Kabuto

What a ridiculous restaurant! They put your name on a waiting list and tell you it's a 10-15 minute wait. What they don't tell you is they are also taking reservations that take priority over the waitlist. The 10-15 minute wait becomes an hour ++ long enough to give up waiting and go to Zuschi Puzzle on Lombard Street, a well run restaurant with great food and service. Sayonara Kabuto

Posted 03/02/09

i have been to a lot of places and you dont get sushi's like the one you get here.They also have a wide variety of sakes which i think is a little overpriced. They are simply the best.The place isnt big so not good for big groups and there is always a big crowd there.Hope that they move into a bigger place.

Posted 02/22/08

Anyone who reads this review has to try Kabuto. The sushi they have is extremely unique and it's very rare you will find sushi like this anywhere else. The chef blends great flavors together that compliments one another. I heard the traditional sushi is really fresh and delicious but I've only ordered from the "Special Sushi Menu". I strongly recommend the Toro Tuna Tartar, CeViChe, Hamachi Pear, Foie Gras Sushi (my absolute favorite), and I believe it's called 1849 (oyster on a half shell). This item is written on the board above the sushi bar. So far these are my favorite dishes. I plan on going back soon and slowly trying the rest of the menu...

Pros: Great Food & sSrvice with a Smile

Cons: Long wait if you don't have reservations, Not good for parties over 4 people. Only one area that will fit 6-8 people (putting 2-3 tables together)

Posted 01/01/08

I guess some folks want to believe....After Sachio left I was expecting the worst but was surprised at how the new owner kept up the quality, at least most of it, but that honeymoon is totally over...Not only is the service unbelievably poor, the fish I think are walking over from the owner's old place up the street. I have been ten times since Sachio left, but I can't take it anymore. Thin slices of ordinary fish. Higher prices (Double the price for half the fish), and simply incompetent staff. It has become wht the owner's old place was: just another joint. Such a shame that the best place in the City has gone...should be illegal to keep the name.

Pros: Good sake list, but 50% higher in price

Cons: A classic case of running a place into the ground using the rep of the founder.

Posted 09/25/06

The food at Kabuto is excellent and reasonably priced for the high quality of ingredients and preparation. Nevertheless, the service has fallen off to such a frustratingly low level that I can't see going back any time soon. I was embarrassed to have brought friends from out of town there.

It seems like they are struggling with their success and not able to hire a full crew of servers who know how to do the basics. While the tables around us were turning over regularly and all manner of specialty sushi whizzed by our table, we struggled to find anyone to even take our simple order, or to bring a glass of water, or to offer a refill, or to clear the dishes, or to bring us a check... When the food did arrive, it was plate by plate with long intervals in between.

There are nearly a dozen other sushi joints within 10 blocks of this place, so there is little reason to put up with this kind of service, even for the high qualiy of food.

Pros: good food, creative sushi

Cons: excruciatingly bad service, very loud on busy nights

Posted 09/23/06

The fish is fresh and the combinations are innovative. The clam miso is a great way to start the meal and the special sushi menu offers good and different tastes. We usually get some of the more traditional rolls combined with something from the special menu. Lately, we have asked the waitress for her suggestions as to the best fish that day- and I definitely recommend doing that because we have had some incredible and delicious fish that we probably would not have chosen. The lines are long so make reservations (they offer a limited number each night). Parking is available across the street at the garage next to Ross Dress for Less- we didn't find that garage until we had struggled to park on Geary for several visits.

Pros: great sushi

Cons: expensive, long lines so make reservations

Posted 09/20/06

I first visited this place over two years ago and have yet to find its equal among sushi restaurants in san francisco. If you're looking for someplace trendy where the sushi is only mediocre then head to tsunami or someplace like that, but if you're looking for amazing sushi then this is the place for you. The fish is almost always pristine and the special sushi menu is what it's all about--try the hamachi pear, it's absolutely devine...

Posted 05/30/06

No harm in recommending this place--it's already crowded, and for good reason. The Post-Sachio era at Kabuto continues Kojima's tradition of high quality. There are too many innovative, unique sushi-esque creations to mention...some are a hit, others just don't work. Execution and presentation are nearly always flawless with considerable flair--Jinsoo and Eric are good guys who weild their sushi knives quite artfully. They serve the usually hard-to-find and delicious Escolar regularly. The large sushi portions are commensurate with the large prices. Some of the best fish in the city.

Pros: Great fish, Different sushi

Cons: Crowded, Expensive

Posted 04/17/06

Our first time back to Kabuto's since they moved across the street. The sushi is superb but gosh we had sticker shock. The special sushi charges were $3-$6 for ONE sushi, not a pair! We had a lovely foie gras sushi with raspberry sauce, the flavors blended in nicely. The toro was the best I've had anywhere, tender and not at all stringly. The unagi was tender and delicious. The blue fin tuna was so-so. The rice didn't hold well together & fell apart with our dragon roll. We got there at 5:30p when they opened & couldn't get a seat at the sushi bar for 4. I found the wait staff at the previous restaurant friendlier. Meal for 4 = $140, not including alcohol, and the men in the group complained they were still hungry afterwards because the rice in the sushi were small.

Pros: food is delicious, ambiance

Cons: no reservations, expensive, seats crowded in

Posted 11/26/05

I've been slow to go to Kabuto. I live above a fantastic sushi restaurant that I'm exceptionally loyal to, but will now split my sushi time betwixt the two. The menu was overwhelming with all of the creative choices. Half of our party stuck to the standard rolls for the not-so-adventurous, and the other daring half ordered things we'd never heard of or imagined! All were fantastic. The dragon rolls, tuna sampler, hamachi nigiri with pear and green mustard, ono with grapefruit??!!!

Be prepared to wait in line, but know it's worth the wait.

Pros: Creative Twists, Fresh fish, Sushi!

Cons: No Reservations, Long Wait

Posted 07/06/05

This is the best sushi I have had in the city. A must for the sushi lover!!!

Pros: THE BEST EVER

Cons: Long wait at night

Posted 06/02/05

This place is the best sushi I've had anywhere...ANYWHERE!!! The chef/owner has numerous, creative, Kabuto only sushi varieties. My personal favorites are the frogae (sp?, the goose liver) and the civiche. Whatever you do get there early or you'll be waiting outisde for a while.

I don't bother eating sushi anywhere else any more..can't say enough good things about this place.

Pros: unique sushi, great service, family owned

Cons: limited seating

Posted 04/15/05

Kabuto doesn't just have the best sushi in San Francisco: it's the best sushi I've ever eaten ANYWHERE, hands down. Forget about the standard fare and order from the mind-boggling special sushi menu.

Pros: Soulful originality

Cons: The wait!

Posted 04/05/05

You have to try their Green Tea Brulee, excellent! They serve multiple kinds of fishes from hawaii, even many different kinds of scallop for you to choose. Lots of creative dishes, excellent!
This place gets so crowded alway, but very popular!

Posted 12/29/04

I've never had anything bad here. The fish is incredibly bad and so creatively prepared. Try the special rolls and whatever they have special for the day (the more odd combinations will surprise you by how good they are!). The atmosphere is also terrific with a very neighborhood, family-run feel.

Pros: Terrific sushi

Posted 09/12/04

The new location has a more contemporary feel, but it doesn't change the taste of the food....the nigiri items are great, and if you enjoy some creative rolls you'll love this place even more...

Posted 05/04/04

If your not into the roll stuff, then this place it. Quality and variety,,,,,,EXCELLENT. If Bluefin available, definatley a must. Love the clam variety.

Pros: Variety

Posted 01/21/04

I love sushi. The new location is more intimate, however you have to time it right to get in without a wait. The fish they serve is incredibly fresh. The sushi is very creative. My favorite sushi restaurant and Zagat agrees ranking it #1 in the Bay Area.

Pros: Fresh Fish, Creativity, Ambiance

Cons: Crowded

Posted 12/12/03

The main sushi guy is like the "sushi nazi". He's fast in making your order and doesn't speak much. It makes you feel like you gotta eat it and smile or else! Anyway, fish is pretty good but the new location (across the street from old location) is smaller with less tables. The bar seating is about the same. For better service sit at the bar. Sushi selection is one of the better ones in the city. Price a bit high.

Pros: Fast delivery at bar, Expansive nigiri menu

Cons: Expensive, Fewer tables

Posted 09/18/03