"There’s no better place in town to spend a big chunk of change on flawless fish than at Ken, the Lower Haight omakase spot. The 14 courses ($225) of nigiri and impressive small plates are reasons alone to get here. Another reason is that there are only six seats, which makes it one of the more intimate sushi counters in town. You’ll get a front-row seat to chef Ken, who makes preparations and tells anecdotes about aged tuna and cod milt. Enjoy the dinner party vibe and make a mental note to suggest this spot the next time someone outside of your tax bracket wants to “take you out.” Reservations are released 21 days in advance at 11pm on Resy. Since there are only seven seats inside and two seatings per night, this spot books up pretty fast. Another option is to keep an eye on their Instagram stories for last-minute (and usually day-of) openings." - julia chen 1