I met a couple friends here for dinner the other night. It was one of their choices, and I had never been before. I got to the restaurant before my friends did and was immediately seated at a table with enough menus for the party. The waiter began pouring glasses of water while I waited. I waited about 10 minutes for the rest of my party to arrive, but I was COLD. The table I was seated at was right by the door, and I was sitting there shivering, wanting to eat with my coat on. Fortunately, my friend noticed this, and asked if we could change tables. We were seated again 2 tables down and behind a small wall. It was definitely a lot warmer, but overall, it was a very cold restaurant. It felt like they had the air conditioning on, and mind you, this was the night that was supposed to "snow" in SF. I really hate it when restaurants make the temperature a lot lower to accommodate the staff who are constantly moving and working instead of their customer base. I'm not breaking a sweat while I eat sushi, thanks though. We wanted some sake, and got a great recommendation from our waiter. It was yummy! I wish I remember what kind it was, but I suggest if you don't know much about sake, ask the waiter what he thinks you might like. We also ordered edamame, and miso soup to start. That was all good, hard to screw up edamame! The miso soup was just right, however $4 for edamame, and $4 per bowl of miso? Jeesh. It's a good thing I wasn't paying :) I ordered the Hana Zen roll, and the Spicy Tuna roll. I remember the rolls being anywhere from $10-15 each, which is kind of insane. Although the sushi was rather delicious. Especially the Hana Zen roll-- salmon tempura with tuna and avocado on top. A SERIOUSLY good combination. The spicy tuna was also delicious. It's my favorite roll of all time, and it was especially tasty here. They also have a crunchy spicy tuna roll, which is basically the same thing as a spicy tuna roll, but fried in tempura batter. I'd love to go back and try it. Overall the food was tasty, the staff was nice, the restaurant was freezing, and the food, a little overpriced. My experience was overall average here.
(3)
Deanna J.
This place is Fabulous! I haven't had good yakitori since I lived in Japan and that was awhile ago. I tried to find a good place but gave up the search - none of them ever lived up to my expectations until now. I was a bit skeptical because it is located in a touristy section of town - think high prices and ok food. This place was a bit pricy but well worth the money. The sushi was very very fresh and the katsu don was cooked to perfection! The yakitori was the star even the mushroom yakitori was flavorful and fresh! I also had some rolls but by the time they came I had already had two bottles of sake....the rolls were good but I didn't take the time to savor the flavor. The service was spot on! The waiter was very attentive and courteous! I so want to go back to this place!
(4)
Sarah C.
So, my husband I were in the area and decided on sushi. We had never been to Hana Zen, but a friend of mine loves it. We were very impressed! Some of the best sushi I have had! The crunchy spicy tuna roll was sooo good. He really liked his dragon roll, and with some Saporro and veggie tempura appetizer, it was just what we were craving. We will be back very soon!
(5)
Patrick M.
Meh. Food was so-so. Service was very nice. On the recommendation of another Yelper, I ordered the Dragon Balls. No. Some food is good fried. Sushi, no. Just tasted...fried. Next: spicy tuna rolls, yellowtail, tuna. Fine, but you can get fine in Omaha. To end: scallops wrapped in bacon. Sounds yum? The scallops were overcooked and the bacon just a wee bit undercooked. The view was nice. It was a little empty on my visit: 6:30 pm. Confession: I'm from out of town, trying to stay on my time zone, picked this place based on Yelp. There were a lot of out of towners there too. The place started empty and picked up.
(3)
Mel H.
mediocrity costs a lot of money here not feeling so zen
(2)
Kristina L.
Either it's good or I'm starving after a long day of shopping. They have a yummy foie gras appetizer with a sweet soy and wine sauce. Sets you back $20 bucks but I'd probably sell my left kidney for some foie gras.
(3)
Melissa D.
Hana Zen is conveniently located off O'Farrell street near the craziness of stockton and market. My hotel contact recommended this place. I came here for lunch and it was not busy at all, there were a few people but I sat at the sushi bar. Service was speedy and friendly and the sushi-masters were always checking up on me. Prices are average$6-10 for maki rolls, wish I had room to try the yakitori though! I had the salmon & avocado roll, the rock n roll, and the tuna tempura roll. Out of the three, the Rock n Roll made of eel, cucumber, tobiko and avocado was really good and did not fall apart. The tuna tempura, ehh, not so much, since they have to fry it, the tuna was cooked through which I wasn't really expecting. Overall, the maki rolls were fresh and delicious but the rolls did not blow me away, they were on par so I would come here again when I visit San Francisco.
(3)
Jess C.
Super close to Union Square so if you're in the mood for some sushi, this would be the place to go. Two other girlfriends and I ordered a couple of rolls to share: Crunchy California roll, Dragon roll, Spicy Tuna roll, and Hana Zen Sashimi Combo platter. We also shared the agedashi tofu appetizer. Their fish was fresh and the crunch was quite...crunchy. I would say my favorite of the rolls was the spicy tuna roll followed by the crunchy california roll. Surprisingly, I was quite full off of just the rolls so they did their job. The service was good. The hostess greets everyone with a smile and our server was extremely patient. I went out there the day after Christmas and had to wait for my friend who had been stuck in traffic for almost an hour! The server checked on me frequently and made sure I had plenty to drink...offered to take my order and even struck up a couple of conversations. She was very understanding and sweet. The one thing about this place...it's a bit pricey. Three rolls, sashimi combo, and one appetizer ran us almost $100 including gratuity. This was for lunch so I wasn't expecting to pay quite so much but for great company and good food, it's priceless. Official rating: 3.5.
(3)
Maggie C.
this is the first yakatori place I've tried in San Francisco and realized how much I love this charcoal grill flavor. They have a few authentic Japanese selection such as beef tongue/chicken gizzard/chicken skin....etc. I definitely recommend ordering the yakatori and skip the sushi, their sushi is not very authentic and the vinegar in rice over powers the little amount of fish they put in there. Even as simple as California roll.....I was pretty disappointed. Overall, their impressive sake selection and fun cocktails will make it a great happy hour/lunch. If you try to fill up on just the Yakatori....it will cost you. Service was average but I love the 2nd floor seating by the glass window, you see all the tourist/bums walk by.
(3)
Kayla C.
The yakitori here is awesome! I'm always trying to find more restaurants that serve it but it's so hard to find a good one. Hana Zen is quite far from where I live and work but I definitely will go back for their yakitori!
(5)
L W.
Had sushi here a few times the night before the San Francisco Marathon. The sushi is pretty good but the service is lacking. We ordered a variety of sushi but the sake and tai were the freshest. Oh and the seaweed salad was very good. This is in a pretty good location and close to Civic Center/Financial District.
(2)
G S.
This is my go to place for traditional sushi and yakitori, I love the Hamachi sashim, Uni and O-Toro (not always available), and I am pretty sure they are the only place in SF with Japanese peppers Yakitori. Great atmosphere and service, what more can you ask for?
(4)
Marc R.
Went here for a quick lunch on a visit to San Francisco. The fish in the sushi could have been slightly fresher, but it was pretty good. The Wakame Udon was delicious! Nice service
(3)
N S.
What I appreciated about this restaurant was that everything was truly fresh. I started off with the Lychee Rendevous....which was refreshingly tangy and perfect. For appetizers we had the tofu steak (in a fabulous sauce..which I recommend getting with a side of rice) and the Unagi..Which was grilled to perfection doused in a sweet/sour sauce with was paired wonderfully. For salad I got the cucumber/seaweed salad. This was the freshest seaweed I had ever tasted in my life. The combination was wonderful on the palate for those who enjoy sour/tangy combination. For the main dishes we got shitaki, avocado, and cucumber sushi rolls. Again...I cannot put enough emphasis on how fresh the vegetables were and the seaweed wrap itself. I never realized how much of a difference that could make. I have been to one other Yakitori restaurant..and this was incredible compared to the first one I went too. Something is stopping me from giving it five stars, but I would go back for sure.
(4)
Tien L.
My husband and I went here last night and got sushi for celebrating my green card. All I can say is the sushi was so good and fish was so fresh. The waiter was so nice. It's pretty pricey place, but its worth for us to come and enjoy!!!
(4)
Garrett H.
Your average Japanese sushi and yakatori joint.. Average that is until.... Bacon. Wrapped. Scallops. Oh dear god in heaven. There was a party in my mouth and EVERYONE was invited. (It takes them awhile to prepare even says so on the menu, but its worth the wait) You gotta try this out. Unless of course you despise delicious food. But you don't had yummy bacon do you? Overall an average experience, but I HAVE to award an additional star for the yummy yakatori
(4)
Holly L.
What can I say except it was fabulous! Everything was extremely fresh and although expensive, I felt that we got our money's worth. Our waiter Arthur was very attentive and worked hard to find my stepmother items that did not have shellfish because she is allergic to it. I was happy to see a wide variety of ages. Go and you will not be disappointed-more than I can say for many of the tourist bound restaurants!
(5)
Jeremy L.
Was very, very good. I had to go back for seconds of the martini scallops and lion king roll, the gomae was even memorable. The taste was infused in the spinach as opposed to being just in a sauce mixed in. Pricier but well worth it. Two of u dined and had an alcoholic beverage each and with a good tip was just over $100. And this ordering two items twice. Yes it was that good. Three words lion king roll. Will be back
(5)
Camilo M.
I've had better sushi at an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet, although the toro was a good deal. Sushi tasted like it had been in my fridge over-night... disappointed.
(2)
Sophie L.
we went up to the city from the south bay for an event but we got so hungry and it was raining outside so we decided to give this place a shot.. and it was just delicious! we started off with the yakitori sampler.. the pork with green onion, bacon wrapped salmon, japanese green pepper, chicken wings, and chicken.. it was yummy and it's not burn much at all i had the nigiri 9 piece and a roll.. it was so yummy! we will def go back again.. the only down side.. it's a bit pricey =P
(4)
Candice S.
I did a search for Japanese near Union Square and took a chance on this place with a group of friends. It's nice and central to the night life in this area, which is really convenient for going out after dinner! We started with a modern Japanese cocktail called cho-hi. It is a drink mixed with a potato sake (sochu) that tastes similar to vodka and fresh juice. I had the lemon-hi and it was very light and fresh! Not sure how much alcohol really was in it though, but it was tasty! The food satisfied all our cravings! The rainbow roll was my favorite of the night. It seemed more fresh than most restaurants I've been to. I also tried the tuna tataki which was fabulous! Seared just right around the edges with the fresh, clean sashmi taste in the center. The vegetable tempura was simple, classic, and tasty. It's annoying when some places try to add their own spin to tempura and it ends up tasting awful. If it ain't broke...don't fix it! (words to live by!) All in all, I would definitely come back here!
(4)
Gwen P.
I think Hana Zen is overlooked by locals. It is in the heart of Union Square Tourist Land and the hotels certainly send many of their minions there. I have not seen a lot of flashy advertising for this place. I first went there 7 years ago and have been a handful of times. I have not once been disappointed. I went there last night and was amazed at how buttery-melt-in-your-mouth -delicious-eye-closing-sashimigasm-tasty the toro nigiri was. Everything there was reasonably priced. Be warned that if you go there you will want to eat and eat and eat and eat and not stop. The tiny plates are wonderful. If you eat and eat and eat and eat the price of the bill will be um, not so wonderful. We had lamb chop appetizers with salt, pepper, miso dressing and lemon | gome-ae salad (spinach with sesame seeds, if I got that wrong) | miso soup | and some kind of specialty roll that was so good we took about 15 mintues to eat it. Everything was carefully presented and did not take a century to arrive. The staff was amicable, competent and a joy to be around. The waiter we had the pleasure to encounter suggested a not very expensive sake that was great, that I would buy in a store again. We didn't wait long for a table and they did not sit us in a petri dish by the door and arctic SF November breeze. All in all fabulous. I highly recommend taking a date here. I wonder if they would let you bring a blindfold so you could feed your date piece by piece? Wish I had thought of that last night. Another thing that is wonderful. It is about the company, the experience and the food. Those three essential things are not overshadowed by trendy music that is turned up so loud that you need a bullhorn to shout to your date or friend at dinner. It was a really nice change of pace to be able to converse without reading lips.
(4)
craig F.
Yakitori It's chicken on a stick, for goodness sakes. What is so hard about that? It can be really amazing, yet there are no real Yakitori restaurants. After delving into Google and getting the opinions of two different friends who were born and raised in Japan, I came to the opinion that Hana Zen was the only Yakitori joint around. Turns out I had seen this place a million times and had probably dined there. Big, tourist trap type of place. We were seated in the long part of the restaurant, directly across from where the bus boys put the dirty dishes. So we had the constant smell of dirty dishwater at our table. We needed a cocktail stat! to kill our sense of smell. But that turned out to be wishful thinking. We had to stop three different servers who told us we weren't their table. This was a harbinger of things to come with respect to the service. Terrible. Oh, and the bathroom? WHOA!! It looked like a bathroom at a service station that hadn't been cleaned in years. Totally disgusting. Went in to wash my hands and probably came out with dirtier hands then when I went in. If I hadn't been looking forward to Yakitori for weeks I probably would have lost my appetite. The Yakitori menu itself was pretty limited, probably about two dozen items. Almost all dry as a bone. Was with one of my aforementioned Japanese friends and she helped choose some great Sake's and navigate some of the more ethnic Yakitori ingredients, the best of which was the Japanese pepper. It was sweet and spicy at the same time. The second best Yakitori item was a chicken wing, which speaks volumes. Decided to give two stars because I didn't sample anything else on the menu (except the Toro, which was very good, better than most places), and it really isn't a Yakitori place, Yakitori is just one of the things they serve, it's probably more of a sushi place. On the Yakitori alone, service, and facilities, it is one star all the way. Near my home there is a Japanese curry place and a Japanese ramen place. But I am still shocked that with the literally dozens of amazing cuisines, 98% of the Japanese restaurants here are sushi places. Yakitori is one of the most simple yet has the most variety -- why can't I find a decent Yakitori place? The search continues...
(2)
Jim S.
Phenomenal. A great sushi place near the convention center. (they have now opened another near fisherman's wharf). The grilled Japanese peppers for an appetizer (dinner only) were amazing. Friendly staff!
(4)
Tim M.
Expensive but good. Very Fresh Sushi. My Wife commented it was the best Scallop she has ever had.
(3)
Stephen R.
Hana Zen is a basic yet decent Sushi stop. You wont find exotic decorations or creative reinterpretations of roles. Also, don't expect sushi presented in fancy ways here. What you will get is middle of the road product with a few stand outs. Be warned there was significant variability in the freshness of the varying fish and seafood items. The toro was bordering on mealy in texture and the squid was tough. The redeeming points were the super fresh scallops and perfectly executed spicy tuna roll. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here again, but if I was in the area and hungry for low cost sushi I'd definitely try it again.
(2)
Elle B.
Love this place. Have for years. I try to make it in whenever I'm in the city. yes you can spend some serious money, but soooo worth it. go hungry !
(4)
Bruce M.
Hana Zen gets four stars from me. It's not overly expensive and the food is good, but not great. Compared to other Japanese restaurants I've been to in the area, Hana Zen is a solid place to get good Japanese food with good service. The sashimi is fresh and the kitchen hot food satisfies. The Hana Zen Roll and Rainbow Roll were good for the most part cept one side of the rainbow roll was tougher than the other side. Their futomaki is definitely not the best I've had. It was kind of small; I like my futomaki rolled big. The beef teriyaki was cooked perfectly: nice and tender. And the beef curry was a little too thick than what I'm normally used to, but it was still very good curry. I definitely recommend Hana Zen. It's not a place I would take to impress people, but the place works...
(4)
Carlos E.
The hotel concierge recommended this place for lunch. We had been craving sushi. To put it in a nutshell, we get better sushi non Austin, Texas. This place was OK. Sushi was fresh, but pretty generic and plain Jane for what they charge. Also the interior needs a make over, floor is worn out and needs paint. Doesn't feel very clean inside.
(2)
isaias J.
So I met a friend for lunch and we decided to try a sushi place that was new to both of us. Turns out I'd been there many, many moons ago, but it was long enough ago that I don't remember any details. Any who, we roll in and it looks kinda swanky, I feel kinda under-dressed, but hey it's SF and unless you walk into a business casual place wearing jeans and a t-shirt you're usually pretty safe. I digress...we sit down, look around and realize they are serving italian food. Doooh! We walked into First Crush, the Hana Zen entrance is on the other side ;-) Ah, familiar site, sushi bar and sake. Order assorted sashimi, hotate nigiri, ikura nigiri, a crazy cool roll wrapped in cucumber and some Sapporo. All the fish was really fresh and tasty. The beers went down easy too. The only problem we had was getting the waitress to bring us water. I don't really like the fung shui of the place. Maybe it's that there's so many windows, not quite sure but it was enough for me to notice. So there are no half stars in yelp, but i'm giving this place 3.5 starts really. Mostly for the strange fung shui and the lack of attentive service. Sushi\sashimi good. I'd consider returning if I found myself in the area.
(4)
Marisa F.
An easy walk from the Marriott, I walked here about 8pm on a Thursday and it wasn't really crowded but I sat at the bar anyway. The sushi chefs are very nice and amicable while they aren't busy. It was a good place to chat with other solo tourists and locals. I got: Kurosawa (hot sake) 6oz $8.50 Spicy Tuna Roll $7.50 Philadelphia Roll $8.25 I know, not adventurous at all, but I was totally beat from walking around and I just wanted a safe snack. It was very delicious, albeit plain. The ginger here tastes different than what I'm used to in ATL. I met a famous person there at the bar (won't give away his name) and he says he goes to this place every single time he's in town. So there ya go.
(3)
Matthew R.
I enjoyed my time, good food, but I will not seek it out to show to friends. The food is very simple. I got some sushi rolls which were fairly good. Put together well. The beef teriyaki was a little cheap looking I enjoyed the ambiance though. Sitting on the second floor above the hustle and bustle of Francisco was very nice. I would eat hear with a smile again but I will try other places first.
(3)
Elisabeth P.
My friend and I went to Hana Zen this week and it was great! I was starving so my judgment may be way off, but the garlic pork skewers were excellent and enough to bring me back in. Garlic + pork = awesome. I also had the crunchy California roll, which was superb, and the two items proved enough for my shrunken, neglected stomach. I agree with Chandanit - they should be serving real Japanese tea, not Numi. It's good, but I can get that anywhere. Also, their simple rolls were a little pricey - $7.95 or something ridiculous for a Philly roll (they lose a star for that). Come on! However, despite these complaints, I will certainly return to try more.
(4)
Aly M.
I recently visited SF with my family and we were reccomended this place. I'm from SoCal and I was hoping to try some great sushi out here. This place isn't too bad. I have had better here at home. It's somewhat expensive, but that's expected because it's sushi. I decided to get the crunchy california rolls and those were delicious. The tuna and eel were good too but not great. My sisters got teriyaki chicken and veggies and for the price you have to pay, the portions are small. The next time I come back I'll probably try a different sushi place. It does get crowded, but their service is pretty fast and efficient.
(3)
Erin B.
Went here last night with some friends and it was all pretty good. Good food, decent prices (if you had sushi or created your own combo) and awesome people watching! The only downsides were the kinda dirty bathroom, how far the bathroom is (think a block down in the building) and the fact that it took at least 30-45 mins for us to get our bill, we were kinda ignored after we finished eating.
(4)
Syl P.
Good grilled squid! Highly recommend it. Tasty, good texture, and nice presentation. Udon noodle soup was good too. Chicken heart, chicken meatball and scallop with bacon wrap are okay. Vegetable tampura was nice. All in all, good stop for a nice afternoon with friends. Pricy though, but expected being so close to Union Square.
(3)
Christina S.
I've visited Hana Zen once a year in the fall for a few years now, and they consistently provide good service and good sushi for a price comparable to other restaurants in the Union Square/Financial District in San Fran. I specifically recommend the Kobe beef carpaccio and crunchy spicy tuna roll . The waiter took the time to recommend a good sake for our table to try, and it was a big hit. Early evenings you can be seated almost immediately without a reservation; after 7pm you might wait 30 mins or so for a table.
(3)
Tyler M.
We dropped by here for a snack today. The sushi and service were good, but it was a bit on the expensive side for what we got.
(3)
Michael P.
The first time I was at Hana Zen we had Yakatori and it was fairly good. We went again the other day and it was awful. The service was very bad, the Miso soup was barely luke warm, the calimari sushi was very slimy, and the tea was not hot. I will never return to the restaurant again since there are so many other better choices in the Union Square area. Michael P.
(1)
Stella C.
I work in union square and met up with a friend while waiting for another to come from BART so we didn't want to wander off too far since we had to take the BART train back anyway. Even though I work in the area, I never really noticed that there is hardly any sushi restaurants around here! This is disappointing. The hostess was accommodating, she was really busy and the waiting area is small but she kept things moving and getting people into tables even when they didn't have reservations. I am a bit surprised you even need a reservation... on a thursday evening? We were seated within 10 mins, our waiter was good and attentive without being overbearing, and he was great in bringing us everything very quickly. They don't have a ton of rolls to order from, but the fish is fresh and it's pretty tasty. I understand this is union square, but it is just way too pricey here for what it is.
(3)
a s.
Has definitely seen better days. Was great in 2002, but now? Airport food for airport prices. Clearly new and less qualified owners.
(2)
B B.
this restaurant is literally one block long! we sat on the other side of the restaurant (closer to ellis st.) and it felt like i walked half a block just to use the frickin' bathroom! the servers at this restaurant must be in really good shape! cause i was tired by the time i got back to my seat! dont come here for the sushi. it taste pretty mediocre. i mean, the fish was fresh but the sushi rice wasn't properly seasoned. yes, i'm a sushi snob. if you want good sushi, go to SAKANA. however, i did enjoy this one roll that we ordered. i forgot what it was called. but i remember it had the word "Sunset." it had tuna, tobiko, and some other fish wrapped in cucumber. it was goooood! but DO come here for their yakitori. its very tasty. i enjoyed the chicken wings, the chicken, the unagi, and the vegetables. we also had chicken gizzard, chicken heart, tongue, liver, and some other crazy stuff. but i was too scared to try it. FYI, this place is kinda pricey. so expect to drop over $50+ for dinner. can you believe their chicken terriyaki dinner was over $20?! thats the first time i've ever seen it that high! i mean who the hell spends that much money on chicken terriyaki? you can get that anywhere! oh wait, we're in union square. i forgot about the tourists. when i left, i was still pretty hungry.
(3)
Michael F.
Eating here was like eating at a chinese restaurant because the hostess, waitresses and sushi chefs all spoke cantonese, making the impression that this is a chinese-run japanese restaurant. As such, I have to dock them a couple stars. The sushi rolls are mediocre. Not bad but not spectacular.
(2)
Raena S.
This is hands down my FAVORITE SUSHI RESTAURANT IN THE BAY AREA!!! I absolutely love sushi, and I live in the Peninsula, but I will drive up to the city just to eat at Hana Zen because it is that good. Their service is decent, but the food is wonderful and the sushi is fresh, innovative, and delicious. People I take here always leave feeling so satisfied. Their kobe carpaccio appetizer with the ponzu sauce is to die for, and their tempura dynamite roll is a must-try. I have come here countless times and it never disappoints!
(5)
Yan M.
Good quality and fresh sushi! Had the best toro and ebi here. We had an abundance of food but luckily I didn't have to foot the bill. Prompt service but this could be attributed to my friend whose neighbor is the manager of this restaurant. Update: The agadeshi tofu, Rock N Roll sushi and Salmon and Avocado roll were all excellent. Tried the Fried Tempura banana with ice-cream which was a great texture and very tasty. We sat at the counter and there was no wait.
(4)
Mike P.
A good alternative to Sushi Rock. I went to this place on a Friday night and it was lively and fun. The waiter was excellent; attentive, knowledgeable, and uber-friendly. It is a nice place on the second floor of a corner building. Large windows let you look outside and see the hustle and bustle of Cyril Magnin while enjoying your meal. The miso soup was excellent as was the sake. I was excited to see the list and origins of all the sake they had to offer. Pretty cool! I also had the yellowtail roll, Amaebi (love eating the deep fried shrimp's head!), and sake sushi. The fish was fresh and tasty. My only gripe is that it took a little longer, than hoped for and expected, to get my food. But otherwise the service was excellent and the food was good. I will definitely be returning. 4 stars!!!
(4)
T H.
Do not eat at this place. The restaurant is mediocre if that. Nothing special about the sushi or the service. I was on vacation in San Fran this past weekend and ate there on Friday night. Needless to say, my Saturday was ruined due to the food poisoning that I got. It is now the Tuesday after my visit there and myself along with the others in my party that ate sushi, still have the effects of the bad sushi we ate. You are better off going down the street and eating at BK, get yourself a Whopper, and save yourself a lot of money and time on the toilet.
(1)
Candice K.
I consider myself very easy to please when it comes to restaurants but this one was one of my worst dining experiences in San Francisco. I took my mom and cousin there for dinner and it was a huge mistake. The food was ok but the service and the prices are just awful. Getting our waiter's attention was almost impossible, he was rude and pretended not to hear when we called. The checkwas another unpleasant surprised that left a bad taste in my mouth. Wouldn't recomend it to anyone.
(1)
Christopher K.
I try not to go to many of the eateries around the hotels in Union Square. Most of them make their livings off of serving low-caliber food to tourists who probably don't even know what their missing anyway. We're talking about food that makes Denny's seem gourmet. Well, Hana Zen is a little bit different. I went into this restaurant with minimal expectations of a mediocre meal with bad service at a steep price. I was kinda right: The decor was modern and trendy, all the way down to the polished stones used to rest the chopsticks. The prices were a little higher than I would expect for such a joint. And the service was aloof, distant and generally unresponsive. I was half wrong: The food was simply terrific. It's better than anything I've had in a five block radius of the joint by leaps and bounds. The ingredients were fresh and the sauces were expertly prepared.
(3)
David H.
This is not a bad comment to this restaurant, just a personal observation of my weakness...but I ALWAYS seem to order too much when I go to a restaurant these days. There was no except at Hana Zen. Our table was filled with plates. The food was very good. I wouldn't say this is the best I have had but I'm not an expert at Japanese food. The wait staff is run ragged it seems. The place bustles with business. Groups of business men, groups of what seem to be young college students out for a good time, couples, the place is packed. But the staff does a great job at serving. We got a nice table next to the window overlooking the Chinese restaurant across the street (which we ate at two days later for kicks). No complaints but I would definitely get reservations or it appeared people were having to wait over 30 minutes for a table (on the weekend). Great place (the best, it seems for Union Square area) for Japanese food. GIve it a try! You won't go aware hungry. :-)
(4)
Jessica L.
This place could have easily gotten 4 stars from me. But the service was VERY slow. We had to ask for our water to be refilled every single time - 4 times!!! Come on!!! My sister and I met a family friend here and his cousins - a really nice group of people - thanks Al and Dennis! We only had sushi here and all the rolls were good - I especially liked the Sunset Strip Roll (no rice and wrapped with cucumber - very unique) and the crispy spicy tuna roll. We also got plates of sashimi which were very good. I saw lots of people ordering yakatori so I will assume it is good here. I would love to go back and try some different things. They had a lot of unique appetizer dishes. After about 8:30pm this place was PACKED - come early or try to make a reservation. oh and Corkage is $15
(3)
Kat D.
sushi is pretty good/okay but it's a little pricey...and so close to Union Square, you get tons of tourists here....they bring along that tourist vibe. The whole place feels out of place in San Francisco and more LV or LA...maybe why tourists like it so much.
(2)
Rik L.
I went here last night based on a recommendation from a friend. It's one of the top sushi places in S.F. We sat near the window, which was nice, had a decent view of the city. I forgot try to miso soup!. We got spider sushi, California roll and Dragon sushi... All very good!. Oh, the drinks were delicious!, I had two sake mojito's.
(3)
Eric W.
When I go to a place with ~$6 to $8 per pair of skewers of Yakitori, I expect quality! This was not the case, unfortunately, for Hana Zen. This place was unacceptable in taste, way too much on the price, and had horrible service. I wasn't sure if the waitress was either Autistic or Attention-deficit, but we had to tell her 3 times what we wanted. The fried Calamari was so oily (and late), we had to just order something else instead. The only good memory that I had there was probably the beer (Kirin), icy cold and very smooth.
(1)
Superhiro M.
this place is not an "authentic" japanese place........... come on now... --------------------------------------------------Â-------------------------------------- what has happened to this place...?? food is getting worse and worse... i do not recommend anyone to go there especially for lunch. the saddest plates i have ever seen in my entire life... not worth your money.
(1)
Ben R.
Pretty good Japanese food, Yakitori-style. Kind of a strange layout (long and thin), but reasonably authentic.
(4)
Jenny K.
Excellent sushi and a wide variety of sakes. We got the Sake Flight #1 that had Suigei, Dassai, and Kikusui and all were very good. My favorite was the Suigei or "The Drunken Whale" and next time I see this sake I am definitely going to order it again. As far as food goes we mostly got rolls but tried one of the yakatoris they specialized in. We got the chicken and scallions yakitori and we were only mildly impressed. What really made the dinner great were the rolls. They were all soooooooo darn good. We tried the caterpillar roll, hana zen roll, and two of the crunchy spicy tuna rolls. The crunchy spicy tuna rolls we agreed were some of the best rolls we had ever had. They were just amazing.
(4)
Chanli S.
After a long day of holiday shopping, our group was happy to find Hana Zen and getting some hot sake. When we walked in, there were no tables, so we had to wait. There was no bar, but the hostess was nice enough to get us beers while we waited in the very very small waiting area. When we were seated, I was happy to learn that they not only serve your standard sushi, sashimi and teriyaki, but also yakitori. I had ordered the chicken wing and unagi yakitori. They were both great and for the price, it was the perfect portion. Sashimi was very fresh too. We had the sashimi combination and a couple of rolls.
(4)
Jason P.
Was walking around and ran into this spot. Not bad. reasonably priced. Good lunch specials. Friendly staff.
(3)
Mike O.
A reliable spot for oo-toro, so if you're into extra-oily tuna belly, this is the place. Good sushi fish in general. The non-sushi fare is pretty standard, though there's a nice selection. Regarding the service, I always get the impression that my servers are testing me to see if I'll remember that they didn't bring my appetizer or iced tea, but I think the truth is that they are sincerely (and endearingly) forgetful. Anyway, Hana Zen is not quite worth the price, but you're really just paying for the right to eat sushi near Union Square, right?
(3)
Michael D.
The worst overpriced Japanese food I have ever had. Went here during dinner, ordered the chicken kabobs. Chicken was terrible and gritty. Nasty aftertaste. Rude and slow service.
(1)
Noelle Q.
More like a 3.7 but the sunset strip roll made me exceedingly happy so I'm rounding up. Surprisingly good sushi and the fried scallops were delicious. Ample seating for groups, but the service is definitely spotty. Large sake selection and sake cocktails.
(4)
Erica G.
I went here for lunch today and was surprised at this little find. I'm always craving sushi when I'm in Union Square but never know where to get it...well, now I do! It has great decor and the service is excellent. I only had the dragon roll, which was awesome, but will definitely go back to try more. And they have a large sake selection and offer sake flights, which I'll definitely try when I go back!
(4)
Nick L.
This place is consistantly good. Dinner there is a tad pricey but lunch there is very reasonable. Hands down the best place in the city for Kanpyo Maki.
(4)
Melissa G.
Just had lunch here yesterday for the first time and it was very tasty! I was starving, though, so maybe my review is a little biased, but everything was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I ordered the bento box with salmon sashimi, spicy tuna roll and chicken teriyaki, and was very happy. Also, our starter of edaname was salty and buttery - yum.
(4)
Sofia A.
The Sushi bar is the best spot. You can talk to the chef's and they will always tell you what's the freshest catch to have.
(3)
Jihyun K.
This place has been around for years and has changed ownership at least once since the opening. I first went not long after it first opened and the yakatori that they served blew me away! Cut to 3 years later I was working in the theatre district (late hours) and was reminded of Hana Zen when they invited the crew over for free sushi! Hello!!! They were promoting their new *very late* hours. Love it! The sushi here is ALL GOOD. But the best are their crunchy deep-fried rolls. Heavenly! I've also tried the yakitori recently and bacon-wrapped scallops - still wonderful! I have eaten here numerous times and enjoy introducing my friends to Hana Zen. Everyone is always blown away by the great food. The only complaint I have is the lighting. The space is designed well but i think they should make the lighting a tad more ambient. But, that's just me!
(4)
Ben R.
Ok, I see all the folks below who said $20 minimum is too much, but hey, $20 for sushi? Doesn't seem that bad considering the goodness of fresh seafood... and every restaurant in this area seems to have a minimum. I liked this spot because it was close to where I was going, had great tasting sushi (though the portions could be way bigger) and decent grilled (yakitori) items as well. I tried a Chicken meatball/shiitake/carrot w/ egg app. and it was superb. We had hot towels, lots of shiro maguro, himachi, fresh kake, nice appetizers, good company, and I was starving to boot. This Polish guy sitting next to me was entertaining too - he kept widening his eyes at the stuff that we ordered (I think it was his first raw fish experience but hey, I love Tuna! we might not have it during our lifetime someday, so i'ma crush it well i can!). The wait staff seemed overworked but the Sushi chefs were willing and able to serve up to the bar in record time. It is a bit crowded on a Saturday night, but that's a good thing. This is not the place I would bring more than 4 people with me because the bar is small, and again, crowded. I didn't check out the dining area much. Definitely will return!
(4)
Robert R.
Tasty sushi combos that are fresh and excellently prepared. Went here last night while shopping down in the union square area.... we had a craving for sushi, but felt like we were a little underdressed for Anzu. So, the obvious answer was Hana Zen. The staff was fast and friendly, and the sushi was great. Big ups to the deep fried spicy tuna roll. If you are looking for a sushi house in the area, try it out, it is THE tastiness.
(5)
Lynn K.
We went to Hana Zen over the weekend and the food did not disappoint as usual. We love the tebasakis (chicken wings), tsukune, asparagus and filet mignon sticks. The scallop and bacon skewers are my favorite. The sushi and tempura we ordered were fresh. The servers were very cheerful and pleasant. I give the food and service four stars.
(4)
Hash k.
They have a great sushi bar, a bit pricy but i guess it's worth the money. Impressivee the service.
(3)
Patrick P.
I walked into Hana Zen randomly two years ago while I was Christmas shopping, expecting a typical Union Square tourist trap. What I found instead is a welcome surprise: a fantastic sushi bar with great quality fish, and great service. Since my first visit I've returned many times with friends and family and always had a blast. The one downside? Its prime location can leave it a bit packed and difficult to get a table at dinner time.
(4)
Andre G.
imagine the best food, the best atmosphere, the best location, and then get REALLY drunk on quality sake and sochu. that equals the best dining experience in not only union square, but also the entire bay area - hell - the entire west coast. i wouldn't be surprised if they took over the world with their style and taste. this restaurant sets the standard for quality in my mind.
(5)
Juan d.
Forget the sushi here, you can get that at about a million other places in the City -- this place is a must-stop for its yakitori! The little skewers combine those three glorious qualities: heat, fat, and salt. Delicious with beer. Recommendations: chicken wings, pork, asparagus & salt pork, and those occasionally spicy peppers.
(5)
Chris L.
We shared some izakaya items here for dinner. It was good. The service is ok. We were seated quickly on a Thursday night but they were out of black cod. The eggplant was ok, the monkfish liver was ok, the chicken skewer was good, and hamachi kama was ok. The ground chicken eggrolls were tiny but ok and the bacon wrapped scallops were bouncy. I'd come back to try their other items on their extensive menu.
(3)
Annie Z.
I've been working in the downtown area for about 3 years now and I didn't even know this japanese place existed. Yay for japanese food! :) I liked their yakitori alot. prices are a bit higher than san mateo, but you really don't need that much to be full. The chicken wings came with 4 wings! It was really good =) I enjoyed the saba shioyaki as well. I'll definitely be back in the future!
(4)
Ahmad A.
Was pleasantly awesome!! Try the dragon or crunchy tuna, they were great! Service was great, the waitress had a good sense of humor. The reception lady was nice too. Overall, Hana Zen is a great affordable sushi place in SF.
(4)
Sean B.
Cute little combination yakitori and sushi place. Friendly servers. Reasonable prices. The sushi was nice, though nothing absolutely blew me out of the water. Still, if you're in the mood for these two particular things, and you're walking down the street, I'd pop in again. I'm not convinced it's the best in the city, but you could do far worse.
(4)
Albertino M.
Time: 4:40pm/57°F cloudy Purpose: On this day, I hatch up a plan to walk the city instead. There are so many places I've come across, but yet have try it out. This was due to press for time or sense of security in area. The HH special caught my attention right away. Ambiance: This restaurant shapes like an T-shape located on the top of First Crush restaurant. Some may feel discouraged to go people with disability may not want to go because the flight of stairs. Once you make you way up you have a choice to the right is the sushi bar with about 8-9 person seater along with 5-6 tables set up for two. The other side has about 4-5 tables of various counts of seating style, two closed together facing the corner as well as the kitchen. Both sides offers a view of union square and activities going on. Now if you want more to yourself then you'll go to the right side. The left side is more of for larger groups and seatings. There's no sun that will affect your eyes, place is completely overshadow by taller hotels and buildings. Staff: Girl about late 20s really friendly and bubbly, engaging in questions a lot. She was the only waitress for me during the night. Started real well from the beginning, knowledgeable about their HH offerings. I wasn't sure as to what to order yet, but she ask what kind of taste I'm feeling? In terms of my favorite food. We filter through the list and came to a conclusion after a short brief 3 minutes or so. She came back filling my cup of green tea every 7-8 minutes. Not sure why, but she ask what nationality I was. She insisted that I must be mixed. I say, okay what ever you want me to be then. She started laughing! Cleanliness: Grade A-, sticky tabletop as, I lifted elbow it was a tad grimey. Chairs had crumbs from lunch time crowd. A tell tale sign that it wasn't look after last patrons left. Eats/Drinks: Chicken wings 4pcs/$4, spicy crunchy tuna roll $5.75, and draft Sapporo $3. Four piece wings were delicious piping hot with skin crispy when brought to table. The sauce was not too sweet, but a mild balance of sweet and tangy like. Definitely a hit versus the traditional buffalo style hot wings. Tuna roll was delicious as fresh as it can get everything made in front of you. Roll held its shape never fell apart to the slightest touch. Exterior was crunchy all around not one part left touched. Spicy level was on par balance with a good hint of spice mixture embedded with tuna. The garnishment of tobiko was a little off, I suspect it was smelt roe used. Restaurants tends to use more because of lower cost with identical looks. All in all, I would certainly come back for HH again. Main Features: Beers during HH bottle or draft $3. Products/Services: *Disclaimer* since I came here for their HH only. I took a snapshot of their menu on HH offerings. Checkout picture below! Next visit will be for regular entrees follow by an update. Takes plastic, full table service, no Wi-Fi. Punch Lines: Union square, average seating, sushi counter, pleasing flavors, Japanese chefs, good HH prices, warm service, friendly knowledgeable, kitschy decor, no slum dog, drool worthy, calm vibe, imaginable toppings, business lunch, lively atmosphere, zippy service, causal and delicious, can't go wrong, unpretentious, satisfactory. Tradeoffs: One of three Japanese places within union square area offering HH premium beer at below competition prices. Final Thoughts: I realize that sometimes when your not driving there, are things you don't need to worry about. Things such as meter, tickets, finding a spot, vandalism, towed aways. It was pretty fun to explore on foot being a local there are places and events that you normally don't see or hear of. Good way to do some shopping and grab some light bites without any hassles.
(4)
Dora C.
When I first walked into this restaurant, I thought it looked very nice and a good place for talking. The hostess was really nice and let us choose any seat because hardly any customers were there. That should've been our first red flag! After we were seated, we browsed at the menu. We saw only about 10 items on the Happy Hour menu, most of them were edamame, gyoza, or very small appetizers. When the waiter came to take our order, my friend and I wanted to order the bento box, however the waiter said that it was only served during lunch time! What kind of Japanese restaurant only serves bento boxes during lunch??? To my dismay, I decided to order Chicken Teriyaki from the Kids Menu instead. At first the waiter was really nice and let me order it, then he suddenly changed his mind and said no, and that there was another Chicken Teriyaki dish that didn't come with rice or miso soup but for $3 more! Obviously I didn't order it, so I just went with a spicy tuna roll. My mom got the Rainbow roll, and none of the fish was fresh... My mom even complained, but the waiter pretended not to understand [because my mom has an accent] and basically just left the table. DO NOT COME HERE! I'm sure there are way better sushi places in San Francisco, this is just not one of them.
(1)
Julio F.
Note: This for the Hana Zen location at Pier39. Avoid this place! When we asked if we could get some of the specials posted at the door, our server replied that it was only for the bar, not the dining area. The sushi is terrible quality (alot of rice but not alot of meat) and overpriced due to touristy location ($7/roll...typically $5-$6 in other Midwest, East Coast, and West Coast areas). Not sure if it was a good or bad thing we only got 6 pieces per maki roll (salmon avocado and California). On top of that, the pickled ginger looked like it was reused...maybe due to slow business? There was only a hand full of tables in there during a 2pm weekday lunch for a packed tourist location. One of us ordered the fish and chips but had to send it back to the kitchen because of hair we found fried into the batter. Server did apologize but it didn't end the awkward moment from then on. Think he was trying to avoid our table out of sheer embarrassment. Only thing going for this place is the view of the harbor, Alcatraz, and tourists below. Should have tried out the Fog Harbor Fish House at the start of the pier instead. Place looked way busier, had a better interior, and probably had better food for the price. If you really are craving sushi or other real Japanese dishes, just hop on a Muni bus to Japantown (area near intersection of Post and Fillmore) which is only about a few miles away.
(1)
Mey S.
I came here for the first time for a birthday party couple of weeks ago. We had a reservation and the staff were extremely accommodating and friendly. The waitress was nice and kept checking on us. Food was delicious and were nicely presented. My friend ordered I believe it was the beef teriyaki and oh man it was yummy. The chicken wings are good too. See my food pic I posted.
(5)
Nora N.
The sushi was good! Maybe too expensive for what it is. I was thrilled to see so many options on their menu. There was no wait around dinner time for the bar which was a great seat near the windows. Cool restaurant. The Polish host was probably the nicest part of my time here. He had that apologetic smile. The sorry for making you wait look. We were there for maybe 20 seconds? He was on it. I hope he gets a raise. The servers however, seemed to avoid us. I asked if it was better if we ordered from our waitress or the chefs directly and our girl said it's better to order from her. But her and the other girl just kept running around. I guess it was really busy... A little.. "I'll be right with you" wouldn't hurt. Or even hold up a finger..as in "One second". It's nice to be acknowledged when you're searching desperately for staff. You don't even have to smile. With all the places in the city for sushi, I'll go somewhere else.
(2)
Heather M.
Great service and food! We stopped in a late dinner and enjoyed a few rolls, miso soup, sake, and a few appetizers. The rolls were nicely prepared and just as spicy as we had hoped. Our various plates were well-timed but everything arrived pretty quickly. I'm sure there are a million Japanese restaurants to choose from in this neighborhood, but this one is a definite yes!
(4)
Rena A.
Tempura shrimp roll!! Delicious and fairly quick service. To walk down the street to get there was a bit freaky but the restaurant itself was an oasis. Fantastic lite lunch.
(4)
Anne M.
I stopped by for lunch at 11:30 on a Thursday, and was the only one there. At first, I thought this was a bad sign, but they had just opened for the day. It was more busy by the time I left. The service was great and attentive. I had a nigiri sampler plate that came with a spicy tuny roll. The tuna wasn't very spicy, but was all right. Everything else was totally adequate. I'd give this place 3.5 stars on the food alone, but the service pushed it up to a solid 4.
(4)
Joel S.
Solid, no frills Japanese restaurant near Union Square. We had a late, jet lagged dinner. We split a good rainbow roll and then had udon and soba noodles in brother with tempura. Not bad at all...
(3)
Joseph C.
Good service but the food was only fair. Small portions on the beef ribs. Soy sauce bottle was dirty on the outside. Won't give them another try.
(2)
Luciana R.
One star is for the happy hour and the prices. The other star is for the non-sushi items, spring rolls, gyoza, that are good. The lack of the other stars is for the sushi. The crunchy tuna is an unrecognizable deep fried thing that takes away the beauty of sushi. Do yourself a favor and eat sushi somewhere else...but everything else, go ahead and enjoy.
(2)
Taranum A.
Really slow service. The server took 15 minutes to get a glass of water. The food though is decent. Overall ambience and experience is quite poor.
(2)
Jordan D.
Great Sushi! It is hidden in the heart of San Francisco, but those are the best places. If you go, I recommend the Lion King roll.
(4)
Tony M.
What a great find! Amazing Yakitori scallops wrapped in bacon, Yakitori grilled salmon wrapped in bacon, garlic pork skewers and the Lion King crab roll was so delicious! An absolute must try place, when I walked in didn't expect much but was wowed by the great tasting food and service! Will be back soon!
(5)
Ann V.
Got the sushi rolls (Hamachi scallop and Cherry Blossom) which were good/filling/ average. Server was nice and attentive and helpful in deciding menu selections. Liked the Lychee sake cocktail (sweet) and the grapefruit-hi sochu chu-hi drink (not so sweet if that's your preference... Tastes like vodka and grapefruit juice). Prices a little on the higher side.
(3)
Jaimie C.
Solid sushi, especially for touristy Fisherman's Wharf. Its a little too pricey for the quality.O ur bill was over $100 for three people and two of us shared a plate. I paid $13.95 for a lion king roll and the rolls were tiny and a glass of house red was $6.00. However, the restaurant decor is classy and you cannot beat the views of the bay and Alcatraz Island. Unfortunately, the food leaves much to be desired.
(3)
Jasmine K.
Poor service. Albeit busy, it does not warrant waiters to dump food on the table and leave. Nor does it warrant staff to be short mannered. We waited for 2hours for our food.
(2)
Dan K.
Hana Zen is a decent place to grab sushi if you're in the neighborhood. The food is good, but not great, as is the restaurant in general. I thought everything was a bit more expensive than it needed to be. Best thing on the menu was the yakitori stick appetizer.
(3)
Theron A.
When we first walked in, we were greeted by the hostess. I believe she said her name was Adele. She was extremely friendly, and when we asked her if this place was any good. She made us feel like we made a good choice coming in. She also came by a couple times to see how our meal was going. The nigiri was good, but the pieces were very small. I also ordered the chicken teriyaki. I can't lie, it was pretty dang good. I don't know if I'd say it was $20 good, but I'm not saying it's not.
(4)
Helena M.
Stopped in for a very quick "snack" during happy hour, and was treated to a large glass of wine and an original take on the spicy tuna roll. It was crunchy/fried on the outside and delicious. Served practically immediately. I would have ordered more food because it was priced well within my tight budget, but I was leaving for a free food opportunity. :-) If I were a local, I'd make this a regular outing.
(5)
Bruce B.
Great authentic Japanese style restaurant with master chef in charge. Just off Union Square
(4)
Jessica B.
The place had great food but the customer service wasn't too great. My three year old son happened to spill some water (he is a very well behaved 3 year old) and the waiter acted as if he was throwing food or something. He moved us to another table away from everyone did even acknowledge my apology. I understand that children can be frustrating but the waiter did not need to be so rude to us. Probably won't return.
(2)
Snellville S.
Overpriced with below average fish and presentation quality. Not overly impressed with cleanliness during fish preparation behind sushi bar. Fish was small proportions and a little on the dry side. I had the dynamite mussels and one was still attached to the shell. I couldn't eat it without ripping it to shreds making a mess of my last bite in the appetizer. I paid $42 for $25 worth of below average sushi. Can't say that I will be back.
(2)
Ingrid L.
I'm struggling to even give it a two. I had miso that was so salty that my fingers pretty much swelled right in front of me. I ordered two rolls. One was the spicy crunchy tuna, the other was a tuna and scallion roll. The tuna in both was sub par. They apparently fry the spicy crunchy tuna (instead of sprinkling it with crunchy flakes like the rest of the nation), which leaves the tuna inside of the roll tasting like it came out of a can. There were many items on the plastic menu that they didn't actually carry. Food was gross and was definitely not worth the cost. I had a better meal at the little deli underneath the restaurant the night before.. the only positive part of the experience was my waiter. He was great. He needs to go find a real restaurant to work at.
(2)
Adam B.
If you want to get expensive food-court food very quickly this is the place for you. The service was very good, the teriyaki chicken was nearly inedible and the dragon roll and fried unagi roll was mediocre at best. That said the servers were polite and there may be more to the menu than I explored. But I won't be going back.
(2)
Ye S.
i made an online order. and they told me the item i ordered is out after almost 25 minutes! so i waited almost half an hour for nothing. why not let me know in the beginning??
(1)
Allison S.
We were looking for sushi and walked in on a Monday night. It was not busy at all. Sushi slices were so small and thin and the yakitori was dry. They also managed to slightly burn the grilled salmon. The service was much better than the food, but I would not return. This for sure felt like an overpriced sushi place that could get away with the food because of its location.
If you happen to find your way to this place DO NOT sit at the Sushi bar. Horrid;experience. The Sushi Chef made me feel like I was annoying him and asking him to actually deliver the kind of sushi I am used to. Spent time in Japan and all over Asia, this was terrible. Stay away. Fish was not fresh nor was it cut to order. Cant tell you how disappointing. Would never go back
(1)
Malachi R.
Nothing exciting or particularly innovative in the sushi world, but was tasty and good for a work meet-up I had in the area.
(3)
Yola N.
We waited a while to be seated but nome of the staff greeted us or acknowledged our presence. So we left.
(1)
Marthese M.
Although it was conveniently located near the Hilton and Parc55 hotels and Union Square, the food is mediocre at best. I should have taken it as a warning when I walked in and there was barely anyone there at lunchtime. I ordered the Ten Zara Soba. The tempura lacks taste (I actually dipped them in soy sauce (which I never do) because I got no tempura dipping sauce I'm accustomed to getting at other places and I wasn't about to dip my tempura in the same place in dipping my noodles). The soba noodles were very light in color, a telltale sign that they are not pure buckwheat but mixed with wheat flour (the cheaper way to go) and the soba dipping sauce was average. For a place that acts so high class and has inflated prices, their food does not match. The waiter was a little stiff and the place could have used some cleaning up on the exterior. Not a place that I would visit again.
(2)
Ryan M.
The mark of a good sushi place is the sashimi. This place has quality, fresh sashimi. I was in town for work (visiting from NYC) and over the course of 10 days I ate there 4 times. It's a little pricey but if you want quality, you're going to have to pay for it.
(5)
Miss J.
I ordered to go- spent $101 on food for two people- some rolls, two dinners and a cucumber salad. Totally not worth it. Oh and I was only walking two blocks but they packaged everything so poorly that the food leaked through the paper bag and things started falling out after a block. How? They packaged the food up and then turned it on its side so it'd fit in the bag. Seriously, this is ridiculous. I have never been so pissed about spending a hundred bucks. Overpriced and NO attention to detail. Oh and they forgot my salads. And when I asked the girl at the front what something was on a roll she said it was a sauce. It was a white fish. Hamachi. I'm sorry but don't go here, especially not for takeout. For what it's worth the food tasted fine. Maybe I just had a random bad experience.
(1)
Marc R.
A little pricey, but not sure that it's way out of line for sushi in SF, so I won't take off a star. We had a party of 10, and they were able to accommodate us without us feeling too cramped. Waitstaff were very pleasant, and pretty attentive. The soup was lukewarm. The sushi and sashimi was good, although I don't claim to be a great judge of either -- I like both, but don't eat either that often. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meals. They had a large selection of cooked entrees too, for those who didn't care for raw fish.
(4)
Tinamarie T.
Wow gross! Horribly rolled sushi rolls. All rice! But come here if you want to get a free high. They were smoking pot in the kitchen and it smelled all throughout the restaurant. Let's not forget the bugs flying around everywhere.
(1)
Igor P.
Average sushi
(3)
Bernice W.
There was nothing bad about the meal i had this fine afternoon! I ate very simple dishes but i enjoyed them all. I had the pork gyoza which was fried and delicious. I also had the shrimp tempura roll which was a tad fishy but still very good. The bathroom was really cool and clean! Would go back! Bernice out.
(4)
Samantha R.
My husband and I went here after a long day of sightseeing and it really hit the spot. The staff was very friendly and welcoming, even after we came in a few minutes before they stopped seating. We enjoyed the nigiri, especially the tuna belly and unagi. The view of the water was nice too!
(5)
Chris H.
Hey, you know what? I popped in for an appetizer and a beer before my friends and I wandered up the street for Ramen- figured I'd stick with the Japanese thing. So, I had a hypha and a chicken karagge app. Well? It was really good but I had to go as my friends showed up. Wish I had more time to try more yakitori.
(4)
Lora M.
Like it or not, I love to flirt even if I already have the best. Come on, when you're hungry and faraway who wouldn't be tempted? Today, I gave this place a shot and although it may not be the best, it was worth it. I gave a 4 star rating because there's no 3.8 star option. I ordered dragon roll it was good but not the best. They have the best yellow tail (belly) nigiri. I highly recommend it's full of flavors and fresh. Staffs are prompt, sushi chef is friendly and conversational which was nice especially when you go alone like I did. I would definitely come back here again.
(4)
C W.
Ordered: From Yakitori section: Scallop wrapped in bacon; very tasty, though a bit on a dry side. Chicken Heart: also dry, has a bit of that game-y taste, wouldn't recommend. Bacon wrapped salmon: request it to be half done so that it would come out moist and tender. Mushroom: also on the dry side. From Sushi side: Ikura with quail egg: very good Uni: very very fresh, definitely would recommend this one Ice Dragon roll: very crunchy with the cucumber and jalapeno, but the tempura shrimp was soggy and didn't taste like it was fried fresh. Also the size was also a one-bite size, making the roll overpriced for a specialty roll. They do offer some nice selection of sake, so that was a plus. Overall an expensive but not so great dinner experience. Not authentic Japanese. Servers were quick and friendly, but the food in general was a bit lacking. Only thing that was memorable was the fresh uni, and my company.
(3)
Captulina B.
Don't eat here! I ordered a cup of tea. And when the bill came it was $4.75! In my opinion they are charging way too much! I will not be coming back or recommending this restaurant!
(1)
Philip T.
What little bit of sushi we had was good, but we ended up leaving after 1.5 hours of waiting for our food. May have been a fluke, but I would call the service poor to say the least. Won't be back here.
(1)
Joselyn G.
Loved it. Attentive service, had the best lion king rolls I have had yet (went to 2 other sushi places so far, this roll is my favorite here) and the mochi ice cream was amazing! I'll be sure to come back again :) satisfied.
(5)
Sarah B.
Had the salmon and avocado roll and boyfriend had the teriyaki. chicken. Salmon roll was very fresh and delicious! 6 pieces... big enough I didn't need the saba nigiri, which they gracefully let me cancel. Teriyaki dish was a little bit pink, but tender. Not bad ambience, but nothing special. Tea is just Numi brand. I would come back for more sushi rolls!
(4)
Liz G.
Second time Being at this place and i love the lion king rolls and the California Rolls . I tried Sake for the first time and loved it i would come back for more.
(5)
Regina P.
Boyfriend and I went to Hana Zen, as we were looking for sushi with modest prices within a short walk of our hotel. We shared three rolls, and enjoyed them all! Service was great too, and they had some great happy hour deals.
(5)
Lorie N.
We picked this restaurant since we couldn't get into Katana-Ya down the street. Since it only had 3 stars, we were hesitant but we were all craving Japanese food. Here's the breakdown: *Miso soup- A little more tangy than the usual, but the added tang made it stand out! *Yasai Sunomono Salad- Thinly sliced cucumber with shredded seaweed with rice vinegar dressing. Loved this. *Edamame- Well, you can't really go wrong with this and the only thing we complained about was that we wished there was more. *Special Hamachi and Scallop- Spicy Hamachi, Scallion. Topped with Hokkaido Scallop, Spicy Japanese, Mayonnaise Sauce, and Tobiko. This was possibly the best thing on the menu. It was so tasty and the sauce on the scallops was to die for. *Lion King Roll*- Crab meat, Avocado with Baked Salmon on top? Yum. Overall this is a good restaurant but I probably wouldn't go back since there are other places that I would want to try (Namely "Katana-Ya" which has higher ratings here on yelp). I did take off a star because this place wasn't any better than other Japanese restaurants that I've been to. Also, I took another star off because it was a little pricey for what they had to offer.
(3)
Brian C.
I'm gonna keep this short - Sushi - Expensive for Average sushi. -1 star. We had the scallop martini appetizer which i thought was delicious. We had a total of 3 cracked plates during our meal, 1 leaky teapot, a replacement teapot with a cracked spout, and a cracked tempura dip bowl. WEAK. Expensive sushi and little attention to detail. -1 star. NOW, on the bright side.... WONDERFUL service. +1 WONDERFUL view. +2 That is what you are paying for... We would go back.
(3)
Deana I.
Holy crap, how did this restaurant made it to "Best of Yelp" List?!? I saw that it made it to the list a couple of years ago (circa 2006-2007), but I'm just baffled. Did we come on a bad day? Or did the quality just declined over time? I don't even think it was worth my review and to give it a 2-star rating would be too generous. But hey, I don't mind eating at crappy places just so my fellow Yelpers don't have to, LOL. It has prime location that's walking distance to Powell BART. The decor was nice as well as the hostess. Although sometimes, I thought she wasn't paying much attention to what she was doing. Our wait wasn't bad especially since it was a Friday night. That's pretty much the only nice things I can say. The surrounding area of our table smelled a combination of bleach and some other funky smell that I can't tell. My friend (Linda N.) couldn't stand it and actually had to cover her nose throughout dinner. The service and food was short of being decent. Our server took several trips for them to give me tea and water for the rest of my party and he messed up on one of our orders. The tea tasted like water - very bland. I'm surprised it was even called tea. I ordered Shrimp Tempura Roll and Chicken Teriyaki which came with Miso Soup and Salad. My chicken teriyaki was baked and had a crispy skin, but it was just okay; nothing spectacular. The roll was tasteless; I can honestly say that I've had better. The miso soup tasted fishy but at least it wasn't as bad as my experience with Ichiro ( yelp.com/biz/ichiro-oakl… ). I was debating on getting dessert, hoping it would be their saving grace but opted not to last minute. I didn't want to stay a minute longer and torture my friends and I in the foul-smelling table that we got stuck in. This place is over priced for the service and quality and I'm still confused on how the heck they made it to Best of Yelp. If I did go on a bad day, I don't think I'll be back to give them a 2nd chance. P.S. I don't think this place is wheelchair accessible. I didn't see a handicap ramp anywhere.
(1)
Ang x.
Yakatori sticks were great; had the garlic pork and chicken wings, fried calamari yummy; lightly breaded and very tender. Rolls were pretty good but I don't understand how they can one get away with using fake crab in San Francisco and two not printing it on the menu. That's why only 3 stars.
(3)
Rachel A.
Decent, quick sushi in a calm environment near Union Square. My mom and I enjoyed our meal. The service was great, and our waitress was very knowledgeable about the saki. The fish was fresh, lots of options on the menu, and, while not incredibly exciting, it was a perfect place to grab a relaxing lunch in the midst of toursity chaos. It's not a hole-in-the wall sushi joint where I would expect to have my world rocked, but it 100% lived up to expectations. I would return if I'm in the area and looking for a quick snack - one roll or a few pieces of sashimi. You just can't go wrong with butterfish.
(3)
Lu H.
Awful service. We had to ask for tea 30 mins in the dinner. And when we finally put in our order, it took them over an hour to give us our food. Totally not worth it.
(1)
H. Edwin A.
Very small portions. We are from the land locked desert of Albuquerque New Mexico and our portions are Much larger and just as fresh and the ocean is just a fees miles away here. not impressed.
(2)
Jeanne L.
I 've been dining at Hana Zen for years now and I love it! I have explored all parts of the menu. My favorite dishes are the kobe beef, agedashi tofu, asparagus maki, lamb yakitori, dragon roll, salmon teriyaki, zaru soba, uni and the sashimi . They also have a great selection in decadent desserts. I always get the chocolate mouse cake with the side of coconut ice cream on the side. As you can see, if you love variety Hana Zen is the place to be. The staff is attentive and friendly AND if you plan to go out on the weekend and party, there is Infusion Lounge right across the street.
(5)
EJ G.
Went here just to go somewhere close to our hotel when we were tired. I was pleasantly surprised at the excellent quality of this meal. We had hamachi Kama, 49ers roll, and the chicken meatball yakitori, all of which were fresh and delicious. Staff was pleasant and efficient, and were able to seat us right away as a walk In on a Friday night, despite no reservations being available on open table. Fun lively atmosphere. I would definitely come back if staying in Union square/convention center area again.
(4)
Sarah Louise H.
Very rarely do you find food that disappoints in SF... but I would not go back to this establishment. The service was excellent - with an attentive and kind server, but the rest of the experience was lackluster. The food is very overpriced for what you get, and the images that you see on the menu do not match what you order. I had a miso soup (decent), house salad (terrible - bagged salad, with a few veggies on the top and some mediocre balsamic on the top, not even tossed throughout the salad, and certainly not worth $6.50, and a California roll - average).
(2)
Kristine H.
Go for their yakitori! I recommend the lamb or the hotate bacon. And their sushi which is quite good + fresh. We usually begin with a selection of yakitori for the table and move onto sushi with our drinks. As far as quality goes, the sushi has always been made well. We stick to the simpler items and nigiri instead of complicated rolls that are too big for one's mouth. The grilled meats are cooked to perfection and my only constructive criticism would be for more scallops for the price! The wait staff is pleasant and the bathroom was clean. The only thing that I disliked was the temperature fluctuations. If you sit on the grill side, be prepared to bake. On the sushi bar side, it will be slightly cooler but not by much. I'm just climate-controlled-spoiled, I guess. I don't understand the negative reviews for this place. We have never felt ill after eating here nor experienced the pungency of overwhelming bleach. Each trip to San Francisco garners a visit to Hana Zen where leave with full bellies + lighter wallets. Maybe there has been a change in the kitchen recently?
(5)
Ksenia S.
Thus us the worst place you can find along the street. Awful and dirty place. Meals were of inferior quality. It is not worthy spending your time money and risking your health at this place.
(1)
Heather W.
For those who can't do or don't like white rice, this place is great! Due to a few health issues, I've had to change the way I eat. Used to love eating different kind of rolls, but now the white rice jacks me up. Couple that with (for some reason) not a lot of restaurants I've encountered offering the option of brown rice sushi, it suddenly limited my options. Met a long-time closer-than-a-friend here for a later dinner. Ordered three non-rice dishes that were yummy! The Kaiso salad was simple, yet delicious. The seaweed was crisp and the sesame oil dressing was the perfect complement - slightly tangy but sweet. I also enjoyed the Chawanmushi - think of it as a seafood omelet in a teacup. Very subtle flavors and the egg was a great consistency. Finally, my favorite item - the unagi yakitori. My biggest bummer was not being able to eat a "regular" unagi roll. However, ordering the yakitori solved that problem. I realized that what I loved was the unagi itself. The pieces that came were large and flavorful. The sweet soy and wine sauce they were glazed in was delicious. Not overly sweet and the right amount. As an added bonus, it's a short (under 2 minute) walk from the Ellis-O'Farrell Garage (which currently charges $1/hr parking after 6PM, with a discount of $2 if you park for 3 hours). Tip: If you do decide to use this particular garage, look at Mapquest before getting out of the car. My GPS redirected me very out of the way, which was different from the straight-shot directions Mapquest provided.
(5)
Christy Z.
3.5 Stars I like this place. Nice casual atmophere and friendly staff, but it's a little expensive for me. We had edamame, seaweed salad, Crunchy Tuna Roll and 49er roll and a beer and some sake - with tax and tip - almost $70. Egads. Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll is my go-to and Hana Zen's was good, but I've had better at other places. I thought it was interesting that the crunchy part was was panko crumbs and not tempura batter, which i'm more used to.
(3)
Yuki M.
Upon arriving in SF after another beautiful drive from OC (minus the speeding ticket in the canyons), we settle in to Parc55 and then head downstairs and across the street for dinner. I left the task of ordering to my partner-in-dine *dodges tomatoes* so that I could observe people through the window and analyze postural deviations and foot strike (don't ask). Chicken, bacon, asparagus, garlic, onions, beef steak, salmon filet, quail egg, pork belly, beef tongue, and chicken gizzard were ordered along with more things on skewers that I have forgotten. What I DO remember is that everything was quite good, with the exception of the organ meats which were fairly tough and over-cooked. The winners of the evening were the quail egg wrapped in bacon and the salmon fillet. Wonderful, flavourful, balanced, and perfectly cooked. Menu items delivered to the table were agedashi tofu, spicy tuna and octopus salad, and something else, all of which were quite tasty. The bills comes it's nearly HALF of what I expected it to be. Impressive. Not the best but far from the worst. I will mark this as a return spot when I come back.
(4)
S. G.
Grossly overpriced and terrible food. This goes down as one of the biggest rip-offs ever. I ordered one roll for close to 20 bucks and there was more rice than anything. There was such a thin sliver of fish on it, I could barely taste it. The entree was a piece of fish with a tiny bit of veggies, all for 27 bucks! The fish was dry and over cooked, the rice was not japanese style, but rather chinese style and the salad was nothing more than the bagged greens at Trader joe's with shreds of carrots drownded in dressing. BLAHHHHHHHH! AVOID THIS S*%thole!
(1)
Glen F.
I've read through some of the reviews and see that most seem to be focused on the sushi. My review is focused on the yakitori so if you're looking for a sushi opinion, move along. On the other hand, if you're a fan of food on a stick, read on! So my friend and I arrive for an early dinner, hungry and ready to try out the yakitori offerings. We had some nice seats right next to the window - great for watching the world go by while feeding our increasing hunger. Started with a nice salad and also a tuna tako poke dish. Nice chunks of tuna and octopus, beatifully prepared and presented. yelp.com/biz_photos/HK21… One of my favorites is ordering agedashi tofu. Light sauce, lightly fried, a pleasant preparation for the food to come. yelp.com/biz_photos/HK21… So where is all this yakitori you keep telling me you plan to eat? Well, here it comes! Filet Mignon - soft, tender - great way to start things out Pork wrapped Asparagus - when we ordered, I asked if this was bacon wrapped asparagus, which we all know is fantastic, and they told me this was thinly sliced pork. Yeah, nice, but it's just not the same. Beef tongue - this tends to be hit or miss when I order it - either soft and fantastic, or tough and chewy. These were a little on the chewy side yelp.com/biz_photos/HK21… What's next? Bacon wrapped Salmon filets - Really? she says. I'm thinking anything wrapped in bacon has to taste good, doesn't it? Oh, and yes it was good. The fact that they managed to skewer a giant filet was a happy surprise, since we were expecting just small chunks of salmon. Garlic Pork - Also very good! You can see how juicy the pieces were yelp.com/biz_photos/HK21… I may have missed a dish or two, but overall, a great meal! I'm getting ready to pay the piper and see what my damages are for dinner. I'm reading the list, and I see: Subtotal Tax SF Surcharge SF Healthy Total... Hey, back up one item - really, you're charging me a surcharge to cover the health insurance costs? I managed to eat the rest of the extended weekend without having to pay this. Sigh. yelp.com/biz_photos/HK21… Well, overall, more good items than average items and the surprise surcharge. Even with that, I'd still come back on my next visit to the Bay.
(4)
Brian B.
Overall I liked this place but I thought the yakitori was their strength over their sushi. the sushi was decent judging from the rainbow roll and tuna avocado rolls I had. The best was the chicken meatball sort of skewers that were like a ground chicken with mushrooms with a tangy sauce on them. And they served it with a poached egg that had been chilled which was the first time I ever had anything like that. The sort of tangy from the sauce mixed with the richness of the cold egg yolk was amazing together. I could have just had a few more of those and skipped the sushi. Service was great and yes I would go here again.
(4)
Cassandra L.
I've had sushi all across the globe so forgive me for being HIGHLY critical. It's good sushi. Nothing that is a must every time I come to San Fran. Had a Spicy Shrimp Tempura Roll and a Kappa Maki Roll - both were good. My waiter was friendly. The place was clean and they scored points for having my favorite sake!
(3)
Nathan D.
Overpriced tourist trap... Avoid this place even if you're visiting... Take the 38 to Japan town or clement...
(1)
Helen L.
Pros: The menu is vast. The fish is fresh. The food presentation is decent. The prices are a pinch higher than most of the other locations in the area, but still moderate. Cons: It ranks average amongst its competition in the area, so that extra pinch in price isn't worth the extra pinch in price.
(4)
N S.
Fresh fish but small portions. OK ambience but not for date night. The entire experience was "just ok" and quite overpriced. Would I come back? Only if I had no other options which is unlikely in the city.
(2)
Ian S.
This place was a little quiet on a Saturday night at 7 for this area, but that's ok by me. After a harrowing walk through the Tenderloin from civic center, we arrived and were seated immediately. Everyone was friendly and and the food was pretty good. The only bad thing was the (sake?) mojito my girlfriend ordered. I don't know whether it was just too boozy or flavors didn't work but neither of us liked it much and we ended up just leaving it behind.
(3)
Lauren W.
I wanted Hana Zen to be better. This restaurant needs some TLC. A fresh coat of paint, some Febreeze, new dishes, and green tea that actually tastes like something would help a lot! Three of us came here for a working lunch. We got the Hana combination of Sashimi and Nigiri Sushi. Decent. Then we ordered four maki rolls, chef choice. I was very excited at the variety that was brought to us but my favorite of the day was the 49er roll. It was so refreshing that I kept going back to it. The other rolls were creative and most of them were delicious however I felt that one of the rolls had a very fishy taste that concerned me. If I find myself back in San Francisco I'll probably try to find a different sushi restaurant.
(2)
Taffany H.
Having rolled into town and checking into the hotel at 2100 hours with four ravenous stomachs to feed, Hana Zen was one of the choices that made sense for the following reasons: 1. Dinner hours: 5pm to 1am. If you are around union square and either observe dinner time according to the Spanish tradition or are just a little late in finding grubs then look no further. 2. Decent Yakitori. Again the emphasis is on the word decent because there's not much to write home about. 3. Did I already mention that their dinner service is open until 1am? Yeah.. Anyway, I would recommend you to go ahead and skip the black cod unless you're in the market for some over-cooked, over-seasoned, and over-priced piece of fish.
(3)
Kim D.
I had a long day at work, then had a clinical spa treatment at Epi Center... and was STARVING. I popped back in here, to get some nourishment because my face face - it was on fire. I was seated immediately - nice... and ordered: * Foie gras nigiri sushi (2 pieces; almost $20) and the server couldn't even tell me what grade it was. * Chawan mushi * sunomono * Kobe beef tataki w/ ponzu * Spanish mackerel (whole fish w/ tempura bones) * Grilled unagi skewer * hot tea The highlight was the seared foie gras, nigiri style and very modest in proportion. But I would have rather happily ordered 25 portions than endure the abomination, tourist-from-the Midwest level crap that was subsequently served: * The vegetable component of the sunomono was edible; but had a really off flavor - the scallop tasted like a pair of dirty panties, and the sashimi was absolute mush (frozen and held for way too long at the prep station). *The kobe beef tataki looked okay, but the marbling was not evenly distributed, so my expectations dropped. That dish alone was $34. Absent entirely of umami and that delicious beefy flavor that true Kobe has - nowhere to be found. I ate the whole dish, because I was going to pass out if I didn't have some food to eat. It was the worst and most bland "kobe" I've ever eaten. * My rage built as my chawan mushi was brought out: they over steamed it; the surface (which is supposed to be delicately smooth and custardy) was horrifically pockmarked and the texture entirely unacceptable. I took one bite, and moved on. * The unagi skewer was your standard-issue unagi on two skewers - there was a decent charring on the skin side, but The Cadet can make better tasting unagi; as mine arrived only lukewarm and tasted just like the 9 oz frozen packages I buy at the Japanese grocery. * As for the Spanish Mackerel... the sashimi portion tasted "off/old" and the skeleton/bones were not crisp, assaulted with bread crumbs and no good at all. I took a taste of each component, blanched, and pushed it off to the side. Kim D., party of 1 was seated at the elbow of the sushi bar. I had to endure one of the female servers argue with the sushi chef about who another table who ordered a genuine crab Cali roll, or one with Krab in it. They were arguing so passionately and without the slightest bit of professionalism or respect. Right on my shoulder. I think the server even got so worked up she spit in my food - not intentionally - she was just blasting her words out. Which was fine - I wasn't going to eat any more of that absolutely revolting food. The only think I'd eat would be the foie gras nigiri... but I thought the price point was on the obscene side. Still: better satiated than annoyed and hungry. I wrote basically all of these notes on my receipt and told the server that the food was not edible. They still brought me the full bill, (and it took almost 10 minutes of me swivel-necking around with my wallet and card out, before anyone bothered to take care of my bill. My parting comment was, "I'll pay for it... I just won't eat it." Any place that doesn't acknowledge when they fall a bit short (or in this case, entirely short) on quality of food and service without some sort of acknowledgement, you're never seeing my face or my money again. You have been warned.
(2)
Trey E.
The St. Regis concierge recommended Hana Zen when I asked for a reasonably priced sushi place near Westfield. Man was she spot-on. The house car dropped us off out front and I was expecting something decent, but after ordering and the food started to arrive I was very impressed. We started with the carpaccio and some edamame. Edamame was run-of-the-mill, but the beef was spectacular. Heavily peppered and seared just enough to make the pepper cling on to the meat, which was topped with chives and a bit of a salty sauce. On to the mains... I got the less expensive of the three combos, the Nami Sushi at $21, which actually impressed me more than the more expensive option my coworker got, the Jo combo. The cali roll was stuffed full of fresh (real) crab, and the chef's choice of nigiri was all excellent. The service was attentive, though nothing out of the ordinary. The real attraction here is the freshness of the food, the quality of the sushi, and the value you get. I'll be coming back.
(5)
Cassandra F.
A friend of mine that lives in SF suggested this place, and it was a fantastic suggestion. They have a great menu with a lot of choices. We went for almost all sushi of course. My favorite was the spicy crunchy tuna (or something like that). It was really, really good. Great sashimi as well, very fresh fish. Their drink menu is very appealing. They have a whole line of common drinks that are instead made with sake. I recommend the sake mojito. Very tasty. Ends up being a little pricey, but for good sushi, sometimes you just have to do it. I'll be heading back next time I'm in town.
(4)
Gary H.
Enjoyed their sushi....despite being there around 11pm on both occasions the sushi was fresh. They seemed to have a wide selection of unique rolls as well as all of your typical sushi selections. Yellowtail cheek was asy if you want cooked fish but I still prefer their sushi. Staff w super friendly on both visits even though they were getting ready to close.
(4)
Stacey G.
WOW! I am a sushi person. I was invited to Hana Zen by a friend who knows I love sushi. This was an awesome, new experience. Who knew food on a stick could be so good! Every bite pulled me back for more. I walked out full but not stomach hurting full. There were 5 of us. The food kept coming!! I didn't even need the sushi. Everything else had flavor upon flavor. We ordered a minimum of 6 of almost all of the Yakitoris on the menu. The ones that are on my tongue in a happy way? Yaki Asparagus, Shishito, Negima, Butaniku Garlic Yaki, Reba, Shiitake, Hatsu, & Gyutan. I can't wait for a chance to try Hana Zen again or find another place to compare. Yeah!
(4)
M T.
I had to think really hard about whether to give this restaurant 4 or 3 stars and I am sad to say that the price really tipped the scales. The uni was fantastic and the food was overall lovely, it wasn't blow my socks off, but good honest sushi and yakitori (omg my iPad just autocorrect that to halitosis). Perhaps this review isn't so much about Hana Zen as it is about San Francisco. When you charge me over $30 for an entree, I'm going to expect you to wow me or at least offer impeccable service and a lovely atmosphere. Unfortunately, Hana Zen, as good as your food is, the environment didn't feel authentic or warm and the service was pretty apathetic. Stop trying to please the gaijin with novelty cocktails and embrace a more Japanese feel.
(3)
Gary L.
Slightly over priced, food is average.
(3)
Mike C.
We typically stop into Hana Zen every year for a team dinner when in town for a convention. I could make an entire meal out of the Yakatori. We had the beef, chicken and salmon. Big fan of the beef but really loved the salmon wrapped in bacon. Sushi is "ok" - good quality and fair price for San Francisco. Won't blow you away but won't disappoint. Service is typically fast.
(4)
Tamar D.
I hate to quote Tom Cruise from one of the worst movies ever filmed, but "Perfume going in...raw sewage coming out." I think it went something that like, anyway. Hana Zen blew a hole in my end. Not even fifteen minutes after getting up from my meal today, as we walked to Nordstrom, I knew I'd have to high-tail it to the third floor women's lounge. It was there, my friends, that approximately 12 flushes later, I felt empty enough to rejoin my peeps for shopping. And a half an hour later, I was back. I am now home, sitting thankfully, and desperately hoping that the Pepto kicks in soon enough. Never again.
(1)
Leah B.
Came here as a rebound choice...Craving for sushi, and since Dojima-Ann refused to accomodate us for a party of 4 Adults & 4 Kids to sit together. This place is huge, and had no problem seating us all together in a private seating area. This place goes with the saying...you get what you pay for! Yes they're a lil bit pricey...our tab for all with drinks & tip was about $250. However, great service & sushi was deliciously fresh. Thanks Dojima-Ann, For letting us have a great experience at Hana Zen!
(4)
Darshan R.
It's sad how a restaurant may have a fantastic location but comes a few stars short of a good experience. We were staying at the Courtyard Marriot, a short walk from the Montgomery BART Station, and wanted to get sushi but didn't want to break the bank. Our concierge recommended this place because it was walkable and much better than the one that was literally next door to the hotel (which, in fact, was closed at 7pm). The location is great for a tourist: a street over from the hustle and bustle of Powell's Trolley Car Turnaround and the Westfield Centre. When we walked into the building, we were greeted by stairs to the restaurant, to the right: the sushi bar, the left: the restaurant. Note: I'm not entirely sure if this place is handicap accessible. It was a Friday night and it seemed to be fairly popular, the wait for the 5 of us was about 20minutes. The Host was nice, she offered to get our drink orders started while we waited for our table, but she didn't know how to pour beer. She ended up spilling some of it on the floor because of the tilt in the glass. Our table was in the restaurant, which had a nice view of the busy intersection below. Everything began to roll downhill once we sat down. The server seemed to be stretched thin, it took him three trips to get us tea. The miso soup was overwhelmed with the taste of fish. The teriyaki chicken had a crispy crust. The sushi was fresh but nothing special. The salad was the only portion I was satisfied to finish. But to top it all, the area we sat in had the pungent stank of Bleach. Was it the table? No. The plates? No. The food?! Thank Goodness No. It was the stacked dish bucket behind us. It was so strong we lost our appetite. Also, how did this place get awarded with the "Best of Yelp" 06-07?!? The entire experience just goes to show that location isn't everything.
(1)
Laura G.
A great place to stop if you yearn for sushi. I visited alone, and the staff made me feel welcome and were friendly. The sushi sampler was fresh and tasty, and I had extra unagi, which was excellent. The hot sake was good, and they have an extensive selection of cold sake. I was in and out quickly but saw others who were taking their time and were not rushed. This is a keeper.
(4)
Saira B.
This place was overpriced and underwhelming in my book. It had a mom and pop vibe, but was priced higher than I've seen, even more than design-focused, high-end NYC, Boston and Dallas/Fort Worth sushi restaurants. It's clean, nice servers, food was well prepared, but the price tags and portions are ridiculous.
(2)
Bryan H.
Was expecting a lot more out of this place, but it just didn't deliver. Sushi was just alright, but nothing that I would recommend to a friend. Being in California, downtown San Francisco, and paying by the roll I expect to have my taste buds delighted. That didn't happen. Everything was bland, with no real taste difference between any of the rolls. No joke, I ordered a $17 roll and a $8 roll and they were almost exactly the same. Also, the pics of the rolls in the menu did not match what the chef was serving which makes it hard to order stuff that looks good.
(2)
Lynn V.
We stumbled across this restaurant while strolling around and the city! A great find =) It was my first time having yakitori and I was impressed by the big selection of sake and Japanese wine. Dinner for two: 1. Sashimi appetizer 2. Rainbow Roll 3. Yakitori Moriawase (6 skewers, chef's choice) It was bacon wrapped salmon, Japanese green peppers, chicken with scallions, Shitake mushrooms, salmon, and grilled chicken wings. 4. Hot Sake The food was great and the sashimi was very fresh. I enjoyed the yakitori. Everything on it was cooked perfectly and tender. Although, I wasn't too fond of the green peppers. Overall, the mood here is calm and intimate. The restaurant itself is a bit snug and narrow, but the large windows made it feel better. Prices are a bit high for what you get, but that's probably because of the location. Service was excellent, but they really need to maintain their restrooms. It was dirty! But that's my only complaint about this place... I would definitely dine here again.
(4)
Mackenzie M.
Very friendly service but food is so-so. I think it's a little pricey for the fish quality being offered here.
(3)
Tanya C.
This place is okay... just okay. The sushi isn't anything special and its quite expensive. Honestly a bit disappointing since i heard San Francisco is a good place for food. The service is quite good though :) So I recommend it for that.
(3)
Janet N.
Okay, I have one thing I gotta' say. (Plus a lot more, mind you.) I have concluded that I am either out of shape or that this restaurant's restroom is way too far. Plus, somebody tell me why it felt like there was a humidifier in there. Tim and I saw Hana Zen's sign on the corner of a street and as hungry as we were after a day at the SF Zoo we tried it out. We were seated immediately. The service was alright, considering it was pretty crowded there. We ordered Edamame, Hana Zen Roll, Sushi Tuna Roll and Fried Banana w/ ice cream. My Hana Zen Roll was SPICY and drenched in a delicious house sauce. Tim's Tuna Roll made me a tad bit jealous, not only am I a sucker for creamy Hass avocados, but the tuna tasted absolutely fresh. I usually gag when I eat raw fish at other sushi places because of the "fishy" taste or strange texture. I feel as if I'm the Asian goldilocks whose found a sushi place that's just right! The portions were satisfying enough for each of us (8 pieces each). The dessert was perfect, freshly fried banana drizzled in honey with a cup of vanilla on the side. The honey was perfect, it added a natural sweetness to bring it all together. Would definitely come back again. The window view gives you a great place to people watch, I mean if you like that kinda thing. All in all, this place is a tad bit pricey. But hey! It's San Francisco.
(4)
Judith D.
Despite reading all the bad reviews I have to say I was pretty happy here. The sushi was good and the service was prompt. It met all of my needs. However, it did not appear to be handicapped accessible. We were there with the stroller and the easiest thing for us to do was to carry it up a flight of stairs, I couldn't find the accessible entrance and I'm not sure where the seating was for that either.
(3)
Dylan T.
From all the other reviews below, it looks like I was mistaken to come here and order sushi as opposed to the yakitori. But considering it's a sushi bar... Anyway, I came here for a business lunch and it was just okay. I'm sure there are better sushi places in the Financial District than this. The location is great and the place is clean, however the service was just so-so and so was the food. Maybe the server misunderstood us, but my co-worker asked for a chef's choice of rolls and he mentioned that he liked spicy tuna. Lo and behold, when the platter came out, EVERYTHING was tuna. Now I like tuna, spicy tuna, and toro, but seriously, there were 3 kinds of spicy tuna rolls, tuna nigiri, and another non-spicy tuna roll. Good thing there were 5 of us...and all of us were non-pregnant men. Who knows now much mercury we just consumed. When I asked for hamachi sashimi, the server also brought back nigiri. Needless to say, it wasn't what I was expecting and it was not the quantity I wanted. *Sigh* Maybe it should've been a clue how quickly we were seated and how empty the place was in the middle of lunch. My opinion is, if you can, go elsewhere. If you must, this place is okay, but it's kind of pricey for what you get.
(2)
Will T.
This is my first one star and...that's not a good thing... Generic sushi choices. Worst sushi I have ever eaten. My colleagues and I all agree on this point. Group of 8, and it was unanimous that this place is to be avoided. To make things worse, my manager and I got food poisoning from the sushi here. Very unfortunate, but not surprised with the quality of food. Price is way overpriced as well. Summary: Bad food, high prices. Lose lose.
(1)
Scott J.
Close to Hilton and open late. Service was friendly and we ordered light dinner: yakitori negima chicken very tasty sashimi appetizer- the fish was fresh and tasty seaweed salad- good Only thing that was kinda letdown was the Japanese mochi ice cream. Authentic mochi is not frozen and fresh tasting. This came out like what I would buy in the frozen food section of Trader Joe's! Disappointed! Overall not bad and plenty of choices. Convenient to hotel. Prices kinda high for sushi.
(3)
Christine S.
Good but over priced and our server wasn't very attentive. Miso soup extra. I had fun because I was with good friends but I probably wouldn't go back since there are so many other sushi places to try. Everything was good, but nothing really stood out, except perhaps the fried bananas and that's not something I would go to a sushi restaurant for anyway.
(3)
Garran C.
Although this restaurant came highly recommended by a former San Francisco resident we were definitely not impressed with the food quality for their price-point. Don't get me wrong, the food is prepared and presented wonderfully but for their price-point we expected a more from this little restaurant which is conveniently located just a few blocks away from Union Square.
(3)
Manda Bear B.
******************* REVIEW 464************************* Hana Zen and Yakitori Bar is definitely a cute location for date. Located on the top floor of First Crush, right across from the Mariott and Fusion Hotels. They only use Binchotan charcoal, Japanese ingredients, free-range chicken, lamb, Kobe beef, and the highest quality meat and decent price for this part of town. I also like the window tables looking down to the street, people watching! - Sunonomo - seafood and cumber salad is good. - Hamachi Kama - is decent here.l. - There are a few rolls that is good and generous portion to share: Hana Zen, Lion King and Dynamite rolls. Although sushi and sashimi are not my choices here, I do prefer these Yakitori selections below, they are tasty: - Hotate Bacon Maki (sacallop wrap in bacon), - Rumu Yaki (New Zealand lamb chop), - Gyutan (beef tongue), - Reba (chiken liver), - Butaniku garlic yaki (garlic pork) Service was OK. Parking around here can be expensive, if you park at the Handlery Union Square Hotel on a week night, flat rate valet $13 only (pick up your car before midnight), 1 block up much better than valet at Marriott for minimum $20!
(3)
Christian W.
My girlfriend has been to this place a year ago and we were looking forward to some good sushi. Unfortunately the food was not at all what she remembered nor what we consider good. None of the food we ordered seemed to be fresh and for what it was, it was to pricey. Nice atmosphere and the waitress was very friendly and care taking. But not a place we would go back to.
(2)
Natalie F.
I eat here 3-4 times per week. They are consistently fresh and reasonably priced.
(4)
Chun L.
Food is not great and overpriced. The Deluxe Yakitori platter comes with a bunch of choice, However, some meats are superbly chewy and extremely salty. Fortunately, we also ordered white rice which is a bit sweet but great to offset that saltiness. The 19 pieces Sashimi plate is also just ok. Each piece is really small. With the $45 something price charged, this really is not worth it. Anyway, food is not bad. But does not match the par with the price charged. Avoid the yakitori platter if you can. Order some individual ones that you may enjoy more. The salmon one is good. Also the one with Chicken wings, or steak. But never for chicken liver or some other organ meats. They were not done right at all.
(3)
Jean-Paul D.
Just had flown in; wanted a quick sushi dinner without getting all fancy. This was perfect. Our waitress was super nice and the sushi plate was right on. Good experience close to the Marriott I would definitely recommend and go will go back.
(3)
Tushi C.
Hmm! Kind of don't think its fair that this restaurant has only three stars. The sushi was amazing! Sake bombs weren't too bad either ;). I would have to say the only downfall is that the atmosphere wasn't more lively, but could be because I was there during the week. The restaurant didn't play any music but the staff was really friendly. I would definitely eat here again on a trip to SF.
(4)
Anne E.
I came here two nights in a row. Both last night and tonight.....yep, i'm craving. Pregnant type of craving that is!! Sooo my pregnant ass has been craving sushi the past couple of days. I can't have any RAW fish so I attempted to satisfy this craving by coming here to order something "cooked" instead". Last night, I sat at the bar and ordered a Dragon Roll with unagi and avocado with unagi sauce drizzled on top. The dragon roll was fresh and filling...just what I needed! Tonight, I was feeling EXTRA hungry. So I sat at the bar again, and ordered the Rock & Roll and San Francisco Roll this time. I even ordered a big bowl of edamame on the side. I finished everything steadily, making sure not to overstuff myself. The sushi chefs constantly checked on me and so did my server. Excellent service and delicious sushi....what more can a pregnant woman ask for???
(4)
Jessica G.
Hana zen is by far one of the better japanese cuisines ive been to in san francisco. Their service is excellent, price is reasonable for the high quality of ingredients and they have a very aesthetic decor and presentation as well. My compliments to this fine establishment.
(5)
Josh F.
Location is great. Sat down had some saki price was good. Ordered a spicy tuna roll and a crunch roll. Crunch roll was deep fried the tuna was spicy but the taste was not so great.
(3)
Bill T.
I went to Hana Zen on their opening night years ago and when living in San Francisco in 2006-2008, it was my weekly stop. The thing I love about this restaurant is it is consistently good. A solid little sushi joint. I have never had a bad experience there (even when the air conditioning was out and it was hot, the great wait staff and sushi chefs made "sweating to sushi" fun). Arthur, Ramat, Victor, etc. are all super waiters and its great to go into a place that remembers what you like to drink and eat. I'd often sit down and say, "I'd like a Bill's Special, please" and they'd bring it out...perfect. Yes, it can be a little expensive but for a consistent sushi meal, I am willing to spend a few extra dollars.
(4)
Bui B.
Last day in SF and needed to satisfy my sushi craving. Walked by and saw 3 star review. Decided to take a chance on it. Horrible mistake. I came a little earlier than lunch time so the place was pretty empty. I had ordered the 12 piece sashimi and the rainbow roll. Rainbow roll was decent. The 12 piece sashimi was pretty bad. I am a big salmon fanatic so when I saw the dish, I knew it would not be so great. The salmon itself did not have any fatty taste to it. The cut was made too rectangular and too thick. I almost wanted to give up on salmon altogether. The albacore (my second fav fish) was blah. The yellowtail....forget about it. Needless to say, I was so disappointed w/ the place. Like Cecile said, the food does not justify the price. The place was cute. The service was fine. It's just the food wasn't good. The place did become pretty busy when I left. Different ppl, different opinion. I probably would not return.
(2)
Carlos S.
This place has great Yakitori and very fresh sushi. The service was engaging and polite. The chicken skin yakitori was truly tasty! Chicken hearts were spiced just right. The fried oysters were super fresh and very yummy.
(5)
Jeremy R.
My family loves Japanese food and had to stop in here to satisfy our sushi cravings. On the suggestion of the concierge at our hotel we stopped in here for dinner and were seated right away. Server met us right away at our table and proceeded to take drink orders and appetizers. We typically start with edamame which was served hot, though minus seasoning that we enjoy at other sushi restaurants. We ordered 4 rolls, the lion king, philadelphia, ice dragon, and crunchy spicy tuna. All the rolls were fresh and quite tasty, though the ice dragon is very spicy and if you are not into spicy rolls this one is not for you. Usually my family is satisfied with 2 rolls, however these rolls were quite small and with 4 of us eating we were lucky to get a couple of rolls each. Teriyaki chicken was good as well, though the chicken was a bit "sweaty" and I normally like my chicken a bit more cooked, so though it tasted fine the texture was not necessarily to my satisfaction. My wife had the vegetable tempura and per her opinion it was satisfying. Overall we had a pleasant experience, and will possibly return, however does not rate higher due to the size of the rolls for the price and the texture of the chicken on my dish.
(3)
Sarah S.
We picked Hana Zen(after a very long day of tours) for two reasons: 1. it was a few steps from our hotel 2. it was still open.. With that said we walked in with little expectations and left only mildly disappointed. We ordered a few rolls, the best being the shiitake (oddly enough).. The waiter was friendly and attentive.. however the sushi tasted more like it came from a grocery store then a sushi restaurant.. While I can't say I'd never go back.. it would only be if i needed something quick and it was late at night..
(3)
Christina C.
Really hungry and looking for sushi... but we're WALKING! So we walk out of the Hilton and Yelp shows me a few options nearby. As we walk closer to "the sushi place", I see a huge sign that says "SUSHI" So we go here. Average results on yelp AND its pricey. I wouldn't have come but its right here. It's an unusually hot day in SF! We walk in and get a weird look from the hostess AND I immediately notice that there is no AC. We DO, however, get a nice window seat. But it reeks of beer - like it spilled everywhere and was wiped up but not CLEANED up. We ordered something light - some sashimi and ca rolls - just to hold us over until dinner. The sashimi was fresh! But I wouldn't come back. It was a tad pricey and the ambiance was not worth it.
(3)
Deirdre P.
I've been here a few times, most recently last night. The ambiance and service isn't anything special. The prices are, like some other reviewers mentioned, a little high. That said, the food is decent, but probably not better than other places with similar prices. I had the 49ers roll and the cucumber/seaweed salad. Both were good. The only major issue I had was that they didn't really seem to understand that when I said explicitly "I am allergic to shrimp and soy sauce!" they still put my sushi rolls next to my friend's on one plate - her rolls having both of those two things I cannot eat. So, let's say they're not so understanding of allergy issues. Just a little warning. Oh, and bring your own gluten-free soy sauce here, because they don't have it.
(3)
W C.
I got a gift certificate of theirs so my bf and I decided to go. We ordered hot wings and garlic fries as appetizer. Both are good. I don't eat fish, so I ordered some beef bento as my main course and my bf order some combination sushi plate. Both are okay. I don't know why they expect me to eat my salad without dressing. The two drinks we had were below average. I had mango mojito and my bf had mango margarita. Maybe mango is just not the perfect cocktail fruit/flavor cause our drinks both tasted like cough syrup. The waitress is very nice but their service is indeed on the slow side. It wasn't a bad experience over-all but with so many more much better places, we will probably not go there again.
(2)
Char K.
Came here for lunch on a Friday with two friends and was severely disappointed. In fact, this is probably the worst sushi experience I have ever had, and prompted my joining Yelp to write a review. Some of the fish was not fresh to the point where it was inedible -- it both smelled and tasted off. The actual nigiri we were served didn't line up with what was listed on the menu, and food was extremely overpriced -- three dollars and fifty cents for a can of soda. Will not be coming back. Ever. Avoid if at all possible.
(1)
Megan L.
I went here for Valentines Day, and it was very cute.. They gave each girl a rose when they arrived. We had great service, our server was ok with the fact that we were enjoying our conversation and could NOT decide what to eat. Everything sounded so good. The waitress also described the Sake flavors for us, so it was much easier to choose. The sake came in the coolest sake container, with ice in the middle, that made my night! Everything we got was amazing, which was like 6 dishes. Good service, good atmosphere, good drinks... nice for a date! Price depends on what you order and how much you eat... so for me, its a bit higher because i love sushi and can eat a lot!
(5)
Kyle K.
I was pleasantly surprised that despite its touristy location Hana Zen serves excellent Japanese food. I've been back many times over the years and I have always had a good time. The lamb chops on the yakitori are the best, they are a must have every time I go. Just a little salt and pepper then grilled to perfection. Even if you are going in for just sushi you will still want to get some yakitori because they have one of the few real yakitori grills in San Francisco.
(4)
Constance C.
Should have listened to yelp and not come here... Definitely one of the worst sushi places I've ever been to... The fish isn't particularly fresh and the whole place just seems kind of dirty. I guess my biggest gripe against it is that it's extremely expensive for what it is.
(1)
Jenny Z.
Great flavor and presentation, a little shy on the portion given the price. the sunset strip was very refreshing with yummy sauce, ebi nigiri + fried head was awesomely sweet and crunchy. what else, oh chawamushi was very 'Q' in texture, tinyyyy tho~ the chicken gizzard and fish skewer was nicely done as well.
(4)
Yeznik K.
Got there at 5:30. Very bad experience at the sushi bar. Left hungry. Sushi chef was on his iPhone all the time until he left; I guess it was the end of his shift. This used to be one of our regular stops in SF; not any more. Too bad!!
(1)
Candace F.
This place is definitely overpriced and we ordered 2 rolls and 1 appetizer and it came out to $40. The location is convenient and there seemed to be a lot of business travelers sitting at the bar. I met up with a friend and we didn't even have a full meal. We had a the tofu with shitake mushrooms with a sweet sauce. The mushroom sauce was what made the tofu good - gave it a good flavor. The rolls were average - the fish on top were semi-fresh and thinly sliced on the rainbow roll. The restaurant was quiet and not much noise. I was able to have a friendly chat with a friend without having to raise my voice. Let's just say I walked out still hungry. Service was a little bit slow but if you dig male waiters serving you - this is the place for you. I probably won't be returning unless my friend wants to come here again.
(3)
Duc T.
Our waiter Victor was one of the best servers I've ever had. He was so personable and knowledgeable. I will return just because of Victor.
(5)
M C.
A decent sushi place, just not worth the price they are asking. The only reason this place even has business is it's location, right near several hotels and club. The sister location at Pier 39 has little if any business each day.
(2)
Achille Y.
Not authentic. Americanized. Green tea comes tea bags and not authentic loose leaf. Salad comes with Italian dressing.
(2)
Amber G.
An amazing night of food galore! On a recommendation from a friend, I booked a table for two here. Well, the friend happened to be in town also and invited himself and another friend (later ANOTHER friend) and we all met here for one memorable dinner. The OTHER other friend who eats here every single time he comes to the city, ordered for us. We had Yakatori Pork Chops, Pork, Chicken Wings, Filet Mignon We had Edamame (yum--not to salty) We had Sushi: Dragon Roll & Spicy Tuna Roll We had Sashimi: A mix of stuff, Salmon, Tuna, and 2 others... We also had a grilled squid--yes, the whole thing. It was scary looking, but tasted delicious! We ate and ate and ate. It has been almost a month since I've been and I still dream about this meal. It was the most amazing and memorable food I've ever eaten. The location is a bit obsure. The restaurant is small and crowded. The wait staff, friendly and helpful. The food makes up for anything you might find somewhat unpleasant. Truly the best restaurant (food wise) I've ever been to in my life.
(5)
Thomson M.
BLEACH!!! Everything in the restaurant smelled like bleach... The miso soup had too much fish sauce. The sushi was okay, but I have had better. The teriyaki chicken sauce was decent, but the chicken was baked and had a crunchy skin... The salad dressing was great, and that was the saving grace. The bathroom was weird, all black is not aesthetically pleasing in the least. I think if the place didn't reek of bleach, the food may have tasted better. FYI, the hostess was fantastic... there was a wait but she did everything she could to keep us happy even offer us drinks in the small lobby area.
(2)
Erika C.
Tourist trap... everything is a few dollars more than it should be. If you're in a hurry and don't want to wait, the food isn't bad, it's just overpriced. Nothing to write home about either. Convenient location.
(3)
CorporateMom L.
Amazing service, fantastic location, and great food! I am also impressd with how involved Hana Zen is with the community, keep up the great work!
(5)
Sherry R.
Absolutely the BEST Sushi ever. Sushi Chef Jason was fantastic, he created rolls off the menu that were mouthwatering delicious. A true Chef. Very nice atmosphere and the staff was very friendly. Would highly recommend and if I I ever visit San Fran again I will visit. Thank you
(5)
Ryan J.
This restaurant was close to our hotel and we decided to give it a try. The interior was nice and had a good vibe. Very attentive waiting staff that catered to our needs and even participated in a little fun when we played credit card roulette for the bill. The sushi was very fresh, some of the best toro I have had in a while (well that's not saying much as I have had a terrible run with toro lately). It literally melted in my mouth. Nice selection of Sake and beers. I split a dragon roll with a friend, and it was very good as well. A little on the pricey side but definitely worth it.
(4)
Bo T.
Hana Zen is a yakitori restaurant, which means they specialize in small grilled dishes. On a recent night out, we ordered several dishes to share. The asparagus was good - I don't know how they grill it and get it to stay so cruchy. The black cod was decent, but a bit overseasoned for me. The beef carppacio had a nice little kick to it. The chicken skin was memorable, and the hamachi kama was tasty, but huge and thus we did not finish it. Overall, I'd give Hana Zen a thumbs up. It's a bit pricey, but the food is good enough that I'd go back if I get the urge.
(3)
Elsa M.
Above average sushi & above average price. I suppose that is to be expected given the touristy location... Service could have been better too. If you're in the area and are craving sushi this wouldn't be a bad choice but I bet there are better place nearby.
(3)
Elonka D.
Great location, delicious Hana Zen Roll (warm shrimp tempura inside, tuna/avocado outside), friendly and fast service, open late (til 1 a.m. on Saturday night) and a great place for people-watching through the enormous windows. I had an excellent sushi roll, large bowl of miso soup, and hot tea for under $20. I will be back!
(5)
Bella A.
Way over priced for EVERYTHING we ordered. I like to order a chirashi from a restaurant the first time I visit so as to try out how good of a selection of produce of the day. That's my habit and a rule of thumb to decide whether I will pay a return visit or recommend it to people or not. Disappointment: The Ikura was in this dull, milky looking orange colour which indicated a lack of freshness (and I suspected) a bordering soon-to-bin status. The cut of the fishes was too thin, much like a slice of those they use for sushi, definitely not the sashimi cut at all. OK. I am refraining from elaborating how things should be done so I will just say I feel cheated by paying $24 for something like this. I have had better and fresher Chirishi in Haiwaii, San Leandro and Alameda and other places which I paid a much reasonable price ranging from $15- $20 and they were all much better than this one. Things just didn't add up at Hana Zen. My friends share my sentiments, they didn't like the sushi they ordered neither. The portion was small and over priced. I guess we have a mutual decision that we probably will not return.
(2)
L T.
Stomachache. I just left the place. The fish was blah. Ordered uni, hotate, hamachi, poke, etc. Service was 3 stars. Food 1-2 stars. There are better Japanese restaurants in the area, head north-west of union sq.
(2)
Natasha S.
I honestly can't say I understand the hype for this place. Service was awful and slow, the taste was EH and the prices were overrated. I would never return here.... especially with the large variety of actual fantastic Japanese restaurants in the area.
(2)
Tammy S.
Went here for lunch yesterday and was satisfied (read JUST satisfied) with my sashimi plate until they started unpacking the cardboard boxes of frozen fish at the bar, where I was sitting. For the price ($17 for 8 slices or so) was way too high, especially after I saw those frozen boxes of fish. I will not be returning. It didn't even feel that authentic. Go to Katan-ya a few blocks away for some good ramen and sushi.
(1)
Jennifer I.
Agedashi Tofu is a must whenever we frequent a japanese restaurant. It was delicious. I must say the spider, dragon and california rolls were yummy as well. Not your typical japanese decor but the food is definitely japanese. Busy, clean, good priceand quality. Go there tonight for dinner. Friendly staffs.
(4)
Lefty R.
Ok, I was in the theater district, really known as the Tenderloin, and wanted a quick bite to eat. Sushi is my favorite, so I revisited Hana Zen. I've eaten there about 3 times before and it's always been decent, though never fantastic. Last night it was not even decent. The place is in an obvious tourist zone, which probably adds to it's congestion - it was packed. Being single, I got a seat at the bar right away and then waited 15 minutes to be asked for a food and beverage order. It was then another 30 minutes before my food arrived. I had tai, shiro maguro toro, amaebi, aji and uni. Nothing was up to snuff. In fact, the "tai" looked, tasted suspiciously like hirame and the uni was a little too runny for my tastes. Given there are many dining options in the neighborhood, I doubt I'll spend my money for sushi at Hana Zen again. It's just not worth it.
(2)
Adrian N.
In summary, very bad service, food mediocre at best. Food: I ordered the $33 Hana Zen dinner after an evening of shopping. I ordered it because I wanted to sample their yakitori while having some sushi. The food was not that great! Yakitori was nothing special. The meal came with 6 yakitoris (peppers, mushrooms, shrimp, pork, unagi, and chicken). I honestly expected lamb or some other type of uncommon meats in the sampler. Cheapskates. I was baffled by the need for 8 hot peppers on a yakitori, unagi was too slimy, the two shrimp overcooked, chicken was bland. Sashimi was ok. I've had much much much better. I feel ripped off. Service: The only good thing about the service was being seated. Everything else went down hill. I was at the sushi bar. The server rushed getting his order from me and last I saw of him was when I had to wave my hands to get my bill. I had plates piling up in front of me while others being brought. Idiot server. Makes me upset thinking about it. Anyway, I wanted a second beer and he never came back to ask if I wanted another. Idiot idiot server. Here's the classy part...when I paid the bill he returned me someone elses credit card, with my receipt and called me "buddy." Overall this idiot and the other servers were barely friendly with patrons but chummy with each other (I was at the bar...I could see everything). All in all, this place sucked. There are so many better sushi spots at the prices they charge. I couldn't wait to get out of there. Hana Zen: Do something about your service standards and taste your food.
(1)
Alex k.
Interesting place.Large selection of food on the menu. I enjoyed the Yakitori selection. Tried 5 different ones: Chicken Livers, Spicy Eggplant, Japanese peppers, Salmon and lamb chops. Like all but the lamb chops which were pretty blend. The place was very busy and the dishes came out of the kitchen very randomly which was a problem for me. Service was sporadic. The waiter was very nice but very busy and paid attention only after he was called several times. I think this place can be really awesome if it improves service - i.e. adds another waiter or two.
(3)
Ann W.
I always love Japanese and hate to give a low review to a Japanese restaurant in the city. But this one really needs to improve their service and the fish quality. My friend and I decided to leave our usual favorite Japanese and try this one. The restaurant ambiance was a bit off. The service was very inconsistent, and the sushi Sensei behind the counter didn't seem to care too much for us sitting at the sushi bar. Part of the fun of the sushi bar is to be able to observe and watch the sensai. If they are not busy, maybe to carry a conversation. There was a master sensai there, he was very focused on the preparation, but complete ignored us customers, as if we were not the ones to enjoy his food. If the sashimi/ sushi came out delicious, I could probably bear the poor service. But it was not the case...uni was not as fresh as my favorite Japanese resaturant, the fish was not as good....there is potential for this restaurant to turn around, but for now, I wouldn't recommend it.
(2)
Adam G.
Hana Zen in San Francisco's Union Square is a wonderful, well hidden sushi restaurant. It's door is nestled inside a recess of a building, and stairs then lead you to the 2nd story. Inside is a nice combination of Japanese aesthetics, and modern flair. In that that sums up just about all aspects of this sushi restaurant. The Menu is huge, with an expansive selection of udons, curries, donburis, rolls, sashimi, etc. Nearly anyone will find something to like here. Furthermore, at least 1/2 their menu is at least a little experimental, with new and different takes are standard Japanese dishes. This is especially true for the rolls, which use a multitude of fruit and vegetable ingredients. Lastly, everything is extremely fresh, which is always important when it comes to sushi. Sadly, this place is brutally expensive, even for a sushi place. In every instance I've eaten here, I've not been able to get away for under 30. That's really painful. The portions are decent, and you'll be hard pressed to leave hungry, but you'll still be shelling it out. The staff is very quiet and unassuming. Friendly, and never rude. They'll answer questions as needed, but all-in-all they basically seem to come in and out, refilling glasses, or bringing & clearing plates as stealthily as possible. They genuinely seem to set out to not disrupt you, but rather just make sure you're taken care of. So yes, if you want some great Sushi in Union Square, and don't mind dropping a bit, definitely seek out Hana Zen. 4 Stars
white tuna tataki done right is a rare find for me. it has to be perfectly seared and accompanied by the right amount of onion and sauce. i took a chance thinking it wasn't going to be the same at other restaurants. (my fave resides in japantown in sj) i was wrong, again! hana zen totally delivered. everything we tried was really good. if it wasn't for the $4.75 I paid for green tea, and the annoying rookie sake bombers sitting next to us, this place would be 3 stars. I am awarding 4, because i know where to find my favorite tataki in sf!
(4)
Regina B.
I came here after the St Patrick's day parade. I had a lunch special with tempura and chicken teriyaki. Great tempura. Nice atmosphere. I will try the sushi next time! and maybe the Sake ;)
(4)
Sean M.
A real surprise for us. We had been working all day, then more work for me aka going shopping. Tired and hungry, we wandered down the street and saw the sign, ah what the heck. Inside, I grabbed a card, so I'd remember to write this review and noticed that the owner was Chinese. hmmmmm Well, not in the mood to look for another place, so we went to our table. Grilled fish for her, chicken for me, salads, tea, the usual. All served with a smile by a very nice server. Nice and quiet, the way I like it. The bill was mid 40's and another 10 bucks for tip. All in all a good meal.
(4)
andrea l.
My experience here has not been memorable, just ok. I had a dragon roll (average), uni sushi (great! but you cannot go wrong with uni, as long as it's fresh), tai snapper sushi (rather ordinary taste). My gf got one of the daily specials, namely a very interesting spicy small plate with chopped octopus, tuna, seaweed and fish roe, by no doubt the real highlight of our night. I must say that Hana's menu looks rather promising for people looking for something different from sushi (it was not the case for me tonight) and the place might deserve better than a 3-star, but in my case the food was averagely good, but my litchee cocktail was so disgustingly sweet that I felt nausea right after a few sips and I had to leave it almost untouched. Service was just ok, surely not attentive enough to ask me why more than half of my cocktail was still lying on the table at the end of the dinner...
(3)
Aaron L.
This sushi house is incredible. Highly recommended. It is clean. Service was fantastic. Food was delightful. Prices were spot on for what you get. And it was surprisingly modern. In that it allows anyone to easily book a reservation using Yelp, Open Table, City Search or Bing Maps. This type of convenience is a big deal for me, but maybe not for a lot of other people. It is one of handful of great restaurants I will always try and visit while on a trip to the city. Aaron
(5)
Shelley O.
We met up for dinner at Hana Zen and it was a nice treat. Tasty sushi, nicely prepared with much variety for the table. The mochi was new to me and was fun! Relaxed atmosphere, although a little noisy where we were seated. A lighted sign would be useful; it has hard to find in the dark
(4)
Katie Anne N.
I absolutely LOVE this place. I don't love how its so far from where I live though. The fastest service is if you sit at the bar. The sushi chefs are very nice helpful. You get your food faster too if its busy there. Their rolls are like any other rolls at any sushi restaurants. Their specialties are the kabobs. They have really good and fresh fish, friendly staff, and late hours. I'd suggest making reservations as it gets a little crowded on some days. The wait is not long though. So either way you'll get in.
(5)
Molly S.
I loved this place. Ambiance was fine, nothing fancy, but nice. The food was great and I tried things there that I've never had. Agi-Dashi (spl) and Go'mai (spl) was heaven and the Tempura Dynamite Roll was wonderful. The portions were a little small, but I was happy to have found such a great spot conveniently near the hotel I was at.
(4)
Angie R.
If mediocrity were an Olympic event, then Hana Zen would surely win the gold. On top of the overpriced, skimpy and practically tasteless morsels they attempt to pass off as a meal, they don't honor their own coupons. I would call the management to complain, but the sad fact is, I wouldn't want to go back to cash in on anything they might give me to make up for my completely underwhelming experience there. That is, if they gave me anything. Which, based on the level of total apathy I experienced from the staff there today, is a crap shoot in and of itself.
(1)
CLINTON W.
As you can tell from my star rating of this place, I don't think I'd come back. I was with a few friends and we were doing some Christmas shopping around the Union Square area. We ventured into a bar to grab a drink and asked the bartender if there were any sushi places around. Usually, if I go to sushi in the city, I'll go with friends in their neighborhoods and they have all been solid. There are many reasons why this place was terrible for sushi. First of all and this should have been a big sign, there was only 2 other tables of people when we walked in. Second, it was freezing. We asked the waitress why it was so cold and apparently this time of year, aka winter, the weather changes and it gets cold. Thanks genius, because we were totally wondering about the weather outside and definitely not inside. We asked her if they could throw on the heat and apparently, they don't have one. Are you kidding me? Then there was one guy walking around and bringing the food to the tables. He was wearing a pot leave necklace. I might sound old, but that's pretty inappropriate to be wearing if you are at work and deal with the public. I know it was in San Francisco, but even that's pushing it for a restaurant like that. I just ordered a roll and was going to continue ordering more after I ate it. The rice was so soft and mushy. It was definitely over cooked and therefore, I didn't want to get anymore food. It took a while just for our food to come out. Our server was not on top of us and we had empty drinks beer glasses constantly. Over all, I would recommend going to Safeway and getting sushi out of the deli and a cold Sapporo out of the fridge rather than this place.
(1)
Marcus C.
When I realized that yakitori wasn't the teppanyaki I'd expected, I was disappointed, but I learned to get over it. My dining companion and I shared the agedashi tofu (yum!) and the chef's choice of yakitori. Of the six skewers we had, I really liked the garlic pork and the bacon wrapped salmon! The others were only okay. We also had a rainbow roll and a caterpillar roll, which were just fine.
(3)
Marc F.
Never again for lunch. My nigiri was seriously disgusting. Old fish, not fresh, very smelly and small sizes. The only thing good about my Hana Zen combination of 5 nigiri and one roll was the spicy tuna roll - that was tasty. But $22 for a simple sushi lunch (half of it unedible) with no drink is not a good value. So no more lunch there. I might go back in the evening to try the yakitori again but I'm really thinking I would rather try some other options instead.
(1)
P G.
Well I let my hunger get the better of me and not listen to Yelp!! Shame on me!! Service
(1)
N O.
Apparently no hot water for the green tea. Lame excuse. No sea salt on edamame. Sushi rolls were very ordinary. No finesse. Forget what you see on the menu. Don't know why this resto is in Frommer's guide. Not impressed! Frommer lost respect here.
(1)
Chie J.
Hana Zen is the best Japanese restaurant owned by Chinese people I've ever ate at outside of Japan. They were better than I imagined... I want to give them 3.6 stars. I think Hana Zen's Yakitori is one of the best in SF (It is not that hard to be the best in SF though... SF sucks when it comes to Yakitori or Yakiniku...) I can tell they care about how they prepare their Yakitori because: 1. They use Binchotan charcoal from Kishu. We Japanese consider Binchotan one of the best charcoal to grill meat. Binchotan is made of Ubamegashi (Evergreen Oak murayoshi.com/en/oak.html ) heated over 1000c. Binchotan is great for grilling meat because it's unique characteristics such as erasing unwanted order, smokelessness, heat up to higher temperature, and stay hot for a long period of time. 2. They use natural free-range chicken 3. They use rock sea salt. *Yaki Tori means Yaki (Grilled) Tori (Chicken). So Grilled beef on a skewer is NOT called Yakitori. Everything other than chicken is called Kushiyaki = Kushi (skewered) Yaki (Grill). Hana Zen lists all the grilled item including non chicken items under Yakitori on their menu .... which is technically WRONG I only tried their "Real" Yakitori -Tebasaki (Teba= wings + saki =split) very tasty. Nice grilled flavor with sea salt. Only problem was it was not "split" and butterflied... -Tsukune with soft boiled egg -ground chicken on a skewer with Tare sauce. It was better than the one at Sakana -Negima chicken grilled with green onion with Tare sauce. It was moist and tender. I liked their Sake choices as well. Their list include Kurosawa, Otokoyama, Suigei, Kikusui, Hakkaisan, and Kubota (Manju). They also had Shochu by bottle (Yaemaru, Kaguranomai, and Kuromaru) So why I didn't give Hana Zen 5 stars? Because their non-Yakitori items are inconsistent. Uni Tempura was very greasy and Soba was mushy one time. Mushy Soba is uneatable... I did not eat Sushi at Hana Zen because there are many other decent Japanese owned sushi restaurants within a few blocks from Hana Zen. (FYI There is one Japaneses sushi chef at Hana Zen) Bottom line, Hana Zen is a good choice if you are craving Yakitori in SF.
(4)
G M.
This is a total tourist trap restaurant; located off Union Square and devoid of any Japanese customers (always a bad sign if people of the same culture do not go there to eat!). I give it a big "MEH" for the food here and an "EWW" for the buckets of dirty dishes that they keep all along the sides of the wall and close to the dining tables! So for my first "MEH": the food. I found the sushi rolls to be on the expensive side ($13-14 average) and the fish was not super fresh and the seaweed was rather chewy and the rice was dry and also amazingly chewy. I have had WAY better rolls at other places, so definitely was not a fan of theirs (had the Rainbow roll, Dragon Roll, Sunset Strip roll which was actually wrapped in cucumber and more of an Atkins-kind of roll.) Now for the "EWW" comment: How hard is it to take the dishes back to the kitchen?! Plus there's this off-putting Mr. Clean smell as you go towards the bathroom (doesn't mean its clean though; my shoes came out super sticky after I used the restroom). Ick. This place may be in a great location and look nice from the outside, but its such a waste of money. I definitely won't be back!
(1)
Roger H.
Been here many times and the service and food has always been consistent. On my most recent trip I ordered some crispy chicken skin from the yakatori grill. It gave the chicken skin a very unique smoky flavor.
(4)
Genevieve W.
I wish I could say that I have exquisite taste in food - a palate so discerning that I could identify any ingredient in a single bite. Unfortunately, I don't. I know great food, good food, greasy food, pricey food, cheap food, and food coma food. Hana Zen food falls into the rarely explored 'god awful food' category. This is one of those restaurants that makes me think that I could own a successful restaurant in San Francisco because people are just so darn gullible. The fish is not fresh, the rice is mushy. The portions are small and expensive! I had the salmon avocado roll and something else not memorable, and I was completely underwhelmed. It wasn't just forgettable, it did not taste good. This is a place to go if you have cash moneys to burn and like feeling hungry and ripped off after a meal. Yum!
(2)
G O.
A very accommodating and friendly restaurant. They sat us five minutes until they were closing for their employee party, and every time we ate there the food and service was good. Will dine there again when we visit San Francisco again.
(4)
F J.
Came here on a random whim with a friend for dinner. One of those things where you're showing someone around SF and she says "oh let's go eat there" and you end up at some place you'd never go to otherwise. Location-wise it's pretty close to the Powell BART stop so that's how we ended up here. I didn't actually get any sushi. Got some skewers instead. This place is way more pricey than it looks from the outside. It's a cozy place to eat... not really my kind of scene, but good to know where to get yakitori if I ever feel compelled to do so.
(3)
jason g.
The White Tuna Sashimi Rocks here!!! I would come back here just for the sashimi. Service is always great!!! Ask for Arthur. He really knows how to treat his customers right. Price is reasonable. It has a very zen like feel to the restaurant.hahhahaha. Will definitely come back here again. It's in a touristy location, but who cares when the food is that good.
(5)
John F.
Whenever we visit San Francisco....this is one of my favorite Sushi Spots!
(4)
Mei C.
Quiet Wednesday night. The dragon roll is OK. Total bill for 5 people came to 100.00
(3)
Brandon O.
Good food and service. The interior could use some decorating help. Was not cheap, but I guess we were in San Fran. Was right across the streetfrom our hotel, otherwise I am not sure we wouldve found it...open table and others didnt have it listed. A pretty good casual sushi place.
(4)
stephanie l.
I was craving Japanese food while walking around Union Square on Saturday night and walked into this restaurant. I love places that don't focus too much on rolls but have a variety of Japanese small plates. Hana zen has a great selection of yakitori. Drinks: House Sake hot (hot sake is always yum) Small Plates: Calamari with spicy Aioli-too much breading for me but the sauce was good Hotate Bacon Maki-bacon wrapped scallops were super juicy Sunazuri (yellowtail belly)-this was my first experience eating yellowtail and I'm not usually a fan of raw fish but it was very very good! Shiromaguro (albacore belly)-this basically melted in my mouth. its a must try Hamachi Kama-my friend and I ordered this but another table had just received the last one. we saw the waitress bringing it to their table and were SO disappointed that we couldnt eat it. i am definitely going back just to try this dish. Whole grilled squid-I personally like the tentacles and they were grilled perfectly. The whole squid was served with a sweet sauce that complimented the squid perfectly. Onigiri with Salmon- I was expecting a rice ball that is grilled on both sides but this one was just mediocre. I personally didnt like how it was wrapped and while I was eating it, it kept falling apart. As said before I'm going to go back asap to try the Hamachi Kama. Overall a great experience for what was seemingly a tourist spot.
(4)
Cecile S.
food: 2.5/5 service: 5/5 atmosphere 5/5 Would not come here again, food does not justify the price. Hana Zen japanese place which is good for small dinners or large parties. The food was good, but not the best. For the price it was not worth it. I had a sushi combination plate which included several different types of sushi listed and a chefs choice. The meal was a rip off. I paid about $20 for several pieces of sushi and the chef's choice for my combo platter was CALIFORNIA ROLL. So 1/3 of the plate was california roll and the rest was the listed ones. When I saw chef's choice, I thought it would be a specialty one. They picked one of the cheapest rolls. Always ask what the chef's choice is before you order the sushi combo. The service is wonderful though despite the food. I came with a group and the waiters are very timely. I like to note that almost all the waiters are somewhat stylish, younger asian guys. My party was there for three hours and they were nice to us the whole time. No pressure or rush to finish. If you come here, get the window seats on the second floor.
(2)
Lolita D.
Way too pricey for what you get. The food is average. There are 3 other sushi places a stones throw away that offer better service, better menu and more reasonable prices.
(2)
Dan B.
The sticker on the window stated: people love us on yelp. Seriously? I need to talk to some of these people. I cannot believe that I was Betrayed by a Yelp sticker. But I can't fully blame Yelp for my lunching indiscretion. I should have seen the warning signs: 1) vicinity to touristy area 2) no Japanese people eating or working there 3) the place was empty at noon 4) my Spider Senses were tingling I suggested ordering sushi when my lunch buddy pointed over to the sushi chef. He was "scratching" his nose. Good looking out Becca. I ended up having the chicken teriyaki and tempura. It was filling but not very satisfying. Overall, lunch was way too overpriced for what I got and I regretted not sticking to my original plan of going to the mall for a Jamba Juice.
(2)
claudia y.
3.5 stars. with a name like hana zen and a location as touristy as union square, this place was not all the bad. it was surprisingly pretty good food with good variety and quality. the waiter was kind of weird. with his crazy hair and wild scribbling on his notepad, but we got all our orders in and our waters refilled. different waiters gave us our food at different times so not just one guy was serving us. also sushi came last. hot food came before. that always bugs me. but anyways. miso soup not hot enough the seaweed was still in clumps. spinach was normal. gindara (cod fish) good. not too salty or sweet. just right. robata items - shishamo (smelt), bacon wrapped scallop, chicken skin, chicken wings. the scallops were scallop halves or quarters. skin too salty. i got a scallop mayo tobiko handroll. so much topping that the seaweed got soggy real fast. and my last bite was all topping and not rice! we got this one roll that wasnt worth it al all. $12 and it was fish wrapped with cucumber! i dont remember its name now. it was weird because the restaurant had a few tables of japanese people. few tourists etc. weird mix.
(3)
Michelle D.
Another surprising not-so-sucky place in the tourist mecca known as Union Square. I was nervous when friends proposed eating sushi this close to SF's most terrible restaurants, and I was especially frightened when we noted that this sushi joint is so gargantuan that it takes up the entire block! I was sure we were about to be subjected to the CPK of sushi. We were surprised to find this wasn't the case. The shiromaguro nigiri is what I always use as my benchmark and this one was buttery and delicious. The rest of the nigiri was up to par, rolls were good, and the price wasn't too bad. More than I would typically pay for sushi, but not bad for Union Square.
(4)
Melanie Z.
Love, love, love! The lamb, the hamachi kama, the sushi... all delicious. Everytime we stay in Union Square we visit Hana Zen.
(4)
Michelle N.
I would have given this place 5 star except the sushi was not as fresh as expected. I had dinner here and the ambiance is nice plus great staff. However, the sashimi I ordered was not fresh which is a no-no. Kobe beef is excellent though, melt in your mouth flavor.
(4)
Miika M.
Not a bad place for pop-able sushi for women so that they don't have to open their mouths wide like a baleen whale. We ordered several orders of their maguro and hamachi, because apparently the night out guaranteed fish that was brought in that day. Fresh buttery fish that literally melted in our mouths. The maguro was fine, without much muscle (meat near the tail is a bit firmer). Order their other specialty, anything robata: grilled items. We chose the familiar: chicken (yakitori), beef, and calamari. Basted with their special teriyaki sauce, not too salty/mildly sweet (Tokyo style is usually salty, Osaka is a bit sweeter---more my route). The meat was tender due to the marinade, with enough crisp produced by the grill. The calamari was most excellent, tender and not rubbery at all. Out waiter was quick, service efficient, and kind to the first timer to sushi. I would recommend this place due to its location in the middle of the city, close proximity to everything downtown has to offer: bars, clubs, cafes!
(3)
Mona N.
A buncha decently priced rolls but everything else is waaaaaay too pricey. Since I sat at a table, I didn't feel comfortable ordering anything unrolled. They also don't serve hot tea. You have to buy a pot. Sorta like IHOP's coffe. But at least IHOP gives you the choice of pot OR cup. Hana-zen doesn't =/ I noticed a robata (Japanese style BBQ grill) bar, so maybe I'll go back for the grilled stuff... but I'm a little iffy about their techniques plus the skewers cost more than the ultra authentic places in NYC (Totto and Torys)... which made me laugh out loud. Note: the 2nd star is for the group of young-ish Japanese business men sitting next to my date and I. The table ordered soba, tempura soba, various onigiris and kept repeating "oishii" which means "this is hella good!"...... but they were kiiiinda drunk so take it with a grain of salt. The 3rd star is for the same group of young-ish Japanese business men sitting next to my date and I, that were graphically talking about XXX-rated stuff throughout the latter half of my meal. As we were leaving, I looked at the dudes and said in Japanese "I overheard everything -smile- Good night.... -wink-" All five of their jaws DROPPED onto their plates. PRICELESS
(3)
Timothy P.
When I pay forty plus dollars for a dinner in a city full of amazing culinary indulgences, I expect something special. Was the food good? Sort of... I have had better for half the price. The restaurant is full of awkward angles and the view Cyril Magnin street can often be less than savory, this restaurant is on the border of one of San Francisco's most challenged neighborhoods (IE. The Tenderloin AKA the TL). Service was a "B" and cleanliness was a "C-". If you want to know how the kitchen of a restaurant probably looks, first check out the bathroom and you should have a good idea of how tight of ship they run. I am a stickler for cleanliness, especially when I am going to eat raw seafood. They have a decent section on their menu for both food and beverage.
(2)
sage H.
Victor provided great service, the overhead street view is fun. I appreciated the staff that served us with last call, thank you! -Anthoney Pacheco
(3)
Don W.
This review is written from a tourist's perspective. Every year, I stay at the Marriott by the Moscone Center for a few days with one or two colleagues, and Hana Zen is a regular stop. The sushi is good and fresh, and the location is just a short walk from the Marriott, Nikko, or any of the other hotels in the area. After spending the day flying across the country and finding our way to the hotel, Hana Zen is a predictable and delicious oasis. I'm sure that they don't have the best sushi bar in town because we were able to walk in and sit down, but there was nothing wrong. They were only out of one type of fish, and it really didn't matter because my stomach wasn't big enough for me to try all of the things that looked good. If you're a tourist, Hana Zen might be the best choice for you. If you're a local, check this place out. Sure, it's in an area that's almost as full of tourists as Fisherman's Wharf, but it's better than you might think. In fact, it's probably as good as it gets for the area, so after coming here consistently for at least the last 5 years, I'm giving it 5 stars.
(5)
Matt H.
Great little place in SF... probably the best miso soup that I have ever had... good portions, pricing and selections. I would certainly come back and eat here again.
(4)
Bob J.
Dazed from a night of Christmas shopping and now it's after 11pm and I haven't eaten. Walking back to Muni and see that this place is open til 1am. Yeh! The menu is large and I'm still glazed over from 4 hours in Macys, so it takes me a while to order. The waiter was pretty eager to get my order -- I get it, it's late. Order Ohitashi to start. They're out of it. Finally decide on yakitori, only to be told they don't serve it this late (11:30pm) -- really? really? You might have mentioned that once in the three times you came over while I was still deciding. Fine. Shellfish shashimi will do. Food was okay. Mediocre, but ok. Now I know a lot of work goes into closing a restaurant for the night, but here they have no problem with doing it noisily all around the diners. Breaking down boxes, dragging a big garbage bin of bottles down the dining room steps (thump clang, thump clang, thump clang), employees just off their shifts hanging around holding loud conversations, cleaning fluid smells, propped-open kitchen door 10 feet from my table. It's not as if me and the other diners are overstaying our welcome -- they're open for another 50 minutes at this point. Expensive and aggravating. Staff obviously doesn't give a shit.
(1)
Patrick T.
Do you enjoy small portions at very expensive prices? How about fighting off the flies that are trying to eat your sushi? Then this is for you. Otherwise, there's plenty of other options elsewhere. +1 star because it was decorated very nicely
(2)
liz s.
I arrived at 4:00 pm on Monday. The waitress said they are closed between 4:30 and 5:00 so I understood I couldn't linger. They didn't have any udon noodles so I got 2 rolls and maguro nigiri. The rolls started to unravel and the rice was unruly. The maguro had jagged edges and was pulling apart. I should have had the yakitori.
(2)
Christine B.
We didn't have a reservation on New Years Eve, but got lucky and were seated within a couple minutes. It kinda sucked though because we sat where there was a lot of foot traffic near the door. Our waiter(s) were a little confused as to who was serving us and it made them look unprofessional. The food came out quickly and was served hot. Everything was okay, but I thought the price was a bit expensive. Some things they could work on are refilling our water (they did not), making sure the sake is ice cold (we had to ask for a cup of ice), and maybe updating the sauce recipe in the vermicelli served with the chicken teriyaki.
(3)
Coraly S.
San Francisco is definitely one of my favorite places to visit for food, but this place left me very unsatisfied. I've had much better and quite frankly i didnt think the service was great either. Maybe my expectations are high? Just not very tasty! I like to order special rolls alot, but there wasnt much creativity going on here. Sorry!
(2)
john w.
Clean place in good location beside Hotel Nikko. Sushi was fresh and tasty Good service. Price was market . Kirin Light beer for 4.75 best price in San Fran.
(4)
J. D.
On the plus side, the food was excellent quality, the location is cool and the restaurant is cozy with good views of the street below. On the minus side, the prices for non-sushi items are bizarrely expensive and the waiters were young, impatient and rushed us out of there. Next time we'll identify ourselves as locals and see if the staff becomes friendlier.
(3)
Alexi A.
You will walk out of this place with a very thin wallet, but happy knowing you just ate some of the best sushi ever. That was my experience at least, well actually that happened to me twice. I went there a while ago, so no details here. This is a good place if you're celebrating or for a classy date. The prices dictate that these are the only instances which justify eating here... and that's why i'm gonna give it a 4 and not a 5, even though the food deserves the best rating...
(4)
Matt C.
Unbelievably overpriced, even for the area. Good but not extraordinary food. Strictly for tourists.
(2)
Alden H.
Im a sucker for Yakitori , but this place just didnt quite do it for. Its not bad, in fact there were quite a few dishes that were quite good. I guess I just have too high a standard for YakiTorri. I also felt like they tried to make the place too modern. They dont have to make their food and atmosphere asian-fusion-esque. A good yakitori place will let the food speak on its own. Strike one for my first attempt at yakitori in SF. I will stick with fav places in NYC.
(3)
F C.
I too was deceived by the Yelp! sticker..... GEEZ.... Negative(s): 1) Overpriced 2) Bad Service (forgetting some of the items ordered) 3)Menu confused my poor bf - too many choices and scattering 4)Getting charged for tea Positive(s): 1) It had an almost upscale decor Items ordered were Beef Teriyaki dinner (comes with salad, rice, and miso soup), california rolls, wakame (though they called it something else), tea (forgot the name)
(2)
Jordan M.
I went here with two other people a couple weeks ago. We each got a lunch special, and a roll for the table. Only one of us had a drink. The bill ended up being about $25 a person. This place is definitely pricey, but the portion sizes were bigger than your average Japanese joint. They didn't skimp on the meat at all. We were all stuffed by the end of our meal.
(4)
Nichole B.
Stopped in after some holiday shopping for dinner and enjoyed every bite! Tried a little bit of everything from the yellow tail, a number of different sushi rolls, kobe beef, oysters and some lamb chops (my favorite). We always stop in when we are in town, the food and drinks always hit the spot. Their recommendations are always good, workers are friendly, we always have a good time!
(5)
Michelle N.
A friend and I I came here for lunch on Saturday for the Dine About Town event. Our server had no idea what we were talking about so my friend asked her to consult with the manager. She didn't seem to want to do that, so I pulled out my iPhone to show her the website listing their restaurant as one of the Dine About Town participants. She then calls up her manager to confirm. After that, service was great, she was super attentive. I would say the only positive thing about my dining experience here was the service. Sushi was just blah. The spicy tuna roll didn't offer great flavor and its texture was pretty mushy. Moreover, dessert for the Dine About Town prix fixe menu was ice cream....much to our dismay, we weren't even offered a choice...and when it arrived, it was vanilla ice cream =/
(2)
Rachel W.
two words: dragon balls (not to be confused with dragon rolls) wow - they were amazing! spicy and delicious. little fried balls of goodness. all of their sushi is great. always solid. minus one star for the black toilet and toilet seats in the bathroom...it terrifies me.
(4)
Kimmy C.
Poor and unprofessional service. Not fresh fish. My 20 minute curry only took 10 minutes and the gravy was lumpy and the vegetable and beef were limited. I was desperate and hungry so we tried it. The sushi was terrible and the food is overpriced. My husband works with fish and he was very disappointed.
(1)
tracy l.
Great rolls, a bit pricey, but it is the city ... restaurant itself has a nice layout..... i like to come here whenever i crave for sushi in sf... service is ok.....
(4)
Jason Z.
VERY pedestrian food, mediocre decor, and average service. If this doesn't say it all about the service. I sit down at the sushi bar and wait a few minutes. After the sushi chef doesn't make eye contact with me I finally ask, "May I have an oyster shooter?" He says, "Order with waiter." HA! No joke. Isn't half the experience of sitting at a sushi bar, talking with the chef. And the food was very average. It's certainly not worth the $75 I spent (yes, for just one person).
(2)
Michael W.
My wife and I have been going to Hana Zen for years (since it used to be called Nan Ban Tei), since it's one of the very few places in SF to get good yakitori. The other day, we had already eaten dinner at home, but were craving dessert from Hana Zen. They have a fried banana dish with ice cream and honey that's unusally good (believe it or not). So, we headed downtown for dessert. It was a weeknight, we parked directly out front, and walked in. The place was half empty. Even so, when we told the hostess we just wanted dessert, she informed us that there was a $20 per person minimum order. As we started to walk out, I think she realized that she screwed up and tried to convince us to stay with the suggestion that our waitperson might be OK with it, though. We kept going; they've lost our business for good. I can understand minimum orders if the restaurant is full and they'd rather sell a full dinner than just a dessert. However, if a restaurant is half empty on a week night, and they'd rather have $0 from our table than only profit on our dessert, they don't need our business any more. Too bad.
(1)
Amy J.
I came here because I wanted to use one of my Cozmo Cards compliments of Yelp. I couldn't because it was for dinner only. Doh! Not cool. Anyway, I like going upstairs to a little restaurant. The food here is pretty decent. You get potato salad instead of a traditional salad if you order a lunch combo. I thought that was a nice change from the usual run of the mill combo, especially on a hot day. Nothing spectacular but it's worth walking over here if you're craving sushi.
(3)
Lily P.
My first time ordering udon soup at a restaurant though I've always loved big fat noodles. This place was not disappointing at all. I was in heaven, the broth was great, the noodles were perfect. The tempura was served on the side so it wouldn't get soggy. The tempura dipping sauce was the best I've ever had. It was salty instead of mild and bland. Husband got BBQ ribs and tempura lunch. He enjoyed it a lot, small meat portion though. Husband came back at a later time for dinner to get their filet yakitori (Gyu Hire Yaki) and it was better than the prime rib eye he had at First Crush restaurant downstairs. That's amazing for him to say since he's a big meat eater. Service was slow though. But had good sake to keep you entertained!
(4)
Andrew T.
Every time I am in San Fran, sushi is on my menu, and I am never disappointed. The hotel concierge recommended this Union Square spot, and the trusting out of towner I was, I went without hesitation. I was further comforted when I ran into another out of town friend of mine, dining there with his Asian friend, a San Fran native, who vouched for Hana Zen as being top tier. Always a good sign when the locals, and Asian locals no less, stand by a sushi restaurant. The service was great, and the waiter brought over an ice cold kirin and suggested some nice salty steamed edamame to start us off, which though not that tough of a dish to execute well, they delivered it as expected...which is always a good start. Fish was fresh, beer was cold, atmosphere was so so and it is a bit plain given some of the more "hipster" sushi spots I am used to, but overall was a good meal and I would most certainly return.
(3)
Kim N.
For not being Shinsengumi, this place had some pretty good yakitori. My friend and I were visiting from out of town and picked a random place from one of the tourist guides, feeling in the mood for some Japanese food. This place did not disappoint. We enjoyed almost all of the Yakitori as well as the sake and dessert we ordered. We (or maybe just me) went overboard with the ordering and our tiny table was filled with yummy dishes. Unfortunately, not as good as Shinsengumi for me, but if you cannot make it to OC, this is place is not too shabby.
(3)
Christine M.
If I were on death row, I could die fat and happy- without a care that my demise was imminent- if I got to eat here one last time. Incredible sushi. The last time I went, my party and I roared through a platter of 10 rolls without speaking a word or looking up from our plate (so much for pleasant dinner conversation). Also, I recommend the Sake cocktails, in which they substitute Sake for Vodka etc. Expect a substantial wait, even with a reservation.
(5)
Whitney P.
Guess I should have tried the yakitori because I had some of the worst sushi I can remember, the grocery store sushi is better. Went on a Monday night, maybe that was the problem. Their menu is very limited as is their drink list. Did not work for me . . .better luck if you try it.
(2)
Jose S.
DUDE... this place is freakishly expensive. Ate here for the 1st time today for dinner and boy was i shocked when i received the bill. The ambiance isn't that bad and the music was playing soft which is good. Anyhow, i ordered one bottle of cold Saki (usually like it warm but this Saki was pretty good), a Hana zen sushi roll (nothing great had better sushi else where) and my friend ordered unagi don buri and a sushi roll. Our bill came out to be $63. i left a $13 tip because of the excellent service but $30 a head doesn't warrant the quality of food that we ate to cost that much.
(3)
Heather D.
Mm! I was immediately pleased when I looked at the menu for Hana Zen posted on the window outside. On a Friday night, my boyfriend and I were seated immediately at a table right at the window, perfect for people-watching. The layout is great, making the place look huge inside. I ordered green tea, which was refilled all night at no charge. The tuna roll I ordered was delightful, tasting of fresh tuna in a tight roll. I also ordered the soft shell crab roll, which was out-of-this-world good! The latter roll was rather pricey at $11 a pop, but it came with five pieces of cooked crab in a rice roll. So tasty! My boyfriend enjoyed his non-sushi meal too. :) Service was great, though I heard that they were speaking Chinese, not Japanese. Hmm...
(5)
Heidi P.
Good. Definitely not cheap, but not too pricey either. I would definitely consider this as a place for a business lunch or dinner, or as someplace I could/would go for lunch if I had more money for my sushi fix. I don't know that it would be enough to bring me to the neighborhood though. Though they seem to have a ton of turnover... They are always hiring & most of the time(one of) the position(s) seems to be sushi chef!
(4)
John M.
Failed authenticity test. Granted, ordering tonkatsu in a sushi place isn't very authentic anyway, as in Japan you'd never find good restaurants mingling the two. But no cabbage, no mustard, and not a very good job on the frying. Unfair of me to be disappointed as I didn't even know I was craving tonkatsu. Now I've got to go looking for it.
(2)
Chandanit L.
I just came back from dining here and let me tell you why I gave 2 stars. General: * There's no real Japanese tea (first bad sign for 'Japanese' restaurant). All teas have to be ordered/pot and they were all from Numi. I believe authentic Japanese restaurants always have free flowing tea. * Service was extremely slow and inefficient. Once the food came, it was definitely not worth the wait. Food Quality: * Sashimi was not at all impressive. The variety of the fish was really limited. The worse part was the fish quality which was quite mushy and tasted as if it had been defrosted and served. * Rainbow and dynamite rolls were very mediocre. I couldn't finish them. There was something really wrong about the rice in the rolls. It didn't taste like well-season sushi rice. Although it appeared to be short grain rice, it was a bit hard and broken. The sauces used in the dynamite rolls were very overwhelming and actually contrasted with everything else in the roll. * Yakitori platter was probably the most edible one but was really nothing special. Shitake was not well grilled and tasted like it was soaked in the water. This was very far from the real tasted Yakitori the menu claimed. Most yakitori items were undersalted. With all said above, I don't think this restaurant was worth the price and I'm definitely not going back.
(2)
Christy M.
Yummy yummy yummy! I was surprised at how good this little out of the way downtown sushi place was. It came highly recommended from a friend who often frequents this little establishment for lunch. Worth every yen. Even the sake fused cocktails are worth a try.
(4)
Kay G.
I come here for the unagi nigiri, the sake sushi, and the yakitori. I really like the yakitori. I've tried the kobe and goose liver appetizers as well. They were tasty, if rather costly. The rolls are consistently good, but not great. I am sure there are better places to get rolls in SF. The food itself is rather pricey, but given that I've eaten there a dozen times and not had a negative experience, I consider the reliably good food and service worth the price premium. Location, atmosphere, and staff are all pleasant. Oh, and a good sake list!
(3)
Vince C.
I recommend going to this restaurant early to make your reservation as they will cancel your reservation after ten minutes. Our party had the following dishes: foie gras sushi, fried uni, shiitake mushroom yakitori, tempura appetizer, hana zen roll, dragon roll, asparagus yakitori, scallops with bacon wrapped around it, and miso soup. The most memorable dishes were the foie gras sushi and the fried uni. I also liked the asparagus yakitori. The other dishes were blase. The foie gras was seared and had great texture which, coupled with the white rice, sent enough of the dish around your mouth instead of concentrating the liver on one spot of your palate. The fried uni was a marvel to behold, being in tempura batter I wondered how they got the little critters in those leaves to deep fry. Regardless, the uni was great. Why the two stars? Service was slow, parking not so great, reception was on par with the service (i.e. not very accommodating), and out of all the dishes that we ordered only a few were substantial attention grabbers for the price of the "Japanese fusion" cuisine.
(2)
Vickie B.
Nothing to yelp about in my opinion. At 6:30 on a thursday night, pre-theatre, a friend and I decided to test out a tourist-y place in Union Square that would provide a light fare (as heavy food knocks me out by the end of the first act). This is how we came to Hana Zen. No wait, we sat and ordered in a relatively quick amount of time. Upon reviewing the menu we found the first flag: "There is a $20 minimum per person. Interesting. We paused and considered if we should stay--- seeing other people around enjoying sushi led us to believe that maybe the place was $20 per person good... we commenced. Miso for my mate (who seemed to enjoy it but didn't rave) and I enjoy chicken heart skewers, which were quite tasty if you enjoy those sort of things. We ordered two rolls and two nigiri---- enough to hit maximum capacity for the two of us. The sushi was all right. It tasted as if it had been soaking in fresh water and there was little taste left aside from the soy and ginger we were soaking the rice in. Being the lovers of cheap sushi, we weren't quite expecting the $57 bill for two people. Had the fish not tasted like water, it wouldn't have been unreasonable. What was unreasonable was the effort it took to flag down our server to get the bill. Our meal took roughly 35 minutes, the flagging down and paying for the meal took 25. On a thursday as we ran to the play, it seemed out of place... Overall: Not worth too much effort, but decent if you're in the area and need some small bites.
(3)
Liz S.
I'm rounding up from a 3.5, as this restaurant was open on Thanksgiving and the service was good. We went with 2 other couples to have a non-traditional dinner on this traditional American holiday. It felt like we were on vacation, being around Union Square and at a restaurant we probably wouldn't have picked on our own - that said, we had a really nice experience. My favorite starter was the Kobe carpaccio. Delicious, could have eaten a larger plate of this all by myself. Tender meat with a seared, peppery edge. The poke appetizer was also good with spicy bits of tuna and octopus. We shared a lot of sushi, including the Hana Zen roll (my favorite), the Sunset Strip roll (a light roll wrapped in cucumber with no rice - very good) and the Spicy Tuna Roll (deep fried but not heavy). There were also salmon/avocado rolls and a Dragon Roll which were similar to what I've had elsewhere. I had an order of Uni with a quail egg on top which was delicious. We also got the big Yakitori sampler - and it was a bit of a surprise. In a good way for me, but I am not sure everyone else was as thrilled. There were skewers of beef, salmon, and chicken which were pretty normal. Then there was unagi, and vegetables such as mushrooms and Chinese peppers. The other choices were: chicken hearts, liver, beef tongue, and gizzards. Now I love this stuff, as did one of my friends at the table. But most people I know are quite as fond of these delicacies. If you are not adventurous (i.e. little skewers of organ meats don't appeal to you), I suggest you order your Yakitori a la carte. We also got an order of the glazed cod which was excellent. Hana Zen is a restaurant that I'd go to again if I were in the area. It's a step above a lot of choices in Union Square, and I liked having the combo of sushi and cooked food. Service was very attentive and nice, with a lot of food arriving at the same time. And they didn't say anything when we got a little loud and *ahem* inappropriate with our conversation (you put certain people together, it happens). But hey, isn't that what the holidays are all about?
(4)
My N.
Service could use improvement .. was a little unattentive, but the food was good. Went with 4 of my friends, we had the Yakatori Deluxe combination (10 skewers of the chef's choice). The grilled skewers (kobe beef, chicken, pork with scallions, mushroom, and lamb) were all delicious ! I actually didn't try the lamb, but my friends raved about it.) My favorite was the unagi, it was so good, we had to order another order (and I think I could have even had another order after that. I can't comment much about the sashimi since all we had was salmon, but it was pretty good .. very fresh and I liked the thinness of the cuts .. just enough in every bite. The sushi rolls were fine, but there were no standouts. I also tried the fatty tuna (O-Toro), had high expectations for it, but it was just ok. Dessert was good, we had the fried banana, grilled ice-cream, and ginger creme brulee. I didn't know what to expect for the grilled ice-cream, but it ended up to be my favorite.
(4)
Mimi P.
After a looooong day of shopping we needed some nourishment and energy because we were going out that nite. Being that it was about 5:30pm on a Saturday nite we figured everywhere in Union Square would be crazy busy. We walked by Hana Zen and I love Japanese food so we were game. Well the place is pretty pricey, but we didn't even have to wait long for a table for 2. We shared a plate of sushi, each had our own plate of food, I chose beef teriyaki cuz I love MEAT, and my boyfriend got the chicken. The service was a tiny bit lame only because we were done eating but still had food on our plates because we didn't want to feel stuffed when we went to the club that nite, AND we were saving room for dessert. So we kinda sat there, done eating, trying to find our waitress, looking around. I guess the hostess saw us and saved this place from getting 4 stars because she got us a dessert menu right away, got our waitress to bring take-out boxes for our leftovers and even did the call back on our desserts. She seemed like she really wanted us to be happy. And the dessert we shared was oishi. It was some chocolate yummy thing with ice cream with coconut. Mmmmmm. Thank you hostess at Hana Zen.You saved the day.
(5)
Nacho C.
I was at a conference and found this place using Opentable. Long before I was a "Yelper". The atmosphere is okay but I would reccomend sitting at the Sushi Bar. Not only is it fun, but the chefs are pretty cool too. We spend like 160 bucks for 3 people inwhich we had Sake and some beers. It was a good time and the more importantly the food was good. Seating was a little tight, but we managed to have a good time plus the price was right. Make sure to ask for the "dragon balls".
(3)
Bambooo S.
I've been looking for a great yakitori place since I moved to SF 3 years ago. Japantown was a no-go. I finally found it in the most unlikely spot imaginable: right in the middle of tourist central. For yakitori fans this is the real deal. They import their charcoal from Japan to ensure a hot enough burn. That's fanatic! And they serve many yakitori favorites--chicken skin, chicken heart, chicken gizzard--plus tanyaki (I hadn't had that since I was in Tokyo) and other assorted meat and vegetables. The only disappointment: shitake was the only the mushroom offering. I would have expected at least a couple of other varieties. Prices are high ($35+ for a modest meal for one, no alcohol or dessert, before tip) and the place is noisy and crowded with people from out of town eating with their kids. But if you love yakitori you can put that aside and chow down on some serious fare. I can't speak to the sushi, tempura, or other dishes. Note: I went for dinner. Looking at their menu online, it's unclear whether they serve yakitori at lunch. The yakitori is 5-star, but I bumped my rating down a point because of the high prices and distracting ambience.
(4)
Laurence H.
Besides having a hot hostess, this downtown establishment has seen better days. Five years ago, this was a modern space serving decent sushi and thought of as the "place" to eat yakitori in SF...now the restaurant appears to be cruising on its reputation and content with letting the place look more and more run down...Perhaps it's a combination of my tastes becoming more discriminating and quality going down...but the rice was fit to be served in a rice bowl for Chinese food and the fish was average at best...even the tried and true yakitori was only so-so....it still captures plenty of the tourist crowd, but Hana Zen has lost me..
(2)
Keika L.
I was never one to fall for any of those "authentic" restaurants in/around Union Square...but my boyfriend and I were hungry and we just went into any restaurant that looked decent. We stepped into Hana Zen thinking it would be an over-priced Japanese place, but actually it was good! O_O It was a cold night so I ordered a tempura udon and it was FANTASTIC! They also have shochu cocktails which are so divine! I dare you to try this place. T_T
(5)
Daria M.
Pretty pricey. According to the menu, there's a $20 minimum per person. Maybe that's for larger groups, I'm not sure, but my friend and I still felt obliged to order $20 of food each. It wasn't hard, the food was pricey. The rolls we got were pretty good, especially what we were paying for it. I think our waitress didn't like us, mainly because when she took our order for drinks, I said "hot water" and she seemed a little taken aback and confused. I supposed it's blasphemy that a customer should want to order hot water with their meal. Anyway, food was good. Service was ok. It wasn't terribly crowded since it was a weekday.
(3)
Chin C.
WOW We went there on New Year Eve and the place served such a great meal. They have a lot of sake for us to choose and we did choose many to try. The yakitori dishes were amazing, beef, chicken skin, lamb. Also the sashimi, maki, and sushi were very decent. Have to go back whenever I go to SF, def. Love the place.
(5)
Brian L.
Wow, can you say pricey?! We ordered asparagus yakitori which was soooo tiny that you could eat it all in one bite. We also had the shiitake yakitori which didn't have much flavor and the filet mignon which was just so-so. We ordered some sushi which was just fair compared to other sushi restaurants that I've been too. The gommae was not that great. We had two bottles of sake and two beers for $160 for four.
(2)
andy r.
'At Home He's A Tourist' by Gang of Four is my earworm. It plays when deciding where to eat in the Union Square area at night. Since I declined a hot dog at the movies, my party deferred to me. We found ourselves at Hana Zen a few minutes later. The host said the wait would be 20 min. but maybe less...OK. We had to wait for a couple at a table for four to stop making out. Ah, tourism. The offerings of sake and shochu are extensive and widely varying in price. Indecision opted for frosty mugs of Asahi. In addition to the standard sushi fare, they offer plenty of cooked, fried and steamed options for those who don't do raw. The cool people all ordered veggie rolls, dragon rolls, and another delicious combo that was rolled in panko and sesame before frying. I ordered generously sliced Hotate (scallops) and Aji (Spanish mackerel) as per usual. Both were very good. My other staple is Ankimo (monk fish liver). It's the foie gras of the deep, yet it's guilt-free because you can't force feed a monkfish. My adventurous yelpin' pals all politely raised their eyebrows and said 'mmm' as they tasted it. The truth'll come out in their reviews. One of our party has a genetic code to try every variety of fried bananas and coconut ice cream. Hana Zen's is amazingly good, with the bananas thinly sliced, dipped in tempura and coconut and fried crispy and light. This dessert alone is worth a late night drop-in. For convenience, most dishes are priced 20-25% higher than comparable sushi places. We can't let the tourists have all the fun. + 1-star bump if you are on 'expense account'.
(3)
Connie C.
I wanna thank little baby Jesus, who's sitting in his crib watching the baby Einstein developmental videos learning about shapes and colors*, for giving us a piece of heaven on earth with the fried banana dessert. As pointed out by Andy R., I suppose I do have a penchant for fried banana. There's no need to make the waiter recite their list of desserts, I've learned that I should just save them some time and ask them straight up if they have fried banana with coconut ice cream. Luckily, at Hana Zen, they did. They make a really scrumptious tempura fried banana. The banana is sliced up and deep fried in this wonderfully sweet and crisp batter, and served with coconut ice cream topped with coconut flakes. LOVED IT! Although the sushi was very nicely presented and prepared, I wasn't blown away by the taste or texture (altough perturbed by the monkfish liver, and happy to see that they fry everything from California Rolls to Spicy Tuna Rolls). You definitely pay for the nice ambiance and good service though. Fried banana dessert? Definitely worth the visit. *quote by El Diablo, aka the fighting chicken, aka Ricky Bobby
(3)
D J.
He'll yea good sushi and nigori by the bottle
(4)
Michelle S.
Got some drinks across the street at Infusion....came here to soak up some alcohol mid evening since it's right across the street. I ordered an ebi tempura roll....it was good considering my spinning head...but the shrimp was almost nowhere to be expected...not meaty enough for me...but the rice and seaweed was good. We also ordered the rainbow roll which did not look the freshest to me but my girlfriend wasn't complaining....it was after 12am though....good for the environment...not sure if I'd actually come here for dinner...oh...no hard liquor which blows! Only sake stuff.
(2)
Tiberius A.
Mixed feelings here...food a four, but ambiance a two. I like noise, but not people yelling between tables and me being in the middle of it especially when I was there with a new friend...we had to yell at each other to talk. Yeah, I know it's Mac World this week and it was definitely packed with out of towners and tourists -- considering it's in the middle of name brand hotel row...but still. I'll go again when maybe if it's quieter, but somehow, I don't think that would be possible. Lastly though, the food was good and four for that. Maybe I'll go for lunch next time.
(3)
Saman S.
High quality food and reasonable prices!
(5)
Marcus W.
If you're open, then please offer the full menu. The cooks start cleaning their grill an hour before they close. No robata for you! Very disappointing as their robata has received good reviews. The Chawanmushi was smooth and light, though there were bits of something chewy that wanted to get stuck in your teeth; I think it was dried scallop but I couldn't be sure. Not a desired attribute of a Chawanmushi. Sushi was good and the udon broth was quite tasty. Pretty average for the price. If I find myself in the neighborhood again, I may go back (since there's not much open in the area at midnight). Not so great that I'd make a trip.
(3)
Jennifer B.
This used to be my favorite Japanese spot when I lived in the hood'. So when I was meeting up with my friend for dinner in the tender I immediately thought of Hana Zen.... i have developed a new fetish for Sushi.... vegetarian of course, but I do not like the seaweed paper, so I have to consume at locations that have soy paper.... AND THEY DO!!!! Yay!!!!.... my oldie, but goodie Japanese restaurant pulled through... I have to say the service has gone down hill a bit... they used to be over the top friendly.... and I don't eat anymore, but if you do... For Christ Sake, have the chicken yakitori... Soooo yummy! They fly the coals in from Japan, and it is just pure amazingness.... Tear :( No chicken for me...... Oh and FYI parking is a bitch!!!
(3)
Iain H.
First, I'm nothing what you'd call a sushi aficionado. Went here for lunch on Sunday where it was nearly empty. Might have just opened though, didn't check the hours. I was really hungry, and as the prices for their rolls seemed a little on high side (even for sushi, which seems to be high to begin with) I mixed up a teriyaki chicken lunch (miso soup, bowl of rice 6 grilled veggies, and a decent enough serving of chicken) and 2 rolls; San Francisco roll (shrimp, asparagus, and "Japanese mayo") and a basic yellow tail roll. I also ordered a Coke. My 1 can of Coke was an unbelievable $3.50! So if Coke is $3.50, you can extrapolate sushi prices. The food was delicious though, the sauce not super sweet and sugary, and the fish fresh. The service was good, though the bus guy gave me the creeps. I think next time I'm in the area I'll look for something else.
(3)
kelly y.
We came here for lunch on a Sunday. This place is really small but there were tables available. The service was superb and the staff friendly. We ordered cooked food and one spicy tuna roll. The fish was fresh and the pork katsu was tasty. The restaurant is clean inside which is always a plus. I must add, we left a shopping bag at our table and the server was so kind to bring it out to us down the street! Would go back again.
(4)
Xavier C.
I've just had lunch. It was OK. The Hana Zen roll ($13.75) was very good. It had tempura salmon, tuna and avocado. The maguro was good too ($5.50) for 2 pieces. Only .50 cents cheaper than Anju at the Nikko which has a much better ambiance and decor. The dessert was a bit of a disappointment: Fried banana with icecream ($7.75). The icecream was really good but the frie banana had a funny smell. I think it was the oil they used to fried the banana. I'm used to olive oil and they probably used canola oil... Another think I didn't like was the smell of the restauranta the first time you walk in. It's hard to describe, but pleasant is not one of the adjectives I would use... Also the restaurant looks a bit run down....
(3)
Lindsey S.
This place was GREAT! There were 5 of us that ate here and we all agreed that this was the best sushi we had ever had. That being said, we're all from Kansas haha. But no really this place was great and our waiter was very nice and friendly. One warning - - while we were eating here two women got thier purses stolen right from their tables. I know that this can happen anywhere, but just some advise for travelers....Be aware of your surroundings.
(5)
DOM d.
They get 5 stars because I always have good experiences here. I usually get salmon and white tuna sashimi. The white tuna just melts. Its excellent. I usually request arthur as my server because i am very happy with his service. He remembers who i am and helps me pick out rolls and sake. I dont really like to order the yaki tori. The only thing i dont really like is the price but its in an expensive area and they have to pay rent so they still get 5 stars.
(5)
Christine P.
i'm sorry. you ARE the weakest link. goodbye! seriously. $23.95 for chicken teriyaki. $13.95 for a roll where the tuna was so thinly sliced and the avocado was turning... brown! for a forgetful waitress and a sticky table (the ultimate no-no in my book). since there are so many other japanese places with "substance" in the city... me thinks not.
(1)
Lola S.
One of my favorite Japanese restaurants in the city. Sushi is not the best but very decent, great yakitori. Everything is always fresh, service is consistently excellent. Very nice ambience. I love their martini scallops appetizer!
(5)
Shana W.
If you're willing to pay the price, their sashmi is pretty good. It melts in your mouth like butter. Out of all the places that I've been to, Hana Zen is the bomb.
(5)
yomei k.
I grew up and Japan and know what sushi is supposed to taste like. Hana Zen was a bust... - Service was extremely slow - Sushi was not sushi - okay place to go if you just want rolls. - the waiter seemed clueless. I don't know... maybe my standards are high. Two stars is generous... but if you have low sushi standards, it's edible. Of course no one will see my review because Hana probably pays off yelp. FML.
(2)
Erik U.
Hey, lets go to a bar with your 4 month old! No? This isn't that movie with legally blonde chick in it? no babies in a bar? :( Ok, lets get sushi. Issue ONE with downtown food purveyors. They all have stairs. Friends had a stroller and everywhere we went had some sort of obstacle. SF hates kids. Remember that! You have to be mid 20's and run a start up and be single to live here. Anyways back to the food. Standard sushi fair with nothing special. The fish was decent quality. I only gave it an OK because I feel that sushi should be an experience. It's too easy to chops up some ahi and throw hot sauce on it and call it a tuna roll. I like to see creativity. All in all, the food wasn't bad. But it wasn't mind blowing.
(3)
Eric T.
As with other Union Square establishments, you should expect to pay a little more to eat here. With that said, the sushi was pretty fresh. There wasn't a wait for the table, and the service was good. There are nice views of the street as the restaurant overlooks the slope that is Cyril Magnin Way.
(4)
Karen H.
pretty casual place w/ great food. the yakitori is the best. I don't eat lamb, but my friend insisted and it was sooooooooo good. also the mushroom yakitori is dry but very flavorful and the steak yaktori is good, but not as good as the lamb we also tried the special which was tuna poke and that was okie and the fried scallop was really good. they are also known for their rolls, spider roll, tempera roll, and best of all the crunchy tuna roll which was my fav and if u like spicy that's that's the roll to try. we also ordered vegetable tempera and the batter was light and crispy. for dessert we got the fried banana w/ coconut ice cream. yummy!
(4)
Arrrrgh R.
I went here because it was supposed to be a good yakitori place. The Yakitori was good, but for the prices it should have been much better. From the crowds that I saw in there - they may just cater to tourists. Two of us had a couple of appetizers and sake for a hundred $$. As one reviewer said, this place probably rocked in the 90's.
(2)
A W.
Paying $20 for two mediocre sushi rolls (one only containing mushroom) usually creates false memories of deliciousness and a willingness for a 2nd chance because I simply do not like experiencing dissonance when money is involved. Unfortunately for Hana Zen, (because I allot a healthy sushi allowance for myself) my memories are true to the reality of their flavorless tuna and so-so experience. I tried their self entitled roll imagining if they name a roll after themselves, it must be a specialty. Perhaps not so much. In fact, I took the roll home and 3 hours later I realized the whole apt. smelled like rotten fish! No thank you. Next time I'll take the time to walk up the hill to get some quality sush.
(2)
Mike L.
Hana Zen is an ideal spot for dating - my wife and I love it so much that we often celebrate our anniversaries here. 4 Reasons to Check Out Hana Zen: 1) Yummy Yakitori: try the Garlic Pork once and you'll most likely order it every single visit. I've never had such flavorful sauteed appetizers in my life - aagh, I'm salivating already! 2) Excellent Service: the waiters here remind me of how Japan's customer service is like (and how all service SHOULD be). Waiting time is minimial, they treat you with the utmost respect, and they find creative ways to compensate you for any complaints you might have about the restaurant (long story, but I must say I was impressed). 3) Great Ambiance: the modern furnishings, the soft house music playing in the background, the waiters' tasteful black attire, the dim yet visible lighting, and the presentation of the food are all a major plus. 4) Sweet Desserts: I don't usually eat desserts but the Fried Banana and ice cream is one lovely treat I'm always looking forward to. My only complaint is the premium prices: expect to dish out at least $15-$35 per person, and that's not including drinks.
(4)
Shannon R.
Ok, so it may be tourist-y and overpriced... But do yourself a favor and just try the Hana Zen roll...it is the third best tempura roll I have experienced at a sushi restaurant in SF (first place goes to the Cobra Twist Roll at Country Station, second place to the Chaotic roll at Crazy Sushi).
(5)
ABBY A.
Conveniently located near Union Square; close to BART. Good luck finding free parking after 6pm! The Nabeyaki Udon is one of my favorites, selection isn't too impressive compared to other Japanese restaurants that I've tried, such as Ryoko's on Geary, and prices are a bit high for the food quality. Service is fast and servers are very friendly. Intimate atmosphere, good for dates, and there's a bar right around the corner (New Delhi) which offers great drinks at a reasonable price, and if you get to know the manager, (Mo), you're good to go!
(2)
stephanie i.
I just went there the other night with a couple of friends and was pleasantly surprised. Honestly the place looks like it caters to conventioneers, but they serve up some damn' fresh sushi on one side of the restaurant. And on the other side of the restaurant they have (what the owner told me) SF's only original yakitori grill imported directly from Japan. It is a great place to saddle up to the bar like seating - order a Sapporo and snack away. You almost feel like you are in Japan. For the hard core there are the traditional Japanese fare: shitake mushrooms or even chicken gizzards! But for the more "americanized" fare their pork and green onion is the bomb! Touristy crowd? a little... but good eatin' none the less.
(4)
Julianne C.
I have been on a serious yakitori kick lately. I *heart* yakitori!! It also helped that we found parking right in front of Hana Zen! And in this part of San Francisco (well, pretty much all of SF), this is not easy feat! I had really high expectations because my fiancee told me Hana Zen is one of the best yakitori restaurants in the Bay Area. (My first initial thought was, waitaminute, I'm a Bay Area native! How come I haven't heard that about this place?) Leafing through their beautiful menu, I was really excited to try all the skewered meats. But... the food was only about 3 stars for me. It could be because of all the great yakitori places I've been trying out in NYC, I wasn't all that impressed with the grilled meats and veggies here. We got the Moriwase Deluxe that came with 16 skewers for only $35 (?). Which I think is a STEAL! Seriously, that's the deal of the century. The only thing was that the grilled meats were too salty for my taste. And the quality of the meat seemed so so. The sunomono was delicious. It came with real crab, octopus and shrimp. Better than what I was expecting. The otoro was good, too. Fabulously fresh. Like I mentioned earlier, the food is about 3 stars. But the service is fantastic!! Our waiter gave us great recommendations and when I asked him if they had any sparkling wine, he procured something that was NOT ON THE MENU! And, while I'm a huge fan of Tokimeki, he may have steered me to a new favorite: Hana-Awaka! Sparkling sake is hard to find as it is but to find GOOD sparkling sake? I just one word for you: OMG! Hence, my final decision to bestow 4 stars on Hana Zen.
(4)
Jenny L.
This is one of the better places for yakitori. Try any of their grilled seafood and meats on skewers and you'll probably find it delicious. They have some creative specials with martini scallops, mussels, and a few others. The sushi is good, but not spectacular in terms of mouth watering portions and taste. However, everything is done well even if the service can be super duper slow at times when the restaurant isn't packed. It's a solid Japanese restaurant that I'd come back again.
(3)
James N.
Overpriced. Very over priced. I would never go here again especially with Dojima Ann right around the corner. The food was okay. It wasn't great, it wasn't terrible. However, you pay for good food and get mediocre food instead. No thanks!
(3)
Mark G.
The sushi was just OK, I appreciate any place that has yakatori grill choices, but a lot of the items that I wanted they were already out of (Saturday night at 7:30pm). I felt the service was also a problem, it took a long time before we could actually order and while it was really slow for you to order with the waiter or get your drinks, they sure as hell cleared your plates quickly to get you out of there!
(2)
Kitty B.
Just looking for a place to eat since everyone in our party didn't make it to Cheescake Factory. It was 9ish and we were hungry. We didn't want anything too expensive, found this place about 2 blocks from Union Square. The staff sat us down immediately. They play good house music in the background! That I enjoyed. The dinner entree were expensive! The chicken terriyaki was about $20 somthing and that included soup & salad. It was also the cheapest dinner entree on the menu. So our party decided to just order sushi. I did 3 orders (California Roll, Unagi Roll & Shrimp Tempura) as you can see i'm not too big on the raw :) and a glass of wine, which was really yummy! It cost about $14 I think. Flora Springs Cabernet, it was fantastic! But anyways, so my boyfriend order 2 from the special rolls section and a beer. Together we spent about $80-$90 including tip. Mind you, we just ordered sushi, no soap, rice or salad. All and all it was a nice place but be prepared to pay a little more then other places.
(3)
Sari G.
Came here with my mom and sister who were staying downtown. Worst experience ever! Very overpriced. My boyfriend got terriaki chicken with soup and salad for $20. The portions sucked and the chicken was gross. For 8.95 I got the teeniest veggie roll and it didn't even come with soup. Everyone was disappointed with the quantity and quality of the food. Plus - the service sucks! Why is there a need for second rate food in SF? There's not!
(1)
Mimil H.
There are so many excellent sushi places in the city that it is a shame to eat there. Not because of the fish : it's pretty good. But it's really overpriced compare to excellent sushi bars. We had the "Shellfish sashimi": 8 pieces ridiculously small for $20. And the place is not fancy at all. Service was good though.
(2)
Cynthia C.
Great location, not the best sushi. Drive a little further for fresher fish.
(2)
Jonathan W.
this place can be summed up as 'holy expensive batman'. the two of us ate here for around 70 dollars. my girlfriend accused the maitre'd (an asian girl) of race discrimination because she sat us two chineses at the yakitori counter instead of at a table near the sushi bar. parties with a makeup of predominantly white people were seated at tables, but the correlation is weak. i think its because they had a reservation, we didn't. the benchmark i use at every japanese restaurant is to order a chicken teriyaki and see what comes up. i use it because its the safest bet for any patron of japanese themed restaurants. at $19.95 i got a salad, miso soup, bowl of rice and a 10" diameter plate with chicken teriyaki and some stir fry vegetables (carrots and broccoli) in butter. the chicken that came out had great taste and they used thighs, not breasts. so thats good. the salad was perhaps why the price is $19.95 as they used mixed field greens instead of no-nutritional value bag salad mix (iceberg, radish, carrots). the miso soup needs some work. i had some yakitori and sushi with my girlfriend but it was forgettable. i think the main thing you can remember out of this restaurant is the price. and now some intangibles, positive and negative. 1. when you make a reservation in the winter time, make sure to request a table near the yakitori area and not the sushi bar area. the yakitori area is way warmer than the sushi area, because of the grill, which makes sense. conversely, sit in the sushi area in the summertime. 2. the bathroom is a one hopper for a restaurant that can seat 40. with black toilet. i hate one hoppers.
(3)
randomtask ..
Came here for a working lunch with 2 co-workers. We had multiple rolls and sushi. Everything tasted fresh. Lunch is not a busy time for them so there were alot of idle hands. also the main dining room was really cold. their crunchy rolls were good. the only downer was the green tea ice cream. tasted very icy and watery. Other than that, a above par sushi place in downtown.
(4)
CC C.
Here is another place I would conqsider myself as a frequent diner. It is a Hong Kong owned, part japanese and part chinese chefs operated restaurant. The manager is the wife the owner who she told me she is from philipine. The service is good. I hardly encounter any problem with their waiters. They always deliver food on time without mistakes. Their grilled ice cream that serve as a desire definitely taste good. I gave this place 4 star because I dont really know the food is considered excellent and top notch based on Japanese standard. Oh dont forget! before you order a lot of small portion of dish such as rolls and sushi. Try hamachikama (yellow tail). Serve that dish while you having rice.
(4)
Hazel G.
This was my second visit to Hana Zen and once again I was not disappointed. I like this place alot since I don't think its very touristy. The prices are pretty reasonable for the SF area and the sushi and sashimi is really fresh. On my most recent visit, I had the tempura udon and the udon noodles were really good and soft...they tasted completely different from alot of the udon noodles I've had before. A generous order of tempura came on the side as well. I've also had a few of their grilled items as well an assortment of sushi rolls and sashimi and have been really pleased with what I've gotten. This is a great little Japanese place close to Union Square area.
(3)
Jen S.
My friends and I tried this place on a Saturday night when we were wandering around looking for a place to eat that was close to a bar we were headed to later for a birthday party. I was going to give it three stars, but the description for two stars is "Meh. I've experienced better." And that's really what I have to say. I think it was only even possibly three stars good because I was really hungry. I had two of the rolls... the Rock 'n' Roll and the Kamikaze Roll. They were both tasty, but not nearly tasty as the sushi I get at Happy Sashimi, and I don't even have to leave Pinole for that! I would maybe try something else if I were there again (like donburi at lunch)... but probably I'd check Yelp for another Japanese place. Our waiter seemed very nice, but it took us 10-15 minutes to get some hot sake, and then he really didn't check on us during the meal. I definitely wouldn't leave my suburban cocoon and drive all the way to San Francisco to eat here, that is for sure.
(2)
Vincent B.
Other than the funky music selection they got playing, I say this place is not bad at all. Sushi's great. Good beer/sake list. Service = bleh.
(4)
Charisse G.
I love the sushi here. I love the shrimp tempura and spider roll. Not a good place to go when it's smokin' hot in the city because they have no air conditioning. The service at times takes forever. Kinda pricey but good for lunch or dinner.
(3)
Carson H.
I came here when I was staying at the Hotel Nikko late as nothing else was open close. There were tons of those little fruit flies buzzing around the food which made the entire experience extremely unpleasant.
(2)
Desiree A.
The owners are amazing & the sushi is delicious!
(5)
Hieu D.
Nice Japanese restaurant. This is the best Japanese menu that I have come across, not to say that I've seen a whole lot, but the offering is very impressive and I would love to try everything. The items we ordered were tasty and nicely plated.
(4)
Jason W.
I've visited early afternoon and late at night. The staff is always friendly, fast and courteous. It is a reliable place to get a good value sushi meal.
(4)
RaeRae G.
Love their yakitori menu, Staff is great, and attentive, fish is fresh and de-lish!. No problems here, definitely will be back to try more
(4)
lisa m.
Don't go here. It's NOT authentic, it's overpriced, and everything is too salty. Instead, I would go across the street to Tiang Sing and get some yummy Shanghai dumplings.
(1)
Kymberli C.
Located on top of First Crush in Union Square area.... I met up with a couple of friends for dinner. I wasn't really impressed with their menu. I ended up just getting the chirashi dinner. The fish was fresh but it didn't really offer much variety that I usually get when I order the chirashi. The service is a little iffy too. Our waiter didn't seem happy. The food was incredibly overpriced for what it is.
(3)
Natalie R.
When doing some hard core downtown shopping one can not help but become famished. Welcome to an oasis of yummy in a sea of mediocrity. Hana Zen is a not-so-spacious sushi joint. The three of us shared some rolls and a few pieces of Sashimi. Everything was at the peak of freshness. I could wax poetical about how perfectly the halibut sashimi was cut, but I won't. Save to say it was perfect (and i kinda am a halibut snob). I love the little pocket of wasabi they put in the sashimi; just enough to really contrast the texture or the fish. Our food was brought in a timely manner, hot and cooked just right. We went for lunch, but I could imagine the bar being a great spot at night for a romantic/intimate meeting, with the big windows and the glow of downtown pouring in the window. The waitress was a bit hard to flag down when we wanted to order additional food. I thought this was a little odd given we were one table of perhaps 5. Other yelpers seemed to have problems with the wait staff. Besides this little snafu, we had a great time and I can't wait to go back!
(4)
First L.
One of my favorite sushi/yakitori places in the state, I like to sit at the sushi bar and chat with the sushi chefs. These guys are good at not only making what's on the menu - but being creative with ideas on the fly! One night, I was in the mood for cucumbers. They made me a crazy cute little cucumber alien (like a hollowed out, cucumber based Mr. Potato Head!) with assorted toppings. I mean seriously, these guys know what they are doing so well, they have the confidence and ability to deliver on just about any "customized" dish. Aside from the well made sushi, my next favorite items are from the yakitori menu. The peppers, the scallops, everything - delicious! The hot food will often come faster than the sushi, for sure - since each roll/ etc is being made to order. Many of the hot food items are soups or skewers, which only take a few minutes to heat and present. Whereas the fish for each sushi order is hand sliced, the rice is hand-rolled, and the plate is carefully prepared in true sushi style. i.e. this IS ART, not just food. The atmosphere is very relaxed, and can be upscale if you want it, or casual if you prefer. I typically meet a mixture of business travellers, tourists, and local /semi locals. The sake selection is great, and they carry one of our favorites - Otokayama. My experiences here for the past 3 years have always been good enough, that I never hesitate to bring friends/clients/business partners in for dinner. I know the staff will deliver exceptional service and food will not dissapoint. I've turned quite a few people into Hana Zen fans (including locals). 4 stars - because no one is perfect :)
(4)
J P.
Sushi is soooo good. It's a little expensive, but you get a lot. YUMMY and a really good vibe with a nice street view.
(5)
Peter L.
The five star rating is for the yakitori menu only. Every time I visit, I am amazed that almost everyone is ordering sushi, which is a testament to its popularity, as it really isn't very good here. But, the selection and quality of the items on the yakitori menu is amazing. Sure, it's a little pricey for some of these precious little skewers, but they are worth it with the top notch ingredient and imported Japanese grill that sits behind the yakitori bar.. I love the standard chicken and onion - the chicken is well-salted and the flavor of the charcoal comes through nicely. The scallop and bacon is another fave. The beef (gyu fillet) is ok, but it's more likely due to the fact that I don't like fillet cuts. The eggplant is another welcome surprise with it's smoky finish and bonito flake topping. The garlic pork also works very well, and so does the asparagus served with Japanese mayo. The sake selection is also a big plus - not too many surprises, but just a nice selection without an exorbitant mark up. The place is small and fills up quickly on many nights. But they also take reservations on OpenTable, and also try sitting at the yakitori bar!
(5)
Jesse C.
Wasn't very impressed with the lunch menu. Had ja ja men and the broth was good but the soba didn't have a very much buckwheat flavor. I'd go back at dinner to try the yakitori sometime but I don't think it will be a regular spot.
(3)
Jenny C.
Been here couple times. Fish was fresh and tasty. However, I noticed the sliced-sized of the sashimi had shrunk about 20% on my second visit. I certainly hope will not see further reduction on my third trip.... Overall, I love it
(4)
James Y.
My wife just got back from a long trip so I decided to take her out to a nice restaurant. This place always looked interesting so we gave it a shot. The food was mediocre at best. It was ok but for the price It just wasn't worth it at all. However, that was not the worst part of this experience. It all started when we came in towards closing. I think our waiter literally forgot about us. We didn't realize it since we were talking about my wife's trip but they literally left us alone for about an hour or two. Everything was done and we tried to get someones attention. They literally just ignored us and went on closing the restaurant. They even dragged the most foul garbage down the isle of the restaurant right in front of us. The guy didn't even look twice in our direction while he was doing so and still no one would get us our check. Two waiters were literally just chatting it up by the entrance while they were closing. They did that whole "If I don't make eye contact that means I don't need to help them" routine. I wondered how far are they willing to go in ignoring us so I decided to just chat it up with my wife. Finally they realized they couldn't lock up the store with us in here they brought us our check finally. I was so upset I just left them 23 cent tip for all there troubles. Worst service EVER...
(1)
Amy X.
We had reservations at 7:15 and arrived early. They didn't seat us right away but at least they seated us before 7:15 so we didn't have to wait that long. I had the Chicken Teriyaki Dinner. It was really good. I loved how the skin of the chicken was kinda of crispy. Very soft chicken, not dry at all. I also ordered a spider roll. Very good. Sashimi was also good. This is a pretty mediocre restaurant. A little pricey though.
(3)
Gil S.
Better than average sushi in an upscale but slightly frayed lounge setting with a long menu of traditional, fusion, and grilled items. Few of the katsu, donburi, udon comfort food things. Convenient to downtown / union square. Very late hours. In conception and vibe it's American sushi but with a light touch on the hipness factor. Dinner is too expensive for what it is but lunch is a good deal.
(4)
Cindy L.
Great dragon roll, caterpillar & rainbow rolls. Even the bacon wrapped around the scallops were yummy. Make a reservation.
(4)
Oz O.
My favorite sushi place in the downtown area. Great rolls, great sashimi, nice green tea... If you are in near Union Square, it is one of the best meals you can get in the midst of all the touristy and blah restaurants.
(5)
Charles D.
Have been there three times. Sushi was pretty good. The last time I ordered sashimi and was somewhat disapponted. I was a bit underwhelmed by the Sashimi Combination Deluxe. I have had a better combination sashimi plate at a number of other places. Okay, back on the good side ... the uni was fresh, seafood salad very good and the atmosphere is very nice. Overall a good experience. The staff was friendly and engaging.
(4)
Ken F.
I went to Hana Zen back in April and have since gone back two more times. Being from Hawaii, I'm accustomed to eating really great sushi. The fish is fresh (I literally stick a fishing pole out my condo window and can catch an Ahi). Hana Zen didn't disappoint all three times. I always like to start off with an order of Otoro. If you haven't tried Otoro, you don't know what you're missing! The fish literally melts in your mouth. While the portion sizes here are not as big as what I'm used to back home (go to Mitch's Sushi in Honolulu), the quality of the seafood is comparable, if not better. The prices are pretty much what I'm used to paying back home for quality sushi. The staff was friendly and accommodating. I hope to visit Hana Zen soon!
(4)
Lindsay T.
Very good sushi, but I don't think its the "best dining in the bay area". pretty good option for union square though!
(4)
Justine N.
Most restaurants around Union Square are overpriced for the mediocre food they serve. I guess they can get away with it since a lot of their customers are tourists who don't know any better. That said, I had pretty low expectations for Hana Zen when I walked in the door. I was pleasantly surprised though at how delicious and fresh the fish was (we had the sake, saba and hamachi) and the prices were pretty reasonable. So if you ever find yourself wandering around the Union Square area looking for a decent place to have dinner...consider hopping in a cab and heading to another neighborhood where you'll have better options to choose from. Or if that's not an option, check out Hana Zen.
(3)
Irene S.
hana zen sushi is a restaurant full or tourists, situated as it is just off of union square, being so recommended by various concierges. i went there with my tourist friends, & enjoyed a rather decent, at times delicious, dinner, served by someone who was actually paying attention to us. i would have given this restaurant three (rounding down on account of being in a bad mood) stars instead of four because it was good but not great, were it not for the following ridiculous incident which occured while i watched, open-mouthed: a table of five young women (girls) arrived shortly after my friends and i had been seated, and were placed at a table in my eye view, and within ear view of the whole restaurant (because they were so loud, it was kind of impossible not to listen). i watched them have an obnoxious conversation about shopping, get into a little argument over who was in a bad mood and who was being a bitch, and then i watched and heard them order, one by one, special versions of EVERYTHING. not just once, not twice, but each order each of them made was accompanied by "but can you do that with... instead of... or, can you take out the..." i am fine with special orders. on occasion, because i am a very picky eater, i make them myself. but usually, if something is so full of gross things that i feel the pressing need to change it completely, i just order something else. life is easier for everyone that way. the waiter didn't flinch, but accomodated these obnoxious brats in a pleasant & courteous manner. later, while i was finishing up my delicious yellowtail and the last of my seaweed salad, one of the girls abruptly gets up from table and rushes off. shortly, the fat friend gets up, announces loudly that she is going to check on her sick friend in the bathroom, and also rushes off. the rest of the girls call over the waiter, announce extremely loudly that the food has made their friend sick, and that she is in the bathroom throwing up, and that they would like to see the owner. a little while later, the barfer and her fat friend arrive back at the table. the barfer is looking not so hot, to be sure, but i'm already doubting that the special order salad she's just eaten has anything to do with the, you know, when she announces that "i know i should have eaten today... i just feel so sick now." so... she didn't eat all day. she has a sake cocktail on an empty stomach, eats a few bites of food, and then barfs. i'm not a doctor or anything, but i'm pretty sure food poisoning doesn't happen immediately as soon as you take a bite of food, and i'm also pretty sure if you don't eat all day and start off dinner with liquor, well, that that's stupid of you. in any case, because they caused such a big scene, everyone's food was comped, and they left, but not before the barfer barfed right outside of the front doors of the restaurant. i felt really bad. and you know, i would have given them three and a half stars anyway...
(4)
Arielle G.
This place actually has the freshest fish that we have come across in the city. It's nice to have little go to spots downtown and this is certainly one of them. Funny clientele, mix of tourists and kind of randoms (I guess we fit into that category), but it is fast, the sushi chefs are great, and it's so big you can always get a spot.
(4)
Wanda L.
My friends and I were on a major sushi craving, so when we saw their tacky SUSHI sign, we darted into this place, justifying the rather expensive prices with, "ehhhh it's SF...everything's expensive..." When we got in, we noticed that the staff was rather cold and apathetic. It may be because we are teenagers, but if there was ever an argument to why teenagers don't tip well...HERE IT IS! you don't treat us well! They even forgot to give us chopsticks and napkins. The food though, was pretty darn good. Completely filled all our sushi cravings. We ordered a sushi sampler to share and then each had our own lunch plate. The fish could have been a weeeee bit fresher, but some of the fish were still delicious and buttery. And my unagi don...was like a giant piece of unagi sushi. Need I say more?
(4)
VeryWhiteGuy S.
I had high hopes after checking out their menu online. Authentic izakaya dishes and a quality sushi menu, ignoring rolls. The atmosphere is lacking imo, but this is supposed to be more or at least as much an izakaya as a sushi bar, so a less then trendy or romantic atmosphere is pretty par for the course. All well and good, but the izakaya food was terrible. Most were over/poorly cooked and just tasyte bad. For a Japanese owned/run restaurant to put out izakaya food this bad is really surprising. The sushi itself was acceptable since the fish is a little fresher than a lot of places in the country being that it's in a coastal city, although the rolls that some at my table ordered were pretty rough, and overall not something I would ever come back for. For an American palette, I know Japanese food... this was bad... And this stuff wasn't cheap. I give it a D- in value. I've eaten in many restaurants in Japan and in major cities in the U.S. For a Japanese restaurant in a coastal city to have this low of quality fish was extremely disappointing, and for a city like this with a strong Japanese community and a precedent set for how real Japanese food should be offered, this restaurant should be off your list.
(2)
Francheska M.
This place is consistently good. I love their teriyaki chicken and the bacon wrapped scallops. Dinner can be on the expensive side but come in for their affordable lunch specials, you won't be disappointed!
(4)
Anastasia Beaver Housand J.
Probably the most authentic tasting Japanese food outside of Japan
(5)
Clara K.
i went here with a group of 4, and we ordered a bunch of robata (grilled skewer items). i don't remember if we got any sushi, but the robata was really good! there are plenty of other places to go for sushi, but for robata i'd go to hana zen. (in berkeley, i'd go to kirala. in LA, i'd go to katana.) on the pricey side, but worth the occasional splurge!
(4)
Geraldine P.
Okay food. I've had a lot better. The service was not that great either. Our server didn't know what he was talking about. The food was pricey. California roll is 6.50 and it wasn't that great. The dragon roll wasnt that great either.
(3)
Dario B.
Damn you Cozmo deck! Their ginger is good...but overpriced.
(2)
tuna t.
i honestly think that you should just step back turn around and look elsewhere. ordered some skewers and they were pretty much overcooked or i could do better at home. it was really obvious that the place was owned by chinese bc my fried roll tasted more like fried taro things from dim sum. the fish wasnt fresh or good. and the california roll that came with our nigiri was horrible. we couldnt even force ourselves to eat it. the tea is also just the cheap stuff you can buy at the supermarket. it was also really overpriced. the one redeeming thing would be their sake selection. but other than that save yourself and your wallet and go somewhere else.
(1)
Tracy M.
Okay, I was the tourist staying in Union Square, yet back home I am blessed w/ some tasty sushi joints so I might know a thing or two. We stumbled across Hana Zen, I say stumble because the only signage we saw was the tacky gigantic red SUSHI sign. Pleasant surprise to walk up the stairs to find an interesting menu, good sake & bar selection, clean atmosphere & fresh fish. It was a Monday night, the place was full and we were seated immediately. Even though the place was full our waitress was very attentive, the busboy cleared all empties promptly. We spent about $60 for drinks & grub; not super-cheap if that's what I'd been looking for but certainly the value I'd expect for a nice view out the big windows, clean, fresh, tasty. Lot's of great food to choose from in San Fran, and from the reviews from you Locals I guessed I dodged the Lousy Meal bullet near Union Square?
(5)
Marj G.
We were staying close to this restaurant and although we read it was expensive and trendy we decided to give it a go. First off - not authentic Japanese. We went with the Chef's choice Sushi which included a roll - the roll was deep fried - really? Yakatori okay (read not special) - sushi okay (same as before) - price - expensive - authentic - NOT. I have no idea why this place is considered trendy unless that translates to "good for people who have no clue what good Japanese food should be and want to hang out here." Ambiance was nothing special so this place is a complete mystery to me why anyone would give it more than 2 stars. Frankly we do sushi far better in Kansas City! For the $ you can surely find much better in a city as great as SF. If not come on over to KC to spend your $$ we will appreciate the business.
(2)
Ray K.
First time I try this restaurant. The sushi were great and fresh! I will definitely go back again to try other menu.
(4)
Cindy G.
I was excited when I walked into Hana Zen after seeing the 4 1/2 stars it received from City Search and seeing that they had Yelp stuff around. I'm really not a super picky person nor do I like to complain at restaurants, but the wait time for my food was ridiculous. My friends and I sat down and ordered our food at 8:13 pm and I didn't get my roll and nigiri until 8:56. My friend Monica and I shared the cucumber and seaweed salad, while Vince ordered a regular seaweed salad. Thankfully those came out promptly. I understand that sometimes it takes awhile to get food, but it sucks when the waiter brings out Monica's roll at about 8:35, brings Vince's roll at about 8:43 and then brings my spicy shrimp tempura roll and yellowtail nigiri at 8:56. IT SUCKS when everyone gets their food before you and you just have to sit there and stare, hoping and waiting for your food to come soon. The yellowtail wasn't impressive at all. The spicy shrimp tempura was pretty good, which is the only reason I gave this place two stars. Maybe it was just one of those awkward nights and things were off, but I wouldn't go back here again.
(2)
ally o.
with very "blah" choices of food around touristy union square.. i could go to the mall food court (no thanks) - but hana zen never disappoints. often i'm lazy to re-park my car or hop on muni to go elsewhere in SF.. but good sushi, fast service, and usually not super crowded on weekends.
(4)
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Address :115 Cyril Magnin St
San Francisco, CA, 94102
Sorry, Store hours have not been updated. If you are the owner of this restaurants. Please update the store hours.
Specialities
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : Yes Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Garage, Street Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Ashley J.
I met a couple friends here for dinner the other night. It was one of their choices, and I had never been before. I got to the restaurant before my friends did and was immediately seated at a table with enough menus for the party. The waiter began pouring glasses of water while I waited. I waited about 10 minutes for the rest of my party to arrive, but I was COLD. The table I was seated at was right by the door, and I was sitting there shivering, wanting to eat with my coat on. Fortunately, my friend noticed this, and asked if we could change tables. We were seated again 2 tables down and behind a small wall. It was definitely a lot warmer, but overall, it was a very cold restaurant. It felt like they had the air conditioning on, and mind you, this was the night that was supposed to "snow" in SF. I really hate it when restaurants make the temperature a lot lower to accommodate the staff who are constantly moving and working instead of their customer base. I'm not breaking a sweat while I eat sushi, thanks though. We wanted some sake, and got a great recommendation from our waiter. It was yummy! I wish I remember what kind it was, but I suggest if you don't know much about sake, ask the waiter what he thinks you might like. We also ordered edamame, and miso soup to start. That was all good, hard to screw up edamame! The miso soup was just right, however $4 for edamame, and $4 per bowl of miso? Jeesh. It's a good thing I wasn't paying :) I ordered the Hana Zen roll, and the Spicy Tuna roll. I remember the rolls being anywhere from $10-15 each, which is kind of insane. Although the sushi was rather delicious. Especially the Hana Zen roll-- salmon tempura with tuna and avocado on top. A SERIOUSLY good combination. The spicy tuna was also delicious. It's my favorite roll of all time, and it was especially tasty here. They also have a crunchy spicy tuna roll, which is basically the same thing as a spicy tuna roll, but fried in tempura batter. I'd love to go back and try it. Overall the food was tasty, the staff was nice, the restaurant was freezing, and the food, a little overpriced. My experience was overall average here.
(3)Deanna J.
This place is Fabulous! I haven't had good yakitori since I lived in Japan and that was awhile ago. I tried to find a good place but gave up the search - none of them ever lived up to my expectations until now. I was a bit skeptical because it is located in a touristy section of town - think high prices and ok food. This place was a bit pricy but well worth the money. The sushi was very very fresh and the katsu don was cooked to perfection! The yakitori was the star even the mushroom yakitori was flavorful and fresh! I also had some rolls but by the time they came I had already had two bottles of sake....the rolls were good but I didn't take the time to savor the flavor. The service was spot on! The waiter was very attentive and courteous! I so want to go back to this place!
(4)Sarah C.
So, my husband I were in the area and decided on sushi. We had never been to Hana Zen, but a friend of mine loves it. We were very impressed! Some of the best sushi I have had! The crunchy spicy tuna roll was sooo good. He really liked his dragon roll, and with some Saporro and veggie tempura appetizer, it was just what we were craving. We will be back very soon!
(5)Patrick M.
Meh. Food was so-so. Service was very nice. On the recommendation of another Yelper, I ordered the Dragon Balls. No. Some food is good fried. Sushi, no. Just tasted...fried. Next: spicy tuna rolls, yellowtail, tuna. Fine, but you can get fine in Omaha. To end: scallops wrapped in bacon. Sounds yum? The scallops were overcooked and the bacon just a wee bit undercooked. The view was nice. It was a little empty on my visit: 6:30 pm. Confession: I'm from out of town, trying to stay on my time zone, picked this place based on Yelp. There were a lot of out of towners there too. The place started empty and picked up.
(3)Mel H.
mediocrity costs a lot of money here not feeling so zen
(2)Kristina L.
Either it's good or I'm starving after a long day of shopping. They have a yummy foie gras appetizer with a sweet soy and wine sauce. Sets you back $20 bucks but I'd probably sell my left kidney for some foie gras.
(3)Melissa D.
Hana Zen is conveniently located off O'Farrell street near the craziness of stockton and market. My hotel contact recommended this place. I came here for lunch and it was not busy at all, there were a few people but I sat at the sushi bar. Service was speedy and friendly and the sushi-masters were always checking up on me. Prices are average$6-10 for maki rolls, wish I had room to try the yakitori though! I had the salmon & avocado roll, the rock n roll, and the tuna tempura roll. Out of the three, the Rock n Roll made of eel, cucumber, tobiko and avocado was really good and did not fall apart. The tuna tempura, ehh, not so much, since they have to fry it, the tuna was cooked through which I wasn't really expecting. Overall, the maki rolls were fresh and delicious but the rolls did not blow me away, they were on par so I would come here again when I visit San Francisco.
(3)Jess C.
Super close to Union Square so if you're in the mood for some sushi, this would be the place to go. Two other girlfriends and I ordered a couple of rolls to share: Crunchy California roll, Dragon roll, Spicy Tuna roll, and Hana Zen Sashimi Combo platter. We also shared the agedashi tofu appetizer. Their fish was fresh and the crunch was quite...crunchy. I would say my favorite of the rolls was the spicy tuna roll followed by the crunchy california roll. Surprisingly, I was quite full off of just the rolls so they did their job. The service was good. The hostess greets everyone with a smile and our server was extremely patient. I went out there the day after Christmas and had to wait for my friend who had been stuck in traffic for almost an hour! The server checked on me frequently and made sure I had plenty to drink...offered to take my order and even struck up a couple of conversations. She was very understanding and sweet. The one thing about this place...it's a bit pricey. Three rolls, sashimi combo, and one appetizer ran us almost $100 including gratuity. This was for lunch so I wasn't expecting to pay quite so much but for great company and good food, it's priceless. Official rating: 3.5.
(3)Maggie C.
this is the first yakatori place I've tried in San Francisco and realized how much I love this charcoal grill flavor. They have a few authentic Japanese selection such as beef tongue/chicken gizzard/chicken skin....etc. I definitely recommend ordering the yakatori and skip the sushi, their sushi is not very authentic and the vinegar in rice over powers the little amount of fish they put in there. Even as simple as California roll.....I was pretty disappointed. Overall, their impressive sake selection and fun cocktails will make it a great happy hour/lunch. If you try to fill up on just the Yakatori....it will cost you. Service was average but I love the 2nd floor seating by the glass window, you see all the tourist/bums walk by.
(3)Kayla C.
The yakitori here is awesome! I'm always trying to find more restaurants that serve it but it's so hard to find a good one. Hana Zen is quite far from where I live and work but I definitely will go back for their yakitori!
(5)L W.
Had sushi here a few times the night before the San Francisco Marathon. The sushi is pretty good but the service is lacking. We ordered a variety of sushi but the sake and tai were the freshest. Oh and the seaweed salad was very good. This is in a pretty good location and close to Civic Center/Financial District.
(2)G S.
This is my go to place for traditional sushi and yakitori, I love the Hamachi sashim, Uni and O-Toro (not always available), and I am pretty sure they are the only place in SF with Japanese peppers Yakitori. Great atmosphere and service, what more can you ask for?
(4)Marc R.
Went here for a quick lunch on a visit to San Francisco. The fish in the sushi could have been slightly fresher, but it was pretty good. The Wakame Udon was delicious! Nice service
(3)N S.
What I appreciated about this restaurant was that everything was truly fresh. I started off with the Lychee Rendevous....which was refreshingly tangy and perfect. For appetizers we had the tofu steak (in a fabulous sauce..which I recommend getting with a side of rice) and the Unagi..Which was grilled to perfection doused in a sweet/sour sauce with was paired wonderfully. For salad I got the cucumber/seaweed salad. This was the freshest seaweed I had ever tasted in my life. The combination was wonderful on the palate for those who enjoy sour/tangy combination. For the main dishes we got shitaki, avocado, and cucumber sushi rolls. Again...I cannot put enough emphasis on how fresh the vegetables were and the seaweed wrap itself. I never realized how much of a difference that could make. I have been to one other Yakitori restaurant..and this was incredible compared to the first one I went too. Something is stopping me from giving it five stars, but I would go back for sure.
(4)Tien L.
My husband and I went here last night and got sushi for celebrating my green card. All I can say is the sushi was so good and fish was so fresh. The waiter was so nice. It's pretty pricey place, but its worth for us to come and enjoy!!!
(4)Garrett H.
Your average Japanese sushi and yakatori joint.. Average that is until.... Bacon. Wrapped. Scallops. Oh dear god in heaven. There was a party in my mouth and EVERYONE was invited. (It takes them awhile to prepare even says so on the menu, but its worth the wait) You gotta try this out. Unless of course you despise delicious food. But you don't had yummy bacon do you? Overall an average experience, but I HAVE to award an additional star for the yummy yakatori
(4)Holly L.
What can I say except it was fabulous! Everything was extremely fresh and although expensive, I felt that we got our money's worth. Our waiter Arthur was very attentive and worked hard to find my stepmother items that did not have shellfish because she is allergic to it. I was happy to see a wide variety of ages. Go and you will not be disappointed-more than I can say for many of the tourist bound restaurants!
(5)Jeremy L.
Was very, very good. I had to go back for seconds of the martini scallops and lion king roll, the gomae was even memorable. The taste was infused in the spinach as opposed to being just in a sauce mixed in. Pricier but well worth it. Two of u dined and had an alcoholic beverage each and with a good tip was just over $100. And this ordering two items twice. Yes it was that good. Three words lion king roll. Will be back
(5)Camilo M.
I've had better sushi at an all-you-can-eat sushi buffet, although the toro was a good deal. Sushi tasted like it had been in my fridge over-night... disappointed.
(2)Sophie L.
we went up to the city from the south bay for an event but we got so hungry and it was raining outside so we decided to give this place a shot.. and it was just delicious! we started off with the yakitori sampler.. the pork with green onion, bacon wrapped salmon, japanese green pepper, chicken wings, and chicken.. it was yummy and it's not burn much at all i had the nigiri 9 piece and a roll.. it was so yummy! we will def go back again.. the only down side.. it's a bit pricey =P
(4)Candice S.
I did a search for Japanese near Union Square and took a chance on this place with a group of friends. It's nice and central to the night life in this area, which is really convenient for going out after dinner! We started with a modern Japanese cocktail called cho-hi. It is a drink mixed with a potato sake (sochu) that tastes similar to vodka and fresh juice. I had the lemon-hi and it was very light and fresh! Not sure how much alcohol really was in it though, but it was tasty! The food satisfied all our cravings! The rainbow roll was my favorite of the night. It seemed more fresh than most restaurants I've been to. I also tried the tuna tataki which was fabulous! Seared just right around the edges with the fresh, clean sashmi taste in the center. The vegetable tempura was simple, classic, and tasty. It's annoying when some places try to add their own spin to tempura and it ends up tasting awful. If it ain't broke...don't fix it! (words to live by!) All in all, I would definitely come back here!
(4)Gwen P.
I think Hana Zen is overlooked by locals. It is in the heart of Union Square Tourist Land and the hotels certainly send many of their minions there. I have not seen a lot of flashy advertising for this place. I first went there 7 years ago and have been a handful of times. I have not once been disappointed. I went there last night and was amazed at how buttery-melt-in-your-mouth -delicious-eye-closing-sashimigasm-tasty the toro nigiri was. Everything there was reasonably priced. Be warned that if you go there you will want to eat and eat and eat and eat and not stop. The tiny plates are wonderful. If you eat and eat and eat and eat the price of the bill will be um, not so wonderful. We had lamb chop appetizers with salt, pepper, miso dressing and lemon | gome-ae salad (spinach with sesame seeds, if I got that wrong) | miso soup | and some kind of specialty roll that was so good we took about 15 mintues to eat it. Everything was carefully presented and did not take a century to arrive. The staff was amicable, competent and a joy to be around. The waiter we had the pleasure to encounter suggested a not very expensive sake that was great, that I would buy in a store again. We didn't wait long for a table and they did not sit us in a petri dish by the door and arctic SF November breeze. All in all fabulous. I highly recommend taking a date here. I wonder if they would let you bring a blindfold so you could feed your date piece by piece? Wish I had thought of that last night. Another thing that is wonderful. It is about the company, the experience and the food. Those three essential things are not overshadowed by trendy music that is turned up so loud that you need a bullhorn to shout to your date or friend at dinner. It was a really nice change of pace to be able to converse without reading lips.
(4)craig F.
Yakitori It's chicken on a stick, for goodness sakes. What is so hard about that? It can be really amazing, yet there are no real Yakitori restaurants. After delving into Google and getting the opinions of two different friends who were born and raised in Japan, I came to the opinion that Hana Zen was the only Yakitori joint around. Turns out I had seen this place a million times and had probably dined there. Big, tourist trap type of place. We were seated in the long part of the restaurant, directly across from where the bus boys put the dirty dishes. So we had the constant smell of dirty dishwater at our table. We needed a cocktail stat! to kill our sense of smell. But that turned out to be wishful thinking. We had to stop three different servers who told us we weren't their table. This was a harbinger of things to come with respect to the service. Terrible. Oh, and the bathroom? WHOA!! It looked like a bathroom at a service station that hadn't been cleaned in years. Totally disgusting. Went in to wash my hands and probably came out with dirtier hands then when I went in. If I hadn't been looking forward to Yakitori for weeks I probably would have lost my appetite. The Yakitori menu itself was pretty limited, probably about two dozen items. Almost all dry as a bone. Was with one of my aforementioned Japanese friends and she helped choose some great Sake's and navigate some of the more ethnic Yakitori ingredients, the best of which was the Japanese pepper. It was sweet and spicy at the same time. The second best Yakitori item was a chicken wing, which speaks volumes. Decided to give two stars because I didn't sample anything else on the menu (except the Toro, which was very good, better than most places), and it really isn't a Yakitori place, Yakitori is just one of the things they serve, it's probably more of a sushi place. On the Yakitori alone, service, and facilities, it is one star all the way. Near my home there is a Japanese curry place and a Japanese ramen place. But I am still shocked that with the literally dozens of amazing cuisines, 98% of the Japanese restaurants here are sushi places. Yakitori is one of the most simple yet has the most variety -- why can't I find a decent Yakitori place? The search continues...
(2)Jim S.
Phenomenal. A great sushi place near the convention center. (they have now opened another near fisherman's wharf). The grilled Japanese peppers for an appetizer (dinner only) were amazing. Friendly staff!
(4)Tim M.
Expensive but good. Very Fresh Sushi. My Wife commented it was the best Scallop she has ever had.
(3)Stephen R.
Hana Zen is a basic yet decent Sushi stop. You wont find exotic decorations or creative reinterpretations of roles. Also, don't expect sushi presented in fancy ways here. What you will get is middle of the road product with a few stand outs. Be warned there was significant variability in the freshness of the varying fish and seafood items. The toro was bordering on mealy in texture and the squid was tough. The redeeming points were the super fresh scallops and perfectly executed spicy tuna roll. I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here again, but if I was in the area and hungry for low cost sushi I'd definitely try it again.
(2)Elle B.
Love this place. Have for years. I try to make it in whenever I'm in the city. yes you can spend some serious money, but soooo worth it. go hungry !
(4)Bruce M.
Hana Zen gets four stars from me. It's not overly expensive and the food is good, but not great. Compared to other Japanese restaurants I've been to in the area, Hana Zen is a solid place to get good Japanese food with good service. The sashimi is fresh and the kitchen hot food satisfies. The Hana Zen Roll and Rainbow Roll were good for the most part cept one side of the rainbow roll was tougher than the other side. Their futomaki is definitely not the best I've had. It was kind of small; I like my futomaki rolled big. The beef teriyaki was cooked perfectly: nice and tender. And the beef curry was a little too thick than what I'm normally used to, but it was still very good curry. I definitely recommend Hana Zen. It's not a place I would take to impress people, but the place works...
(4)Carlos E.
The hotel concierge recommended this place for lunch. We had been craving sushi. To put it in a nutshell, we get better sushi non Austin, Texas. This place was OK. Sushi was fresh, but pretty generic and plain Jane for what they charge. Also the interior needs a make over, floor is worn out and needs paint. Doesn't feel very clean inside.
(2)isaias J.
So I met a friend for lunch and we decided to try a sushi place that was new to both of us. Turns out I'd been there many, many moons ago, but it was long enough ago that I don't remember any details. Any who, we roll in and it looks kinda swanky, I feel kinda under-dressed, but hey it's SF and unless you walk into a business casual place wearing jeans and a t-shirt you're usually pretty safe. I digress...we sit down, look around and realize they are serving italian food. Doooh! We walked into First Crush, the Hana Zen entrance is on the other side ;-) Ah, familiar site, sushi bar and sake. Order assorted sashimi, hotate nigiri, ikura nigiri, a crazy cool roll wrapped in cucumber and some Sapporo. All the fish was really fresh and tasty. The beers went down easy too. The only problem we had was getting the waitress to bring us water. I don't really like the fung shui of the place. Maybe it's that there's so many windows, not quite sure but it was enough for me to notice. So there are no half stars in yelp, but i'm giving this place 3.5 starts really. Mostly for the strange fung shui and the lack of attentive service. Sushi\sashimi good. I'd consider returning if I found myself in the area.
(4)Marisa F.
An easy walk from the Marriott, I walked here about 8pm on a Thursday and it wasn't really crowded but I sat at the bar anyway. The sushi chefs are very nice and amicable while they aren't busy. It was a good place to chat with other solo tourists and locals. I got: Kurosawa (hot sake) 6oz $8.50 Spicy Tuna Roll $7.50 Philadelphia Roll $8.25 I know, not adventurous at all, but I was totally beat from walking around and I just wanted a safe snack. It was very delicious, albeit plain. The ginger here tastes different than what I'm used to in ATL. I met a famous person there at the bar (won't give away his name) and he says he goes to this place every single time he's in town. So there ya go.
(3)Matthew R.
I enjoyed my time, good food, but I will not seek it out to show to friends. The food is very simple. I got some sushi rolls which were fairly good. Put together well. The beef teriyaki was a little cheap looking I enjoyed the ambiance though. Sitting on the second floor above the hustle and bustle of Francisco was very nice. I would eat hear with a smile again but I will try other places first.
(3)Elisabeth P.
My friend and I went to Hana Zen this week and it was great! I was starving so my judgment may be way off, but the garlic pork skewers were excellent and enough to bring me back in. Garlic + pork = awesome. I also had the crunchy California roll, which was superb, and the two items proved enough for my shrunken, neglected stomach. I agree with Chandanit - they should be serving real Japanese tea, not Numi. It's good, but I can get that anywhere. Also, their simple rolls were a little pricey - $7.95 or something ridiculous for a Philly roll (they lose a star for that). Come on! However, despite these complaints, I will certainly return to try more.
(4)Aly M.
I recently visited SF with my family and we were reccomended this place. I'm from SoCal and I was hoping to try some great sushi out here. This place isn't too bad. I have had better here at home. It's somewhat expensive, but that's expected because it's sushi. I decided to get the crunchy california rolls and those were delicious. The tuna and eel were good too but not great. My sisters got teriyaki chicken and veggies and for the price you have to pay, the portions are small. The next time I come back I'll probably try a different sushi place. It does get crowded, but their service is pretty fast and efficient.
(3)Erin B.
Went here last night with some friends and it was all pretty good. Good food, decent prices (if you had sushi or created your own combo) and awesome people watching! The only downsides were the kinda dirty bathroom, how far the bathroom is (think a block down in the building) and the fact that it took at least 30-45 mins for us to get our bill, we were kinda ignored after we finished eating.
(4)Syl P.
Good grilled squid! Highly recommend it. Tasty, good texture, and nice presentation. Udon noodle soup was good too. Chicken heart, chicken meatball and scallop with bacon wrap are okay. Vegetable tampura was nice. All in all, good stop for a nice afternoon with friends. Pricy though, but expected being so close to Union Square.
(3)Christina S.
I've visited Hana Zen once a year in the fall for a few years now, and they consistently provide good service and good sushi for a price comparable to other restaurants in the Union Square/Financial District in San Fran. I specifically recommend the Kobe beef carpaccio and crunchy spicy tuna roll . The waiter took the time to recommend a good sake for our table to try, and it was a big hit. Early evenings you can be seated almost immediately without a reservation; after 7pm you might wait 30 mins or so for a table.
(3)Tyler M.
We dropped by here for a snack today. The sushi and service were good, but it was a bit on the expensive side for what we got.
(3)Michael P.
The first time I was at Hana Zen we had Yakatori and it was fairly good. We went again the other day and it was awful. The service was very bad, the Miso soup was barely luke warm, the calimari sushi was very slimy, and the tea was not hot. I will never return to the restaurant again since there are so many other better choices in the Union Square area. Michael P.
(1)Stella C.
I work in union square and met up with a friend while waiting for another to come from BART so we didn't want to wander off too far since we had to take the BART train back anyway. Even though I work in the area, I never really noticed that there is hardly any sushi restaurants around here! This is disappointing. The hostess was accommodating, she was really busy and the waiting area is small but she kept things moving and getting people into tables even when they didn't have reservations. I am a bit surprised you even need a reservation... on a thursday evening? We were seated within 10 mins, our waiter was good and attentive without being overbearing, and he was great in bringing us everything very quickly. They don't have a ton of rolls to order from, but the fish is fresh and it's pretty tasty. I understand this is union square, but it is just way too pricey here for what it is.
(3)a s.
Has definitely seen better days. Was great in 2002, but now? Airport food for airport prices. Clearly new and less qualified owners.
(2)B B.
this restaurant is literally one block long! we sat on the other side of the restaurant (closer to ellis st.) and it felt like i walked half a block just to use the frickin' bathroom! the servers at this restaurant must be in really good shape! cause i was tired by the time i got back to my seat! dont come here for the sushi. it taste pretty mediocre. i mean, the fish was fresh but the sushi rice wasn't properly seasoned. yes, i'm a sushi snob. if you want good sushi, go to SAKANA. however, i did enjoy this one roll that we ordered. i forgot what it was called. but i remember it had the word "Sunset." it had tuna, tobiko, and some other fish wrapped in cucumber. it was goooood! but DO come here for their yakitori. its very tasty. i enjoyed the chicken wings, the chicken, the unagi, and the vegetables. we also had chicken gizzard, chicken heart, tongue, liver, and some other crazy stuff. but i was too scared to try it. FYI, this place is kinda pricey. so expect to drop over $50+ for dinner. can you believe their chicken terriyaki dinner was over $20?! thats the first time i've ever seen it that high! i mean who the hell spends that much money on chicken terriyaki? you can get that anywhere! oh wait, we're in union square. i forgot about the tourists. when i left, i was still pretty hungry.
(3)Michael F.
Eating here was like eating at a chinese restaurant because the hostess, waitresses and sushi chefs all spoke cantonese, making the impression that this is a chinese-run japanese restaurant. As such, I have to dock them a couple stars. The sushi rolls are mediocre. Not bad but not spectacular.
(2)Raena S.
This is hands down my FAVORITE SUSHI RESTAURANT IN THE BAY AREA!!! I absolutely love sushi, and I live in the Peninsula, but I will drive up to the city just to eat at Hana Zen because it is that good. Their service is decent, but the food is wonderful and the sushi is fresh, innovative, and delicious. People I take here always leave feeling so satisfied. Their kobe carpaccio appetizer with the ponzu sauce is to die for, and their tempura dynamite roll is a must-try. I have come here countless times and it never disappoints!
(5)Yan M.
Good quality and fresh sushi! Had the best toro and ebi here. We had an abundance of food but luckily I didn't have to foot the bill. Prompt service but this could be attributed to my friend whose neighbor is the manager of this restaurant. Update: The agadeshi tofu, Rock N Roll sushi and Salmon and Avocado roll were all excellent. Tried the Fried Tempura banana with ice-cream which was a great texture and very tasty. We sat at the counter and there was no wait.
(4)Mike P.
A good alternative to Sushi Rock. I went to this place on a Friday night and it was lively and fun. The waiter was excellent; attentive, knowledgeable, and uber-friendly. It is a nice place on the second floor of a corner building. Large windows let you look outside and see the hustle and bustle of Cyril Magnin while enjoying your meal. The miso soup was excellent as was the sake. I was excited to see the list and origins of all the sake they had to offer. Pretty cool! I also had the yellowtail roll, Amaebi (love eating the deep fried shrimp's head!), and sake sushi. The fish was fresh and tasty. My only gripe is that it took a little longer, than hoped for and expected, to get my food. But otherwise the service was excellent and the food was good. I will definitely be returning. 4 stars!!!
(4)T H.
Do not eat at this place. The restaurant is mediocre if that. Nothing special about the sushi or the service. I was on vacation in San Fran this past weekend and ate there on Friday night. Needless to say, my Saturday was ruined due to the food poisoning that I got. It is now the Tuesday after my visit there and myself along with the others in my party that ate sushi, still have the effects of the bad sushi we ate. You are better off going down the street and eating at BK, get yourself a Whopper, and save yourself a lot of money and time on the toilet.
(1)Candice K.
I consider myself very easy to please when it comes to restaurants but this one was one of my worst dining experiences in San Francisco. I took my mom and cousin there for dinner and it was a huge mistake. The food was ok but the service and the prices are just awful. Getting our waiter's attention was almost impossible, he was rude and pretended not to hear when we called. The checkwas another unpleasant surprised that left a bad taste in my mouth. Wouldn't recomend it to anyone.
(1)Christopher K.
I try not to go to many of the eateries around the hotels in Union Square. Most of them make their livings off of serving low-caliber food to tourists who probably don't even know what their missing anyway. We're talking about food that makes Denny's seem gourmet. Well, Hana Zen is a little bit different. I went into this restaurant with minimal expectations of a mediocre meal with bad service at a steep price. I was kinda right: The decor was modern and trendy, all the way down to the polished stones used to rest the chopsticks. The prices were a little higher than I would expect for such a joint. And the service was aloof, distant and generally unresponsive. I was half wrong: The food was simply terrific. It's better than anything I've had in a five block radius of the joint by leaps and bounds. The ingredients were fresh and the sauces were expertly prepared.
(3)David H.
This is not a bad comment to this restaurant, just a personal observation of my weakness...but I ALWAYS seem to order too much when I go to a restaurant these days. There was no except at Hana Zen. Our table was filled with plates. The food was very good. I wouldn't say this is the best I have had but I'm not an expert at Japanese food. The wait staff is run ragged it seems. The place bustles with business. Groups of business men, groups of what seem to be young college students out for a good time, couples, the place is packed. But the staff does a great job at serving. We got a nice table next to the window overlooking the Chinese restaurant across the street (which we ate at two days later for kicks). No complaints but I would definitely get reservations or it appeared people were having to wait over 30 minutes for a table (on the weekend). Great place (the best, it seems for Union Square area) for Japanese food. GIve it a try! You won't go aware hungry. :-)
(4)Jessica L.
This place could have easily gotten 4 stars from me. But the service was VERY slow. We had to ask for our water to be refilled every single time - 4 times!!! Come on!!! My sister and I met a family friend here and his cousins - a really nice group of people - thanks Al and Dennis! We only had sushi here and all the rolls were good - I especially liked the Sunset Strip Roll (no rice and wrapped with cucumber - very unique) and the crispy spicy tuna roll. We also got plates of sashimi which were very good. I saw lots of people ordering yakatori so I will assume it is good here. I would love to go back and try some different things. They had a lot of unique appetizer dishes. After about 8:30pm this place was PACKED - come early or try to make a reservation. oh and Corkage is $15
(3)Kat D.
sushi is pretty good/okay but it's a little pricey...and so close to Union Square, you get tons of tourists here....they bring along that tourist vibe. The whole place feels out of place in San Francisco and more LV or LA...maybe why tourists like it so much.
(2)Rik L.
I went here last night based on a recommendation from a friend. It's one of the top sushi places in S.F. We sat near the window, which was nice, had a decent view of the city. I forgot try to miso soup!. We got spider sushi, California roll and Dragon sushi... All very good!. Oh, the drinks were delicious!, I had two sake mojito's.
(3)Eric W.
When I go to a place with ~$6 to $8 per pair of skewers of Yakitori, I expect quality! This was not the case, unfortunately, for Hana Zen. This place was unacceptable in taste, way too much on the price, and had horrible service. I wasn't sure if the waitress was either Autistic or Attention-deficit, but we had to tell her 3 times what we wanted. The fried Calamari was so oily (and late), we had to just order something else instead. The only good memory that I had there was probably the beer (Kirin), icy cold and very smooth.
(1)Superhiro M.
this place is not an "authentic" japanese place........... come on now... --------------------------------------------------Â-------------------------------------- what has happened to this place...?? food is getting worse and worse... i do not recommend anyone to go there especially for lunch. the saddest plates i have ever seen in my entire life... not worth your money.
(1)Ben R.
Pretty good Japanese food, Yakitori-style. Kind of a strange layout (long and thin), but reasonably authentic.
(4)Jenny K.
Excellent sushi and a wide variety of sakes. We got the Sake Flight #1 that had Suigei, Dassai, and Kikusui and all were very good. My favorite was the Suigei or "The Drunken Whale" and next time I see this sake I am definitely going to order it again. As far as food goes we mostly got rolls but tried one of the yakatoris they specialized in. We got the chicken and scallions yakitori and we were only mildly impressed. What really made the dinner great were the rolls. They were all soooooooo darn good. We tried the caterpillar roll, hana zen roll, and two of the crunchy spicy tuna rolls. The crunchy spicy tuna rolls we agreed were some of the best rolls we had ever had. They were just amazing.
(4)Chanli S.
After a long day of holiday shopping, our group was happy to find Hana Zen and getting some hot sake. When we walked in, there were no tables, so we had to wait. There was no bar, but the hostess was nice enough to get us beers while we waited in the very very small waiting area. When we were seated, I was happy to learn that they not only serve your standard sushi, sashimi and teriyaki, but also yakitori. I had ordered the chicken wing and unagi yakitori. They were both great and for the price, it was the perfect portion. Sashimi was very fresh too. We had the sashimi combination and a couple of rolls.
(4)Jason P.
Was walking around and ran into this spot. Not bad. reasonably priced. Good lunch specials. Friendly staff.
(3)Mike O.
A reliable spot for oo-toro, so if you're into extra-oily tuna belly, this is the place. Good sushi fish in general. The non-sushi fare is pretty standard, though there's a nice selection. Regarding the service, I always get the impression that my servers are testing me to see if I'll remember that they didn't bring my appetizer or iced tea, but I think the truth is that they are sincerely (and endearingly) forgetful. Anyway, Hana Zen is not quite worth the price, but you're really just paying for the right to eat sushi near Union Square, right?
(3)Michael D.
The worst overpriced Japanese food I have ever had. Went here during dinner, ordered the chicken kabobs. Chicken was terrible and gritty. Nasty aftertaste. Rude and slow service.
(1)Noelle Q.
More like a 3.7 but the sunset strip roll made me exceedingly happy so I'm rounding up. Surprisingly good sushi and the fried scallops were delicious. Ample seating for groups, but the service is definitely spotty. Large sake selection and sake cocktails.
(4)Erica G.
I went here for lunch today and was surprised at this little find. I'm always craving sushi when I'm in Union Square but never know where to get it...well, now I do! It has great decor and the service is excellent. I only had the dragon roll, which was awesome, but will definitely go back to try more. And they have a large sake selection and offer sake flights, which I'll definitely try when I go back!
(4)Nick L.
This place is consistantly good. Dinner there is a tad pricey but lunch there is very reasonable. Hands down the best place in the city for Kanpyo Maki.
(4)Melissa G.
Just had lunch here yesterday for the first time and it was very tasty! I was starving, though, so maybe my review is a little biased, but everything was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. I ordered the bento box with salmon sashimi, spicy tuna roll and chicken teriyaki, and was very happy. Also, our starter of edaname was salty and buttery - yum.
(4)Sofia A.
The Sushi bar is the best spot. You can talk to the chef's and they will always tell you what's the freshest catch to have.
(3)Jihyun K.
This place has been around for years and has changed ownership at least once since the opening. I first went not long after it first opened and the yakatori that they served blew me away! Cut to 3 years later I was working in the theatre district (late hours) and was reminded of Hana Zen when they invited the crew over for free sushi! Hello!!! They were promoting their new *very late* hours. Love it! The sushi here is ALL GOOD. But the best are their crunchy deep-fried rolls. Heavenly! I've also tried the yakitori recently and bacon-wrapped scallops - still wonderful! I have eaten here numerous times and enjoy introducing my friends to Hana Zen. Everyone is always blown away by the great food. The only complaint I have is the lighting. The space is designed well but i think they should make the lighting a tad more ambient. But, that's just me!
(4)Ben R.
Ok, I see all the folks below who said $20 minimum is too much, but hey, $20 for sushi? Doesn't seem that bad considering the goodness of fresh seafood... and every restaurant in this area seems to have a minimum. I liked this spot because it was close to where I was going, had great tasting sushi (though the portions could be way bigger) and decent grilled (yakitori) items as well. I tried a Chicken meatball/shiitake/carrot w/ egg app. and it was superb. We had hot towels, lots of shiro maguro, himachi, fresh kake, nice appetizers, good company, and I was starving to boot. This Polish guy sitting next to me was entertaining too - he kept widening his eyes at the stuff that we ordered (I think it was his first raw fish experience but hey, I love Tuna! we might not have it during our lifetime someday, so i'ma crush it well i can!). The wait staff seemed overworked but the Sushi chefs were willing and able to serve up to the bar in record time. It is a bit crowded on a Saturday night, but that's a good thing. This is not the place I would bring more than 4 people with me because the bar is small, and again, crowded. I didn't check out the dining area much. Definitely will return!
(4)Robert R.
Tasty sushi combos that are fresh and excellently prepared. Went here last night while shopping down in the union square area.... we had a craving for sushi, but felt like we were a little underdressed for Anzu. So, the obvious answer was Hana Zen. The staff was fast and friendly, and the sushi was great. Big ups to the deep fried spicy tuna roll. If you are looking for a sushi house in the area, try it out, it is THE tastiness.
(5)Lynn K.
We went to Hana Zen over the weekend and the food did not disappoint as usual. We love the tebasakis (chicken wings), tsukune, asparagus and filet mignon sticks. The scallop and bacon skewers are my favorite. The sushi and tempura we ordered were fresh. The servers were very cheerful and pleasant. I give the food and service four stars.
(4)Hash k.
They have a great sushi bar, a bit pricy but i guess it's worth the money. Impressivee the service.
(3)Patrick P.
I walked into Hana Zen randomly two years ago while I was Christmas shopping, expecting a typical Union Square tourist trap. What I found instead is a welcome surprise: a fantastic sushi bar with great quality fish, and great service. Since my first visit I've returned many times with friends and family and always had a blast. The one downside? Its prime location can leave it a bit packed and difficult to get a table at dinner time.
(4)Andre G.
imagine the best food, the best atmosphere, the best location, and then get REALLY drunk on quality sake and sochu. that equals the best dining experience in not only union square, but also the entire bay area - hell - the entire west coast. i wouldn't be surprised if they took over the world with their style and taste. this restaurant sets the standard for quality in my mind.
(5)Juan d.
Forget the sushi here, you can get that at about a million other places in the City -- this place is a must-stop for its yakitori! The little skewers combine those three glorious qualities: heat, fat, and salt. Delicious with beer. Recommendations: chicken wings, pork, asparagus & salt pork, and those occasionally spicy peppers.
(5)Chris L.
We shared some izakaya items here for dinner. It was good. The service is ok. We were seated quickly on a Thursday night but they were out of black cod. The eggplant was ok, the monkfish liver was ok, the chicken skewer was good, and hamachi kama was ok. The ground chicken eggrolls were tiny but ok and the bacon wrapped scallops were bouncy. I'd come back to try their other items on their extensive menu.
(3)Annie Z.
I've been working in the downtown area for about 3 years now and I didn't even know this japanese place existed. Yay for japanese food! :) I liked their yakitori alot. prices are a bit higher than san mateo, but you really don't need that much to be full. The chicken wings came with 4 wings! It was really good =) I enjoyed the saba shioyaki as well. I'll definitely be back in the future!
(4)Ahmad A.
Was pleasantly awesome!! Try the dragon or crunchy tuna, they were great! Service was great, the waitress had a good sense of humor. The reception lady was nice too. Overall, Hana Zen is a great affordable sushi place in SF.
(4)Sean B.
Cute little combination yakitori and sushi place. Friendly servers. Reasonable prices. The sushi was nice, though nothing absolutely blew me out of the water. Still, if you're in the mood for these two particular things, and you're walking down the street, I'd pop in again. I'm not convinced it's the best in the city, but you could do far worse.
(4)Albertino M.
Time: 4:40pm/57°F cloudy Purpose: On this day, I hatch up a plan to walk the city instead. There are so many places I've come across, but yet have try it out. This was due to press for time or sense of security in area. The HH special caught my attention right away. Ambiance: This restaurant shapes like an T-shape located on the top of First Crush restaurant. Some may feel discouraged to go people with disability may not want to go because the flight of stairs. Once you make you way up you have a choice to the right is the sushi bar with about 8-9 person seater along with 5-6 tables set up for two. The other side has about 4-5 tables of various counts of seating style, two closed together facing the corner as well as the kitchen. Both sides offers a view of union square and activities going on. Now if you want more to yourself then you'll go to the right side. The left side is more of for larger groups and seatings. There's no sun that will affect your eyes, place is completely overshadow by taller hotels and buildings. Staff: Girl about late 20s really friendly and bubbly, engaging in questions a lot. She was the only waitress for me during the night. Started real well from the beginning, knowledgeable about their HH offerings. I wasn't sure as to what to order yet, but she ask what kind of taste I'm feeling? In terms of my favorite food. We filter through the list and came to a conclusion after a short brief 3 minutes or so. She came back filling my cup of green tea every 7-8 minutes. Not sure why, but she ask what nationality I was. She insisted that I must be mixed. I say, okay what ever you want me to be then. She started laughing! Cleanliness: Grade A-, sticky tabletop as, I lifted elbow it was a tad grimey. Chairs had crumbs from lunch time crowd. A tell tale sign that it wasn't look after last patrons left. Eats/Drinks: Chicken wings 4pcs/$4, spicy crunchy tuna roll $5.75, and draft Sapporo $3. Four piece wings were delicious piping hot with skin crispy when brought to table. The sauce was not too sweet, but a mild balance of sweet and tangy like. Definitely a hit versus the traditional buffalo style hot wings. Tuna roll was delicious as fresh as it can get everything made in front of you. Roll held its shape never fell apart to the slightest touch. Exterior was crunchy all around not one part left touched. Spicy level was on par balance with a good hint of spice mixture embedded with tuna. The garnishment of tobiko was a little off, I suspect it was smelt roe used. Restaurants tends to use more because of lower cost with identical looks. All in all, I would certainly come back for HH again. Main Features: Beers during HH bottle or draft $3. Products/Services: *Disclaimer* since I came here for their HH only. I took a snapshot of their menu on HH offerings. Checkout picture below! Next visit will be for regular entrees follow by an update. Takes plastic, full table service, no Wi-Fi. Punch Lines: Union square, average seating, sushi counter, pleasing flavors, Japanese chefs, good HH prices, warm service, friendly knowledgeable, kitschy decor, no slum dog, drool worthy, calm vibe, imaginable toppings, business lunch, lively atmosphere, zippy service, causal and delicious, can't go wrong, unpretentious, satisfactory. Tradeoffs: One of three Japanese places within union square area offering HH premium beer at below competition prices. Final Thoughts: I realize that sometimes when your not driving there, are things you don't need to worry about. Things such as meter, tickets, finding a spot, vandalism, towed aways. It was pretty fun to explore on foot being a local there are places and events that you normally don't see or hear of. Good way to do some shopping and grab some light bites without any hassles.
(4)Dora C.
When I first walked into this restaurant, I thought it looked very nice and a good place for talking. The hostess was really nice and let us choose any seat because hardly any customers were there. That should've been our first red flag! After we were seated, we browsed at the menu. We saw only about 10 items on the Happy Hour menu, most of them were edamame, gyoza, or very small appetizers. When the waiter came to take our order, my friend and I wanted to order the bento box, however the waiter said that it was only served during lunch time! What kind of Japanese restaurant only serves bento boxes during lunch??? To my dismay, I decided to order Chicken Teriyaki from the Kids Menu instead. At first the waiter was really nice and let me order it, then he suddenly changed his mind and said no, and that there was another Chicken Teriyaki dish that didn't come with rice or miso soup but for $3 more! Obviously I didn't order it, so I just went with a spicy tuna roll. My mom got the Rainbow roll, and none of the fish was fresh... My mom even complained, but the waiter pretended not to understand [because my mom has an accent] and basically just left the table. DO NOT COME HERE! I'm sure there are way better sushi places in San Francisco, this is just not one of them.
(1)Julio F.
Note: This for the Hana Zen location at Pier39. Avoid this place! When we asked if we could get some of the specials posted at the door, our server replied that it was only for the bar, not the dining area. The sushi is terrible quality (alot of rice but not alot of meat) and overpriced due to touristy location ($7/roll...typically $5-$6 in other Midwest, East Coast, and West Coast areas). Not sure if it was a good or bad thing we only got 6 pieces per maki roll (salmon avocado and California). On top of that, the pickled ginger looked like it was reused...maybe due to slow business? There was only a hand full of tables in there during a 2pm weekday lunch for a packed tourist location. One of us ordered the fish and chips but had to send it back to the kitchen because of hair we found fried into the batter. Server did apologize but it didn't end the awkward moment from then on. Think he was trying to avoid our table out of sheer embarrassment. Only thing going for this place is the view of the harbor, Alcatraz, and tourists below. Should have tried out the Fog Harbor Fish House at the start of the pier instead. Place looked way busier, had a better interior, and probably had better food for the price. If you really are craving sushi or other real Japanese dishes, just hop on a Muni bus to Japantown (area near intersection of Post and Fillmore) which is only about a few miles away.
(1)Mey S.
I came here for the first time for a birthday party couple of weeks ago. We had a reservation and the staff were extremely accommodating and friendly. The waitress was nice and kept checking on us. Food was delicious and were nicely presented. My friend ordered I believe it was the beef teriyaki and oh man it was yummy. The chicken wings are good too. See my food pic I posted.
(5)Nora N.
The sushi was good! Maybe too expensive for what it is. I was thrilled to see so many options on their menu. There was no wait around dinner time for the bar which was a great seat near the windows. Cool restaurant. The Polish host was probably the nicest part of my time here. He had that apologetic smile. The sorry for making you wait look. We were there for maybe 20 seconds? He was on it. I hope he gets a raise. The servers however, seemed to avoid us. I asked if it was better if we ordered from our waitress or the chefs directly and our girl said it's better to order from her. But her and the other girl just kept running around. I guess it was really busy... A little.. "I'll be right with you" wouldn't hurt. Or even hold up a finger..as in "One second". It's nice to be acknowledged when you're searching desperately for staff. You don't even have to smile. With all the places in the city for sushi, I'll go somewhere else.
(2)Heather M.
Great service and food! We stopped in a late dinner and enjoyed a few rolls, miso soup, sake, and a few appetizers. The rolls were nicely prepared and just as spicy as we had hoped. Our various plates were well-timed but everything arrived pretty quickly. I'm sure there are a million Japanese restaurants to choose from in this neighborhood, but this one is a definite yes!
(4)Rena A.
Tempura shrimp roll!! Delicious and fairly quick service. To walk down the street to get there was a bit freaky but the restaurant itself was an oasis. Fantastic lite lunch.
(4)Anne M.
I stopped by for lunch at 11:30 on a Thursday, and was the only one there. At first, I thought this was a bad sign, but they had just opened for the day. It was more busy by the time I left. The service was great and attentive. I had a nigiri sampler plate that came with a spicy tuny roll. The tuna wasn't very spicy, but was all right. Everything else was totally adequate. I'd give this place 3.5 stars on the food alone, but the service pushed it up to a solid 4.
(4)Joel S.
Solid, no frills Japanese restaurant near Union Square. We had a late, jet lagged dinner. We split a good rainbow roll and then had udon and soba noodles in brother with tempura. Not bad at all...
(3)Joseph C.
Good service but the food was only fair. Small portions on the beef ribs. Soy sauce bottle was dirty on the outside. Won't give them another try.
(2)Luciana R.
One star is for the happy hour and the prices. The other star is for the non-sushi items, spring rolls, gyoza, that are good. The lack of the other stars is for the sushi. The crunchy tuna is an unrecognizable deep fried thing that takes away the beauty of sushi. Do yourself a favor and eat sushi somewhere else...but everything else, go ahead and enjoy.
(2)Taranum A.
Really slow service. The server took 15 minutes to get a glass of water. The food though is decent. Overall ambience and experience is quite poor.
(2)Jordan D.
Great Sushi! It is hidden in the heart of San Francisco, but those are the best places. If you go, I recommend the Lion King roll.
(4)Tony M.
What a great find! Amazing Yakitori scallops wrapped in bacon, Yakitori grilled salmon wrapped in bacon, garlic pork skewers and the Lion King crab roll was so delicious! An absolute must try place, when I walked in didn't expect much but was wowed by the great tasting food and service! Will be back soon!
(5)Ann V.
Got the sushi rolls (Hamachi scallop and Cherry Blossom) which were good/filling/ average. Server was nice and attentive and helpful in deciding menu selections. Liked the Lychee sake cocktail (sweet) and the grapefruit-hi sochu chu-hi drink (not so sweet if that's your preference... Tastes like vodka and grapefruit juice). Prices a little on the higher side.
(3)Jaimie C.
Solid sushi, especially for touristy Fisherman's Wharf. Its a little too pricey for the quality.O ur bill was over $100 for three people and two of us shared a plate. I paid $13.95 for a lion king roll and the rolls were tiny and a glass of house red was $6.00. However, the restaurant decor is classy and you cannot beat the views of the bay and Alcatraz Island. Unfortunately, the food leaves much to be desired.
(3)Jasmine K.
Poor service. Albeit busy, it does not warrant waiters to dump food on the table and leave. Nor does it warrant staff to be short mannered. We waited for 2hours for our food.
(2)Dan K.
Hana Zen is a decent place to grab sushi if you're in the neighborhood. The food is good, but not great, as is the restaurant in general. I thought everything was a bit more expensive than it needed to be. Best thing on the menu was the yakitori stick appetizer.
(3)Theron A.
When we first walked in, we were greeted by the hostess. I believe she said her name was Adele. She was extremely friendly, and when we asked her if this place was any good. She made us feel like we made a good choice coming in. She also came by a couple times to see how our meal was going. The nigiri was good, but the pieces were very small. I also ordered the chicken teriyaki. I can't lie, it was pretty dang good. I don't know if I'd say it was $20 good, but I'm not saying it's not.
(4)Helena M.
Stopped in for a very quick "snack" during happy hour, and was treated to a large glass of wine and an original take on the spicy tuna roll. It was crunchy/fried on the outside and delicious. Served practically immediately. I would have ordered more food because it was priced well within my tight budget, but I was leaving for a free food opportunity. :-) If I were a local, I'd make this a regular outing.
(5)Bruce B.
Great authentic Japanese style restaurant with master chef in charge. Just off Union Square
(4)Jessica B.
The place had great food but the customer service wasn't too great. My three year old son happened to spill some water (he is a very well behaved 3 year old) and the waiter acted as if he was throwing food or something. He moved us to another table away from everyone did even acknowledge my apology. I understand that children can be frustrating but the waiter did not need to be so rude to us. Probably won't return.
(2)Snellville S.
Overpriced with below average fish and presentation quality. Not overly impressed with cleanliness during fish preparation behind sushi bar. Fish was small proportions and a little on the dry side. I had the dynamite mussels and one was still attached to the shell. I couldn't eat it without ripping it to shreds making a mess of my last bite in the appetizer. I paid $42 for $25 worth of below average sushi. Can't say that I will be back.
(2)Ingrid L.
I'm struggling to even give it a two. I had miso that was so salty that my fingers pretty much swelled right in front of me. I ordered two rolls. One was the spicy crunchy tuna, the other was a tuna and scallion roll. The tuna in both was sub par. They apparently fry the spicy crunchy tuna (instead of sprinkling it with crunchy flakes like the rest of the nation), which leaves the tuna inside of the roll tasting like it came out of a can. There were many items on the plastic menu that they didn't actually carry. Food was gross and was definitely not worth the cost. I had a better meal at the little deli underneath the restaurant the night before.. the only positive part of the experience was my waiter. He was great. He needs to go find a real restaurant to work at.
(2)Adam B.
If you want to get expensive food-court food very quickly this is the place for you. The service was very good, the teriyaki chicken was nearly inedible and the dragon roll and fried unagi roll was mediocre at best. That said the servers were polite and there may be more to the menu than I explored. But I won't be going back.
(2)Ye S.
i made an online order. and they told me the item i ordered is out after almost 25 minutes! so i waited almost half an hour for nothing. why not let me know in the beginning??
(1)Allison S.
We were looking for sushi and walked in on a Monday night. It was not busy at all. Sushi slices were so small and thin and the yakitori was dry. They also managed to slightly burn the grilled salmon. The service was much better than the food, but I would not return. This for sure felt like an overpriced sushi place that could get away with the food because of its location.
(2)A T.
Hana Zen is definitely a place to try! This was a Friday night dinner with a friend. Cocktail Menu - I wish there were more options and the way they tasted was just mediocre. The Cosmopolitan my friend ordered needed to be a little sweeter because the Sake was still noticeable to the point you couldn't enjoy the drink. The Lychee cocktail was good on my part and our last two drinks for the night, which were the lemon drop and margarita, were sour with not enough alcohol. If you want enjoyable drinks I would order only one to go with your meal and that's it. Sashimi Menu - I only started to explore the raw fish menu at Sushi restaurants, but the prices for only 2 pieces per order were a little steep. The quality and freshness of the fish is great, but for only 2 per order doesn't feel worth it to me. I would recommend if you like and desire more raw fish then stick with the special roll menu that provides raw fish. Entrée's -We started with fresh oysters as appetizers and I liked the flavor and the taste of their sauce, but the meat of the oysters were sliced and thinned, which made it not as satisfying. The Tempura Dynamite Roll was the best out of all the things we ordered on the entrée menu. It was fresh, crisp and the sauce was amazing. The Unagi Sobe-Age was good, but it wasn't coated in enough tempura batter and was not fried long enough. The consistency was still very soft and the vegetables that came along with it were still hard. Our last order of the evening was the Cherry Blossom Roll. The salmon and sauce were great, but my recommendation to those who have a sensitive palette to greens I would stay away from this one because it does distract you from the roll itself. Overall Service and Result - As you can see we ordered a lot to explore the menu and see what this place had to offer. If you're just trying to grab a quick lunch or dinner and you're not worried about the quantity and fulfillment of your meal then this place is a great stop. I wish they had better portions, but the service was great and flavors were different than other places I've tried. A-Ok, but some tweaks to the cocktail menu and portions would help this place out.
(3)Michael C.
If you happen to find your way to this place DO NOT sit at the Sushi bar. Horrid;experience. The Sushi Chef made me feel like I was annoying him and asking him to actually deliver the kind of sushi I am used to. Spent time in Japan and all over Asia, this was terrible. Stay away. Fish was not fresh nor was it cut to order. Cant tell you how disappointing. Would never go back
(1)Malachi R.
Nothing exciting or particularly innovative in the sushi world, but was tasty and good for a work meet-up I had in the area.
(3)Yola N.
We waited a while to be seated but nome of the staff greeted us or acknowledged our presence. So we left.
(1)Marthese M.
Although it was conveniently located near the Hilton and Parc55 hotels and Union Square, the food is mediocre at best. I should have taken it as a warning when I walked in and there was barely anyone there at lunchtime. I ordered the Ten Zara Soba. The tempura lacks taste (I actually dipped them in soy sauce (which I never do) because I got no tempura dipping sauce I'm accustomed to getting at other places and I wasn't about to dip my tempura in the same place in dipping my noodles). The soba noodles were very light in color, a telltale sign that they are not pure buckwheat but mixed with wheat flour (the cheaper way to go) and the soba dipping sauce was average. For a place that acts so high class and has inflated prices, their food does not match. The waiter was a little stiff and the place could have used some cleaning up on the exterior. Not a place that I would visit again.
(2)Ryan M.
The mark of a good sushi place is the sashimi. This place has quality, fresh sashimi. I was in town for work (visiting from NYC) and over the course of 10 days I ate there 4 times. It's a little pricey but if you want quality, you're going to have to pay for it.
(5)Miss J.
I ordered to go- spent $101 on food for two people- some rolls, two dinners and a cucumber salad. Totally not worth it. Oh and I was only walking two blocks but they packaged everything so poorly that the food leaked through the paper bag and things started falling out after a block. How? They packaged the food up and then turned it on its side so it'd fit in the bag. Seriously, this is ridiculous. I have never been so pissed about spending a hundred bucks. Overpriced and NO attention to detail. Oh and they forgot my salads. And when I asked the girl at the front what something was on a roll she said it was a sauce. It was a white fish. Hamachi. I'm sorry but don't go here, especially not for takeout. For what it's worth the food tasted fine. Maybe I just had a random bad experience.
(1)Marc R.
A little pricey, but not sure that it's way out of line for sushi in SF, so I won't take off a star. We had a party of 10, and they were able to accommodate us without us feeling too cramped. Waitstaff were very pleasant, and pretty attentive. The soup was lukewarm. The sushi and sashimi was good, although I don't claim to be a great judge of either -- I like both, but don't eat either that often. Everyone seemed to enjoy their meals. They had a large selection of cooked entrees too, for those who didn't care for raw fish.
(4)Tinamarie T.
Wow gross! Horribly rolled sushi rolls. All rice! But come here if you want to get a free high. They were smoking pot in the kitchen and it smelled all throughout the restaurant. Let's not forget the bugs flying around everywhere.
(1)Igor P.
Average sushi
(3)Bernice W.
There was nothing bad about the meal i had this fine afternoon! I ate very simple dishes but i enjoyed them all. I had the pork gyoza which was fried and delicious. I also had the shrimp tempura roll which was a tad fishy but still very good. The bathroom was really cool and clean! Would go back! Bernice out.
(4)Samantha R.
My husband and I went here after a long day of sightseeing and it really hit the spot. The staff was very friendly and welcoming, even after we came in a few minutes before they stopped seating. We enjoyed the nigiri, especially the tuna belly and unagi. The view of the water was nice too!
(5)Chris H.
Hey, you know what? I popped in for an appetizer and a beer before my friends and I wandered up the street for Ramen- figured I'd stick with the Japanese thing. So, I had a hypha and a chicken karagge app. Well? It was really good but I had to go as my friends showed up. Wish I had more time to try more yakitori.
(4)Lora M.
Like it or not, I love to flirt even if I already have the best. Come on, when you're hungry and faraway who wouldn't be tempted? Today, I gave this place a shot and although it may not be the best, it was worth it. I gave a 4 star rating because there's no 3.8 star option. I ordered dragon roll it was good but not the best. They have the best yellow tail (belly) nigiri. I highly recommend it's full of flavors and fresh. Staffs are prompt, sushi chef is friendly and conversational which was nice especially when you go alone like I did. I would definitely come back here again.
(4)C W.
Ordered: From Yakitori section: Scallop wrapped in bacon; very tasty, though a bit on a dry side. Chicken Heart: also dry, has a bit of that game-y taste, wouldn't recommend. Bacon wrapped salmon: request it to be half done so that it would come out moist and tender. Mushroom: also on the dry side. From Sushi side: Ikura with quail egg: very good Uni: very very fresh, definitely would recommend this one Ice Dragon roll: very crunchy with the cucumber and jalapeno, but the tempura shrimp was soggy and didn't taste like it was fried fresh. Also the size was also a one-bite size, making the roll overpriced for a specialty roll. They do offer some nice selection of sake, so that was a plus. Overall an expensive but not so great dinner experience. Not authentic Japanese. Servers were quick and friendly, but the food in general was a bit lacking. Only thing that was memorable was the fresh uni, and my company.
(3)Captulina B.
Don't eat here! I ordered a cup of tea. And when the bill came it was $4.75! In my opinion they are charging way too much! I will not be coming back or recommending this restaurant!
(1)Philip T.
What little bit of sushi we had was good, but we ended up leaving after 1.5 hours of waiting for our food. May have been a fluke, but I would call the service poor to say the least. Won't be back here.
(1)Joselyn G.
Loved it. Attentive service, had the best lion king rolls I have had yet (went to 2 other sushi places so far, this roll is my favorite here) and the mochi ice cream was amazing! I'll be sure to come back again :) satisfied.
(5)Sarah B.
Had the salmon and avocado roll and boyfriend had the teriyaki. chicken. Salmon roll was very fresh and delicious! 6 pieces... big enough I didn't need the saba nigiri, which they gracefully let me cancel. Teriyaki dish was a little bit pink, but tender. Not bad ambience, but nothing special. Tea is just Numi brand. I would come back for more sushi rolls!
(4)Liz G.
Second time Being at this place and i love the lion king rolls and the California Rolls . I tried Sake for the first time and loved it i would come back for more.
(5)Regina P.
Boyfriend and I went to Hana Zen, as we were looking for sushi with modest prices within a short walk of our hotel. We shared three rolls, and enjoyed them all! Service was great too, and they had some great happy hour deals.
(5)Lorie N.
We picked this restaurant since we couldn't get into Katana-Ya down the street. Since it only had 3 stars, we were hesitant but we were all craving Japanese food. Here's the breakdown: *Miso soup- A little more tangy than the usual, but the added tang made it stand out! *Yasai Sunomono Salad- Thinly sliced cucumber with shredded seaweed with rice vinegar dressing. Loved this. *Edamame- Well, you can't really go wrong with this and the only thing we complained about was that we wished there was more. *Special Hamachi and Scallop- Spicy Hamachi, Scallion. Topped with Hokkaido Scallop, Spicy Japanese, Mayonnaise Sauce, and Tobiko. This was possibly the best thing on the menu. It was so tasty and the sauce on the scallops was to die for. *Lion King Roll*- Crab meat, Avocado with Baked Salmon on top? Yum. Overall this is a good restaurant but I probably wouldn't go back since there are other places that I would want to try (Namely "Katana-Ya" which has higher ratings here on yelp). I did take off a star because this place wasn't any better than other Japanese restaurants that I've been to. Also, I took another star off because it was a little pricey for what they had to offer.
(3)Brian C.
I'm gonna keep this short - Sushi - Expensive for Average sushi. -1 star. We had the scallop martini appetizer which i thought was delicious. We had a total of 3 cracked plates during our meal, 1 leaky teapot, a replacement teapot with a cracked spout, and a cracked tempura dip bowl. WEAK. Expensive sushi and little attention to detail. -1 star. NOW, on the bright side.... WONDERFUL service. +1 WONDERFUL view. +2 That is what you are paying for... We would go back.
(3)Deana I.
Holy crap, how did this restaurant made it to "Best of Yelp" List?!? I saw that it made it to the list a couple of years ago (circa 2006-2007), but I'm just baffled. Did we come on a bad day? Or did the quality just declined over time? I don't even think it was worth my review and to give it a 2-star rating would be too generous. But hey, I don't mind eating at crappy places just so my fellow Yelpers don't have to, LOL. It has prime location that's walking distance to Powell BART. The decor was nice as well as the hostess. Although sometimes, I thought she wasn't paying much attention to what she was doing. Our wait wasn't bad especially since it was a Friday night. That's pretty much the only nice things I can say. The surrounding area of our table smelled a combination of bleach and some other funky smell that I can't tell. My friend (Linda N.) couldn't stand it and actually had to cover her nose throughout dinner. The service and food was short of being decent. Our server took several trips for them to give me tea and water for the rest of my party and he messed up on one of our orders. The tea tasted like water - very bland. I'm surprised it was even called tea. I ordered Shrimp Tempura Roll and Chicken Teriyaki which came with Miso Soup and Salad. My chicken teriyaki was baked and had a crispy skin, but it was just okay; nothing spectacular. The roll was tasteless; I can honestly say that I've had better. The miso soup tasted fishy but at least it wasn't as bad as my experience with Ichiro ( yelp.com/biz/ichiro-oakl… ). I was debating on getting dessert, hoping it would be their saving grace but opted not to last minute. I didn't want to stay a minute longer and torture my friends and I in the foul-smelling table that we got stuck in. This place is over priced for the service and quality and I'm still confused on how the heck they made it to Best of Yelp. If I did go on a bad day, I don't think I'll be back to give them a 2nd chance. P.S. I don't think this place is wheelchair accessible. I didn't see a handicap ramp anywhere.
(1)Ang x.
Yakatori sticks were great; had the garlic pork and chicken wings, fried calamari yummy; lightly breaded and very tender. Rolls were pretty good but I don't understand how they can one get away with using fake crab in San Francisco and two not printing it on the menu. That's why only 3 stars.
(3)Rachel A.
Decent, quick sushi in a calm environment near Union Square. My mom and I enjoyed our meal. The service was great, and our waitress was very knowledgeable about the saki. The fish was fresh, lots of options on the menu, and, while not incredibly exciting, it was a perfect place to grab a relaxing lunch in the midst of toursity chaos. It's not a hole-in-the wall sushi joint where I would expect to have my world rocked, but it 100% lived up to expectations. I would return if I'm in the area and looking for a quick snack - one roll or a few pieces of sashimi. You just can't go wrong with butterfish.
(3)Lu H.
Awful service. We had to ask for tea 30 mins in the dinner. And when we finally put in our order, it took them over an hour to give us our food. Totally not worth it.
(1)H. Edwin A.
Very small portions. We are from the land locked desert of Albuquerque New Mexico and our portions are Much larger and just as fresh and the ocean is just a fees miles away here. not impressed.
(2)Jeanne L.
I 've been dining at Hana Zen for years now and I love it! I have explored all parts of the menu. My favorite dishes are the kobe beef, agedashi tofu, asparagus maki, lamb yakitori, dragon roll, salmon teriyaki, zaru soba, uni and the sashimi . They also have a great selection in decadent desserts. I always get the chocolate mouse cake with the side of coconut ice cream on the side. As you can see, if you love variety Hana Zen is the place to be. The staff is attentive and friendly AND if you plan to go out on the weekend and party, there is Infusion Lounge right across the street.
(5)EJ G.
Went here just to go somewhere close to our hotel when we were tired. I was pleasantly surprised at the excellent quality of this meal. We had hamachi Kama, 49ers roll, and the chicken meatball yakitori, all of which were fresh and delicious. Staff was pleasant and efficient, and were able to seat us right away as a walk In on a Friday night, despite no reservations being available on open table. Fun lively atmosphere. I would definitely come back if staying in Union square/convention center area again.
(4)Sarah Louise H.
Very rarely do you find food that disappoints in SF... but I would not go back to this establishment. The service was excellent - with an attentive and kind server, but the rest of the experience was lackluster. The food is very overpriced for what you get, and the images that you see on the menu do not match what you order. I had a miso soup (decent), house salad (terrible - bagged salad, with a few veggies on the top and some mediocre balsamic on the top, not even tossed throughout the salad, and certainly not worth $6.50, and a California roll - average).
(2)Kristine H.
Go for their yakitori! I recommend the lamb or the hotate bacon. And their sushi which is quite good + fresh. We usually begin with a selection of yakitori for the table and move onto sushi with our drinks. As far as quality goes, the sushi has always been made well. We stick to the simpler items and nigiri instead of complicated rolls that are too big for one's mouth. The grilled meats are cooked to perfection and my only constructive criticism would be for more scallops for the price! The wait staff is pleasant and the bathroom was clean. The only thing that I disliked was the temperature fluctuations. If you sit on the grill side, be prepared to bake. On the sushi bar side, it will be slightly cooler but not by much. I'm just climate-controlled-spoiled, I guess. I don't understand the negative reviews for this place. We have never felt ill after eating here nor experienced the pungency of overwhelming bleach. Each trip to San Francisco garners a visit to Hana Zen where leave with full bellies + lighter wallets. Maybe there has been a change in the kitchen recently?
(5)Ksenia S.
Thus us the worst place you can find along the street. Awful and dirty place. Meals were of inferior quality. It is not worthy spending your time money and risking your health at this place.
(1)Heather W.
For those who can't do or don't like white rice, this place is great! Due to a few health issues, I've had to change the way I eat. Used to love eating different kind of rolls, but now the white rice jacks me up. Couple that with (for some reason) not a lot of restaurants I've encountered offering the option of brown rice sushi, it suddenly limited my options. Met a long-time closer-than-a-friend here for a later dinner. Ordered three non-rice dishes that were yummy! The Kaiso salad was simple, yet delicious. The seaweed was crisp and the sesame oil dressing was the perfect complement - slightly tangy but sweet. I also enjoyed the Chawanmushi - think of it as a seafood omelet in a teacup. Very subtle flavors and the egg was a great consistency. Finally, my favorite item - the unagi yakitori. My biggest bummer was not being able to eat a "regular" unagi roll. However, ordering the yakitori solved that problem. I realized that what I loved was the unagi itself. The pieces that came were large and flavorful. The sweet soy and wine sauce they were glazed in was delicious. Not overly sweet and the right amount. As an added bonus, it's a short (under 2 minute) walk from the Ellis-O'Farrell Garage (which currently charges $1/hr parking after 6PM, with a discount of $2 if you park for 3 hours). Tip: If you do decide to use this particular garage, look at Mapquest before getting out of the car. My GPS redirected me very out of the way, which was different from the straight-shot directions Mapquest provided.
(5)Christy Z.
3.5 Stars I like this place. Nice casual atmophere and friendly staff, but it's a little expensive for me. We had edamame, seaweed salad, Crunchy Tuna Roll and 49er roll and a beer and some sake - with tax and tip - almost $70. Egads. Crunchy Spicy Tuna Roll is my go-to and Hana Zen's was good, but I've had better at other places. I thought it was interesting that the crunchy part was was panko crumbs and not tempura batter, which i'm more used to.
(3)Yuki M.
Upon arriving in SF after another beautiful drive from OC (minus the speeding ticket in the canyons), we settle in to Parc55 and then head downstairs and across the street for dinner. I left the task of ordering to my partner-in-dine *dodges tomatoes* so that I could observe people through the window and analyze postural deviations and foot strike (don't ask). Chicken, bacon, asparagus, garlic, onions, beef steak, salmon filet, quail egg, pork belly, beef tongue, and chicken gizzard were ordered along with more things on skewers that I have forgotten. What I DO remember is that everything was quite good, with the exception of the organ meats which were fairly tough and over-cooked. The winners of the evening were the quail egg wrapped in bacon and the salmon fillet. Wonderful, flavourful, balanced, and perfectly cooked. Menu items delivered to the table were agedashi tofu, spicy tuna and octopus salad, and something else, all of which were quite tasty. The bills comes it's nearly HALF of what I expected it to be. Impressive. Not the best but far from the worst. I will mark this as a return spot when I come back.
(4)S. G.
Grossly overpriced and terrible food. This goes down as one of the biggest rip-offs ever. I ordered one roll for close to 20 bucks and there was more rice than anything. There was such a thin sliver of fish on it, I could barely taste it. The entree was a piece of fish with a tiny bit of veggies, all for 27 bucks! The fish was dry and over cooked, the rice was not japanese style, but rather chinese style and the salad was nothing more than the bagged greens at Trader joe's with shreds of carrots drownded in dressing. BLAHHHHHHHH! AVOID THIS S*%thole!
(1)Glen F.
I've read through some of the reviews and see that most seem to be focused on the sushi. My review is focused on the yakitori so if you're looking for a sushi opinion, move along. On the other hand, if you're a fan of food on a stick, read on! So my friend and I arrive for an early dinner, hungry and ready to try out the yakitori offerings. We had some nice seats right next to the window - great for watching the world go by while feeding our increasing hunger. Started with a nice salad and also a tuna tako poke dish. Nice chunks of tuna and octopus, beatifully prepared and presented. yelp.com/biz_photos/HK21… One of my favorites is ordering agedashi tofu. Light sauce, lightly fried, a pleasant preparation for the food to come. yelp.com/biz_photos/HK21… So where is all this yakitori you keep telling me you plan to eat? Well, here it comes! Filet Mignon - soft, tender - great way to start things out Pork wrapped Asparagus - when we ordered, I asked if this was bacon wrapped asparagus, which we all know is fantastic, and they told me this was thinly sliced pork. Yeah, nice, but it's just not the same. Beef tongue - this tends to be hit or miss when I order it - either soft and fantastic, or tough and chewy. These were a little on the chewy side yelp.com/biz_photos/HK21… What's next? Bacon wrapped Salmon filets - Really? she says. I'm thinking anything wrapped in bacon has to taste good, doesn't it? Oh, and yes it was good. The fact that they managed to skewer a giant filet was a happy surprise, since we were expecting just small chunks of salmon. Garlic Pork - Also very good! You can see how juicy the pieces were yelp.com/biz_photos/HK21… I may have missed a dish or two, but overall, a great meal! I'm getting ready to pay the piper and see what my damages are for dinner. I'm reading the list, and I see: Subtotal Tax SF Surcharge SF Healthy Total... Hey, back up one item - really, you're charging me a surcharge to cover the health insurance costs? I managed to eat the rest of the extended weekend without having to pay this. Sigh. yelp.com/biz_photos/HK21… Well, overall, more good items than average items and the surprise surcharge. Even with that, I'd still come back on my next visit to the Bay.
(4)Brian B.
Overall I liked this place but I thought the yakitori was their strength over their sushi. the sushi was decent judging from the rainbow roll and tuna avocado rolls I had. The best was the chicken meatball sort of skewers that were like a ground chicken with mushrooms with a tangy sauce on them. And they served it with a poached egg that had been chilled which was the first time I ever had anything like that. The sort of tangy from the sauce mixed with the richness of the cold egg yolk was amazing together. I could have just had a few more of those and skipped the sushi. Service was great and yes I would go here again.
(4)Cassandra L.
I've had sushi all across the globe so forgive me for being HIGHLY critical. It's good sushi. Nothing that is a must every time I come to San Fran. Had a Spicy Shrimp Tempura Roll and a Kappa Maki Roll - both were good. My waiter was friendly. The place was clean and they scored points for having my favorite sake!
(3)Nathan D.
Overpriced tourist trap... Avoid this place even if you're visiting... Take the 38 to Japan town or clement...
(1)Helen L.
Pros: The menu is vast. The fish is fresh. The food presentation is decent. The prices are a pinch higher than most of the other locations in the area, but still moderate. Cons: It ranks average amongst its competition in the area, so that extra pinch in price isn't worth the extra pinch in price.
(4)N S.
Fresh fish but small portions. OK ambience but not for date night. The entire experience was "just ok" and quite overpriced. Would I come back? Only if I had no other options which is unlikely in the city.
(2)Ian S.
This place was a little quiet on a Saturday night at 7 for this area, but that's ok by me. After a harrowing walk through the Tenderloin from civic center, we arrived and were seated immediately. Everyone was friendly and and the food was pretty good. The only bad thing was the (sake?) mojito my girlfriend ordered. I don't know whether it was just too boozy or flavors didn't work but neither of us liked it much and we ended up just leaving it behind.
(3)Lauren W.
I wanted Hana Zen to be better. This restaurant needs some TLC. A fresh coat of paint, some Febreeze, new dishes, and green tea that actually tastes like something would help a lot! Three of us came here for a working lunch. We got the Hana combination of Sashimi and Nigiri Sushi. Decent. Then we ordered four maki rolls, chef choice. I was very excited at the variety that was brought to us but my favorite of the day was the 49er roll. It was so refreshing that I kept going back to it. The other rolls were creative and most of them were delicious however I felt that one of the rolls had a very fishy taste that concerned me. If I find myself back in San Francisco I'll probably try to find a different sushi restaurant.
(2)Taffany H.
Having rolled into town and checking into the hotel at 2100 hours with four ravenous stomachs to feed, Hana Zen was one of the choices that made sense for the following reasons: 1. Dinner hours: 5pm to 1am. If you are around union square and either observe dinner time according to the Spanish tradition or are just a little late in finding grubs then look no further. 2. Decent Yakitori. Again the emphasis is on the word decent because there's not much to write home about. 3. Did I already mention that their dinner service is open until 1am? Yeah.. Anyway, I would recommend you to go ahead and skip the black cod unless you're in the market for some over-cooked, over-seasoned, and over-priced piece of fish.
(3)Kim D.
I had a long day at work, then had a clinical spa treatment at Epi Center... and was STARVING. I popped back in here, to get some nourishment because my face face - it was on fire. I was seated immediately - nice... and ordered: * Foie gras nigiri sushi (2 pieces; almost $20) and the server couldn't even tell me what grade it was. * Chawan mushi * sunomono * Kobe beef tataki w/ ponzu * Spanish mackerel (whole fish w/ tempura bones) * Grilled unagi skewer * hot tea The highlight was the seared foie gras, nigiri style and very modest in proportion. But I would have rather happily ordered 25 portions than endure the abomination, tourist-from-the Midwest level crap that was subsequently served: * The vegetable component of the sunomono was edible; but had a really off flavor - the scallop tasted like a pair of dirty panties, and the sashimi was absolute mush (frozen and held for way too long at the prep station). *The kobe beef tataki looked okay, but the marbling was not evenly distributed, so my expectations dropped. That dish alone was $34. Absent entirely of umami and that delicious beefy flavor that true Kobe has - nowhere to be found. I ate the whole dish, because I was going to pass out if I didn't have some food to eat. It was the worst and most bland "kobe" I've ever eaten. * My rage built as my chawan mushi was brought out: they over steamed it; the surface (which is supposed to be delicately smooth and custardy) was horrifically pockmarked and the texture entirely unacceptable. I took one bite, and moved on. * The unagi skewer was your standard-issue unagi on two skewers - there was a decent charring on the skin side, but The Cadet can make better tasting unagi; as mine arrived only lukewarm and tasted just like the 9 oz frozen packages I buy at the Japanese grocery. * As for the Spanish Mackerel... the sashimi portion tasted "off/old" and the skeleton/bones were not crisp, assaulted with bread crumbs and no good at all. I took a taste of each component, blanched, and pushed it off to the side. Kim D., party of 1 was seated at the elbow of the sushi bar. I had to endure one of the female servers argue with the sushi chef about who another table who ordered a genuine crab Cali roll, or one with Krab in it. They were arguing so passionately and without the slightest bit of professionalism or respect. Right on my shoulder. I think the server even got so worked up she spit in my food - not intentionally - she was just blasting her words out. Which was fine - I wasn't going to eat any more of that absolutely revolting food. The only think I'd eat would be the foie gras nigiri... but I thought the price point was on the obscene side. Still: better satiated than annoyed and hungry. I wrote basically all of these notes on my receipt and told the server that the food was not edible. They still brought me the full bill, (and it took almost 10 minutes of me swivel-necking around with my wallet and card out, before anyone bothered to take care of my bill. My parting comment was, "I'll pay for it... I just won't eat it." Any place that doesn't acknowledge when they fall a bit short (or in this case, entirely short) on quality of food and service without some sort of acknowledgement, you're never seeing my face or my money again. You have been warned.
(2)Trey E.
The St. Regis concierge recommended Hana Zen when I asked for a reasonably priced sushi place near Westfield. Man was she spot-on. The house car dropped us off out front and I was expecting something decent, but after ordering and the food started to arrive I was very impressed. We started with the carpaccio and some edamame. Edamame was run-of-the-mill, but the beef was spectacular. Heavily peppered and seared just enough to make the pepper cling on to the meat, which was topped with chives and a bit of a salty sauce. On to the mains... I got the less expensive of the three combos, the Nami Sushi at $21, which actually impressed me more than the more expensive option my coworker got, the Jo combo. The cali roll was stuffed full of fresh (real) crab, and the chef's choice of nigiri was all excellent. The service was attentive, though nothing out of the ordinary. The real attraction here is the freshness of the food, the quality of the sushi, and the value you get. I'll be coming back.
(5)Cassandra F.
A friend of mine that lives in SF suggested this place, and it was a fantastic suggestion. They have a great menu with a lot of choices. We went for almost all sushi of course. My favorite was the spicy crunchy tuna (or something like that). It was really, really good. Great sashimi as well, very fresh fish. Their drink menu is very appealing. They have a whole line of common drinks that are instead made with sake. I recommend the sake mojito. Very tasty. Ends up being a little pricey, but for good sushi, sometimes you just have to do it. I'll be heading back next time I'm in town.
(4)Gary H.
Enjoyed their sushi....despite being there around 11pm on both occasions the sushi was fresh. They seemed to have a wide selection of unique rolls as well as all of your typical sushi selections. Yellowtail cheek was asy if you want cooked fish but I still prefer their sushi. Staff w super friendly on both visits even though they were getting ready to close.
(4)Stacey G.
WOW! I am a sushi person. I was invited to Hana Zen by a friend who knows I love sushi. This was an awesome, new experience. Who knew food on a stick could be so good! Every bite pulled me back for more. I walked out full but not stomach hurting full. There were 5 of us. The food kept coming!! I didn't even need the sushi. Everything else had flavor upon flavor. We ordered a minimum of 6 of almost all of the Yakitoris on the menu. The ones that are on my tongue in a happy way? Yaki Asparagus, Shishito, Negima, Butaniku Garlic Yaki, Reba, Shiitake, Hatsu, & Gyutan. I can't wait for a chance to try Hana Zen again or find another place to compare. Yeah!
(4)M T.
I had to think really hard about whether to give this restaurant 4 or 3 stars and I am sad to say that the price really tipped the scales. The uni was fantastic and the food was overall lovely, it wasn't blow my socks off, but good honest sushi and yakitori (omg my iPad just autocorrect that to halitosis). Perhaps this review isn't so much about Hana Zen as it is about San Francisco. When you charge me over $30 for an entree, I'm going to expect you to wow me or at least offer impeccable service and a lovely atmosphere. Unfortunately, Hana Zen, as good as your food is, the environment didn't feel authentic or warm and the service was pretty apathetic. Stop trying to please the gaijin with novelty cocktails and embrace a more Japanese feel.
(3)Gary L.
Slightly over priced, food is average.
(3)Mike C.
We typically stop into Hana Zen every year for a team dinner when in town for a convention. I could make an entire meal out of the Yakatori. We had the beef, chicken and salmon. Big fan of the beef but really loved the salmon wrapped in bacon. Sushi is "ok" - good quality and fair price for San Francisco. Won't blow you away but won't disappoint. Service is typically fast.
(4)Tamar D.
I hate to quote Tom Cruise from one of the worst movies ever filmed, but "Perfume going in...raw sewage coming out." I think it went something that like, anyway. Hana Zen blew a hole in my end. Not even fifteen minutes after getting up from my meal today, as we walked to Nordstrom, I knew I'd have to high-tail it to the third floor women's lounge. It was there, my friends, that approximately 12 flushes later, I felt empty enough to rejoin my peeps for shopping. And a half an hour later, I was back. I am now home, sitting thankfully, and desperately hoping that the Pepto kicks in soon enough. Never again.
(1)Leah B.
Came here as a rebound choice...Craving for sushi, and since Dojima-Ann refused to accomodate us for a party of 4 Adults & 4 Kids to sit together. This place is huge, and had no problem seating us all together in a private seating area. This place goes with the saying...you get what you pay for! Yes they're a lil bit pricey...our tab for all with drinks & tip was about $250. However, great service & sushi was deliciously fresh. Thanks Dojima-Ann, For letting us have a great experience at Hana Zen!
(4)Darshan R.
It's sad how a restaurant may have a fantastic location but comes a few stars short of a good experience. We were staying at the Courtyard Marriot, a short walk from the Montgomery BART Station, and wanted to get sushi but didn't want to break the bank. Our concierge recommended this place because it was walkable and much better than the one that was literally next door to the hotel (which, in fact, was closed at 7pm). The location is great for a tourist: a street over from the hustle and bustle of Powell's Trolley Car Turnaround and the Westfield Centre. When we walked into the building, we were greeted by stairs to the restaurant, to the right: the sushi bar, the left: the restaurant. Note: I'm not entirely sure if this place is handicap accessible. It was a Friday night and it seemed to be fairly popular, the wait for the 5 of us was about 20minutes. The Host was nice, she offered to get our drink orders started while we waited for our table, but she didn't know how to pour beer. She ended up spilling some of it on the floor because of the tilt in the glass. Our table was in the restaurant, which had a nice view of the busy intersection below. Everything began to roll downhill once we sat down. The server seemed to be stretched thin, it took him three trips to get us tea. The miso soup was overwhelmed with the taste of fish. The teriyaki chicken had a crispy crust. The sushi was fresh but nothing special. The salad was the only portion I was satisfied to finish. But to top it all, the area we sat in had the pungent stank of Bleach. Was it the table? No. The plates? No. The food?! Thank Goodness No. It was the stacked dish bucket behind us. It was so strong we lost our appetite. Also, how did this place get awarded with the "Best of Yelp" 06-07?!? The entire experience just goes to show that location isn't everything.
(1)Laura G.
A great place to stop if you yearn for sushi. I visited alone, and the staff made me feel welcome and were friendly. The sushi sampler was fresh and tasty, and I had extra unagi, which was excellent. The hot sake was good, and they have an extensive selection of cold sake. I was in and out quickly but saw others who were taking their time and were not rushed. This is a keeper.
(4)Saira B.
This place was overpriced and underwhelming in my book. It had a mom and pop vibe, but was priced higher than I've seen, even more than design-focused, high-end NYC, Boston and Dallas/Fort Worth sushi restaurants. It's clean, nice servers, food was well prepared, but the price tags and portions are ridiculous.
(2)Bryan H.
Was expecting a lot more out of this place, but it just didn't deliver. Sushi was just alright, but nothing that I would recommend to a friend. Being in California, downtown San Francisco, and paying by the roll I expect to have my taste buds delighted. That didn't happen. Everything was bland, with no real taste difference between any of the rolls. No joke, I ordered a $17 roll and a $8 roll and they were almost exactly the same. Also, the pics of the rolls in the menu did not match what the chef was serving which makes it hard to order stuff that looks good.
(2)Lynn V.
We stumbled across this restaurant while strolling around and the city! A great find =) It was my first time having yakitori and I was impressed by the big selection of sake and Japanese wine. Dinner for two: 1. Sashimi appetizer 2. Rainbow Roll 3. Yakitori Moriawase (6 skewers, chef's choice) It was bacon wrapped salmon, Japanese green peppers, chicken with scallions, Shitake mushrooms, salmon, and grilled chicken wings. 4. Hot Sake The food was great and the sashimi was very fresh. I enjoyed the yakitori. Everything on it was cooked perfectly and tender. Although, I wasn't too fond of the green peppers. Overall, the mood here is calm and intimate. The restaurant itself is a bit snug and narrow, but the large windows made it feel better. Prices are a bit high for what you get, but that's probably because of the location. Service was excellent, but they really need to maintain their restrooms. It was dirty! But that's my only complaint about this place... I would definitely dine here again.
(4)Mackenzie M.
Very friendly service but food is so-so. I think it's a little pricey for the fish quality being offered here.
(3)Tanya C.
This place is okay... just okay. The sushi isn't anything special and its quite expensive. Honestly a bit disappointing since i heard San Francisco is a good place for food. The service is quite good though :) So I recommend it for that.
(3)Janet N.
Okay, I have one thing I gotta' say. (Plus a lot more, mind you.) I have concluded that I am either out of shape or that this restaurant's restroom is way too far. Plus, somebody tell me why it felt like there was a humidifier in there. Tim and I saw Hana Zen's sign on the corner of a street and as hungry as we were after a day at the SF Zoo we tried it out. We were seated immediately. The service was alright, considering it was pretty crowded there. We ordered Edamame, Hana Zen Roll, Sushi Tuna Roll and Fried Banana w/ ice cream. My Hana Zen Roll was SPICY and drenched in a delicious house sauce. Tim's Tuna Roll made me a tad bit jealous, not only am I a sucker for creamy Hass avocados, but the tuna tasted absolutely fresh. I usually gag when I eat raw fish at other sushi places because of the "fishy" taste or strange texture. I feel as if I'm the Asian goldilocks whose found a sushi place that's just right! The portions were satisfying enough for each of us (8 pieces each). The dessert was perfect, freshly fried banana drizzled in honey with a cup of vanilla on the side. The honey was perfect, it added a natural sweetness to bring it all together. Would definitely come back again. The window view gives you a great place to people watch, I mean if you like that kinda thing. All in all, this place is a tad bit pricey. But hey! It's San Francisco.
(4)Judith D.
Despite reading all the bad reviews I have to say I was pretty happy here. The sushi was good and the service was prompt. It met all of my needs. However, it did not appear to be handicapped accessible. We were there with the stroller and the easiest thing for us to do was to carry it up a flight of stairs, I couldn't find the accessible entrance and I'm not sure where the seating was for that either.
(3)Dylan T.
From all the other reviews below, it looks like I was mistaken to come here and order sushi as opposed to the yakitori. But considering it's a sushi bar... Anyway, I came here for a business lunch and it was just okay. I'm sure there are better sushi places in the Financial District than this. The location is great and the place is clean, however the service was just so-so and so was the food. Maybe the server misunderstood us, but my co-worker asked for a chef's choice of rolls and he mentioned that he liked spicy tuna. Lo and behold, when the platter came out, EVERYTHING was tuna. Now I like tuna, spicy tuna, and toro, but seriously, there were 3 kinds of spicy tuna rolls, tuna nigiri, and another non-spicy tuna roll. Good thing there were 5 of us...and all of us were non-pregnant men. Who knows now much mercury we just consumed. When I asked for hamachi sashimi, the server also brought back nigiri. Needless to say, it wasn't what I was expecting and it was not the quantity I wanted. *Sigh* Maybe it should've been a clue how quickly we were seated and how empty the place was in the middle of lunch. My opinion is, if you can, go elsewhere. If you must, this place is okay, but it's kind of pricey for what you get.
(2)Will T.
This is my first one star and...that's not a good thing... Generic sushi choices. Worst sushi I have ever eaten. My colleagues and I all agree on this point. Group of 8, and it was unanimous that this place is to be avoided. To make things worse, my manager and I got food poisoning from the sushi here. Very unfortunate, but not surprised with the quality of food. Price is way overpriced as well. Summary: Bad food, high prices. Lose lose.
(1)Scott J.
Close to Hilton and open late. Service was friendly and we ordered light dinner: yakitori negima chicken very tasty sashimi appetizer- the fish was fresh and tasty seaweed salad- good Only thing that was kinda letdown was the Japanese mochi ice cream. Authentic mochi is not frozen and fresh tasting. This came out like what I would buy in the frozen food section of Trader Joe's! Disappointed! Overall not bad and plenty of choices. Convenient to hotel. Prices kinda high for sushi.
(3)Christine S.
Good but over priced and our server wasn't very attentive. Miso soup extra. I had fun because I was with good friends but I probably wouldn't go back since there are so many other sushi places to try. Everything was good, but nothing really stood out, except perhaps the fried bananas and that's not something I would go to a sushi restaurant for anyway.
(3)Garran C.
Although this restaurant came highly recommended by a former San Francisco resident we were definitely not impressed with the food quality for their price-point. Don't get me wrong, the food is prepared and presented wonderfully but for their price-point we expected a more from this little restaurant which is conveniently located just a few blocks away from Union Square.
(3)Manda Bear B.
******************* REVIEW 464************************* Hana Zen and Yakitori Bar is definitely a cute location for date. Located on the top floor of First Crush, right across from the Mariott and Fusion Hotels. They only use Binchotan charcoal, Japanese ingredients, free-range chicken, lamb, Kobe beef, and the highest quality meat and decent price for this part of town. I also like the window tables looking down to the street, people watching! - Sunonomo - seafood and cumber salad is good. - Hamachi Kama - is decent here.l. - There are a few rolls that is good and generous portion to share: Hana Zen, Lion King and Dynamite rolls. Although sushi and sashimi are not my choices here, I do prefer these Yakitori selections below, they are tasty: - Hotate Bacon Maki (sacallop wrap in bacon), - Rumu Yaki (New Zealand lamb chop), - Gyutan (beef tongue), - Reba (chiken liver), - Butaniku garlic yaki (garlic pork) Service was OK. Parking around here can be expensive, if you park at the Handlery Union Square Hotel on a week night, flat rate valet $13 only (pick up your car before midnight), 1 block up much better than valet at Marriott for minimum $20!
(3)Christian W.
My girlfriend has been to this place a year ago and we were looking forward to some good sushi. Unfortunately the food was not at all what she remembered nor what we consider good. None of the food we ordered seemed to be fresh and for what it was, it was to pricey. Nice atmosphere and the waitress was very friendly and care taking. But not a place we would go back to.
(2)Natalie F.
I eat here 3-4 times per week. They are consistently fresh and reasonably priced.
(4)Chun L.
Food is not great and overpriced. The Deluxe Yakitori platter comes with a bunch of choice, However, some meats are superbly chewy and extremely salty. Fortunately, we also ordered white rice which is a bit sweet but great to offset that saltiness. The 19 pieces Sashimi plate is also just ok. Each piece is really small. With the $45 something price charged, this really is not worth it. Anyway, food is not bad. But does not match the par with the price charged. Avoid the yakitori platter if you can. Order some individual ones that you may enjoy more. The salmon one is good. Also the one with Chicken wings, or steak. But never for chicken liver or some other organ meats. They were not done right at all.
(3)Jean-Paul D.
Just had flown in; wanted a quick sushi dinner without getting all fancy. This was perfect. Our waitress was super nice and the sushi plate was right on. Good experience close to the Marriott I would definitely recommend and go will go back.
(3)Tushi C.
Hmm! Kind of don't think its fair that this restaurant has only three stars. The sushi was amazing! Sake bombs weren't too bad either ;). I would have to say the only downfall is that the atmosphere wasn't more lively, but could be because I was there during the week. The restaurant didn't play any music but the staff was really friendly. I would definitely eat here again on a trip to SF.
(4)Anne E.
I came here two nights in a row. Both last night and tonight.....yep, i'm craving. Pregnant type of craving that is!! Sooo my pregnant ass has been craving sushi the past couple of days. I can't have any RAW fish so I attempted to satisfy this craving by coming here to order something "cooked" instead". Last night, I sat at the bar and ordered a Dragon Roll with unagi and avocado with unagi sauce drizzled on top. The dragon roll was fresh and filling...just what I needed! Tonight, I was feeling EXTRA hungry. So I sat at the bar again, and ordered the Rock & Roll and San Francisco Roll this time. I even ordered a big bowl of edamame on the side. I finished everything steadily, making sure not to overstuff myself. The sushi chefs constantly checked on me and so did my server. Excellent service and delicious sushi....what more can a pregnant woman ask for???
(4)Jessica G.
Hana zen is by far one of the better japanese cuisines ive been to in san francisco. Their service is excellent, price is reasonable for the high quality of ingredients and they have a very aesthetic decor and presentation as well. My compliments to this fine establishment.
(5)Josh F.
Location is great. Sat down had some saki price was good. Ordered a spicy tuna roll and a crunch roll. Crunch roll was deep fried the tuna was spicy but the taste was not so great.
(3)Bill T.
I went to Hana Zen on their opening night years ago and when living in San Francisco in 2006-2008, it was my weekly stop. The thing I love about this restaurant is it is consistently good. A solid little sushi joint. I have never had a bad experience there (even when the air conditioning was out and it was hot, the great wait staff and sushi chefs made "sweating to sushi" fun). Arthur, Ramat, Victor, etc. are all super waiters and its great to go into a place that remembers what you like to drink and eat. I'd often sit down and say, "I'd like a Bill's Special, please" and they'd bring it out...perfect. Yes, it can be a little expensive but for a consistent sushi meal, I am willing to spend a few extra dollars.
(4)Bui B.
Last day in SF and needed to satisfy my sushi craving. Walked by and saw 3 star review. Decided to take a chance on it. Horrible mistake. I came a little earlier than lunch time so the place was pretty empty. I had ordered the 12 piece sashimi and the rainbow roll. Rainbow roll was decent. The 12 piece sashimi was pretty bad. I am a big salmon fanatic so when I saw the dish, I knew it would not be so great. The salmon itself did not have any fatty taste to it. The cut was made too rectangular and too thick. I almost wanted to give up on salmon altogether. The albacore (my second fav fish) was blah. The yellowtail....forget about it. Needless to say, I was so disappointed w/ the place. Like Cecile said, the food does not justify the price. The place was cute. The service was fine. It's just the food wasn't good. The place did become pretty busy when I left. Different ppl, different opinion. I probably would not return.
(2)Carlos S.
This place has great Yakitori and very fresh sushi. The service was engaging and polite. The chicken skin yakitori was truly tasty! Chicken hearts were spiced just right. The fried oysters were super fresh and very yummy.
(5)Jeremy R.
My family loves Japanese food and had to stop in here to satisfy our sushi cravings. On the suggestion of the concierge at our hotel we stopped in here for dinner and were seated right away. Server met us right away at our table and proceeded to take drink orders and appetizers. We typically start with edamame which was served hot, though minus seasoning that we enjoy at other sushi restaurants. We ordered 4 rolls, the lion king, philadelphia, ice dragon, and crunchy spicy tuna. All the rolls were fresh and quite tasty, though the ice dragon is very spicy and if you are not into spicy rolls this one is not for you. Usually my family is satisfied with 2 rolls, however these rolls were quite small and with 4 of us eating we were lucky to get a couple of rolls each. Teriyaki chicken was good as well, though the chicken was a bit "sweaty" and I normally like my chicken a bit more cooked, so though it tasted fine the texture was not necessarily to my satisfaction. My wife had the vegetable tempura and per her opinion it was satisfying. Overall we had a pleasant experience, and will possibly return, however does not rate higher due to the size of the rolls for the price and the texture of the chicken on my dish.
(3)Sarah S.
We picked Hana Zen(after a very long day of tours) for two reasons: 1. it was a few steps from our hotel 2. it was still open.. With that said we walked in with little expectations and left only mildly disappointed. We ordered a few rolls, the best being the shiitake (oddly enough).. The waiter was friendly and attentive.. however the sushi tasted more like it came from a grocery store then a sushi restaurant.. While I can't say I'd never go back.. it would only be if i needed something quick and it was late at night..
(3)Christina C.
Really hungry and looking for sushi... but we're WALKING! So we walk out of the Hilton and Yelp shows me a few options nearby. As we walk closer to "the sushi place", I see a huge sign that says "SUSHI" So we go here. Average results on yelp AND its pricey. I wouldn't have come but its right here. It's an unusually hot day in SF! We walk in and get a weird look from the hostess AND I immediately notice that there is no AC. We DO, however, get a nice window seat. But it reeks of beer - like it spilled everywhere and was wiped up but not CLEANED up. We ordered something light - some sashimi and ca rolls - just to hold us over until dinner. The sashimi was fresh! But I wouldn't come back. It was a tad pricey and the ambiance was not worth it.
(3)Deirdre P.
I've been here a few times, most recently last night. The ambiance and service isn't anything special. The prices are, like some other reviewers mentioned, a little high. That said, the food is decent, but probably not better than other places with similar prices. I had the 49ers roll and the cucumber/seaweed salad. Both were good. The only major issue I had was that they didn't really seem to understand that when I said explicitly "I am allergic to shrimp and soy sauce!" they still put my sushi rolls next to my friend's on one plate - her rolls having both of those two things I cannot eat. So, let's say they're not so understanding of allergy issues. Just a little warning. Oh, and bring your own gluten-free soy sauce here, because they don't have it.
(3)W C.
I got a gift certificate of theirs so my bf and I decided to go. We ordered hot wings and garlic fries as appetizer. Both are good. I don't eat fish, so I ordered some beef bento as my main course and my bf order some combination sushi plate. Both are okay. I don't know why they expect me to eat my salad without dressing. The two drinks we had were below average. I had mango mojito and my bf had mango margarita. Maybe mango is just not the perfect cocktail fruit/flavor cause our drinks both tasted like cough syrup. The waitress is very nice but their service is indeed on the slow side. It wasn't a bad experience over-all but with so many more much better places, we will probably not go there again.
(2)Char K.
Came here for lunch on a Friday with two friends and was severely disappointed. In fact, this is probably the worst sushi experience I have ever had, and prompted my joining Yelp to write a review. Some of the fish was not fresh to the point where it was inedible -- it both smelled and tasted off. The actual nigiri we were served didn't line up with what was listed on the menu, and food was extremely overpriced -- three dollars and fifty cents for a can of soda. Will not be coming back. Ever. Avoid if at all possible.
(1)Megan L.
I went here for Valentines Day, and it was very cute.. They gave each girl a rose when they arrived. We had great service, our server was ok with the fact that we were enjoying our conversation and could NOT decide what to eat. Everything sounded so good. The waitress also described the Sake flavors for us, so it was much easier to choose. The sake came in the coolest sake container, with ice in the middle, that made my night! Everything we got was amazing, which was like 6 dishes. Good service, good atmosphere, good drinks... nice for a date! Price depends on what you order and how much you eat... so for me, its a bit higher because i love sushi and can eat a lot!
(5)Kyle K.
I was pleasantly surprised that despite its touristy location Hana Zen serves excellent Japanese food. I've been back many times over the years and I have always had a good time. The lamb chops on the yakitori are the best, they are a must have every time I go. Just a little salt and pepper then grilled to perfection. Even if you are going in for just sushi you will still want to get some yakitori because they have one of the few real yakitori grills in San Francisco.
(4)Constance C.
Should have listened to yelp and not come here... Definitely one of the worst sushi places I've ever been to... The fish isn't particularly fresh and the whole place just seems kind of dirty. I guess my biggest gripe against it is that it's extremely expensive for what it is.
(1)Jenny Z.
Great flavor and presentation, a little shy on the portion given the price. the sunset strip was very refreshing with yummy sauce, ebi nigiri + fried head was awesomely sweet and crunchy. what else, oh chawamushi was very 'Q' in texture, tinyyyy tho~ the chicken gizzard and fish skewer was nicely done as well.
(4)Yeznik K.
Got there at 5:30. Very bad experience at the sushi bar. Left hungry. Sushi chef was on his iPhone all the time until he left; I guess it was the end of his shift. This used to be one of our regular stops in SF; not any more. Too bad!!
(1)Candace F.
This place is definitely overpriced and we ordered 2 rolls and 1 appetizer and it came out to $40. The location is convenient and there seemed to be a lot of business travelers sitting at the bar. I met up with a friend and we didn't even have a full meal. We had a the tofu with shitake mushrooms with a sweet sauce. The mushroom sauce was what made the tofu good - gave it a good flavor. The rolls were average - the fish on top were semi-fresh and thinly sliced on the rainbow roll. The restaurant was quiet and not much noise. I was able to have a friendly chat with a friend without having to raise my voice. Let's just say I walked out still hungry. Service was a little bit slow but if you dig male waiters serving you - this is the place for you. I probably won't be returning unless my friend wants to come here again.
(3)Duc T.
Our waiter Victor was one of the best servers I've ever had. He was so personable and knowledgeable. I will return just because of Victor.
(5)M C.
A decent sushi place, just not worth the price they are asking. The only reason this place even has business is it's location, right near several hotels and club. The sister location at Pier 39 has little if any business each day.
(2)Achille Y.
Not authentic. Americanized. Green tea comes tea bags and not authentic loose leaf. Salad comes with Italian dressing.
(2)Amber G.
An amazing night of food galore! On a recommendation from a friend, I booked a table for two here. Well, the friend happened to be in town also and invited himself and another friend (later ANOTHER friend) and we all met here for one memorable dinner. The OTHER other friend who eats here every single time he comes to the city, ordered for us. We had Yakatori Pork Chops, Pork, Chicken Wings, Filet Mignon We had Edamame (yum--not to salty) We had Sushi: Dragon Roll & Spicy Tuna Roll We had Sashimi: A mix of stuff, Salmon, Tuna, and 2 others... We also had a grilled squid--yes, the whole thing. It was scary looking, but tasted delicious! We ate and ate and ate. It has been almost a month since I've been and I still dream about this meal. It was the most amazing and memorable food I've ever eaten. The location is a bit obsure. The restaurant is small and crowded. The wait staff, friendly and helpful. The food makes up for anything you might find somewhat unpleasant. Truly the best restaurant (food wise) I've ever been to in my life.
(5)Thomson M.
BLEACH!!! Everything in the restaurant smelled like bleach... The miso soup had too much fish sauce. The sushi was okay, but I have had better. The teriyaki chicken sauce was decent, but the chicken was baked and had a crunchy skin... The salad dressing was great, and that was the saving grace. The bathroom was weird, all black is not aesthetically pleasing in the least. I think if the place didn't reek of bleach, the food may have tasted better. FYI, the hostess was fantastic... there was a wait but she did everything she could to keep us happy even offer us drinks in the small lobby area.
(2)Erika C.
Tourist trap... everything is a few dollars more than it should be. If you're in a hurry and don't want to wait, the food isn't bad, it's just overpriced. Nothing to write home about either. Convenient location.
(3)CorporateMom L.
Amazing service, fantastic location, and great food! I am also impressd with how involved Hana Zen is with the community, keep up the great work!
(5)Sherry R.
Absolutely the BEST Sushi ever. Sushi Chef Jason was fantastic, he created rolls off the menu that were mouthwatering delicious. A true Chef. Very nice atmosphere and the staff was very friendly. Would highly recommend and if I I ever visit San Fran again I will visit. Thank you
(5)Ryan J.
This restaurant was close to our hotel and we decided to give it a try. The interior was nice and had a good vibe. Very attentive waiting staff that catered to our needs and even participated in a little fun when we played credit card roulette for the bill. The sushi was very fresh, some of the best toro I have had in a while (well that's not saying much as I have had a terrible run with toro lately). It literally melted in my mouth. Nice selection of Sake and beers. I split a dragon roll with a friend, and it was very good as well. A little on the pricey side but definitely worth it.
(4)Bo T.
Hana Zen is a yakitori restaurant, which means they specialize in small grilled dishes. On a recent night out, we ordered several dishes to share. The asparagus was good - I don't know how they grill it and get it to stay so cruchy. The black cod was decent, but a bit overseasoned for me. The beef carppacio had a nice little kick to it. The chicken skin was memorable, and the hamachi kama was tasty, but huge and thus we did not finish it. Overall, I'd give Hana Zen a thumbs up. It's a bit pricey, but the food is good enough that I'd go back if I get the urge.
(3)Elsa M.
Above average sushi & above average price. I suppose that is to be expected given the touristy location... Service could have been better too. If you're in the area and are craving sushi this wouldn't be a bad choice but I bet there are better place nearby.
(3)Elonka D.
Great location, delicious Hana Zen Roll (warm shrimp tempura inside, tuna/avocado outside), friendly and fast service, open late (til 1 a.m. on Saturday night) and a great place for people-watching through the enormous windows. I had an excellent sushi roll, large bowl of miso soup, and hot tea for under $20. I will be back!
(5)Bella A.
Way over priced for EVERYTHING we ordered. I like to order a chirashi from a restaurant the first time I visit so as to try out how good of a selection of produce of the day. That's my habit and a rule of thumb to decide whether I will pay a return visit or recommend it to people or not. Disappointment: The Ikura was in this dull, milky looking orange colour which indicated a lack of freshness (and I suspected) a bordering soon-to-bin status. The cut of the fishes was too thin, much like a slice of those they use for sushi, definitely not the sashimi cut at all. OK. I am refraining from elaborating how things should be done so I will just say I feel cheated by paying $24 for something like this. I have had better and fresher Chirishi in Haiwaii, San Leandro and Alameda and other places which I paid a much reasonable price ranging from $15- $20 and they were all much better than this one. Things just didn't add up at Hana Zen. My friends share my sentiments, they didn't like the sushi they ordered neither. The portion was small and over priced. I guess we have a mutual decision that we probably will not return.
(2)L T.
Stomachache. I just left the place. The fish was blah. Ordered uni, hotate, hamachi, poke, etc. Service was 3 stars. Food 1-2 stars. There are better Japanese restaurants in the area, head north-west of union sq.
(2)Natasha S.
I honestly can't say I understand the hype for this place. Service was awful and slow, the taste was EH and the prices were overrated. I would never return here.... especially with the large variety of actual fantastic Japanese restaurants in the area.
(2)Tammy S.
Went here for lunch yesterday and was satisfied (read JUST satisfied) with my sashimi plate until they started unpacking the cardboard boxes of frozen fish at the bar, where I was sitting. For the price ($17 for 8 slices or so) was way too high, especially after I saw those frozen boxes of fish. I will not be returning. It didn't even feel that authentic. Go to Katan-ya a few blocks away for some good ramen and sushi.
(1)Jennifer I.
Agedashi Tofu is a must whenever we frequent a japanese restaurant. It was delicious. I must say the spider, dragon and california rolls were yummy as well. Not your typical japanese decor but the food is definitely japanese. Busy, clean, good priceand quality. Go there tonight for dinner. Friendly staffs.
(4)Lefty R.
Ok, I was in the theater district, really known as the Tenderloin, and wanted a quick bite to eat. Sushi is my favorite, so I revisited Hana Zen. I've eaten there about 3 times before and it's always been decent, though never fantastic. Last night it was not even decent. The place is in an obvious tourist zone, which probably adds to it's congestion - it was packed. Being single, I got a seat at the bar right away and then waited 15 minutes to be asked for a food and beverage order. It was then another 30 minutes before my food arrived. I had tai, shiro maguro toro, amaebi, aji and uni. Nothing was up to snuff. In fact, the "tai" looked, tasted suspiciously like hirame and the uni was a little too runny for my tastes. Given there are many dining options in the neighborhood, I doubt I'll spend my money for sushi at Hana Zen again. It's just not worth it.
(2)Adrian N.
In summary, very bad service, food mediocre at best. Food: I ordered the $33 Hana Zen dinner after an evening of shopping. I ordered it because I wanted to sample their yakitori while having some sushi. The food was not that great! Yakitori was nothing special. The meal came with 6 yakitoris (peppers, mushrooms, shrimp, pork, unagi, and chicken). I honestly expected lamb or some other type of uncommon meats in the sampler. Cheapskates. I was baffled by the need for 8 hot peppers on a yakitori, unagi was too slimy, the two shrimp overcooked, chicken was bland. Sashimi was ok. I've had much much much better. I feel ripped off. Service: The only good thing about the service was being seated. Everything else went down hill. I was at the sushi bar. The server rushed getting his order from me and last I saw of him was when I had to wave my hands to get my bill. I had plates piling up in front of me while others being brought. Idiot server. Makes me upset thinking about it. Anyway, I wanted a second beer and he never came back to ask if I wanted another. Idiot idiot server. Here's the classy part...when I paid the bill he returned me someone elses credit card, with my receipt and called me "buddy." Overall this idiot and the other servers were barely friendly with patrons but chummy with each other (I was at the bar...I could see everything). All in all, this place sucked. There are so many better sushi spots at the prices they charge. I couldn't wait to get out of there. Hana Zen: Do something about your service standards and taste your food.
(1)Alex k.
Interesting place.Large selection of food on the menu. I enjoyed the Yakitori selection. Tried 5 different ones: Chicken Livers, Spicy Eggplant, Japanese peppers, Salmon and lamb chops. Like all but the lamb chops which were pretty blend. The place was very busy and the dishes came out of the kitchen very randomly which was a problem for me. Service was sporadic. The waiter was very nice but very busy and paid attention only after he was called several times. I think this place can be really awesome if it improves service - i.e. adds another waiter or two.
(3)Ann W.
I always love Japanese and hate to give a low review to a Japanese restaurant in the city. But this one really needs to improve their service and the fish quality. My friend and I decided to leave our usual favorite Japanese and try this one. The restaurant ambiance was a bit off. The service was very inconsistent, and the sushi Sensei behind the counter didn't seem to care too much for us sitting at the sushi bar. Part of the fun of the sushi bar is to be able to observe and watch the sensai. If they are not busy, maybe to carry a conversation. There was a master sensai there, he was very focused on the preparation, but complete ignored us customers, as if we were not the ones to enjoy his food. If the sashimi/ sushi came out delicious, I could probably bear the poor service. But it was not the case...uni was not as fresh as my favorite Japanese resaturant, the fish was not as good....there is potential for this restaurant to turn around, but for now, I wouldn't recommend it.
(2)Adam G.
Hana Zen in San Francisco's Union Square is a wonderful, well hidden sushi restaurant. It's door is nestled inside a recess of a building, and stairs then lead you to the 2nd story. Inside is a nice combination of Japanese aesthetics, and modern flair. In that that sums up just about all aspects of this sushi restaurant. The Menu is huge, with an expansive selection of udons, curries, donburis, rolls, sashimi, etc. Nearly anyone will find something to like here. Furthermore, at least 1/2 their menu is at least a little experimental, with new and different takes are standard Japanese dishes. This is especially true for the rolls, which use a multitude of fruit and vegetable ingredients. Lastly, everything is extremely fresh, which is always important when it comes to sushi. Sadly, this place is brutally expensive, even for a sushi place. In every instance I've eaten here, I've not been able to get away for under 30. That's really painful. The portions are decent, and you'll be hard pressed to leave hungry, but you'll still be shelling it out. The staff is very quiet and unassuming. Friendly, and never rude. They'll answer questions as needed, but all-in-all they basically seem to come in and out, refilling glasses, or bringing & clearing plates as stealthily as possible. They genuinely seem to set out to not disrupt you, but rather just make sure you're taken care of. So yes, if you want some great Sushi in Union Square, and don't mind dropping a bit, definitely seek out Hana Zen. 4 Stars
(4)Lynto L.
Good sushi place. Loved the hamachi Kama or grilled yellowtail cheek appetizer, crispy on the outside and buttery on the inside. Go early for this - we got the last one for the night. The Hana Zen roll is also good. Surprisingly good desserts were available - we liked the ginger creme brûlée. Finally the service was excellent - just the right amount of attention.
(4)Lily R.
white tuna tataki done right is a rare find for me. it has to be perfectly seared and accompanied by the right amount of onion and sauce. i took a chance thinking it wasn't going to be the same at other restaurants. (my fave resides in japantown in sj) i was wrong, again! hana zen totally delivered. everything we tried was really good. if it wasn't for the $4.75 I paid for green tea, and the annoying rookie sake bombers sitting next to us, this place would be 3 stars. I am awarding 4, because i know where to find my favorite tataki in sf!
(4)Regina B.
I came here after the St Patrick's day parade. I had a lunch special with tempura and chicken teriyaki. Great tempura. Nice atmosphere. I will try the sushi next time! and maybe the Sake ;)
(4)Sean M.
A real surprise for us. We had been working all day, then more work for me aka going shopping. Tired and hungry, we wandered down the street and saw the sign, ah what the heck. Inside, I grabbed a card, so I'd remember to write this review and noticed that the owner was Chinese. hmmmmm Well, not in the mood to look for another place, so we went to our table. Grilled fish for her, chicken for me, salads, tea, the usual. All served with a smile by a very nice server. Nice and quiet, the way I like it. The bill was mid 40's and another 10 bucks for tip. All in all a good meal.
(4)andrea l.
My experience here has not been memorable, just ok. I had a dragon roll (average), uni sushi (great! but you cannot go wrong with uni, as long as it's fresh), tai snapper sushi (rather ordinary taste). My gf got one of the daily specials, namely a very interesting spicy small plate with chopped octopus, tuna, seaweed and fish roe, by no doubt the real highlight of our night. I must say that Hana's menu looks rather promising for people looking for something different from sushi (it was not the case for me tonight) and the place might deserve better than a 3-star, but in my case the food was averagely good, but my litchee cocktail was so disgustingly sweet that I felt nausea right after a few sips and I had to leave it almost untouched. Service was just ok, surely not attentive enough to ask me why more than half of my cocktail was still lying on the table at the end of the dinner...
(3)Aaron L.
This sushi house is incredible. Highly recommended. It is clean. Service was fantastic. Food was delightful. Prices were spot on for what you get. And it was surprisingly modern. In that it allows anyone to easily book a reservation using Yelp, Open Table, City Search or Bing Maps. This type of convenience is a big deal for me, but maybe not for a lot of other people. It is one of handful of great restaurants I will always try and visit while on a trip to the city. Aaron
(5)Shelley O.
We met up for dinner at Hana Zen and it was a nice treat. Tasty sushi, nicely prepared with much variety for the table. The mochi was new to me and was fun! Relaxed atmosphere, although a little noisy where we were seated. A lighted sign would be useful; it has hard to find in the dark
(4)Katie Anne N.
I absolutely LOVE this place. I don't love how its so far from where I live though. The fastest service is if you sit at the bar. The sushi chefs are very nice helpful. You get your food faster too if its busy there. Their rolls are like any other rolls at any sushi restaurants. Their specialties are the kabobs. They have really good and fresh fish, friendly staff, and late hours. I'd suggest making reservations as it gets a little crowded on some days. The wait is not long though. So either way you'll get in.
(5)Molly S.
I loved this place. Ambiance was fine, nothing fancy, but nice. The food was great and I tried things there that I've never had. Agi-Dashi (spl) and Go'mai (spl) was heaven and the Tempura Dynamite Roll was wonderful. The portions were a little small, but I was happy to have found such a great spot conveniently near the hotel I was at.
(4)Angie R.
If mediocrity were an Olympic event, then Hana Zen would surely win the gold. On top of the overpriced, skimpy and practically tasteless morsels they attempt to pass off as a meal, they don't honor their own coupons. I would call the management to complain, but the sad fact is, I wouldn't want to go back to cash in on anything they might give me to make up for my completely underwhelming experience there. That is, if they gave me anything. Which, based on the level of total apathy I experienced from the staff there today, is a crap shoot in and of itself.
(1)CLINTON W.
As you can tell from my star rating of this place, I don't think I'd come back. I was with a few friends and we were doing some Christmas shopping around the Union Square area. We ventured into a bar to grab a drink and asked the bartender if there were any sushi places around. Usually, if I go to sushi in the city, I'll go with friends in their neighborhoods and they have all been solid. There are many reasons why this place was terrible for sushi. First of all and this should have been a big sign, there was only 2 other tables of people when we walked in. Second, it was freezing. We asked the waitress why it was so cold and apparently this time of year, aka winter, the weather changes and it gets cold. Thanks genius, because we were totally wondering about the weather outside and definitely not inside. We asked her if they could throw on the heat and apparently, they don't have one. Are you kidding me? Then there was one guy walking around and bringing the food to the tables. He was wearing a pot leave necklace. I might sound old, but that's pretty inappropriate to be wearing if you are at work and deal with the public. I know it was in San Francisco, but even that's pushing it for a restaurant like that. I just ordered a roll and was going to continue ordering more after I ate it. The rice was so soft and mushy. It was definitely over cooked and therefore, I didn't want to get anymore food. It took a while just for our food to come out. Our server was not on top of us and we had empty drinks beer glasses constantly. Over all, I would recommend going to Safeway and getting sushi out of the deli and a cold Sapporo out of the fridge rather than this place.
(1)Marcus C.
When I realized that yakitori wasn't the teppanyaki I'd expected, I was disappointed, but I learned to get over it. My dining companion and I shared the agedashi tofu (yum!) and the chef's choice of yakitori. Of the six skewers we had, I really liked the garlic pork and the bacon wrapped salmon! The others were only okay. We also had a rainbow roll and a caterpillar roll, which were just fine.
(3)Marc F.
Never again for lunch. My nigiri was seriously disgusting. Old fish, not fresh, very smelly and small sizes. The only thing good about my Hana Zen combination of 5 nigiri and one roll was the spicy tuna roll - that was tasty. But $22 for a simple sushi lunch (half of it unedible) with no drink is not a good value. So no more lunch there. I might go back in the evening to try the yakitori again but I'm really thinking I would rather try some other options instead.
(1)P G.
Well I let my hunger get the better of me and not listen to Yelp!! Shame on me!! Service
(1)N O.
Apparently no hot water for the green tea. Lame excuse. No sea salt on edamame. Sushi rolls were very ordinary. No finesse. Forget what you see on the menu. Don't know why this resto is in Frommer's guide. Not impressed! Frommer lost respect here.
(1)Chie J.
Hana Zen is the best Japanese restaurant owned by Chinese people I've ever ate at outside of Japan. They were better than I imagined... I want to give them 3.6 stars. I think Hana Zen's Yakitori is one of the best in SF (It is not that hard to be the best in SF though... SF sucks when it comes to Yakitori or Yakiniku...) I can tell they care about how they prepare their Yakitori because: 1. They use Binchotan charcoal from Kishu. We Japanese consider Binchotan one of the best charcoal to grill meat. Binchotan is made of Ubamegashi (Evergreen Oak murayoshi.com/en/oak.html ) heated over 1000c. Binchotan is great for grilling meat because it's unique characteristics such as erasing unwanted order, smokelessness, heat up to higher temperature, and stay hot for a long period of time. 2. They use natural free-range chicken 3. They use rock sea salt. *Yaki Tori means Yaki (Grilled) Tori (Chicken). So Grilled beef on a skewer is NOT called Yakitori. Everything other than chicken is called Kushiyaki = Kushi (skewered) Yaki (Grill). Hana Zen lists all the grilled item including non chicken items under Yakitori on their menu .... which is technically WRONG I only tried their "Real" Yakitori -Tebasaki (Teba= wings + saki =split) very tasty. Nice grilled flavor with sea salt. Only problem was it was not "split" and butterflied... -Tsukune with soft boiled egg -ground chicken on a skewer with Tare sauce. It was better than the one at Sakana -Negima chicken grilled with green onion with Tare sauce. It was moist and tender. I liked their Sake choices as well. Their list include Kurosawa, Otokoyama, Suigei, Kikusui, Hakkaisan, and Kubota (Manju). They also had Shochu by bottle (Yaemaru, Kaguranomai, and Kuromaru) So why I didn't give Hana Zen 5 stars? Because their non-Yakitori items are inconsistent. Uni Tempura was very greasy and Soba was mushy one time. Mushy Soba is uneatable... I did not eat Sushi at Hana Zen because there are many other decent Japanese owned sushi restaurants within a few blocks from Hana Zen. (FYI There is one Japaneses sushi chef at Hana Zen) Bottom line, Hana Zen is a good choice if you are craving Yakitori in SF.
(4)G M.
This is a total tourist trap restaurant; located off Union Square and devoid of any Japanese customers (always a bad sign if people of the same culture do not go there to eat!). I give it a big "MEH" for the food here and an "EWW" for the buckets of dirty dishes that they keep all along the sides of the wall and close to the dining tables! So for my first "MEH": the food. I found the sushi rolls to be on the expensive side ($13-14 average) and the fish was not super fresh and the seaweed was rather chewy and the rice was dry and also amazingly chewy. I have had WAY better rolls at other places, so definitely was not a fan of theirs (had the Rainbow roll, Dragon Roll, Sunset Strip roll which was actually wrapped in cucumber and more of an Atkins-kind of roll.) Now for the "EWW" comment: How hard is it to take the dishes back to the kitchen?! Plus there's this off-putting Mr. Clean smell as you go towards the bathroom (doesn't mean its clean though; my shoes came out super sticky after I used the restroom). Ick. This place may be in a great location and look nice from the outside, but its such a waste of money. I definitely won't be back!
(1)Roger H.
Been here many times and the service and food has always been consistent. On my most recent trip I ordered some crispy chicken skin from the yakatori grill. It gave the chicken skin a very unique smoky flavor.
(4)Genevieve W.
I wish I could say that I have exquisite taste in food - a palate so discerning that I could identify any ingredient in a single bite. Unfortunately, I don't. I know great food, good food, greasy food, pricey food, cheap food, and food coma food. Hana Zen food falls into the rarely explored 'god awful food' category. This is one of those restaurants that makes me think that I could own a successful restaurant in San Francisco because people are just so darn gullible. The fish is not fresh, the rice is mushy. The portions are small and expensive! I had the salmon avocado roll and something else not memorable, and I was completely underwhelmed. It wasn't just forgettable, it did not taste good. This is a place to go if you have cash moneys to burn and like feeling hungry and ripped off after a meal. Yum!
(2)G O.
A very accommodating and friendly restaurant. They sat us five minutes until they were closing for their employee party, and every time we ate there the food and service was good. Will dine there again when we visit San Francisco again.
(4)F J.
Came here on a random whim with a friend for dinner. One of those things where you're showing someone around SF and she says "oh let's go eat there" and you end up at some place you'd never go to otherwise. Location-wise it's pretty close to the Powell BART stop so that's how we ended up here. I didn't actually get any sushi. Got some skewers instead. This place is way more pricey than it looks from the outside. It's a cozy place to eat... not really my kind of scene, but good to know where to get yakitori if I ever feel compelled to do so.
(3)jason g.
The White Tuna Sashimi Rocks here!!! I would come back here just for the sashimi. Service is always great!!! Ask for Arthur. He really knows how to treat his customers right. Price is reasonable. It has a very zen like feel to the restaurant.hahhahaha. Will definitely come back here again. It's in a touristy location, but who cares when the food is that good.
(5)John F.
Whenever we visit San Francisco....this is one of my favorite Sushi Spots!
(4)Mei C.
Quiet Wednesday night. The dragon roll is OK. Total bill for 5 people came to 100.00
(3)Brandon O.
Good food and service. The interior could use some decorating help. Was not cheap, but I guess we were in San Fran. Was right across the streetfrom our hotel, otherwise I am not sure we wouldve found it...open table and others didnt have it listed. A pretty good casual sushi place.
(4)stephanie l.
I was craving Japanese food while walking around Union Square on Saturday night and walked into this restaurant. I love places that don't focus too much on rolls but have a variety of Japanese small plates. Hana zen has a great selection of yakitori. Drinks: House Sake hot (hot sake is always yum) Small Plates: Calamari with spicy Aioli-too much breading for me but the sauce was good Hotate Bacon Maki-bacon wrapped scallops were super juicy Sunazuri (yellowtail belly)-this was my first experience eating yellowtail and I'm not usually a fan of raw fish but it was very very good! Shiromaguro (albacore belly)-this basically melted in my mouth. its a must try Hamachi Kama-my friend and I ordered this but another table had just received the last one. we saw the waitress bringing it to their table and were SO disappointed that we couldnt eat it. i am definitely going back just to try this dish. Whole grilled squid-I personally like the tentacles and they were grilled perfectly. The whole squid was served with a sweet sauce that complimented the squid perfectly. Onigiri with Salmon- I was expecting a rice ball that is grilled on both sides but this one was just mediocre. I personally didnt like how it was wrapped and while I was eating it, it kept falling apart. As said before I'm going to go back asap to try the Hamachi Kama. Overall a great experience for what was seemingly a tourist spot.
(4)Cecile S.
food: 2.5/5 service: 5/5 atmosphere 5/5 Would not come here again, food does not justify the price. Hana Zen japanese place which is good for small dinners or large parties. The food was good, but not the best. For the price it was not worth it. I had a sushi combination plate which included several different types of sushi listed and a chefs choice. The meal was a rip off. I paid about $20 for several pieces of sushi and the chef's choice for my combo platter was CALIFORNIA ROLL. So 1/3 of the plate was california roll and the rest was the listed ones. When I saw chef's choice, I thought it would be a specialty one. They picked one of the cheapest rolls. Always ask what the chef's choice is before you order the sushi combo. The service is wonderful though despite the food. I came with a group and the waiters are very timely. I like to note that almost all the waiters are somewhat stylish, younger asian guys. My party was there for three hours and they were nice to us the whole time. No pressure or rush to finish. If you come here, get the window seats on the second floor.
(2)Lolita D.
Way too pricey for what you get. The food is average. There are 3 other sushi places a stones throw away that offer better service, better menu and more reasonable prices.
(2)Dan B.
The sticker on the window stated: people love us on yelp. Seriously? I need to talk to some of these people. I cannot believe that I was Betrayed by a Yelp sticker. But I can't fully blame Yelp for my lunching indiscretion. I should have seen the warning signs: 1) vicinity to touristy area 2) no Japanese people eating or working there 3) the place was empty at noon 4) my Spider Senses were tingling I suggested ordering sushi when my lunch buddy pointed over to the sushi chef. He was "scratching" his nose. Good looking out Becca. I ended up having the chicken teriyaki and tempura. It was filling but not very satisfying. Overall, lunch was way too overpriced for what I got and I regretted not sticking to my original plan of going to the mall for a Jamba Juice.
(2)claudia y.
3.5 stars. with a name like hana zen and a location as touristy as union square, this place was not all the bad. it was surprisingly pretty good food with good variety and quality. the waiter was kind of weird. with his crazy hair and wild scribbling on his notepad, but we got all our orders in and our waters refilled. different waiters gave us our food at different times so not just one guy was serving us. also sushi came last. hot food came before. that always bugs me. but anyways. miso soup not hot enough the seaweed was still in clumps. spinach was normal. gindara (cod fish) good. not too salty or sweet. just right. robata items - shishamo (smelt), bacon wrapped scallop, chicken skin, chicken wings. the scallops were scallop halves or quarters. skin too salty. i got a scallop mayo tobiko handroll. so much topping that the seaweed got soggy real fast. and my last bite was all topping and not rice! we got this one roll that wasnt worth it al all. $12 and it was fish wrapped with cucumber! i dont remember its name now. it was weird because the restaurant had a few tables of japanese people. few tourists etc. weird mix.
(3)Michelle D.
Another surprising not-so-sucky place in the tourist mecca known as Union Square. I was nervous when friends proposed eating sushi this close to SF's most terrible restaurants, and I was especially frightened when we noted that this sushi joint is so gargantuan that it takes up the entire block! I was sure we were about to be subjected to the CPK of sushi. We were surprised to find this wasn't the case. The shiromaguro nigiri is what I always use as my benchmark and this one was buttery and delicious. The rest of the nigiri was up to par, rolls were good, and the price wasn't too bad. More than I would typically pay for sushi, but not bad for Union Square.
(4)Melanie Z.
Love, love, love! The lamb, the hamachi kama, the sushi... all delicious. Everytime we stay in Union Square we visit Hana Zen.
(4)Michelle N.
I would have given this place 5 star except the sushi was not as fresh as expected. I had dinner here and the ambiance is nice plus great staff. However, the sashimi I ordered was not fresh which is a no-no. Kobe beef is excellent though, melt in your mouth flavor.
(4)Miika M.
Not a bad place for pop-able sushi for women so that they don't have to open their mouths wide like a baleen whale. We ordered several orders of their maguro and hamachi, because apparently the night out guaranteed fish that was brought in that day. Fresh buttery fish that literally melted in our mouths. The maguro was fine, without much muscle (meat near the tail is a bit firmer). Order their other specialty, anything robata: grilled items. We chose the familiar: chicken (yakitori), beef, and calamari. Basted with their special teriyaki sauce, not too salty/mildly sweet (Tokyo style is usually salty, Osaka is a bit sweeter---more my route). The meat was tender due to the marinade, with enough crisp produced by the grill. The calamari was most excellent, tender and not rubbery at all. Out waiter was quick, service efficient, and kind to the first timer to sushi. I would recommend this place due to its location in the middle of the city, close proximity to everything downtown has to offer: bars, clubs, cafes!
(3)Mona N.
A buncha decently priced rolls but everything else is waaaaaay too pricey. Since I sat at a table, I didn't feel comfortable ordering anything unrolled. They also don't serve hot tea. You have to buy a pot. Sorta like IHOP's coffe. But at least IHOP gives you the choice of pot OR cup. Hana-zen doesn't =/ I noticed a robata (Japanese style BBQ grill) bar, so maybe I'll go back for the grilled stuff... but I'm a little iffy about their techniques plus the skewers cost more than the ultra authentic places in NYC (Totto and Torys)... which made me laugh out loud. Note: the 2nd star is for the group of young-ish Japanese business men sitting next to my date and I. The table ordered soba, tempura soba, various onigiris and kept repeating "oishii" which means "this is hella good!"...... but they were kiiiinda drunk so take it with a grain of salt. The 3rd star is for the same group of young-ish Japanese business men sitting next to my date and I, that were graphically talking about XXX-rated stuff throughout the latter half of my meal. As we were leaving, I looked at the dudes and said in Japanese "I overheard everything -smile- Good night.... -wink-" All five of their jaws DROPPED onto their plates. PRICELESS
(3)Timothy P.
When I pay forty plus dollars for a dinner in a city full of amazing culinary indulgences, I expect something special. Was the food good? Sort of... I have had better for half the price. The restaurant is full of awkward angles and the view Cyril Magnin street can often be less than savory, this restaurant is on the border of one of San Francisco's most challenged neighborhoods (IE. The Tenderloin AKA the TL). Service was a "B" and cleanliness was a "C-". If you want to know how the kitchen of a restaurant probably looks, first check out the bathroom and you should have a good idea of how tight of ship they run. I am a stickler for cleanliness, especially when I am going to eat raw seafood. They have a decent section on their menu for both food and beverage.
(2)sage H.
Victor provided great service, the overhead street view is fun. I appreciated the staff that served us with last call, thank you! -Anthoney Pacheco
(3)Don W.
This review is written from a tourist's perspective. Every year, I stay at the Marriott by the Moscone Center for a few days with one or two colleagues, and Hana Zen is a regular stop. The sushi is good and fresh, and the location is just a short walk from the Marriott, Nikko, or any of the other hotels in the area. After spending the day flying across the country and finding our way to the hotel, Hana Zen is a predictable and delicious oasis. I'm sure that they don't have the best sushi bar in town because we were able to walk in and sit down, but there was nothing wrong. They were only out of one type of fish, and it really didn't matter because my stomach wasn't big enough for me to try all of the things that looked good. If you're a tourist, Hana Zen might be the best choice for you. If you're a local, check this place out. Sure, it's in an area that's almost as full of tourists as Fisherman's Wharf, but it's better than you might think. In fact, it's probably as good as it gets for the area, so after coming here consistently for at least the last 5 years, I'm giving it 5 stars.
(5)Matt H.
Great little place in SF... probably the best miso soup that I have ever had... good portions, pricing and selections. I would certainly come back and eat here again.
(4)Bob J.
Dazed from a night of Christmas shopping and now it's after 11pm and I haven't eaten. Walking back to Muni and see that this place is open til 1am. Yeh! The menu is large and I'm still glazed over from 4 hours in Macys, so it takes me a while to order. The waiter was pretty eager to get my order -- I get it, it's late. Order Ohitashi to start. They're out of it. Finally decide on yakitori, only to be told they don't serve it this late (11:30pm) -- really? really? You might have mentioned that once in the three times you came over while I was still deciding. Fine. Shellfish shashimi will do. Food was okay. Mediocre, but ok. Now I know a lot of work goes into closing a restaurant for the night, but here they have no problem with doing it noisily all around the diners. Breaking down boxes, dragging a big garbage bin of bottles down the dining room steps (thump clang, thump clang, thump clang), employees just off their shifts hanging around holding loud conversations, cleaning fluid smells, propped-open kitchen door 10 feet from my table. It's not as if me and the other diners are overstaying our welcome -- they're open for another 50 minutes at this point. Expensive and aggravating. Staff obviously doesn't give a shit.
(1)Patrick T.
Do you enjoy small portions at very expensive prices? How about fighting off the flies that are trying to eat your sushi? Then this is for you. Otherwise, there's plenty of other options elsewhere. +1 star because it was decorated very nicely
(2)liz s.
I arrived at 4:00 pm on Monday. The waitress said they are closed between 4:30 and 5:00 so I understood I couldn't linger. They didn't have any udon noodles so I got 2 rolls and maguro nigiri. The rolls started to unravel and the rice was unruly. The maguro had jagged edges and was pulling apart. I should have had the yakitori.
(2)Christine B.
We didn't have a reservation on New Years Eve, but got lucky and were seated within a couple minutes. It kinda sucked though because we sat where there was a lot of foot traffic near the door. Our waiter(s) were a little confused as to who was serving us and it made them look unprofessional. The food came out quickly and was served hot. Everything was okay, but I thought the price was a bit expensive. Some things they could work on are refilling our water (they did not), making sure the sake is ice cold (we had to ask for a cup of ice), and maybe updating the sauce recipe in the vermicelli served with the chicken teriyaki.
(3)Coraly S.
San Francisco is definitely one of my favorite places to visit for food, but this place left me very unsatisfied. I've had much better and quite frankly i didnt think the service was great either. Maybe my expectations are high? Just not very tasty! I like to order special rolls alot, but there wasnt much creativity going on here. Sorry!
(2)john w.
Clean place in good location beside Hotel Nikko. Sushi was fresh and tasty Good service. Price was market . Kirin Light beer for 4.75 best price in San Fran.
(4)J. D.
On the plus side, the food was excellent quality, the location is cool and the restaurant is cozy with good views of the street below. On the minus side, the prices for non-sushi items are bizarrely expensive and the waiters were young, impatient and rushed us out of there. Next time we'll identify ourselves as locals and see if the staff becomes friendlier.
(3)Alexi A.
You will walk out of this place with a very thin wallet, but happy knowing you just ate some of the best sushi ever. That was my experience at least, well actually that happened to me twice. I went there a while ago, so no details here. This is a good place if you're celebrating or for a classy date. The prices dictate that these are the only instances which justify eating here... and that's why i'm gonna give it a 4 and not a 5, even though the food deserves the best rating...
(4)Matt C.
Unbelievably overpriced, even for the area. Good but not extraordinary food. Strictly for tourists.
(2)Alden H.
Im a sucker for Yakitori , but this place just didnt quite do it for. Its not bad, in fact there were quite a few dishes that were quite good. I guess I just have too high a standard for YakiTorri. I also felt like they tried to make the place too modern. They dont have to make their food and atmosphere asian-fusion-esque. A good yakitori place will let the food speak on its own. Strike one for my first attempt at yakitori in SF. I will stick with fav places in NYC.
(3)F C.
I too was deceived by the Yelp! sticker..... GEEZ.... Negative(s): 1) Overpriced 2) Bad Service (forgetting some of the items ordered) 3)Menu confused my poor bf - too many choices and scattering 4)Getting charged for tea Positive(s): 1) It had an almost upscale decor Items ordered were Beef Teriyaki dinner (comes with salad, rice, and miso soup), california rolls, wakame (though they called it something else), tea (forgot the name)
(2)Jordan M.
I went here with two other people a couple weeks ago. We each got a lunch special, and a roll for the table. Only one of us had a drink. The bill ended up being about $25 a person. This place is definitely pricey, but the portion sizes were bigger than your average Japanese joint. They didn't skimp on the meat at all. We were all stuffed by the end of our meal.
(4)Nichole B.
Stopped in after some holiday shopping for dinner and enjoyed every bite! Tried a little bit of everything from the yellow tail, a number of different sushi rolls, kobe beef, oysters and some lamb chops (my favorite). We always stop in when we are in town, the food and drinks always hit the spot. Their recommendations are always good, workers are friendly, we always have a good time!
(5)Michelle N.
A friend and I I came here for lunch on Saturday for the Dine About Town event. Our server had no idea what we were talking about so my friend asked her to consult with the manager. She didn't seem to want to do that, so I pulled out my iPhone to show her the website listing their restaurant as one of the Dine About Town participants. She then calls up her manager to confirm. After that, service was great, she was super attentive. I would say the only positive thing about my dining experience here was the service. Sushi was just blah. The spicy tuna roll didn't offer great flavor and its texture was pretty mushy. Moreover, dessert for the Dine About Town prix fixe menu was ice cream....much to our dismay, we weren't even offered a choice...and when it arrived, it was vanilla ice cream =/
(2)Rachel W.
two words: dragon balls (not to be confused with dragon rolls) wow - they were amazing! spicy and delicious. little fried balls of goodness. all of their sushi is great. always solid. minus one star for the black toilet and toilet seats in the bathroom...it terrifies me.
(4)Kimmy C.
Poor and unprofessional service. Not fresh fish. My 20 minute curry only took 10 minutes and the gravy was lumpy and the vegetable and beef were limited. I was desperate and hungry so we tried it. The sushi was terrible and the food is overpriced. My husband works with fish and he was very disappointed.
(1)tracy l.
Great rolls, a bit pricey, but it is the city ... restaurant itself has a nice layout..... i like to come here whenever i crave for sushi in sf... service is ok.....
(4)Jason Z.
VERY pedestrian food, mediocre decor, and average service. If this doesn't say it all about the service. I sit down at the sushi bar and wait a few minutes. After the sushi chef doesn't make eye contact with me I finally ask, "May I have an oyster shooter?" He says, "Order with waiter." HA! No joke. Isn't half the experience of sitting at a sushi bar, talking with the chef. And the food was very average. It's certainly not worth the $75 I spent (yes, for just one person).
(2)Michael W.
My wife and I have been going to Hana Zen for years (since it used to be called Nan Ban Tei), since it's one of the very few places in SF to get good yakitori. The other day, we had already eaten dinner at home, but were craving dessert from Hana Zen. They have a fried banana dish with ice cream and honey that's unusally good (believe it or not). So, we headed downtown for dessert. It was a weeknight, we parked directly out front, and walked in. The place was half empty. Even so, when we told the hostess we just wanted dessert, she informed us that there was a $20 per person minimum order. As we started to walk out, I think she realized that she screwed up and tried to convince us to stay with the suggestion that our waitperson might be OK with it, though. We kept going; they've lost our business for good. I can understand minimum orders if the restaurant is full and they'd rather sell a full dinner than just a dessert. However, if a restaurant is half empty on a week night, and they'd rather have $0 from our table than only profit on our dessert, they don't need our business any more. Too bad.
(1)Amy J.
I came here because I wanted to use one of my Cozmo Cards compliments of Yelp. I couldn't because it was for dinner only. Doh! Not cool. Anyway, I like going upstairs to a little restaurant. The food here is pretty decent. You get potato salad instead of a traditional salad if you order a lunch combo. I thought that was a nice change from the usual run of the mill combo, especially on a hot day. Nothing spectacular but it's worth walking over here if you're craving sushi.
(3)Lily P.
My first time ordering udon soup at a restaurant though I've always loved big fat noodles. This place was not disappointing at all. I was in heaven, the broth was great, the noodles were perfect. The tempura was served on the side so it wouldn't get soggy. The tempura dipping sauce was the best I've ever had. It was salty instead of mild and bland. Husband got BBQ ribs and tempura lunch. He enjoyed it a lot, small meat portion though. Husband came back at a later time for dinner to get their filet yakitori (Gyu Hire Yaki) and it was better than the prime rib eye he had at First Crush restaurant downstairs. That's amazing for him to say since he's a big meat eater. Service was slow though. But had good sake to keep you entertained!
(4)Andrew T.
Every time I am in San Fran, sushi is on my menu, and I am never disappointed. The hotel concierge recommended this Union Square spot, and the trusting out of towner I was, I went without hesitation. I was further comforted when I ran into another out of town friend of mine, dining there with his Asian friend, a San Fran native, who vouched for Hana Zen as being top tier. Always a good sign when the locals, and Asian locals no less, stand by a sushi restaurant. The service was great, and the waiter brought over an ice cold kirin and suggested some nice salty steamed edamame to start us off, which though not that tough of a dish to execute well, they delivered it as expected...which is always a good start. Fish was fresh, beer was cold, atmosphere was so so and it is a bit plain given some of the more "hipster" sushi spots I am used to, but overall was a good meal and I would most certainly return.
(3)Kim N.
For not being Shinsengumi, this place had some pretty good yakitori. My friend and I were visiting from out of town and picked a random place from one of the tourist guides, feeling in the mood for some Japanese food. This place did not disappoint. We enjoyed almost all of the Yakitori as well as the sake and dessert we ordered. We (or maybe just me) went overboard with the ordering and our tiny table was filled with yummy dishes. Unfortunately, not as good as Shinsengumi for me, but if you cannot make it to OC, this is place is not too shabby.
(3)Christine M.
If I were on death row, I could die fat and happy- without a care that my demise was imminent- if I got to eat here one last time. Incredible sushi. The last time I went, my party and I roared through a platter of 10 rolls without speaking a word or looking up from our plate (so much for pleasant dinner conversation). Also, I recommend the Sake cocktails, in which they substitute Sake for Vodka etc. Expect a substantial wait, even with a reservation.
(5)Whitney P.
Guess I should have tried the yakitori because I had some of the worst sushi I can remember, the grocery store sushi is better. Went on a Monday night, maybe that was the problem. Their menu is very limited as is their drink list. Did not work for me . . .better luck if you try it.
(2)Jose S.
DUDE... this place is freakishly expensive. Ate here for the 1st time today for dinner and boy was i shocked when i received the bill. The ambiance isn't that bad and the music was playing soft which is good. Anyhow, i ordered one bottle of cold Saki (usually like it warm but this Saki was pretty good), a Hana zen sushi roll (nothing great had better sushi else where) and my friend ordered unagi don buri and a sushi roll. Our bill came out to be $63. i left a $13 tip because of the excellent service but $30 a head doesn't warrant the quality of food that we ate to cost that much.
(3)Heather D.
Mm! I was immediately pleased when I looked at the menu for Hana Zen posted on the window outside. On a Friday night, my boyfriend and I were seated immediately at a table right at the window, perfect for people-watching. The layout is great, making the place look huge inside. I ordered green tea, which was refilled all night at no charge. The tuna roll I ordered was delightful, tasting of fresh tuna in a tight roll. I also ordered the soft shell crab roll, which was out-of-this-world good! The latter roll was rather pricey at $11 a pop, but it came with five pieces of cooked crab in a rice roll. So tasty! My boyfriend enjoyed his non-sushi meal too. :) Service was great, though I heard that they were speaking Chinese, not Japanese. Hmm...
(5)Heidi P.
Good. Definitely not cheap, but not too pricey either. I would definitely consider this as a place for a business lunch or dinner, or as someplace I could/would go for lunch if I had more money for my sushi fix. I don't know that it would be enough to bring me to the neighborhood though. Though they seem to have a ton of turnover... They are always hiring & most of the time(one of) the position(s) seems to be sushi chef!
(4)John M.
Failed authenticity test. Granted, ordering tonkatsu in a sushi place isn't very authentic anyway, as in Japan you'd never find good restaurants mingling the two. But no cabbage, no mustard, and not a very good job on the frying. Unfair of me to be disappointed as I didn't even know I was craving tonkatsu. Now I've got to go looking for it.
(2)Chandanit L.
I just came back from dining here and let me tell you why I gave 2 stars. General: * There's no real Japanese tea (first bad sign for 'Japanese' restaurant). All teas have to be ordered/pot and they were all from Numi. I believe authentic Japanese restaurants always have free flowing tea. * Service was extremely slow and inefficient. Once the food came, it was definitely not worth the wait. Food Quality: * Sashimi was not at all impressive. The variety of the fish was really limited. The worse part was the fish quality which was quite mushy and tasted as if it had been defrosted and served. * Rainbow and dynamite rolls were very mediocre. I couldn't finish them. There was something really wrong about the rice in the rolls. It didn't taste like well-season sushi rice. Although it appeared to be short grain rice, it was a bit hard and broken. The sauces used in the dynamite rolls were very overwhelming and actually contrasted with everything else in the roll. * Yakitori platter was probably the most edible one but was really nothing special. Shitake was not well grilled and tasted like it was soaked in the water. This was very far from the real tasted Yakitori the menu claimed. Most yakitori items were undersalted. With all said above, I don't think this restaurant was worth the price and I'm definitely not going back.
(2)Christy M.
Yummy yummy yummy! I was surprised at how good this little out of the way downtown sushi place was. It came highly recommended from a friend who often frequents this little establishment for lunch. Worth every yen. Even the sake fused cocktails are worth a try.
(4)Kay G.
I come here for the unagi nigiri, the sake sushi, and the yakitori. I really like the yakitori. I've tried the kobe and goose liver appetizers as well. They were tasty, if rather costly. The rolls are consistently good, but not great. I am sure there are better places to get rolls in SF. The food itself is rather pricey, but given that I've eaten there a dozen times and not had a negative experience, I consider the reliably good food and service worth the price premium. Location, atmosphere, and staff are all pleasant. Oh, and a good sake list!
(3)Vince C.
I recommend going to this restaurant early to make your reservation as they will cancel your reservation after ten minutes. Our party had the following dishes: foie gras sushi, fried uni, shiitake mushroom yakitori, tempura appetizer, hana zen roll, dragon roll, asparagus yakitori, scallops with bacon wrapped around it, and miso soup. The most memorable dishes were the foie gras sushi and the fried uni. I also liked the asparagus yakitori. The other dishes were blase. The foie gras was seared and had great texture which, coupled with the white rice, sent enough of the dish around your mouth instead of concentrating the liver on one spot of your palate. The fried uni was a marvel to behold, being in tempura batter I wondered how they got the little critters in those leaves to deep fry. Regardless, the uni was great. Why the two stars? Service was slow, parking not so great, reception was on par with the service (i.e. not very accommodating), and out of all the dishes that we ordered only a few were substantial attention grabbers for the price of the "Japanese fusion" cuisine.
(2)Vickie B.
Nothing to yelp about in my opinion. At 6:30 on a thursday night, pre-theatre, a friend and I decided to test out a tourist-y place in Union Square that would provide a light fare (as heavy food knocks me out by the end of the first act). This is how we came to Hana Zen. No wait, we sat and ordered in a relatively quick amount of time. Upon reviewing the menu we found the first flag: "There is a $20 minimum per person. Interesting. We paused and considered if we should stay--- seeing other people around enjoying sushi led us to believe that maybe the place was $20 per person good... we commenced. Miso for my mate (who seemed to enjoy it but didn't rave) and I enjoy chicken heart skewers, which were quite tasty if you enjoy those sort of things. We ordered two rolls and two nigiri---- enough to hit maximum capacity for the two of us. The sushi was all right. It tasted as if it had been soaking in fresh water and there was little taste left aside from the soy and ginger we were soaking the rice in. Being the lovers of cheap sushi, we weren't quite expecting the $57 bill for two people. Had the fish not tasted like water, it wouldn't have been unreasonable. What was unreasonable was the effort it took to flag down our server to get the bill. Our meal took roughly 35 minutes, the flagging down and paying for the meal took 25. On a thursday as we ran to the play, it seemed out of place... Overall: Not worth too much effort, but decent if you're in the area and need some small bites.
(3)Liz S.
I'm rounding up from a 3.5, as this restaurant was open on Thanksgiving and the service was good. We went with 2 other couples to have a non-traditional dinner on this traditional American holiday. It felt like we were on vacation, being around Union Square and at a restaurant we probably wouldn't have picked on our own - that said, we had a really nice experience. My favorite starter was the Kobe carpaccio. Delicious, could have eaten a larger plate of this all by myself. Tender meat with a seared, peppery edge. The poke appetizer was also good with spicy bits of tuna and octopus. We shared a lot of sushi, including the Hana Zen roll (my favorite), the Sunset Strip roll (a light roll wrapped in cucumber with no rice - very good) and the Spicy Tuna Roll (deep fried but not heavy). There were also salmon/avocado rolls and a Dragon Roll which were similar to what I've had elsewhere. I had an order of Uni with a quail egg on top which was delicious. We also got the big Yakitori sampler - and it was a bit of a surprise. In a good way for me, but I am not sure everyone else was as thrilled. There were skewers of beef, salmon, and chicken which were pretty normal. Then there was unagi, and vegetables such as mushrooms and Chinese peppers. The other choices were: chicken hearts, liver, beef tongue, and gizzards. Now I love this stuff, as did one of my friends at the table. But most people I know are quite as fond of these delicacies. If you are not adventurous (i.e. little skewers of organ meats don't appeal to you), I suggest you order your Yakitori a la carte. We also got an order of the glazed cod which was excellent. Hana Zen is a restaurant that I'd go to again if I were in the area. It's a step above a lot of choices in Union Square, and I liked having the combo of sushi and cooked food. Service was very attentive and nice, with a lot of food arriving at the same time. And they didn't say anything when we got a little loud and *ahem* inappropriate with our conversation (you put certain people together, it happens). But hey, isn't that what the holidays are all about?
(4)My N.
Service could use improvement .. was a little unattentive, but the food was good. Went with 4 of my friends, we had the Yakatori Deluxe combination (10 skewers of the chef's choice). The grilled skewers (kobe beef, chicken, pork with scallions, mushroom, and lamb) were all delicious ! I actually didn't try the lamb, but my friends raved about it.) My favorite was the unagi, it was so good, we had to order another order (and I think I could have even had another order after that. I can't comment much about the sashimi since all we had was salmon, but it was pretty good .. very fresh and I liked the thinness of the cuts .. just enough in every bite. The sushi rolls were fine, but there were no standouts. I also tried the fatty tuna (O-Toro), had high expectations for it, but it was just ok. Dessert was good, we had the fried banana, grilled ice-cream, and ginger creme brulee. I didn't know what to expect for the grilled ice-cream, but it ended up to be my favorite.
(4)Mimi P.
After a looooong day of shopping we needed some nourishment and energy because we were going out that nite. Being that it was about 5:30pm on a Saturday nite we figured everywhere in Union Square would be crazy busy. We walked by Hana Zen and I love Japanese food so we were game. Well the place is pretty pricey, but we didn't even have to wait long for a table for 2. We shared a plate of sushi, each had our own plate of food, I chose beef teriyaki cuz I love MEAT, and my boyfriend got the chicken. The service was a tiny bit lame only because we were done eating but still had food on our plates because we didn't want to feel stuffed when we went to the club that nite, AND we were saving room for dessert. So we kinda sat there, done eating, trying to find our waitress, looking around. I guess the hostess saw us and saved this place from getting 4 stars because she got us a dessert menu right away, got our waitress to bring take-out boxes for our leftovers and even did the call back on our desserts. She seemed like she really wanted us to be happy. And the dessert we shared was oishi. It was some chocolate yummy thing with ice cream with coconut. Mmmmmm. Thank you hostess at Hana Zen.You saved the day.
(5)Nacho C.
I was at a conference and found this place using Opentable. Long before I was a "Yelper". The atmosphere is okay but I would reccomend sitting at the Sushi Bar. Not only is it fun, but the chefs are pretty cool too. We spend like 160 bucks for 3 people inwhich we had Sake and some beers. It was a good time and the more importantly the food was good. Seating was a little tight, but we managed to have a good time plus the price was right. Make sure to ask for the "dragon balls".
(3)Bambooo S.
I've been looking for a great yakitori place since I moved to SF 3 years ago. Japantown was a no-go. I finally found it in the most unlikely spot imaginable: right in the middle of tourist central. For yakitori fans this is the real deal. They import their charcoal from Japan to ensure a hot enough burn. That's fanatic! And they serve many yakitori favorites--chicken skin, chicken heart, chicken gizzard--plus tanyaki (I hadn't had that since I was in Tokyo) and other assorted meat and vegetables. The only disappointment: shitake was the only the mushroom offering. I would have expected at least a couple of other varieties. Prices are high ($35+ for a modest meal for one, no alcohol or dessert, before tip) and the place is noisy and crowded with people from out of town eating with their kids. But if you love yakitori you can put that aside and chow down on some serious fare. I can't speak to the sushi, tempura, or other dishes. Note: I went for dinner. Looking at their menu online, it's unclear whether they serve yakitori at lunch. The yakitori is 5-star, but I bumped my rating down a point because of the high prices and distracting ambience.
(4)Laurence H.
Besides having a hot hostess, this downtown establishment has seen better days. Five years ago, this was a modern space serving decent sushi and thought of as the "place" to eat yakitori in SF...now the restaurant appears to be cruising on its reputation and content with letting the place look more and more run down...Perhaps it's a combination of my tastes becoming more discriminating and quality going down...but the rice was fit to be served in a rice bowl for Chinese food and the fish was average at best...even the tried and true yakitori was only so-so....it still captures plenty of the tourist crowd, but Hana Zen has lost me..
(2)Keika L.
I was never one to fall for any of those "authentic" restaurants in/around Union Square...but my boyfriend and I were hungry and we just went into any restaurant that looked decent. We stepped into Hana Zen thinking it would be an over-priced Japanese place, but actually it was good! O_O It was a cold night so I ordered a tempura udon and it was FANTASTIC! They also have shochu cocktails which are so divine! I dare you to try this place. T_T
(5)Daria M.
Pretty pricey. According to the menu, there's a $20 minimum per person. Maybe that's for larger groups, I'm not sure, but my friend and I still felt obliged to order $20 of food each. It wasn't hard, the food was pricey. The rolls we got were pretty good, especially what we were paying for it. I think our waitress didn't like us, mainly because when she took our order for drinks, I said "hot water" and she seemed a little taken aback and confused. I supposed it's blasphemy that a customer should want to order hot water with their meal. Anyway, food was good. Service was ok. It wasn't terribly crowded since it was a weekday.
(3)Chin C.
WOW We went there on New Year Eve and the place served such a great meal. They have a lot of sake for us to choose and we did choose many to try. The yakitori dishes were amazing, beef, chicken skin, lamb. Also the sashimi, maki, and sushi were very decent. Have to go back whenever I go to SF, def. Love the place.
(5)Brian L.
Wow, can you say pricey?! We ordered asparagus yakitori which was soooo tiny that you could eat it all in one bite. We also had the shiitake yakitori which didn't have much flavor and the filet mignon which was just so-so. We ordered some sushi which was just fair compared to other sushi restaurants that I've been too. The gommae was not that great. We had two bottles of sake and two beers for $160 for four.
(2)andy r.
'At Home He's A Tourist' by Gang of Four is my earworm. It plays when deciding where to eat in the Union Square area at night. Since I declined a hot dog at the movies, my party deferred to me. We found ourselves at Hana Zen a few minutes later. The host said the wait would be 20 min. but maybe less...OK. We had to wait for a couple at a table for four to stop making out. Ah, tourism. The offerings of sake and shochu are extensive and widely varying in price. Indecision opted for frosty mugs of Asahi. In addition to the standard sushi fare, they offer plenty of cooked, fried and steamed options for those who don't do raw. The cool people all ordered veggie rolls, dragon rolls, and another delicious combo that was rolled in panko and sesame before frying. I ordered generously sliced Hotate (scallops) and Aji (Spanish mackerel) as per usual. Both were very good. My other staple is Ankimo (monk fish liver). It's the foie gras of the deep, yet it's guilt-free because you can't force feed a monkfish. My adventurous yelpin' pals all politely raised their eyebrows and said 'mmm' as they tasted it. The truth'll come out in their reviews. One of our party has a genetic code to try every variety of fried bananas and coconut ice cream. Hana Zen's is amazingly good, with the bananas thinly sliced, dipped in tempura and coconut and fried crispy and light. This dessert alone is worth a late night drop-in. For convenience, most dishes are priced 20-25% higher than comparable sushi places. We can't let the tourists have all the fun. + 1-star bump if you are on 'expense account'.
(3)Connie C.
I wanna thank little baby Jesus, who's sitting in his crib watching the baby Einstein developmental videos learning about shapes and colors*, for giving us a piece of heaven on earth with the fried banana dessert. As pointed out by Andy R., I suppose I do have a penchant for fried banana. There's no need to make the waiter recite their list of desserts, I've learned that I should just save them some time and ask them straight up if they have fried banana with coconut ice cream. Luckily, at Hana Zen, they did. They make a really scrumptious tempura fried banana. The banana is sliced up and deep fried in this wonderfully sweet and crisp batter, and served with coconut ice cream topped with coconut flakes. LOVED IT! Although the sushi was very nicely presented and prepared, I wasn't blown away by the taste or texture (altough perturbed by the monkfish liver, and happy to see that they fry everything from California Rolls to Spicy Tuna Rolls). You definitely pay for the nice ambiance and good service though. Fried banana dessert? Definitely worth the visit. *quote by El Diablo, aka the fighting chicken, aka Ricky Bobby
(3)D J.
He'll yea good sushi and nigori by the bottle
(4)Michelle S.
Got some drinks across the street at Infusion....came here to soak up some alcohol mid evening since it's right across the street. I ordered an ebi tempura roll....it was good considering my spinning head...but the shrimp was almost nowhere to be expected...not meaty enough for me...but the rice and seaweed was good. We also ordered the rainbow roll which did not look the freshest to me but my girlfriend wasn't complaining....it was after 12am though....good for the environment...not sure if I'd actually come here for dinner...oh...no hard liquor which blows! Only sake stuff.
(2)Tiberius A.
Mixed feelings here...food a four, but ambiance a two. I like noise, but not people yelling between tables and me being in the middle of it especially when I was there with a new friend...we had to yell at each other to talk. Yeah, I know it's Mac World this week and it was definitely packed with out of towners and tourists -- considering it's in the middle of name brand hotel row...but still. I'll go again when maybe if it's quieter, but somehow, I don't think that would be possible. Lastly though, the food was good and four for that. Maybe I'll go for lunch next time.
(3)Saman S.
High quality food and reasonable prices!
(5)Marcus W.
If you're open, then please offer the full menu. The cooks start cleaning their grill an hour before they close. No robata for you! Very disappointing as their robata has received good reviews. The Chawanmushi was smooth and light, though there were bits of something chewy that wanted to get stuck in your teeth; I think it was dried scallop but I couldn't be sure. Not a desired attribute of a Chawanmushi. Sushi was good and the udon broth was quite tasty. Pretty average for the price. If I find myself in the neighborhood again, I may go back (since there's not much open in the area at midnight). Not so great that I'd make a trip.
(3)Jennifer B.
This used to be my favorite Japanese spot when I lived in the hood'. So when I was meeting up with my friend for dinner in the tender I immediately thought of Hana Zen.... i have developed a new fetish for Sushi.... vegetarian of course, but I do not like the seaweed paper, so I have to consume at locations that have soy paper.... AND THEY DO!!!! Yay!!!!.... my oldie, but goodie Japanese restaurant pulled through... I have to say the service has gone down hill a bit... they used to be over the top friendly.... and I don't eat anymore, but if you do... For Christ Sake, have the chicken yakitori... Soooo yummy! They fly the coals in from Japan, and it is just pure amazingness.... Tear :( No chicken for me...... Oh and FYI parking is a bitch!!!
(3)Iain H.
First, I'm nothing what you'd call a sushi aficionado. Went here for lunch on Sunday where it was nearly empty. Might have just opened though, didn't check the hours. I was really hungry, and as the prices for their rolls seemed a little on high side (even for sushi, which seems to be high to begin with) I mixed up a teriyaki chicken lunch (miso soup, bowl of rice 6 grilled veggies, and a decent enough serving of chicken) and 2 rolls; San Francisco roll (shrimp, asparagus, and "Japanese mayo") and a basic yellow tail roll. I also ordered a Coke. My 1 can of Coke was an unbelievable $3.50! So if Coke is $3.50, you can extrapolate sushi prices. The food was delicious though, the sauce not super sweet and sugary, and the fish fresh. The service was good, though the bus guy gave me the creeps. I think next time I'm in the area I'll look for something else.
(3)kelly y.
We came here for lunch on a Sunday. This place is really small but there were tables available. The service was superb and the staff friendly. We ordered cooked food and one spicy tuna roll. The fish was fresh and the pork katsu was tasty. The restaurant is clean inside which is always a plus. I must add, we left a shopping bag at our table and the server was so kind to bring it out to us down the street! Would go back again.
(4)Xavier C.
I've just had lunch. It was OK. The Hana Zen roll ($13.75) was very good. It had tempura salmon, tuna and avocado. The maguro was good too ($5.50) for 2 pieces. Only .50 cents cheaper than Anju at the Nikko which has a much better ambiance and decor. The dessert was a bit of a disappointment: Fried banana with icecream ($7.75). The icecream was really good but the frie banana had a funny smell. I think it was the oil they used to fried the banana. I'm used to olive oil and they probably used canola oil... Another think I didn't like was the smell of the restauranta the first time you walk in. It's hard to describe, but pleasant is not one of the adjectives I would use... Also the restaurant looks a bit run down....
(3)Lindsey S.
This place was GREAT! There were 5 of us that ate here and we all agreed that this was the best sushi we had ever had. That being said, we're all from Kansas haha. But no really this place was great and our waiter was very nice and friendly. One warning - - while we were eating here two women got thier purses stolen right from their tables. I know that this can happen anywhere, but just some advise for travelers....Be aware of your surroundings.
(5)DOM d.
They get 5 stars because I always have good experiences here. I usually get salmon and white tuna sashimi. The white tuna just melts. Its excellent. I usually request arthur as my server because i am very happy with his service. He remembers who i am and helps me pick out rolls and sake. I dont really like to order the yaki tori. The only thing i dont really like is the price but its in an expensive area and they have to pay rent so they still get 5 stars.
(5)Christine P.
i'm sorry. you ARE the weakest link. goodbye! seriously. $23.95 for chicken teriyaki. $13.95 for a roll where the tuna was so thinly sliced and the avocado was turning... brown! for a forgetful waitress and a sticky table (the ultimate no-no in my book). since there are so many other japanese places with "substance" in the city... me thinks not.
(1)Lola S.
One of my favorite Japanese restaurants in the city. Sushi is not the best but very decent, great yakitori. Everything is always fresh, service is consistently excellent. Very nice ambience. I love their martini scallops appetizer!
(5)Shana W.
If you're willing to pay the price, their sashmi is pretty good. It melts in your mouth like butter. Out of all the places that I've been to, Hana Zen is the bomb.
(5)yomei k.
I grew up and Japan and know what sushi is supposed to taste like. Hana Zen was a bust... - Service was extremely slow - Sushi was not sushi - okay place to go if you just want rolls. - the waiter seemed clueless. I don't know... maybe my standards are high. Two stars is generous... but if you have low sushi standards, it's edible. Of course no one will see my review because Hana probably pays off yelp. FML.
(2)Erik U.
Hey, lets go to a bar with your 4 month old! No? This isn't that movie with legally blonde chick in it? no babies in a bar? :( Ok, lets get sushi. Issue ONE with downtown food purveyors. They all have stairs. Friends had a stroller and everywhere we went had some sort of obstacle. SF hates kids. Remember that! You have to be mid 20's and run a start up and be single to live here. Anyways back to the food. Standard sushi fair with nothing special. The fish was decent quality. I only gave it an OK because I feel that sushi should be an experience. It's too easy to chops up some ahi and throw hot sauce on it and call it a tuna roll. I like to see creativity. All in all, the food wasn't bad. But it wasn't mind blowing.
(3)Eric T.
As with other Union Square establishments, you should expect to pay a little more to eat here. With that said, the sushi was pretty fresh. There wasn't a wait for the table, and the service was good. There are nice views of the street as the restaurant overlooks the slope that is Cyril Magnin Way.
(4)Karen H.
pretty casual place w/ great food. the yakitori is the best. I don't eat lamb, but my friend insisted and it was sooooooooo good. also the mushroom yakitori is dry but very flavorful and the steak yaktori is good, but not as good as the lamb we also tried the special which was tuna poke and that was okie and the fried scallop was really good. they are also known for their rolls, spider roll, tempera roll, and best of all the crunchy tuna roll which was my fav and if u like spicy that's that's the roll to try. we also ordered vegetable tempera and the batter was light and crispy. for dessert we got the fried banana w/ coconut ice cream. yummy!
(4)Arrrrgh R.
I went here because it was supposed to be a good yakitori place. The Yakitori was good, but for the prices it should have been much better. From the crowds that I saw in there - they may just cater to tourists. Two of us had a couple of appetizers and sake for a hundred $$. As one reviewer said, this place probably rocked in the 90's.
(2)A W.
Paying $20 for two mediocre sushi rolls (one only containing mushroom) usually creates false memories of deliciousness and a willingness for a 2nd chance because I simply do not like experiencing dissonance when money is involved. Unfortunately for Hana Zen, (because I allot a healthy sushi allowance for myself) my memories are true to the reality of their flavorless tuna and so-so experience. I tried their self entitled roll imagining if they name a roll after themselves, it must be a specialty. Perhaps not so much. In fact, I took the roll home and 3 hours later I realized the whole apt. smelled like rotten fish! No thank you. Next time I'll take the time to walk up the hill to get some quality sush.
(2)Mike L.
Hana Zen is an ideal spot for dating - my wife and I love it so much that we often celebrate our anniversaries here. 4 Reasons to Check Out Hana Zen: 1) Yummy Yakitori: try the Garlic Pork once and you'll most likely order it every single visit. I've never had such flavorful sauteed appetizers in my life - aagh, I'm salivating already! 2) Excellent Service: the waiters here remind me of how Japan's customer service is like (and how all service SHOULD be). Waiting time is minimial, they treat you with the utmost respect, and they find creative ways to compensate you for any complaints you might have about the restaurant (long story, but I must say I was impressed). 3) Great Ambiance: the modern furnishings, the soft house music playing in the background, the waiters' tasteful black attire, the dim yet visible lighting, and the presentation of the food are all a major plus. 4) Sweet Desserts: I don't usually eat desserts but the Fried Banana and ice cream is one lovely treat I'm always looking forward to. My only complaint is the premium prices: expect to dish out at least $15-$35 per person, and that's not including drinks.
(4)Shannon R.
Ok, so it may be tourist-y and overpriced... But do yourself a favor and just try the Hana Zen roll...it is the third best tempura roll I have experienced at a sushi restaurant in SF (first place goes to the Cobra Twist Roll at Country Station, second place to the Chaotic roll at Crazy Sushi).
(5)ABBY A.
Conveniently located near Union Square; close to BART. Good luck finding free parking after 6pm! The Nabeyaki Udon is one of my favorites, selection isn't too impressive compared to other Japanese restaurants that I've tried, such as Ryoko's on Geary, and prices are a bit high for the food quality. Service is fast and servers are very friendly. Intimate atmosphere, good for dates, and there's a bar right around the corner (New Delhi) which offers great drinks at a reasonable price, and if you get to know the manager, (Mo), you're good to go!
(2)stephanie i.
I just went there the other night with a couple of friends and was pleasantly surprised. Honestly the place looks like it caters to conventioneers, but they serve up some damn' fresh sushi on one side of the restaurant. And on the other side of the restaurant they have (what the owner told me) SF's only original yakitori grill imported directly from Japan. It is a great place to saddle up to the bar like seating - order a Sapporo and snack away. You almost feel like you are in Japan. For the hard core there are the traditional Japanese fare: shitake mushrooms or even chicken gizzards! But for the more "americanized" fare their pork and green onion is the bomb! Touristy crowd? a little... but good eatin' none the less.
(4)Julianne C.
I have been on a serious yakitori kick lately. I *heart* yakitori!! It also helped that we found parking right in front of Hana Zen! And in this part of San Francisco (well, pretty much all of SF), this is not easy feat! I had really high expectations because my fiancee told me Hana Zen is one of the best yakitori restaurants in the Bay Area. (My first initial thought was, waitaminute, I'm a Bay Area native! How come I haven't heard that about this place?) Leafing through their beautiful menu, I was really excited to try all the skewered meats. But... the food was only about 3 stars for me. It could be because of all the great yakitori places I've been trying out in NYC, I wasn't all that impressed with the grilled meats and veggies here. We got the Moriwase Deluxe that came with 16 skewers for only $35 (?). Which I think is a STEAL! Seriously, that's the deal of the century. The only thing was that the grilled meats were too salty for my taste. And the quality of the meat seemed so so. The sunomono was delicious. It came with real crab, octopus and shrimp. Better than what I was expecting. The otoro was good, too. Fabulously fresh. Like I mentioned earlier, the food is about 3 stars. But the service is fantastic!! Our waiter gave us great recommendations and when I asked him if they had any sparkling wine, he procured something that was NOT ON THE MENU! And, while I'm a huge fan of Tokimeki, he may have steered me to a new favorite: Hana-Awaka! Sparkling sake is hard to find as it is but to find GOOD sparkling sake? I just one word for you: OMG! Hence, my final decision to bestow 4 stars on Hana Zen.
(4)Jenny L.
This is one of the better places for yakitori. Try any of their grilled seafood and meats on skewers and you'll probably find it delicious. They have some creative specials with martini scallops, mussels, and a few others. The sushi is good, but not spectacular in terms of mouth watering portions and taste. However, everything is done well even if the service can be super duper slow at times when the restaurant isn't packed. It's a solid Japanese restaurant that I'd come back again.
(3)James N.
Overpriced. Very over priced. I would never go here again especially with Dojima Ann right around the corner. The food was okay. It wasn't great, it wasn't terrible. However, you pay for good food and get mediocre food instead. No thanks!
(3)Mark G.
The sushi was just OK, I appreciate any place that has yakatori grill choices, but a lot of the items that I wanted they were already out of (Saturday night at 7:30pm). I felt the service was also a problem, it took a long time before we could actually order and while it was really slow for you to order with the waiter or get your drinks, they sure as hell cleared your plates quickly to get you out of there!
(2)Kitty B.
Just looking for a place to eat since everyone in our party didn't make it to Cheescake Factory. It was 9ish and we were hungry. We didn't want anything too expensive, found this place about 2 blocks from Union Square. The staff sat us down immediately. They play good house music in the background! That I enjoyed. The dinner entree were expensive! The chicken terriyaki was about $20 somthing and that included soup & salad. It was also the cheapest dinner entree on the menu. So our party decided to just order sushi. I did 3 orders (California Roll, Unagi Roll & Shrimp Tempura) as you can see i'm not too big on the raw :) and a glass of wine, which was really yummy! It cost about $14 I think. Flora Springs Cabernet, it was fantastic! But anyways, so my boyfriend order 2 from the special rolls section and a beer. Together we spent about $80-$90 including tip. Mind you, we just ordered sushi, no soap, rice or salad. All and all it was a nice place but be prepared to pay a little more then other places.
(3)Sari G.
Came here with my mom and sister who were staying downtown. Worst experience ever! Very overpriced. My boyfriend got terriaki chicken with soup and salad for $20. The portions sucked and the chicken was gross. For 8.95 I got the teeniest veggie roll and it didn't even come with soup. Everyone was disappointed with the quantity and quality of the food. Plus - the service sucks! Why is there a need for second rate food in SF? There's not!
(1)Mimil H.
There are so many excellent sushi places in the city that it is a shame to eat there. Not because of the fish : it's pretty good. But it's really overpriced compare to excellent sushi bars. We had the "Shellfish sashimi": 8 pieces ridiculously small for $20. And the place is not fancy at all. Service was good though.
(2)Cynthia C.
Great location, not the best sushi. Drive a little further for fresher fish.
(2)Jonathan W.
this place can be summed up as 'holy expensive batman'. the two of us ate here for around 70 dollars. my girlfriend accused the maitre'd (an asian girl) of race discrimination because she sat us two chineses at the yakitori counter instead of at a table near the sushi bar. parties with a makeup of predominantly white people were seated at tables, but the correlation is weak. i think its because they had a reservation, we didn't. the benchmark i use at every japanese restaurant is to order a chicken teriyaki and see what comes up. i use it because its the safest bet for any patron of japanese themed restaurants. at $19.95 i got a salad, miso soup, bowl of rice and a 10" diameter plate with chicken teriyaki and some stir fry vegetables (carrots and broccoli) in butter. the chicken that came out had great taste and they used thighs, not breasts. so thats good. the salad was perhaps why the price is $19.95 as they used mixed field greens instead of no-nutritional value bag salad mix (iceberg, radish, carrots). the miso soup needs some work. i had some yakitori and sushi with my girlfriend but it was forgettable. i think the main thing you can remember out of this restaurant is the price. and now some intangibles, positive and negative. 1. when you make a reservation in the winter time, make sure to request a table near the yakitori area and not the sushi bar area. the yakitori area is way warmer than the sushi area, because of the grill, which makes sense. conversely, sit in the sushi area in the summertime. 2. the bathroom is a one hopper for a restaurant that can seat 40. with black toilet. i hate one hoppers.
(3)randomtask ..
Came here for a working lunch with 2 co-workers. We had multiple rolls and sushi. Everything tasted fresh. Lunch is not a busy time for them so there were alot of idle hands. also the main dining room was really cold. their crunchy rolls were good. the only downer was the green tea ice cream. tasted very icy and watery. Other than that, a above par sushi place in downtown.
(4)CC C.
Here is another place I would conqsider myself as a frequent diner. It is a Hong Kong owned, part japanese and part chinese chefs operated restaurant. The manager is the wife the owner who she told me she is from philipine. The service is good. I hardly encounter any problem with their waiters. They always deliver food on time without mistakes. Their grilled ice cream that serve as a desire definitely taste good. I gave this place 4 star because I dont really know the food is considered excellent and top notch based on Japanese standard. Oh dont forget! before you order a lot of small portion of dish such as rolls and sushi. Try hamachikama (yellow tail). Serve that dish while you having rice.
(4)Hazel G.
This was my second visit to Hana Zen and once again I was not disappointed. I like this place alot since I don't think its very touristy. The prices are pretty reasonable for the SF area and the sushi and sashimi is really fresh. On my most recent visit, I had the tempura udon and the udon noodles were really good and soft...they tasted completely different from alot of the udon noodles I've had before. A generous order of tempura came on the side as well. I've also had a few of their grilled items as well an assortment of sushi rolls and sashimi and have been really pleased with what I've gotten. This is a great little Japanese place close to Union Square area.
(3)Jen S.
My friends and I tried this place on a Saturday night when we were wandering around looking for a place to eat that was close to a bar we were headed to later for a birthday party. I was going to give it three stars, but the description for two stars is "Meh. I've experienced better." And that's really what I have to say. I think it was only even possibly three stars good because I was really hungry. I had two of the rolls... the Rock 'n' Roll and the Kamikaze Roll. They were both tasty, but not nearly tasty as the sushi I get at Happy Sashimi, and I don't even have to leave Pinole for that! I would maybe try something else if I were there again (like donburi at lunch)... but probably I'd check Yelp for another Japanese place. Our waiter seemed very nice, but it took us 10-15 minutes to get some hot sake, and then he really didn't check on us during the meal. I definitely wouldn't leave my suburban cocoon and drive all the way to San Francisco to eat here, that is for sure.
(2)Vincent B.
Other than the funky music selection they got playing, I say this place is not bad at all. Sushi's great. Good beer/sake list. Service = bleh.
(4)Charisse G.
I love the sushi here. I love the shrimp tempura and spider roll. Not a good place to go when it's smokin' hot in the city because they have no air conditioning. The service at times takes forever. Kinda pricey but good for lunch or dinner.
(3)Carson H.
I came here when I was staying at the Hotel Nikko late as nothing else was open close. There were tons of those little fruit flies buzzing around the food which made the entire experience extremely unpleasant.
(2)Desiree A.
The owners are amazing & the sushi is delicious!
(5)Hieu D.
Nice Japanese restaurant. This is the best Japanese menu that I have come across, not to say that I've seen a whole lot, but the offering is very impressive and I would love to try everything. The items we ordered were tasty and nicely plated.
(4)Jason W.
I've visited early afternoon and late at night. The staff is always friendly, fast and courteous. It is a reliable place to get a good value sushi meal.
(4)RaeRae G.
Love their yakitori menu, Staff is great, and attentive, fish is fresh and de-lish!. No problems here, definitely will be back to try more
(4)lisa m.
Don't go here. It's NOT authentic, it's overpriced, and everything is too salty. Instead, I would go across the street to Tiang Sing and get some yummy Shanghai dumplings.
(1)Kymberli C.
Located on top of First Crush in Union Square area.... I met up with a couple of friends for dinner. I wasn't really impressed with their menu. I ended up just getting the chirashi dinner. The fish was fresh but it didn't really offer much variety that I usually get when I order the chirashi. The service is a little iffy too. Our waiter didn't seem happy. The food was incredibly overpriced for what it is.
(3)Natalie R.
When doing some hard core downtown shopping one can not help but become famished. Welcome to an oasis of yummy in a sea of mediocrity. Hana Zen is a not-so-spacious sushi joint. The three of us shared some rolls and a few pieces of Sashimi. Everything was at the peak of freshness. I could wax poetical about how perfectly the halibut sashimi was cut, but I won't. Save to say it was perfect (and i kinda am a halibut snob). I love the little pocket of wasabi they put in the sashimi; just enough to really contrast the texture or the fish. Our food was brought in a timely manner, hot and cooked just right. We went for lunch, but I could imagine the bar being a great spot at night for a romantic/intimate meeting, with the big windows and the glow of downtown pouring in the window. The waitress was a bit hard to flag down when we wanted to order additional food. I thought this was a little odd given we were one table of perhaps 5. Other yelpers seemed to have problems with the wait staff. Besides this little snafu, we had a great time and I can't wait to go back!
(4)First L.
One of my favorite sushi/yakitori places in the state, I like to sit at the sushi bar and chat with the sushi chefs. These guys are good at not only making what's on the menu - but being creative with ideas on the fly! One night, I was in the mood for cucumbers. They made me a crazy cute little cucumber alien (like a hollowed out, cucumber based Mr. Potato Head!) with assorted toppings. I mean seriously, these guys know what they are doing so well, they have the confidence and ability to deliver on just about any "customized" dish. Aside from the well made sushi, my next favorite items are from the yakitori menu. The peppers, the scallops, everything - delicious! The hot food will often come faster than the sushi, for sure - since each roll/ etc is being made to order. Many of the hot food items are soups or skewers, which only take a few minutes to heat and present. Whereas the fish for each sushi order is hand sliced, the rice is hand-rolled, and the plate is carefully prepared in true sushi style. i.e. this IS ART, not just food. The atmosphere is very relaxed, and can be upscale if you want it, or casual if you prefer. I typically meet a mixture of business travellers, tourists, and local /semi locals. The sake selection is great, and they carry one of our favorites - Otokayama. My experiences here for the past 3 years have always been good enough, that I never hesitate to bring friends/clients/business partners in for dinner. I know the staff will deliver exceptional service and food will not dissapoint. I've turned quite a few people into Hana Zen fans (including locals). 4 stars - because no one is perfect :)
(4)J P.
Sushi is soooo good. It's a little expensive, but you get a lot. YUMMY and a really good vibe with a nice street view.
(5)Peter L.
The five star rating is for the yakitori menu only. Every time I visit, I am amazed that almost everyone is ordering sushi, which is a testament to its popularity, as it really isn't very good here. But, the selection and quality of the items on the yakitori menu is amazing. Sure, it's a little pricey for some of these precious little skewers, but they are worth it with the top notch ingredient and imported Japanese grill that sits behind the yakitori bar.. I love the standard chicken and onion - the chicken is well-salted and the flavor of the charcoal comes through nicely. The scallop and bacon is another fave. The beef (gyu fillet) is ok, but it's more likely due to the fact that I don't like fillet cuts. The eggplant is another welcome surprise with it's smoky finish and bonito flake topping. The garlic pork also works very well, and so does the asparagus served with Japanese mayo. The sake selection is also a big plus - not too many surprises, but just a nice selection without an exorbitant mark up. The place is small and fills up quickly on many nights. But they also take reservations on OpenTable, and also try sitting at the yakitori bar!
(5)Jesse C.
Wasn't very impressed with the lunch menu. Had ja ja men and the broth was good but the soba didn't have a very much buckwheat flavor. I'd go back at dinner to try the yakitori sometime but I don't think it will be a regular spot.
(3)Jenny C.
Been here couple times. Fish was fresh and tasty. However, I noticed the sliced-sized of the sashimi had shrunk about 20% on my second visit. I certainly hope will not see further reduction on my third trip.... Overall, I love it
(4)James Y.
My wife just got back from a long trip so I decided to take her out to a nice restaurant. This place always looked interesting so we gave it a shot. The food was mediocre at best. It was ok but for the price It just wasn't worth it at all. However, that was not the worst part of this experience. It all started when we came in towards closing. I think our waiter literally forgot about us. We didn't realize it since we were talking about my wife's trip but they literally left us alone for about an hour or two. Everything was done and we tried to get someones attention. They literally just ignored us and went on closing the restaurant. They even dragged the most foul garbage down the isle of the restaurant right in front of us. The guy didn't even look twice in our direction while he was doing so and still no one would get us our check. Two waiters were literally just chatting it up by the entrance while they were closing. They did that whole "If I don't make eye contact that means I don't need to help them" routine. I wondered how far are they willing to go in ignoring us so I decided to just chat it up with my wife. Finally they realized they couldn't lock up the store with us in here they brought us our check finally. I was so upset I just left them 23 cent tip for all there troubles. Worst service EVER...
(1)Amy X.
We had reservations at 7:15 and arrived early. They didn't seat us right away but at least they seated us before 7:15 so we didn't have to wait that long. I had the Chicken Teriyaki Dinner. It was really good. I loved how the skin of the chicken was kinda of crispy. Very soft chicken, not dry at all. I also ordered a spider roll. Very good. Sashimi was also good. This is a pretty mediocre restaurant. A little pricey though.
(3)Gil S.
Better than average sushi in an upscale but slightly frayed lounge setting with a long menu of traditional, fusion, and grilled items. Few of the katsu, donburi, udon comfort food things. Convenient to downtown / union square. Very late hours. In conception and vibe it's American sushi but with a light touch on the hipness factor. Dinner is too expensive for what it is but lunch is a good deal.
(4)Cindy L.
Great dragon roll, caterpillar & rainbow rolls. Even the bacon wrapped around the scallops were yummy. Make a reservation.
(4)Oz O.
My favorite sushi place in the downtown area. Great rolls, great sashimi, nice green tea... If you are in near Union Square, it is one of the best meals you can get in the midst of all the touristy and blah restaurants.
(5)Charles D.
Have been there three times. Sushi was pretty good. The last time I ordered sashimi and was somewhat disapponted. I was a bit underwhelmed by the Sashimi Combination Deluxe. I have had a better combination sashimi plate at a number of other places. Okay, back on the good side ... the uni was fresh, seafood salad very good and the atmosphere is very nice. Overall a good experience. The staff was friendly and engaging.
(4)Ken F.
I went to Hana Zen back in April and have since gone back two more times. Being from Hawaii, I'm accustomed to eating really great sushi. The fish is fresh (I literally stick a fishing pole out my condo window and can catch an Ahi). Hana Zen didn't disappoint all three times. I always like to start off with an order of Otoro. If you haven't tried Otoro, you don't know what you're missing! The fish literally melts in your mouth. While the portion sizes here are not as big as what I'm used to back home (go to Mitch's Sushi in Honolulu), the quality of the seafood is comparable, if not better. The prices are pretty much what I'm used to paying back home for quality sushi. The staff was friendly and accommodating. I hope to visit Hana Zen soon!
(4)Lindsay T.
Very good sushi, but I don't think its the "best dining in the bay area". pretty good option for union square though!
(4)Justine N.
Most restaurants around Union Square are overpriced for the mediocre food they serve. I guess they can get away with it since a lot of their customers are tourists who don't know any better. That said, I had pretty low expectations for Hana Zen when I walked in the door. I was pleasantly surprised though at how delicious and fresh the fish was (we had the sake, saba and hamachi) and the prices were pretty reasonable. So if you ever find yourself wandering around the Union Square area looking for a decent place to have dinner...consider hopping in a cab and heading to another neighborhood where you'll have better options to choose from. Or if that's not an option, check out Hana Zen.
(3)Irene S.
hana zen sushi is a restaurant full or tourists, situated as it is just off of union square, being so recommended by various concierges. i went there with my tourist friends, & enjoyed a rather decent, at times delicious, dinner, served by someone who was actually paying attention to us. i would have given this restaurant three (rounding down on account of being in a bad mood) stars instead of four because it was good but not great, were it not for the following ridiculous incident which occured while i watched, open-mouthed: a table of five young women (girls) arrived shortly after my friends and i had been seated, and were placed at a table in my eye view, and within ear view of the whole restaurant (because they were so loud, it was kind of impossible not to listen). i watched them have an obnoxious conversation about shopping, get into a little argument over who was in a bad mood and who was being a bitch, and then i watched and heard them order, one by one, special versions of EVERYTHING. not just once, not twice, but each order each of them made was accompanied by "but can you do that with... instead of... or, can you take out the..." i am fine with special orders. on occasion, because i am a very picky eater, i make them myself. but usually, if something is so full of gross things that i feel the pressing need to change it completely, i just order something else. life is easier for everyone that way. the waiter didn't flinch, but accomodated these obnoxious brats in a pleasant & courteous manner. later, while i was finishing up my delicious yellowtail and the last of my seaweed salad, one of the girls abruptly gets up from table and rushes off. shortly, the fat friend gets up, announces loudly that she is going to check on her sick friend in the bathroom, and also rushes off. the rest of the girls call over the waiter, announce extremely loudly that the food has made their friend sick, and that she is in the bathroom throwing up, and that they would like to see the owner. a little while later, the barfer and her fat friend arrive back at the table. the barfer is looking not so hot, to be sure, but i'm already doubting that the special order salad she's just eaten has anything to do with the, you know, when she announces that "i know i should have eaten today... i just feel so sick now." so... she didn't eat all day. she has a sake cocktail on an empty stomach, eats a few bites of food, and then barfs. i'm not a doctor or anything, but i'm pretty sure food poisoning doesn't happen immediately as soon as you take a bite of food, and i'm also pretty sure if you don't eat all day and start off dinner with liquor, well, that that's stupid of you. in any case, because they caused such a big scene, everyone's food was comped, and they left, but not before the barfer barfed right outside of the front doors of the restaurant. i felt really bad. and you know, i would have given them three and a half stars anyway...
(4)Arielle G.
This place actually has the freshest fish that we have come across in the city. It's nice to have little go to spots downtown and this is certainly one of them. Funny clientele, mix of tourists and kind of randoms (I guess we fit into that category), but it is fast, the sushi chefs are great, and it's so big you can always get a spot.
(4)Wanda L.
My friends and I were on a major sushi craving, so when we saw their tacky SUSHI sign, we darted into this place, justifying the rather expensive prices with, "ehhhh it's SF...everything's expensive..." When we got in, we noticed that the staff was rather cold and apathetic. It may be because we are teenagers, but if there was ever an argument to why teenagers don't tip well...HERE IT IS! you don't treat us well! They even forgot to give us chopsticks and napkins. The food though, was pretty darn good. Completely filled all our sushi cravings. We ordered a sushi sampler to share and then each had our own lunch plate. The fish could have been a weeeee bit fresher, but some of the fish were still delicious and buttery. And my unagi don...was like a giant piece of unagi sushi. Need I say more?
(4)VeryWhiteGuy S.
I had high hopes after checking out their menu online. Authentic izakaya dishes and a quality sushi menu, ignoring rolls. The atmosphere is lacking imo, but this is supposed to be more or at least as much an izakaya as a sushi bar, so a less then trendy or romantic atmosphere is pretty par for the course. All well and good, but the izakaya food was terrible. Most were over/poorly cooked and just tasyte bad. For a Japanese owned/run restaurant to put out izakaya food this bad is really surprising. The sushi itself was acceptable since the fish is a little fresher than a lot of places in the country being that it's in a coastal city, although the rolls that some at my table ordered were pretty rough, and overall not something I would ever come back for. For an American palette, I know Japanese food... this was bad... And this stuff wasn't cheap. I give it a D- in value. I've eaten in many restaurants in Japan and in major cities in the U.S. For a Japanese restaurant in a coastal city to have this low of quality fish was extremely disappointing, and for a city like this with a strong Japanese community and a precedent set for how real Japanese food should be offered, this restaurant should be off your list.
(2)Francheska M.
This place is consistently good. I love their teriyaki chicken and the bacon wrapped scallops. Dinner can be on the expensive side but come in for their affordable lunch specials, you won't be disappointed!
(4)Anastasia Beaver Housand J.
Probably the most authentic tasting Japanese food outside of Japan
(5)Clara K.
i went here with a group of 4, and we ordered a bunch of robata (grilled skewer items). i don't remember if we got any sushi, but the robata was really good! there are plenty of other places to go for sushi, but for robata i'd go to hana zen. (in berkeley, i'd go to kirala. in LA, i'd go to katana.) on the pricey side, but worth the occasional splurge!
(4)Geraldine P.
Okay food. I've had a lot better. The service was not that great either. Our server didn't know what he was talking about. The food was pricey. California roll is 6.50 and it wasn't that great. The dragon roll wasnt that great either.
(3)Dario B.
Damn you Cozmo deck! Their ginger is good...but overpriced.
(2)tuna t.
i honestly think that you should just step back turn around and look elsewhere. ordered some skewers and they were pretty much overcooked or i could do better at home. it was really obvious that the place was owned by chinese bc my fried roll tasted more like fried taro things from dim sum. the fish wasnt fresh or good. and the california roll that came with our nigiri was horrible. we couldnt even force ourselves to eat it. the tea is also just the cheap stuff you can buy at the supermarket. it was also really overpriced. the one redeeming thing would be their sake selection. but other than that save yourself and your wallet and go somewhere else.
(1)Tracy M.
Okay, I was the tourist staying in Union Square, yet back home I am blessed w/ some tasty sushi joints so I might know a thing or two. We stumbled across Hana Zen, I say stumble because the only signage we saw was the tacky gigantic red SUSHI sign. Pleasant surprise to walk up the stairs to find an interesting menu, good sake & bar selection, clean atmosphere & fresh fish. It was a Monday night, the place was full and we were seated immediately. Even though the place was full our waitress was very attentive, the busboy cleared all empties promptly. We spent about $60 for drinks & grub; not super-cheap if that's what I'd been looking for but certainly the value I'd expect for a nice view out the big windows, clean, fresh, tasty. Lot's of great food to choose from in San Fran, and from the reviews from you Locals I guessed I dodged the Lousy Meal bullet near Union Square?
(5)Marj G.
We were staying close to this restaurant and although we read it was expensive and trendy we decided to give it a go. First off - not authentic Japanese. We went with the Chef's choice Sushi which included a roll - the roll was deep fried - really? Yakatori okay (read not special) - sushi okay (same as before) - price - expensive - authentic - NOT. I have no idea why this place is considered trendy unless that translates to "good for people who have no clue what good Japanese food should be and want to hang out here." Ambiance was nothing special so this place is a complete mystery to me why anyone would give it more than 2 stars. Frankly we do sushi far better in Kansas City! For the $ you can surely find much better in a city as great as SF. If not come on over to KC to spend your $$ we will appreciate the business.
(2)Ray K.
First time I try this restaurant. The sushi were great and fresh! I will definitely go back again to try other menu.
(4)Cindy G.
I was excited when I walked into Hana Zen after seeing the 4 1/2 stars it received from City Search and seeing that they had Yelp stuff around. I'm really not a super picky person nor do I like to complain at restaurants, but the wait time for my food was ridiculous. My friends and I sat down and ordered our food at 8:13 pm and I didn't get my roll and nigiri until 8:56. My friend Monica and I shared the cucumber and seaweed salad, while Vince ordered a regular seaweed salad. Thankfully those came out promptly. I understand that sometimes it takes awhile to get food, but it sucks when the waiter brings out Monica's roll at about 8:35, brings Vince's roll at about 8:43 and then brings my spicy shrimp tempura roll and yellowtail nigiri at 8:56. IT SUCKS when everyone gets their food before you and you just have to sit there and stare, hoping and waiting for your food to come soon. The yellowtail wasn't impressive at all. The spicy shrimp tempura was pretty good, which is the only reason I gave this place two stars. Maybe it was just one of those awkward nights and things were off, but I wouldn't go back here again.
(2)ally o.
with very "blah" choices of food around touristy union square.. i could go to the mall food court (no thanks) - but hana zen never disappoints. often i'm lazy to re-park my car or hop on muni to go elsewhere in SF.. but good sushi, fast service, and usually not super crowded on weekends.
(4)