AKIKOS

“We did the Valentine’s Day set menu. The first half was a mix of different fish dishes and two of the 6 items were great. The others I could have done without. Then we had 6 different nigiris and all were amazing.”

“We had such a great experience, from the moment we walked in to when we left. We were greeted warmly when we entered, and the hostess acknowledged the special occasion we were celebrating, which was such a nice touch. We were seated exactly where we had requested, had our coats checked, and sat down at the bar where our menus were already waiting. The menu even included a note recognizing our celebration, which really made us feel welcomed. The set omakase was excellent. We loved it all but particularly enjoyed their signature dish,and the coffee cured nigiri as well as the chocolate one. Every course was beautifully presented and tasted amazing. Our meal was well paced. The staff were friendly, knowledgeable, and easy to talk to. We also added a few pieces from the regular menu and those were just as good. The ice cream dessert was the perfect end to the meal. What stood out as well was the service. The staff were attentive without hovering and clearly very experienced. It felt relaxed, polished, and genuinely welcoming. Highly recommend Akiko’s if you are looking for incredible sushi and thoughtful service.”

“Absolute delight and the best omakase and nigiri I have ever had. We sat at the bar. Each dish in the otsumami was incredible. I think my favorites were the Fuji Salmon, Sashimi, Robusuta, and Chawanmushi. I thought they had set the bar quite high with the otsumami but the nigiri did not disappoint at all. The rice is steamed very fresh and each piece was made in front of us. The fish intentionally at room temperature with the warm rice really made the flavors pop in a way I had never experienced before with nigiri. Just fantastic. Our chef was lovely to watch and everything she made was perfection. I think my favorites were Karei, Kanpachi, tokishirazu, and botan ebi. We liked all the items so much when they gave us the additional menu we ordered a few more pieces. Can’t wait to come back!”

“Akiko’s Restaurant is a solid omakase spot that I’ve visited twice—once at the bar and once seated at a table—and the experience does vary depending on where you sit. The bar seating clearly stands out. Portions felt more generous, and the personal interaction with the chef made a noticeable difference. Watching each nigiri being prepared and served directly to you adds warmth and intention that elevates the meal. The table seating is more comfortable, especially for a longer dinner, but the experience feels slightly less engaging. Some of the nigiri were truly outstanding. The coffee-cured bluefin and the chocolate-cured ocean trout were both memorable and creative without being gimmicky. The toro tuna belly was also excellent—rich, clean, and perfectly balanced. Same-day reservations were possible on both visits, which is a big plus for an omakase of this caliber in San Francisco. Overall, Akiko’s offers high-quality sushi and a reliable experience, with the bar seating being the way to go if you want the best version of the omakase.”

“Before going this time, I looked it up again and saw that the reviews were extremely polarized. I honestly thought I’d end up on the good side of that divide… but nope. It made me realize that maybe my taste back then just wasn’t that great. Not a single dish was memorable or impressive. And the service — honestly? It felt like if you weren’t actively watching the server, she’d roll her eyes at you behind your back, like you somehow owed her something. It was incredibly unpleasant. The overall service vibe was bad, too. And the music?? Straight-up pop music, like being in a bar — but isn’t this supposed to be a Japanese omakase? I genuinely don’t get it. And then at the end, the bill had a 6% “mandate fee” added on??? My friend said it was only mentioned in tiny print somewhere on the menu. In the end it came out to $300+ per person. With that kind of money, there are so many better places I could eat at. Why would I do this to myself again? 😡😡😡”