Sushi who said that you should always look around to see if there are Japanese patrons. If Japanese people eat at a sushi restaurant, it means they've found a little bit of home. Hamano was fairly busy, but not a single non-white person was eating there. I should have turned around and walked out as soon as I noticed that.
(2)
David C.
Hamano is hands down one of my favorite sushi restaurants in SF. I've eaten here twice, once at the bar and once at a table. I have to say the bar was a completely different experience and it changed my mind forever. We did omakase and for once it actually didn't break the bank. Perhaps the cost is lower because they only serve you one piece per order, but that's fine by me because you get to try a lot more fish. If something tasted really good just get another order! Anyway, on to the fish: All the old standbys were excellent, including toro, sake, kanpachi, hamachi, unagi, and hirame. all were super fresh, beautifully presented, and delicious. for me, if those pieces aren't fresh i don't bother going back. but what really stood out for me were some pieces i don't normally get and that they added some extra flair to, like the seared albacore, tai, and aji with dikon and mint leaf. and as much of a sushi snob as i tend to be i normally can't eat uni. i think the first time i had it it wasn't that fresh so it tasted like seawater and was really gooey. the chef here convinced me to try it again and it was actually really good! due to the texture it has to be really fresh, so if i liked it then it had to be. i'll definitely be going back here again, and again. i only wish they took reservations for the bar!
(5)
Jonathan L.
Pros: delicious! great rolls! Cons: tiny portions for the price- $70 for 2 people. The price was upsetting because we both left hungry.
(3)
Dani D.
I only came here and had the California Roll to go. This was quite some time ago,but I think this is a decent restaurant to try and maybe dine at.
(3)
Nancy C.
If you are a sushi lover, do not go here. If you enjoy sushi from time to time and are not picky, this is a place you can try. I love sushi (have frequented fish markets in Japan at 4am and waited in line... try to eat sushi as much as possible in the U.S.) and this place falls flat on its face in my book. The rolls (including simple ones like spicy tuna) are not fresh and not good at all from a taste standpoint. I also got a few pieces of sashimi and was not impressed on quality or freshness. There are better places in the city, and there is no reason for me to go here again.
(1)
Annette M.
Hamano is always a great reliable lunch. Service is always quick, pleasant and food is fresh and tasty, prices are reasonable. Atmoshpere is ok, lunch time it is just what you would want. Clean bathrooms are always a plus in San Francisco.
(4)
Virginia L.
So delicious... and totally reasonable for omakase! I was literally stuffed for just $54. AND I had an order of toro. Our chef was very knowledgeable and not afraid to throw the interesting stuff at us. Highlights of my meal were 3 different salmons (my favorite) - sockeye, farm raised, wild Alaskan, kampachi, scallop with lemon and sea salt, and of course, the toro... a luscious, gigantic, beautiful piece of fish that was quite possibly the best nigiri I've ever had. Instead of bluefin, it was blackfin and not something they have all the time. Apparently an entire fish would cost somewhere around $45,000. Oh yes, and then there was the uni. I've always been a big proponent of sea urchin, probably because I've never ordered it at a restaurant that has had less than stellar quality fish - this was soooo gooooood. Extremely cold and creamy. Ah-maze-ing. Sit at the bar, make friends with the chef. Have a great meal that won't put you out.
(4)
Niniane W.
The sushi here is reasonable, though not mind-blowing. The grilled cod appetizer and sukiyaki are excellent. It's a good neighborhood sushi joint, if you live within walking distance. It's probably not worth driving to.
(4)
Nissa A.
Hamano is my go-to joint for consistently good sushi with few frills. The quality of the fish and the sashimi in particular is very high. That said, if it wasn't three blocks from my house I probably wouldn't go near as much. The good: high quality fish, consistent, can always get a table, decent wine choices for a sushi place, service is always fast. THe not so good - bit pricey, little atmosphere, service can be a bit rude at times. Bottom line: I go because its convenient. But I'll always take suggestions for other sushi places to try out.
(3)
Danielle L.
It was okay. Ordered Castro roll, silk road and dragon. There was a funny taste in the silk road roll, and some of the fish had a really strong "fishy" taste. The edamame is served cold, and didn't seem to have any salt on it. You have to ask for a cup of tea, but they were fairly good at refilling the water. Overall, it was decent , but kinda meh...I won't go out of my way to go back.
(3)
Teri C.
Fishing around in Noe Valley, my friend who lives in the area brought me to his local sushi place - Hamano Sushi. Since I don't frequent this area very much, I was excited to try out this restaurant I've never heard before. Thursday evening - walking in past the sushi bar to the hostess stand, we were seated immediately. I took a quick detour to the restroom to wash up before my meal and noted the speakers built inside. How cute. My dining companion usually focuses on the rolls when he eats there, so I figure I better follow suit. (When sitting at the sushi bar, I usually tend to only get nigiri and sashimi. But since this meal was more for catching up and not so much for enjoying culinary delights, rolls would work out better.) We ordered the Poke roll (spicy white tuna w/ garlic, onion, lemon juice and ooba leaf, $6.95), Spider roll (Fried soft-shell crab & assorted vegetables, $6.95), Rock N' Roll roll (Eel & avocado, $6.50), Tempura roll (Shrimp tempura & assorted vegetables, $7.50), Dragon roll (California roll topped with unagi, $13.95), and Edamame ($3.95). The Poke roll was different because of the white tuna and the ooba leaf added a nice contrast in taste. The Spider roll was standard, except that it fell apart the moment I picked it up. The roll wasn't tight enough and that's never fun when you have little vegetable pieces all over your little plate. The Rock N' Roll and Dragon roll had large chunks of unagi on it, which was a nice plus. And the Tempura roll was pretty basic too. Service - the girl who seated us and took our order was nice. When we commented that our Tempura roll hadn't come yet, she said we didn't order it. (I definitely know we did.) So, we just ordered it again. One of the waiters came by asking if we were done and we actually had just finished putting in another order, so I felt rushed when he came by. I had to ask for my tea to be refilled, and waited a little bit for that to happen. And then the check was plopped on our table without so much as asking if we wanted any dessert or anything. Overall, I felt a bit rushed eating there. They didn't rush us after the bill was put down, but rather I felt it when the waiter came by. My friend comes all the time and I felt like the rolls were a bit overpriced for what I paid. (Over $14 for a CA roll with some unagi?) Total bill: $60, tax and tip included. I would go back again, but sit at the sushi bar and go for the nigiri and sashimi instead.
(3)
Jeff W.
had a combination dinner plate this evening and was not disappointed. very flavorful chicken kara age and properly cooked teri chicken. the rice was perfect. slight graininess in the miso salad dressing took away a star but the meal was very good otherwise.
(4)
Too M.
Love this place. My go-to neighborhood sushi place. Great quality, reasonable prices. Service is alway good. I also use to make a lot of take-away from them - and I'm always happy. Definitely check them out if you are in the area. Try some of their special rolls, they are real good.
(4)
Helen B.
Went here with my friend who lives in Noe Valley. We sat at the bar and I was very delighted. They have a very good apple salmon that is quite tasty, the puffy scallop is quite good too. The sushi chef made us some tasty specials with the fresh fish. The ocean trout and toro we excellent! I rarely go to Noe Valley when in SF, it kind of reminds me of the UWS..lol.. But if you make it out to Noe Valley, this is a good sushi place!
(4)
Shabbir S.
I have spent many a fine meal in Hamano, but I will never go in there again. On Saturday my wife, another couple, and our two very well-behaved children went in to have lunch during the restaurant's slowest period. I attempted to order a tuna (tekka) don, which is sliced tuna over rice. It's my son's favorite dish. The obnoxious waiter said, "there's not enough tuna to make a tuna don". Really? "Very busy night friday". We ended up ordering him a tuna sashimi and a bowl of rice, which my son happily ate. What's the difference? About $4-5 more to order it this way. Later I asked if he they could make us a roll with avocado/tuna roll with tempura bits and was told "No, they won't make that", and yet we got a tempura roll in the same order. (And once again, there seemed to be plenty of tuna.) SF is full of great sushi. Hamano is full of obnoxious wait staff. Go elsewhere. Do you really want to fight to find parking in Noe just to be rudely treated?
(1)
Lauren S.
Oh my god - this place is amazing. I still can't believe how affordable it is, despite its upscale location and vibe in Noe Valley. Of course, whats most important, is the very high quality of the food: Delicious miso soup (which is harder and harder to accomplish nowadays), and incredibly fresh Sashimi. I had a beautiful Ahi spread, and everyone I ate with was equally impressed and pleased. Fast, freiendly service ; a very queer-friendly atmousphere in Noe. This place is fantastic all around and I'd recommend it for any occasion, from a casual get together to a formal birthday dinner.
(5)
Lily Z.
Sushi is pretty average here. Close to my work vicinity and pretty much the only Japanese restaurant I can think of there. Service is always friendly. Their curry is delicious. Bf and I let our stomachs do all the ordering for us, so we ended up with two entrees and a sushi meal. It's a good neighborhood restaurant but I wouldn't drive here just to eat here specifically.
(3)
Mariangela S.
Really fresh fish and totally creative rolls. The gyoza are good not amazing, the veggie tempura is really good - always cool veggies. Last night we had the Sunset, Dolores and Sanchez rolls and they were delicios. I order anything without "mayo". We picked up and the woman on the phone made excellent suggestions, and also let us know about items that were on the more expensive side, giving us an "out" if it was out of budget. The toro they had was outstanding - kind of like butter but better!
(4)
SF F.
Hit or miss rolls, both in presentation and taste.
(3)
Joshua W.
I've yelped up my mind......The Dolores Roll is FANTASTIC! Spicy White Tuna, crunchy garlic, assorted veggies, 7 spice mayo (someone please tell me what the spices are so I can keep a tupperware dish of it in my fridge!) & tobiko wrapped in sesame soy paper. Spread a little wasabi and some pickled ginger and WOOHOO!!! They always have a nice little crowd whenever I go AND that water glass was never empty. Thank you Hamano, see you soon.
(4)
Teddy B.
Hamano Restaurant is a pleasant place for a laid back dinner devoid of ear thumping music. However I wasn't feelin' it at Hamano, because the walls were bland and beige. All the cool kids know that beige walls is a clear indicator of bleh sushi rolls. Hence, the more colorful the walls, then the more zappy the sushi. Act like ya heard. Many rolls ran about $8, but the bill for two with only one alcoholic drink totaled $85 including tip. That was one fancy drink. Is $85 a lot for mediocre sushi? Well, is wasabi green? 2.5 stars. Probably won't return. ___________________________ Kaki Su: the fresh oysters in ponzu sauce was my favorite of the night Ceviche: nice presentation, but hardly any tuna, salmon or white fish among the seaweed Nigiri: Hamachi and Unagi--these were okay Alaska Roll: salmon, avocado, tobiko -- bleh Poke Roll: spicy white tuna w/garlic -- bleh Noe Roll: yellowtail, green mint leaf, lemon -- ditto Macha creme brulee: might be okay if you like green tea, but bleh
(3)
Julie H.
Still hungry! Honestly...I can't say I tried their sushi since portions were so small! I mean its a good thing we snacked prior to dinner - otherwise there was no way we could process all the saki we drank...It was on the pricey side as well. What I do give them props on is handling our huge group - our huge saki drinking intoxicated group. Parking is pretty decent and within walking distance of some great bars.
(3)
Justin C.
If you are in Noe Valley then this is your sushi spot. The rolls and nigiri were great. I really liked how there was a little hidden wasabi inside teh nigiri. I was really impressed with the soup and seaweed salad. The service was great. I would try to sit at the sushi bar for a better experience.
(4)
Nichole P.
Hamano has fantastic gomae the sauce is great, which is key in that dish. However, the sushi rolls were not as bangin'.... my great company and I had the noe, 24th, valencia and the florida rolls. They all were 'A-Ok". The service is great though. The wait staff is very quick and helpful. This restaurant is good for the neighborhood, but I think there are better spots to grab a roll around town.
(3)
David Y.
Decent Sushi at this joint and some pretty good sashimi. As far as the sushi goes I would say that it was good but not great enough to make me want to come back. I had the california and dragon rolls. Also, we had a ton of sashimi which racked up our bill to around 400. Pretty expensive fish you might say, but I'm a noob I don't know what sashimi should cost or taste like. Was quite an experience, however two dishes I do recommend you try are the tuna sashimi and the mochi. Bon apetit!
(3)
HY L.
Must have: Midnight special = Raw oyster, uni, ikura, quail egg and (I think 1 or 2 more eggs like tobiko or masago) with some ponzu dressing.
(5)
Tyler C.
One of my favorite sushi spots in the city. Reasonable prices and great service. They have the best Goma Ae (boiled spinach w/sesame sauce) that you'll ever have. Try the Castro roll, if you're looking for something fried. If you're really there for the fish, it's hard to go wrong with the Assorted Sashimi (chef's choice).
(4)
Ian C.
Went there and had sashimi on Friday night - super good. Excellent, actually. Also got a roll. And the conclusion - stick to the sashimi. The roll left something to be desired, but the sashimi was DAMN good. Stick with it and you'll enjoy this place!
(4)
Marti P.
When deciding on a neighborhood to move to from Tampa Florida, close by GOOD sushi was on our list of need to haves and Hamano fit the bill. We've been there several times and when I was homebound we picked up a feast to share with visiting family. The service is always friendly without being phony. No pressure to get a move on if your dinner is winding down and there are a few folks waiting. Brion and I each have our favorite roll and each visit we try something new. The Apple Shrimp appetizer fried in a light crisp butter with roasted almonds and fuji - apple, w/ spicy sesame sauce is AMAZING and a must have with each of our orders. If you're not up for black sesame or green tea creme brule or green tea ice cream than take a walk down 24th to get some gelato at Belgano Chocolatier Gelateria or some Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt at Mikes.
(4)
Grace W.
I have to admit that I was skeptical when I walked into the restaurant because all the patrons were white (I understand that anyone can enjoy sushi, but I was just surprised by the homogeneity since we *are* in San Francisco). Anyway, my friend and I shared a bunch of rolls - Valencia, Hamachi, Rock N Roll, Elizabeth. They were all good, but we especially enjoyed the Valencia and Elizabeth. I'm not going to try to convince myself that Hamano is authentically Japanese, but the fish seems fresh and the price is right, so I'll definitely be back.
(4)
annie c.
This place is disappointing. I ordered a noodle soup that pretty much tasted like saltwater...the service was lackluster and the ambience did nothing for me. There are too many other sushi places to hit up so I probably wont be giving this place a second try.
(2)
Megan M.
So... Hamano lunch special makes my week. Really, it puts me in a happy place just thinking about it. Every Sunday @ 2pm my bottom is at the sushi bar chowing down on fresh, flavorful, fabulous sush. Two rolls, miso and a salad for $9.95. Best thing about it is - I walk in, put my coat on the chair, have a glass of water within 30 seconds, salad within a minute, soup within a minute and half and sushi within like 6 minutes. This is mindless pleasure. There is usually no talking involved. The sushi chef always shaves cucumbers in a paper thin sheet right in front of us which is all the entertainment I need.
(4)
Gors P.
what i ordered... tempura w/ california rolls and miso soup, salmon nigiri(sake), bbq eel nigiri(unagi) tempura, miso soup and the nigiri sushi's were ok but the cali roll's suck's like most japanese joint's out there now a day's, it was made with ground tasteless scaled creature. the salad that came with the tempura platter was exceptional, lot's of green leafy veggies, just like the one's you get at fancy american restaurant's. ambiance... ok (neat with clean bathroom) service... great (staff's visited my table any time they got a chance) cost... $$
(3)
Maria T.
Stumbled upon this place while walking in Noe Valley one evening. Prompt, attentive service, fresh fish, creative sushi rolls. Clean, pleasant establishment good for groups as well.
(4)
carla f.
Picked this restaurant because it was in the neighborhood we're visiting. We live in Santa Monica and go for sushi OFTEN. The sushi at Hamano was of excellent quality and the service was wonderful. The waitress recommended some nigiri specials and they were dynamite. She was really helpful and friendly. Children were welcome and the general atmosphere was nice. The sushi choices were greater than I expected.
(4)
Anna W.
I've been to Hamano countless times and it's a pretty good sushi restaurant. They always make up new creative dishes so expect surprises. Every time i went, i would sit at the sushi bar. There's 3, sometimes 2 chefs and it feels like you've just hired your own personal chef. FISH: fresh, but toro is kinda expensive ($12 nigiri ? ) Rolls: Yummy, but i dunno what i ordered since the chef always make something for me. Must try : the apple almond shrimp salad -- i think this is one of their specials. u gotta ask for it, its not on the menu i'm giving this place a 4 stars, not bc i know the chefs there, but because its actually pretty good
(4)
Shayna N.
We live semi-close to here and had coupons for a discount on a meal. The fish was fresh, the service was excellent. I agree about the interior resembling some sort of weird cafeteria from the 80s. The fish was above average. I really enjoyed the valencia roll and the hamachi but the sake and the hirame were both a little too chewy. I'd go back with another coupon but it's not at the top of my list.
(4)
Sean Z.
Best In SF, my fav in SF. Im from LA so im picky about my stuff Comparable to Taiko in Irvine Ask Jiro about the Daily Specials, such as Live Uni and scallop, My fav dish is the Toro (damn its good
(5)
Jojo N.
Pretty good, reasonable price sushi! The happy hour is okay, their sake and beer are 20% off from 4:30-6:30. I got a large Saporro for $5 and some change! I ordered 2 rolls, one was the Sunset roll which was SOO delicious and the Ocean queen was NOT good. My GF got the dragon roll which was really good, too and she got the Spider roll which was just OK. I'd come back here for happy hour!
(4)
Josh F.
A prime sushi takeout spot in "mommy valley," Hamano gives decent value and the food was OK. The bonito was very good.
(3)
Amber L.
I came here on a Sunday to find a long waiting list for the sushi bar. We settled for a table and I had to forgo my plans of flirting with the sushi chef to get the best cuts, it was probably for the best since the SO would not have been happy with me. This is great place and apparently everyone else in Noe thinks so as well because everything I really wanted was not available except for the sakura masu and the fort bragg uni. If you haven't tried fort bragg uni, run and get some, that stuff is like pure butter. I've been here before but I don't remember them running out of fish like it was crack so I will be back to get my hana no mai and sashimi on again.
(4)
Lily B.
Hamano is a good place to go for sushi and Japanese food in general, but it's not the best I ever had.
(3)
Bronwen K.
If you're already in the Noe Valley area of SF this is a good restaurant. I wouldn't travel across town to eat there but it's certainly good if you're in the area. Our party of 8 was seated without a reservation, no wait, on a Friday night around 9:30pm. The servers were attentive and helpful without hovering. The sushi was good, not spectacular. The shrimp stuffed mushrooms were excellent and the pan seared bass was outstanding. The place has essentially no atmosphere or fancy decor but it was great for a dinner with friends and business associates. It was also a real bonus to have such a large party seated that late with no reservations and to get out of there for less than $210 including beers, sake, multiple appetizers and several plates of sushi.
(3)
Marty F.
Came here for the first time last night. it's really close to my place but I just haven't gotten around to go. Anyways, Hamano is your typical SF Sushi joint. i had the Valencia roll, which is salmon and jalapeno's (tad bit racist, but whatever) . My mother had the spicy tuna which wasn't as good. I topped off the evening with Miso soup, which was above average and a very good cali roll. if you're in noe valley, check it out but it's not worth a cross-town trek
(4)
Eva W.
Great sushi! Its not the fanciest place but man it is good food. Great for pickup also-- quick & easy. love this local place
(4)
Anthony P.
Sushi was not fresh at all. Also, when I ordered the sushi/sashimi special despite what the menu said they told me I could only get Yellowtail for the sashimi. What's worse is that they charged me 3 extra dollars for it, which they later explained was an extra charge for yellowtail. Hmmm, kind of suspicious to me.
(2)
Ashley Q.
Call me a sushi snob, I won't argue with you. Hamano is a little gem hidden in Noe Valley. Parking isn't difficult, so non-Noe residence don't fear! The fish is good, not the best, but good. It taste's fresh. They have a good menu of rolls, nigiri, sashimi, bento style dishes, traditional and non-traditional appetizers. The decor is quite plain, but that's not what you come to Hamano for. You come for the food. There is rarely a wait, the service is friendly and non-intrusive. When I'm hanging out in Noe and craving sushi, this is where you'll find me. CleanScore 96 cs.testcs.com.s32845.gri…
(4)
Joshua W.
You ever have one of those meals where there really isn't anything wrong with it, but it leaves you rather apathetic about the whole experience? That was my impression of Hamano Sushi last night. Service was rather slow, the fish was fresh, the rolls were somewhat lackluster, and the bill was $75 for two people. Were I in the neighborhood and had a craving for sushi I would come here, but it's definitely not a place I'd seek out. I suggest they change their name from Hamano Sushi to Generic Sushi.
(3)
Kim R.
I went here last night because I forgot to bring a jacket and did not feel like searching around Noe Valley for somewhere else I have to say I was not really impressed with this place I found it to be over priced and not as good as things looked or sounded I tried the spinach appetizer and I like oshi tashi but was not sure what sauce was on this it tasted sort of like peanut...Did not like it I also had a smll salad w/avacado and the Tuna I my brother ordered like 4 rolls and a calamari salad It was 85.00 with tip 100 we did not even order any drinks besides water so I found it to be way to pricey 4 food that I did not even care for... My first and last visit I see that this place has gotten some great reviews ....Guess it goes to that old opinions are like assholes and everybody's got 1
(2)
J-Meoww W.
Alaska Roll: How did they make a salmon and avocado roll taste so brilliant? I think they serve their sushi slightly warmer than other places, which really makes a difference in taste. I really like it. (Can anyone else back me up or am I making this up?) The nigiri we ordered were very good, the Spider Roll was decent. Very calm, traditional interior. (If you find the reggae music and trippy atmosphere of Tamasei too much, this place is for you.)
(4)
Gregor M.
Hamano became a last minute choice for dinner recently, and thankfully turned out to be a good pick. Ordered up a round of Nigiri Sake, Hamachi, Ebi, and Maguro complimented by a spicy tuna roll, and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the cut. Fair prices, my water glass never went empty, a good quick sushi pick.
(3)
laura g.
I must say I wasn't expecting a decent sushi restaurant in Noe Valley. But, Hamano was a pleasant surprise. The sushi was good, there was some interesting dishes and they had a nice drink menu. Service was nice, nothing exceptional. However, I, too, had a couple pieces fall apart, indicating a loose roll by the chef. There was no real atmosphere to speak of. I look forward to returning & trying the bar, hopefully I can be wowed there.
(3)
Annie A.
Consistently fresh, some of the best in SF. Decor is not over the top. When you go to Hamano you know you'll be getting the best sushi, the most skilled chefs without all the pomp and circustance. Nuff!
(5)
Bob P.
It was ok. We were in San Francisco from Georgia and wanted really good sushi and this was one of the recommendations. It was about equal to what we normally get in Georgia so that was somewhat depressing. Don't get me wrong... It was good, but just not blow you away kind of place. Server couldn't be bothered to check on us and was very rushed and seemed like he wanted to just get us in and out. Prices are reasonable and food quality was fine.
(3)
Tuppence D.
Yum Yum Castro Roll was really good, even the people at the next table asked what I was eating cuz it looked yummy. Only negative was that two girls came out of a single womens restroom together ... oh well, that's SF.
(5)
Fariba E.
Awesome sushi selection, friendly staff, can't get any better! I have tried most their sushi selection and I am sooooo glad we have this place in our neighborhood.
(5)
Jennifer K.
Until recently my boyfriend and I lived walking distance from this place. The atmosphere is always warm and inviting, clean and comfortable. This was our go-to spot for sushi in Noe Valley. We love this place because it is unpretentious and it serves a focused and innovative menu. If you pay close attention to the flavors in some of their well designed rolls, you will notice the various components all coming together in ways that you don't always expect from a bite of sushi these days. On the subject of pricing--we never had a bill under $50 between the two of us (but we always get sake). They have coupons that they offer on their website and via mail to the neighborhood so that helps bring costs down. I've been to much more expensive places for sushi in the city that are mostly about hype or house music and less about the menu.
(4)
ClosetDork ..
All the good things that you could possibly expect from a sushi restaurant, without the bad. What you could expect for: 1) Fresh sashimi 2) Original sushi rolls (try Sunset or Valencia) not found anywhere else 3) Super-fast, non-intrusive service (I'm big on this. See my review of Red Crane) What you would not find in this restaurant: 1) Insanely long wait 2) Loud thumping music 3) Waiters dressed as wannabe hipsters 4) Funky interiors and wall paints that would make Warhol weep with envy (Read: This place is no Blowfish Sushi To Die For - see my other review)
(4)
Jaume P.
Unpretentious and great fresh sushi. I love siting at the bar and try every alspecial sushi of the day
(4)
Julia C.
Went here yesterday evening in an endless attempt to try all the delicious sushi spots in the city. It was very yummy! We got the spicy fried tofu and okra appetizer and it was super tasty. I know okra is usually not typical sushi restaurant fare (at least from my experience) but it complemented the dish perfectly. Then I ordered two rolls, the Dolores and the Midori. The Dolores is a spicy white tuna roll with veggies and the Midori is a veggie roll. Both were very good and fresh. My only complaint is I wish they were wrapped in seaweed instead of that white rice paper. It wasn't bad, it just altered the taste a bit. I also am a big fan of ginger and have to say that I kind of judge a sushi spot by it's ginger. Hamano had the nice off white fresh ginger, not the gross pink, slimy dyed stuff.
(4)
Jane L.
Nice atmosphere. Good neighborhood sushi. My friend ordered the Noe roll and loved it, need I say more? =) The teriyaki chicken and tempura were good. But the accompanying salad was a little strange. And when my friend asked for miso soup instead of a salad, our waitress looked at us and firmly stated "NO SUBSTITUTIONS!". ok, maybe it wasn't that emphatic of a "no", but it felt that way especially with the non-yummy salad.... Atmosphere? 4 stars Food? 3.5 stars Would I return? Yes, if I'm short on time and craving Japanese food, else I might trek over to 9th and Irving from Noe Valley.
(3)
Alicia J.
It is here I discovered one of my favorite sushi items to date- Aji. This is a quaint little neighborhood restaurant making me ridiculously pleased that they offer a frequent diner's club, which I highly suggest. Downfalls: I have never been able to sit at the bar, which I tend to enjoy at Sushi restaurants, and thus have had very little in the area of chef recommendations.
(4)
Jin Z.
Fresher fish than Webe and other similar more hole in the wall places. Cleaner facilities too. But slightly more expensive, so you don't quite get to savor the feeling of being a master of cheap eats afterward. Service is nothing special, but I've never had anything to complain about.
(4)
Jenny S.
The Japanese style entrance in deceiving. From the drab brown carpet, to the cheap tables to the mauve wallpaper.. the decor alone screams DO NOT TAKE A DATE HERE. So the scene wasn't really happening, but I'm here to try the fish. Before I got there though, a few annoying things on the menu that caught my eye. I have this problem with rules that don't accommodate the customer that don't really make sense. If you order sashimi for example, they can only do it by pieces of 7 instead of 4 or 8 like most places. I wanted a few different types of fish, and it wasn't happening unless I wanted to go with chef's choice sashimi dinner. The food was fine I guess. Miso soup with noodles in it (weird), seaweed salad, live scallops (for a whopping $13 and they didn't even give me that awesome sauce for it), and hamachi nigiri. But the prices were about 50% more than most places I've been to. At the end of the day, the meal alone is probably the most unsatisfying I've every paid $30 for, not to mention the painfully off decor and annoying rules. Needless to say I won't be back.
(2)
Matthew K.
I am very picky about sushi places. This place consistently delivers high quality fish and plenty of creative, unique rolls at very reasonable prices. If I'm going super upscale and want top of the line, I'll go to Ino. But Hamano is still excellent, and a good bit cheaper.
(5)
Colleen C.
almond shrimp appetizer was delicious ! spicy slivers of apple with slices of almonds and crispy shrimp cut in perfect sizes. the tempura was also very good, came out hot and just fried. ordered several nigiri picks - all of which were fresh. hamachi was yum, and i was pleasantly surprised it came with 8 good-sized pieces. we also ordered the castro roll which was good, but not a big fan of the sweet sauce (i think it takes away from the taste). overall, the service was wonderful, the servers were very knowledgeable and pleasant. the food was delicious and i would recommend this place!
(4)
Susan F.
I have been going here with my parents since I was in diapers. There have been changes in management, and fluctuations in quality, but I've been going for lunch over the past few months, and they seem to have returned to being utterly fantastic. The staff is friendly and wonderful, and I haven't met anyone behind the sushi bar I didn't love. Go for lunch-- they have great, cheap specials!
(5)
Nicole H.
It's my neighborhood sushi place. After Amasia, I'm definitely spoiled. Or maybe my expectations are too high for what a neighborhood sushi restaurant should really be. I guess my feelings about Hamano really come down to a few things. First of all, each time I've been there, the service has been lackluster. Last time, my friend had to actually STOP a wait person and ask them to take our order. I also feel that this place is overpriced, especially since the quality of the fish can really vary during the meal. I tend to order the same things and have been disappointed in the cut of the nigiri more often than not. They have a nice selection of innovate rolls. As with the nigiri, I find them to be hit-and-miss. Some of the combinations are very good, while others are just plain wrong.
(2)
Avi S.
I have been searching for an easy access neighborhood sushi place that is high quality. I think I finally found one! The salmon is the best I've had, I couldn't get enough of it. Everything else we ordered was fresh and delicious. I gave it four stars because so far I've only tried 3 sushi rolls and salmon sashimi so far, but I will definitely go back. It is also reasonably priced if you compare it to the trendy and overrated places I've been in SOMA/Potrero Hill.
(4)
Delilah B.
Great quality sushi. Nigri and rolls are not over riced (? is that even a term?) When I feel like sushi on a week night, this is where I go to have it.
(4)
Helen L.
It gets really hot in here unless the door is open. There's a huge jump between the pricing of lunch compared to dinner. I believe the portion size stays the same since the bento box was quite small in quantity and was definitely not worth $15. Wait time to get seated was quite quick for a friday night but we waited for our food for quite a long time. A table that got filled after us got their appetizers before we even got our entrees and the bf's bento box arrived (no longer warm) way before my vegetarian sushi. The chicken he ordered was good though already at room temp and i did enjoy the shittake roll and the oshinko roll though not the ume shiso (it tasted really weird). Three small rolls cost me $14. A can of soda cost $2.75. How pricey. I know it's Noe Valley but I can't justify playing for a overpriced meal along with slow service and small portions. Definitely had better experiences. We won't be coming back.
(2)
Brenda B.
I give them four stars for fantastic service but the food was more 3 star. Good, but not the best I've ever had. Don't order the 24th street roll. Its cute, but fried and flavorless. Do order the alaska roll and the dolores. The spicy tuna was good but not spicy. The wasabi was not strong enough and we had to ask for more. The service was fantastic and they quickly helped our group of 16. They kept tea and water glasses full, helpful in many ways. I'm sure we'll go back
(4)
Marie A.
I've been here twice and then I gave up. The quality is OK. Everything is formulaic. The few creative rolls/dishes they have fall flat. It's not really bad, just not worth it. Go to Tamasei down the street. So much better.
(2)
Ann F.
So when you go to Hamano (as my husband and I go to once a week) consider the following: keep with the nigiri/sashimi sit at the bar and ask what's good check out the specials board rolls wise, the valencia is our favorite go with the sushi chef's suggestions, you're usually not dissapointed their fish is fresh and their sushi best is the simple stuff, go fancy/complex and you might be sorry oh and if you like their suggestions buy them a beer! sure the atmosphere could use some creativity, but easily ignored for fresh fish
(4)
Sabine S.
I go here way too much for my own good. It's close, it's high quality, it's traditional, yet different, and the staff always remembers me. I could probably eat here every day and never get sick of it. Don't expect elaborate menu items with gold flakes dusted over the top, or rolls stuffed with strange fusion-y ingredients fried and dressed in creative sauces. On the contrary, Hamano is very simple, honest, and well-done. Inside--the decor is nothing fancy, nor is the menu, but everything is fresh and well-done. Almond Shrimp & Black cod are my favorite appetizers to order. Nigiri: garlic albacore, spicy scallop and uni. Rolls: Castro and Poke. There are several Hamano menus floating around (the ones online are different then they one they give you with their take out). Best thing to do is call and ask about their specials and/or order from one of the menus online (the online menu is more extensive than the take-out one I always get). Also, the lunch menu is considerably smaller than the dinner menu. As for the comments about this place being expensive--it's sushi. Good, fresh sushi doesn't come cheap. If you are the California-roll only type sushi person, then this is probably not going to be a good restaurant. If you are the type of person who enjoys a laid-back neighborhood sushi restaurant with fresh fish and clean, traditional flavors, then this your place.
(4)
Philip G.
WTF?!?! This used to be one of my favorite sushi places with generous portions of great fresh fish, fun sushi chefs and cool and creative appetizers. That is all gone. The quality of fish and service is mediocre and the place just lacks the fun atmosphere it used to have. I thought that perhaps they were having an off night and then I read Cameron C's review. I am terribly disappointed. The new regime blows.
(1)
Mud S.
Scallops are amazing!!!! Everything about this place is awesome: clean, great staff, reasonable prices, drunk sushi chefs, and wonderful sushi. Music would be appreciated but not necessary. Scallops, scallops, scallops
(5)
Emily T.
When I can't make it to Grande Hos, I like to get sushi to go from here. This is my go-to spot. I frequently eat here. They've got really nice, fresh fish. High quality, they don't scrimp and buy the lower grade stuff. It's a little spendy but worth it. The real deal, you won't find cream cheese or any other random crap on the menu here. Just straight up sushi. Yum.
(4)
Remy L.
CHECK YOUR TO-GO ORDERS!! Not sure why my review can't be seen. Let's try to repost it. I will never go back or order food to go from Hamano. The last time I ordered sushi to go ($100 worth), I realized once I got home that I was missing some of the nigiris I had ordered, and for which I had been charged. I called and was told that they were about to call me (yeah, sure) to let me know that my debit card would be credited for the price of the missing sushi. Well, it was never credited. I called many times, asked to have a manager call me back, but to no avail. I should have use my credit card so I could have been able to contest the entire charge. My bad. So, I'm sorry Hamano, you lost a good customer, and I'm spreading the word.
(1)
Alli D.
I love Hamano Sushi! Tonight was my second time being here and it was better then the first. For starters we ordered three almond shrimp, which are absolutely delicious. My uncle also ordered a seaweed salad, but you can't really go wrong with that. Our entrees consisted of tempura and california roll, pan seared sea bass, and tofu soup. My sushi was fantastic and so was my mom's sea bass. For desert be got free vanilla mochi and sesame creme brulee which is to die for. * mom's the plum wine is delicious as well Service gets an A+ for not only our table but other tables as well. Right next to us was a family of foreigners. From what i could tell they were speaking french and had their children at another table. The waitress kept them occupied by making chopstick helpers out of rubber bands and paper. The youngsters were loud and broke a glass, and everyone in the restaurant got an on the house ice cream for their disturbance. On top of that she always refilled our water and answered all of my uncles questions. I will definitely be back soon.
(5)
Meagan C.
This is our go to spot for take-out sushi. It is not unreasonably priced and the sushi is good and reliable. Their rolls are not particularly fancy (i.e. creative and complicated), but delicious nonetheless. Some of our favorites are the Valencia and the Dolores. I also get the miso soup here and like it because in addition to the tofu and seaweed, there are tiny noodles. On take-out for 2, we usually spend $35-$40.
(4)
Mel P.
Came here with some friends to just eat and hangout. We were seated promptly even after writing my name down on the list. It was pretty crowded. We ordered a number of rolls--the castro, alaskan, valencia, etc. Nothing really stood out for me. If you know me, you know that I like things SPICY. The spiciest one I tried wasn't that spicy...we even asked the waitress for hot sauce...nope, still not hot...oh well. Don't get me wrong the sushi we had was good but of course, I have had better...the staff were friendly and nice and continued to pour us water when they were down...the bill wasn't bad at all...atmosphere is good. Overall, we managed to have a good time!
(3)
Adrian F.
Good neighborhood sushi place at a decent price. It's a toss up b/w here and Kama Sushi if you live in Noe.
(4)
Brian D.
My wife and I walk here every week. It's a great little sushi place. Pretty cheap, but pretty inventive too. Love the Castro roll.
(5)
Jeff P.
After dining at Hamano several times, I think I've figured it out. My favorites include the garlic albacore (alabacore nigiri with garlic sauce... tasty!), hamachi, spicy tuna roll, and the 24th st. roll. The toro has been hit and miss - the last time I went, it was waaaaay too oily for me. But as long as I stick with the standards, I'm happy. The only bummer for me is that they took their poke salad off the menu! They now have a poke roll that is almost as good, but it's not the same. However, we did ask them if they'd make us a poke salad special and they did... so I guess I can't really complain. As others have said, the atmosphere is somewhat hotel-like, but if you're looking to eat some good fish, who cares.
(4)
Jay H.
Pretty good tempura...not to heavily breaded and NO eggplant!! I hate eggplant. It has the consistency of goo. Purple goo...bleh. Deep fried purple goo...double bleh. I imagine though that it's a piece of that lame ass dinosaur my little sister used to love to watch. I imagine pieces of him being dipped in the batter and then slowly lowered into the boiling scalding oil to be fried up into crunchy yet slimy slices. "I love you...you love AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! HELP ME!!! FUUUUCCCKKK!!!!" That's right....Barney Tempura. Make it a Combo lunch with Chicken Teriyaki...which was also very good.
(4)
Joe H.
Can I give 3.6 stars? I hate having to choose between 3 and 4 stars. It was good. Came in with friends for dinner and we all ordered a few rolls and went to town. Don't feel like I could really give any negative comments like others have regarding the service. It was slow that day but I don't feel like we were ignored. Nothing really special either though. Fish was fresh, considering it's a sushi place in the city the price seems right. Wouldn't consider going out of my way to go here. I would rather try something new. That being said I have had better, both in and outside of the city. The atmosphere is nice, makes it easy to talk to everyone and the place was clean. The speed in which we received our rolls was inconsistent. Some we received within 5 minutes and others took about 10. So certain people were close to being finished while other were waiting.
(3)
Andre H.
Went there for dinner last night: friendly service for sure, and decent and reasonably priced traditional Japanese food, however I was a tad unimpressed. The portions were a bit too large, and the tempura a bit too heavy. As for the sushi, I think it ought to have been cuts that melted in the mouth more than these did. Sounds negative, but if friends were to invite me back, I'd go, but might not go back on my own accord given the cities other choices and chance for exploration.
(3)
Jer N.
Hamano is generally pretty good. A little inconsistant. The first few times I went it was fannnn-tastic. But it's slipped over the years to now what I'd call usually pretty good or very good. Sometimes in the flavor -- dishes that used to blow me away seem to be lacking something that they used to have. Sometimes it's the presentation -- a big part of eating sushi and sashimi is with your eyes. Last night, we got served our three rolls and instead of being pretty they were by and large a big mess. Still tasty, though. They have some spectacular non-traditional rolls -- I really like the 'Valencia', for instance, which has onion and jalepeno slices slathered on top of the tobiko, rice, and fish (salmon, i think). The specials are often very good -- there's this deep-fried spicy tofu they offer at times that is delightful. The teri chicken is good (tender, well-cooked, nice flavor), as is the salmon. Saki comes fast and hot and as frequently as you want it. They're fairly kid friendly; some booster seats are available. In any case -- this is my neighborhood go-to place. The prices ain't too bad. The fish and food are almost as good as Deep Sushi, and the service is 40,000x better.
(3)
Chauntay J.
Salmon noodles were amazing! Realy nice staff..great service!
(5)
Tim B.
The key to this place is the lunch special. It's sort of a bento box on a plate. You choose what you want: I always get teriyaki chicken, some kind of roll, and it comes with rice and a big side salad with delicious dressing. There are better places for straight-up sushi, but this is pretty good. Sit at the bar if you want sushi; they seem to serve the good stuff to the people at the bar and send the pre-made stuff back to the tables in the back. Their sushi's a little pricey for what you get; but then, I think everybody's sushi's a little pricey for what you get.
(4)
JR H.
I enjoy Hamano more than most sushi places. Not a lot of frills, but the fish is fresh and the portions are good!! You would think in Noe Valley they would be better set up for young kids.
(4)
Sara L.
This was my very first actual sushi experience. Of course I've had my share of different rolls (mostly just California, spicy tuna, you know the basics). Nevertheless, I came here roughly 3 years ago and haven't been able to stop coming whenever possible. I was forced, yes forced, to try all different kinds of Nigiri. I am SO glad I actually gave in and tried the sushi here, it's incredible. I highly recommend Hamano for a great meal!
(4)
Frances g.
Let me preface with the fact that I only tried sushi, which is my only reason for going to a place like this I think the fish here was very good quality with 3 small exceptions: the uni was not as moist as i would like it, the fish roe felt slightly too crunchy, and the yellowtail did not melt in my mouth like high quality yellow tail tends to. i really liked the atmosphere, and enjoy the quiet that the early (lack of) crowd affords me. I feel I could form a bond here with the sushi chef, and the staff was pleasant, but with an empty house early on they seemed eager to seat me when i was waiting for my dinner companions, as if they wanted to get me in and out. I completely agree with those who say its a great neighborhood place, because i do feel at home, and i think its a wonderful suhi joint, if you are willing to take the three small exceptions i stated above.
(4)
Wendy L.
I was warned by my friend who lives in the 'hood that Hamano is just okay...and not as good as her favorite place (which was closed!). She definitely tempered my expectations...and they were met. We got take-out, and they were relatively fast in getting us order. But when we got home, the two rolls I ordered (spicy tuna and spider) weren't that great. The flavor just seemed a little off....and the rolls were actually relatively small. I was also surprised - no oshitashi! I LOVE oshitashi and was disappointed to not find it on the menu....
(3)
Stan L.
This is a very good sushi place in the heart of Noe Valley, one of the last refuges for the middle-class white person in SF. Compared to the rest of SF, Noe Valley is almost devoid of any ethnics, which made me question how good Hamano was (see my review of Hahn's Hibachi). Luckily, it's very good. I'm not sure if this place is 100% Japanese (my friend said two of the waiters were talking in Mandarin), but nonetheless, the sushi is very authentic. The fish is very fresh, and the rolls are pretty creative and tasty. There is one roll (I think it's the Noe roll) that tastes like dish soap, but it may be the green leaf they used as a garnish. Everything else is delicious, especially their salmon sashimi, the Valencia, the Spicy Tuna and the Sanchez.
(4)
Foodie F.
Not bad for a quick and reasonably priced sushi place. They have other options like chicken and beef for your friends that are disgusted by sushi, which makes it a good place for people of different palette types. The specials are artfully done and they are creative with their flavor combinations. Overall, good experience and presentation, but average taste compared to many of the sushi places in San Francisco.
(3)
Lee B.
I came with my boyfriend on a Sunday night - maybe 3 tables were occupied. Which I guess is not unusual for Noe on a Sunday night. I had a mediocre hot pot - not impressed. To be fair, i didn't have the sushi. Halfway through dinner I realized I was feeling almost anxious because it felt like we were at a depressing place in the suburbs, like places I used to go as a kid in Saratoga or Cupertino. But if that doesn't bother you, or if you find that charming...
As far as sushi quality goes, I think Hamano is consistently amongst the best in the city. Big, fat pieces of fresh fish lazily adorn neatly formed balls of rice.. Fresh salmon is my favorite, and the salmon I've had at Hamano has been soooo sooo soo good. For awhile, they experimented with this "sushi pizza" thing which was kind of gross sounding on the menu, but I ordered it a few times and it was actually quite tasty. It was this personal pizza sized creation of salmon, mayo and tobiko. Yah, my heart almost stopped whilst eating it, but I was saddened when they took that thing off the menu. Mmm. But, yah.. the ambiance isn't anything to write home about (but then again, when do you write home about that.. "Dear Mom.. I went to the prettiest restaurant today...") -- the service is solid, not really anything memorable about it either way for me, honestly. I'll be back, for the fish, definitely.
(4)
Gene X.
Another of my top sushi pix for SF. First introduced by my favorite landlord who's now on a world tour (I guess courtesy of my rent payments to some effect!). Anyhow, the sushi bar is way better than the tables as the service itself isn't stellar back there. Not the cheapest, but nice sized fish on the nigiri and their toro is often my favorite.
(4)
Dan M.
Because I was in a different neighborhood and in a new city, I decided to try some different things. Anyway, there was a leaf that was placed in the spicy tuna rolls that was like nothing I've had before: kinda similar taste to a bay leaf (but actually edible). I'd definitely return to this place again and try a bit more.
(4)
Tweaty B.
If you really want to evaluate a sushi place, sit at the bar not at a table. I think the table and take-out* customers are the ones getting the pre-sliced stuff. Yes, it's different since the new owners took over; the prices went up but the service improved as well. They also have a much better selection of sakes now. The only complaint I have ever had (about the new owners) is that they switched to faux crab for some of the makis. Just specify you want real crab when ordering. *Personally, I've found getting raw-fish-sushi as a take-out order is an exercise in futility. No matter how good the sushi might be at the bar, the take-out version is never better than mediocre.
(4)
moosedog i.
I like their food, but for some reason I always have to do a double-take when they bring the check.
(3)
David M.
Been here a few times. Sushi is standard. Dinner entrees are ok. A little surprised that dinner came out to $50 for two people, no alcohol...
(2)
Demanding T.
Its gone downhill since Hamano retired. Its still ok not great.....not the same place.
(3)
Mitzi C.
Great service, speedy food delivery, but just so-so food. Seaweed salad lacked flavor (I think it needed more dressing or something). The edamame dumplings were pretty yummy. The rolls, however, were just not very tasty -- the descriptions sounded great, but it was definitely not a taste sensation in your mouth. The fish was fresh, just not very flavorful.
(3)
Jessica M.
Wonderfully priced, innovative fresh sushi and efficient friendly service makes this Noe Valley spot a must when you're craving a light meal in the San Francisco summer heat. Try the spicy white fish Dolores Roll or the very green Midori Roll. Dinner for two with three specialty rolls and yummy sake cost around $50 with tip included. They don't take reservations so you may have to wait a while on a Friday or Saturday night. It closed at ten so I'd say Thursday at 9pm was the perfect time to go.
(3)
Michelle G.
Sigh. We stopped by here on a Friday night and immediately stole those 2 empty stools by the bar. Thus, seating wasn't a problem. Actually, the restaurant itself is quite nice, great decor, nice bar area and a mirror at the back that makes the place look twice as big, which is what I'll give my 3 stars for. However, the sushi was just OK. Jess is pretty particular about her spicy tuna so when she took a bite of hers, I knew she wasn't liking it because of the way she was picking at it the rest of the time with her chopsticks, LOL. Poor girl. I ordered something called the Silk Roll (I think they had salmon, crab and some sort of veggie) and they were interesting as well...Eh, they did made a nice picture though (see my contribution up there). However, the search for the perfect sushi joint continues...
(3)
Jaime Patricio M.
good sushi in upper caste Noe Valley. But I always feel rushed here and somehow that i did not order enough but my wallet always fills it. while i have not had anything bad here -- i have also have not had anything that was totally interesting or exciting.
(3)
Nia W.
So for someone that does not like sushi...i loved their tempura roll so good..i may even have it again. i like the spot alot...it wasn't too pricey at all, really enjoyed their Vegetable tempura. The atmosphere was really chill the service was good....all and all i will probably go again.
(3)
Shipra K.
Good neighbourhood sushi place. Wouldn't recommend going out of your way to come here. When the fish is good - it's real good. Sometimes it can be unreliable, once we ordered the party tray take-out and it was not very fresh ~ The sushi has usually been good when we have eaten in though.
(3)
June P.
I like this place because the owner is Japanese also sushi men are. I love the food except its pricey but still good & fresh.
(4)
Chris M.
Never had a problem with this sushi. It's always fresh and always good. I've heard from friends that if you get in good with the chefs, they'll hook you up. I usually get pick-up, but the times I've sat down, the employees have been nice and accomodating. It does get fairly busy if you get there at the "wrong" times, but it'll never prevent me from going back. Update: Been going here frequently, but it's been getting more and more so-so. Not sure what's going on. New managment? New Chefs? Any insight? (keeping same rating since...well, I'll keep going back because it's close and I'm lazy)
(4)
Jon B.
"Hello. Welcome to the neighborhood. Try some raw stuff. It's tasty." That was an approximation of the conversation I had with Hamano sushi. It's yummy and cheap(ish) enough to be a solid neighborhood sushi joint.
(3)
Cynthia S.
3.5 stars to be exact. Given it's location and previous reviews, I didn't have particularly high expectations upon passing under the burgundy awning marked Hamano Sushi. Figured it was worth a try since I pass by occasionally and locals must go back for a reason. So I was pleasantly surprised by my sushi roll experiences at their bar. Friendly staff and their chefs were upbeat, polite and happy to answer all questions. If you're looking for different flavor combinations, I would recommend trying some of their rolls: (1) Dragon - very likeable Cali roll topped with unagi, (2) Sunset - the seared salmon atop of spicy tuna is worthwhile - an apparent favorite among regulars (3) Silk Road - a cuke wrapped roll that's lighter than you would expect w/ a hint of ooba (shiso leaf). Overall, nice local dining experience - not rushed or overcrowded, pleasant tastes, above average sushi combos and not a bad stop if you're in the area.
(3)
Jane M.
Their sushi is very good, but their non-sushi Japanese food is conventional and below par. Avoid it.
(3)
Melody H.
Very tasty lil spot. It never has much of a wait which is a plus and the sushi is delish! The soft shell crab appetizer is a must. Has a great dipping sauce. Also, have to try the Red Tuna poke. It is a tuna salad with onions and alfalfa sprouts. Very fresh and tender. The fish is great quality. This is one of our favorite sushi spots. Nothing too ostentatious just great food.
(4)
Annie H.
I live in Noe Valley, and this is my favorite Japanese restaurant around here. The service is very good and so is the food! Some items are a good deal, but most are typical sushi prices (3.75 for 2 pc nigri). The miso is very good, and their lunch specials hit the spot.
(3)
ZenRunner -.
This place used to be great when it was under the original management of Mr. Hamano. The fish were fresh and came in large portions. The service was great. Mr. Hamano used to run the sushi bar and was extremely fair in terms of seating people and turning it over so that you'd never have to wait very long. Under the new management everything went down hill. We had a couple of really bad experiences with the staff and never went back. We found Koo's and have been going there ever since. No need to pay good money to be mistreated.
(1)
Jane L.
This used to be my FAVORITE sushi place. However, I would agree with Cameron that it has gone downhill since ownership has changed. They used to serve really creative appetizers made of the awkward leftover odd and end bits of fish that could not be served as sushi. These were served to those sitting at the bar after awaiting these coveted seats. And if you sat at the bar, you could order aji boan-boan (which was aji served with a side of the skeleton-i.e. bones- which had been deep fried and served with some pickled radish and sea salt). The sushi chefs were entertaining and feisty. The fish used to be oh so fresh and extremely generous in cut. And if the chefs liked you, they would sneak you bits of this and that. And to top it all off, creamy green tea ice cream would be served at the end, on the house. Most of this has gone by the wayside. No free appetizers. No free morsels of fish. The selection has gone way down. Rarely can I get mirugai. Chefs are still very nice, but not the same crazy funny ones of yesteryear. Green tea ice cream has chunks of ice in it and is no longer free. I still come back occasionally, as I have not found a wonderful sushi replacement. I save my dessert appetite for the green tea gelato a la Trader Joe's.
(3)
Violet S.
This place has gotta be one of my favorite sushi restaurants, if not number one. No matter what I have ordered, it was super yummy. The sushi is always fresh and the you can actually taste the tempura, not the grease. Plus, the sushi doods are always friendly and have time for a quick chat!
(5)
Jennifer C.
Hamano is ok for a neighborhood joint (especially one that's not especially heavy on the Asian influences like Noe). My sushi wasn't superfresh and the selection is not super impressive, however, it would do for a sushi fix in a pinch. I prefer Tamasei in Noe, but Hamano is a little better priced even though the atmosphere is a little more antiseptic than Tamasei's.
(3)
Carlo M.
i was kinda hyped to go to this spot.. got off work early and, me+wifey went to noe valley.. weather was beautiful and i was ready for some sushi+beer.. sushi was aiiiight... nothing really stood out to our palettes.. the appetizers were quite tasty though.. the ceviche was light, and fresh.. the mango slices were a nice touch and the onions did not overwhelm the dish.. the tofu mushroom soup was lovely.. the broth was simple and the 4 different types of mushrooms contributed different textures, and tastes.. nonetheless, the service was cool.. i would come back though if i was in the area, and cravin japanese food..
(3)
sonam d.
Is it wise to write a review when you have food coma? I just got back from Hamano Sushi! My friends and I sat at the sushi bar and kept asking the sushi chef to make his favs and that is what we got, tons of it! I am new to SF and have so far have not tried sushi that made me feel like it was the best thing I ever tried. But this was decent and I don't think I will have to worry about going hungry for the next few days, I am so full!!
(3)
Selena W.
i must be on some sort of sushi kick because i have been eating this stuff consistently for days! carb overload, but whatever! anyway, i only tried the rolls last night - 2 thumbs up! poke roll: spicey white tuna w/garlic, onion, lemon juice, and ooba leaf. YUM! i've been obsessed with poke (btw: i never knew it was pronounced poke-ey! im such an idiot). the fish was fresh, juicy, and very flavorful. YUM. Tempura Roll: shrimp tempura w/assorted veggies. pretty standard. i think this had a bigass piece of asparagus sticking out of it - which was a little off putting (im picky, ok?). Spider Roll: Fried Soft Shell Crab w/assorted veggies better than the tempura roll - more flavorful. like asparagus, there were little crab legs (or something - little fried legs? tentacles!!!) sticking out of two pieces. scary! i took the two unleggy ones instead. Sunset Roll: spicey tuna, shrimp tempura, ooba (wth is this? anyway it was good), topped with seared salmon, green garlic, tobiko, and garlic ponzu. HOLY CRAP. I may have been a wee bit tipsy, but this was freakin delicious! after my 4 day sushi run, im pretty darn sick of the stuff, but i'd totally devour this right now! a great mix of textures (tempura + seared salmon + spicey tuna? YES!!!) I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE SUNSET ROLL (unless you're queasy about raw fish - no fun!!!)! anyway to end this review, service was friendly and very attentive, sake was cheap ($5 for a bottle of hot sake), and the rolls were great! i'd come again! oh yeah: the decor is mediocre - don't expect something swanky or trendy. it's pretty average.
(4)
Natalie H.
i'm moving to noe valley in 2 weeks and i'm anxious to find a new "go-to" sushi place. i sure will miss living by zushi puzzle, sushi groove and having the bf live near tokyo a go-go and warakbune. sigh. we're spoiled. at any rate, i was really excited to try hamano. here is my assessment: - decor: i felt like i was in perkins - service: very attentive. in fact, the fastest sushi experience i've ever had...not necessarily a good thing... - green tea: NOT good - miso: rubbery tofu, broth pretty good - edamame: cold. - puffy scallop: yummers! - noe roll: WAAAYYY too lemony. it was like eating lemon zest - castro roll: actually, pretty good. but again, fried - dolores roll: bleh - black snapper nigiri: tasted dry and not very flavorful all in all, i give it average to below average. i won't be back, and my quest for a good sushi place in noe continues! btw - contrary to what yelp says, they do NOT take reservations.
(2)
Pug P.
Hamano used to be so nice, but during our last 3 visits we noticed nats on the the walls, just little ones though. Someone here compared this palce to Kabuto,- that is absurd. Kabuto's menu is no where near Hamano's. It's just ok 12.99 for 5 pieces of fish and a calif roll, no thanks, I 'll go to Kiki sushi in the sunset and get that same dinner for 5.99, with better quality fish. I hate to give them 3 stars, but there are just ok.
(3)
Patrick T.
While not complete shite Profoundly mediocre You can do better
(1)
Julie M.
I have not been to Hamano for quite some time, as I moved out of the area. However, I can remember the service and quality of the food from each visit I made, and to this day I keep Hamano in my mind as my personal gold standard for sushi places. I still think of a great roll I had there, and salivate every time. It was fish tempura, cilantro, and lemon wrapped in soy paper. Mmmm....
(4)
Tony S.
Fist off I went to Hamano for lunch on a lazy Sunday not expecting food that would cause me to re-examine the meaning of my existence. So I ordered the food I would most likely enjoy and was happy. It was also nice to pay just $50 for a full meal for two people including 2 large Sapporo and some sake.
(4)
Shannon B.
Great lunch options, fast service and friendly staff. They use cool white nori, which is different than most places.
(4)
Nelle A.
we finally decided to give this place a try, after YEARS & YEARS of frequenting the neighborhood of noe valley. so, there we were comfortably seated in a restaurant with a clean, refreshing atmosphere and being catered by a friendly waitress. for starter, we had the ALBACORE TUNA TATAKI!...it was interesting and quite different from the other tataki i had in other sushi restaurants. they used a sesame based sauce, instead of a ponzu which i'm accustomed to. it was really thinly sliced and the serving was so small. and for the sushi rolls we ordered the 24TH, which amazed me with it's creative appearance. the roll was sprinkled with this rainbow colored "rice crunchies", and it was scrumptious! the SPICY TUNA, TEMPURA , SALMON SKIN, UNAGI ROLLS was average, however, the presentation was skillful and proficient! on the other hand, please DO NOT drink their water. it has a weird, unusual taste to it...so, an order of soda won't hurt you, or yet, just order a hot tea.
(3)
Christine M.
I'm still salivating. Castro Roll - How do you taste so good? Tell me! I'll resist making a reference to crack as it seems so overplayed these days ("It was so good, it was like someone sprinkled crack on it" or "Yelp is the new crack" blah blah), not to mention a severe understatement. Frankly, The Castro Roll is like sex rolled in seaweed and fried in ecstasy with a hint of "holy shit."
(5)
Lisa F.
I eat here quite frequently, as it's in my 'hood and the sushi is awesome. Also, if you live in the area there are always good cupons for deals, usually an entree with a sushi roll, or something of that nature. The rolls are excellent, and the sashimi is good too. It's not too expensive. The only downside is that service isn't so great. I always feel like it's so slow. Maybe it's because I seem to go there after the gym or a run, but even so....
(4)
Autumn K.
Oh, Hamano...funny how heartbreak and Hamano both start with an H, isn't it? Once upon a time, I was 21. Hard to believe, isn't it? Well, I was. And I was in love (yes, real love) with a man (yes, a real man- he was 38). And that man broke my heart. Over sushi. At Hamano. Like so many before him and even more after him, he chose to take one of my favorite places and taint it forever with bad, broken-heart, relationship-gone-sour juju, making it nearly impossible for me to partake of another meal in said place. I have managed, through years of therapy, to get over that man and to reconnect with Hamano, where the sushi's yummy and the scene is nicer than your average sushi joint. The agadashi tofu, beef-wasabi rolls, and tempura are yumm-y as is pretty much everything coming out of the kitchen (especially anything with crab). I've never encountered a wait and there's usually parking. It's a fine place for a casual meal or weeknight date, though you won't see me there with one- I've learned my lesson :)
(4)
Adam C.
The wife and I were in Noe Valley last night, and were looking for somewhere to eat. We found one sushi place on 24th, but it was pretty expensive, so we kept looking. Found Hamano on Castro, which had much better prices. Now I know why; small portions. We had almost $60 worth of food (only one sake), and left hungry. Nothing special really foodwise, though the oyster appetizer special was quite good. Maybe this is what to expect pricewise in Noe Valley, but I've eaten in a lot of sushi restaurants, and this one ranks way down on the list in terms of food value and price.
(2)
z x.
This place was surprisingly good. Casual atmosphere, something you would find in a mall or a hotel, very bright and ugly wallpaper. Clean though and the food was really good. The almond shrimp is an instant favorite.
(4)
Todd E.
Excellent Noe Valley sushi! Super-fresh fish, a couple friends and I ate at this sushi bar mid-last week, and had some outstanding sashimi and sushi. I'm a true sushi fan, meaning I only go occasionally and only get the best when I go. At Hamano get whatever is fresh or the chef recommends (in our case, Tasmanian salmon, salmon belly, black snapper, the uni is local and creamy). The sashimi platter was heavenly, the scallops were terrifically sweet. Also sports a nice selection of small premium sakes, a nice touch. This place isn't the least expensive sushi in town, but it has quality which you can genuinely taste.
(5)
Candice L.
Hamano is my go-to place now that Kabuto has been sold. The fish is fresh and they offer some tasty rolls that aren't all about cream cheese and cooked ingredients. I also love their frequent buyer card, that gets you 10% off of every meal (even to go orders) and tracks your spending so you're rewarded w/ money off every 5 to 10 meals (or something like that). Dining room is a little blah, but service has always been polite.
(4)
Jason m.
I love this local neighborhood sushi place. The atmosphere is average, at best but the fish is some of the freshest in the city and the rolls are always presented very well. I love the spicy tuna and the eel, definitely haven't had a bad meal here. They have great lunch specials where you get miso soup, salad and two rolls for under 10 bucks! All in all this is a can't-miss gem in Noe Valley.
(4)
Abby W.
This place serves good sushi. Good seaweed salad & even the regular salad is decent. The service is quick & attentive (you never have an empty water glass). The ambiance is a little lacking in the main part of the restaurant particularly. Sitting up at the sushi bar is recommended so you can get tips on the best stuff to try that has just come in from Japan. You can also get a frequent guest coupon/card thingymajigger. No idea how it works exactly but we got about $10 off our last meal with it.
(4)
Amanda S.
Absolutely fresh and delicious. They don't have loud music, impossibly long waits, or any of the other things that are gratuitous about sushi bars these days. Just good, fresh, somewhat inventive sushi.
(4)
Shauna L.
What can i say!! iv been coming here since i was a baby!!! i love Hamano !!! only thing that i dislike.. is i feel the eel is to chewy!!! but i still love u guys
(4)
Chard M.
Fresh fish. Great rolls. Personable sushi chefs. We had a pleasant dining experience here last night that I give a "I'll be back" passing grade. The Sunset Roll was killer but the best bite I took all night was from their Tempura Shrimp Roll fresh out of the back and on my plate. My first bite of this had the perfect marriage of hot and delicately fried shrimp next to the coolness of some avocado and cucumber. It was the ideal bite. I really feel like you can only get that when you are sitting right at the sushi bar. The delivery time is so key and they pulled it off with unexpected grace.
(4)
Jade L.
Someone was right about this place having the charm of a shopping mall restaurant, but despite that, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food here. They have some really inventive rolls, like the Valencia which has jalapenos on it. The peppers were sliced thinly enough that they didn't interfere with the flavors of the roll. I also liked the Poke roll which is white tuna, with onion and lemon. The waiters are a bit spaced out, but are friendly and quick to respond when you do ask for something. We ended up spending 100 dollars between four people and all left with our bellies full so not a horrible deal.
(4)
Baochi N.
Hamano Sushi, where have you been during the last year and a half I've been in San Francisco? Answer: three blocks away from my house. Oops. Better late than never. This place kicks ass. I've dined here four times and each time has been rock solid. Don't even bother venturing into the loud and overwhelming dining room. When you enter the restaurant, you are immediately greeted by the 8-person sushi bar and there's no need to go anywhere else. What's good? Pretty much anything, although I would definitely stick as close as possible to the daily fish specials posted on the small chalkboard against the wall. Absolute musts include: - toro (fatty tuna) - sardines in a salty ponzo sauce - uni (sea urchin) - ikura (marinated salmon eggs) - mackerel with sea kelp - hamachi (yellowtail) - amaebi (sweet shrimp served with the fried heads) - salmon skin hand roll Other items that enhanced my sake glow: - broiled eggplant with miso sauce - unagi (eel) - spider roll (softshell crab) If you don't see something advertised on the "fresh today" menu, just ask the sushi chef for his 1 to 10 rating. If the fish is exceptional, he'll tell you it's 11, 12, or 13. If it's he thinks you might be disappointed, he'll tell you it's a 10. The pieces of fish are generous but not obnoxiously big, everything is exceptionally fresh, and the service is excellent. This is the first time I've had northern California sushi that even comes close to LA sushi. I'm beginning to wonder if Hamano's proximity to my house will be a good thing for my pocketbook...
(4)
Jerry M.
Excellent sushi in Noe Valley. A wonderful atmosphere and amazingly great service. My suggestion get the spider roll!.
(4)
Cynthia B.
I have always enjoyed the food there. Good prices. Fresh sushi and sashimi. Nice atmosphere. Friendly staff.
(4)
Freedy H.
I've frequented this restaurant off and on for the last 5 years, since i live just around the corner. First of all, Hamano has seen better days. I still go there because it's convenient and i feel comfortable bringing my 2 year old daughter there. (No high chairs...only booster seats), but the sushi is just OK for the price. Also, i ordered pick up from there a few weeks ago and got the Uni. The Uni was in generous little piles...alas, it didn't appear to be firm...almost gooey. I ate the Uni and it was very gooey. Good thing it was take out. I got sick. I'll still go there because it's convenient and around the corner, but the next time i'm eating sushi and thinking "I wonder if i'll get sick" as i'm chewing, then i'll know that i should put the chopsticks down.
(2)
Robert U.
Solid sushi! Lived down the street from here for a couple of years and my wife and I were regular visitors. Always a good experience, always fresh sushi.
(4)
Erica B.
i've never had a good roll of sushi here. both the fish and the vegetarian rolls are lackluster - the last time i went with a date we both felt slightly ill afterward. not a way to end the night. when my first choice is no longer an option i try to convince myself i can eat at this place, but i can't.
(2)
chewy c.
This is a solid place to come if you're in the mood for good sushi without the need of a super trendy atmosphere. The decor is outdated, but the fish is fresh and the service is friendly. If I lived closer, I'd eat here more often.
(4)
Alissa R.
This is not a good date place. It's not a good place for groups. The ambiance is plain and neutral. Hamano is a perfect place to go with one friend and sit at the bar and have sake and really good sushi. The poke maki is outstanding. All the sushi/sashimi is very high quality. I'm glad it's in the neighborhood.
(4)
Albert W.
I couldn't find a good thing about this place. The rolls are over price, I ordered beef teriyaki and tempura, the teriyaki has no taste and the only taste that I had was after eating tempura, I keep burping fried tempura ( I'm not sure how they cook it). My wife ordered blue moon and the waiter said it's nigori mix with water, we're like, what kind of cocktail is that??? It turns out that the drink was blue and it's a mix of nigori with sparkling water. Personally it's not that good, it makes you feeling blue after drinking it. So, yeahh I can only give 2 stars since it's a little pricey and the food taste kinda weird.
(2)
Gene C.
Sushi is fresh and tasty. It is pricey. A dinner for two with just sushi can run $25+ person very easily. The best part of eating here is really the neighborhood around it. Ample street parking (even if you have to walk a block sometimes) in a quiet family oriented small community can make for a very relaxing Sunday afternoon.
(3)
J. R.
It breaks my heart that the quality had slid so far at Hamano, my very first sushi love. We found our fish fishy, beef tough, seaweed salad limp and frankly gross. There was no line out the door - we should have known. Three stars because I am in denial, and I think the 80's hotel vibe and blank staring waiters are funny.
(3)
julia m.
Ambiance? Not so much. Unbelievably bad-ass fish? You betcha. This is the place to go when 2 hour waits for a table and $25 rainbow rolls get you down. Simple, authentic, and moderately priced. Try the rolls named after local streets, you'll be smiling through your food coma. Mmmm...raw fish.
(5)
Pancake m.
Don't go to Hamano for its ambiance, go there for its wonderful classic sushi. If you are looking for a very low-key sushi place, this is it.
(4)
Eli B.
Great experience...Good service. Tasty rolls.
(5)
Kevin D.
Hamano's sushi is really good, as well as the hot pots. I had the yummy Castro rolls and some Sashimi that was very fresh. My g/f had the hot pot, which had some yummy exotic mushrooms and salmon that tasted excellent in the mildly spicy broth. We preferred sitting in front, and it does look bigger on the inside than what you see outside. I'd go back for it, and there's a lot to say about that considering how many sushi restaurants there are in San Francisco.
(4)
Eater S.
The atmosphere is mediocre at best, the cooked dishes are just OK, and the service is inconsistent but usually fine. The fresh fish, however, is among the best in the city. They clearly don't skimp on quality of ingredients. I've only once had better Toro, and that was at Tsujiki market in Tokyo. Go for the sushi, and don't skip the Toro. They also have a nice sake collection. I'm very happy to have this restaurant in my neighborhood and enjoy visiting regularly. UPDATE 6/15/07: It breaks my heart to do this but I must downgrade Hamano from 4 to 3 stars. The service, which has always been immature and spotty, has become positively ridiculous. It's as though the place is staffed by high school juniors. I have nothing against young people as wait staff or restaurant workers but when paying $70+ for a dinner, I expect the staff to know what they're doing. It seems like there has been a lot of recent turnover and even the sushi chefs who I have known for years aren't there anymore. Of course, service is only one component of a rating, and it's never been good at Hamano, so the real reason I'm motivated to post this downgrade is that the quality has gone so far downhill. Every meal I've ordered during the last 3 visits has contained at least one item that was rancid, bad, and should never have been served. My last sit-down meal I had to send back an order of sushi because the fish was garbage. I'm not complaining because the fish wasn't great. I'm saying it was bad, unhealthy, inappropriate to serve. This has consistently been my experience in all recent visits. Some good pieces and some bad ones. I'm thinking about a downgrade to 2 stars ... UPDATE 10/17/07 With sadness, I'm downgrading Hamano from 3 stars to 2 stars after the prior downgrade from 4 to 3. A few weeks ago, I went for sushi. All of the usual sushi chefs are gone and replaced with younger ones that have no personality or apparent skill. My order was passed to a teenager in the back who did the most sloppy job of preparing a roll that I have ever experienced at Hamano. Furthermore, he was snacking on grapes while he was preparing the roll, making sure a solid serving of saliva mixed in with the rice, water, and vinegar. Today, I just returned from lunch at Hamano. The chicken kara-age that I ordered was so disguisting that I could not even eat it. The lifeless waiter ignored me the entire time - never asking how my meal was. When I stopped eating the other items on the plate, leaving a mound of awful chicken pieces, he asked if I wanted a box to go. I explained that "it is terrible" and rather than show any interest or concern for the fact that the food was so bad I couldn't even eat it, he shrugged is shoulders and said "you don't like it ..." and brought the check. UPDATE 12/14/07 I'm officially done with Hamano even thought it's my neighborhood place. I recently ordered the cooked black cod, it was a tough as a rubber belt. I also ordered some Tobiko and had to throw it away because it was rancid. This place has really fallen apart. UPDATE 2/15/08 When I had that disgusting meal on 10/17 (see above), I left zero tip. I am now reconciling my bank statements and discovered they added a tip anyway! My receipt was 9.44 and they charged me 13.94 - they gave themselves a massive 47% tip. BEWARE OF THIS RIPOFF!
(1)
babsie g.
New owners in the past few years, not authentic sushi anymore. Bummer.
(2)
Rob H.
Hungry for sushi? Don't want to wait for a table? Don't like fake crab goo in your rolls? Come here. You won't be disappointed.
(4)
Dan M.
Came in for lunch and had about 5 kinds of nigiri. All were good, although the mackerel tasted a bit fishy. I feel like i'm not really qualified to review sushi joints, as i've only been eating the stuff for a few months, but I havent come across many places in these parts that I wasnt satisfied with, and this is no exception.
(4)
Nithin R.
Great, fresh sushi and sashimi, good service, not too crowded and big portions, yet good prices. Castro rolls are great.
(4)
Gucci M.
Food was very fresh and excellent. Toro was soo soo good and well worth the splurge and those scallop filo aps, wow. I would go back just for those evn if the sushi wasn't so good. Service was a bit slow at first, but our server was super friendly so that made up for it.
(5)
jay V.
Has always been okay for a neighborhood place. Went there tonight and they sat a party of 3 children and 4 of the worse parents on the planet next to us. While the little brats yelled and screamed the waiter and hostess did nothing. Ruined dinner for everyone around us. We left early. When asked why they wouldn't do anything to help, the hostess indicated that the parents were so pushy when they wanted to be seated that she didn't want to say anything to them. Well I guess the next time my wife I go out it won't be here.
(1)
Miss Lili F.
I had dinner here Friday night to satisfy the sushi craving I had. My experience was mediocre to say the least. The atmosphere felt like I was in a hotel room or hotel lobby bar. The service was fine. The rolls were not bad- altho I dislike when my sushi rolls are not rolled tight enough- you know, when you pick up a piece with your chopstick and everything comes rolling out. Ugh. One roll I did enjoy was the Valencia Roll- salmon and tempura asparagus with tobiko and onions on top. The fish was fresh enough, good sized nigiri pieces. I've had better chicken karaage. I only saw one dessert on the menu- Green Tea Ice Cream. I did see some sort of beef sushi nigiri on the menu...looked interesting, but didnt get to try it out personally. That being said, most likely I wouldnt pick this place again- esp with all the other amazing choices for sushi not too far away.
(3)
Rego S.
I don't think I saw this place before the ownership change, but it's still among the best in the city. While the roll selection isn't as wide as the others of its league, the creativity of the nigiri makes up for it (as well as the fact that it's more reasonably priced).
(4)
Cameron C.
Once upon a time, Hamano was my very favorite place to get sushi in San Francisco. It has since been sold and has unfortunately gone downhill. It's a bad sign when the sushi chefs are working with presliced fish, but that's the level that Hamano has sunk to. Shed a tear.
(1)
Peter O.
Mmmm....SUSHI! They have a great sake selection, and I've never had any problems with the freshness of their sushi. They have a friendly, and attentive staff too - which is a plus in my book.
(4)
Yinnie Q.
one of my favorite sushi places in the city. tiny place. the sashimi just melts in your mouth! sit at the bar and just ask the guy to give you his picks. you won't be disappointed. very reasonable prices and plenty of parking in the neighborhood
(5)
sherly A.
good quality fish, that i admit. but why the chef cant cut correctly... i had chirashi gozen. it was big... *big plate.... every slices of fish was fresh but so thin. the rice was wonderful, just right for sushi rice... i can taste the vinegar and the sake... the blue moon sake coctail, taste a little bit weird, in fact after i drink i was feeling a little bit blue ( is it the side effect of blue moon ? to make you blue ? lol ) i would recommend this place to my friends but for myself... i rather go the red box or ariake for something more decent sushi :)
(4)
Pia C.
Excellent Sushi. probably the best in the city - definitely better than Blowfish ( over priced though super-cool vibe.) This place is quite the opposite - looks like a shop front with your grandma's taste in paint, but awesome sushi. The toro was the best I've ever had, and the unagi and the uni was as awesome as it ever gets. If you love sushi, this is the spot for you. If you are picky about decor, stay away...or keep your eyes shut.
(5)
David S.
Believe it or not, this is the first place I ever had sushi. It was quite an experience... I was certainly a little anxious (raw fish was always feared in my family). But, as expected, I ended up loving it, and sushi/sashimi now rates quite high on my list of favorite cuisines. I went back to Hamano on my recent trip to SF, as it remained in my mind this great Japanese restaurant. The food was still pretty good, though not quite as good as I remembered it. The fish was reasonably tasty but could have been a little fresher, I believe. And the rolls were a little disappointing... in particular the spicy tuna roll, which was not particularly spicy but had a weird plum taste to it. The gyoza for appetizer was delicious. Hamano remains a pretty good restaurant overall, especially considering the fairly low prices (compared at least to what I'm used to paying in NY for good sushi) and the generous portions.
(4)
M D.
food wasn't bad but they only get one star because they charged my card twice, once for my meal and a second time for someone else's meal, and I have to go through my bank to get it fixed ..
(1)
Brett M.
Best sashimi ever!!!!!!!!!! Very good quality food and service. They also have a nice selection of wines and saki. My favourite sashimi was the yellow tuna
(5)
Geraldine R.
I've only eaten Hamano Sushi during workday lunch hours, once as take out and once in the restaurant. During my recent visit to the restaurant, I shared Edamame Dumplings with my friends which were tasty & I ordered the Salmon Teriyahi with rice, salad & tempura which was perfect portion satisfying and flavors were pretty good. It's a nice neighborhood sushi spot, with no wait during lunch, friendly service, food served quickly (important for work lunch) and the restaurant is casual for everyone kids included!
Excellent sushi. Sat at the bar. Loved the Dolores Roll and the Mission Roll. Not sure why the low rating. A little surprised by the charge for green tea but two sips later and I knew why. Wow. Best tea with sushi in thirty years of my experience. BTW, tea was called supreme. One of 5 tea options.
(5)
Scott F.
I went to Hamano for lunch. I wanted to order the sashimi lunch special, but craved spinach. The server told me the curry came with spinach & that the curry also had potatoes. When it came, the chicken was underdone & sadly--no potatoes. The sauce was pretty gloppy, too. The spinach & asparagus looked fresh & tasty & I considered just eating those & the rice. But, I was hungry! So, I sent it back & ordered the sashimi lunch. The salmon was good, the maguro was better. The sushi chef was very nice & recommended the hamachi nigiri which I'd have ordered, too, but the waiter was kinda hurrying us out of there. Next time I'll get there earlier.
(3)
Cherylynn N.
On date nights, there's only one thing on my mind. Getting some...cock. Cocktails, that is! I was all stoked to go to Padrecito for their happy hour cocktails until he asked, "Can we go to somewhere else that's reasonably cheap?" "Ok, what do you suggest?", I replied. "Sushi?", he said. "Well, that's an oxymoron", I said. "Wow, I'm proud of you, you're using big girl words", he replied. "WTF, are you implying that I'm dumb?", I huffed. "Unlimited alkie on me", he excitedly said. OK, SOLD! He sure knows the way to this girl's heart.... We had a great experience the first time at Hamano Sushi and it's on the way home, so we decided to pay them a second visit. Let me first say, I was expecting a Japanese owned restaurant after scoring through all the reviews. Several people made reference to "Jiro" and "omakase" so I expected to find an elder Japanese fellow behind the counter. Imagine my surprise when I found Cantonese speaking chefs behind the counter. I was skeptical especially we were the only Asian customers there. I told Mr. NSS that we should order conservatively. A true test of a solid sushi restaurant is their nigiri. Not only did Hamano pass, they truly exceeded our expectations. After our second visit, they're one of the top three Chinese sushi restaurants in SF next to Sakesan (Inner Richmond) and Amami (San Bruno) in my book. Prices are a scotch higher than other Japanese restaurants but we're in Noe Valley after all. I didn't find their happy hour special for drinks (20% off till 6:30 pm) a good deal though. A large Sapporo during HH is $6.75 which is the regular price at most other Japanese restaurants. Over the course of two visits, we have tried the following: A P P S *Shrimp & Veggie Tempura ($10.20): bit.ly/1n0RUGl *Puffy Scallop: raw scallops wrapped w/ phyllo dough ($6.95): bit.ly/1wMudBL *Almond Shrimp ($6.95): bit.ly/1stLMbP *Kakuni: 10 hour braised pork belly ($6.95): bit.ly/1peFKF5 For their fried items, they use pretty good frying technique (not oily or greasy). The tempura is solid with a light and airy batter. If you're a Chinese walnut shrimp fan, the puffy scallop and almond shrimp are good fusion apps to try. Skip the corn starchy kakuni pork belly. N I G I R I (prices are for pairs) *Hon Masu: Cherry Trout ($8.95): bit.ly/1oj0fAb *Umi Masu: Ocean Trout ($6.95): bit.ly/1xnz8vZ *Kanpachi: Amberjack ($7.95): bit.ly/1CnGWhp *Aji: Spanish Mackerel ($6.50): bit.ly/1wMtSir *Hamachi Toro: Yellowtail Belly ($6.50): bit.ly/1reD1AY *Uni w/ Quail Egg ($9.45): bit.ly/1ptVvHp *Sake Toro: Salmon Belly ($5.95): bit.ly/1ptVD9N *Chu Toro: Medium Fat Tuna Belly ($12.95): bit.ly/1xnzO4K Hamano excels in their nigiri. The fish is super fresh and their shari (sushi rice) is well seasoned albeit it has a tendency to fall apart easily. Every nigiri we ordered, we have liked but the stand outs are their sake toro and aji. For the sake toro, they lightly torch it to give it a nice smokiness. The aji is brushed with their housemade sauce (no need for soy). For the price, I favor Hamano over nearby Saru. R O L L S *Salmon Skin Roll ($6.50): bit.ly/1ysrLoB *Valencia Roll: asparagus tempura & sake ($8.95): see link above *Burning Man: crab, avocado, scallop, spicy mayo ($12.95): bit.ly/1xnzWRN *Spider Roll ($8.95): bit.ly/1rm7pqT We usually don't order rolls but to keep our bill down, we order it as fillers. The burning man was my fav; fresh and creamy with a fiery kick. Service-wise, the staff was very polite and attentive (both visits). Not your typical Chinese sushi restaurant that's for sure. They kept our water glasses filled which is always a good sign. Ambiance is whatevers. Not exactly a place for a date but I would choose sushi bar seats over the tables. Finding street parking in the area has never been an issue. With a mixture of apps, nigiri, rolls, and beer, our bill was about $90 for two. Considering, we usually spend $75-$100 pp when eating sushi, it wasn't too shabby. We did have room for more sushi but we had to be "reasonable". That's why pizza by the slice exist! Both times like fatasses, we went to The Pizza Shop in The Mission after Hamano. Thank you, Meghan Trainor for bringing ( I ) back: youtube.com/watch?v=7PCk… !
(4)
Daanyaal K.
I came here last night for a light meal before dinner elsewhere. We ordered the Black Cod Appetizer and 24th Street/Castro Rolls. The rolls had 6-7 pieces and were relatively cheap, the rolls were pretty good but the grilled cod was the real deal. All of us thought it was the better dish among the 3 we ordered. It is small in size but just so perfect and slightly sweet. They should definitely make a entree dish and grill the entire fish! This place is located near Little Chihuahua in the heart of Noe Valley.
(5)
Jeremy M.
Food and service was sub par. I expect reasonable quality when eating Japanese. My experience here was not satisfying. Reasons; Quality of rolls... Overly seasoned..onions piled on top of rolls...not sushi. Passive aggressive wait staff... Not accommodating. I will not patronize again. If I can make better food at home I choose home over this.
(1)
Lily W.
Nicely prepared sashimi and nigiri. Rolls are a little...lacking. I don't know what it is. All fresh and good fish, just very traditional and nothing I've been "wowed" by. However, Its consistent and is one of the better sushi joints in noe valley area. Try the sea bass nigiri! I used to be a tuna fiend then a salmon fiend but the sea bass is just great. Their Aji (spanish mackerel) wasn't too fishy smelling or fishy tasting either, which was nice! But nothing can beat Saru on 24th ;)
(4)
Hiral P.
Great place for casual sushi! Not that many wine options but the food is pretty cheap and yummy. I am a vegetarian and I love that they have a separate section for Vegetable sushi. Midori is a pretty good sushi roll! Spicy Tofu tempura is a must try for a vegetarian appetizer. Edamame dumplings are really yummy too. I come here at least twice a month for sushi. It's my go to casual sushi place. Not that expensive.
(5)
Courtney J.
My go-to. Always consistent, and perfect for maki rolls, sashimi and when I need udon while sick. Service is kind and friendly, and it's a relaxed, family type of place. Favorite rolls are the Sunset roll, Ikura nigiri, the Sanchez, their delicious house salad, and their vegetarian rolls.
(4)
Maitai N.
This place serves American style Japanese food. I tried lunch combo (Teriyaki Salmon with California roll) and they were fresh and tasted good. Coming back for lunch sometime again.
(4)
Dee N.
REALLY wanted to like them since my friend highly recommended their sushi. we spent $300+ and had almost everything. The only 2 sushi I liked was on their special menu: halibut and Fatter Yellowtail. Everything else was bland and kinda mushy (Salmon, Aji, Albacore, Maguro, Ocean Trout...most of the special menu) The cooked stuff was good. Udon, Tempura, bacon asparagus Not a fan of the apple almond shrimp thing.
(3)
Matt Y.
8/1/13 Dinner Never thought a Japanese in such a neighborhood as Noe Valley would serve authentic food, just I wanted to try nonetheless. It was amazing. After two recommendations, including a Japanese lady and a fellow blogger, I bit the bullet and went for dinner. Restaurant decor is uninspiring but very clean and pristine. It reminds me of a typical hotel lobby restaurant. We were promptly seated and genmaicha served. A great beginning. In Japan most restaurants are specialty, meaning they only serve one or two types of food. There's a tempura specialty restaurant, a ramen restaurant, etc. Hamano, like almost every of its counterparts here has a big menu. I'm impressed they offer traditional dishes in addition the Americanized rolls. *Gyozas: A bit overdone but the flavor is very good. The bottom very crispy. *Buta Kakuni: Slow braised pork belly is nothing to be faulted at. The meat comes off as I picked it up with chopsticks. Served with an egg. *Assorted tempura: Batter is very light and thin. Tempura is a tricky item, very difficult to master but Hamano's is above average. *Chirashi: One of the best in terms of flavor and freshness. Ikura, mackerel, tuna, albacore tuna, yellowtail, shrimp, octopus, and eel over very tasty vinegary rice. It's also the best value in the entire Castro, Noe, and Mission area. *Tempura Roll: The usual makimono roll with a shrimp tempura cut. It's worthy of a try if you're into rolls. A most pleasant surprise. Service is very attentive and cordial. Hamano is now my to-go Japanese restaurant if I crave a chirashi and some traditional appetizers dishes. Fish is fresh and is of higher grade than most Japanese restaurants in town. Atmosphere is quiet and cozy.
(4)
Grubnoisseur Y.
Great sushi as told to me by some of the best sushi chefs whose art I have had the pleasure of experiencing should be gauged on 3 criteria: 1. Cleanliness 2. Quality of ingredients 3. Technique After a near 40 minute wait I was seated at the sushi bar with the luck of the draw getting the head sushi chef. Decided to go a la carte and order whatever sparked interest, Ocean Trout, Aji, Sardine, Salmon Belly, Ikura and Hamachi. Presentation for all nigiri was very neatly packaged, no rice falling apart with fish well cut. Sushi rice was good, I can get a hint of the seasoning but wish there was a little more. All fish was cool temperature wise, definitely a good sign for food safety sake. The Ocean Trout was smooth and clean tasting similar to Scottish Salmon. Ikura was prepared well, the eggs firm enough so you get that nice pop and hint of saltiness. The Salmon Belly was probably the best tasting bite of the night. Slightly seared, it was soft while maintaining just enough sashimi texture with a terrific buttery finish. I could have done three orders of that easily. Service was a little off but I will give the benefit of the doubt because the place was packed. I will be back again to try some of the other fish offerings and maybe some appetizers as long as I get the head chef again. Thumbs up, Oishi.
(4)
Karen T.
Prices were reasonable, sushi was good, pork belly ramen was tasty, butter fish sashimi my favorite! The only think I wasn't a fan of was the salad, it was over dressed with a not so tasty dressing.
(3)
Scott H.
We were brought here by a couple of regulars and pretty much ordered the entire menu. Staff was great and the food was super. I ate so many different kinds of food that I have difficulty remembering the dishes, but everything was great. One highlight was a steamed spinach covered with miso. Surprisingly delicious. Grilled oysters were perfect as well and I got a couple of their veggie rolls. Mmmmm. I waddled out a happy man. I shall return.
(4)
Seong P.
We had family flying in on New Years day, and the options were limited. My MIL found this place on Yelp, and confirmed that it was open, so we headed over for dinner. I was still recovering, so I had tempura udon. It was a good size, but the broth was too salty for my taste. The tempura was good though. Tintin had a couple of rolls, and they were fine, but I didn't eat enough to judge the quality of their fish. The service was a bit slow, and prices were average.
(3)
Sabine F.
I like this place a lot. I usually get the Valencia roll and some Sashimi ( the king salmon is fantastic) and the staff is always super nice, even when taking kids there! the miso soup is also great as well as their eggplant appetizer. Which they had more than just 2 baby booster seats because when its busy it can be a little bad if you can't get one because they are already taken but other than that I love this place!
(4)
Lisa-Maree W.
Love this place. The sushi is some of the best in the city- so fresh and amazing flavor arrangements. The ambiance isn't great (a little diner-esque) but the food makes up for the feel of the place.
(4)
John L.
Food has gone downhill as has the service. We've tried this place a few more times to give it a chance, but to no avail. Chirashi is scantily garnished with fish and sesame seeds instead of fish roe. We found a better place for overall food and service just a mile away. Not coming here again.
(2)
Jenn W.
Meh. Literally that's it. But since that's not helpful to you, I'll explain. o Service = great, friendly, prompt. o Atmosphere = Bland but comfy. but the main reason, o Fish = room temperature, not chilled. Overly salty and smoky, and not enough "fresh" taste of the fish and vegetables in the maki. I just can't get over the taste. I didn't want to finish my food but it was okay enough and I was hungry enough that I did. I had the Noe Roll, a spicy tuna, and the Gari Saba Roll. Just smoky salt. That's all I could taste. Flavors better applied to southern barbecue than to sushi maki.
(2)
VI P.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed Hamano Sushi sooner but that's alright because this is my 100th YELP review and boy am I excited to write it! I came in with a friend last night as they were closing (unpronounced to me) yet the workers happily sat us and served us (now that's what I call 5 star service!!). I've been here several times, service is always consistent, the food is always good, and its not crazy expensive like some of the other sushi spots in the City. Oh and they have other items to order for those strange individuals that don't like sushi! All in all its a solid 5 star review!
(5)
Steph K.
Good sushi, fun vibe inside, very quaint. I got 2 vegetarian rolls, one was awesome (with eggplant) and the other was just okay (with kale). The tempura was really good! The restaurant has a fun vibe, my boyfriend loved all 3 of his rolls (normal non-veg sushi).
I love Hamano. We started going there because we were local to it in Noe Valley, but over time it has become one of my favorite places to get sushi in the city. The Noe Roll is very good. It's also a great place to take the kids. Picky eaters can have ramen soup or tempura, and the staff is great towards the kids.
(4)
R A.
I'm surprised the place is only 3.5 stars from you yelpers. Maybe it depends on what you order and who your sushi chef is. We had the pleasure of meeting Chef Jiro and he prepared us an amazing omakase meal we will never forget. I love that every fish is slightly flavored to have a certain uniqueness. The dinner was a serious splurge we dont do often and we can not wait to come back!
(5)
Jeremy H.
Best sushi I've ever had. 12 nigiri, Chef's choice, an incredible selection. Jiro, you are an artist.
(5)
Meghan M.
Delicious and innovative sushi! Great rolls and the puffy scallops were a wonderfully crisp and delicious new experience. Yum! They'll warm you up on a rainy cold SF day. The staff were super friendly, but they would disappear at times. This place is obviously a neighborhood joint, and I mean that in a good way. We saw lots of families, and the staff seemed to know many of their patrons. In short, good vibe here with delicious and unique dishes amidst the sushi house standards.
(4)
Pola C.
Hamano is probably my favorite non-special occasion sushi spot in the city. (We go to Ino when we're feeling fancy) We usually order an assortment of nigiri and a few rolls. Everything is super fresh and expertly prepared. Some of the standouts are the uni (always fresh and delicious) and the amaebi with the fried heads (something about the way Hamano fries those things yum yum). The poke roll is also stellar. Service is great. We like to sit at the bar where we can get recs straight from the chefs themselves, who are also very friendly.
(5)
Stefania S.
Came in today for lunch. Had noodles and my friends had california and spicy tuna rolls Also miso soup to start with. Overall the lunch was good, the soup was average but the rolls and noodles were very really good. Nice place to try out!
(4)
andrew s.
Totally underrated.. Doesn't have the BS atmosphere of Saru and other places, but little secret, the Fish is just as good,if not better, much cheaper, there' actually room at the sushi bar and it's super friendly. Their Omakase is one of the best I've ever had. Jiro, John and the other quieter chefs make you feel at home, are interested in knowing their customers and developing real relationships, their neurosis included :). A refreshing absence of the master sushi ego replaced with humor, humility and fresh fish.. The restaurant can get a bit busy with families but that's part of Noe. Happy this place is convenient for us
(5)
C. E.
Omg what was I thinking husband and I was in the mood for sushi couldn't think of a place til I remember Hamano Sushi I used to there a long time ago.What was I thinking after all these years terrible sushi bad customer service if u wanna go there be prepared to wait long for waitress n pay a lot. Think twice before going there!!!
(1)
Barbara S.
Customer service needs a significant upgrade. Perhaps it's the apparent apathy that is frustrating. There are other, more authentic options in the area, where we will do business. With regard to the food, the quality is par.
(2)
Sam C.
The sushi really was terrible. I hate to dis neighborhood restaurants, but we just couldn't figure out why it was so bad. My friend and I stopped ordering at a point realizing it wouldn't get any better and was just becoming a waste of money.
(1)
Samantha G.
Came here for dinner on a Saturday night and it was very busy with many families of noisy kids running in and out. As we are a young couple, we decided the sushi bar was probably our safest bet for a quiet meal. Sushi was very good-not my favorite from what I've had but the fish was of good quality and prepared well. Service was ok but was a little inconsistent. Not unexpected for how busy they seemed. Overall a favorable experience but I think I might head there at a less busy time for my next visit.
(3)
Ramon L.
I had the most amazing Omakase dinner here with my family! Jiro, their bomb ass sushi chef set us up at the bar and just kept that good stuff coming out! Not to clear on how many courses due to the mass quantities of sake but every course was making me very happy. Fish is top shelf and the creativity of Jiro made the evening. I'm fixin on a long term relationship with this place!!!
(5)
Linda L.
huge fan of chef Jiro.
(5)
Jenny G.
Love this place. Been twice now. Sat at table and the bar. Both good in different ways. Restaurant is unpretentious, service friendly and food excellent and never disappointing. Sushi aside, which was fresh and tasty and masterfully prepared, the appetizers were a taste sensation. Lamb chops; pork belly - both amazing, but my favorite was the almond shrimp. Can't wait to go back.
(5)
Heidi-Jane S.
I have been walking past four or five different Japanese restaurants on my way to Hamano Sushi for more than a decade now. I should preface this by saying that I don't eat sushi, so my review of Japanese food is always centered around the teriyaki offerings and the tempura: Hamano has the best tempura I have ever had - never greasy and always just fluffy and flavorable and with very choice vegetables such as broccoli, carrots and pumpkin squash. No Japanese restaurant that I have come across has ever equalled it. So I would highly recommend that dish. They have a really generous combination lunch special that comes with teriyaki chicken or salmon, the tempura and a nice green salad full of quality vegetables rather than just mere iceberg lettuce. That's always my go-to dish. The staff is always so welcoming and kind. I don't eat mayonnaise, so I ask them to bring me the salad without dressing and to leave off the little side offering of potato salad - and they always are so accommodating - in fact, they have my order down now and know to do it before I even ask. Very kind of them. Lunch is the best time to go as it's quiet then - dinner hour can be very busy, especially in the earlier part of the night as sometimes, unfortunately, it seems that all the parents of Noe Valley like to bring their screaming kids there, so it can get a little unruly in there between 6-8 PM. But even then, you're going to love your meal and you're going to get great service and it's worth it. Highly recommended.
(5)
Kathryn M.
Great experience. I went in for lunch and had a really large, good meal, with five kinds of fish, for about $10. Pretty impressive, especially considering you could easily pay that much just for a greasy pizza slice and some salad elsewhere in the neighborhood. Instead, what I got was healthy and delicious! The chef was meticulous about preparing the fish. I could tell it was fresh; there was absolutely no "fishy" taste at all, which I've definitely noticed with some other sushi places. I would have lunch here again in a heartbeat. I also appreciated the fact that the chef seemed to know a lot of the lunchtime regulars and greeted them by name, asking about their kids etc when they came in; definitely a friendly, neighborhood vibe. It's not a "high-end" sushi place like Nobu, so I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for a spot to take Ivanka Trump on a date, but it's pleasant and probably delivers better value for the money. The ambiance is nice, but nothing fancy, and the fish is probably equally as good, for a fraction of the price. Overall: highly recommend.
(5)
Gina C.
I've been here many times, but for some reason last weekend was one of the best experiences. First, because the Miso soup is better than our local - and one of our go to's when we go out to Japananese food - mainly because we have two toddlers that love it. It has noodles and lots of tofu, and a tasty broth. The other stuff we ate was just really good - sushi rolls, actic char special wrapped in apple, and tempura. Wait staff is excellent given the busy time around 6pm on a Friday - they were so prompt and very helpful. This is definitely one of our neighborhood favorites.
(4)
Robert M.
I was randomly looking at reviews on Yelp today and came across our favorite sushi bar, Hamano Sushi. It's primarily our favorite by way of geography(easy walk). But as we got to know the Chef and the menu, I can say they consistently have great fresh fish. Reading the other reviews I see where some people get frustrated with the waitstaff, the time it takes to get served and "Family Friendly" atmosphere. To that end I say...Welcome to Noe Valley. Hamano's busiest time is the early dinner time, when hipster/tech families get home and want to feed the kids. In some cases they want their kids to be cool and bring them to the sushi restaurant, others are kinder and call in for pick up. Their Take-out is a big part of the slow down, it seems like %50 of the business is To-Go. We enjoy sitting at the bar and letting the chef's make up rolls for us. The other night we asked (off menu) for a spicy salmon roll with salmon skin. We were surprised when they added salmon roe...salmon 3 ways! excellent. I recommend the fish (always fresh and interesting), sitting at the bar (if just 2) and be prepared for some interesting people watching, i.e. we have met people who have moved from the area and still come back for the fish.
(4)
Rebekah T.
Sometimes I cannot believe that I used to pass on Sushi, didn't like shellfish and couldn't stand the thought of eating raw. Makes me want to convert those who have yet to try sushi or shellfish (peer pressure). Stopped in for a light dinner before going out for drinks, never tried Hamano before and wanted to try all the local spots to find a sushi go-to spot. At first glance, it looked like they were crowded, but it was just the to go orders. We had the miso soup, which was really good and had noodles, different yet tasty. I ordered the Sashimi Combo - Tuna and Salmon, really nice cuts of fish - very tasty. We also had the 24th Street roll which was a deep fried crab roll with avocado and these little rainbow rice sprinkles (yay for sprinkles). Hamano is good, service, quality of sushi/food and I will definitely be back for more.
(4)
Stephanie Y.
you know this place has been around ... the tables and chairs have that ugly yellowness to it, the decoration was back in the 80's, and the place really smelled like a sushi place. Apparently they close the kitchen at 3pm, but the hostess let us in after we asked her. We just wanted a small lunch. We got the shoyu ramen, udon noodles, salmon and tuna sashimi (5pieces), rock n roll, and hamachi roll. The fish was pretty fresh and the sashimi slices were pretty big. Price was very reasonable.
(3)
Jo D.
This place has some of the freshest fish around. We always sit at the bar and let the Chef choose for us. Jiro (one of the sushi masters) knows our limits and likes. Ankimo appetizer is always great. So is the midnight special. An overall awesome place to enjoy great fish.
(5)
Robert R.
Food is fine, but this will be our last time here. We've been a number of times and the service has really gone down hill. Our waiter was sweet, but it must have been his first day on the job. To top it off, we packed our leftover $14.95 soup into a small container that they gave us and left it by mistake. When we came back 3 minutes later it was gone. The waiter, senior waiter and possibly the owner could care less. A more senior waiter to ours said that she could give us some miso, but that was about it. I was clearly not happy with that since they trashed a perfectly good (and expensive) meal. They said that the order could not be made since the noodles only came in large packages. I suggested that they just make another order for us. She looked at me like I was crazy. Better yet, they just let me walk out. We will not be back. Poor service and even worse attitude.
(1)
Lainey D.
Amazing sushi and amazing service! I sampled a few rolls, and everything was fresh and delicious. The cuts were pretty generous too. Try the Dolores if you like white tuna, it's especially flavorful with a hint of garlic. The wait staff is especially accommodating. My group was a bit difficult. We came late, sat down, and then we had a last minute add-on. The staff shuffled around our tables to make everyone fit and didn't seem annoyed at all. They were extremely attentive and friendly the entire night.
(5)
Joraine C.
Nothing spectacular stood out to me, but there was nothing really bad about it either. I went for lunch around 12:30, the place was empty except for another couple that was already seated. I was greetly promptly when I came in, and was told to choose any table I would like. I ordered quickly, received my food, and took the rest To-Go. Tthe decor was simple, but it's very clean with a comfortable ambiance. A good spot for a business lunch, or even a casual first date. Cons: My miso soup was cold! It was barely even warm. Since you have to pay for the miso soup separately, I would expect it to be HOT! By the way- Miso soup cost you $3.00, but if you purchase it with a meal it is only $0.75 extra. Still, miso soup is almost always included at any other Japanese restaurant! The lunch specials are served on ONE plate, unlike other places that serve your food in a BENTO (box) with compartments to keep your food separate. I didnt really like the fact that my salad greens were mixing with the sauce from my chicken teriyaki, or my california roll was getting salad dressing on it, and my wasabi was touching my chicken, etc, you get the point... It cost me $15.00 for my 2-item lunch, with miso soup & tip. But the service was pretty good, they were really nice, never neglected me, always refilled my water, and the food was all right, nothing bad, but nothing exceptionally good either. I would go here again since it's the only place within walking distance that serves chicken teriyaki but wouldn't go crazy for it.
(3)
Kristina R.
They have decent sushi, the sashimi is fair, and my husband loves their aji and scallop dishes. I'm partial to their beef and green onion roll, and the shrimp tempura roll is pretty delicious...although it's all to go most of the time. Why? They win a special award for "The Only Restaurant in Noe Valley that Does Not Offer High Chairs." Booster seats? Yup. But come on, Hamano. No high chair? This neighborhood isn't nicknamed stroller valley for nothing.
(3)
Ellen M.
This is probably three-star sushi for locals, four for us poor midwestern types. I had it on a chilly Thursday evening, after getting lost on the BART (my fault) and showing up too late for dinner at Kristina and Andy's. My awesome travel buddy made an executive decision for my dinner - 8 pieces of sushi, a cali roll, and a roll with excellent raw fish. I'll edit when I figure out what it was. Sushi was good, the rolls were amazing...they used the perfect amount of horseradish on everything, and it was fresh. I had fresher at miyabi, but I'd come here again.
(4)
Ryan B.
Nothing beats a local sushi place and Hamano fits the bill. It is consistant and has good quality. We visit about 2 times a month and have never been disappointed with the food or service. My only suggestion might be superficial. The inside decore might need a refresh at some point but no stars subtracted for that.. Great spot for us local Noe Valley folks looking for a bit of Sushi!
(4)
G H.
Very pleasantly surprised by sparklingly fresh fish, polite and respectful service and an overall quality experience. Surprised to learn its one of a chain of restaurants. Wondering if the others are as good.
(4)
Julia D.
I LOVE their avocado sushi because they really pack in the avo. I didn't love their CA rolls, tasted a little too creamy in a bad way. The service was fabulous for lunch. My friend JT is a regular and he's super picky and opinionated, which I think says a lot. That said, he doesn't eat fish. I love their vegetarian options, but for fish, I might go elsewhere. I think it's a little pricier than I'd like. I prefer We Be Sushi (the one closer to 22nd.) It is also pretty dark inside because it's a long restaurant with small windows in front.
(3)
Jamie C.
Go here. Great nigiri , sake and amazing quality of fish. Even to Tokyo standards- legit. The sashimi so fresh it was like avocado. Sit at the sushi bar for traditional sushi service, order the chefs special nigiri and it will come one at a time- so nice instead of having a huge plate of sushi in your face. Calamari salad= delish. Good hot sake as well
(4)
Jonathan P.
I really enjoyed this place. I had asked a co-worker who is a sushi aficionado for a recommendation and he steered us here. Good decision on my part to listen to him. Our server was very friendly, very attentive, and also very helpful in suggesting items from their extensive menu. The sushi was amazing, and in my opinion, top quality. I'm taking off one star for a very subjective reason. We ordered a couple American-style sushi rolls. They were small and fairly mediocre. BUT if you go mainly for nigiri and sashimi, you will be very pleased.
(4)
Pat M.
This is one my go-to restaurants in the Noe area. I've never had anything here that was less than excellent, and the prices and service are great. I've also discovered recently that, at least in my experience, it's very kid friendly. We brought our baby here last week and had three different servers hovering around to talk about her, offer help, clean her dropped pacifier, etc. Very nice experience. FWIW, my favorite rolls are the Sunset and the Dolores.
(5)
Thomas C.
Went here for a late Saturday lunch. Their menu is limited, but the Japanese curry dish was pretty good. They actually have some hardcore nigiri on their menu such as Uni. Prices are pretty decent -- I paid $8.75 for lunch.
(4)
Alexandra I.
Came here looking for sushi on a Sunday which can be a bit difficult... The service at this place was great, but the sushi was just okay. They also did not have a large roll selection which would probably work in their favor if they did. I got the Sunset roll and it was definitely good but nothing spectacular. We also got an order of edamame which was good, miso soups which were REALLY good, and gyoza which were also really good. Overall it was a good meal but not the best sushi I have ever had.
(3)
Lex K.
Hamano sushi is our favorite local sushi restaurant. About as good as it gets when it comes to fish quality. We usually get take-out, but have enjoyed sitting at the bar and having what the sushi chef recommended.
(5)
Matsuo U.
Hamano Sushi is an old haunt of mine where I would go quite often, when Hamano- san owned and ran the joint... that was during a previous decade. He was a fussy & serious owner and very traditional (in the Japanese way) in his approach to the food & service. So it was fun to have a good friend suggest ganging up for dinner at this joint. The sashimi combo (the omakase appetizer version) was good quality (although a very standard selection of fish) was good and fresh. The cuts of the fish, were odd. Some sliced "correctly" and some as cubes that could have been used in a Szechuan stir-fry. The grilled egg plant was good - this was the plainly grilled version (not a touristy version coated with a sweet sauce concoction). Sake was well, the lubricant of the evening. The third dish was the spider roll, (soft shell crab deep fried and ensconced in rice & nori)... properly done. Don't know who originally came up with that name for a soft shell crab roll, but the name "spider" gives me thoughts of folks dining on an appetizer delicacy of deep fried black spiders in Vietnam ( I am not making this up, and it is a relatively rare and expensive dish). Had some steamed rice .... was a little too moist (mushy) for my pallet. Service by was attentive, although not inspired nor informed. I mean by that (for example) there are 3 different choices for egg plant. Two on the regular menu, one on the "special list" on the chalk board. I could be being picky, but to me a server should provide a little more info than the menu description, which they read to me. I am certain the server has never sampled the offerings. But hey I remind myself I am not at Kiss on Laguna St, or Ozumo on Steuart St. (which reminds me I a way behind on my reviews). I think if I had never dined at Hamano's when it was run by Hamano-san, I might give 4*'s, but 3 stars is what my experience was.
(3)
Jessica T.
I ate a vegetarian quinoa roll from here last night - with apple, jalapeno, and other magical flavors, tightly bound together by rice and seaweed. A truly sweet end to the relaxing night. We ended up getting our food to go and taking it over to The Peaks next door, so I can't speak too much about ambiance or service here. That being said - it was evident in my brief time here - that the place to be - within this quaint neighborhood spot - is the sushi bar. The sushi chefs were cracking jokes with the patrons - eagerly assembled around the bar. And all of the rolls and sashimi being served up - looked ridiculously tasty. One of my favorite aspects about this place - was that that many of the people sitting around the sushi bar - seemed to be by themselves. It is - I believe a strong positive testament about a place - when people feel comfortable enough to come to a restaurant and dine alone. The smiling laid-back sushi-chefs behind the sushi counter, looked to be genuinely enjoying their night and the jovial characters around them. The lady who took our take-out order was also exceptionally helpful and friendly and even got us all water - as we waited. Hamano is not what I call a destination spot, but if you live in the neighborhood or are looking for a good sushi gem around the Castro, Hamano is an intimate and welcoming spot.
(4)
Dave C.
Service is good but the food stinks. They did, however, serve Decaf Soba tea which was awesome.
(3)
Keiko T.
Really fresh sushi flown in from Japan, New York, or wherever the fish is in season. Run by Japanese owners, I enjoyed a great conversation with the Japanese sushi chef who has been here for the last 20 years. I walked in at 5 pm on Saturday and sat at the sushi counter. I mostly had the specials on the board -- 2 piece nigiri of Tsuri Aji (mackerel), Kanpachi (amber jack), kinmedai (snapper), uni (sea urchin), and finished with the ume shiso rolls. I also enjoyed the nasu dengaku (broiled eggplant with miso) as an appetizer. My favorite was by far the uni. It was so incredibly creamy and flavorful. It had just been flown in that day, so super fresh! For me, a good nigiri (which Hamano has) is when: #1 the fish is fresh. It should not taste "fishy." Ordering sushi 'fresh off the boat' will ensure you're eating the freshest sushi. Hamano's fish was fantastic! #2 the rice in the nigiri is just right. from the ratio of rice to fish to the consistency of the rice itself... it should also not be hot (i've had that at some crappy places before... eww) and also not cold and hard (obviously). #3 the presentation is important. this definitely has to do with fish to rice ratio (having too much fish is actually a problem) and the way it's placed on your plate and how it stays together showcases the sushi chef's knowledge and experience #4 you don't even need soy sauce. i love being able to appreciate the fish, rice, and the hint of wasabi that is placed between the fish and rice. depending on the fish, there is some light sauce that has been added so definitely ask your sushi chef if you need to dip it in soy sauce before you do (and make sure you dip it with the fish-side, not the rice because the rice soaks up too much soy sauce if you do and you'll have rice swimming in your soy sauce dish). All in all, I really liked Hamano Sushi, the friendly attentive staff, and the fresh sushi!
(4)
Kate J.
Stumbled upon Hamano while searching for a place to eat dinner with a friend. I'm typically always in the mood for sushi so it was great to find. We ordered the puffy scallops which were amazing. We also ordered the Dolores roll and Sunset roll. We shared everything and it was the perfect amount of food. Nice ambiance and friendly staff, we had a really good evening here.
(4)
mariel v.
Really great lunch specials. I chose option B, which included the Rock and Roll with 4 pieces of chef's choice nigiri (Sake, Maguro, Hamachi, and Ebi). Doesn't sound like much, but since I was in the mood for light fare, it hit the spot. The lunch special comes with a little green salad as well. The cost of B lunch special was $9.95... not too shabby. The quality of the fish was actually quite good, and service was friendly.
(4)
Elizabeth L.
This place is great, we come here all the time as it is close to our house and always delicious! The fish is fresh, the quality is good and the rolls and sashimi are always really good! The only reason I don't give them the 5th star is because the last time we went there is was later on a Friday night and we were literally basically kicked out. Plates were taken off the table before everything was finished they dropped the bill about half way thru the meal and when we didn't touch it the manager came up and asked for payment....this is ridiculous! We didn't even get to finish our meal, conversation or order dessert because we were so rushed. I haven't ever had this happen before here, but we always early because usually we have my niece with us. Besides the incredibly rude dismissal from the restaurant the food is always on point.
(4)
Andy B.
This was super! It was only order but the restaurant looks very nice. The call in order was good, reasonable in price, very quick despite a busy evening, Fresh and delicious. The seaweed salad is exceptionally good. I bit short in the supply of Soy Sauce and one Chopstick less than I needed!
(4)
Thomas D.
Love this place. I usually get the Liberty Rolls and a combination dinner that consists of teriyaki salmon (or chicken) and California Rolls. This comes with a salad with miso dressing and rice.( I always ask for brown rice.) This all gets washed down with a few Asahi's or Sapporo's. The service is great--friendly, genuine and unhurried. The guys making the sushi always say "hi" and "bye" on the way in and out. I'm glad that this restaurant is around and from the looks of it, so are many other people. It's packed by 7pm all of the time. They do a great takeout as well. I recently bought a friend a gift card for Hamano. She used to live in Noe and loves/misses this place too.
(4)
Lis B.
I came for lunch on a rainy, rainy day, and the staff could not have been nicer. The place wasn't packed, and they let me choose whatever seat I wanted. They were very attentive and pleasant, and I have nothing but good things to say about them. The food was fine. I had a chicken teriyaki don, salad and hamachi. The chicken teriyaki don was all right - a bit sweet, which isn't my bag. I've had teriyaki that is more savory and I like it better. Hamachi was fresh and decent; the pieces were large, but not super well-crafted (I picked one piece up with a chopstick and before I could even flip it to get the fish in some soy sauce, part of the rice bed fell off). Salad was nothing special. Mixed greens with sliced pepper and a cherry tomato. I thought the don bowl was a decent deal, but I thought the hamachi was a tad overpriced. The place was fine for lunch, but I'd skip it for dinner. It was a bit weirdly laid-out with two levels of seating, and not much privacy at all. I could hear all my neighbors' conversations - even the ones sitting several tables away, which was kind of annoying. It was very soothingly decorated, though. So overall, Hamano Sushi was fine. Just fine. Nothing more, nothing less. And interestingly, I've spoken with several friends who live in Noe and they all tell me that Hamano is never their first choice for Japanese.
(3)
Jean A.
I could go here twice a week easily. Not fancy or exotic, just reliably fresh excellent Japanese food. Fresh oil is important to me and their tempura is perfect. Love the ramen, tempura tofu ramen (!) is my favorite but the other flavors are all good. I hope the owner never retires. It is true some families bring their kids during the day but I'll tough it out, the food is worth it.
(5)
Bad Y.
Hamano is great for nigiri, and things like the gyoza, which I adore. The service is friendly and fast, and there is a petty good amount of seating, so getting a table is not usually a problem. I find the rolls to be overpriced and a pretty boring, really.
(3)
Kimberly B.
Amazing, fresh, melt-in-your-mouth sushi. My first choice every time. Sit at the bar if you can.
(5)
Aban E.
Cute little place in Noe Valley. I love the neighborhood as well. The owner is always so nice and goes out of his way to make you happy. If you are there, you must order sushi. That is what they do best! The place is small so it can get pretty packed. I normally go early to avoid the rush.
(4)
Erin Y.
I was skeptical of this place at first - good Japanese food in Noe Valley? But, i's true! I come here around twice a month for a trusty and delicious dinner to fill my constant craving for asian food. Everything I've ordered off their menu has been solid. I usually stick with: - Chirashi - delicious, fresh fish - Tempura Udon - big plate of tempura, medium bowl of udon - Tofu Sukiyaki - hot, full of veggies and noodles, and you get a bowl of rice Tip: Check your Valpak envelope for a new coupon every week, and use their frequent buyer's card.
(4)
Paula F.
My favorite sushi restaurant in SF. You can go other places, one or two in SF that have the same top selected fresh fish but you pay higher prices. Salmon, hamachi, and the nightly bought specials make this the best little sushi bar for the craving. Fresh hot mustard shaved if requested.
(4)
Luke M.
Wow, this place was so charming and sweet I'll yelp it even late at night! I think I might have a new favorite sushi spot...IN NOE VALLEY?! The world's gone CRAZY! Some highlights, at the beginning the staff was what you'd expect at a sushi house, but our waitress quickly warmed up to us. She was so cute the way she got all excited about us trying the green tea creme brulee, which was AWESOME! We also had vanilla mochi, which is just never bad... Oh, and we had some sushi too. Everything was ROCK STAR and even pretty novel. We got some hamachi that was heavy on the wasabi, and some really good rolls. The Noe is yellowtail, lemon, and pepper. GET IT. The 24th Street is the CUTEST fried maki anywhere--a fried California roll with rainbow rice puff "sprinkles." And the Sunset was great too, spicy tuna, garlic ponzu, and blow torch seared salmon & black tobiko. They have the usual sushi joint beers and a few different kinds of sake. When I come back I'm bringing more friends and a bigger appetite.
(5)
M D.
I was in the area with a couple of friends. We got hungry and decided to try Hamano Sushi since I heard rave reviews about this place. Granted, the menu is limited for lunch, nonetheless, the food was good. We had a little of everything and shared. Their sushi was good, melts in your mouth good. Their ramen and pork katsu curry were also very tasty. I have to deduct a star though, our waitress was not very pleasant. We arrived around 2 pm, and our waitress told us as she seated us, "We are closing for the afternoon so please make sure you order everything now since the kitchen will be closed. Take your time to eat though because, it's no rush." So no big deal, we order everything, get our food about 15 minutes and as soon as she brings our food, along comes the check. With her little speech, "Oh, I brought the bill just so we can close it out but no hurry you can take your time to eat." That we did and she came back to our table a few minutes later to check if we had already settled the check. GRRRRRR...I was annoyed already at that point and maybe my facial reaction showed it. We casually told her we were busy eating and forgot but she stood there and waited until we cleared our bill. Enough with it lady, we get it! Obviously not a pleasant experience but I'll be willing to try this place again at a different time. Hope they take the time to read their reviews so the waitress understands why she got such a sucky tip! If I had to rate separately, food 4 stars and service 1 star, if that!
(3)
Samantha S.
Nope, sorry. A $70 dud. This place is so average that by sf standards, it should be considered a dud. Tempura overcooked, even dry. Roll dishes overly salty. Kama sushi on church is way better. Prices similar, quality world apart. There are so many amazing eats in sf, wouldn't go back here.
(2)
Erick C.
We came here once. In short, the sashimi was delicious, the beer was great, service was awesome and friendly (recommended what ended up being a delicious rice beer), and the agedashi tofu was tasty. We live nearby so we'll definitely be frequenting this place.
(4)
e w.
this is a solid sushi joint and has stood the test of time -- except for the interior design. if they would just give this place a face lift it would get a lot more action, like it did in its hayday. good, inventive rolls that i haven't had 100 times elsewhere and fresh fun nigiri. if you can't stand the decor, eat at the front at the bar, like i do.
(4)
Brad L.
Skip this one. People keep telling me that I must have been there on an off-night, but the service was so bad and the sushi so mediocre, that I'm certain I'll never go back. For Noe Valley sushi, I like Amberjack, at 27th & Church (across from Eric's) much better.
(1)
Frank W.
The ambiance and fun factor at Hamano are near zero. The food is about average for SF sushi and slightly overpriced. My gf lives around the corner so I've been there a handful of times. Amber Jack's (Church St.)food is on par and better priced.
(3)
Adrian N.
Ok...finally made it to Hamano. Started with a creative, tasty vegetarian roll. Then had a combo dish with tempura and beef. The beef was really good, not chewy and actually had flavor. It wasn't overcooked. Food overall was OK. Would I go back? With the many other options, probably not.
(3)
Peter O.
After 12 years in Tokyo, I'd guess I know my sushi, and this is good stuff! Sitting at the bar talking to Tetsuya is just like being in Tokyo. Nice to have a great sushi joint right in my backyard.
(5)
Monte C.
Used to be very good when owned by Mr. Hamano. Is steadily going down hill. Prices get higher and portions get smaller. Like andy h. writes, the food is often made sloppily. There used to be less employees and more food.
(2)
Denny L.
We arrived on Friday evening around 8:45 and was promptly seated. Our waiter came to our table after 15 minutes or so and took our order. Our food orders came "out of order" and the last plate was served about 45 minutes after we placed our order. Service was very poor and our waiter ignored us for the remainder of the time. Several times we reminded him of our orders and he promised to "check on our order." The third time we got his attention, we cancelled our appetizer because we had already eaten most of the main course. The food quality was so-so and the service was terrible. The restaurant is very loud making it difficult to have a conversation without having to shout across the table. This place is terrible and I will never return.
(1)
NAEL K.
i will be honest with u i dont know much about sushi but i give them 4 stars for freshness thats all i have to say
(4)
Debbie Y.
It's good dependable food for really reasonable prices. I just didn't like this sushi roll I ordered that was covered in this mayonaisse type of sauce, can't remember what it was...I always ask for any sauce to be put on the side now.
(3)
Brian L.
I had lunch at Hamano yesterday and it was very good. I had the lunch combination with salmon and the chicken karage. We also had the edaname "dim sum" and a house salad. We did not try the sushi on this trip, but would like to on my next visit.
(3)
Shwin S.
Its missing something in the atmosphere, just as the rolls here are missing that indefinable something. They just don't melt in the mouth and make you go mmmmm.. like they do at some other places. Reasonable prices make up for it only so far for the bland and the boring. Yuppiezens of Noe Valley, I hope this is not your doing.
(3)
Paul F.
I've been a regular here for probably 15 years and it's just around the corner from me now, which is dangerous :-) Great scene at the bar, love the Aji, fresh Salmon, spider roll, mmmm. Green salad is good when I get takeout. For about 5 years the wait was horrendous, it's not bad at all now though.
(5)
Toisha T.
went here on a tuesday night - wasn't too crowded, service was good. really liked the shrimp and bacon appetizer. when i go to new sushi places, i try and get two standard rolls and something special to the restaurant, so i had the diamond roll, a spicy tuna roll and the california roll with masago. thought all of the rolls were a little too big, i like mine to be a bit more bite sized than they come here. the diamond roll was great, first time having soy paper. i had some issue with the spicy tuna roll though, i was expecting a piece of fresh tuna with spicy sauce and instead got tuna tartare in rice with no discernible spice and some clover leaves. the california roll was decent. probably wouldn't go out of my way to come back here, but it was okay for a sushi fix.
(3)
Julia H.
Really good fresh fish everytime I go in, but they should do something about the bright lights in there. Still the sushi is good...
(5)
Margie N.
One of the few sushi restaurants that I would deem worthy of a 5 star rating, not necessarily that the sushi is 5 star [its a solid 4!], but the entire experience and good sake helped tremendously. Quick service, which is key when you're starving, also helps the vote. All of the rolls are excellent, if someone wanted to take me here again I'd be there in a heartbeat [and a 30 min drive through the city]. Any takers? Anyone?
(5)
See Y.
My friend raved for months about this place...but when I actually ate there, it was just OK. I was disappointed. But I can't tell my friend, because I'm chicken...
(3)
ed m.
what can I say...this is the best sushi in the world!My friend tommy brought me here 15 years ago and I thank him for that.The chefs are funny and cool and everything about this place is off the hizhook!!! I crave this place at least once a day
(5)
Angi C.
my first meal at hamano 7 years ago was unmemorable, but i was a sushi novice back then. now that i'm back in the hood, i thought i'd give it another try, so n and i walked over post-warriors game. we got seated at the bar right away, next to two jolly couples who apparently met earlier in the evening and have been drinking sake together since. everyone was super-friendly...chefs, waitresses, and our jolly fellow patrons who ordered 12 pieces of toro sashimi and insisted we take two of the pieces. who are we to say no?? our own sushi were excellent and fresh enough that i dared to order uni, a risky feat i attempt at a new restaurant only when i feel brave. the gamble paid off - the uni was oh so sweet. mmm!
(4)
Q C.
A friend who owns a sushi restuarant recommended Hamano to me and I have to say I was pretty disappointed! Dragon roll that is a california roll with unagi on top...WTF?! That was just gross. What's good on this menu? Cause I couldn't find anything worth trying when I was there. I think their vegetarian options might have been better than the fish!
(2)
genevieve g.
the sushi at hamano is outstanding, always very fresh and they consistently have an excellent variety of tuna. i've never had a bad experience with the service there - in fact i've found them to be quite friendly, even when very busy. i've brought friends from out of town to hamano and it always satisfies. they also serve some of their sakes in a wooden box from which you drink over a plate. yay!
(5)
Natalie A.
I got sick from eating this horrible food. My chicken teriyaki is making my stomach hurt. The sushi platters my 2 friends ordered were rubbery and gross. They couldn't eat more than 2 pieces. Will never go back. Would give it no stars if I could.
(1)
Anonymou S.
This place is not quite what it used to be, but it's still by far the best sushi in Noe Valley and compares very well with other sushi places in the city.
(4)
Elise U.
Hamano always has fresh fish and good service. I only wish I lived closer...
(5)
Y W.
this is my favorite sushi place in san francisco because of the garlic white tuna!
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Toneman's S.
Hamano's defines a classic "Cheers" type, neighborhoody sushi bar with some of the freshest fish in the city. I'd have to say this place is pretty localized in terms of always knowing at least one of the folks grinding at the sushi bar. The best seat in the house is on the bar; wish they had more stools at the bar... can get pretty zoo'd at the and if you don't catch a seat, you could be in for a long wait. Stand outs: hamachi belly sash, beast toro and endless orders of ocean trout. Reasonable amount of fish, but variety can be somewhat limited on some nights. It's the sushi chef's, staff and freshness of the fish that keeps me coming back for more and more! Bottom Line: incredibly fresh fish; I'm a huge fan. My go to sushi spot within walking distance! Hit it if you appreciate super fresh fish and don't mind a friendly environment. Toneman out!
(4)Nancy L.
Two words: Mission Roll!!! This damn roll has kept me coming back on (almost) a weekly basis. The service is great and the clientele is usually a mix of families, couples, and singles. It's a good crowd but there's not usually a wait and it's not super noisy - so serious/romantic/deep conversations can happen. I'll wrap this up by saying: Mission Roll!!!
(4)Soozie H.
3.5*'s Feeling quite festive after watching our World Series Champs' SF Giants parade on TV earlier, I decided to go out for dinner to continue the celebration as well as take advantage of the lovely weather in November. My mate and I had no particular place or type of cuisine in mind and so we drove for a bit before we came across Hamano Sushi. Hamano has been recommended to me by a friend awhile back and so we decided to give it a try. Fortunately, there was no wait and so we were greeted and seated immediately. It's a no frills place so if you're looking for something "trendy" or "sceney", Hamano is not that kind of place. Frankly, I don't care for the frills and only care about the quality of the sushi. I can happily say, the various sashimi I ordered was all delightful. I ordered Toro, Hamachi, Hotate, Amaebi (all sashimi) and it all was soooo sweet and fresh it was as smooth as silk going down my throat! We also ordered the Tuna Poke (quite spicey and just "meh") and Cod which was lovely. I am surprisingly pleased and would definitely come back to Hamano if I'm in the area and am craving sushi.
(3)Tom A.
The "A-OK" description is actually perfect for this restaurant (I feel like I've said that before...). I had some edamame and gomae for an appetizer (hint: the gomae is great!) As for the rolls, they were rather small and decent. I don't really have one bad thing to say, nor do I have one great thing to say. Pretty average by my standards. The prices here were on the low side, but that may be one reason why the rolls were so small... The quest for my "staple" sushi spot continues...
(3)Warren L.
This is my experience from a Sunday evening, two months ago. I finally have time to write this: I lost my appetite sitting at a table in the back (by the mirrored wall) because there were many, MANY, large flies languidly flying around, like they've just had a big meal. I am not exaggerating when I say there were at least 5 or 6 in the air, and another 5 or 6 crawling on that mirrored wall, preening themselves. It's a small space back there, by the entrance to the kitchen, so that's a lot of insects in a small, confined space. I notified two of the wait staff. They smiled, apologized, but seemed helpless. I realize there's nothing much they could do; they couldn't exactly pull out a can of bug spray while there were diners in the restaurant. But I was grossed out by seeing so MANY flying insects that my date and I decided to move to a different table, towards the front of the restaurant, by the sushi bar. Still, I'm afraid to go back to Hamano. It makes me wonder if the restaurant management has the proper controls in place for hygiene, notwithstanding the relatively high SF Public Health score of 94/100. The sushi might have been good, but all I can think of are the disgusting flying insects.
(2)Aurora C.
The food is decent, the prices reasonable, the service respectable. The ambiance, however, is about as charming as a hotel with complimentary continental breakfast on offer. It's like they bought their tables, chairs, carpet, and decor from a hotel that was remodeling. The light jazz doesn't help either.
(3)Anna-Lena S.
Go to the next supermarket and pick some instant food from the freezer. That is cheaper, fresher and better! This was the worst meal we had for years.
(1)Kenny L.
This is the place to come for sushi. Amazing fresh and if you sit at the bar on the days Jiro is there he is SPECTACULAR. I've been here twice and each time he has amazed me with his choices for omakase. I would whole-heartedly recommend!
(5)sage f.
Love this place. Great lunch special (which you can also get as take out!). I really enjoy sitting at the bar and getting tips and suggestions from the friendly and knowledgable sushi chefs. Oh and super yummy miso soup.
(4)Angella S.
For me, Hamano is the most satisfying Japanese food in the area. Now granted, it's not the best, but it's not the worst and it's certainly better than average. What can I say...good food, good prices, good location. Being that I'm a vegetarian, I'm sometimes limited whenever I do Japanese. But Hamano usually has some nice soup or other vegetarian choice of the day, in addition to the regular veggies I find on the menu (agadeshi tofu, veggie tempura, etc). I've never been disappointed; I always walk away pretty full :) If you decide to eat here, I recommend sitting at the bar. The dining area is fine too, just no real ambiance.
(4)FairReviews A.
A lot of care goes into the sushi here. Chef Jiro and Jimmy really try to find not only crowd pleasing fish, but fish for people that really know and love sushi. Once in a while, if you time it, you can get their homemade tofu which is exceptional. Also their chawan mushi is pretty darn good too. And, if you want to make the leap and go all uni crazy, this is the place because the uni is always good and they'll even tempura it if you want. And, you can bring the non sushi folks too because there are lots of cooked Japanese dishes on the menu.
(4)Bryan S.
It's not really the best sushi place I've been to but it's a nice place to be with a friend or two. The sushi's are really good, honestly, and so are the appetizers and so forth. Miso soup is... okay, I guess. Service was very good there, nice people, and they respected us when we were talking, being patient. I was talking to my friend and the waiter came up to us and didn't interrupt, waiting patiently. Overall, it's not bad, not the worst thing ever, not the best.
(4)ABC Z.
Hella good sushi, but was expensive~ Cashier was hot! keke!
(4)Michael G.
Average sushi, but way overpriced. Good service, which isn't that warm, but is efficient.
(3)Len M.
Best Japanese in town. Friendly service. A little pricey for lunch, but worth it.
(5)Inigo M.
Decent grilled chicken curry. Pricey boiled spinach salad. Pleasant service.
(3)charles h.
This place has a small cult of devoted fans, but I can't figure out why. The prices look at first glance similar to other places, but you get a lot less for the money, so it is actually one of the most expensive sushi places in San Francisco. Seating is also badly managed--they seem unable to give a decent estimate of the wait, or even whether there is a wait. Some reviewers here have commented on all the "creative" rolls etc. For me that's a negative. Sorry, I'm a purist, but at least you know that's where I'm coming from. All that "creative" stuff simply distracts from the essentials, and on the essentials, this place is no better than middle of the road.
(2)Aaron L.
Very good neighborhood sushi joint in Noe Valley. Hamano isn't flashy or pretentious in the least, but turns out very decent sushi at a reasonable price. If you're looking for widly exotic hand rolls or rare fishes this may not be your place, but for well executed basics, they consistently deliver. Decent but limited selection of sakes. Service is prompt and pleasant.
(4)Allan D.
Outstanding sushi, wonderful service. I have not had sushi on the west coast before this evening, and I was very pleased.
(5)Gino R.
When I lived in Noe Valley (90s - 2001), this was the place to bring friends and sushi fans to try the freshest fish. The quality has always been top notch. Occasionally the service slows down (during peak times). We still visit Hamano and recommend it to any sushi lover.
(4)Dominique Y.
So.. a couple of friends and I are walking around looking for a place to eat.. Oh, look at this cute little Japanese restaurant ! Let`s go here ! BIG MISTAKE. The four rolls we ordered weren`t bad.. but seeing as how I can barely remember what they were called or what they tasted like is not a good sign. Unmemorable, to say the least. Even worse was the fact that each roll was about the size of my eyeball [Sorry, can`t think of an appropriate alternative] ! Where do they get off making rolls this small without reducing the price ? Alright, I could *almost* deal with that. What we couldn`t deal with, however, was the wait ! It`s like the staff was playing games with us !! We received our first roll in about 10 minutes [coo], our second one around 10 minutes after that [that`s fine], the third one about 20 minutes after that [..] and finally our last roll arrived a good 30 minutes after we had finished eating [UHHHH..] ! It was very clear that they had simply forgotten us, but to have the waitresses come over and tell us multiple times that it`s "on it`s way" and giggle is not cool. Luckily the three of us were lost in a major catch up session to care too much, but it was still quite ridiculous. Also, no apologies of any kind. Rude !
(2)Britt C.
When a bar has everything, how can you detract a star? Two for dinner Saturday night, a little wait bar for the bar was made pleasant with a hot sake at a window seat (4 window bar seats available that night for those waiting for the bar - table seats were immediately available for two). Hamano 'gots' mad ~ han-ro~ skillzz with the Mission: yellowtail & jalepeno, topped with (seared) white tuna, radish sauce (sublime)and green onions. Yea, I said it b*otches. The 'miso soup with clams' was delicious but a huge appeizer so a warning to those that would like explore the sushi menu: don't fill up on this delicious appeitzer!... ...because the Hasami age - chopped shrimp, ginger flavor, stuffed in an asian eggplant served tempura style could be a "last thing I would want if I were stranded on a tropical island" food is all that (pardon my French). Shira age (mackrel) was sliced so beautifully thinly yet long enough to satisfy a hungry bite was a testiment to the chef's abilities. The seaweed salad is perfectly crisp, not overly slimly and appropiately seasoned. This is the kind of bar that has the strength to offer a great selection of fish - like three different kinds of salmon while we were there: farmed raised Scottish, farmed Tazmania salmon (so sue me if i get that one wrong, but I 'm pretty sure he said something about Austrailian salmon) and the third, the absolute best and most precious: wild sockeye salmon. I felt guilty about straying from a sushi-pure dinner but the fried oyster ( panko) was so delicious I can't even begin to describe them. I could eat two dozen of those if nothing else, easy. The wait-staff was wonderfully attendant, and the chefs are really nice, knowledgeable, and attentenive. It's highly unlikely you'll feel underappreciated - they're great. Go for sure for the food, and the service is great! Brix stamp of approval here for Hamano.
(5)Demarest C.
Perfectly pleasant sushi restaurant, although limited in vegetarian selections - even the usually standard ones. Several special maki creations. Never seems crowded at lunch. Recently changed ownership, which has affected its quality.
(3)Andrew L.
I'm not sure I understand how others can review this restaurant's sushi so highly. As someone who knows fresh fish, I can't find evidence of particularly fresh or sublime sushi here. There's certainly nothing "incredible" about it, as another reviewer superlatively proclaimed. The selection is unimaginative, with the usual suspects (yawn) like maguro and sake at the centerpiece of the lunch sashimi plate. The hamachi was no better or worse than hamachi I've had elsewhere. The uni was past its prime, having begun to liquefy, as uni will after about four or five days in the cooler. I didn't eat my second piece of it. The shiromaguro was bland and a little mushy, a disappointment. Most shocking was the fact that they couldn't get one of the simplest of sushi dishes right: saba. Saba should feel firm and briny because of the pickling process. Instead, Hamano's saba was mushy and weakly flavored. The saba more than anything suggested to me: "I don't care about the quality of my fish." While the wait staff was very friendly, the sushi chefs themselves did not make eye contact with customers sitting at their bar. This is yet another of those awful sushi restaurants where you cannot order directly from the itamae, but have to order from a waiter instead. Where did this trend come from? It's utterly inauthentic. Itamae should be more like bartenders than bar backs. Which brings me to my final point. I believe it was Trevor Corson in The Story of Sushi who said that you should always look around to see if there are Japanese patrons. If Japanese people eat at a sushi restaurant, it means they've found a little bit of home. Hamano was fairly busy, but not a single non-white person was eating there. I should have turned around and walked out as soon as I noticed that.
(2)David C.
Hamano is hands down one of my favorite sushi restaurants in SF. I've eaten here twice, once at the bar and once at a table. I have to say the bar was a completely different experience and it changed my mind forever. We did omakase and for once it actually didn't break the bank. Perhaps the cost is lower because they only serve you one piece per order, but that's fine by me because you get to try a lot more fish. If something tasted really good just get another order! Anyway, on to the fish: All the old standbys were excellent, including toro, sake, kanpachi, hamachi, unagi, and hirame. all were super fresh, beautifully presented, and delicious. for me, if those pieces aren't fresh i don't bother going back. but what really stood out for me were some pieces i don't normally get and that they added some extra flair to, like the seared albacore, tai, and aji with dikon and mint leaf. and as much of a sushi snob as i tend to be i normally can't eat uni. i think the first time i had it it wasn't that fresh so it tasted like seawater and was really gooey. the chef here convinced me to try it again and it was actually really good! due to the texture it has to be really fresh, so if i liked it then it had to be. i'll definitely be going back here again, and again. i only wish they took reservations for the bar!
(5)Jonathan L.
Pros: delicious! great rolls! Cons: tiny portions for the price- $70 for 2 people. The price was upsetting because we both left hungry.
(3)Dani D.
I only came here and had the California Roll to go. This was quite some time ago,but I think this is a decent restaurant to try and maybe dine at.
(3)Nancy C.
If you are a sushi lover, do not go here. If you enjoy sushi from time to time and are not picky, this is a place you can try. I love sushi (have frequented fish markets in Japan at 4am and waited in line... try to eat sushi as much as possible in the U.S.) and this place falls flat on its face in my book. The rolls (including simple ones like spicy tuna) are not fresh and not good at all from a taste standpoint. I also got a few pieces of sashimi and was not impressed on quality or freshness. There are better places in the city, and there is no reason for me to go here again.
(1)Annette M.
Hamano is always a great reliable lunch. Service is always quick, pleasant and food is fresh and tasty, prices are reasonable. Atmoshpere is ok, lunch time it is just what you would want. Clean bathrooms are always a plus in San Francisco.
(4)Virginia L.
So delicious... and totally reasonable for omakase! I was literally stuffed for just $54. AND I had an order of toro. Our chef was very knowledgeable and not afraid to throw the interesting stuff at us. Highlights of my meal were 3 different salmons (my favorite) - sockeye, farm raised, wild Alaskan, kampachi, scallop with lemon and sea salt, and of course, the toro... a luscious, gigantic, beautiful piece of fish that was quite possibly the best nigiri I've ever had. Instead of bluefin, it was blackfin and not something they have all the time. Apparently an entire fish would cost somewhere around $45,000. Oh yes, and then there was the uni. I've always been a big proponent of sea urchin, probably because I've never ordered it at a restaurant that has had less than stellar quality fish - this was soooo gooooood. Extremely cold and creamy. Ah-maze-ing. Sit at the bar, make friends with the chef. Have a great meal that won't put you out.
(4)Niniane W.
The sushi here is reasonable, though not mind-blowing. The grilled cod appetizer and sukiyaki are excellent. It's a good neighborhood sushi joint, if you live within walking distance. It's probably not worth driving to.
(4)Nissa A.
Hamano is my go-to joint for consistently good sushi with few frills. The quality of the fish and the sashimi in particular is very high. That said, if it wasn't three blocks from my house I probably wouldn't go near as much. The good: high quality fish, consistent, can always get a table, decent wine choices for a sushi place, service is always fast. THe not so good - bit pricey, little atmosphere, service can be a bit rude at times. Bottom line: I go because its convenient. But I'll always take suggestions for other sushi places to try out.
(3)Danielle L.
It was okay. Ordered Castro roll, silk road and dragon. There was a funny taste in the silk road roll, and some of the fish had a really strong "fishy" taste. The edamame is served cold, and didn't seem to have any salt on it. You have to ask for a cup of tea, but they were fairly good at refilling the water. Overall, it was decent , but kinda meh...I won't go out of my way to go back.
(3)Teri C.
Fishing around in Noe Valley, my friend who lives in the area brought me to his local sushi place - Hamano Sushi. Since I don't frequent this area very much, I was excited to try out this restaurant I've never heard before. Thursday evening - walking in past the sushi bar to the hostess stand, we were seated immediately. I took a quick detour to the restroom to wash up before my meal and noted the speakers built inside. How cute. My dining companion usually focuses on the rolls when he eats there, so I figure I better follow suit. (When sitting at the sushi bar, I usually tend to only get nigiri and sashimi. But since this meal was more for catching up and not so much for enjoying culinary delights, rolls would work out better.) We ordered the Poke roll (spicy white tuna w/ garlic, onion, lemon juice and ooba leaf, $6.95), Spider roll (Fried soft-shell crab & assorted vegetables, $6.95), Rock N' Roll roll (Eel & avocado, $6.50), Tempura roll (Shrimp tempura & assorted vegetables, $7.50), Dragon roll (California roll topped with unagi, $13.95), and Edamame ($3.95). The Poke roll was different because of the white tuna and the ooba leaf added a nice contrast in taste. The Spider roll was standard, except that it fell apart the moment I picked it up. The roll wasn't tight enough and that's never fun when you have little vegetable pieces all over your little plate. The Rock N' Roll and Dragon roll had large chunks of unagi on it, which was a nice plus. And the Tempura roll was pretty basic too. Service - the girl who seated us and took our order was nice. When we commented that our Tempura roll hadn't come yet, she said we didn't order it. (I definitely know we did.) So, we just ordered it again. One of the waiters came by asking if we were done and we actually had just finished putting in another order, so I felt rushed when he came by. I had to ask for my tea to be refilled, and waited a little bit for that to happen. And then the check was plopped on our table without so much as asking if we wanted any dessert or anything. Overall, I felt a bit rushed eating there. They didn't rush us after the bill was put down, but rather I felt it when the waiter came by. My friend comes all the time and I felt like the rolls were a bit overpriced for what I paid. (Over $14 for a CA roll with some unagi?) Total bill: $60, tax and tip included. I would go back again, but sit at the sushi bar and go for the nigiri and sashimi instead.
(3)Jeff W.
had a combination dinner plate this evening and was not disappointed. very flavorful chicken kara age and properly cooked teri chicken. the rice was perfect. slight graininess in the miso salad dressing took away a star but the meal was very good otherwise.
(4)Too M.
Love this place. My go-to neighborhood sushi place. Great quality, reasonable prices. Service is alway good. I also use to make a lot of take-away from them - and I'm always happy. Definitely check them out if you are in the area. Try some of their special rolls, they are real good.
(4)Helen B.
Went here with my friend who lives in Noe Valley. We sat at the bar and I was very delighted. They have a very good apple salmon that is quite tasty, the puffy scallop is quite good too. The sushi chef made us some tasty specials with the fresh fish. The ocean trout and toro we excellent! I rarely go to Noe Valley when in SF, it kind of reminds me of the UWS..lol.. But if you make it out to Noe Valley, this is a good sushi place!
(4)Shabbir S.
I have spent many a fine meal in Hamano, but I will never go in there again. On Saturday my wife, another couple, and our two very well-behaved children went in to have lunch during the restaurant's slowest period. I attempted to order a tuna (tekka) don, which is sliced tuna over rice. It's my son's favorite dish. The obnoxious waiter said, "there's not enough tuna to make a tuna don". Really? "Very busy night friday". We ended up ordering him a tuna sashimi and a bowl of rice, which my son happily ate. What's the difference? About $4-5 more to order it this way. Later I asked if he they could make us a roll with avocado/tuna roll with tempura bits and was told "No, they won't make that", and yet we got a tempura roll in the same order. (And once again, there seemed to be plenty of tuna.) SF is full of great sushi. Hamano is full of obnoxious wait staff. Go elsewhere. Do you really want to fight to find parking in Noe just to be rudely treated?
(1)Lauren S.
Oh my god - this place is amazing. I still can't believe how affordable it is, despite its upscale location and vibe in Noe Valley. Of course, whats most important, is the very high quality of the food: Delicious miso soup (which is harder and harder to accomplish nowadays), and incredibly fresh Sashimi. I had a beautiful Ahi spread, and everyone I ate with was equally impressed and pleased. Fast, freiendly service ; a very queer-friendly atmousphere in Noe. This place is fantastic all around and I'd recommend it for any occasion, from a casual get together to a formal birthday dinner.
(5)Lily Z.
Sushi is pretty average here. Close to my work vicinity and pretty much the only Japanese restaurant I can think of there. Service is always friendly. Their curry is delicious. Bf and I let our stomachs do all the ordering for us, so we ended up with two entrees and a sushi meal. It's a good neighborhood restaurant but I wouldn't drive here just to eat here specifically.
(3)Mariangela S.
Really fresh fish and totally creative rolls. The gyoza are good not amazing, the veggie tempura is really good - always cool veggies. Last night we had the Sunset, Dolores and Sanchez rolls and they were delicios. I order anything without "mayo". We picked up and the woman on the phone made excellent suggestions, and also let us know about items that were on the more expensive side, giving us an "out" if it was out of budget. The toro they had was outstanding - kind of like butter but better!
(4)SF F.
Hit or miss rolls, both in presentation and taste.
(3)Joshua W.
I've yelped up my mind......The Dolores Roll is FANTASTIC! Spicy White Tuna, crunchy garlic, assorted veggies, 7 spice mayo (someone please tell me what the spices are so I can keep a tupperware dish of it in my fridge!) & tobiko wrapped in sesame soy paper. Spread a little wasabi and some pickled ginger and WOOHOO!!! They always have a nice little crowd whenever I go AND that water glass was never empty. Thank you Hamano, see you soon.
(4)Teddy B.
Hamano Restaurant is a pleasant place for a laid back dinner devoid of ear thumping music. However I wasn't feelin' it at Hamano, because the walls were bland and beige. All the cool kids know that beige walls is a clear indicator of bleh sushi rolls. Hence, the more colorful the walls, then the more zappy the sushi. Act like ya heard. Many rolls ran about $8, but the bill for two with only one alcoholic drink totaled $85 including tip. That was one fancy drink. Is $85 a lot for mediocre sushi? Well, is wasabi green? 2.5 stars. Probably won't return. ___________________________ Kaki Su: the fresh oysters in ponzu sauce was my favorite of the night Ceviche: nice presentation, but hardly any tuna, salmon or white fish among the seaweed Nigiri: Hamachi and Unagi--these were okay Alaska Roll: salmon, avocado, tobiko -- bleh Poke Roll: spicy white tuna w/garlic -- bleh Noe Roll: yellowtail, green mint leaf, lemon -- ditto Macha creme brulee: might be okay if you like green tea, but bleh
(3)Julie H.
Still hungry! Honestly...I can't say I tried their sushi since portions were so small! I mean its a good thing we snacked prior to dinner - otherwise there was no way we could process all the saki we drank...It was on the pricey side as well. What I do give them props on is handling our huge group - our huge saki drinking intoxicated group. Parking is pretty decent and within walking distance of some great bars.
(3)Justin C.
If you are in Noe Valley then this is your sushi spot. The rolls and nigiri were great. I really liked how there was a little hidden wasabi inside teh nigiri. I was really impressed with the soup and seaweed salad. The service was great. I would try to sit at the sushi bar for a better experience.
(4)Nichole P.
Hamano has fantastic gomae the sauce is great, which is key in that dish. However, the sushi rolls were not as bangin'.... my great company and I had the noe, 24th, valencia and the florida rolls. They all were 'A-Ok". The service is great though. The wait staff is very quick and helpful. This restaurant is good for the neighborhood, but I think there are better spots to grab a roll around town.
(3)David Y.
Decent Sushi at this joint and some pretty good sashimi. As far as the sushi goes I would say that it was good but not great enough to make me want to come back. I had the california and dragon rolls. Also, we had a ton of sashimi which racked up our bill to around 400. Pretty expensive fish you might say, but I'm a noob I don't know what sashimi should cost or taste like. Was quite an experience, however two dishes I do recommend you try are the tuna sashimi and the mochi. Bon apetit!
(3)HY L.
Must have: Midnight special = Raw oyster, uni, ikura, quail egg and (I think 1 or 2 more eggs like tobiko or masago) with some ponzu dressing.
(5)Tyler C.
One of my favorite sushi spots in the city. Reasonable prices and great service. They have the best Goma Ae (boiled spinach w/sesame sauce) that you'll ever have. Try the Castro roll, if you're looking for something fried. If you're really there for the fish, it's hard to go wrong with the Assorted Sashimi (chef's choice).
(4)Ian C.
Went there and had sashimi on Friday night - super good. Excellent, actually. Also got a roll. And the conclusion - stick to the sashimi. The roll left something to be desired, but the sashimi was DAMN good. Stick with it and you'll enjoy this place!
(4)Marti P.
When deciding on a neighborhood to move to from Tampa Florida, close by GOOD sushi was on our list of need to haves and Hamano fit the bill. We've been there several times and when I was homebound we picked up a feast to share with visiting family. The service is always friendly without being phony. No pressure to get a move on if your dinner is winding down and there are a few folks waiting. Brion and I each have our favorite roll and each visit we try something new. The Apple Shrimp appetizer fried in a light crisp butter with roasted almonds and fuji - apple, w/ spicy sesame sauce is AMAZING and a must have with each of our orders. If you're not up for black sesame or green tea creme brule or green tea ice cream than take a walk down 24th to get some gelato at Belgano Chocolatier Gelateria or some Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt at Mikes.
(4)Grace W.
I have to admit that I was skeptical when I walked into the restaurant because all the patrons were white (I understand that anyone can enjoy sushi, but I was just surprised by the homogeneity since we *are* in San Francisco). Anyway, my friend and I shared a bunch of rolls - Valencia, Hamachi, Rock N Roll, Elizabeth. They were all good, but we especially enjoyed the Valencia and Elizabeth. I'm not going to try to convince myself that Hamano is authentically Japanese, but the fish seems fresh and the price is right, so I'll definitely be back.
(4)annie c.
This place is disappointing. I ordered a noodle soup that pretty much tasted like saltwater...the service was lackluster and the ambience did nothing for me. There are too many other sushi places to hit up so I probably wont be giving this place a second try.
(2)Megan M.
So... Hamano lunch special makes my week. Really, it puts me in a happy place just thinking about it. Every Sunday @ 2pm my bottom is at the sushi bar chowing down on fresh, flavorful, fabulous sush. Two rolls, miso and a salad for $9.95. Best thing about it is - I walk in, put my coat on the chair, have a glass of water within 30 seconds, salad within a minute, soup within a minute and half and sushi within like 6 minutes. This is mindless pleasure. There is usually no talking involved. The sushi chef always shaves cucumbers in a paper thin sheet right in front of us which is all the entertainment I need.
(4)Gors P.
what i ordered... tempura w/ california rolls and miso soup, salmon nigiri(sake), bbq eel nigiri(unagi) tempura, miso soup and the nigiri sushi's were ok but the cali roll's suck's like most japanese joint's out there now a day's, it was made with ground tasteless scaled creature. the salad that came with the tempura platter was exceptional, lot's of green leafy veggies, just like the one's you get at fancy american restaurant's. ambiance... ok (neat with clean bathroom) service... great (staff's visited my table any time they got a chance) cost... $$
(3)Maria T.
Stumbled upon this place while walking in Noe Valley one evening. Prompt, attentive service, fresh fish, creative sushi rolls. Clean, pleasant establishment good for groups as well.
(4)carla f.
Picked this restaurant because it was in the neighborhood we're visiting. We live in Santa Monica and go for sushi OFTEN. The sushi at Hamano was of excellent quality and the service was wonderful. The waitress recommended some nigiri specials and they were dynamite. She was really helpful and friendly. Children were welcome and the general atmosphere was nice. The sushi choices were greater than I expected.
(4)Anna W.
I've been to Hamano countless times and it's a pretty good sushi restaurant. They always make up new creative dishes so expect surprises. Every time i went, i would sit at the sushi bar. There's 3, sometimes 2 chefs and it feels like you've just hired your own personal chef. FISH: fresh, but toro is kinda expensive ($12 nigiri ? ) Rolls: Yummy, but i dunno what i ordered since the chef always make something for me. Must try : the apple almond shrimp salad -- i think this is one of their specials. u gotta ask for it, its not on the menu i'm giving this place a 4 stars, not bc i know the chefs there, but because its actually pretty good
(4)Shayna N.
We live semi-close to here and had coupons for a discount on a meal. The fish was fresh, the service was excellent. I agree about the interior resembling some sort of weird cafeteria from the 80s. The fish was above average. I really enjoyed the valencia roll and the hamachi but the sake and the hirame were both a little too chewy. I'd go back with another coupon but it's not at the top of my list.
(4)Sean Z.
Best In SF, my fav in SF. Im from LA so im picky about my stuff Comparable to Taiko in Irvine Ask Jiro about the Daily Specials, such as Live Uni and scallop, My fav dish is the Toro (damn its good
(5)Jojo N.
Pretty good, reasonable price sushi! The happy hour is okay, their sake and beer are 20% off from 4:30-6:30. I got a large Saporro for $5 and some change! I ordered 2 rolls, one was the Sunset roll which was SOO delicious and the Ocean queen was NOT good. My GF got the dragon roll which was really good, too and she got the Spider roll which was just OK. I'd come back here for happy hour!
(4)Josh F.
A prime sushi takeout spot in "mommy valley," Hamano gives decent value and the food was OK. The bonito was very good.
(3)Amber L.
I came here on a Sunday to find a long waiting list for the sushi bar. We settled for a table and I had to forgo my plans of flirting with the sushi chef to get the best cuts, it was probably for the best since the SO would not have been happy with me. This is great place and apparently everyone else in Noe thinks so as well because everything I really wanted was not available except for the sakura masu and the fort bragg uni. If you haven't tried fort bragg uni, run and get some, that stuff is like pure butter. I've been here before but I don't remember them running out of fish like it was crack so I will be back to get my hana no mai and sashimi on again.
(4)Lily B.
Hamano is a good place to go for sushi and Japanese food in general, but it's not the best I ever had.
(3)Bronwen K.
If you're already in the Noe Valley area of SF this is a good restaurant. I wouldn't travel across town to eat there but it's certainly good if you're in the area. Our party of 8 was seated without a reservation, no wait, on a Friday night around 9:30pm. The servers were attentive and helpful without hovering. The sushi was good, not spectacular. The shrimp stuffed mushrooms were excellent and the pan seared bass was outstanding. The place has essentially no atmosphere or fancy decor but it was great for a dinner with friends and business associates. It was also a real bonus to have such a large party seated that late with no reservations and to get out of there for less than $210 including beers, sake, multiple appetizers and several plates of sushi.
(3)Marty F.
Came here for the first time last night. it's really close to my place but I just haven't gotten around to go. Anyways, Hamano is your typical SF Sushi joint. i had the Valencia roll, which is salmon and jalapeno's (tad bit racist, but whatever) . My mother had the spicy tuna which wasn't as good. I topped off the evening with Miso soup, which was above average and a very good cali roll. if you're in noe valley, check it out but it's not worth a cross-town trek
(4)Eva W.
Great sushi! Its not the fanciest place but man it is good food. Great for pickup also-- quick & easy. love this local place
(4)Anthony P.
Sushi was not fresh at all. Also, when I ordered the sushi/sashimi special despite what the menu said they told me I could only get Yellowtail for the sashimi. What's worse is that they charged me 3 extra dollars for it, which they later explained was an extra charge for yellowtail. Hmmm, kind of suspicious to me.
(2)Ashley Q.
Call me a sushi snob, I won't argue with you. Hamano is a little gem hidden in Noe Valley. Parking isn't difficult, so non-Noe residence don't fear! The fish is good, not the best, but good. It taste's fresh. They have a good menu of rolls, nigiri, sashimi, bento style dishes, traditional and non-traditional appetizers. The decor is quite plain, but that's not what you come to Hamano for. You come for the food. There is rarely a wait, the service is friendly and non-intrusive. When I'm hanging out in Noe and craving sushi, this is where you'll find me. CleanScore 96 cs.testcs.com.s32845.gri…
(4)Joshua W.
You ever have one of those meals where there really isn't anything wrong with it, but it leaves you rather apathetic about the whole experience? That was my impression of Hamano Sushi last night. Service was rather slow, the fish was fresh, the rolls were somewhat lackluster, and the bill was $75 for two people. Were I in the neighborhood and had a craving for sushi I would come here, but it's definitely not a place I'd seek out. I suggest they change their name from Hamano Sushi to Generic Sushi.
(3)Kim R.
I went here last night because I forgot to bring a jacket and did not feel like searching around Noe Valley for somewhere else I have to say I was not really impressed with this place I found it to be over priced and not as good as things looked or sounded I tried the spinach appetizer and I like oshi tashi but was not sure what sauce was on this it tasted sort of like peanut...Did not like it I also had a smll salad w/avacado and the Tuna I my brother ordered like 4 rolls and a calamari salad It was 85.00 with tip 100 we did not even order any drinks besides water so I found it to be way to pricey 4 food that I did not even care for... My first and last visit I see that this place has gotten some great reviews ....Guess it goes to that old opinions are like assholes and everybody's got 1
(2)J-Meoww W.
Alaska Roll: How did they make a salmon and avocado roll taste so brilliant? I think they serve their sushi slightly warmer than other places, which really makes a difference in taste. I really like it. (Can anyone else back me up or am I making this up?) The nigiri we ordered were very good, the Spider Roll was decent. Very calm, traditional interior. (If you find the reggae music and trippy atmosphere of Tamasei too much, this place is for you.)
(4)Gregor M.
Hamano became a last minute choice for dinner recently, and thankfully turned out to be a good pick. Ordered up a round of Nigiri Sake, Hamachi, Ebi, and Maguro complimented by a spicy tuna roll, and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the cut. Fair prices, my water glass never went empty, a good quick sushi pick.
(3)laura g.
I must say I wasn't expecting a decent sushi restaurant in Noe Valley. But, Hamano was a pleasant surprise. The sushi was good, there was some interesting dishes and they had a nice drink menu. Service was nice, nothing exceptional. However, I, too, had a couple pieces fall apart, indicating a loose roll by the chef. There was no real atmosphere to speak of. I look forward to returning & trying the bar, hopefully I can be wowed there.
(3)Annie A.
Consistently fresh, some of the best in SF. Decor is not over the top. When you go to Hamano you know you'll be getting the best sushi, the most skilled chefs without all the pomp and circustance. Nuff!
(5)Bob P.
It was ok. We were in San Francisco from Georgia and wanted really good sushi and this was one of the recommendations. It was about equal to what we normally get in Georgia so that was somewhat depressing. Don't get me wrong... It was good, but just not blow you away kind of place. Server couldn't be bothered to check on us and was very rushed and seemed like he wanted to just get us in and out. Prices are reasonable and food quality was fine.
(3)Tuppence D.
Yum Yum Castro Roll was really good, even the people at the next table asked what I was eating cuz it looked yummy. Only negative was that two girls came out of a single womens restroom together ... oh well, that's SF.
(5)Fariba E.
Awesome sushi selection, friendly staff, can't get any better! I have tried most their sushi selection and I am sooooo glad we have this place in our neighborhood.
(5)Jennifer K.
Until recently my boyfriend and I lived walking distance from this place. The atmosphere is always warm and inviting, clean and comfortable. This was our go-to spot for sushi in Noe Valley. We love this place because it is unpretentious and it serves a focused and innovative menu. If you pay close attention to the flavors in some of their well designed rolls, you will notice the various components all coming together in ways that you don't always expect from a bite of sushi these days. On the subject of pricing--we never had a bill under $50 between the two of us (but we always get sake). They have coupons that they offer on their website and via mail to the neighborhood so that helps bring costs down. I've been to much more expensive places for sushi in the city that are mostly about hype or house music and less about the menu.
(4)ClosetDork ..
All the good things that you could possibly expect from a sushi restaurant, without the bad. What you could expect for: 1) Fresh sashimi 2) Original sushi rolls (try Sunset or Valencia) not found anywhere else 3) Super-fast, non-intrusive service (I'm big on this. See my review of Red Crane) What you would not find in this restaurant: 1) Insanely long wait 2) Loud thumping music 3) Waiters dressed as wannabe hipsters 4) Funky interiors and wall paints that would make Warhol weep with envy (Read: This place is no Blowfish Sushi To Die For - see my other review)
(4)Jaume P.
Unpretentious and great fresh sushi. I love siting at the bar and try every alspecial sushi of the day
(4)Julia C.
Went here yesterday evening in an endless attempt to try all the delicious sushi spots in the city. It was very yummy! We got the spicy fried tofu and okra appetizer and it was super tasty. I know okra is usually not typical sushi restaurant fare (at least from my experience) but it complemented the dish perfectly. Then I ordered two rolls, the Dolores and the Midori. The Dolores is a spicy white tuna roll with veggies and the Midori is a veggie roll. Both were very good and fresh. My only complaint is I wish they were wrapped in seaweed instead of that white rice paper. It wasn't bad, it just altered the taste a bit. I also am a big fan of ginger and have to say that I kind of judge a sushi spot by it's ginger. Hamano had the nice off white fresh ginger, not the gross pink, slimy dyed stuff.
(4)Jane L.
Nice atmosphere. Good neighborhood sushi. My friend ordered the Noe roll and loved it, need I say more? =) The teriyaki chicken and tempura were good. But the accompanying salad was a little strange. And when my friend asked for miso soup instead of a salad, our waitress looked at us and firmly stated "NO SUBSTITUTIONS!". ok, maybe it wasn't that emphatic of a "no", but it felt that way especially with the non-yummy salad.... Atmosphere? 4 stars Food? 3.5 stars Would I return? Yes, if I'm short on time and craving Japanese food, else I might trek over to 9th and Irving from Noe Valley.
(3)Alicia J.
It is here I discovered one of my favorite sushi items to date- Aji. This is a quaint little neighborhood restaurant making me ridiculously pleased that they offer a frequent diner's club, which I highly suggest. Downfalls: I have never been able to sit at the bar, which I tend to enjoy at Sushi restaurants, and thus have had very little in the area of chef recommendations.
(4)Jin Z.
Fresher fish than Webe and other similar more hole in the wall places. Cleaner facilities too. But slightly more expensive, so you don't quite get to savor the feeling of being a master of cheap eats afterward. Service is nothing special, but I've never had anything to complain about.
(4)Jenny S.
The Japanese style entrance in deceiving. From the drab brown carpet, to the cheap tables to the mauve wallpaper.. the decor alone screams DO NOT TAKE A DATE HERE. So the scene wasn't really happening, but I'm here to try the fish. Before I got there though, a few annoying things on the menu that caught my eye. I have this problem with rules that don't accommodate the customer that don't really make sense. If you order sashimi for example, they can only do it by pieces of 7 instead of 4 or 8 like most places. I wanted a few different types of fish, and it wasn't happening unless I wanted to go with chef's choice sashimi dinner. The food was fine I guess. Miso soup with noodles in it (weird), seaweed salad, live scallops (for a whopping $13 and they didn't even give me that awesome sauce for it), and hamachi nigiri. But the prices were about 50% more than most places I've been to. At the end of the day, the meal alone is probably the most unsatisfying I've every paid $30 for, not to mention the painfully off decor and annoying rules. Needless to say I won't be back.
(2)Matthew K.
I am very picky about sushi places. This place consistently delivers high quality fish and plenty of creative, unique rolls at very reasonable prices. If I'm going super upscale and want top of the line, I'll go to Ino. But Hamano is still excellent, and a good bit cheaper.
(5)Colleen C.
almond shrimp appetizer was delicious ! spicy slivers of apple with slices of almonds and crispy shrimp cut in perfect sizes. the tempura was also very good, came out hot and just fried. ordered several nigiri picks - all of which were fresh. hamachi was yum, and i was pleasantly surprised it came with 8 good-sized pieces. we also ordered the castro roll which was good, but not a big fan of the sweet sauce (i think it takes away from the taste). overall, the service was wonderful, the servers were very knowledgeable and pleasant. the food was delicious and i would recommend this place!
(4)Susan F.
I have been going here with my parents since I was in diapers. There have been changes in management, and fluctuations in quality, but I've been going for lunch over the past few months, and they seem to have returned to being utterly fantastic. The staff is friendly and wonderful, and I haven't met anyone behind the sushi bar I didn't love. Go for lunch-- they have great, cheap specials!
(5)Nicole H.
It's my neighborhood sushi place. After Amasia, I'm definitely spoiled. Or maybe my expectations are too high for what a neighborhood sushi restaurant should really be. I guess my feelings about Hamano really come down to a few things. First of all, each time I've been there, the service has been lackluster. Last time, my friend had to actually STOP a wait person and ask them to take our order. I also feel that this place is overpriced, especially since the quality of the fish can really vary during the meal. I tend to order the same things and have been disappointed in the cut of the nigiri more often than not. They have a nice selection of innovate rolls. As with the nigiri, I find them to be hit-and-miss. Some of the combinations are very good, while others are just plain wrong.
(2)Avi S.
I have been searching for an easy access neighborhood sushi place that is high quality. I think I finally found one! The salmon is the best I've had, I couldn't get enough of it. Everything else we ordered was fresh and delicious. I gave it four stars because so far I've only tried 3 sushi rolls and salmon sashimi so far, but I will definitely go back. It is also reasonably priced if you compare it to the trendy and overrated places I've been in SOMA/Potrero Hill.
(4)Delilah B.
Great quality sushi. Nigri and rolls are not over riced (? is that even a term?) When I feel like sushi on a week night, this is where I go to have it.
(4)Helen L.
It gets really hot in here unless the door is open. There's a huge jump between the pricing of lunch compared to dinner. I believe the portion size stays the same since the bento box was quite small in quantity and was definitely not worth $15. Wait time to get seated was quite quick for a friday night but we waited for our food for quite a long time. A table that got filled after us got their appetizers before we even got our entrees and the bf's bento box arrived (no longer warm) way before my vegetarian sushi. The chicken he ordered was good though already at room temp and i did enjoy the shittake roll and the oshinko roll though not the ume shiso (it tasted really weird). Three small rolls cost me $14. A can of soda cost $2.75. How pricey. I know it's Noe Valley but I can't justify playing for a overpriced meal along with slow service and small portions. Definitely had better experiences. We won't be coming back.
(2)Brenda B.
I give them four stars for fantastic service but the food was more 3 star. Good, but not the best I've ever had. Don't order the 24th street roll. Its cute, but fried and flavorless. Do order the alaska roll and the dolores. The spicy tuna was good but not spicy. The wasabi was not strong enough and we had to ask for more. The service was fantastic and they quickly helped our group of 16. They kept tea and water glasses full, helpful in many ways. I'm sure we'll go back
(4)Marie A.
I've been here twice and then I gave up. The quality is OK. Everything is formulaic. The few creative rolls/dishes they have fall flat. It's not really bad, just not worth it. Go to Tamasei down the street. So much better.
(2)Ann F.
So when you go to Hamano (as my husband and I go to once a week) consider the following: keep with the nigiri/sashimi sit at the bar and ask what's good check out the specials board rolls wise, the valencia is our favorite go with the sushi chef's suggestions, you're usually not dissapointed their fish is fresh and their sushi best is the simple stuff, go fancy/complex and you might be sorry oh and if you like their suggestions buy them a beer! sure the atmosphere could use some creativity, but easily ignored for fresh fish
(4)Sabine S.
I go here way too much for my own good. It's close, it's high quality, it's traditional, yet different, and the staff always remembers me. I could probably eat here every day and never get sick of it. Don't expect elaborate menu items with gold flakes dusted over the top, or rolls stuffed with strange fusion-y ingredients fried and dressed in creative sauces. On the contrary, Hamano is very simple, honest, and well-done. Inside--the decor is nothing fancy, nor is the menu, but everything is fresh and well-done. Almond Shrimp & Black cod are my favorite appetizers to order. Nigiri: garlic albacore, spicy scallop and uni. Rolls: Castro and Poke. There are several Hamano menus floating around (the ones online are different then they one they give you with their take out). Best thing to do is call and ask about their specials and/or order from one of the menus online (the online menu is more extensive than the take-out one I always get). Also, the lunch menu is considerably smaller than the dinner menu. As for the comments about this place being expensive--it's sushi. Good, fresh sushi doesn't come cheap. If you are the California-roll only type sushi person, then this is probably not going to be a good restaurant. If you are the type of person who enjoys a laid-back neighborhood sushi restaurant with fresh fish and clean, traditional flavors, then this your place.
(4)Philip G.
WTF?!?! This used to be one of my favorite sushi places with generous portions of great fresh fish, fun sushi chefs and cool and creative appetizers. That is all gone. The quality of fish and service is mediocre and the place just lacks the fun atmosphere it used to have. I thought that perhaps they were having an off night and then I read Cameron C's review. I am terribly disappointed. The new regime blows.
(1)Mud S.
Scallops are amazing!!!! Everything about this place is awesome: clean, great staff, reasonable prices, drunk sushi chefs, and wonderful sushi. Music would be appreciated but not necessary. Scallops, scallops, scallops
(5)Emily T.
When I can't make it to Grande Hos, I like to get sushi to go from here. This is my go-to spot. I frequently eat here. They've got really nice, fresh fish. High quality, they don't scrimp and buy the lower grade stuff. It's a little spendy but worth it. The real deal, you won't find cream cheese or any other random crap on the menu here. Just straight up sushi. Yum.
(4)Remy L.
CHECK YOUR TO-GO ORDERS!! Not sure why my review can't be seen. Let's try to repost it. I will never go back or order food to go from Hamano. The last time I ordered sushi to go ($100 worth), I realized once I got home that I was missing some of the nigiris I had ordered, and for which I had been charged. I called and was told that they were about to call me (yeah, sure) to let me know that my debit card would be credited for the price of the missing sushi. Well, it was never credited. I called many times, asked to have a manager call me back, but to no avail. I should have use my credit card so I could have been able to contest the entire charge. My bad. So, I'm sorry Hamano, you lost a good customer, and I'm spreading the word.
(1)Alli D.
I love Hamano Sushi! Tonight was my second time being here and it was better then the first. For starters we ordered three almond shrimp, which are absolutely delicious. My uncle also ordered a seaweed salad, but you can't really go wrong with that. Our entrees consisted of tempura and california roll, pan seared sea bass, and tofu soup. My sushi was fantastic and so was my mom's sea bass. For desert be got free vanilla mochi and sesame creme brulee which is to die for. * mom's the plum wine is delicious as well Service gets an A+ for not only our table but other tables as well. Right next to us was a family of foreigners. From what i could tell they were speaking french and had their children at another table. The waitress kept them occupied by making chopstick helpers out of rubber bands and paper. The youngsters were loud and broke a glass, and everyone in the restaurant got an on the house ice cream for their disturbance. On top of that she always refilled our water and answered all of my uncles questions. I will definitely be back soon.
(5)Meagan C.
This is our go to spot for take-out sushi. It is not unreasonably priced and the sushi is good and reliable. Their rolls are not particularly fancy (i.e. creative and complicated), but delicious nonetheless. Some of our favorites are the Valencia and the Dolores. I also get the miso soup here and like it because in addition to the tofu and seaweed, there are tiny noodles. On take-out for 2, we usually spend $35-$40.
(4)Mel P.
Came here with some friends to just eat and hangout. We were seated promptly even after writing my name down on the list. It was pretty crowded. We ordered a number of rolls--the castro, alaskan, valencia, etc. Nothing really stood out for me. If you know me, you know that I like things SPICY. The spiciest one I tried wasn't that spicy...we even asked the waitress for hot sauce...nope, still not hot...oh well. Don't get me wrong the sushi we had was good but of course, I have had better...the staff were friendly and nice and continued to pour us water when they were down...the bill wasn't bad at all...atmosphere is good. Overall, we managed to have a good time!
(3)Adrian F.
Good neighborhood sushi place at a decent price. It's a toss up b/w here and Kama Sushi if you live in Noe.
(4)Brian D.
My wife and I walk here every week. It's a great little sushi place. Pretty cheap, but pretty inventive too. Love the Castro roll.
(5)Jeff P.
After dining at Hamano several times, I think I've figured it out. My favorites include the garlic albacore (alabacore nigiri with garlic sauce... tasty!), hamachi, spicy tuna roll, and the 24th st. roll. The toro has been hit and miss - the last time I went, it was waaaaay too oily for me. But as long as I stick with the standards, I'm happy. The only bummer for me is that they took their poke salad off the menu! They now have a poke roll that is almost as good, but it's not the same. However, we did ask them if they'd make us a poke salad special and they did... so I guess I can't really complain. As others have said, the atmosphere is somewhat hotel-like, but if you're looking to eat some good fish, who cares.
(4)Jay H.
Pretty good tempura...not to heavily breaded and NO eggplant!! I hate eggplant. It has the consistency of goo. Purple goo...bleh. Deep fried purple goo...double bleh. I imagine though that it's a piece of that lame ass dinosaur my little sister used to love to watch. I imagine pieces of him being dipped in the batter and then slowly lowered into the boiling scalding oil to be fried up into crunchy yet slimy slices. "I love you...you love AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!! HELP ME!!! FUUUUCCCKKK!!!!" That's right....Barney Tempura. Make it a Combo lunch with Chicken Teriyaki...which was also very good.
(4)Joe H.
Can I give 3.6 stars? I hate having to choose between 3 and 4 stars. It was good. Came in with friends for dinner and we all ordered a few rolls and went to town. Don't feel like I could really give any negative comments like others have regarding the service. It was slow that day but I don't feel like we were ignored. Nothing really special either though. Fish was fresh, considering it's a sushi place in the city the price seems right. Wouldn't consider going out of my way to go here. I would rather try something new. That being said I have had better, both in and outside of the city. The atmosphere is nice, makes it easy to talk to everyone and the place was clean. The speed in which we received our rolls was inconsistent. Some we received within 5 minutes and others took about 10. So certain people were close to being finished while other were waiting.
(3)Andre H.
Went there for dinner last night: friendly service for sure, and decent and reasonably priced traditional Japanese food, however I was a tad unimpressed. The portions were a bit too large, and the tempura a bit too heavy. As for the sushi, I think it ought to have been cuts that melted in the mouth more than these did. Sounds negative, but if friends were to invite me back, I'd go, but might not go back on my own accord given the cities other choices and chance for exploration.
(3)Jer N.
Hamano is generally pretty good. A little inconsistant. The first few times I went it was fannnn-tastic. But it's slipped over the years to now what I'd call usually pretty good or very good. Sometimes in the flavor -- dishes that used to blow me away seem to be lacking something that they used to have. Sometimes it's the presentation -- a big part of eating sushi and sashimi is with your eyes. Last night, we got served our three rolls and instead of being pretty they were by and large a big mess. Still tasty, though. They have some spectacular non-traditional rolls -- I really like the 'Valencia', for instance, which has onion and jalepeno slices slathered on top of the tobiko, rice, and fish (salmon, i think). The specials are often very good -- there's this deep-fried spicy tofu they offer at times that is delightful. The teri chicken is good (tender, well-cooked, nice flavor), as is the salmon. Saki comes fast and hot and as frequently as you want it. They're fairly kid friendly; some booster seats are available. In any case -- this is my neighborhood go-to place. The prices ain't too bad. The fish and food are almost as good as Deep Sushi, and the service is 40,000x better.
(3)Chauntay J.
Salmon noodles were amazing! Realy nice staff..great service!
(5)Tim B.
The key to this place is the lunch special. It's sort of a bento box on a plate. You choose what you want: I always get teriyaki chicken, some kind of roll, and it comes with rice and a big side salad with delicious dressing. There are better places for straight-up sushi, but this is pretty good. Sit at the bar if you want sushi; they seem to serve the good stuff to the people at the bar and send the pre-made stuff back to the tables in the back. Their sushi's a little pricey for what you get; but then, I think everybody's sushi's a little pricey for what you get.
(4)JR H.
I enjoy Hamano more than most sushi places. Not a lot of frills, but the fish is fresh and the portions are good!! You would think in Noe Valley they would be better set up for young kids.
(4)Sara L.
This was my very first actual sushi experience. Of course I've had my share of different rolls (mostly just California, spicy tuna, you know the basics). Nevertheless, I came here roughly 3 years ago and haven't been able to stop coming whenever possible. I was forced, yes forced, to try all different kinds of Nigiri. I am SO glad I actually gave in and tried the sushi here, it's incredible. I highly recommend Hamano for a great meal!
(4)Frances g.
Let me preface with the fact that I only tried sushi, which is my only reason for going to a place like this I think the fish here was very good quality with 3 small exceptions: the uni was not as moist as i would like it, the fish roe felt slightly too crunchy, and the yellowtail did not melt in my mouth like high quality yellow tail tends to. i really liked the atmosphere, and enjoy the quiet that the early (lack of) crowd affords me. I feel I could form a bond here with the sushi chef, and the staff was pleasant, but with an empty house early on they seemed eager to seat me when i was waiting for my dinner companions, as if they wanted to get me in and out. I completely agree with those who say its a great neighborhood place, because i do feel at home, and i think its a wonderful suhi joint, if you are willing to take the three small exceptions i stated above.
(4)Wendy L.
I was warned by my friend who lives in the 'hood that Hamano is just okay...and not as good as her favorite place (which was closed!). She definitely tempered my expectations...and they were met. We got take-out, and they were relatively fast in getting us order. But when we got home, the two rolls I ordered (spicy tuna and spider) weren't that great. The flavor just seemed a little off....and the rolls were actually relatively small. I was also surprised - no oshitashi! I LOVE oshitashi and was disappointed to not find it on the menu....
(3)Stan L.
This is a very good sushi place in the heart of Noe Valley, one of the last refuges for the middle-class white person in SF. Compared to the rest of SF, Noe Valley is almost devoid of any ethnics, which made me question how good Hamano was (see my review of Hahn's Hibachi). Luckily, it's very good. I'm not sure if this place is 100% Japanese (my friend said two of the waiters were talking in Mandarin), but nonetheless, the sushi is very authentic. The fish is very fresh, and the rolls are pretty creative and tasty. There is one roll (I think it's the Noe roll) that tastes like dish soap, but it may be the green leaf they used as a garnish. Everything else is delicious, especially their salmon sashimi, the Valencia, the Spicy Tuna and the Sanchez.
(4)Foodie F.
Not bad for a quick and reasonably priced sushi place. They have other options like chicken and beef for your friends that are disgusted by sushi, which makes it a good place for people of different palette types. The specials are artfully done and they are creative with their flavor combinations. Overall, good experience and presentation, but average taste compared to many of the sushi places in San Francisco.
(3)Lee B.
I came with my boyfriend on a Sunday night - maybe 3 tables were occupied. Which I guess is not unusual for Noe on a Sunday night. I had a mediocre hot pot - not impressed. To be fair, i didn't have the sushi. Halfway through dinner I realized I was feeling almost anxious because it felt like we were at a depressing place in the suburbs, like places I used to go as a kid in Saratoga or Cupertino. But if that doesn't bother you, or if you find that charming...
(3)Merri L.
This is the first sushi place I've tried in my neighborhood so far. J and I went for dinner on Saturday night around 7:30. It's fairly big inside, and there were only a couple of other people there, so we were seated right away, and with plenty of empty tables to spare. The décor was just ok, pretty standard boring, not as nice as most other noe valley places. J had the yamaga Nabe (Salmon) which is a fish stew type thing in a spicy miso broth. I had a small bowl out of his. I think this was the best thing we had because it tasted spicey yet homey, and filling and warm. It was freezing in that restaurant. I'm not a big soup/stew person though so I wouldn't go back for that. The stew was $13 I think. I had 3 rolls which I shared a couple with J. Sushi rolls ranged from $7 to 15 I think. I tried the Poke, the Valencia, and the Diamond. They use a lot of garlic and onions and things I don't associate with sushi in their rolls, which made me interested to try them. I wasn't terribly impressed. Two were good but not great, and one I didn't like. J liked one better than the others but not that well, and didn't like the other two at all. The rolls seemed slightly smaller than usual as well. Less bites. I liked that they had low sodium soy sauce on the table as default, and service was very good - they refilled our water and tea often. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't as good as the other sushi places we usually go to are. Not by a long shot. So I doubt we will return, even though it's only less than five minutes from the house. Good place to try though, you might like their palate of food, and it's clean and polite. $45 for 2 people
(3)Dennis Y.
As far as sushi quality goes, I think Hamano is consistently amongst the best in the city. Big, fat pieces of fresh fish lazily adorn neatly formed balls of rice.. Fresh salmon is my favorite, and the salmon I've had at Hamano has been soooo sooo soo good. For awhile, they experimented with this "sushi pizza" thing which was kind of gross sounding on the menu, but I ordered it a few times and it was actually quite tasty. It was this personal pizza sized creation of salmon, mayo and tobiko. Yah, my heart almost stopped whilst eating it, but I was saddened when they took that thing off the menu. Mmm. But, yah.. the ambiance isn't anything to write home about (but then again, when do you write home about that.. "Dear Mom.. I went to the prettiest restaurant today...") -- the service is solid, not really anything memorable about it either way for me, honestly. I'll be back, for the fish, definitely.
(4)Gene X.
Another of my top sushi pix for SF. First introduced by my favorite landlord who's now on a world tour (I guess courtesy of my rent payments to some effect!). Anyhow, the sushi bar is way better than the tables as the service itself isn't stellar back there. Not the cheapest, but nice sized fish on the nigiri and their toro is often my favorite.
(4)Dan M.
Because I was in a different neighborhood and in a new city, I decided to try some different things. Anyway, there was a leaf that was placed in the spicy tuna rolls that was like nothing I've had before: kinda similar taste to a bay leaf (but actually edible). I'd definitely return to this place again and try a bit more.
(4)Tweaty B.
If you really want to evaluate a sushi place, sit at the bar not at a table. I think the table and take-out* customers are the ones getting the pre-sliced stuff. Yes, it's different since the new owners took over; the prices went up but the service improved as well. They also have a much better selection of sakes now. The only complaint I have ever had (about the new owners) is that they switched to faux crab for some of the makis. Just specify you want real crab when ordering. *Personally, I've found getting raw-fish-sushi as a take-out order is an exercise in futility. No matter how good the sushi might be at the bar, the take-out version is never better than mediocre.
(4)moosedog i.
I like their food, but for some reason I always have to do a double-take when they bring the check.
(3)David M.
Been here a few times. Sushi is standard. Dinner entrees are ok. A little surprised that dinner came out to $50 for two people, no alcohol...
(2)Demanding T.
Its gone downhill since Hamano retired. Its still ok not great.....not the same place.
(3)Mitzi C.
Great service, speedy food delivery, but just so-so food. Seaweed salad lacked flavor (I think it needed more dressing or something). The edamame dumplings were pretty yummy. The rolls, however, were just not very tasty -- the descriptions sounded great, but it was definitely not a taste sensation in your mouth. The fish was fresh, just not very flavorful.
(3)Jessica M.
Wonderfully priced, innovative fresh sushi and efficient friendly service makes this Noe Valley spot a must when you're craving a light meal in the San Francisco summer heat. Try the spicy white fish Dolores Roll or the very green Midori Roll. Dinner for two with three specialty rolls and yummy sake cost around $50 with tip included. They don't take reservations so you may have to wait a while on a Friday or Saturday night. It closed at ten so I'd say Thursday at 9pm was the perfect time to go.
(3)Michelle G.
Sigh. We stopped by here on a Friday night and immediately stole those 2 empty stools by the bar. Thus, seating wasn't a problem. Actually, the restaurant itself is quite nice, great decor, nice bar area and a mirror at the back that makes the place look twice as big, which is what I'll give my 3 stars for. However, the sushi was just OK. Jess is pretty particular about her spicy tuna so when she took a bite of hers, I knew she wasn't liking it because of the way she was picking at it the rest of the time with her chopsticks, LOL. Poor girl. I ordered something called the Silk Roll (I think they had salmon, crab and some sort of veggie) and they were interesting as well...Eh, they did made a nice picture though (see my contribution up there). However, the search for the perfect sushi joint continues...
(3)Jaime Patricio M.
good sushi in upper caste Noe Valley. But I always feel rushed here and somehow that i did not order enough but my wallet always fills it. while i have not had anything bad here -- i have also have not had anything that was totally interesting or exciting.
(3)Nia W.
So for someone that does not like sushi...i loved their tempura roll so good..i may even have it again. i like the spot alot...it wasn't too pricey at all, really enjoyed their Vegetable tempura. The atmosphere was really chill the service was good....all and all i will probably go again.
(3)Shipra K.
Good neighbourhood sushi place. Wouldn't recommend going out of your way to come here. When the fish is good - it's real good. Sometimes it can be unreliable, once we ordered the party tray take-out and it was not very fresh ~ The sushi has usually been good when we have eaten in though.
(3)June P.
I like this place because the owner is Japanese also sushi men are. I love the food except its pricey but still good & fresh.
(4)Chris M.
Never had a problem with this sushi. It's always fresh and always good. I've heard from friends that if you get in good with the chefs, they'll hook you up. I usually get pick-up, but the times I've sat down, the employees have been nice and accomodating. It does get fairly busy if you get there at the "wrong" times, but it'll never prevent me from going back. Update: Been going here frequently, but it's been getting more and more so-so. Not sure what's going on. New managment? New Chefs? Any insight? (keeping same rating since...well, I'll keep going back because it's close and I'm lazy)
(4)Jon B.
"Hello. Welcome to the neighborhood. Try some raw stuff. It's tasty." That was an approximation of the conversation I had with Hamano sushi. It's yummy and cheap(ish) enough to be a solid neighborhood sushi joint.
(3)Cynthia S.
3.5 stars to be exact. Given it's location and previous reviews, I didn't have particularly high expectations upon passing under the burgundy awning marked Hamano Sushi. Figured it was worth a try since I pass by occasionally and locals must go back for a reason. So I was pleasantly surprised by my sushi roll experiences at their bar. Friendly staff and their chefs were upbeat, polite and happy to answer all questions. If you're looking for different flavor combinations, I would recommend trying some of their rolls: (1) Dragon - very likeable Cali roll topped with unagi, (2) Sunset - the seared salmon atop of spicy tuna is worthwhile - an apparent favorite among regulars (3) Silk Road - a cuke wrapped roll that's lighter than you would expect w/ a hint of ooba (shiso leaf). Overall, nice local dining experience - not rushed or overcrowded, pleasant tastes, above average sushi combos and not a bad stop if you're in the area.
(3)Jane M.
Their sushi is very good, but their non-sushi Japanese food is conventional and below par. Avoid it.
(3)Melody H.
Very tasty lil spot. It never has much of a wait which is a plus and the sushi is delish! The soft shell crab appetizer is a must. Has a great dipping sauce. Also, have to try the Red Tuna poke. It is a tuna salad with onions and alfalfa sprouts. Very fresh and tender. The fish is great quality. This is one of our favorite sushi spots. Nothing too ostentatious just great food.
(4)Annie H.
I live in Noe Valley, and this is my favorite Japanese restaurant around here. The service is very good and so is the food! Some items are a good deal, but most are typical sushi prices (3.75 for 2 pc nigri). The miso is very good, and their lunch specials hit the spot.
(3)ZenRunner -.
This place used to be great when it was under the original management of Mr. Hamano. The fish were fresh and came in large portions. The service was great. Mr. Hamano used to run the sushi bar and was extremely fair in terms of seating people and turning it over so that you'd never have to wait very long. Under the new management everything went down hill. We had a couple of really bad experiences with the staff and never went back. We found Koo's and have been going there ever since. No need to pay good money to be mistreated.
(1)Jane L.
This used to be my FAVORITE sushi place. However, I would agree with Cameron that it has gone downhill since ownership has changed. They used to serve really creative appetizers made of the awkward leftover odd and end bits of fish that could not be served as sushi. These were served to those sitting at the bar after awaiting these coveted seats. And if you sat at the bar, you could order aji boan-boan (which was aji served with a side of the skeleton-i.e. bones- which had been deep fried and served with some pickled radish and sea salt). The sushi chefs were entertaining and feisty. The fish used to be oh so fresh and extremely generous in cut. And if the chefs liked you, they would sneak you bits of this and that. And to top it all off, creamy green tea ice cream would be served at the end, on the house. Most of this has gone by the wayside. No free appetizers. No free morsels of fish. The selection has gone way down. Rarely can I get mirugai. Chefs are still very nice, but not the same crazy funny ones of yesteryear. Green tea ice cream has chunks of ice in it and is no longer free. I still come back occasionally, as I have not found a wonderful sushi replacement. I save my dessert appetite for the green tea gelato a la Trader Joe's.
(3)Violet S.
This place has gotta be one of my favorite sushi restaurants, if not number one. No matter what I have ordered, it was super yummy. The sushi is always fresh and the you can actually taste the tempura, not the grease. Plus, the sushi doods are always friendly and have time for a quick chat!
(5)Jennifer C.
Hamano is ok for a neighborhood joint (especially one that's not especially heavy on the Asian influences like Noe). My sushi wasn't superfresh and the selection is not super impressive, however, it would do for a sushi fix in a pinch. I prefer Tamasei in Noe, but Hamano is a little better priced even though the atmosphere is a little more antiseptic than Tamasei's.
(3)Carlo M.
i was kinda hyped to go to this spot.. got off work early and, me+wifey went to noe valley.. weather was beautiful and i was ready for some sushi+beer.. sushi was aiiiight... nothing really stood out to our palettes.. the appetizers were quite tasty though.. the ceviche was light, and fresh.. the mango slices were a nice touch and the onions did not overwhelm the dish.. the tofu mushroom soup was lovely.. the broth was simple and the 4 different types of mushrooms contributed different textures, and tastes.. nonetheless, the service was cool.. i would come back though if i was in the area, and cravin japanese food..
(3)sonam d.
Is it wise to write a review when you have food coma? I just got back from Hamano Sushi! My friends and I sat at the sushi bar and kept asking the sushi chef to make his favs and that is what we got, tons of it! I am new to SF and have so far have not tried sushi that made me feel like it was the best thing I ever tried. But this was decent and I don't think I will have to worry about going hungry for the next few days, I am so full!!
(3)Selena W.
i must be on some sort of sushi kick because i have been eating this stuff consistently for days! carb overload, but whatever! anyway, i only tried the rolls last night - 2 thumbs up! poke roll: spicey white tuna w/garlic, onion, lemon juice, and ooba leaf. YUM! i've been obsessed with poke (btw: i never knew it was pronounced poke-ey! im such an idiot). the fish was fresh, juicy, and very flavorful. YUM. Tempura Roll: shrimp tempura w/assorted veggies. pretty standard. i think this had a bigass piece of asparagus sticking out of it - which was a little off putting (im picky, ok?). Spider Roll: Fried Soft Shell Crab w/assorted veggies better than the tempura roll - more flavorful. like asparagus, there were little crab legs (or something - little fried legs? tentacles!!!) sticking out of two pieces. scary! i took the two unleggy ones instead. Sunset Roll: spicey tuna, shrimp tempura, ooba (wth is this? anyway it was good), topped with seared salmon, green garlic, tobiko, and garlic ponzu. HOLY CRAP. I may have been a wee bit tipsy, but this was freakin delicious! after my 4 day sushi run, im pretty darn sick of the stuff, but i'd totally devour this right now! a great mix of textures (tempura + seared salmon + spicey tuna? YES!!!) I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE SUNSET ROLL (unless you're queasy about raw fish - no fun!!!)! anyway to end this review, service was friendly and very attentive, sake was cheap ($5 for a bottle of hot sake), and the rolls were great! i'd come again! oh yeah: the decor is mediocre - don't expect something swanky or trendy. it's pretty average.
(4)Natalie H.
i'm moving to noe valley in 2 weeks and i'm anxious to find a new "go-to" sushi place. i sure will miss living by zushi puzzle, sushi groove and having the bf live near tokyo a go-go and warakbune. sigh. we're spoiled. at any rate, i was really excited to try hamano. here is my assessment: - decor: i felt like i was in perkins - service: very attentive. in fact, the fastest sushi experience i've ever had...not necessarily a good thing... - green tea: NOT good - miso: rubbery tofu, broth pretty good - edamame: cold. - puffy scallop: yummers! - noe roll: WAAAYYY too lemony. it was like eating lemon zest - castro roll: actually, pretty good. but again, fried - dolores roll: bleh - black snapper nigiri: tasted dry and not very flavorful all in all, i give it average to below average. i won't be back, and my quest for a good sushi place in noe continues! btw - contrary to what yelp says, they do NOT take reservations.
(2)Pug P.
Hamano used to be so nice, but during our last 3 visits we noticed nats on the the walls, just little ones though. Someone here compared this palce to Kabuto,- that is absurd. Kabuto's menu is no where near Hamano's. It's just ok 12.99 for 5 pieces of fish and a calif roll, no thanks, I 'll go to Kiki sushi in the sunset and get that same dinner for 5.99, with better quality fish. I hate to give them 3 stars, but there are just ok.
(3)Patrick T.
While not complete shite Profoundly mediocre You can do better
(1)Julie M.
I have not been to Hamano for quite some time, as I moved out of the area. However, I can remember the service and quality of the food from each visit I made, and to this day I keep Hamano in my mind as my personal gold standard for sushi places. I still think of a great roll I had there, and salivate every time. It was fish tempura, cilantro, and lemon wrapped in soy paper. Mmmm....
(4)Tony S.
Fist off I went to Hamano for lunch on a lazy Sunday not expecting food that would cause me to re-examine the meaning of my existence. So I ordered the food I would most likely enjoy and was happy. It was also nice to pay just $50 for a full meal for two people including 2 large Sapporo and some sake.
(4)Shannon B.
Great lunch options, fast service and friendly staff. They use cool white nori, which is different than most places.
(4)Nelle A.
we finally decided to give this place a try, after YEARS & YEARS of frequenting the neighborhood of noe valley. so, there we were comfortably seated in a restaurant with a clean, refreshing atmosphere and being catered by a friendly waitress. for starter, we had the ALBACORE TUNA TATAKI!...it was interesting and quite different from the other tataki i had in other sushi restaurants. they used a sesame based sauce, instead of a ponzu which i'm accustomed to. it was really thinly sliced and the serving was so small. and for the sushi rolls we ordered the 24TH, which amazed me with it's creative appearance. the roll was sprinkled with this rainbow colored "rice crunchies", and it was scrumptious! the SPICY TUNA, TEMPURA , SALMON SKIN, UNAGI ROLLS was average, however, the presentation was skillful and proficient! on the other hand, please DO NOT drink their water. it has a weird, unusual taste to it...so, an order of soda won't hurt you, or yet, just order a hot tea.
(3)Christine M.
I'm still salivating. Castro Roll - How do you taste so good? Tell me! I'll resist making a reference to crack as it seems so overplayed these days ("It was so good, it was like someone sprinkled crack on it" or "Yelp is the new crack" blah blah), not to mention a severe understatement. Frankly, The Castro Roll is like sex rolled in seaweed and fried in ecstasy with a hint of "holy shit."
(5)Lisa F.
I eat here quite frequently, as it's in my 'hood and the sushi is awesome. Also, if you live in the area there are always good cupons for deals, usually an entree with a sushi roll, or something of that nature. The rolls are excellent, and the sashimi is good too. It's not too expensive. The only downside is that service isn't so great. I always feel like it's so slow. Maybe it's because I seem to go there after the gym or a run, but even so....
(4)Autumn K.
Oh, Hamano...funny how heartbreak and Hamano both start with an H, isn't it? Once upon a time, I was 21. Hard to believe, isn't it? Well, I was. And I was in love (yes, real love) with a man (yes, a real man- he was 38). And that man broke my heart. Over sushi. At Hamano. Like so many before him and even more after him, he chose to take one of my favorite places and taint it forever with bad, broken-heart, relationship-gone-sour juju, making it nearly impossible for me to partake of another meal in said place. I have managed, through years of therapy, to get over that man and to reconnect with Hamano, where the sushi's yummy and the scene is nicer than your average sushi joint. The agadashi tofu, beef-wasabi rolls, and tempura are yumm-y as is pretty much everything coming out of the kitchen (especially anything with crab). I've never encountered a wait and there's usually parking. It's a fine place for a casual meal or weeknight date, though you won't see me there with one- I've learned my lesson :)
(4)Adam C.
The wife and I were in Noe Valley last night, and were looking for somewhere to eat. We found one sushi place on 24th, but it was pretty expensive, so we kept looking. Found Hamano on Castro, which had much better prices. Now I know why; small portions. We had almost $60 worth of food (only one sake), and left hungry. Nothing special really foodwise, though the oyster appetizer special was quite good. Maybe this is what to expect pricewise in Noe Valley, but I've eaten in a lot of sushi restaurants, and this one ranks way down on the list in terms of food value and price.
(2)z x.
This place was surprisingly good. Casual atmosphere, something you would find in a mall or a hotel, very bright and ugly wallpaper. Clean though and the food was really good. The almond shrimp is an instant favorite.
(4)Todd E.
Excellent Noe Valley sushi! Super-fresh fish, a couple friends and I ate at this sushi bar mid-last week, and had some outstanding sashimi and sushi. I'm a true sushi fan, meaning I only go occasionally and only get the best when I go. At Hamano get whatever is fresh or the chef recommends (in our case, Tasmanian salmon, salmon belly, black snapper, the uni is local and creamy). The sashimi platter was heavenly, the scallops were terrifically sweet. Also sports a nice selection of small premium sakes, a nice touch. This place isn't the least expensive sushi in town, but it has quality which you can genuinely taste.
(5)Candice L.
Hamano is my go-to place now that Kabuto has been sold. The fish is fresh and they offer some tasty rolls that aren't all about cream cheese and cooked ingredients. I also love their frequent buyer card, that gets you 10% off of every meal (even to go orders) and tracks your spending so you're rewarded w/ money off every 5 to 10 meals (or something like that). Dining room is a little blah, but service has always been polite.
(4)Jason m.
I love this local neighborhood sushi place. The atmosphere is average, at best but the fish is some of the freshest in the city and the rolls are always presented very well. I love the spicy tuna and the eel, definitely haven't had a bad meal here. They have great lunch specials where you get miso soup, salad and two rolls for under 10 bucks! All in all this is a can't-miss gem in Noe Valley.
(4)Abby W.
This place serves good sushi. Good seaweed salad & even the regular salad is decent. The service is quick & attentive (you never have an empty water glass). The ambiance is a little lacking in the main part of the restaurant particularly. Sitting up at the sushi bar is recommended so you can get tips on the best stuff to try that has just come in from Japan. You can also get a frequent guest coupon/card thingymajigger. No idea how it works exactly but we got about $10 off our last meal with it.
(4)Amanda S.
Absolutely fresh and delicious. They don't have loud music, impossibly long waits, or any of the other things that are gratuitous about sushi bars these days. Just good, fresh, somewhat inventive sushi.
(4)Shauna L.
What can i say!! iv been coming here since i was a baby!!! i love Hamano !!! only thing that i dislike.. is i feel the eel is to chewy!!! but i still love u guys
(4)Chard M.
Fresh fish. Great rolls. Personable sushi chefs. We had a pleasant dining experience here last night that I give a "I'll be back" passing grade. The Sunset Roll was killer but the best bite I took all night was from their Tempura Shrimp Roll fresh out of the back and on my plate. My first bite of this had the perfect marriage of hot and delicately fried shrimp next to the coolness of some avocado and cucumber. It was the ideal bite. I really feel like you can only get that when you are sitting right at the sushi bar. The delivery time is so key and they pulled it off with unexpected grace.
(4)Jade L.
Someone was right about this place having the charm of a shopping mall restaurant, but despite that, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality of the food here. They have some really inventive rolls, like the Valencia which has jalapenos on it. The peppers were sliced thinly enough that they didn't interfere with the flavors of the roll. I also liked the Poke roll which is white tuna, with onion and lemon. The waiters are a bit spaced out, but are friendly and quick to respond when you do ask for something. We ended up spending 100 dollars between four people and all left with our bellies full so not a horrible deal.
(4)Baochi N.
Hamano Sushi, where have you been during the last year and a half I've been in San Francisco? Answer: three blocks away from my house. Oops. Better late than never. This place kicks ass. I've dined here four times and each time has been rock solid. Don't even bother venturing into the loud and overwhelming dining room. When you enter the restaurant, you are immediately greeted by the 8-person sushi bar and there's no need to go anywhere else. What's good? Pretty much anything, although I would definitely stick as close as possible to the daily fish specials posted on the small chalkboard against the wall. Absolute musts include: - toro (fatty tuna) - sardines in a salty ponzo sauce - uni (sea urchin) - ikura (marinated salmon eggs) - mackerel with sea kelp - hamachi (yellowtail) - amaebi (sweet shrimp served with the fried heads) - salmon skin hand roll Other items that enhanced my sake glow: - broiled eggplant with miso sauce - unagi (eel) - spider roll (softshell crab) If you don't see something advertised on the "fresh today" menu, just ask the sushi chef for his 1 to 10 rating. If the fish is exceptional, he'll tell you it's 11, 12, or 13. If it's he thinks you might be disappointed, he'll tell you it's a 10. The pieces of fish are generous but not obnoxiously big, everything is exceptionally fresh, and the service is excellent. This is the first time I've had northern California sushi that even comes close to LA sushi. I'm beginning to wonder if Hamano's proximity to my house will be a good thing for my pocketbook...
(4)Jerry M.
Excellent sushi in Noe Valley. A wonderful atmosphere and amazingly great service. My suggestion get the spider roll!.
(4)Cynthia B.
I have always enjoyed the food there. Good prices. Fresh sushi and sashimi. Nice atmosphere. Friendly staff.
(4)Freedy H.
I've frequented this restaurant off and on for the last 5 years, since i live just around the corner. First of all, Hamano has seen better days. I still go there because it's convenient and i feel comfortable bringing my 2 year old daughter there. (No high chairs...only booster seats), but the sushi is just OK for the price. Also, i ordered pick up from there a few weeks ago and got the Uni. The Uni was in generous little piles...alas, it didn't appear to be firm...almost gooey. I ate the Uni and it was very gooey. Good thing it was take out. I got sick. I'll still go there because it's convenient and around the corner, but the next time i'm eating sushi and thinking "I wonder if i'll get sick" as i'm chewing, then i'll know that i should put the chopsticks down.
(2)Robert U.
Solid sushi! Lived down the street from here for a couple of years and my wife and I were regular visitors. Always a good experience, always fresh sushi.
(4)Erica B.
i've never had a good roll of sushi here. both the fish and the vegetarian rolls are lackluster - the last time i went with a date we both felt slightly ill afterward. not a way to end the night. when my first choice is no longer an option i try to convince myself i can eat at this place, but i can't.
(2)chewy c.
This is a solid place to come if you're in the mood for good sushi without the need of a super trendy atmosphere. The decor is outdated, but the fish is fresh and the service is friendly. If I lived closer, I'd eat here more often.
(4)Alissa R.
This is not a good date place. It's not a good place for groups. The ambiance is plain and neutral. Hamano is a perfect place to go with one friend and sit at the bar and have sake and really good sushi. The poke maki is outstanding. All the sushi/sashimi is very high quality. I'm glad it's in the neighborhood.
(4)Albert W.
I couldn't find a good thing about this place. The rolls are over price, I ordered beef teriyaki and tempura, the teriyaki has no taste and the only taste that I had was after eating tempura, I keep burping fried tempura ( I'm not sure how they cook it). My wife ordered blue moon and the waiter said it's nigori mix with water, we're like, what kind of cocktail is that??? It turns out that the drink was blue and it's a mix of nigori with sparkling water. Personally it's not that good, it makes you feeling blue after drinking it. So, yeahh I can only give 2 stars since it's a little pricey and the food taste kinda weird.
(2)Gene C.
Sushi is fresh and tasty. It is pricey. A dinner for two with just sushi can run $25+ person very easily. The best part of eating here is really the neighborhood around it. Ample street parking (even if you have to walk a block sometimes) in a quiet family oriented small community can make for a very relaxing Sunday afternoon.
(3)J. R.
It breaks my heart that the quality had slid so far at Hamano, my very first sushi love. We found our fish fishy, beef tough, seaweed salad limp and frankly gross. There was no line out the door - we should have known. Three stars because I am in denial, and I think the 80's hotel vibe and blank staring waiters are funny.
(3)julia m.
Ambiance? Not so much. Unbelievably bad-ass fish? You betcha. This is the place to go when 2 hour waits for a table and $25 rainbow rolls get you down. Simple, authentic, and moderately priced. Try the rolls named after local streets, you'll be smiling through your food coma. Mmmm...raw fish.
(5)Pancake m.
Don't go to Hamano for its ambiance, go there for its wonderful classic sushi. If you are looking for a very low-key sushi place, this is it.
(4)Eli B.
Great experience...Good service. Tasty rolls.
(5)Kevin D.
Hamano's sushi is really good, as well as the hot pots. I had the yummy Castro rolls and some Sashimi that was very fresh. My g/f had the hot pot, which had some yummy exotic mushrooms and salmon that tasted excellent in the mildly spicy broth. We preferred sitting in front, and it does look bigger on the inside than what you see outside. I'd go back for it, and there's a lot to say about that considering how many sushi restaurants there are in San Francisco.
(4)Eater S.
The atmosphere is mediocre at best, the cooked dishes are just OK, and the service is inconsistent but usually fine. The fresh fish, however, is among the best in the city. They clearly don't skimp on quality of ingredients. I've only once had better Toro, and that was at Tsujiki market in Tokyo. Go for the sushi, and don't skip the Toro. They also have a nice sake collection. I'm very happy to have this restaurant in my neighborhood and enjoy visiting regularly. UPDATE 6/15/07: It breaks my heart to do this but I must downgrade Hamano from 4 to 3 stars. The service, which has always been immature and spotty, has become positively ridiculous. It's as though the place is staffed by high school juniors. I have nothing against young people as wait staff or restaurant workers but when paying $70+ for a dinner, I expect the staff to know what they're doing. It seems like there has been a lot of recent turnover and even the sushi chefs who I have known for years aren't there anymore. Of course, service is only one component of a rating, and it's never been good at Hamano, so the real reason I'm motivated to post this downgrade is that the quality has gone so far downhill. Every meal I've ordered during the last 3 visits has contained at least one item that was rancid, bad, and should never have been served. My last sit-down meal I had to send back an order of sushi because the fish was garbage. I'm not complaining because the fish wasn't great. I'm saying it was bad, unhealthy, inappropriate to serve. This has consistently been my experience in all recent visits. Some good pieces and some bad ones. I'm thinking about a downgrade to 2 stars ... UPDATE 10/17/07 With sadness, I'm downgrading Hamano from 3 stars to 2 stars after the prior downgrade from 4 to 3. A few weeks ago, I went for sushi. All of the usual sushi chefs are gone and replaced with younger ones that have no personality or apparent skill. My order was passed to a teenager in the back who did the most sloppy job of preparing a roll that I have ever experienced at Hamano. Furthermore, he was snacking on grapes while he was preparing the roll, making sure a solid serving of saliva mixed in with the rice, water, and vinegar. Today, I just returned from lunch at Hamano. The chicken kara-age that I ordered was so disguisting that I could not even eat it. The lifeless waiter ignored me the entire time - never asking how my meal was. When I stopped eating the other items on the plate, leaving a mound of awful chicken pieces, he asked if I wanted a box to go. I explained that "it is terrible" and rather than show any interest or concern for the fact that the food was so bad I couldn't even eat it, he shrugged is shoulders and said "you don't like it ..." and brought the check. UPDATE 12/14/07 I'm officially done with Hamano even thought it's my neighborhood place. I recently ordered the cooked black cod, it was a tough as a rubber belt. I also ordered some Tobiko and had to throw it away because it was rancid. This place has really fallen apart. UPDATE 2/15/08 When I had that disgusting meal on 10/17 (see above), I left zero tip. I am now reconciling my bank statements and discovered they added a tip anyway! My receipt was 9.44 and they charged me 13.94 - they gave themselves a massive 47% tip. BEWARE OF THIS RIPOFF!
(1)babsie g.
New owners in the past few years, not authentic sushi anymore. Bummer.
(2)Rob H.
Hungry for sushi? Don't want to wait for a table? Don't like fake crab goo in your rolls? Come here. You won't be disappointed.
(4)Dan M.
Came in for lunch and had about 5 kinds of nigiri. All were good, although the mackerel tasted a bit fishy. I feel like i'm not really qualified to review sushi joints, as i've only been eating the stuff for a few months, but I havent come across many places in these parts that I wasnt satisfied with, and this is no exception.
(4)Nithin R.
Great, fresh sushi and sashimi, good service, not too crowded and big portions, yet good prices. Castro rolls are great.
(4)Gucci M.
Food was very fresh and excellent. Toro was soo soo good and well worth the splurge and those scallop filo aps, wow. I would go back just for those evn if the sushi wasn't so good. Service was a bit slow at first, but our server was super friendly so that made up for it.
(5)jay V.
Has always been okay for a neighborhood place. Went there tonight and they sat a party of 3 children and 4 of the worse parents on the planet next to us. While the little brats yelled and screamed the waiter and hostess did nothing. Ruined dinner for everyone around us. We left early. When asked why they wouldn't do anything to help, the hostess indicated that the parents were so pushy when they wanted to be seated that she didn't want to say anything to them. Well I guess the next time my wife I go out it won't be here.
(1)Miss Lili F.
I had dinner here Friday night to satisfy the sushi craving I had. My experience was mediocre to say the least. The atmosphere felt like I was in a hotel room or hotel lobby bar. The service was fine. The rolls were not bad- altho I dislike when my sushi rolls are not rolled tight enough- you know, when you pick up a piece with your chopstick and everything comes rolling out. Ugh. One roll I did enjoy was the Valencia Roll- salmon and tempura asparagus with tobiko and onions on top. The fish was fresh enough, good sized nigiri pieces. I've had better chicken karaage. I only saw one dessert on the menu- Green Tea Ice Cream. I did see some sort of beef sushi nigiri on the menu...looked interesting, but didnt get to try it out personally. That being said, most likely I wouldnt pick this place again- esp with all the other amazing choices for sushi not too far away.
(3)Rego S.
I don't think I saw this place before the ownership change, but it's still among the best in the city. While the roll selection isn't as wide as the others of its league, the creativity of the nigiri makes up for it (as well as the fact that it's more reasonably priced).
(4)Cameron C.
Once upon a time, Hamano was my very favorite place to get sushi in San Francisco. It has since been sold and has unfortunately gone downhill. It's a bad sign when the sushi chefs are working with presliced fish, but that's the level that Hamano has sunk to. Shed a tear.
(1)Peter O.
Mmmm....SUSHI! They have a great sake selection, and I've never had any problems with the freshness of their sushi. They have a friendly, and attentive staff too - which is a plus in my book.
(4)Yinnie Q.
one of my favorite sushi places in the city. tiny place. the sashimi just melts in your mouth! sit at the bar and just ask the guy to give you his picks. you won't be disappointed. very reasonable prices and plenty of parking in the neighborhood
(5)sherly A.
good quality fish, that i admit. but why the chef cant cut correctly... i had chirashi gozen. it was big... *big plate.... every slices of fish was fresh but so thin. the rice was wonderful, just right for sushi rice... i can taste the vinegar and the sake... the blue moon sake coctail, taste a little bit weird, in fact after i drink i was feeling a little bit blue ( is it the side effect of blue moon ? to make you blue ? lol ) i would recommend this place to my friends but for myself... i rather go the red box or ariake for something more decent sushi :)
(4)Pia C.
Excellent Sushi. probably the best in the city - definitely better than Blowfish ( over priced though super-cool vibe.) This place is quite the opposite - looks like a shop front with your grandma's taste in paint, but awesome sushi. The toro was the best I've ever had, and the unagi and the uni was as awesome as it ever gets. If you love sushi, this is the spot for you. If you are picky about decor, stay away...or keep your eyes shut.
(5)David S.
Believe it or not, this is the first place I ever had sushi. It was quite an experience... I was certainly a little anxious (raw fish was always feared in my family). But, as expected, I ended up loving it, and sushi/sashimi now rates quite high on my list of favorite cuisines. I went back to Hamano on my recent trip to SF, as it remained in my mind this great Japanese restaurant. The food was still pretty good, though not quite as good as I remembered it. The fish was reasonably tasty but could have been a little fresher, I believe. And the rolls were a little disappointing... in particular the spicy tuna roll, which was not particularly spicy but had a weird plum taste to it. The gyoza for appetizer was delicious. Hamano remains a pretty good restaurant overall, especially considering the fairly low prices (compared at least to what I'm used to paying in NY for good sushi) and the generous portions.
(4)M D.
food wasn't bad but they only get one star because they charged my card twice, once for my meal and a second time for someone else's meal, and I have to go through my bank to get it fixed ..
(1)Brett M.
Best sashimi ever!!!!!!!!!! Very good quality food and service. They also have a nice selection of wines and saki. My favourite sashimi was the yellow tuna
(5)Geraldine R.
I've only eaten Hamano Sushi during workday lunch hours, once as take out and once in the restaurant. During my recent visit to the restaurant, I shared Edamame Dumplings with my friends which were tasty & I ordered the Salmon Teriyahi with rice, salad & tempura which was perfect portion satisfying and flavors were pretty good. It's a nice neighborhood sushi spot, with no wait during lunch, friendly service, food served quickly (important for work lunch) and the restaurant is casual for everyone kids included!
(3)Elizabeth T.
Hamano...I love Hamano! I come almost every week, like a pilgrim, for her weekly nigiri mecca. And I eat a lot of Japanese food. I grow up in a country where we eat lots of Japanese. I've been to Japan. I'm learning Japanese. So there, trust me when I say it's good. Here's why: --- it doesn't try to over-charge you. sushi is expensive. fish is supposed to be expensive. you will still end up spending more eating here than at Subway, but it will be worth it. --- family friendly. I see lots of kids coming here all the time. However THEY DO NOT HAVE HIGHCHAIRs! So I end up bringing my own booster seat that I strap to the chair for my 10 mo old. They are never heeled very accommodating and friendly to babies. --- not just sushi but also more traditional family style Japanese food like unagi don --- High quality fish imported from Japan when in season. This is usually printed on the board at the bar. This is important if you want to get good sushi here: order from the bar! Ask the chefs what is in season and what is good. They will tell you and make it for you. Don't stick to your tuna or salmon, since if it's not in season it is terrible. If you go to farmers market to get local in season food and think that is the right thing to do, you should do the same with fish. I also like getting natto here. Once I asked them to give it to me plain on a bed a rice and they did it for me. For tea, they have this no caffeinated soba cha (buckwheat tea) that is soooooo good. At least give it a try when you go. For dessert I like the black sesame creme brûlée which is really really tasty. Creamy, smooth, and just the right amount of sweetness for me!! I love Hamano. I will come back to it again and again.
(5)Warren D.
Excellent sushi. Sat at the bar. Loved the Dolores Roll and the Mission Roll. Not sure why the low rating. A little surprised by the charge for green tea but two sips later and I knew why. Wow. Best tea with sushi in thirty years of my experience. BTW, tea was called supreme. One of 5 tea options.
(5)Scott F.
I went to Hamano for lunch. I wanted to order the sashimi lunch special, but craved spinach. The server told me the curry came with spinach & that the curry also had potatoes. When it came, the chicken was underdone & sadly--no potatoes. The sauce was pretty gloppy, too. The spinach & asparagus looked fresh & tasty & I considered just eating those & the rice. But, I was hungry! So, I sent it back & ordered the sashimi lunch. The salmon was good, the maguro was better. The sushi chef was very nice & recommended the hamachi nigiri which I'd have ordered, too, but the waiter was kinda hurrying us out of there. Next time I'll get there earlier.
(3)Cherylynn N.
On date nights, there's only one thing on my mind. Getting some...cock. Cocktails, that is! I was all stoked to go to Padrecito for their happy hour cocktails until he asked, "Can we go to somewhere else that's reasonably cheap?" "Ok, what do you suggest?", I replied. "Sushi?", he said. "Well, that's an oxymoron", I said. "Wow, I'm proud of you, you're using big girl words", he replied. "WTF, are you implying that I'm dumb?", I huffed. "Unlimited alkie on me", he excitedly said. OK, SOLD! He sure knows the way to this girl's heart.... We had a great experience the first time at Hamano Sushi and it's on the way home, so we decided to pay them a second visit. Let me first say, I was expecting a Japanese owned restaurant after scoring through all the reviews. Several people made reference to "Jiro" and "omakase" so I expected to find an elder Japanese fellow behind the counter. Imagine my surprise when I found Cantonese speaking chefs behind the counter. I was skeptical especially we were the only Asian customers there. I told Mr. NSS that we should order conservatively. A true test of a solid sushi restaurant is their nigiri. Not only did Hamano pass, they truly exceeded our expectations. After our second visit, they're one of the top three Chinese sushi restaurants in SF next to Sakesan (Inner Richmond) and Amami (San Bruno) in my book. Prices are a scotch higher than other Japanese restaurants but we're in Noe Valley after all. I didn't find their happy hour special for drinks (20% off till 6:30 pm) a good deal though. A large Sapporo during HH is $6.75 which is the regular price at most other Japanese restaurants. Over the course of two visits, we have tried the following: A P P S *Shrimp & Veggie Tempura ($10.20): bit.ly/1n0RUGl *Puffy Scallop: raw scallops wrapped w/ phyllo dough ($6.95): bit.ly/1wMudBL *Almond Shrimp ($6.95): bit.ly/1stLMbP *Kakuni: 10 hour braised pork belly ($6.95): bit.ly/1peFKF5 For their fried items, they use pretty good frying technique (not oily or greasy). The tempura is solid with a light and airy batter. If you're a Chinese walnut shrimp fan, the puffy scallop and almond shrimp are good fusion apps to try. Skip the corn starchy kakuni pork belly. N I G I R I (prices are for pairs) *Hon Masu: Cherry Trout ($8.95): bit.ly/1oj0fAb *Umi Masu: Ocean Trout ($6.95): bit.ly/1xnz8vZ *Kanpachi: Amberjack ($7.95): bit.ly/1CnGWhp *Aji: Spanish Mackerel ($6.50): bit.ly/1wMtSir *Hamachi Toro: Yellowtail Belly ($6.50): bit.ly/1reD1AY *Uni w/ Quail Egg ($9.45): bit.ly/1ptVvHp *Sake Toro: Salmon Belly ($5.95): bit.ly/1ptVD9N *Chu Toro: Medium Fat Tuna Belly ($12.95): bit.ly/1xnzO4K Hamano excels in their nigiri. The fish is super fresh and their shari (sushi rice) is well seasoned albeit it has a tendency to fall apart easily. Every nigiri we ordered, we have liked but the stand outs are their sake toro and aji. For the sake toro, they lightly torch it to give it a nice smokiness. The aji is brushed with their housemade sauce (no need for soy). For the price, I favor Hamano over nearby Saru. R O L L S *Salmon Skin Roll ($6.50): bit.ly/1ysrLoB *Valencia Roll: asparagus tempura & sake ($8.95): see link above *Burning Man: crab, avocado, scallop, spicy mayo ($12.95): bit.ly/1xnzWRN *Spider Roll ($8.95): bit.ly/1rm7pqT We usually don't order rolls but to keep our bill down, we order it as fillers. The burning man was my fav; fresh and creamy with a fiery kick. Service-wise, the staff was very polite and attentive (both visits). Not your typical Chinese sushi restaurant that's for sure. They kept our water glasses filled which is always a good sign. Ambiance is whatevers. Not exactly a place for a date but I would choose sushi bar seats over the tables. Finding street parking in the area has never been an issue. With a mixture of apps, nigiri, rolls, and beer, our bill was about $90 for two. Considering, we usually spend $75-$100 pp when eating sushi, it wasn't too shabby. We did have room for more sushi but we had to be "reasonable". That's why pizza by the slice exist! Both times like fatasses, we went to The Pizza Shop in The Mission after Hamano. Thank you, Meghan Trainor for bringing ( I ) back: youtube.com/watch?v=7PCk… !
(4)Daanyaal K.
I came here last night for a light meal before dinner elsewhere. We ordered the Black Cod Appetizer and 24th Street/Castro Rolls. The rolls had 6-7 pieces and were relatively cheap, the rolls were pretty good but the grilled cod was the real deal. All of us thought it was the better dish among the 3 we ordered. It is small in size but just so perfect and slightly sweet. They should definitely make a entree dish and grill the entire fish! This place is located near Little Chihuahua in the heart of Noe Valley.
(5)Jeremy M.
Food and service was sub par. I expect reasonable quality when eating Japanese. My experience here was not satisfying. Reasons; Quality of rolls... Overly seasoned..onions piled on top of rolls...not sushi. Passive aggressive wait staff... Not accommodating. I will not patronize again. If I can make better food at home I choose home over this.
(1)Lily W.
Nicely prepared sashimi and nigiri. Rolls are a little...lacking. I don't know what it is. All fresh and good fish, just very traditional and nothing I've been "wowed" by. However, Its consistent and is one of the better sushi joints in noe valley area. Try the sea bass nigiri! I used to be a tuna fiend then a salmon fiend but the sea bass is just great. Their Aji (spanish mackerel) wasn't too fishy smelling or fishy tasting either, which was nice! But nothing can beat Saru on 24th ;)
(4)Hiral P.
Great place for casual sushi! Not that many wine options but the food is pretty cheap and yummy. I am a vegetarian and I love that they have a separate section for Vegetable sushi. Midori is a pretty good sushi roll! Spicy Tofu tempura is a must try for a vegetarian appetizer. Edamame dumplings are really yummy too. I come here at least twice a month for sushi. It's my go to casual sushi place. Not that expensive.
(5)Courtney J.
My go-to. Always consistent, and perfect for maki rolls, sashimi and when I need udon while sick. Service is kind and friendly, and it's a relaxed, family type of place. Favorite rolls are the Sunset roll, Ikura nigiri, the Sanchez, their delicious house salad, and their vegetarian rolls.
(4)Maitai N.
This place serves American style Japanese food. I tried lunch combo (Teriyaki Salmon with California roll) and they were fresh and tasted good. Coming back for lunch sometime again.
(4)Dee N.
REALLY wanted to like them since my friend highly recommended their sushi. we spent $300+ and had almost everything. The only 2 sushi I liked was on their special menu: halibut and Fatter Yellowtail. Everything else was bland and kinda mushy (Salmon, Aji, Albacore, Maguro, Ocean Trout...most of the special menu) The cooked stuff was good. Udon, Tempura, bacon asparagus Not a fan of the apple almond shrimp thing.
(3)Matt Y.
8/1/13 Dinner Never thought a Japanese in such a neighborhood as Noe Valley would serve authentic food, just I wanted to try nonetheless. It was amazing. After two recommendations, including a Japanese lady and a fellow blogger, I bit the bullet and went for dinner. Restaurant decor is uninspiring but very clean and pristine. It reminds me of a typical hotel lobby restaurant. We were promptly seated and genmaicha served. A great beginning. In Japan most restaurants are specialty, meaning they only serve one or two types of food. There's a tempura specialty restaurant, a ramen restaurant, etc. Hamano, like almost every of its counterparts here has a big menu. I'm impressed they offer traditional dishes in addition the Americanized rolls. *Gyozas: A bit overdone but the flavor is very good. The bottom very crispy. *Buta Kakuni: Slow braised pork belly is nothing to be faulted at. The meat comes off as I picked it up with chopsticks. Served with an egg. *Assorted tempura: Batter is very light and thin. Tempura is a tricky item, very difficult to master but Hamano's is above average. *Chirashi: One of the best in terms of flavor and freshness. Ikura, mackerel, tuna, albacore tuna, yellowtail, shrimp, octopus, and eel over very tasty vinegary rice. It's also the best value in the entire Castro, Noe, and Mission area. *Tempura Roll: The usual makimono roll with a shrimp tempura cut. It's worthy of a try if you're into rolls. A most pleasant surprise. Service is very attentive and cordial. Hamano is now my to-go Japanese restaurant if I crave a chirashi and some traditional appetizers dishes. Fish is fresh and is of higher grade than most Japanese restaurants in town. Atmosphere is quiet and cozy.
(4)Grubnoisseur Y.
Great sushi as told to me by some of the best sushi chefs whose art I have had the pleasure of experiencing should be gauged on 3 criteria: 1. Cleanliness 2. Quality of ingredients 3. Technique After a near 40 minute wait I was seated at the sushi bar with the luck of the draw getting the head sushi chef. Decided to go a la carte and order whatever sparked interest, Ocean Trout, Aji, Sardine, Salmon Belly, Ikura and Hamachi. Presentation for all nigiri was very neatly packaged, no rice falling apart with fish well cut. Sushi rice was good, I can get a hint of the seasoning but wish there was a little more. All fish was cool temperature wise, definitely a good sign for food safety sake. The Ocean Trout was smooth and clean tasting similar to Scottish Salmon. Ikura was prepared well, the eggs firm enough so you get that nice pop and hint of saltiness. The Salmon Belly was probably the best tasting bite of the night. Slightly seared, it was soft while maintaining just enough sashimi texture with a terrific buttery finish. I could have done three orders of that easily. Service was a little off but I will give the benefit of the doubt because the place was packed. I will be back again to try some of the other fish offerings and maybe some appetizers as long as I get the head chef again. Thumbs up, Oishi.
(4)Karen T.
Prices were reasonable, sushi was good, pork belly ramen was tasty, butter fish sashimi my favorite! The only think I wasn't a fan of was the salad, it was over dressed with a not so tasty dressing.
(3)Scott H.
We were brought here by a couple of regulars and pretty much ordered the entire menu. Staff was great and the food was super. I ate so many different kinds of food that I have difficulty remembering the dishes, but everything was great. One highlight was a steamed spinach covered with miso. Surprisingly delicious. Grilled oysters were perfect as well and I got a couple of their veggie rolls. Mmmmm. I waddled out a happy man. I shall return.
(4)Seong P.
We had family flying in on New Years day, and the options were limited. My MIL found this place on Yelp, and confirmed that it was open, so we headed over for dinner. I was still recovering, so I had tempura udon. It was a good size, but the broth was too salty for my taste. The tempura was good though. Tintin had a couple of rolls, and they were fine, but I didn't eat enough to judge the quality of their fish. The service was a bit slow, and prices were average.
(3)Sabine F.
I like this place a lot. I usually get the Valencia roll and some Sashimi ( the king salmon is fantastic) and the staff is always super nice, even when taking kids there! the miso soup is also great as well as their eggplant appetizer. Which they had more than just 2 baby booster seats because when its busy it can be a little bad if you can't get one because they are already taken but other than that I love this place!
(4)Lisa-Maree W.
Love this place. The sushi is some of the best in the city- so fresh and amazing flavor arrangements. The ambiance isn't great (a little diner-esque) but the food makes up for the feel of the place.
(4)John L.
Food has gone downhill as has the service. We've tried this place a few more times to give it a chance, but to no avail. Chirashi is scantily garnished with fish and sesame seeds instead of fish roe. We found a better place for overall food and service just a mile away. Not coming here again.
(2)Jenn W.
Meh. Literally that's it. But since that's not helpful to you, I'll explain. o Service = great, friendly, prompt. o Atmosphere = Bland but comfy. but the main reason, o Fish = room temperature, not chilled. Overly salty and smoky, and not enough "fresh" taste of the fish and vegetables in the maki. I just can't get over the taste. I didn't want to finish my food but it was okay enough and I was hungry enough that I did. I had the Noe Roll, a spicy tuna, and the Gari Saba Roll. Just smoky salt. That's all I could taste. Flavors better applied to southern barbecue than to sushi maki.
(2)VI P.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed Hamano Sushi sooner but that's alright because this is my 100th YELP review and boy am I excited to write it! I came in with a friend last night as they were closing (unpronounced to me) yet the workers happily sat us and served us (now that's what I call 5 star service!!). I've been here several times, service is always consistent, the food is always good, and its not crazy expensive like some of the other sushi spots in the City. Oh and they have other items to order for those strange individuals that don't like sushi! All in all its a solid 5 star review!
(5)Steph K.
Good sushi, fun vibe inside, very quaint. I got 2 vegetarian rolls, one was awesome (with eggplant) and the other was just okay (with kale). The tempura was really good! The restaurant has a fun vibe, my boyfriend loved all 3 of his rolls (normal non-veg sushi).
(3)El B.
Yum! Went here for dinner tonight, and had: Miso soup Age Dashi Tofu Bunch of rolls Black sesame creme brûlée Service was really good, and I especially enjoyed the 2 vegetarian rolls ('Elizabeth' and 'Midori') as well as the Mission roll, and the dessert. A word about dessert, though; it looks kind of like mud, but it tastes fantastic.
(4)Chris T.
I love Hamano. We started going there because we were local to it in Noe Valley, but over time it has become one of my favorite places to get sushi in the city. The Noe Roll is very good. It's also a great place to take the kids. Picky eaters can have ramen soup or tempura, and the staff is great towards the kids.
(4)R A.
I'm surprised the place is only 3.5 stars from you yelpers. Maybe it depends on what you order and who your sushi chef is. We had the pleasure of meeting Chef Jiro and he prepared us an amazing omakase meal we will never forget. I love that every fish is slightly flavored to have a certain uniqueness. The dinner was a serious splurge we dont do often and we can not wait to come back!
(5)Jeremy H.
Best sushi I've ever had. 12 nigiri, Chef's choice, an incredible selection. Jiro, you are an artist.
(5)Meghan M.
Delicious and innovative sushi! Great rolls and the puffy scallops were a wonderfully crisp and delicious new experience. Yum! They'll warm you up on a rainy cold SF day. The staff were super friendly, but they would disappear at times. This place is obviously a neighborhood joint, and I mean that in a good way. We saw lots of families, and the staff seemed to know many of their patrons. In short, good vibe here with delicious and unique dishes amidst the sushi house standards.
(4)Pola C.
Hamano is probably my favorite non-special occasion sushi spot in the city. (We go to Ino when we're feeling fancy) We usually order an assortment of nigiri and a few rolls. Everything is super fresh and expertly prepared. Some of the standouts are the uni (always fresh and delicious) and the amaebi with the fried heads (something about the way Hamano fries those things yum yum). The poke roll is also stellar. Service is great. We like to sit at the bar where we can get recs straight from the chefs themselves, who are also very friendly.
(5)Stefania S.
Came in today for lunch. Had noodles and my friends had california and spicy tuna rolls Also miso soup to start with. Overall the lunch was good, the soup was average but the rolls and noodles were very really good. Nice place to try out!
(4)andrew s.
Totally underrated.. Doesn't have the BS atmosphere of Saru and other places, but little secret, the Fish is just as good,if not better, much cheaper, there' actually room at the sushi bar and it's super friendly. Their Omakase is one of the best I've ever had. Jiro, John and the other quieter chefs make you feel at home, are interested in knowing their customers and developing real relationships, their neurosis included :). A refreshing absence of the master sushi ego replaced with humor, humility and fresh fish.. The restaurant can get a bit busy with families but that's part of Noe. Happy this place is convenient for us
(5)C. E.
Omg what was I thinking husband and I was in the mood for sushi couldn't think of a place til I remember Hamano Sushi I used to there a long time ago.What was I thinking after all these years terrible sushi bad customer service if u wanna go there be prepared to wait long for waitress n pay a lot. Think twice before going there!!!
(1)Barbara S.
Customer service needs a significant upgrade. Perhaps it's the apparent apathy that is frustrating. There are other, more authentic options in the area, where we will do business. With regard to the food, the quality is par.
(2)Sam C.
The sushi really was terrible. I hate to dis neighborhood restaurants, but we just couldn't figure out why it was so bad. My friend and I stopped ordering at a point realizing it wouldn't get any better and was just becoming a waste of money.
(1)Samantha G.
Came here for dinner on a Saturday night and it was very busy with many families of noisy kids running in and out. As we are a young couple, we decided the sushi bar was probably our safest bet for a quiet meal. Sushi was very good-not my favorite from what I've had but the fish was of good quality and prepared well. Service was ok but was a little inconsistent. Not unexpected for how busy they seemed. Overall a favorable experience but I think I might head there at a less busy time for my next visit.
(3)Ramon L.
I had the most amazing Omakase dinner here with my family! Jiro, their bomb ass sushi chef set us up at the bar and just kept that good stuff coming out! Not to clear on how many courses due to the mass quantities of sake but every course was making me very happy. Fish is top shelf and the creativity of Jiro made the evening. I'm fixin on a long term relationship with this place!!!
(5)Linda L.
huge fan of chef Jiro.
(5)Jenny G.
Love this place. Been twice now. Sat at table and the bar. Both good in different ways. Restaurant is unpretentious, service friendly and food excellent and never disappointing. Sushi aside, which was fresh and tasty and masterfully prepared, the appetizers were a taste sensation. Lamb chops; pork belly - both amazing, but my favorite was the almond shrimp. Can't wait to go back.
(5)Heidi-Jane S.
I have been walking past four or five different Japanese restaurants on my way to Hamano Sushi for more than a decade now. I should preface this by saying that I don't eat sushi, so my review of Japanese food is always centered around the teriyaki offerings and the tempura: Hamano has the best tempura I have ever had - never greasy and always just fluffy and flavorable and with very choice vegetables such as broccoli, carrots and pumpkin squash. No Japanese restaurant that I have come across has ever equalled it. So I would highly recommend that dish. They have a really generous combination lunch special that comes with teriyaki chicken or salmon, the tempura and a nice green salad full of quality vegetables rather than just mere iceberg lettuce. That's always my go-to dish. The staff is always so welcoming and kind. I don't eat mayonnaise, so I ask them to bring me the salad without dressing and to leave off the little side offering of potato salad - and they always are so accommodating - in fact, they have my order down now and know to do it before I even ask. Very kind of them. Lunch is the best time to go as it's quiet then - dinner hour can be very busy, especially in the earlier part of the night as sometimes, unfortunately, it seems that all the parents of Noe Valley like to bring their screaming kids there, so it can get a little unruly in there between 6-8 PM. But even then, you're going to love your meal and you're going to get great service and it's worth it. Highly recommended.
(5)Kathryn M.
Great experience. I went in for lunch and had a really large, good meal, with five kinds of fish, for about $10. Pretty impressive, especially considering you could easily pay that much just for a greasy pizza slice and some salad elsewhere in the neighborhood. Instead, what I got was healthy and delicious! The chef was meticulous about preparing the fish. I could tell it was fresh; there was absolutely no "fishy" taste at all, which I've definitely noticed with some other sushi places. I would have lunch here again in a heartbeat. I also appreciated the fact that the chef seemed to know a lot of the lunchtime regulars and greeted them by name, asking about their kids etc when they came in; definitely a friendly, neighborhood vibe. It's not a "high-end" sushi place like Nobu, so I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for a spot to take Ivanka Trump on a date, but it's pleasant and probably delivers better value for the money. The ambiance is nice, but nothing fancy, and the fish is probably equally as good, for a fraction of the price. Overall: highly recommend.
(5)Gina C.
I've been here many times, but for some reason last weekend was one of the best experiences. First, because the Miso soup is better than our local - and one of our go to's when we go out to Japananese food - mainly because we have two toddlers that love it. It has noodles and lots of tofu, and a tasty broth. The other stuff we ate was just really good - sushi rolls, actic char special wrapped in apple, and tempura. Wait staff is excellent given the busy time around 6pm on a Friday - they were so prompt and very helpful. This is definitely one of our neighborhood favorites.
(4)Robert M.
I was randomly looking at reviews on Yelp today and came across our favorite sushi bar, Hamano Sushi. It's primarily our favorite by way of geography(easy walk). But as we got to know the Chef and the menu, I can say they consistently have great fresh fish. Reading the other reviews I see where some people get frustrated with the waitstaff, the time it takes to get served and "Family Friendly" atmosphere. To that end I say...Welcome to Noe Valley. Hamano's busiest time is the early dinner time, when hipster/tech families get home and want to feed the kids. In some cases they want their kids to be cool and bring them to the sushi restaurant, others are kinder and call in for pick up. Their Take-out is a big part of the slow down, it seems like %50 of the business is To-Go. We enjoy sitting at the bar and letting the chef's make up rolls for us. The other night we asked (off menu) for a spicy salmon roll with salmon skin. We were surprised when they added salmon roe...salmon 3 ways! excellent. I recommend the fish (always fresh and interesting), sitting at the bar (if just 2) and be prepared for some interesting people watching, i.e. we have met people who have moved from the area and still come back for the fish.
(4)Rebekah T.
Sometimes I cannot believe that I used to pass on Sushi, didn't like shellfish and couldn't stand the thought of eating raw. Makes me want to convert those who have yet to try sushi or shellfish (peer pressure). Stopped in for a light dinner before going out for drinks, never tried Hamano before and wanted to try all the local spots to find a sushi go-to spot. At first glance, it looked like they were crowded, but it was just the to go orders. We had the miso soup, which was really good and had noodles, different yet tasty. I ordered the Sashimi Combo - Tuna and Salmon, really nice cuts of fish - very tasty. We also had the 24th Street roll which was a deep fried crab roll with avocado and these little rainbow rice sprinkles (yay for sprinkles). Hamano is good, service, quality of sushi/food and I will definitely be back for more.
(4)Stephanie Y.
you know this place has been around ... the tables and chairs have that ugly yellowness to it, the decoration was back in the 80's, and the place really smelled like a sushi place. Apparently they close the kitchen at 3pm, but the hostess let us in after we asked her. We just wanted a small lunch. We got the shoyu ramen, udon noodles, salmon and tuna sashimi (5pieces), rock n roll, and hamachi roll. The fish was pretty fresh and the sashimi slices were pretty big. Price was very reasonable.
(3)Jo D.
This place has some of the freshest fish around. We always sit at the bar and let the Chef choose for us. Jiro (one of the sushi masters) knows our limits and likes. Ankimo appetizer is always great. So is the midnight special. An overall awesome place to enjoy great fish.
(5)Robert R.
Food is fine, but this will be our last time here. We've been a number of times and the service has really gone down hill. Our waiter was sweet, but it must have been his first day on the job. To top it off, we packed our leftover $14.95 soup into a small container that they gave us and left it by mistake. When we came back 3 minutes later it was gone. The waiter, senior waiter and possibly the owner could care less. A more senior waiter to ours said that she could give us some miso, but that was about it. I was clearly not happy with that since they trashed a perfectly good (and expensive) meal. They said that the order could not be made since the noodles only came in large packages. I suggested that they just make another order for us. She looked at me like I was crazy. Better yet, they just let me walk out. We will not be back. Poor service and even worse attitude.
(1)Lainey D.
Amazing sushi and amazing service! I sampled a few rolls, and everything was fresh and delicious. The cuts were pretty generous too. Try the Dolores if you like white tuna, it's especially flavorful with a hint of garlic. The wait staff is especially accommodating. My group was a bit difficult. We came late, sat down, and then we had a last minute add-on. The staff shuffled around our tables to make everyone fit and didn't seem annoyed at all. They were extremely attentive and friendly the entire night.
(5)Joraine C.
Nothing spectacular stood out to me, but there was nothing really bad about it either. I went for lunch around 12:30, the place was empty except for another couple that was already seated. I was greetly promptly when I came in, and was told to choose any table I would like. I ordered quickly, received my food, and took the rest To-Go. Tthe decor was simple, but it's very clean with a comfortable ambiance. A good spot for a business lunch, or even a casual first date. Cons: My miso soup was cold! It was barely even warm. Since you have to pay for the miso soup separately, I would expect it to be HOT! By the way- Miso soup cost you $3.00, but if you purchase it with a meal it is only $0.75 extra. Still, miso soup is almost always included at any other Japanese restaurant! The lunch specials are served on ONE plate, unlike other places that serve your food in a BENTO (box) with compartments to keep your food separate. I didnt really like the fact that my salad greens were mixing with the sauce from my chicken teriyaki, or my california roll was getting salad dressing on it, and my wasabi was touching my chicken, etc, you get the point... It cost me $15.00 for my 2-item lunch, with miso soup & tip. But the service was pretty good, they were really nice, never neglected me, always refilled my water, and the food was all right, nothing bad, but nothing exceptionally good either. I would go here again since it's the only place within walking distance that serves chicken teriyaki but wouldn't go crazy for it.
(3)Kristina R.
They have decent sushi, the sashimi is fair, and my husband loves their aji and scallop dishes. I'm partial to their beef and green onion roll, and the shrimp tempura roll is pretty delicious...although it's all to go most of the time. Why? They win a special award for "The Only Restaurant in Noe Valley that Does Not Offer High Chairs." Booster seats? Yup. But come on, Hamano. No high chair? This neighborhood isn't nicknamed stroller valley for nothing.
(3)Ellen M.
This is probably three-star sushi for locals, four for us poor midwestern types. I had it on a chilly Thursday evening, after getting lost on the BART (my fault) and showing up too late for dinner at Kristina and Andy's. My awesome travel buddy made an executive decision for my dinner - 8 pieces of sushi, a cali roll, and a roll with excellent raw fish. I'll edit when I figure out what it was. Sushi was good, the rolls were amazing...they used the perfect amount of horseradish on everything, and it was fresh. I had fresher at miyabi, but I'd come here again.
(4)Ryan B.
Nothing beats a local sushi place and Hamano fits the bill. It is consistant and has good quality. We visit about 2 times a month and have never been disappointed with the food or service. My only suggestion might be superficial. The inside decore might need a refresh at some point but no stars subtracted for that.. Great spot for us local Noe Valley folks looking for a bit of Sushi!
(4)G H.
Very pleasantly surprised by sparklingly fresh fish, polite and respectful service and an overall quality experience. Surprised to learn its one of a chain of restaurants. Wondering if the others are as good.
(4)Julia D.
I LOVE their avocado sushi because they really pack in the avo. I didn't love their CA rolls, tasted a little too creamy in a bad way. The service was fabulous for lunch. My friend JT is a regular and he's super picky and opinionated, which I think says a lot. That said, he doesn't eat fish. I love their vegetarian options, but for fish, I might go elsewhere. I think it's a little pricier than I'd like. I prefer We Be Sushi (the one closer to 22nd.) It is also pretty dark inside because it's a long restaurant with small windows in front.
(3)Jamie C.
Go here. Great nigiri , sake and amazing quality of fish. Even to Tokyo standards- legit. The sashimi so fresh it was like avocado. Sit at the sushi bar for traditional sushi service, order the chefs special nigiri and it will come one at a time- so nice instead of having a huge plate of sushi in your face. Calamari salad= delish. Good hot sake as well
(4)Jonathan P.
I really enjoyed this place. I had asked a co-worker who is a sushi aficionado for a recommendation and he steered us here. Good decision on my part to listen to him. Our server was very friendly, very attentive, and also very helpful in suggesting items from their extensive menu. The sushi was amazing, and in my opinion, top quality. I'm taking off one star for a very subjective reason. We ordered a couple American-style sushi rolls. They were small and fairly mediocre. BUT if you go mainly for nigiri and sashimi, you will be very pleased.
(4)Pat M.
This is one my go-to restaurants in the Noe area. I've never had anything here that was less than excellent, and the prices and service are great. I've also discovered recently that, at least in my experience, it's very kid friendly. We brought our baby here last week and had three different servers hovering around to talk about her, offer help, clean her dropped pacifier, etc. Very nice experience. FWIW, my favorite rolls are the Sunset and the Dolores.
(5)Thomas C.
Went here for a late Saturday lunch. Their menu is limited, but the Japanese curry dish was pretty good. They actually have some hardcore nigiri on their menu such as Uni. Prices are pretty decent -- I paid $8.75 for lunch.
(4)Alexandra I.
Came here looking for sushi on a Sunday which can be a bit difficult... The service at this place was great, but the sushi was just okay. They also did not have a large roll selection which would probably work in their favor if they did. I got the Sunset roll and it was definitely good but nothing spectacular. We also got an order of edamame which was good, miso soups which were REALLY good, and gyoza which were also really good. Overall it was a good meal but not the best sushi I have ever had.
(3)Lex K.
Hamano sushi is our favorite local sushi restaurant. About as good as it gets when it comes to fish quality. We usually get take-out, but have enjoyed sitting at the bar and having what the sushi chef recommended.
(5)Matsuo U.
Hamano Sushi is an old haunt of mine where I would go quite often, when Hamano- san owned and ran the joint... that was during a previous decade. He was a fussy & serious owner and very traditional (in the Japanese way) in his approach to the food & service. So it was fun to have a good friend suggest ganging up for dinner at this joint. The sashimi combo (the omakase appetizer version) was good quality (although a very standard selection of fish) was good and fresh. The cuts of the fish, were odd. Some sliced "correctly" and some as cubes that could have been used in a Szechuan stir-fry. The grilled egg plant was good - this was the plainly grilled version (not a touristy version coated with a sweet sauce concoction). Sake was well, the lubricant of the evening. The third dish was the spider roll, (soft shell crab deep fried and ensconced in rice & nori)... properly done. Don't know who originally came up with that name for a soft shell crab roll, but the name "spider" gives me thoughts of folks dining on an appetizer delicacy of deep fried black spiders in Vietnam ( I am not making this up, and it is a relatively rare and expensive dish). Had some steamed rice .... was a little too moist (mushy) for my pallet. Service by was attentive, although not inspired nor informed. I mean by that (for example) there are 3 different choices for egg plant. Two on the regular menu, one on the "special list" on the chalk board. I could be being picky, but to me a server should provide a little more info than the menu description, which they read to me. I am certain the server has never sampled the offerings. But hey I remind myself I am not at Kiss on Laguna St, or Ozumo on Steuart St. (which reminds me I a way behind on my reviews). I think if I had never dined at Hamano's when it was run by Hamano-san, I might give 4*'s, but 3 stars is what my experience was.
(3)Jessica T.
I ate a vegetarian quinoa roll from here last night - with apple, jalapeno, and other magical flavors, tightly bound together by rice and seaweed. A truly sweet end to the relaxing night. We ended up getting our food to go and taking it over to The Peaks next door, so I can't speak too much about ambiance or service here. That being said - it was evident in my brief time here - that the place to be - within this quaint neighborhood spot - is the sushi bar. The sushi chefs were cracking jokes with the patrons - eagerly assembled around the bar. And all of the rolls and sashimi being served up - looked ridiculously tasty. One of my favorite aspects about this place - was that that many of the people sitting around the sushi bar - seemed to be by themselves. It is - I believe a strong positive testament about a place - when people feel comfortable enough to come to a restaurant and dine alone. The smiling laid-back sushi-chefs behind the sushi counter, looked to be genuinely enjoying their night and the jovial characters around them. The lady who took our take-out order was also exceptionally helpful and friendly and even got us all water - as we waited. Hamano is not what I call a destination spot, but if you live in the neighborhood or are looking for a good sushi gem around the Castro, Hamano is an intimate and welcoming spot.
(4)Dave C.
Service is good but the food stinks. They did, however, serve Decaf Soba tea which was awesome.
(3)Keiko T.
Really fresh sushi flown in from Japan, New York, or wherever the fish is in season. Run by Japanese owners, I enjoyed a great conversation with the Japanese sushi chef who has been here for the last 20 years. I walked in at 5 pm on Saturday and sat at the sushi counter. I mostly had the specials on the board -- 2 piece nigiri of Tsuri Aji (mackerel), Kanpachi (amber jack), kinmedai (snapper), uni (sea urchin), and finished with the ume shiso rolls. I also enjoyed the nasu dengaku (broiled eggplant with miso) as an appetizer. My favorite was by far the uni. It was so incredibly creamy and flavorful. It had just been flown in that day, so super fresh! For me, a good nigiri (which Hamano has) is when: #1 the fish is fresh. It should not taste "fishy." Ordering sushi 'fresh off the boat' will ensure you're eating the freshest sushi. Hamano's fish was fantastic! #2 the rice in the nigiri is just right. from the ratio of rice to fish to the consistency of the rice itself... it should also not be hot (i've had that at some crappy places before... eww) and also not cold and hard (obviously). #3 the presentation is important. this definitely has to do with fish to rice ratio (having too much fish is actually a problem) and the way it's placed on your plate and how it stays together showcases the sushi chef's knowledge and experience #4 you don't even need soy sauce. i love being able to appreciate the fish, rice, and the hint of wasabi that is placed between the fish and rice. depending on the fish, there is some light sauce that has been added so definitely ask your sushi chef if you need to dip it in soy sauce before you do (and make sure you dip it with the fish-side, not the rice because the rice soaks up too much soy sauce if you do and you'll have rice swimming in your soy sauce dish). All in all, I really liked Hamano Sushi, the friendly attentive staff, and the fresh sushi!
(4)Kate J.
Stumbled upon Hamano while searching for a place to eat dinner with a friend. I'm typically always in the mood for sushi so it was great to find. We ordered the puffy scallops which were amazing. We also ordered the Dolores roll and Sunset roll. We shared everything and it was the perfect amount of food. Nice ambiance and friendly staff, we had a really good evening here.
(4)mariel v.
Really great lunch specials. I chose option B, which included the Rock and Roll with 4 pieces of chef's choice nigiri (Sake, Maguro, Hamachi, and Ebi). Doesn't sound like much, but since I was in the mood for light fare, it hit the spot. The lunch special comes with a little green salad as well. The cost of B lunch special was $9.95... not too shabby. The quality of the fish was actually quite good, and service was friendly.
(4)Elizabeth L.
This place is great, we come here all the time as it is close to our house and always delicious! The fish is fresh, the quality is good and the rolls and sashimi are always really good! The only reason I don't give them the 5th star is because the last time we went there is was later on a Friday night and we were literally basically kicked out. Plates were taken off the table before everything was finished they dropped the bill about half way thru the meal and when we didn't touch it the manager came up and asked for payment....this is ridiculous! We didn't even get to finish our meal, conversation or order dessert because we were so rushed. I haven't ever had this happen before here, but we always early because usually we have my niece with us. Besides the incredibly rude dismissal from the restaurant the food is always on point.
(4)Andy B.
This was super! It was only order but the restaurant looks very nice. The call in order was good, reasonable in price, very quick despite a busy evening, Fresh and delicious. The seaweed salad is exceptionally good. I bit short in the supply of Soy Sauce and one Chopstick less than I needed!
(4)Thomas D.
Love this place. I usually get the Liberty Rolls and a combination dinner that consists of teriyaki salmon (or chicken) and California Rolls. This comes with a salad with miso dressing and rice.( I always ask for brown rice.) This all gets washed down with a few Asahi's or Sapporo's. The service is great--friendly, genuine and unhurried. The guys making the sushi always say "hi" and "bye" on the way in and out. I'm glad that this restaurant is around and from the looks of it, so are many other people. It's packed by 7pm all of the time. They do a great takeout as well. I recently bought a friend a gift card for Hamano. She used to live in Noe and loves/misses this place too.
(4)Lis B.
I came for lunch on a rainy, rainy day, and the staff could not have been nicer. The place wasn't packed, and they let me choose whatever seat I wanted. They were very attentive and pleasant, and I have nothing but good things to say about them. The food was fine. I had a chicken teriyaki don, salad and hamachi. The chicken teriyaki don was all right - a bit sweet, which isn't my bag. I've had teriyaki that is more savory and I like it better. Hamachi was fresh and decent; the pieces were large, but not super well-crafted (I picked one piece up with a chopstick and before I could even flip it to get the fish in some soy sauce, part of the rice bed fell off). Salad was nothing special. Mixed greens with sliced pepper and a cherry tomato. I thought the don bowl was a decent deal, but I thought the hamachi was a tad overpriced. The place was fine for lunch, but I'd skip it for dinner. It was a bit weirdly laid-out with two levels of seating, and not much privacy at all. I could hear all my neighbors' conversations - even the ones sitting several tables away, which was kind of annoying. It was very soothingly decorated, though. So overall, Hamano Sushi was fine. Just fine. Nothing more, nothing less. And interestingly, I've spoken with several friends who live in Noe and they all tell me that Hamano is never their first choice for Japanese.
(3)Jean A.
I could go here twice a week easily. Not fancy or exotic, just reliably fresh excellent Japanese food. Fresh oil is important to me and their tempura is perfect. Love the ramen, tempura tofu ramen (!) is my favorite but the other flavors are all good. I hope the owner never retires. It is true some families bring their kids during the day but I'll tough it out, the food is worth it.
(5)Bad Y.
Hamano is great for nigiri, and things like the gyoza, which I adore. The service is friendly and fast, and there is a petty good amount of seating, so getting a table is not usually a problem. I find the rolls to be overpriced and a pretty boring, really.
(3)Kimberly B.
Amazing, fresh, melt-in-your-mouth sushi. My first choice every time. Sit at the bar if you can.
(5)Aban E.
Cute little place in Noe Valley. I love the neighborhood as well. The owner is always so nice and goes out of his way to make you happy. If you are there, you must order sushi. That is what they do best! The place is small so it can get pretty packed. I normally go early to avoid the rush.
(4)Erin Y.
I was skeptical of this place at first - good Japanese food in Noe Valley? But, i's true! I come here around twice a month for a trusty and delicious dinner to fill my constant craving for asian food. Everything I've ordered off their menu has been solid. I usually stick with: - Chirashi - delicious, fresh fish - Tempura Udon - big plate of tempura, medium bowl of udon - Tofu Sukiyaki - hot, full of veggies and noodles, and you get a bowl of rice Tip: Check your Valpak envelope for a new coupon every week, and use their frequent buyer's card.
(4)Paula F.
My favorite sushi restaurant in SF. You can go other places, one or two in SF that have the same top selected fresh fish but you pay higher prices. Salmon, hamachi, and the nightly bought specials make this the best little sushi bar for the craving. Fresh hot mustard shaved if requested.
(4)Luke M.
Wow, this place was so charming and sweet I'll yelp it even late at night! I think I might have a new favorite sushi spot...IN NOE VALLEY?! The world's gone CRAZY! Some highlights, at the beginning the staff was what you'd expect at a sushi house, but our waitress quickly warmed up to us. She was so cute the way she got all excited about us trying the green tea creme brulee, which was AWESOME! We also had vanilla mochi, which is just never bad... Oh, and we had some sushi too. Everything was ROCK STAR and even pretty novel. We got some hamachi that was heavy on the wasabi, and some really good rolls. The Noe is yellowtail, lemon, and pepper. GET IT. The 24th Street is the CUTEST fried maki anywhere--a fried California roll with rainbow rice puff "sprinkles." And the Sunset was great too, spicy tuna, garlic ponzu, and blow torch seared salmon & black tobiko. They have the usual sushi joint beers and a few different kinds of sake. When I come back I'm bringing more friends and a bigger appetite.
(5)M D.
I was in the area with a couple of friends. We got hungry and decided to try Hamano Sushi since I heard rave reviews about this place. Granted, the menu is limited for lunch, nonetheless, the food was good. We had a little of everything and shared. Their sushi was good, melts in your mouth good. Their ramen and pork katsu curry were also very tasty. I have to deduct a star though, our waitress was not very pleasant. We arrived around 2 pm, and our waitress told us as she seated us, "We are closing for the afternoon so please make sure you order everything now since the kitchen will be closed. Take your time to eat though because, it's no rush." So no big deal, we order everything, get our food about 15 minutes and as soon as she brings our food, along comes the check. With her little speech, "Oh, I brought the bill just so we can close it out but no hurry you can take your time to eat." That we did and she came back to our table a few minutes later to check if we had already settled the check. GRRRRRR...I was annoyed already at that point and maybe my facial reaction showed it. We casually told her we were busy eating and forgot but she stood there and waited until we cleared our bill. Enough with it lady, we get it! Obviously not a pleasant experience but I'll be willing to try this place again at a different time. Hope they take the time to read their reviews so the waitress understands why she got such a sucky tip! If I had to rate separately, food 4 stars and service 1 star, if that!
(3)Samantha S.
Nope, sorry. A $70 dud. This place is so average that by sf standards, it should be considered a dud. Tempura overcooked, even dry. Roll dishes overly salty. Kama sushi on church is way better. Prices similar, quality world apart. There are so many amazing eats in sf, wouldn't go back here.
(2)Erick C.
We came here once. In short, the sashimi was delicious, the beer was great, service was awesome and friendly (recommended what ended up being a delicious rice beer), and the agedashi tofu was tasty. We live nearby so we'll definitely be frequenting this place.
(4)e w.
this is a solid sushi joint and has stood the test of time -- except for the interior design. if they would just give this place a face lift it would get a lot more action, like it did in its hayday. good, inventive rolls that i haven't had 100 times elsewhere and fresh fun nigiri. if you can't stand the decor, eat at the front at the bar, like i do.
(4)Brad L.
Skip this one. People keep telling me that I must have been there on an off-night, but the service was so bad and the sushi so mediocre, that I'm certain I'll never go back. For Noe Valley sushi, I like Amberjack, at 27th & Church (across from Eric's) much better.
(1)Frank W.
The ambiance and fun factor at Hamano are near zero. The food is about average for SF sushi and slightly overpriced. My gf lives around the corner so I've been there a handful of times. Amber Jack's (Church St.)food is on par and better priced.
(3)Adrian N.
Ok...finally made it to Hamano. Started with a creative, tasty vegetarian roll. Then had a combo dish with tempura and beef. The beef was really good, not chewy and actually had flavor. It wasn't overcooked. Food overall was OK. Would I go back? With the many other options, probably not.
(3)Peter O.
After 12 years in Tokyo, I'd guess I know my sushi, and this is good stuff! Sitting at the bar talking to Tetsuya is just like being in Tokyo. Nice to have a great sushi joint right in my backyard.
(5)Monte C.
Used to be very good when owned by Mr. Hamano. Is steadily going down hill. Prices get higher and portions get smaller. Like andy h. writes, the food is often made sloppily. There used to be less employees and more food.
(2)Denny L.
We arrived on Friday evening around 8:45 and was promptly seated. Our waiter came to our table after 15 minutes or so and took our order. Our food orders came "out of order" and the last plate was served about 45 minutes after we placed our order. Service was very poor and our waiter ignored us for the remainder of the time. Several times we reminded him of our orders and he promised to "check on our order." The third time we got his attention, we cancelled our appetizer because we had already eaten most of the main course. The food quality was so-so and the service was terrible. The restaurant is very loud making it difficult to have a conversation without having to shout across the table. This place is terrible and I will never return.
(1)NAEL K.
i will be honest with u i dont know much about sushi but i give them 4 stars for freshness thats all i have to say
(4)Debbie Y.
It's good dependable food for really reasonable prices. I just didn't like this sushi roll I ordered that was covered in this mayonaisse type of sauce, can't remember what it was...I always ask for any sauce to be put on the side now.
(3)Brian L.
I had lunch at Hamano yesterday and it was very good. I had the lunch combination with salmon and the chicken karage. We also had the edaname "dim sum" and a house salad. We did not try the sushi on this trip, but would like to on my next visit.
(3)Shwin S.
Its missing something in the atmosphere, just as the rolls here are missing that indefinable something. They just don't melt in the mouth and make you go mmmmm.. like they do at some other places. Reasonable prices make up for it only so far for the bland and the boring. Yuppiezens of Noe Valley, I hope this is not your doing.
(3)Paul F.
I've been a regular here for probably 15 years and it's just around the corner from me now, which is dangerous :-) Great scene at the bar, love the Aji, fresh Salmon, spider roll, mmmm. Green salad is good when I get takeout. For about 5 years the wait was horrendous, it's not bad at all now though.
(5)Toisha T.
went here on a tuesday night - wasn't too crowded, service was good. really liked the shrimp and bacon appetizer. when i go to new sushi places, i try and get two standard rolls and something special to the restaurant, so i had the diamond roll, a spicy tuna roll and the california roll with masago. thought all of the rolls were a little too big, i like mine to be a bit more bite sized than they come here. the diamond roll was great, first time having soy paper. i had some issue with the spicy tuna roll though, i was expecting a piece of fresh tuna with spicy sauce and instead got tuna tartare in rice with no discernible spice and some clover leaves. the california roll was decent. probably wouldn't go out of my way to come back here, but it was okay for a sushi fix.
(3)Julia H.
Really good fresh fish everytime I go in, but they should do something about the bright lights in there. Still the sushi is good...
(5)Margie N.
One of the few sushi restaurants that I would deem worthy of a 5 star rating, not necessarily that the sushi is 5 star [its a solid 4!], but the entire experience and good sake helped tremendously. Quick service, which is key when you're starving, also helps the vote. All of the rolls are excellent, if someone wanted to take me here again I'd be there in a heartbeat [and a 30 min drive through the city]. Any takers? Anyone?
(5)See Y.
My friend raved for months about this place...but when I actually ate there, it was just OK. I was disappointed. But I can't tell my friend, because I'm chicken...
(3)ed m.
what can I say...this is the best sushi in the world!My friend tommy brought me here 15 years ago and I thank him for that.The chefs are funny and cool and everything about this place is off the hizhook!!! I crave this place at least once a day
(5)Angi C.
my first meal at hamano 7 years ago was unmemorable, but i was a sushi novice back then. now that i'm back in the hood, i thought i'd give it another try, so n and i walked over post-warriors game. we got seated at the bar right away, next to two jolly couples who apparently met earlier in the evening and have been drinking sake together since. everyone was super-friendly...chefs, waitresses, and our jolly fellow patrons who ordered 12 pieces of toro sashimi and insisted we take two of the pieces. who are we to say no?? our own sushi were excellent and fresh enough that i dared to order uni, a risky feat i attempt at a new restaurant only when i feel brave. the gamble paid off - the uni was oh so sweet. mmm!
(4)Q C.
A friend who owns a sushi restuarant recommended Hamano to me and I have to say I was pretty disappointed! Dragon roll that is a california roll with unagi on top...WTF?! That was just gross. What's good on this menu? Cause I couldn't find anything worth trying when I was there. I think their vegetarian options might have been better than the fish!
(2)genevieve g.
the sushi at hamano is outstanding, always very fresh and they consistently have an excellent variety of tuna. i've never had a bad experience with the service there - in fact i've found them to be quite friendly, even when very busy. i've brought friends from out of town to hamano and it always satisfies. they also serve some of their sakes in a wooden box from which you drink over a plate. yay!
(5)Natalie A.
I got sick from eating this horrible food. My chicken teriyaki is making my stomach hurt. The sushi platters my 2 friends ordered were rubbery and gross. They couldn't eat more than 2 pieces. Will never go back. Would give it no stars if I could.
(1)Anonymou S.
This place is not quite what it used to be, but it's still by far the best sushi in Noe Valley and compares very well with other sushi places in the city.
(4)Elise U.
Hamano always has fresh fish and good service. I only wish I lived closer...
(5)Y W.
this is my favorite sushi place in san francisco because of the garlic white tuna!
(5)