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Name: Yu Zen
Address: 4036 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA, 94121
Telephone: (415) 386-9800
Price range: Under $11
Rating: 4.03

Yu Zen

4036 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA, 94121

(415) 386-9800
Store is closed

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Yu Zen Menu

...

Oyster In Half Shell

Beef Tataki

Edamame

Ohitashi

Goma-Ae

Renkon Hasami Age

Kinpira Gobo

Nasu Dengaku

Yama Kake

Agedashi Tofu

Tofu Steak

Shiitake Ebi Shinjou

Yakitori

Tsukune

Beef Negimaki

Buta Kakuni

Chicken Karaage

Tempura

Vegetable Tempura

Oyster In Half Shell

Beef Tataki

Edamame

Ohitashi

Goma-Ae

Renkon Hasami Age

Kinpira Gobo

Nasu Dengaku

Yama Kake

Agedashi Tofu

Tofu Steak

Shiitake Ebi Shinjou

Yakitori

Tsukune

Beef Negimaki

Buta Kakuni

Chicken Karaage

Tempura

Vegetable Tempura
Soup

Miso Soup

Clam Miso Soup

Nameko Soup

Miso Soup

Clam Miso Soup

Nameko Soup
Salad

Seaweed Salad

Sliced Onion

Sliced Tomato

Green Salad

Daikon Salad

Seaweed Salad

Sliced Onion

Sliced Tomato

Green Salad

Daikon Salad
Entrees

Beef Teriyaki

Beef Sansho Shioyaki

Chicken Teriyaki

Chicken Yu-An Yaki

Tonkatsu

Cheese Katsu

Tempura

Vegetable Tempura

Salmon Teriyaki Or Shioyaki

Saba Shioyaki

Nizakana

Okisuki Nabe

Yu-Zen Nabe

Sukiyaki

Assorted Nigiri Sushi

Deluxe Nigiri Sushi

Chirashi-Sushi

Deluxe Chirashi

Tuna Sashimi

Yellow Tail Sashimi

Salmon Sashimi

Assorted Sashimi

Beef Teriyaki

Beef Sansho Shioyaki

Chicken Teriyaki

Chicken Yu-An Yaki

Tonkatsu

Cheese Katsu

Tempura

Vegetable Tempura

Salmon Teriyaki Or Shioyaki

Saba Shioyaki

Nizakana

Okisuki Nabe

Yu-Zen Nabe

Sukiyaki

Assorted Nigiri Sushi

Deluxe Nigiri Sushi

Chirashi-Sushi

Deluxe Chirashi

Tuna Sashimi

Yellow Tail Sashimi

Salmon Sashimi

Assorted Sashimi
Noodles - Udon Or Soba

Noodle

Tempura Udon

Nabeyaki Udon

Zaru

Tempura Zaru

Noodle

Tempura Udon

Nabeyaki Udon

Zaru

Tempura Zaru
Zosui - Rice Porridge

Oyako Egg And Chicken

Tamago Egg

Kani Crab

Unagi Eel

Oyako Egg And Chicken

Tamago Egg

Kani Crab

Unagi Eel
Nigiri

Maguro

Hamachi

Sake

Smoked Salmon

Shiro maguro

Saba

Hirame

Katsu

Tako

Ika

Amaebi

Ebi

Hotate

Ikura

Unagi

Uni

Anago

Tal

Toro

Mirugai

Tobiko

Tobiko

Tamago

Maguro

Hamachi

Sake

Smoked Salmon

Shiro maguro

Saba

Hirame

Katsu

Tako

Ika

Amaebi

Ebi

Hotate

Ikura

Unagi

Uni

Anago

Tal

Toro

Mirugai

Tobiko

Tobiko

Tamago
Sashimi

Maguro

Hamachi

Hirame

Salmon

Shiro Maguro

Saba

Katsu

Tako

Maguro

Hamachi

Hirame

Salmon

Shiro Maguro

Saba

Katsu

Tako
Sushi Rolls

California Roll

Spicy Tuna Roll

Negitoro

Negihama

Tempura Roll

Dragon Roll

Caterpillar Roll

Rainbow Roll

Spider Roll

Tekka Maki

Kappa Maki

Oshinko Maki

Futomaki

Avocado Roll

Ume-Shiso-Kyuri

Unakyu

Philly Roll

Original California Roll

California Roll

Spicy Tuna Roll

Negitoro

Negihama

Tempura Roll

Dragon Roll

Caterpillar Roll

Rainbow Roll

Spider Roll

Tekka Maki

Kappa Maki

Oshinko Maki

Futomaki

Avocado Roll

Ume-Shiso-Kyuri

Unakyu

Philly Roll

Original California Roll

Healthy Meal suggestions for Yu Zen

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Oyster In Half Shell [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

Goma-Ae [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Renkon Hasami Age [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Oyster In Half Shell [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

Goma-Ae [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Renkon Hasami Age [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Beef Sansho Shioyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Chicken Yu-An Yaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

Salmon Teriyaki Or Shioyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

Yu-Zen Nabe [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Assorted Nigiri Sushi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Deluxe Nigiri Sushi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chirashi-Sushi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

Yellow Tail Sashimi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

Beef Sansho Shioyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Chicken Yu-An Yaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

Salmon Teriyaki Or Shioyaki [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

Yu-Zen Nabe [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Assorted Nigiri Sushi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Deluxe Nigiri Sushi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

Chirashi-Sushi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

Yellow Tail Sashimi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Assorted Sashimi [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Noodles - Udon Or Soba

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tempura Zaru [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Zosui - Rice Porridge

Oyako Egg And Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

Oyako Egg And Chicken [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

Unagi Eel [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]
Nigiri

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Spicy Tuna Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ume-Shiso-Kyuri [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

Original California Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

Spicy Tuna Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ume-Shiso-Kyuri [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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

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

Original California Roll [ Carbohydrates (ms): 0, Sodium (s): 0, Saturated Fat (ms) : 0, Calories: 0, Sugar (ms): 0 ]

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Write An Anonymous Review

Varsha S.

My party and I ordered fairly simple items (a vegetarian roll, unagi and rice, and nigiri) but waited a long time for them to be ready. The vegetarian roll (just avocado and rice) took the longest to arrive. The slow service brought my review down considerably. However, the waitresses were very nice and the restaurant is not very busy, has ample seating, and has a restroom. The sushi itself was decent quality and the prices were typical. In general, I'd say Yu Zen is a good place to go for sushi on a casual day if you live in the neighborhood. If you're just visiting, I'd try somewhere else.
(2)
Amy H.

This place is small and not busy so it is a good spot to hit up if you dont want long lines. Four of us split two deluxe chirashi bowls, a salmon thang, and agedashi tofu and they were all yummy. It was definitely enough to fill us up and they even gave us miso soup for all of us. They were a bit slow to give us sliced up fish but it was good enough. This is a nice local place with ample parking, which is quite rare in SF.
(4)
natalie b.

Excellent neighborhood spot - hamachi sashimi was top notch; yaki nasu was light and the cucumber with chili oil and crunchy peppers a surprising treat. Will definitely be back to try more of the menu. Service was also very good - we got edamame for waiting a few minutes for a table to clear.
(4)
Alisa G.

I love this place! The workers are so nice and the boss makes me want to come back again and again. The service might be slow but the food is worth the wait. They know how to cook that's for sure.
(4)
Leeseuh K.

Authentic Japanese restaurant with a reasonable price tag! Fresh sushi, tasty items coming out of the kitchen, friendly service, and ice cold Sapporo draft beer to wash it all down. My recommendations include anything on the white board (it's always FRESH), aji nigiri, hamachi nigiri, calamari appetizer, chicken heart skewer, Chirashi bowl and chicken udon!! This is the real deal Japanese place that I go to get my weekly fix of Japanese.
(5)
Kelly H.

yuuppp... i'm still a fan! came here on a weeknight because i was craving chirashi... and of course yu zen did the job!! deluxe chirashi is the ONLY way to go! and you know what's great about coming on a weeknight?? no hour long wait!! the staff is awesome! the staff is so humble and friendly... i love them esp the lil old lady... i just want to hug her! she's the sweetest person ever!! if you come on a weekday, you're safe... on a weekend... i suggest you call prior to make sure you dont have to wait to eat good food!
(4)
Kyung Jae S.

If only this place had more seating and faster service. I must say the quality of the food here is top notch when it comes to sushi. Unfortunately the service is quite slow all around. If you come here on a busy night, you can end up waiting a very long time for a seat and even longer for your food while you're waiting. Due to the awesomeness of the food, it is worth coming back for. I will definitely not be coming here during peak hours though. If you're a sushi lover, this is a place you should try out.
(3)
Kari K.

Came here for a low-key graduation lunch w/ fam. The sashimi was so fresh and delicious. Chirashi bowl**
(4)
Panchali S.

Come here if you/you're: - Care about the food more than the decor - Care about consistency that most non-Japanese sushi chefs can't provide - Care about proportion and not fancy ass lego sized nigiri and paper thin curled up sashimi - Care about sushi rice - Pissed off at fancy hipster sushi joints that leave you still feeling hungry after a $100-$150/pp meal - Care about reasonable prices and not being ripped off by these new fancy, hipster, Jiro wannabe sushi joints popping up all over the city, all of them ready to rip your wallet a new asshole (Seriously, most of those places are for stupid people who don't know any better and think that anything flown in from Japan/Tsukiji is "exotic", "exquisite", "special". The only thing exquisite is the owner laughing all the way to the bank at your dumbass who spent $200 per person on his omakase performance. If you ever spend $200/pp on omakase it better be on a date and you better be getting some "action" afterwards). I care more about freshness than where it's flown in from. In all honestly, in a blind taste test, can anyone tell the difference between Hokkaido Uni, Sicilian Uni, Mendocino Uni, Santa Barbara Uni, Peruvian Uni, Russian Uni? LoL, that reminds me of Gintei's asshole ripping $25 Hokkaido Uni, I probably would've found it more satisfying if I used $25 to wrap the Uni and ate it. Nobu-san (not sure if owner) prepared my to-go order (to-go because I lost my voice): Aji, Hamachi toro, Ohyou and Saba sashimi (their sashimi is FIVE, 5 pieces! and it's not the bs razor thin sashimi). 2x of each - Uni, Ikura and Ama-ebi nigiri, all for a little over $100, it would've cost twice as much or more at those Jiro wannabe sushi joints. If you enjoy a no-frills, quality focused, proportionally cut, reasonably priced sushi Yu Zen is one of those rare places that still exist in SF. Enjoy it while it lasts people!
(5)
Annie L.

Fast service, great food. We had the black cod, tempura, and chefs deluxe nigiri special. I loved that he included some uni with my order. The tempura appetizer portion was slightly smaller than what I would've liked, but it was still tasty. Additional bonus - tea is comes at no additional charge!
(4)
Michelle S.

Best sushi in town! I am VERY particular about sushi... especially here in SF where expectations are risen. Nobu is the best chef I've come across in the USA and parts of Japan. The selection of fish and his preperation are PERFECT. The uni is always fresh, the fish is amazing, Toro EVERYTHING, fresh scallop, incredible soups, great saki selection, and the service is phenomenal. The vibe here is authentic and welcoming. We keep coming back again and again!
(5)
Kris H.

Nice neighborhood spot, authentic sushi, family oriented and low key, great place for a low key eat out!!
(5)
Francisco L.

Great traditional Chinese food ! Good and friendly staff, Singapore noodles awesome and the portions are very very generous !
(4)
Heesoo C.

Greater then you can imagine. Chef Nobu is one of the best sushi chef in San Francisco!
(5)
Lena H.

This is one of the restaurants I totally don't get how it got four stars. My family and I went there for dinner this past weekend and I would not go back at all. One star for their foods and add one star for good service. Foods: we ordered the Nigiri combo, teriyaki chicken, spider roll, salmon handroll, hamachi handroll, and their Teba (chicken wings). Sushi is not fresh and very tasteless. Handrolls are just okay, and you can get a much better teriyaki chicken from the mall food court for half the price. Service: our waitress is nice and tentative. Add one star for that. If you really want good fresh sushi, find another place. I think we just wasted $75 for a table of two people.
(2)
v. C.

I like the narrowly focused menu -- a few nigiri options each night, a handful of classic rolls, and a few hot dishes. I didn't see a long list of rolls with funny names that come smothered in sauces and filled with nuts and fruit. This is a no-frills (bordering on drab) dining room, so I wouldn't go here when I want an elegant dinner. There is nothing hip or adventurous, which is part of the charm. The wait staff is friendly, the prices are good, and the sashimi, rolls and nigiri are delicious.
(4)
Edgar C.

We had a great time tonight at Yu Zen. It was our first time and the food is quite authentic. The main chef is from Tokyo and it was great to chat with him. I would say the food is about a 7 out of 10 - some better than others and my wife loved the chirashi bowl. Happy hour from 5-7pm was great to get a sampling of some of their dishes. The waitress totally accommodated us with our baby and even helped us warm up her milk. Decent food and great service. Nice local find.
(5)
Flor D.

Fried Octopus tentacles Cucumber salad Spicy Scallop Roll***and yes this has a good KICK. I love when spicy truly means spicy in the world of sushi. Add some Asahi and good service, and I was a fat, happy camper. Parking is "San Francisco tricky" and you'll need to hover for a spot. The place is small, but odds are can find a seat at the bar. The food is fresh and they have daily specials on the wall. The sushi chef and staff are adorable. Super friendly and looks like a quaint family shop that has its share of regulars. We are adding this to our TAKE OUT blast radius, nuff said.
(3)
Keely G.

Went here last night for dinner. Kiki and Ming were our servers and definitely felt like we would be regulars from the start. Food was amazing - we ordered California rolls and the teriyaki salmon / chicken combo dinner that comes with miso soup and rice. Awesome spot and the food was very fresh.
(5)
Jack Y.

one of my fav when it comes to Sushi. I have special love to their omakase. Although the original old chef retired, his student carries on the good job. Their Uni kept surprising me for many times. If you order omakase, you have a good chance to enjoy two to three types of Uni from different locations. The old chef had a very dedicate skill to peel of meat from very small fish to make sushi, which is a supreme quality you will see in black belt sushi masters. I enjoyed eating in Yu zen a lot over and over and it never disappointed me.
(5)
Adena B.

Craving sashimi on a Friday night, I wanted a place with zero wait. Luckily, that's what happened here. With parking down the street, we entered and were seated immediately. Hot tea was served and orders were taken. I opted for tuna and salmon sashimi (five slices per order) and an order of the yellowtail sushi (two pieces per order). The yellowtail was perfection and the salmon practically melted in my mouth, but the tuna... well, there's no nice way to say this: the tuna was funky. I had my date try a piece to make sure, and he just shrugged and said, "that's what my order tastes like." Hrmph. Not being one to make a stink (no pun intended), I did nothing. Also, at about $20 for my order, I can't really complain. But with all the amazing sushi bars in SF, I don't think I'll be back anytime soon.
(3)
Joey F.

Far from the busy restaurant clusters on Balboa street, Yu Zen delivers a strong performance in sushi along with equally strong customer service. I have to say initially I underestimated the restaurant based purely on the far proximity from all the foot traffic closer to 33rd ave. But we came to realize this restaurant had quite a bit to offer any sushi lover. Would go again.
(5)
Wilma L.

Amazing food and nice people, sometimes the sushi master will surprise me with creative cuisine as a treat!
(5)
Trevor H.

As Keely, my better half, mentioned below, Kiki and Ming were our servers and were great. I had never had teriyaki salmon and was blown away, not what I expected at all and along with the chicken teriyaki it was perfect. Looking forward to sitting down here again soon
(5)
Nobu K.

Up-date. I was so skeptical about the new Yu-Zen because the owner has been changed. I haven't been back here for a long time since the owner has changed. I was very sad when I heard the old owner was selling the restaurant, but I could not make the old owner's last day. I was all by my self coming here 5:15pm on Monday early evening to check it out. So I was nervous, anxious and very worried coming here because many Japanese restaurants took over by other people don't do well such as: Mikaku on Grant Avenue, it's a Hell House now. Kuishinbo at Japantown, wrong, totally wrong. Sanppo at Japantown, it's OK, A-ok. Kippu at Japantown, fxxxchistsake, no comment. Sanmi on Geary, et cetera, et cetera. So, this is my Judgement about the Sushi-chef only: He is 100% Japanese. PASS! ( I really don't care for nationality by the way. ) Well trained Sushi chef. PASS! ( you can tell by the Sushi-Rice. Lightly vinegared and it have to be fluffy, not sticky. And, just looking at his hand's action, how he holds vinegared rice and fish. Most Chinese Sushi-men fail at the point.) Prepare his own Shime-Saba (vinegared mackerel). PASS! This is very important part of Sushi. Most Chinese Sushi-men don't even know how to. I had Nigiri as follow: Shime-Saba. House made. Not from a Asian market. Maguro. Nice dark red Maguro was good. The vineyard rice was decent. I'd like to mention that Maguro must be dark red color. But most Chinese Sushi-men I was experienced uses light-red-color Maguro. Light-red-Maguro usually cheap. ( do not mixed up with Part of Fat-Tuna. Because Toro looks like pink, not light-red-color.) Aji (horse mackerel). Good! Mongo-Ika (cattlefish). it comes with green Shiso-leaf. Too small for me. Tamago. House made. it was really big. Great! Asahi Beer, small bottle, 3 bucks for happy hour! $30 all together. My very minimum testing for Sushi-Chef has been done. Passed! I don't know who the new owner is, but, the Sushi-chef is OK! Thank God he was OK! So, Now, I can bring my gf, family and friends.
(4)
Vernon L.

They're so nice here. And the food is amazing. Happy hour is dope. My girlfriend brought me here last summer, and it opened my eyes to real, delicious sushi, and to all the fake shit I've been eating for over half my life. We moved further down the peninsula a couple months ago, and it's been really difficult trying to find a replacement sushi place. Amami is cool, but only if you like waiting for a table. Yuzu is also cool, but only if you don't like having money. Until we find a suitable sushi place down here, I guess we'll have to just keep driving up to the city. Worth it, tho.
(5)
Kent W.

I tried this place after seeing all the Yelp reviews and glad I tried it out as it was worth the trip to the Outer Richmond. The restaurant itself is pretty casual and informal but the service is warm and friendly. Our sushi and sashimi tasted quite fresh and great. Since the restaurant was not too busy, we were able to enjoy our meal and sake afterwards without feeling rushed. Will definitely eat here again if in the neighborhood.
(4)
Brandi S.

Perfect neighborhood sushi spot to hit before seeing a movie at the Balboa, after a day at the beach or walk to if you live in the Outer Rich. Amazing sushi -- Unagi, scallops and yellowfin were a favorite and a stellar selection of rolls. Run by a very humble couple who are more than happy to chat with you about what to order, etc.
(5)
Sara A.

Like many of the sushi restaurants in San Francisco, Yu Zen has 4 inexplicable stars. Yelp, I love you, but you did me wrong on this one. Yu Zen is hands down the worst restaurant that I have been to in some time. Let's begin with the ambiance, the restaurant is fairly large for a sushi spot, the walls are sparsely decorated, the whole place is freezing and the brightness of the lighting is assaulting. Everyone in the restaurant was wearing their parkas, fully zipped. It was that cold. Second, the service is incredibly slow. We were one of three tables that night and it took 5 minutes to get the menu, 10 minutes for tea and over 30 minutes for our nigiri to come out. I should also mention that there was pink lipstick on my water glass when it arrived at my table. At this point I was still holding out hope; I will endure just about anything for good nigiri. I should have given up. We ordered the omakase. Out of the nine pieces, one or two were okay, and the rest were downright bad. Normally, omakase is just a start for us, but in this case we were so turned off by what we had just eaten that we were done for the night. As much as I would like there to be another good sushi restaurant in the Richmond, Yu Zen is not it.
(1)
Jennifer L.

I enjoyed the meal. The interior is nice and cozy. The authenticity of hearing the patrons at the bar and chef bantering in Japanese gives a good ambiance. Saw some really well behaved kids eating together without parents which made me think "damn those are some sophisticated 12 year olds" but I think they were children of the wait staff. Anyway, Service is good, Food is good, there's a nice mom and pop vibe. 5-7 happy hour
(5)
Jacky L.

YUMMINESS! Sashimi is so fresh and good! The waitress is very helpful and made good suggestions for us! The grilled squid is awesome!
(5)
Emmanuella Z.

Yu Zen is located in the outer skirts of the Richmond district. It is next to a very authentic looking Chinese restaurant which was packed with locals. At first, I thought Yu Zen looked empty, which wasn't a good sign but then I noticed it was actually pretty full. Me and my friend walked in to be greeted by a very friendly lady who sat us at the bar. We took a while to order because of the great menu. Chopsticks were set on very cute peanuts. We decided to both get the Dragon Roll & some Edamame. The Dragon Rolls were extremely flavorful. The eel was fresh and tender, bursting with flavor. The tempura was soft, crunchy, and fresh. Rice was perfect, and so was the seaweed. I absolutely loved it! (and ate it all ;)) edamame was averagely good. Yu Zen quickly became one of my favorite sushi restaurants in the city, and highly recommend it!
(4)
Derrick H.

Hands down some of the best sashimi I've ever eaten. The Deluxe Chirashi comes with about 20 or so pieces of sashimi: Amaebi, Tuna, Salmon, Hamachi... (to list a few). All super fresh and tender! We also ordered the spicy scallop maki. Not too spicy, but the scallops were divine! And the tempura was fried prefectly. To top it off, service was amazing!
(5)
Malori M.

There comes a time in every sushi addict's life where they stumble onto what could possibly be the best find of their existence to date. Yu Zen was just that for me and my girlfriend. The small little gem in the Outer Richmond knows no fame or glory. No glitz or glam. There is no fancy omakase menu, modernly designed chairs and tables, or hipster presence in sight. (breathes sigh of relief) There is only a great restaurant run by friendly people serving some of the excellent nigiris in the city. The first miracle about this place was that on a Saturday night at around 730pm we were able to walk in without reservations and the place was only mildly full. The waitress told us it can get crowded on occassion but the waits aren't usually long. So if you're trying to go for a last-minute sushi binge -- this place can certainly accommodate you. We sat at the sushi bar and, despite his quiet demeanor, the chef treated us very well with his servings of nigiri and free side dishes. We started out with the usual ankimo (pretty good) and miso cod (YUM). Then moved on to the wide array of nigiri. Do yourself a favor and choose from the special nigiris they have posted up as those are the freshest and best made of the bunch. And before you leave -- YOU MUST TRY THEIR UNI AND THEIR SALMON NIGIRI. Your mouth will have died and gone to heaven with just one bite. You'll be so addicted you'll order another round. Then another. And by that last round your stomach will be so full of happiness the only other option would be .... to pay and come back another day on an empty stomach. Well played, Yu Zen.
(5)
Kathy C.

This is one of my fav Japanese restaurant in sf! Very fresh items and very authentic! Tonkatsu is so delicious, so is the udon. I ll def return! I think the owner is japanese too. Japanese restaurant owned by Japanese really taste so much more authentic!
(5)
Ivy L.

Omgosh, the chirashi bowl here is crazy. There's so much food and it all feels fresh. There's so many different things in the bowl and it filled me up like crazy. I had to force myself to finish all of the fish and I couldn't even finish the sushi rice. Granted, my friend gave me all of her fish pieces because she can't eat them right now, but that was only 2 extra pieces! We got 2 or 3 pieces of everything, including uni, salmon, scallop, salmon, tuna, seared tuna, hamachi, unagi, fish eggs, and sweet eggs. My favorite was the salmon (as usual...)! It also came with miso soup for a total of $26.50. I tried my friend's handroll that she got during happy hour, but I thought that only tasted okay. It had a very fishy flavor to it that I didn't like. The service here is alright, we asked for water, but the lady forgot to bring it over until we reminded her again. And they never refilled our cups of water until they brought over that extra cup of water, which was at the very end when we were paying for the bill. It also took quite awhile to get the bill and it wasn't even too busy. The lady who was waiting on us was very nice though.
(4)
Elm E.

I meant to write reviews on this place months ago. I think they are Japanese/Chinese couple. The wife and the waitress are quite nosy as they like to ask a lot of questions that I feel quite personal. The chef is Japanese as he speaks the language to his wife. I expect he would deliver the best sushi as he can. We like the sushi overall except for the trimmed scallop sushi. The scallop sushi came square shape! !! They cut off the edges for making rolls containing scallops! This is such a shame to any Japanese sushi restaurant to do this. We thought maybe they were just short of scallops that day but it happened again the following time. We do not know if they are still doing this as we haven't gone back for awhile! I really miss the previous owner! The food and service were so different!
(2)
May W.

I am glad I got here right when Yu Zen opened. There is only one sushi chef so if you get here later, your wait for food will be longer. I ordered the Deluxe Chirashi, which had a lot of great and fresh fish over a bed of rice. Everything was really good and I left satisfied. I found free street parking within a block away from Yu Zen. The elderly lady who served us was really nice and kept coming back to refill my tea. I'd definitely come back again whenever I am in the area.
(4)
Arianna M.

Friendly service. It's a spontaneous and convenient place to go to and the food is decent and good priced, but I've had food that was better than this. Overall it's a decent place to go to.
(3)
Christina L.

I heard from a friend that they are now under new ownership (not sure since when) and isn't as good, but I haven't been there in a long while so I can't say for sure. All I know is that I have been here twice - once exploring a new place with a friend and once by myself on new years. Both times were great - yummy food and friendly service. They are definitely the get-to-know-your-community type of people (chatting and knowing regulars by name), but they treat strangers with the same welcoming attitude. In fact, when I went there by myself to get a quick dinner on new year, they gave me a small bowl of new year soba on the house as a sort of "good luck to the new year". Anyway, I haven't had a chance to go there since new year and this review is dated, but I just wanted to put it out there that they were once this really great place (if they really have changed for the worse).
(4)
JJAMZ C.

Quick Tip! Delicious and fresh seafood - sushi! Went on a date night here with my middle son 1 night. My other boys were somewhere else...and we opted for sushi and udon. The udon was good, but didn't stand out as much as the seafood did. The sushi here is what makes it shine! Fresh! Fresh! Fresh!
(4)
Josh K.

Enjoyed it! The chef is for real, very fresh fish, and very tantalizing tataki and sashimi specials. You pay a lot - but you get what you pay for. The main waitress is very nice as well. Japanese people frequent this place, so I feel it's legit. However, the chef was visibly upset that we had come at the end of the lunch period (around 1:30pm), and he had this look on his face of "why the hell am i making sushi for these 4 young punks?" Well, I guess we asked for it. But he could've been a little warmer. That won't stop me from coming back, though.
(4)
Tiffany H.

I've only eaten at the "new" Yu Zen so I can't compare the food to how it might have been before. I can say with great confidence, however, that the Deluxe Chirashi ($26.50) is definitely worth the price. I would say almost all the fish pieces except one were fresh and the cuts were great! And even though the price increased from before (when it was apparently $24), you're still getting a great deal. The only places I've had that gave me "better" chirashi experiences at the same price point were all in SoCal. These, however, would usually include more "exotic" things, like hotate and ika. Now, the aforementioned are typically more expensive than, say, hamachi or sake, but I actually don't like raw non-fish seafood that much (except for uni) so to me, the Deluxe Chirashi is perfect because I like every single thing they put in there! I am bummed that the Deluxe Chirashi appears to no longer include unagi (or at least it didn't when we ordered it). So if there is one area I could recommend for improvement, that would be it! I noticed some reviewers have complained about the new management and the staff at the restaurant also told us that people have complained about the vinegared rice in their chirashi dish. Can't imagine why - chirashi rice usually has a distinct vinegar taste that's stronger than the rice you'd have in sushi. And I am pretty sure they reduced the amount of vinegar for our Deluxe Chirashi because of a recent complaint, but I wouldn't have minded more rice vinegar! Regardless, we cleaned up that entire box of rice, fatties that we are :) We also got the black cod dinner and for $19.50 they give you a lot of food! Can't say the Chinese vegetable stir fry was impressive, but the amount of fish and the tenderness of the meat made me happy. Besides the chirashi though, my fav items of the night was the inada (wild yellowtail) and the uni with quail egg. Yummmmmmmmy! Service was great and friendly. Looking forward to coming back here again and again.
(4)
Mii L.

Sushi chef is Japanese:) The server was non-Japanese lady but she could speak Japanese fairy and was very nice:) We ordered bunch of nigiri and oysters. The quality of nigiri was very high. The amount of rice to fish was just right. Not too much or not too little. The tasting of sushi rice was also just perfect. Oyster wasn't on the menu but when we asked they had it. They were very tasty. All the fish(for nigiri) was very fresh and delicious. Especially uni was ahmazing. Also they weren't busy so we could relax. The looking of restaurant is very chinese restaurant like, but sushi are authentic Japanese tasting:)
(5)
Genevieve E.

Great happy hour prices and nice rolls. I will be back. Thanks!
(5)
LL C.

+ 3 dollar happy hour specials + 26 dollars for a giant chirashi bowl - outter richmond is quite a trek for a lot of folks, especially in this rainy weather, but glad we came - parking can suck more often than not
(4)
Emi K.

Fresh fish is so delish!
(5)
Thia G.

4.5 stars. Great random place for sushi in the midst of a handful of other ethnic restaurants. Ordered hamachi kama, ama ebi, negitoro sushi, chirashi deluxe, and assorted nigiri. My favorite was the ama ebi..! The shrimp was really sweet and the head was fried perfectly..! The hamachi kama was reeeally tasty too, and all the raw stuff was very tasty and fresh. Don't be fooled, not sure why so many reviews say the portions are too small..? It's deceptively filling..! Once again, this ranks pretty high on the legit scale because lots of people here speak Japanese, customer and staff alike. Great find, thanks Yelp!
(4)
Mercutio k.

Cute neighborhood spot. We ordered mostly from the white board with some izukaya appetizers and were satisfied. Last time I had the chirashi which was much better. Service is sweet but slow. It's no longer open for lunch anymore.
(3)
Christina C.

I got the golden ticket! I got the golden ticket! No, I'm not pregnant with K-Fed's child, and I am not Britney Spears, though the mistake happens frequently. Last week, I finally tried the deluxe chirashi. My uni, is with you.
(5)
Christina R.

Ahhhh! Japanese people making delicious sushi! Servers were friendly and not pushy, fish was super fresh and well made. Cannot say enough good things about this place. My new neighborhood sushi spot for sure!!
(5)
Ru C.

very friendly service, and the food was great :) i had their sukiyaki and i miss it already! very authentic too!
(5)
Myron J.

I have to give a quick update for my previous dining experience to one on a Saturday night. I came here tonight with my family to get some sushi. We were once again greeted by the elderly woman to be told that we would have to wait 45 minutes to an hour for seats for a party of 5. We notice that there was seating at the bar for 5 and asked if we could sit there. She said she could seat us but we would have to wait another 45 minutes to get sushi since there is only ONE sushi chef for the ENTIRE restaurant. She told us to call in next time so they can reserve a table for us but knowing we might have to wait 45 minutes to get sushi is not the business.
(3)
Barnabas L.

i rated 4 but its closer to 4.5 but not quite a 5. My cousins and i decided to go eat here because everything else was closed on a sunday afternoon for dinner (japanese/sushi food). Well i got the rainbow roll ( a cheap way to try a good different amount of sashimi). and a spider roll. Everything was actually really good, maybe its because i been in arizona so long that my taste buds have been corrupted and anything over here in the bay tastes heavenly, but i am going with most likely not. I will definitely come back, the fish was fresh. didn't task like old nastyness. Rice was also fresh, not mushy, not cold, but not hot/pulled right out from the cooker. So it had time to go through the whole process. The owner and wife (i am pretty sure that was them) were the only ones working, serving and husband cooking. Sushi took a little bit but there was only one cook and one bus boy, who left halfway through our meal. Anyways everyone was really pleased with their meal and i loved eating their spider roll, it was still a freshly deepfried soft shell crab yet it wasnt dripping with oil, it was well dried off. Wasn't blazing hot. It was perfect to just bite into and enjoy. Yay! finally got my good sushi i been craving!!! its a little bit pricey for the rolls and everything, but the quality is good. Big groups prolly not a good idea, because if you order an assortment of bowls and sushi rolls/sashimi. it will take longer and awhile to come out and people will have their food infront of them and waiting or eating infront of the foodless rest. this would be fun with just 3 or four in a group, if the restaurant is generally emptier. Smaller venue so be prepared to wait or find somewhere else to go if its packed. There is a sushi bar to sit at as well.
(4)
Grace G.

Finally dined there for the first time and the food was fresh and delicious! Went there on a Sunday evening with reservations and it was semi-crowded. I ordered the chirashi deluxe, which was gooooooodd! I am very picky about sashimi and can definitely taste whether fish is fresh or not. This comes from my experience eating sashimi throughout various cities in Japan -- always fresh. Service was polite. Draft beer was crisp and tasty -- best draft Sapporo I've tried in an authentic Japanese sushi bar in SF. The last time I had delicious draft Sapporo beer was in Tokyo. So for me, this is heaven. I believe when it comes to sashimi, you get what you pay for. Seriously.
(5)
Thomas C.

Tucked in the residential area of Outer Richmond is this family run Japanese restaurant. Fresh fish. Clean decor and neighborhood. Regular Chirashi @ $12.00 is a great value.
(5)
Em S.

Table for six .... We took a long walk from Sutro Heights through Land's End National Recreation Area pathway along the "edge" of the Golden Gate, up the steps, past the cypress trees in view of the Golden Gate Bridge, back up through the "secret pathway" between the Palace of the Legion of Honor and the VA Hospital and voila! ... out on to 42nd Avenue ... down to Balboa, left turn and just in time for our lunch reservation. Big Yum! I got the assorted sashimi plate and exchanged a few perfect slices with my friend Jackie for slices of her exquisite rolls. How many times has Nobu-san said it's about the rice ... the great sushi chefs make their own. Manabu-san is also not wrong about the skills of this wonderful chef. I love the smiling face of our waitress ... a woman of gentle patience. We had the table by the front window, lots of light, lots of conversation, such a nice confluence of people on the Path of Life. Very quiet day in the outer Richmond today and in this restaurant. So the attentiveness of our two waitresses was all for us. Thank you, Junko. My friend Danny's Salmon Don was excellent down to the last rice grain. I noticed that even slender Vanessa made it all the way through her bowl pork cutlet over rice ... look bigger than she herself. The perfect start to the meal of the perfectly warm miso and the ending with perfectly hot tea made the misty foggy outer Richmond day feel so cozy with good friends. So glad I got to have lunch with such fine friends experiencing such a perfect meal. A blessing, indeed.
(5)
Jason B.

Stopped in here for a quick lunch and wasn't disappointed. Beef yakitori - tender and tasty Nabeyaki udon - good; noodles and broth were both very tasty but not the best I've had Oyako don - ok Sashimi and other fish - excellent; very fresh In addition, the lunch boxes came with several small sides I couldn't identify but were delicious! They were bordering on a 3 star rating but the service pushed them to 4. The lady that served us was very nice and even brought my daughter some special miso with extra tofu and no onions (just the way she likes it...even without us mentioning it!) It's that personal touch that will make this a place I return to.
(4)
James K.

My family came here for lunch and it is one of the more authentic and delicious Japanese food I have had outside of Asia. Everything we ordered tasted great. They have special lunch boxes, which had a bit of everything like yakitori, sashimi, and tempura. It's yummy and a good deal. We also ordered the chirashi, and the sashimi was fresh. All the appetizers were scrumptious too. I'd come here over and over if I lived in the area.
(5)
Saunders C.

I've found it! The go-to sushi spot that serves great quality fish and doesn't charge a week's salary. I knew that we were in for a good meal when I split the wooden chopsticks and they broke into two perfectly even halves. The second we stepped into this place, we were welcomed with excellent service. Perhaps it's a family that runs the place, but they were all so nice. The restaurant is spacious, so you don't have to squeeze into one of the 6 spots at the sushi bar like at some other places. It's also located in one of the less crowded neighborhoods on Balboa, so parking was very easy to find. They have a lot of menu options, but my eyes were glued to the chirashi don. I got the deluxe chirashi, and it was a bowl of sushi rice topped with all kinds of the freshest slices of hamachi, maguro, ebi, uni and many more. I was totally impressed. The uni was nice and creamy with just a hint of the seawater essence that it originated from. All the sashimi, such as the yellowtail and albacore were awesome. There were even a few morsels of fresh scallop (hotate?) that were delicious. One of the nice surprising elements of the chirashi don was the fried shrimp's head. Really tasty. This particular selection was $23, but that's the most expensive thing on the menu. We also tried the grilled whole squid, a spider roll, and the udon. Grilled squid was decent, it came garnished with shredded green onions and ginger and doused in some soy sauce. Spider roll was nicely fried, not overcooked, and the crab taste really came through. The tempura udon was tempura udon. Good broth, tender and thick noodles. They finish off the meal with some piping hot green tea. So soothing. I'd be interested to see if they have omakase. A lot of people also seemed to really like their teriyaki dishes. The menu offers some izakaya options like skewers and stuff, but that will have to wait until my next trip. Last but not least, they have Echigo beer, one of my favorite japanese beers. I realize this is not the gold-flake on black cod high-end sushi experience, but for your non-birthday/anniversary/just paroled sushi needs, this place has it all.
(5)
Mark S.

In a neighborhood of mediocre food Yu Zen is a hidden gem. Fresh delicious fish and old school Japanese hospitality. We had the deluxe chef's choice nigiri and it was awesome! What more can I say? Go now!
(5)
Alex B.

Sunday night. Not particularly crowded. I have chosen the restaurant off a YELP review on my mobile. Fast seating - fast tea - then nothing for 15 minutes. NO THING. Finally I get my order in, but am told that sushi will take 30 minutes, 20 if I'm lucky. It actually takes 40 minutes (they bring some edamame and soup, on the house in the interim), but, apparently, they have run out of one item I wanted. No time to get a new/change order in. Eat quickly and I bolt for the movie. The food was very good. Not amazing, but very good. Would I go back? I would first ask - very specifically - how long it will take to start the ordering process and to deliver the food. Then make an informed decision.
(3)
Leena C.

So I saw this place on Yelp but wasn't compelled to try it out but since my mom insisted on going here after seeing an ad they placed in a japanese magazine. She said they were Japanese but I wanted to make sure so I called before going and sure enough they are Japanese. Yeah I'm picky but how many Japanese restaurants in SF are actually run by Japanese? So this place is only a few blocks from my house. We go there and their closed!!! crap. I think yelp's hours need to be updated. We try again and finally make it. They have a lunch special but I order the chirashi. Their lunch special is a bento box lunch with items that you won't find at typical Japanese restauarant. I don't know what they are called but my mom does. There was an eggplant dish, some steamed fishcake and tofu or something...I don't know exactly what it was. They also had asparagus wrapped in thinly sliced beef. The lunch box changes so what I just described might not be included in yours. Each lunch box comes with tempura and miso soup and some slices of fresh sashimi. I didn't like my chirashi. It was kinda small but the fish is fresh. I prefer the sashimi plates. Also, the wasabi they use is real, it's not the powder kind you get at most other places. It reminds me of being in Japan so that's a huge plus. To sum it up, good location, authentic Japanese dishes, fresh fish, good wasabi, excellent tea and they always remember us means I'll be back.
(4)
William C.

I was really disappointed with the quality of their fish. It's fresh enough to serve but not the best. I've tried better elsewhere. Their bento box was acceptable, but their ramen/udon was horrible. I don't think I would ever come here to eat. Price was definitely overprice for what they give you (quality). At least I didn't end up getting food poison.
(3)
M G.

Amazing quality, freshness and service! This is a place to go when you want some good quality sushi. The specials are always delicious. The service is beyond excellent and the sushi chef presents his food beautifully.
(5)
Nikki K.

So I should preface this review by saying that I wanted go to Al Masri across the street and not here, but my pushy BFF wanted...no DEMANDED... we try the sushi place. Again the decision to go here has a lot to do with it being close to where she lives. So my disappointment at not supporting the Green Revolution on the other side of Balboa should definitely be taken into account in my review. Here is how I would rate it: Outside Appearance: Not too appealing. I mean it looks like an insurance office from the outside. Inside: Very bland. You could call it minimalist, but I would call it under-decorated. It just felt like they moved into the space and threw in a counter and some tables. The lighting was definitely off. (Wall sconces people! Wall sconces!) Don't get me wrong, it is not dirty or anything, just not very inspiring in terms of mood. In other words, it is not a good date spot. The Sushi: So let's get down to meat of the matter (or in this case the raw fish of the matter). How was the sushi? Actually pretty good and I'm not even much of a fan of sushi. I had the Nigari which came with an assortment of fish all of which was delish! Even the octopus, which I was a little worried about but turned out great. (Tasted like chicken...actually, not all like chicken. Just try it.) The BFF had Tempura plate (I might be getting that wrong.) She clearly liked it. Price: Great. Amount of Food: So much I could barely finish. Quite the deal. Service: This is sort of mom and pop's sort of a place which is nice if you are looking for that kind of homey feel. I can definitely see coming here again and I know that with my BFF's apartment nearby we definitely will. Everyone was really nice. Of course, once we got outside, I made sure to hide my happiness and complain some more about how we should have tried Al Masri. "Never admit when you were wrong" is my motto.
(4)
Amy B.

I have to agree with my fellow yelpers: Yu Zen is THE place to get great, fresh sushi. And the fact that I can walk there from my pad makes me even happier! One of the best meals I ever had was a fresh sushi breakfast at Tsukiji Market in Tokyo. This meal at Yu Zen was blissfully reminiscent. I had the chirashi, of course, which is my absolute favorite dish. Even with my pickiness (no tamago, no mackeral, no shrimp--anything else is fine), the dish was perfect. The assortment of fish was fabulous, the portion was generous, and the fish was perfectly fresh. In addition, the salad was good and the miso was exactly what miso should be with lots of tofu and seaweed. So why dock one star, you might ask? Well, the service was incredibely friendly; however, they were a bit understaffed. The place was packed, but there were only 2 waitresses doing all of the ordering, food running, bussing, hostessing, etc. A busboy did show up eventually (my guess is his shift didn't start until 7), but it was pretty hectic before he did.
(4)
Erik A.

i love this place i could eat the spicy hamachi for lunch everyday. the fish is always great and so is the staff. if you are in the neighborhood make this your sushi spot.
(5)
Helen Y.

this is our home away from home dining spot. sushi chef ito san is awesome! our favs: (*) aji nigiri (*) sardine nigiri (*) anago (sea eel) (*) salmon skin hand roll (*) miso soup with clams (*) chrysanthemum gomae appetizer (*) shaved lotus roots cold appetizer (*) oshinko (pickled radish roll with shiso leaf) super friendly service and very accommodating!
(5)
Victor G.

i've seen this place before but it was closed. it's a few doors from empero taste. (42nd & balboa). kudos to nobu k. for raving about this place! creamy decor is simple and tasteful. many small pics of japanese paintings in nice water colors. furniture and settings are all brown. music: flute and folk vocals sampling: -green tea: nice -deluxe chirashi (15): raw fish over sushi rice *sushi rice-probably the best i've tasted. some nori mixed in. *miso soup: very miso infused soup with a lot of body, some seaweed and some bits of tofu *wasabi: specks in wasabi, very spicy, was this freshly ground? * 1 ebi, 2 tamago (very rich and creamy like, almost melted in my mouth), 2 maguro, 2 large sake, 2 seared white fish, 2 seared tuna, 2 tako, 2 unagi, 2 large white fish, 2 saba, 1 curled hirame with yellow tobiko on top, -tsurugai nigiri (whelk clam 4.25) : crunchy like miragai temaki: -chirashi fresh but not super fresh -selection extraordinary for chirashi, some seem to be from specials board or appetizers... -raw fish portions on small size but tasty. -specials boards looks interesting. -lunch only open friday to mondays -100% japanese, no jiveass rolls. -nice attentive lady (waitress).. -some guy was using a hand held camera and took scores of pics of his bento box like it was a porn star. yelpers use iphones. -thanx again nobu k.!
(5)
Donna S.

I used to live in The Richmond District and the Sunset many years ago. i was visiting a friend on Balboa street Friday evening As the afternoon turned into evening he suggested we go have dinner at his regular place for Japanese food. It was a stormy stormy night....lucky for us we scored a parking spot directly across the street. A good omen. We both ran across the street and flung open the door. We also brought some rain in with us. It is a lovely comfortable restaurant. A perfect place to warm up with some green tea, rice, endamame and Veggie Tempura. Our server was very nice and made us feel welcome. My dining partner speaks fluent Japanese as he lived in Japan for quite some time, so this is a bonus. The menu is simple and colorful. They also have a variety of Sushi. Very clean , very filling and very good.
(5)
Darrell L.

There are very few places where I have eaten sushi that actually has a distinct difference in the freshness of their fish. This place really does have some fresh, good fish to serve. There's what appears to be a family run staff that caters to you, and is very courteous and warm. I ordered the pork belly the last time out, and they told me that they had run out - in it's place they offered some wonderful chicken heart skewers; that's customer service. The decor leaves something to be desired as it feels a bit cold and too cafateria'ish, but that's really my only complaint.
(5)
pedro w.

I was in the 'hood, had two hours to kill and figured I could grab some sushi and then hit a cafe to do some work. So, I get there ten minutes after opening and see that there's already a 4-top and a 2 seated. Good sign. Sushi bar empty. Since I'm alone, I figure this would be a good way to go. I didn't see any workers (no chef behind bar, no waitress)...and after about a minute of standing inside the entrance, I just figured seating myself at the bar shouldn't be too egregious a transgression. After a few more minutes the sushi chef appears. I say hello, something akin to a grunt in return. After another five minutes or so a waitress comes by, gives me a menu and I order miso w/clams and sake to start. It comes in a reasonably short time and I order an assortment of nigiri and some rolls. Sushi starts coming around 35 minutes later. The food was fine. After finishing the first round of sushi, I sat and waited for the rest of the order to be served. After about 15 minutes of me just waiting there, the sushi chef asked me if I wanted anything else. ummm...how about the rest of my order? Well, by this time the restaurant is full and he's busy, so I wait another 30 minutes for the rest of my order. No apologies, nothing. in sum, the chronology was: arrive: 5:40p miso: 5:55p first sushi: 6:25p 2nd sushi: 7:10p me putting credit card in waitresses hand and telling her I have to leave now: 7:25p It shouldn't ever take 1:45 to serve a single person at a sushi bar. Food was fine. Maybe if this place was in my neighborhood, i might order food to go, but it completely ruined my mood, I wasn't able to get any work done that I had planned on doing at a cafe afterwards and I can't say I'd ever go back.
(2)
Seema H.

I love fresh, top-quality sushi at an affordable price... ...And that's what you'll get here! Pros: * Fresh and delicious Sushi/Sashimi (Best fatty Tuna in SF) * Reasonable * Prompt Service * Accommodating Cons: * Quaint atmosphere * Far for some folks (Uuter Richmond) Guests can order Ã la carte or, better yet, let the adventurous chef decide for you. Highly recommended!
(4)
Casi C.

YUM! Pretty much sums up the whole thing! But let me dive in a little deeper for those of you who are not satisfied with just my 5 star rating and the word YUM! The fish is super fresh. The place is the perfect size, not too big not too small. Everything I've tried there has been delicious and well priced. They have an unfiltered sweet sake (I forget the name) for under $5! Their house sake is always hot and tasty and well priced. The nice lady who seems to run the joint and help out with waiting tables is soooooo sweet! I want to take her home with me! She accidentally spilled a bit of cold sake on our table and she gave us a new one on the house (plus we had the spilled one that was hardly missing a drop!) And the best part....it's walking distance from my home! 5 stars all the way around!
(5)
Regi K.

My friends and our 2 kids came early for dinner. The restaurant was fairly empty. We ordered a beef teriyaki, udon noodles for the kids, some sushi rolls, and nigiris. My friend read Manabu M.'s review and ordered the deluxe chirashi. Delicious!!! and beautiful!!! Manabu was right, the deluxe chirashi was so very good. I particularly loved the little cup made from cucumber that held the ikura. oh... and the uni and amaebi...... pure heaven. Uni is so very fresh and sweet. special. The amaebi, with the head... loved them. I had called same day to see if they might make the uni over egg, but alas the very nice lady said it would be too difficult to do same day order. So... this just means I have to go back for this dish! yum yum... can't wait.
(4)
kyari t.

I went to give this restaurant a try after seeing the positive reviews. Plus, when it comes to japanese food made by a japanese staff, you usually cannot go wrong (at least from my experience). Parking was pretty hard to come by because it was in the evening on a weekend. But after 20 minutes of looking, we were able to snag a spot. The restaurant is a fairly wide open space. The decor is not as nice as some of the japanese restaurants I've been to. But it's not a hole-in-the-wall place either. Pretty bare and simple. But if you're all about the food and not the decor, then you'll like this place. The waitress who served us, gave each of us these hot rolled (sealed in individual plastic bags) hand towels. That is definitely a first for me in a japanese restaurant. I wish more of them would catch onto that idea. It's a nice touch. I ordered the deluxe chirashi and seaweed salad. In the meantime, I was served the traditional hot tea and miso soup. It was a pretty chilly day to say the least, so it definitely hit the spot and warmed everyone up. When I got my meal, I was surprised how much smaller the chirashi was in person. The pics I saw on yelp were a bit deceiving I guess (especially since it costs $23). lol Though, it was no less impressive looking. It was very nicely arranged and it looked like a piece of art. The sashimi was delicious. The uni was delicious. Heck, everything in that little black box was delicious. The shrimp head freaked me out a little, but I ate it anyway because I was starving. lol The seaweed salad had an unusual texture. It's one of those things that looks really crazy, but tastes really good (not to mention it's good for you). Once you take a bite, you have to keep eating it. It's like eating edamame beans. You just can't get enough. I may have developed a new addiction to seaweed salad. In all, the restaurant is very casual and low-key. People here are friendly. The food is good. There's nothing not to like about the place. But you know that feeling you get when a restaurant is missing something? That was how I felt about this place. It is a bit out of the way for me and the food was good (not great), so sadly I don't think I'll be by here again. But it was a nice experience.
(3)
Flo B.

Lighting is a bit like in a police station but sushi was actually very good.
(3)
Gregory C.

If you go...won't be impressed by decor and sit at the small sushi counter and say Hey Nobu-san, what's great tonight and leave it to him! His omakase is half the price of most of the popular places in town and better than almost all! The fish is delicate and prepared just right with finesse and touch. Ming the owner is great and hospitable so get a cold beer on tap and relax. One of the true hidden jewels of SF! Just trust me....I KNOW!
(5)
D R.

Not good...really hoped I was going to like this place as I moved close and was looking for a new "Go Too" spot. Stopped in for a quick roll and Miso. Asked the server for suggestion on one favorite she had; which I tend to do often. Miso was off..so was the roll. I wish that was the end of it as the prices are decent. But when the food isn't good their just isn't any justification. Even worse got home and was shaking all night. Yup that happened; It was after the weekend so maybe I didn't get the freshest caught food but no excuse as you can smell bad fish pretty easily. Take my word for it as I'm in the industry. I have a hard time giving a place a one star due to this fact.
(2)
Trina D.

The design is a bit staid, like someone's older parents' ill-conceived idea of what a "formal" dining room should look like. But the food is what draws me into this joint. Sure they have the usual bentos & sushis, but skip those and try their specials of the day. Very mom-&-pop homestyle japanese food, not your usual standard fare. Incredible and unique bento lunch specials (when they ARE open for lunch). The owner-operators are so gracious and sweet, and after a while it really does feel like you're eating someone's sweet Japanese auntie's home.
(4)
Irene B.

2.5 I was in charge of picking a place for a small family get together on a Sunday night, and Yu Zen sold me on its prices, ability to take reservations, and cozy atmosphere. Though the owners and waitstaff were friendly, my overall experience was below par due to the service. With one sushi chef servicing the whole restaurant (though small as it may be), our group of 8 received our entrees in a wave-like fashion. One or two people received their entree, while the rest of the group would wait in increments of 10, 15, and even 20 minutes later. The sushi was nothing to rave about, and I by the end of my meal I was beyond frustrated. I even had to flag our server to get refills on tea. Never again.
(3)
Stephen Y.

Five stars on Balboa but four stars to what I've had. The fish is fresh, the hospitality is great, and the parking was easy. I wish i can be more excited about Yu Zen but it's very lask luster. It is very genuine with real Japanese waitstaff. I'd probably need to go back and try more dishes to give it that 5th star.
(4)
Kaila Y.

I was recommended to try this restaurant to me as a reasonably priced and authentic Japanese restaurant from my boyfriend (who is a native from Japan). The staff is so friendly and accomodating. Their fish is very fresh and they have great specials. I have come here a handful of times since and have always had a great experience dining at Yu-Zen. Their nasu dengaku (broiled eggplant with miso), chicken katsu with cheese and toru sashimi is wonderful. And no, I do not live in this neighborhood and this restaurant is far from mediocre! I beg to differ!!!
(4)
steve w.

Came to Yu Zen on a Sunday night so it wasn't hard to get a table as the restaurant wasn't crowded at all. With that said, we still had to wait a good while for our food. I think there was only one sushi chef working that night. We were with a bunch of friends and family that we hadn't seen in a while so waiting wasn't really an issue that night. I had the deluxe chirashi what was good. It had a wide assortment of fish that were all very fresh. The uni was sweet, as was the shrimp and the fried shrimp head brought a nice variance of textures. Overall, Yu Zen had fresh fish and good sushi that you might have to wait for.
(3)
Shane R.

extremely authentic restaurant. the chef and all the workers are from the homeland, including a cute grandma who works as a waitress. tons of menu items that are not available at a run-of-the-mill americanized japanese restaurant. we got all sorts of dishes: off the top of my head, chicken karaage, croquette, yakitori, agedashidofu, sushi, hamachi kama, kisu tempura. some dishes were 5 stars - the chicken karaage, agedashidofu, and croquette were particularly good. others were 3 stars - the yakitori and hamachi kama were average. sushi was pretty fresh and well made. so, overall, 4 stars. not knock-your-socks-off good, but solid. friendly service. reasonable prices. another yelper mentioned that the empty dining room is a bad sign. i think it has more to do with the fact that this place doesn't serve a lot of the bastardized crap most people want. basically, its too authentic for most americans.
(4)
Peter F.

Yu Zen is bar none the best traditional Japanese food I have had. None of that deep fried, cream cheese laden, showy stuff. Just simple, elegant dishes that allow you to take in the full, natural flavor of the extremely fresh fish and slight tang of phenomenally well prepared rice. The sushi dishes are, in a word, artful. But, it does not stop there. To pigeonhole this Yu Zen as a sushi bar is to deny yourself their excellent full dinner options. If you have it in you, start with the pork belly appetizer and move to to one of the dinners from there. Do yourself a favor and give Yu Zen a few visits to fully explore the menu.
(5)
Laurence H.

I don't know why there are all these high reviews. Went on the 5 star recommendation of super J eater, but was vastly underwhelmed. Yep, the chef is J-style, quiet, etc... fine, but the food was just very average. My staple sushi restaurant is a little place in J-town that I am no longer advertising. I can think of many places that produce better sushi. Yu Zen is probably more than sushi but I am purely rating it on that. Price is very reasonable though.... Nice people running the place.
(2)
Natasha L.

Most sushi restaurants in San Francisco are below par. However, this small restaurant tucked away in the Outer Richmond is very good. Their fish is always very fresh (mmm...hamachi...fatty tuna...) and it's a great traditional Japanese place. They have got foods that people actually eat in Japan, such as yummy chicken, egg, or seafood porridge. So yes, that means it is actually owned by real Japanese! Yay!!! The owners are also super sweet. I haven't met such nice people in a long time. This is my new favorite neighborhood Japanese restaurant.
(5)
Karen L.

Ok, Super random that there's even restaurants on 41st and Balboa. Fortunately I am a Yelpster and found this place. I read the reviews before I came here and I did see a few comments about the bad service. The waitresses were all super nice and friendly. The sushi chef was kinda attitudy in the beginning. It might be a culture thing but he became super nice toward the middle of our dinner. I think he saw how much we enjoyed the food and appreciated what he was making that he opened up and started smiling and talking to us (or tried, he's not fluent in English nor is anyone else in the restaurant). Overall I was happy with the service. The menu was really nice as well. There were a lot of "Specials" on the menu which makes it even better and they were all reasonably priced. We had the Aji. oysters on the half shell, Spicey tuna, Uni, amaebi, topeko, salmon Roe, Toro, Mirugai, and this Japanese porridge. They were all really really good. So good that we over ordered and over ate and we felt a little sick from eating too much. Not the bad food sick but the pain of your stomach expanding too much. Yes... I can't wait to go again this week. No more over ordering for me though..
(5)
Byron L.

Mediocre everything. Come here only if you are too lazy to drive elsewhere. One of the salmons had quite thick veins, not nearly as thick as some other Japanese restaurants in SF, but still...
(2)
Anders N.

If this place weren't so serene with it's light piano music in the background, I would be shouting loudly like Epic Beard Man. Not slander mind you, but compliments! REAL Japanese green tea, SERIOUS bento boxes and NATIVE Japanese staff. Best Japanese place I've been in the bay area since I moved out 4 years ago.
(5)
Demanding T.

First time here tonight..... 4.7... The waitress needs a little work. Boy she was off all night. From seating us, taking our order, bringing out our food and giving us our check. I can tell the Sushi Chef was a little annoyed at her. Aside from that, the food was fabulous!!! Its traditional made by a "Master" Japaneses Chef! What a nice place!!
(4)
Katelynn L.

I came here with some coworkers today. Most of us ordered either the donburi or the bento box. Their bento boxes are only $10.95 and come with miso soup and 5 items of the day. Today, it came with mixed tempura, a chicken & mayo skewer, some fish balls with napa cabbage and a clear bean noodle, some other type of noodle and tuna sashimi. It's definitely not your usual bento box but I really liked it. Their tempura is really light and even though I don't usually like sashimi, I savored every bite of it. The clear bean noodles were also very unique and delicious! If you're coming here, you definitely need to have a lot of patience as they really take the time to cook everything fresh. IMO, that's better than other places where they compromise the quality. The lady there is also super nice and attentive. She even gave us edamame to munch on while we waited for our food. I don't usually like edamame but theirs was really good. I think they make theirs fresh so it was nice and warm and they even tossed it with sea salt to give it some flavor. Their lunch menu is not as extensive as their dinner menu but our entire party enjoyed our food nonetheless. Now I really want to go back and see what they have to offer for dinner.
(4)
Katie H.

Great towel. Thank you for the tea. Took them forever to take our order and the restaurant wasn't full and had just opened. It seemed since we didn't have a reservation, we didn't warrant good service?!? Not to mention the fish wasn't that good. The corner we sat in at the bar smelled like a dirty, cheesy, sock mop. I appreciated them telling me that our sushi will take a while since two tables had ordered. Then when we were ready to go, we had to flag down a waiter standing in the back perusing all the tables to get our check. Don't worry, we are going, enjoy your customers that made reservations.
(2)
Dario B.

It's when you sit a the counter that you understand how good the itamae is. The guy looks slow but then you turn for three seconds and , BAM! he already did 4 nigiri and put some unagi in the roaster! What the...! Not that being fast is a mark of quality but he really impressed me. He was busy so we couldn't ask for omakase but the lady told us the freshest and most interesting offering for the night, including sawara (Spanish mackerel) and a very interesting squid marinated overnight in tofu and (if I got it right) monkfish liver, sprinkled with the thinnest lime zest julienne/chiffonade I've ever seen. They also have Echigo beer (a plus) and real wasabi (a triple plus). We were also prized with a cube of tamago at the end of the dinner. Include the very familiar feel and you get the idea.
(4)
Kelly C.

At Yu-Zen, I admire their service and food that doesn't deal with seafood. Service at this restaurant was great the few times I've been there with family. They were very informative with sushi that was good, and definitely could pin-point what my cousin wanted in her sushi rolls. They paid attention to what you wanted, and will always ask again as a measure of security; I really appreciate this. The older woman who works as the waitress is very kind. She's nice and mellow, which doesn't make me feel rushed to finish my food. Food at this restaurant was pretty good compared to most other neighboring restaurants. I would even go as far as saying that the food here is better than a lot of restaurants within JapanTown Center. I don't know what true authentic Japanese food tastes like, but I definitely do know what Japanese food shouldn't taste like. I hate it when I order Chicken Teriyaki, and I get pieces of chicken that has plenty of fat and tendons still stuck on it. I also hate it when the Chicken Teriyaki has sauce that tastes like they bought it from Safeway or some other grocery store and just squirted it on top of the meat. Sure, Yu-Zen may/may not make their own sauce, but at the least, the chicken they serve is fairly "cleaned". I'm also very picky about how my soup bases taste for Udon, and Yu-Zen doesn't disappoint. With the ShoYu soup base, it's definitely not filled with 23094820938402384g of sodium. I don't feel extremely dehydrated after drinking some of this soup base. The lessened amount of sodium doesn't affect the quality because the flavor is still there. I guess to end it, I really like this place because the people are nice and it has a more authentic feel to the place. The people working there are family and take the time to understand what you want in your order. They are always ready to give you recommendations if you asked, which is definitely a plus!
(5)
Ross S.

I suspect that every reviewer who offered Yu Zen four stars lives within a block of this restaurant. Why else would anyone eat here, much less consider this totally mediocre Japanese eatery special enough to warrant a "Yay!"? The truth is, there are some neighborhoods in San Francisco-- quaint, quiet, clean, unoffensive, totally dull districts-- in which you would simply never find yourself dining after dark unless the food was out of this world and you happened to be eating with Gisele Bundchen. The outer Richmond near Ocean Beach is one such area. Yet, this past Tuesday-- when the temperature hovered at an unseasonably cold 40 degrees-- I found myself with three old friends at Yu Zen, feasting on the kind of maguro, sake, saki, uni, Saporro, udon, and sashimi one could find at no less than 500 other restaurants in San Francisco. The difference would be that if you asked your server for the check in a locale further downtown, you'd only have to ask a single time, not three. Moreover, the walls would not be decorated with drawings of incredibly ugly tuna. Perhaps this meal would have been worth it if my friends had allowed me to order the toro. Eating fatty tuna from the belly of an endangered species is so wrong it's right... right?
(2)
Tom C.

One of my favorite Japanese restaurant in the city. The food is so authentic. My wife and I at least go their once a month and we always enjoy their chirashi deluxe and ika natto (only from their Japanese menu). Staffs are super friendly. Thanks!
(5)
Michelle Y.

I'm glad there's this gem tucked away in the outskirts that I call My Hood. I'm almost temped to not rave about it so it won't get too full and parking will become a mess (even If I can just walk up the hill---it's always too cold!) I made a reservation for 8:30, not knowing what to expect. I arrived about 10 minutes before my friends did, and as soon as I walked in the door, the server asked me by name. I ordered sake and beer in anticipation of my friends' arrival. Friends arrived, ordered the agedashi tofu, gomae, and chicken karaage to start. Pretty basic stuff. Then the sushi arrived. Everything was just really fresh and good. I insisted on ordering the pork belly dish, which was to die for (had to order a bowl of steaming hot rice to accompany it). Overall, it was a great experience. The staff was friendly and warm, and I'd want the owner to adopt me so I can have pork belly and rice everyday!
(4)
Shureluck H.

If you're not Japanese, this place is as good as the ones down the street. I walk by this place many times and I always wonder how good is the food here. I checked out the reviews and thought, "hm, it receives surprisingly high marks for a hole-in-the-wall". I came here with high expectation and ordered the deluxe chirashi (dinner). The verdict: Meh.... Maybe because I'm not Japanese and the chef gave me all the bad pieces because of what my government did to his people half a century ago- I don't know. There's also a very comprehensive menu in Japanese which I guess is for their people to enjoy. The service was good, but the food was just okay. For 23 bucks I could have gone to the Cliff House and enjoyed a far better dinner.
(3)
Jeremy T.

This is by far the absolute best Japanese food I have ever had outside of Japan. I lived in Japan for almost two years, and I've never had anything that tasted remotely like the food you can get there. Maybe it's because Yu Zen is owned and operated by Japanese people... I always avoid salmon sashimi, because it's always been slimy and nasty in the U.S. My friends told me to try it at Yu Zen, and I almost cried. The food there is such an emotional experience for me, because it's real Japanese food. I can't believe it. Real Japanese food in the U.S. I'll be taking the bus to the Outer Richmond much more frequently now that I have good friends that live there and the best Japanese restaurant in the country to go to. I'm not going to say a word about service or anything else. Even if I had to wait three hours for the food (as I've done in Japan), I would wait. I would wait more than that. It's worth it. Go to Yu Zen now, and eat real Japanese food.
(5)
Bonnie L.

MMM! Yu Zen = YUM Zen. I just had my first meal here and I was thoroughly impressed. I just moved into the neighborhood and had a mad sushi craving from missing my regular spot in my old neighborhood, so decided to drop into this spot to see what the good word was all about. The fish in this place is phenomenal. You can tell instantly that its fresh, and the sushi rice is cooked to perfection. Most of the menu is made up of just the basics, no fancy exotic rolls. They do have fish and delicacy specials, but these are prepared in the traditional way as well. So if you're looking for creativity, this is not the spot to find it. What you will find here is mega-high quality. Each piece was made with care for appearance and texture. Not like a lot of places out there where some guy just slaps a piece of once frozen fish onto a smushed ball of sour rice. I sat at the sushi bar and ordered mostly nigiri. I had uni, ikura w/quail egg, katsuo w/ginger, tuna toro, sake and hamachi. All excelente! DOMO ARIGATO! Yu Zen gets 5 stars from me plus another visit in the near future.
(5)
Patrick L.

Excellent service. Very quick and friendly. It's a bit pricey, but hey, it's Japanese food. If it's not pricey, it tastes like crap. Next time, though, I'll have to bring more money as the deluxe chirashi looks heavenly.
(5)
Trevor D.

Went here on a whim because Miki was closed. Can honestly say that I was super surprised!! Went with a friend and we ordered a spicy tuna roll, vegetable tempura, Katsu donburi, and tempura udon. We rated everything 5 out of 5. Place was great, good service and it wasn't very busy so it was a nice and quiet meal. I will definitely be coming here again and bringing people with me!
(5)
Scott D.

I have generally stopped relying on Yelp for anything resembling a good review. Everything you read on here is completely opinionated, everyone is an expert in every cuisine, and people are generally unreliable which is how I expect you to treat my review. What I can say is that we spend a few weeks a year in Japan on business and otherwise, my wife is a native of Japan as such we also spend a lot of time appreciating good food. Say what you want about Yu Zen, but if you want just about the only authentic Japanese food in San Francisco proper you have three choices. Yu-Zen, Mikki, and there is also the delicious mom + pop's sushi place on Fillmore Maruya. I see the comments on here about slow service, I ask 'what's the hurry?' Do you all have important meetings to go to, anyone who has spent time overseas knows that you can spend HOURS enjoying your meal and then having coffee or tea after. Take some time, roll the sashimi around on your tongue and enjoy a cup of shochu or plum wine. If you want something speak up, that is the Japanese way, they don't want to bother you and make you feel like you need to get out.
(5)
Eric T.

I went to Yu Zen on a whim a few weeks ago because I noticed it recently opened. Very pleased is the verdict. Now the prices may be on the higher side compared to many other Japanese restaurants in the area. But, the portions of food you receive as well as the quality of these portions justify the bill at the end of the night. The staff is extremely friendly as well as 100% traditional Japanese, so needless to say I have every right to believe yu-zen is a great well rounded restaurant that is authentic. Keep the good work up Yu-Zen, i'll be seeing you soon! [APPROVED]
(3)
C L.

Came here last night for dinner with two friends. We waited a bit over 15 minutes. We were lucky to get a table so fast, because there was a party of 5 ahead of us, and the table available only seated 4. So we got the table before the party of 5. You can't tell that this is a real Japanese restaurant from outside. The outside of the restaurant looks like a Chinese restaurant or a Chinese-owned Japanese restaurant. The sashimi here is definitely top-grade. We ordered a deluxe sashimi platter, separate order of meguro and hamachi, fried hamachi kama, liver stewers, chicken stewers, and a spider roll. The hamachi was AMAZING. The prices here are not bad for sashimi. For three people, the bill before tips was $75. One thing was that I saw a table of four get little scoops of red bean and green tea ice cream after their dinner. I wasn't sure if it was complimentary, but if it was they should've offered it to every table! Next time I come here, I will order the Deluxe Chirasu all for myself. If you are looking for a place to have some fresh sashimi, do stop by!
(4)
Mandy D.

Good sushi, quite fresh. Service was slow, but it was one sushi chef. May come back and give it another shot.
(4)
fang L.

I honestly was never a fan of Japanese food before my girlfriend brought me to Yu zen. As a matter I always hated the Japanese food for it's expensive price and inadequate quantity before I came to Yu Zen. Well I guess ppl had made enough compliments about it's food,so I'm just gonna go on and talk about the hospitality of the owner.she is definitely one of the most kind and friendly host I've ever encoutered in my entire life. Moreover she literally spends every minute of her free time to get to know you and listen to your expectations of this restaurant attentively!she always makes both me and my girlfriend feel like we are eating The home cooked meal with our families! There is so Much about this place that has the absolute attraction which would definitely keep us coming back as and spend some quality time together! Priceless is the word that I can only think of now.five stars all the way And this is my first review and I would dedicate to Yu Zen without a doubt!
(5)
Jonathan L.

Excellent Japanese food. Had: 1. Udon Zara -- Cold noodles after exercising is just pure awesome. 2. Toro Nigiri -- Medium grade. Was very good but not at it's best. Of course, I probably should expect as much for it's given grade. 3. Salmon Sashimi -- OMG...sooooo fresh. They put lime on top of the salmon which gave it a unique taste when dipped in soy sauce. Service is great! No complaints about this place. Will be back.
(4)
Ryan G.

My expertise is limited to a few choice items: beer, bikes, hiking trails and celebrity gossip. And although I consider myself (insert cliche word here): worldly, cultured and open to new experiences. My experience does not = expertise. Hence Japanese food, but I once flew over Japan and stayed at a Holiday Inn. So come to Yu Zen you will eats lots of great, fresh food I did not know how to pronounce, ordered by pointing and asking the wait staff to choose for me. Beyond that I got squat....
(5)
Steph D.

I've been such a lazy yelper. Yu-zen is a brand new neighborhood joint for us Richmond folks. Yeah yeah...I know..."Damn you live so far!" Everyone says that about OuterRich but we have our hidden treasures. Came here for the first time for my mom's birthday dinner. My parents had eaten here previously and LOVED the hamachi dinner special. I had a couple different dishes the 2 times I came. One was a miso seafood clay/hot pot and the other one was udon yosenabe. I LOVE yosenabe so I have high expectations of it....but I was a little disappointed. The udon was mostly broth, a little chicken and a soggy shrimp tempura. The miso seafood pot was absolutely delicious though! There were enoki mushrooms in it which made me even happier! Clams, mussels, salmon, white fish, shrimp, and scallops...I'm drooling just thinking about it. I was also able to try Anago (salt water eel) for the first time...and I really really did not like it. Idk if it was just the way it was cooked or what, but I prefer unagi 100%. While the staff is very friendly, the service is slow. The second time we came here as a family they were not busy at all, but somehow, we spent about two hours eating. I was beyond irritated. But like I said, a little neighborhood treasure. I shall be returning. I knocked off a star for the slowness and another for the high prices. Oh yeah...their sake selection looked really good!
(3)
Ashley J.

Fantastic!!! i absolutely love this spot. the dinner deluxe chirashi is a masterpiece. Service, Food, everything is perfect.
(5)
Rio Y.

Japanese Spoken Here! Tucked away in Outer Richmond is this little Japanese restaurant with actual Japanese people inside running it. It's only been around for a few months and believe me, this is the REAL thing. The little details were tell-tale signs that this would be an authentic experience. For instance, the zaru noodles came with a little pot of chicken broth to mix with the dipping sauce to be consumed after the noodles were gone. The udon noodles were "al dente" and not mushy. The wasabi was grated and not from powder. But best of all, the fish had a quality that, I hate to say, is tough to find in most sushi places...I ordered the chirashi (yes, it's my favorite) and every slice had a sweetness that can only be attributed to amazingly fresh fish. The service was attentive and friendly. Prices were very reasonable, compared to other authentic sushi places like Murasaki on Clement: example - my deluxe chirashi was $21.95 here, but at Murasaki I paid $27.00 and didn't get quite as much fish. The dining room and sushi bar were simply but tastefully decorated with Japanese art along the walls. Great find in a somewhat strange location away from the main drag (if there really is one) on Balboa.
(5)
MTBer I.

Great cuts of fish in the chirashi bowl! I'm definitely a fan of their Uni...creamy and fresh! This place gives you value for your money and there are lots of hot & cold options. Overall good service, but the wait for food from the bar can be long.
(4)
DeAnne A.

Love this restaurant, the staff is excellent!
(5)
Bono B.

Wow, all these people giving this place five stars must be joking. Judging from the empty dining room on a recent Thursday night, I don't think this place is going to last on the strength of their sushi offerings. I don't share nobu k.'s and other Yelpers' unbridled optimism for this restaurant. Let's do a rundown of some of nobu k.'s comments: - "Real Wasabi." Nope, they gave me the gaijin flourescent green shit. - "Nice!" Um okay. If a restaurant wants my money, it would be good for them to be nice. - "Clean!" Yeah, clean. Unless you're in a 3rd world country, shouldn't restaurants be clean? - "Simple decor." Not exactly chic. Don't bring a date to impress on a first date. If you're a solo diner suffering from Asperger's and can't muster up a conversation with the itamae, the two ginormous fish posters behind the sushi counter is one way to kill time if you want to learn about the different species of tuna and snapper. - "I felt Cozy even though it is pretty big place." When it's empty, it sure doesn't feel cozy. - "Friendly." That they were. Looks like a family run business, which makes me want to support their business more. - "100% Japanese." Yep. And so am I. But who cares if the food is meh. - "Reasonable." Yep. But my tab (with 2 large bottles of Asahi) came out pretty close to what I would have had I gone to Ino Sushi. For this much money, I'd trust fund it and go to Ino instead. I'd rather not play Russian roulette with questionable quality fish. - "This place is very reasonable w/ traditional quality as Okina on Arguello and Yo's Sushi-Club on Mission." Hmm, if dry, tired tasting kampachi, less than raw amaebi (it looked pink and partially cooked), and runny, fishy smelling uni is your idea of traditional quality, count me out. Man, it may have been an off night, but the itamae shouldn't have served me that stuff. BTW, I did see the chirashi-zushi being assembled before me for another customer whilst I sat at the sushi bar, and it did look impressive. But if any of the aforementioned neta made its way onto the chirashi, it would have been total buzzkill for me. On a positive note, while the sushi disappointed, simple dishes from the kitchen were decent. - Nasu dengaku was large and satisfying. The miso sauce on top complemented the soft, sweet flesh of the eggplant. The only thing that marred the dish was the heavy-handed use of cooking oil that pooled at the bottom of the plate. - Goma-ae was good as well. I was pleasantly surprised that they offered spinach and shungiku (chrysanthemum greens) versions. The shungiku version was simple and good, just like what ma used to make. The slightly bitter edge of the blanched shungiku went well with the goma dressing. - Kimpira gobo was okay, a bit dry. Would have preferred a little bit deeper soy/mirin flavor. Yu Zen is a place I want to like and to support as a locally-run family business, but I would have second thoughts going there again and having sushi. But then again, my standards are higher than an average Yelper, so it should suit most people just fine. In summary, for me, Yu Zen represents yet another example of a mediocre Japanese restaurant in San Francisco. PS: Virginia Y., the warm, whitish-looking liquid they gave you shouldn't have been chicken broth. Or if it is, I'm shocked. It's traditionally the cooking water that results after you boil soba.
(2)
Aleksia B.

Went here last night after a long day of running around having fun in Frisco on a girl's day. They start off by greeting and seating you at your table, and then bring out a warm wet hand cloth for you to clean your hands. This was totally awesome cuz I've never been to a place that does this. The service was not only great, but so was the food. Probably one of the best places I've had sushi. We started off with the seaweed salad which was so refreshingly good. It was my first time trying it, so I have nothing to compare that to. But I ordered the california rolls, the kind with just crab and avocado, and they were by far some of the best I've had. I also got the one with the eel on top, something dragon which was absolutely delish. My friends ordered the spicy tuna roll and the tempura roll. The spicy sauce that is used for the tuna roll is AMAZING. We ordered extra of it and used it as a dipping sauce. I am not a big fan of ginger or wasabi alone. And she loved hers so much. My other friend ordered the chicken skewers and rice and an order of california rolls with the cucumber and avocado as well. We were so satisfied and stuffed by the time we left. They kept our hot tea cups filled and our waters filled, and made sure everything was great. I food made me have an orgasm in my mouth, that's how good it was. The restaurant itself is small and cozy and definitely a fun family environment. I will return one day when I am back to visit in the bay area. Oh and the pricing is good, we spent 60 for all three of us to get two dishes a piece.
(5)
Steve K.

I love this place. It seems like it's family owned. They are super nice. I asked for water with no ice and lemon and the waitress cut up lemons and served them on a small plate for us. She refilled our glasses with water with no ice, and noticed when we had used them all, and brought out more. The next time I went there she remembered, and brought the same thing! The food is great, and very reasonably priced. Their chicken udon bowls are the best I've had. You might call ahead, as they can be totally full on a Sunday night (with mostly Japanese people- which is always a good sign).
(5)
Debbie P.

I live in neighborhood and went to Yu Zen last night with my daughter. Loved it. The place was crowded and the staff unprepared for the sudden crowd, but they kept their smiles as they frantically ran around making sure everybody got served. Loved the oshibori they give when you sit down. I had the soba and it was delicious! Sushi was great as well. Menu looke awesome and will definitely be going back to try more things. The only thing I would ask them to do is turn down the lights. It is SOOO bright in there. A little dimmer on the lights would create a much nicer atmosphere.
(4)
robin b.

This place is very nice when you go in. There is a lot of seating and a decent sized sushi bar. The food is ok. I had the Tempura Donburi, which didn't wow me, but still is passable for a place to go eat if you're near the area. The spider roll tasted pretty good, and the ingredients were very fresh, but was only four pieces for 9.50. The grilled ika was very tasty. Overall, I think this place is ok and I would go here again if I am near the area and want to eat authentic japanese food.
(3)
Naka A.

Yummy sushi! Need I say more? :) Ok, I will. Plenty of variety, great staff, you can see them actually make the sushi, which travels on cute little boats and there is hardly a menu, so just take what you see. Sushi rocks my socks!
(5)
Michael S.

I and my dining companion stumbled on this place while driving around, our senses honed by hunger. It's located across from "that Egyptian place" on the site that I think was once a Georgian/Russian joint. A very fine sushi experience, with lovely and inexpensive izakaya dishes, and what is probably the best tempura I've had outside Japan. The braised pork belly and mirugai nuta were stellar. The welcome left a lot to be desired. We were the only hakujin in the place, which was fairly busy on a Sunday night, and we weren't made to feel welcome. Eventually, I harangued the hostess in Japanese and she invited us to sit at the sushi bar. Since they've only been open for six weeks, I'll attribute the lack of a warm welcome to this, and otherwise would have granted the place five stars instead of four.
(4)
Carl D.

Who gave this place a bad review?! Man some people have issues. I love this place. The food is good here. And yes, it does matter if this is 100% Japanese. I'm not Japanese, but I've been at a handful of Japanese places that have been owned by Chinese people, Korean people, and even Filipinos. Nothing wrong with that, but I really wanted to feel like I had some authentic Japanese home cooking. And for some reason they all taste the same to me, and my perception of Japanese food seemed so so. I'll crave it once in while, but that's about it. But finally the food was different at this place. It seriously was good and and really felt authentic. Felt like someone's large dining room and the family was cooking in the back. The customer service was A+. I had the cream cheese-filled katsu. My order was slightly delayed, but it didn't bother me. The customer service made the delay non-existent. Other than some spots in Japantown, this is a place I will definitely come back too for authentic Japanese. I wouldn't really go to this place for all out sushi, cause I've had better sushi at other places. But for the other Japanese dishes... yes.
(4)
Max B.

I came to this place a week ago - and I don't understand all of the 4 and 5 star reviews. I had a bunch of rolls and thought they were good, but nothing special. The unakyi may have been the best thing, but this place definitely isn't worth a trip to the Outer Richmond, at least not for the sushi (it seems like some of the other items might be better.)
(3)
Katherine F.

This place is so delicious! I Feel like no one really knows about it, but the food is really fresh (highly important in Sushi), the serving sizes are decent, the teryaki tastes like you are eating a plate of dark meat (but it's actually white meat), which basically means it's very flavorful! The ladies that work there are so so nice and helpful and I definitely urge you all to check out this place.
(5)
Aya C.

OK, so I've gone there for dinner twice now and I can assure you, this restaurant serves stellar Japanese cuisine. I know, it is way out there if you don't live in Richmond, but it's worth a trip. If you go, DO order Tsukune (chicken meat balls on a skewer) and DO order sushi and of course, DO order Agedashi Tofu.
(5)
Al L.

I hate to be writing a review about this lovely restauant, well knowing how popular this place is going to be. It's like keeping a secret but blurting our "Yu Zen" when someone asks for a great Japanese restaurant in the Richmond. Oops! First of all, the food is fresh and delicious. The hamachi sashimi just melts in your mouth, hot chicken kaarage is juicy and flavorful, cheese tonkatsu a wonderful blend of cream cheese and pork and the chicken sukiyaki-a plentiful pot chock full of vegetables and meat. All are so presented in such a pleasing way-you really have to admire it for a minute and then chow down! The owner took the time to introduce herself and to answer any questions we had. When it came to a selection of sake, she brought out several bottles and explained the differences between the choices. We couldn't be happier about the service there. You'll be treated well.
(5)
Sheue L.

Love this place not only for the best chirashi zushi, sushi, sashimi, and other small delightful dishes. Also, the elderly lady server treated my mom with so much kindness, smiles, and respect! This is as authentic as you could get for Japanese and food, and no snootiness. Everything's tastes so good!!!
(5)
Jimmy N.

A good sashimi place in the outer Richmond? Where?? I was surprised to see such high reviews for a Japanese place all the way out in the middle of the residential areas. They can be a little short-staffed at lunch time during the weekends. Very nice folks. Most notable item: Deluxe Chirashi. Must. Get. Every time.
(4)
Adam L.

Picked up dinner for my daughter and I the other day and was not impressed... Service was fine but slow and the food was just whatever. I got the california roll for her and the tempura appitizer (I know, hardly an authentic dinner) and the rolls had too much mayonaise and wasabi and the tempura was overly greasy., Well definitely try again, but scared,,,
(2)
J L.

I can't heartily recommend a Japanese place in the city for a guaranteed good meal. All the ones I know of are ok. If I see the fancy rolls on the menu, rock n roll, tootsie roll, stop drop & roll, or white boy roll, I know it ain't true to the homeland. Yu-Zen is the truth. The menu has regular stuff for you Audi drivers, and then it has items you'd see more in Tokyo. Our yakitori came with soft boiled egg, almost raw to use as a dip. Cheese is pretty big in Tokyo and they had a cheese tonkatsu. Even the regular stuff we ordered, tempura, sashimi, etc was all good. Attention to detail was excellent. We ate EVERYTHING off the plate, even the garnish. Service was outstanding! This is now my spot for good Japanese.
(5)
bartleby s.

Picky Japanese mom approved. Sushi is fresh, makis are tight, service was attentive. A nice mix of izakaya food and sushi. I agree with the other reviewers that it's some of the best sushi I've had in the city. Also, there are some things on the Japanese menu that don't appear on the English one. Finally my degree is paying off.
(5)
Roberta B.

This little place is 3 doors down from my flat. We stopped in a few weeks ago and grabbed seats at the bar. Honestly my impression is that the wait staff are the wife and daughter of the sushi chef and they are terrified of him. They looked very nervous and the chef looked grumpy. The service was a tad slow and we weren't allowed to order directly from the sushi bar. We had to have our order taken by the server so we couldn't follow our normal procedure which is to sit at the bar for a couple of hours slowly ordering more sashimi while sipping sake. The fish was acceptable but honestly I've had better sushi and sashimi. And no, before you ask, I do NOT order rolls. I'm interested in fish not a bunch of rice and cream cheese so my review is not based on this. I may give them another try but it's hard to say when because in this city the choices are limitless.
(3)
Bennet A.

decent sushi.
(4)
Jess H.

The food is good here despite the washout look of the exterior (inside is nice). I ordered cheese katsu and the beef sansho soyuyaki which came with rice, soup and salad. The dressing on the salad may be my new favorite and both the beef and pork were very tender and juicy. Overall the meal was delicious, but I felt is a bit expensive. Also if it makes a difference, the restaurant seems to be run by Japanese since I only saw Japanese workers.
(4)
Ema S.

Great food!! The saba is fantastic... reminds me of my grandma's home cooking. Excellent customer service too.
(5)
Aron L.

I might be rating this place a little high because I was in such a great mood when I came to eat here. I had just finished watching Brian Wilson clinch the NLCS against the stupid Phillies. To celebrate, my girlfriend and I got dinner here and then went to go get celebratory drunk. GO GIANTS! -Based on serveral Yelpers' reviews (especially Manabu M.'s), we ordered the Deluxe Chirashi Dinner and a tempura appetizer. The Deluxe Chirashi was amazing. A must try! There was fish roe, salmon, hamachi, red tuna, scallops, shrimp, tomago, eel, fish roe and that gooey sea urchin stuff among other things. 2 pieces of every sashimi. At first I thought after only ordering 1 dinner item and 1 appetizer wasn't enough but we were full by the end of it. -The tempura was lightly battered and crispy. Good variety of veggies. The yam tempura was definitely my favorite. Oh and we got 3 shrimp tempuras. -The D. Chirashi dinner came with miso soup and salad. The salad dressing is the greatest. You'll have to try it to understand the greatness. And my girlfriend thought the miso soup was great too but I thought it was decent. -For $23, the D. Chirashi dinner is a little pricey but extremely worth the money. The tempura was $7.50 and also a decent value. -The restaurant is pretty nice on the inside but its in the middle of nowhere on Balboa. -Wait staff and sushi chef are all really nice. We were one of two tables so maybe thats why they gave us so much TLC. -One downside is that they close at 9PM or 10PM. Hmmmm, reading back on this review, I think I liked Yu Zen so much because there was dwindling euphoria from the Giant's game. But thats as good a reason as any! So watch the World Series, and when the Giants beat the Rangers, come here and get the Deluxe Chirashi dinner.
(5)
Denny K M.

As one of the reviewers has mentioned, it is indeed rare to find an authentic Japanese restaurant in San Francisco (not to mention in Outer Richmond) run by a Japanese family. This explains why I was so excited about six months ago when I met an older Japanese lady at my neighborhood bank getting ready to open a commercial bank account to start a new business just down the street. I spoke with her briefly and wished her success. In fact, I told her that I would be one of her first customers when she opens to give her support. I waited patiently as she remodeled the restaurant and when it was launched, I convinced my reluctant family to give it a try. We were not disappointed and we have been going back once if not twice a week. The food is simple (as it should be). The fish is always fresh. I like the presentation. The Nigiri sushi reminds me very much of what I had when I was in Japan (small amount of rice and with the fish just large enough to drape over the side). The sushi chef is an older Japanese gentleman who likes to take his time with his artistry. He understands enough English to know what his customers want but does not try to have too much conversation (which is what I like). He obviously prefers traditional sushi than the California variants (which I dislike). The hot dishes are good as well. The udon noodles are never too mushy (good Japanese type). Their tempura are never too oily. Personally I only go there for sushi but it is nice to have alternatives for out-of-town guests. The price is very reasonable, about half to two-third of what some fancy places would charge but much better quality. The decor is nothing fancy but always clean. It is also nice to be surrounded by Japanese speaking customers who obviously come here because they enjoy the food. Most importantly, parking is never a problem. The service is always good and everyone smiles all the time. Since the lady owner recognizes us as loyal customers, we always get free red bean or green tea ice cream which is a great treat for me. I recommend Yu Zen highly. If you are a sushi lover, you should give it a try even if you don't live in Outer Richmond.
(4)
Wakaknee J.

Happened to drive by this place on a Friday night and noticed their authentic Japanese "NOREN" with Yu Zen in kanji and "CHOCHIN" outside. Something told me that this place might be good and might be run by Japanese. We ordered Tamago, Hirame, Saba and Negihama-Maki from Sushi menu and some appetizers. They were all good except for Karaage. They told us that they have been open for 2 weeks. I am sure glad we found this place.
(5)
Daisy A.

No question, 5 stars. I am Japanese who is missing the real Japanese food in California. I do not find any great ones in Southern California yet, buuuut, I found the great one in Northern California, in San Francisco!!! The master chef is the real one, he showed a little bit of his real skill and talent yesterday, even we went there in lunch time and ordered lunch menu... Just "OISHII" and I really thank my friend for taking me there. We were filled with "OISHII" and "ARIGATO"!!
(5)
Sarah P.

Really happy to have found this place in our neighborhood. The lunch boxes are way above average, fresh and innovative and nicely presented. The Japanese lady serving us was very friendly and happy to explain any menu items. Prices are reasonable, and the place is clean and relaxing. Looking forward to going back soon.
(4)
Anthony S.

I am a happy man today. I've been living in the Richmond for almost three years now, and although I've tried a myriad of so-so sushi places (and there are several out there) I haven't found a sushi place that I'd recommend to others. Yu-Zen is that place. The appetizers are mouth watering, the fish is high-quality, fresh, and abundant in portioning, and the service is both prompt and friendly; what more could you ask? Yu-Zen finds ways to provide those extra steps that earn and maintain my fourth star of approval. The fact that Yu-Zen really cares about what they're doing shows in so many ways: from the simple decor that echoes a true Japanese restaurant, to the quaint bottles of soy sauce, to the leaf-shaped mixing bowls, to the fresh horseradish wasabi, to the salad made with spring greens and not-iceberg lettuce, it is all of these little details that make a great experience. Additionally, the servers show that they care about the aesthetics of your experience by rearranging your dishes to provide symmetry on the table each time a new plate is brought out. I could discuss what I ordered and how each item was delectable, but I know from what I've tried, I feel safe to assume that everything on their menu is worth ordering. Go forth and enjoy a quality sushi experience.
(4)
Christina Y.

I would like to come back here on a date and not a group dinner. From what i remember the fish on the sushi was very fresh. The pork belly was yum. Great Japanese auntie type waitresses to make me feel like I just had a home cooked meal.
(3)
Annie T.

I have heard many good things about the Chirashi so I just to come and try it out with one of my bestest buds who only comes home to the Bay Area once or twice a year. We went in when it was a bit early so there were only 2 parties (but by the time we left all the tables were filled!). We both ordered the Lunch Deluxe Chirashi bowl ($16.00) and it was delicious!!! It was a smaller version of their dinner one from the pictures I have seen but I was satisfied as the fish was fresh, the rice was perfect and plenty (and it comes along with a piping hot bowl of miso soup which tasted fine) but the highlight was def the fish and rice. We also ordered a Tempura appetizer but that was also overshadowed by the Chirashi. I live all the way on the other side of town but if I ever get a chance to come here again, I would definitely order the Chirashi again. Forgot to mention, the service was good with younger and older server refilling our tea often.
(5)
Eater S.

I visited for lunch and found the service to be very friendly and the food to be delicious. They had many items on the menu that I've never seen before at an SF area Japanese restaurant. So many of our Japanese restaurants have the same menus. It was nice to find something different, and the dishes felt authentic and unpretentious. I'd definitely go back.
(4)
Hing W.

Was quite pedestrian. Had high expectations based on other reviews. The owners and service were good, but the sushi we had were lower than the quality we know... Ikura was watery and had a milky color suggesting that it's not too fresh. Isn't it salmon run season? Saba was okay as were the other cuts of fish. We are bit of a sushi snob, but this was the first sushi experience on the west coast and was sorely disappointed.
(3)
Jonathan W.

Yu Zen is one of my favorite Japanese restaurants especially since it is so close to my workplace. The owner is this sweet older Japanese lady from JAPAN. If you want food that is authentic and cooked or uncooked ot perfection. My good buddy and I came here as a last resort because we were hungry. They were going to close in like less than a half hr. She still let us stay but informed us that the kitchen was closing up and also they ran out of alot of ingredients. I thought she was going to ask us to leave but instead she told us what she had left in the kitchen to make something for us. We both ended up getting the Tori nanban which is a chicken with noodles and soup. It was one cold nite and it for sure warmed us up. We also ordered a Philadelphia roll which was yummy! It was not overly filled with mayo and the salmon was fresh. The owner recognized us later than we thought, probably cuz we were wearing our street clothes and not our work clothes lol. I was kind of curious why they didn't have ramen on their menu so we decided to talk with her and ask. She stayed around and chatted with us for a little while, telling us she didn't have the space in the back to make a huge amount of broth for ramen. Even thought we didn't have much of a selection she still chose to accommodate us as best as she could. I will of course be coming back to Yu Zen. The part that i found was funny was she is good friends with the owner of IZAKAYA MAI which is #1 in my books ;)
(5)
Topazskye L.

The first time we came here, we were told that we had to wait for an hour to sit at the bar. The restaurant was packed on a friday night and the seated guests seemed frustrated probably badgered from their hunger pangs. We decided to leave then cos which sushi place would make you wait sooo long for sushi? But tonight, we are glad we came back. Their fish is really fresh and melts in your mouth. We got most of the specials - kanpachi, spicy tuna roll, hirame, sake, yakitori, buta no Kakuni (which was braised till it was so tender) just gotta love it!!!!!!!!! Will be back for sure
(4)
Sarah P.

Came here for sushi before a movie at Balboa Theater. Great, authentic and fresh, Yu-Zen totally won me over. Although I have been known to order the crazy fun (and totally not authentic) rolls elsewhere, it was nice to just get sushi that tastes fresh and without any all-too-prevelant-elsewhere crab mix. Good service, average prices for sushi in SF, amazing green tea at the end. If you're out in the boonies - you should swing by.
(5)
Jennifer s.

I was rushing around one Friday evening and knew I was going to have a long night ahead of photographing. So I needed energy. Yu Zen was there. I was greeted as soon as I walked in the door. It's a clean and friendly neighborhood place. I had the Saba, Ankimo, spicy tuna and hamachi roll. It was almost to much food. The fish was super fresh. I look forward to having the Aji on my next visit. A wonderful neighborhood gem.
(4)
Mary L.

It started out bad when we asked if we can sit at the sushi bar. The hostess/owner said no it's reserved and only one table available. As we were looking at the menu the hostess let others sit at the bar. I can't even say the sushi was anything special or good. MURASAKI is definitely 100 times better and way more fresh. Definitely not going back because of the rude service we got.
(2)
Caitlin H.

This is a new place in the Outer Richmond. There are a number of other Japanese restraunts in the neighborhood, so I hope this one competes and does well. It's a little more upscale than the others and has a great atmosphere - clean and modern, but welcoming. They have a pretty slick little sushi bar too. It seems to be run by a family - all very friendly and attentive - great service. The food was excellent, with a good selection of dinner entrees, as well as sushi rolls, etc. A sign in their window says they will be open for lunch soon too. Stop in for a bite and welcome them to the neighborhood!
(5)
Wendy K.

I don't usually write restaurant reviews....even of places I love because I don't want them to be swarmed by yelpers....yes call me selfish but I like to eat where it's comfortably full and not wait in line forever to get served. BUT, Yu Zen is the exception because it is fairly new - a year old and it's too quiet! I don't want the place to go out of business because it's so damn good and the prices are reasonable for the quality of sushi that you get. Some reviewers said it was pricey but people! You pay for what you get and you get pretty awesome sushi and great service! If this place was downtown you'd be paying a lot more. Finally, the sushi chef is formerly from Isobune Sushi down on post....if it makes a difference to you! It's out in the hood but it's worth the trip!
(5)
S D.

This place is really Japanese, not Korean or Chinese owned Japanese, but Japanese! I believe the owners are the wife and husband looking people and they are really sweet. Service is good. Specials are great. Menu is good too, but noticed some things in Katakana/Kanji were differently priced from that of English. They probably just forgot to update the menu.
(4)
Robert K.

Solid sushi. Somber sashimi samurai behind the counter. Small, serviceable sake selection. Sweet, smiling, wait staff. Enough S's. Hamachi dinner was great. That buttery taste which needs no seasoning help. Also picked a couple of random rolls off the special list. Pretty damn good. BUT...the tea. Has something in it. Crack, maybe. After saying that I didn't want any I proceeded to chug cups of the stuff. HHHmmm.
(4)
Keromi K.

This is my favorite sushi spot in the city. The atmosphere is very unassuming but the food more than makes up for it. The sushi is so fresh and delicious. I always get the chirashi deluxe and it never disappoints. I wouldn't say that they are super kid friendly but I feel comfortable bringing children here. Definitely worth checking out if you are looking for great sushi!
(4)
Anne M.

Awesome, delicious sushi. I went here with friends tonight to celebrate a birthday. We had the spider roll, murugai (giant clam), flying fish roe, green onion with yellow tail roll, unakyu (unagi with cucumber) roll, and sake. All very delicious. Prices are very reasonable for the quality: About $100 for four people including drinks, tax, and tip.
(5)
Karen L.

VERY GOOD FOOD!!! And nice server too:)
(5)
b p.

basic but excellent sushi and noodle choices. super friendly and decent prices.
(5)
Jobin L.

Went there again and loved it. Sushi wa fresh, service was great. We got to know one of the owners, junko, and she's really friendly. The menu is very aunthentic, so if you are into those really fancy, fried rolls, I dontthink this would be the place for you.
(5)
Travelin G.

Tasty...warm, homey service...fresh fish...authentic dishes. A little out of your way, not much on decor... But tasty. Pork belly. Karaage. Chirashi sushi. Porridge. Mmm.
(4)
Sarah K.

Amazing fresh sushi and nigiri, and you should focus on that when you eat here..well that and the daily yakitori specials on the whiteboard near the entrance. Skip rolls altogether! Service is definitely slow, so just approach the meal with that in mind. The servers will inger at tables, chatting with families, cooing and babies and discussing neighborhood events. But this is a neighborhood family joint so try not to get discouraged. If you are looking for amazing fish at inexpensive prices with generous amounts head on over.
(4)
Sara G.

This used to be a Russian restaurant with a storefront so faded and low-key I walked by it for ages before I even realized there was a business inside. The food there was decent, but I never made it back for a repeat visit despite it's close proximity. So now this new Yu Zen is one of several Japanese places in the hood, and at least one of the others is pretty decent (across from the Balboa Theater, name momentarily slipping away from me). So I do wonder how it will hold up in the neighborhood. But we had a really nice meal here. We had mushrooms stuffed with shrimp form the izakaya menu, agedashi tofu (feel free to make fun of my misspellings, I'm your basic white girl), an avocado roll (ok, I know, but I just love avocado) and a roll involving eel. All very tasty, and we got out of there for something in the $25 range. Pleasant atmosphere, friendly table service, and the sushi bar and chef looked fun-- will probably try that next time.
(4)
Kelly P.

My absolute favorite sushi restaurant in the city - it's worth the trek! I go here about once a month, and always leave happy. The staff is so, so friendly, and even though the interior may not have the most "ambiance," it's a great place to go for a casual dinner out. As far as the sushi goes, if you're looking for crazy flavor combinations or ultra-modern fusion rolls, this isn't for you. The best sushi here is the traditional sashimi and nigiri. All the fish is fresh and perfectly portioned. You can't go wrong with the night's specials, but my go-to favorites are the sake nigiri (salmon) and snow crab nigiri. It's also very reasonably priced - two people can gorge themselves on high-quality sushi for less than $25 each! Compared to all the other overpriced, low quality, inauthentic sushi places in the city, Yu Zen is a breath of fresh air. Give it a shot!
(5)
Sooji H.

Daily lunch special was a great deal! Bento included variety - shrimp and veggie tempura, rice, chicken teriyaki, a good portion of sashimi, and other items that I never tried before. It was all yummy! This was the first japanese food I tried since arriving in San Francisco, and I haven't had sashimi this tasty since I was in Japan in 2004. Would definitely return for the lunch special.
(4)
L T.

Always a great time. Nice staff, tasty food and drink. The Deluxe Chirashi is the best.
(5)
Dennis S.

If you are bored with the typical Japanese restaurant menu, try Yu Zen! I would especially encourage you to share a bunch of small plates that are the most creative and different. For the types of foods served the prices are surprizingly reasonable for SF. The service is great and very friendly. I go regularly and am a fan of this eatery.
(4)
Wendy Z.

Thanks to my fellow Yelpers and this nice Japanese restaurant, I was saved on Monday 8/24/09! My best friends and their family were here visiting me from Boston on Monday-I had to make reservation for 11 people, including a 7 year old! This is THE place to go that day! The nice owner lady is warm and flexible. They set up a separate area for our party. The rest of the seats are all filled constantly. The waitress lady does not speak perfect English-I can see how mistakes can be made, but she is nice and speedy. There are a large variety of choices other than Sushi. The prices are very reasonable. Of course, some of us have to taxi from Downtown to Sunset, but they said it all worth it. Now I have a great memory about this place! I will definitely come back to it! Thanks for Yelping!
(5)
Tim G.

I probably could have just eaten their salad, paid, and been happy. But, I continued, and had great fresh tuna rolls, sampled some tasty salmon, and gulped down some tori nanban. Service was exceptional -- courteous, prompt, and warm. My one complaint is that the chicken does not seem to be top grade.
(4)
jette s.

This is good sushi.
(5)
SF Native M.

as i like to support local business, and have a passion for sushi...my fiance and i took a stroll to this "new" sushi place in our neighborhood to have dinner tonight.............. only to find it was closed!! but what; the hours posted say open tuesday 5pm!!! so we took our business to Noreiga street for some sushi. come on people, you can't open a restaurant and then be closed on the days your posted as being open, and your too new of a restaurant to be taking vacations already~ please. i think this restaurant is in dangerous waters of closing!
(1)
å’Œå Y.

This is the real thing! No California rolls to be found on these menus. Sashimi comes with freshly grated wasabi, the dishes are just what my obaachan ("grandma") would have spent all day preparing. It is hard to find authentic Japanese restaurants in even San Francisco. The prices are amazingly reasonable. I don't know how they can do that, but I am not complaining. The service was very friendly. I did not think it was slow at all. Good Japanese food is not refrigerated or left under a warming lamp, but made fresh.
(5)
meesh m.

Great service. Friendly waiter/waitresses! Good food and decent prices.
(5)
Thomas S.

Well, they tried.... kind of. We were seated quickly, but that was the only thing they did fast. The hot towels were cool, but they didn't make up for the odd service. My friend had his plate taken away after our appetizer- never to be replaced. Our food came our one-by-one. Weird when there weren't too many people there. Might try again; the food wasn't as off as the service.
(3)
Me L.

Chirashi is the best here. Great portion size. Staff are extremely friendly. The restaurant is located deep in the Richmond but completely worth the trip. Get the Deluxe Chirashi!!!!!
(4)
Hu J.

Decoration for this place is decent, friendly waitresses and quick service. However, I'm not interested in coming back here because i normally like to go to sushi restaurants to eat raw fish. I thought I tried the Chu toro to test the quality of the fish here and it proved to be unfresh. I think the cook food is good, but the fish is below what good quality fish is. Sorry, but I don't think I'm a returning customer. Disappointing to know that Japanese owned shop is below my standard.
(2)
Side s.

now this place is really good. I think its family run. its sushi has a very clean taste to it. they have a really good variety.
(5)
and y.

i'm already in love with this place. i was uncertain about some of the dishes and the proprietress tried to steer me without the usual condescension reserved for us linguistically challenged diners. not one dish was off -- the whole thing was worth the schlep from the mission, seriously. now, can they please do something about the decor or does that mean they'll jack up the prices?
(4)
Richard P.

If you are in the area and want to eat sushi, this is a solid choice. The fish tasted fresh and service was fine. However, the ambiance is rather poor, and there is nothing outstanding about the sushi. The price is fair. However, I can't recommend it as a sushi destination. Rumble Fish is my five star sushi destination in the outer Richmond--if only they were open every night!
(3)
Kat S.

Wonderful service and delicious fresh sushi!! I am so excited this is in the neighborhood!!!
(5)
Emiko T.

I went to Yu Zen tonight for dinner and really enjoyed it! In the Outer Richmond we often have to travel to Japan town or other parts of town for good Japanese food. But I'm happy to find this place which is only a few blocks from my house. I ordered the regular chirashi. It was filled with various sliced fresh fish, octopus, squid, shiitake mushrooms, egg, shrimp, kampyo, nori, ginger and daikon, and the rice was seasoned perfectly. A hint of a good sushi restaurant is the use of fresh wasabi. It's stronger than the powder and doesn't require a much for a strong wasabi flavor. What a treat. Another diner had the Yu Zen nabe which is a fish stew in a miso/fish broth which he said was delicious. The service was friendly and helpful. I'll be returning to Yu Zen again!
(5)
John L.

Wow, this is the first Japanese restaurant I thought about giving a 5 star for. The ambiance made me think of an authentic friendly Japanese restaurant in Japan. Ordered the special creamy onion croquette, cheese pork katsu, and the oyako and chicken porridge. They were all absolutely amazing. The croquette had the perfect crisp and was very creamy inside; it was the best croquette i've ever had. I have never seen cheese in a katsu before, you can choose mozarella or cream cheese, i tried the mozarella. It was awesome, and i wanted to order another one. I also never saw any Japanese restaurant offer porridge. When it first came out, I thought they gave me the wrong order of Nabeyaki udon or something because the rice was on the bottom and the porridge has a broth similar to udon's broth. I loved the porridge, very tasty and tidbits of chicken and eggs. I can't wait to come back!
(5)
Flora K.

This restaurant is a hidden treasure. We recently had a delicious dinner there. Everything was fresh and tasty. The seaweed salad was really different that the usual kind, the vegetable tempura included asparagus which I've never had anywhere before. Members of our party had the soba and the udon, and they liked both. And one of us had the rice porridge which was also very good. Our server was really sweet and polite, and since it was our first time there, she gave us ice cream for dessert at no charge. Both the red bean and the green tea ice cream were fabulous!! Oh, and the hot towels at the beginning of the meal were so welcome on a foggy evening. This isn't the cheapest Japanese food in town, but it's well worth it for a special meal. It's on my list of places to return to.
(5)

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Address : 4036 Balboa St
San Francisco, CA, 94121
Phone (415) 386-9800
Click To Get Directions

Opening Hours

Mon :5:00 pm - 10:00pm

Specialities

Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : No
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No

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Yu Zen

4036 Balboa St, San Francisco, CA, 94121

Yu Zen Menu

...

Soup

Salad

Entrees

Noodles - Udon Or Soba

Zosui - Rice Porridge

Nigiri

Sashimi

Sushi Rolls

Healthy Meal suggestions for Yu Zen

...

Soup

Salad

Entrees

Noodles - Udon Or Soba

Zosui - Rice Porridge

Nigiri

Sashimi

Sushi Rolls

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