Wako Japanese Restaurant
Japanese · San Francisco · $$$
4.7(502)
Japanese · San Francisco, CA · $$$$
Nisei presents a contemporary approach to Japanese American cuisine by combining deep Japanese flavors, refined cooking technique, and Northern California's finest ingredients. The restaurant is a personal reflection of Chef David Yoshimura's unique experience as a Michelin starred chef and second generation Japanese American, or Nisei. Nisei can accommodate most severe allergies with advance notice, however due to the nature of the tasting menu format, we can not meet all dietary restrictions or aversions. In order to maintain the spirit of our cuisine, the following items can not be removed: Salt, sugar, soy sauce, and egg cooked into items. All Experience prices below reflect a 20% Service Fee and 8.63% SF Sales Tax applied to the base price of each experience. This Service Fee goes towards paying our employees a livable wage as well as providing health insurance.
“Ranking based on other mish 1s in the area. Food punches above it's weight! Everything was tasty, no complaints. Had their non alcoholic pairing which was phenomenal, one of the best I've had, it really elevated the food to the next level, which is rare for a non -alcohol. Plating was top notch, look at that dessert tree! Slight markdown on service due to some delays and it took a while for beverages to arrive (after first dishes came out). Standouts: uni , unagi and Sando (see menu photo). Would go back.”
“One star Michelin in SF, Japanese and very SF local forward menu, and super friendly staff. My friend made a reservation for us 2 for her birthday. I didn’t really do much research or look it up prior coming, so I thought there would be more raw fish but there wasn’t which I didn’t mind. But I enjoyed the sf local spring forward menu and how everything was sf/bay inspired. We shared the zero proof pairing and I really enjoyed it. I couldn’t compare or rank which items I ate because they were all so different. They hit you quick in the beginning with the starters then they slow down. The head chefs walked around a lot. The pastry chef is Filipino! It did take about 3 hours but didn’t feel too long, only 1 bathroom so you had to find the right time to go like on an airplane haha. By the time the wagyu came I was so full lol but it was good, no extra add ons or additions other than drinks. I got lucky and found a parking spot downtown be street! Also it didn’t feel hella long but there was a steady flow and our reservation was at 6 and we got there at 545 and they sat us early before more people came in but they were still having people arrive at like 845. Today was the start of their spring menu and we were their first zero proof spring tasting, soo good. I don’t know how I would imagine the tasting without it but I didn’t take many pics of the pairing. Meal was like $335 per person and the pairing was $165, we did a split that was only $30 more. It was nice and cozy inside, there was a separate dining area and you can kind of see the kitchen.”
“Had a lovely time at this place. The service was amazing. We got there a bit early and they gave us a table at their bar next door while waiting, then brought us to the restaurant via the back door. They were attentive enough to notice I was wearing black pants, and gave me a black napkin as opposed to white to prevent lint from showing up. The vibe was relaxed and quiet. The decor was eccentric with risqué paintings in Japanese style. It was edgy as if to signal that there would be surprises in the meal. The meal was excellent. Many dishes were quite creative. All delicious! What I didn’t love was the lengthy explanation of each dish. While I understand the why, they took away from the experience because some felt like lectures. Overall, we had a great time here.”
“Nisei, an intimate One Michelin-Starred restaurant in San Francisco. I got to experience their Winter 2025 - 13 course menu! This is my second time coming here this year because I love the experience, service, and how the chefs make various different flavors come together cohesively, and the presentation speaks for itself. As a photographer and creator, it is fun to have beautiful food be your muse. You will also leave here feeling satisfied and full by the end of your 13 course. And there's a story behind every dish, and all the ingredients are carefully sought out and used purposefully on each plate. Until next time.”
“Posting this review late, but I still wanted to share my experience. For me, the value was not very high for the price. Some dishes were a bit strange and were described very highly by the staff, but did not really meet expectations. There were also some charges that were not clearly explained to us in advance. During the menu introduction, the service felt a little unprepared and at times they even forgot how to describe certain dishes. That being said, some dishes were quite tasty and the seasonal ingredients tasted fresh. However, in my opinion, this was not the best standard I would expect from a Michelin one star restaurant. I hope they continue to improve.”
2316 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109-1822, United States
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