"Saru Sushi in Noe Valley is the place to go when you want excellent rolls and nigiri without accidentally maxing out your credit card. The walk-in-only spot in Noe Valley will likely have a wait, but you can always wander the aisles of the nearby Whole Foods or scroll through each other’s Twitter likes in the meantime. Once you’re seated, perfect fatty tuna and yellowtail belly nigiri will land on your table. A ton of rolls are great to share—and under $20—like the sweet potato tempura and the specialty White Out with seared escarole and garlic ponzu." - julia chen 1