Akira Japanese Restaurant

Good presentation and friendly staff! The Black Spider Roll wasn't to my taste as it was quite salty and one-noted. However, the other rolls and the Unagi Don were delicious. While the portion sizes are small for the price, the clean and dainty interior made for an overall pleasant experience.

Sushi was good but I’ve had better at this price point, especially the otoro. Karate and fresh wasabi were also good. No complaints but wouldn’t be back.

Quality and reasonable price Japanese cuisine in town. I tried Saba on my 1st visit, the taste was unforgettable🤩 so tender and mouthwatering….love it! Chef is super friendly and passionate in pursuing real Japanese cooking details. Your tongue can tell. Last week tried sushi combo 🍣🍙😋which is Hokkaido style sushi. In fact, I love their Fresh Wasabi, very special and refreshing! The chef recommended me to try his Shokado set 🍱….to be updated. Try their dessert cream brûlée was soooo smooth😱, and nice aroma especially eating with 🍓 strawberriey

Came here for their new happy hour on a thursday! We ordered and ate about 8 rolls (spicy tuna and salmon rolls), some karaage and some wakame before 6pm. It was pretty filling, but we also ordered the quail egg scallop uni spoon special and 2 other rolls. This restaurant always has the freshest sushi!

This was one of the best experiences I've had at a restaurant. Everyone that worked there was very friendly, welcoming, and nice. And they did all that without bugging us too much. You can tell they take pride in their restaurant. They greet you with warm smiles and are attentive. Then the food....it was wonderful. My new favorite sushi spot. The fish was fresh and served with style. And the spicy black cod appetizer was so good! Better than calamari any day but served in a similar way. We will be back again and thank the staff for such a great experience.

pretty nice place but not quite anything special for its price . karaage wasn't quite up to expectations and the bites are small. the wasabi deserves a shout out though it was delicious.oh! and 10$ for big asahis! lit.

this restaurant is run by the cutest couple! they are very sweet and check in on you. i got the sushi lunch special and the fish quality is amazing!

Their fish is fresh, but portions are small for the price. You will keep seeing these comments in all their reviews. I wonder if they take note on their customer’s feedback. You can easily spend $100 here and walk out hungry. For me value isn’t there. There’s better spots in the city for sure.

Last time I went, I talked more to the chef at sushi bar and the one woman show who was holding the fort down in the restaurant. Both incredibly sweet and kind. I had a few fresh options and what stood out the most was the fresh wasabi. I'm find myself craving it every so often and tempted to pop in whenever I walk by. I would recommend for a casual / pretty food quality sushi spot!

Akira Japanese Restaurant is a hidden gem! From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with a warm, welcoming vibe and friendly staff who were clearly passionate about what they do. I ordered the chicken karage, dragon roll and nigiri bundle thingy and every dish was a work of art. The fish was incredibly fresh, beautifully presented, and each bite melted in my mouth. The chef's selection was thoughtful, with a great balance of flavors and textures. I also tried the Uni Sushi and Salmon Belly Nigiri, and they were outstanding--rich, buttery, and perfectly balanced with just the right amount of rice. The service was impeccable as well. Our server was attentive without hovering, making sure our tea was always topped off and checking in just the right amount. It made for such a relaxing dining experience. If you're looking for authentic, high-quality Japanese food with top-notch service, Akira is the place to go. I can't wait to return!

We finally tried their season special Matsutaki dobin mushi, a seasonal dish with Pac Northwest matsutaki mushrooms, so good! Get it! The mushroom and seafood broth is perfect for a cold day and has lots of yummy things inside including a shrimp, crabmeat, mushrooms, and tofu. Our other favorites lately have been their beef teriyaki bento, udon, and mixed green salad. Their rolls are great too, try the salmon belly roll. Service is so friendly, and ambiance is relaxing, good to get away from the hustle and bustle of Japantown mall.

Sushi is really good sushi here. I was in the area and was craving sushi, so I found Akira Japanese Restaurant and was pleasantly surprised. It was nearing closing time on Saturday afternoon (3 PM), so decided to order takeout. Both items I ordered, Unagi Nigiri and Dragon Roll, were delicious.

Excellent sushi spot. Clean, and seated right away. They have a very large selection of veggie roll options for all the vegetarian sushi lovers, rolls, sashimi and appetizers. The staff is very friendly and the fish was fresh. I got the oishi roll and both the salmon and hamachi were delicious. Would have snapped some pics of the food, but ate it all so fast because it was so good!

Was on a search for sushi from Japantown, but it was already the late afternoon. This was open and a short walk from there. We got three rolls and the unagi donburi. The simple sushi was small and had a lot of rice. The fish was ok, the negi toro roll could've had more fish, it was quite small. The other rolls were pretty decent. The unagidon was big and had lots of fish and was tasty! Service was great, the server was very attentive and often came to fill water or check in.

Great friendly neighborhood sushi spot! Came here for the happy hour deal from 5-6pm and had excellently priced food with kind and quick service. The edamame was regular, nothing special, but the wakame salad was SOO good! Miso soup was a nice big portion and warmed me up. The fish was super fresh and the sushi rice was also not too sweet or sour, very fresh food all around. Spicy tuna roll was my favorite by far because it had a perfect spice level to it. So glad we found this chill neighborhood spot. And the $15 bottomless sake is a STEALL

We sat at the bar and we could watch the chef make all the sushi which was nice-great vantage point with an unobstructed view. The waitresses were nice and the food came out quick. The sushi was good quality, the spicy tuna roll was pleasantly spicy, the cooked salmon was well seasoned, and the presentation was very nice.

The restaurant was pretty empty when we go there. I'm not sure why the service was so slow. They didn't get us water until all the food came out. Our order was supposed to come with salad and miso soup but they forgot them until they brought out the main course. It was a little awkward. My favorite thing here is the salad dressing. It is amazing. I wish they sold them in bottles. My husband normally doesn't finish his salad but he did here. He also got the Chirashi don and it's okay. The fish was small and thinly sliced. The egg had a day-old texture so it wasn't that good. However, the teriyaki eel bowl was flavorful and not too salty. It came with a large bowl of rice so I was pretty full by the time I ate half of it. There's a bit of a cute casual vibe here with real candle burning on each table. I'd say it's good place for date night if you don't mind waiting for the food to arrive.

Sooo good! The food here was terrific, we ordered a variety of rolls as well as the grilled squid. The owner and rest of the staff were great at checking in on us, and I told the owner that we wished he had a Seattle location (where we live). Will definitely come back here next time we're visiting the Bay Area.

we ordered takeout for three; super polite, considerate, excellent sushi, wonderful broth, perfect presentation. 10/10 will return. a smallish place with excellent food.

This restaurant is just minutes away from my work and I didn't even realize! Came here for dinner one night and although there was only one other group dining at 7pm, the place quickly filled up afterwards - might be wise to make a reservation in advance! We ordered some nigiri, and also an assortment of rolls and hot dishes. Overall, fish was fresh and everything was fairly priced. Appetizers/hot dishes: Agedashi tofu ($10) - chewy exterior with a few tempura veggies (an added bonus!). Gindara miso ($18) - miso black cod had good flavor and was cooked well. It was just a really tiny, miniscule portion! Great for one person, not so great for a party of 5 unless you want to ration out one bite/person. Stuffed jalapeno ($13) - the only dish that I didn't care for. The albacore tuna was rubbery and overcooked. I would pass on this one. Specialty rolls: Seared salmon belly roll ($19), dragon roll ($19), spider roll ($18) - all pretty good! Standard rolls: Natto ($8), gobo ume shiso ($9), california roll ($10), spicy hamachi ($10) - classics were made well. I don't typically see gobo paired in an ume shiso roll, so was excited to try. Service was good. Our water cups were refilled and staff were all very attentive without being overbearing. It's a lovely neighborhood sushi spot! Also, bathroom was really clean and gave me spa vibes.

The staff at this restaurant is incredibly friendly, especially our server, who was genuinely sweet. I witnessed her handling a situation when a customer requested teriyaki sauce, but they had run out due to closing time. She handled it gracefully by offering alternative sauces. The chefs here also add a touch of humor to the dining experience. When it comes to the food, I appreciate that they're generous with the fish-to-rice ratio in their sushi; no one wants a rice-heavy roll. In terms of taste, the dishes I ordered were decent, though they might fall into the category of more generic options. In regard to pricing, it's reasonable, though it may lean slightly towards the higher end, which is expected for fresh ingredients. The ambiance is just perfect, and I particularly enjoyed the background music.

My girlfriends and I were out exploring Japantown when we decided we wanted to eat some sushi. We took a walk through the neighborhood and landed on this spot. There was no wait and the hostess graciously seated us and placed our orders in super fast. She was very sweet and explained the menu to us. The sushi plate was prepared quickly and the chef was passionate when explaining where the fish came from and how he prepares each piece. The ambiance for lunch was very relaxing and there was a steady flow of people coming in and out, but never noisy. I will definitely be coming back to Akira. The highlights for me was the beautiful presentation/freshness of the fish topped with the fresh wasabi. You just can't beat that!

Small but cozy Japanese restaurant in lower Pac Heights area! My partner and I had dinner here a few months ago when we were craving chirashi. We ended up ordering two sets of chirashi and a karaage to split. The fish was super fresh and a good portion; chirashi also comes with fresh salad and miso soup. Karaage was yum too! Not the cheapest place to dine but you're definitely getting quality food and friendly, attentive service. Would come back!

Came for lunch on a Saturday afternoon and we were seated quickly by a very welcoming waitress! - Calamari: seasoned and fried well, sauce was also good and good portion size for $11 - Teriyaki Chicken Set: chicken skin was crispy, salad was fresh, miso soup had a lot of seaweed and tofu - Teriyaki Beef Set: meat was tender and flavorful, same sides as the chicken teriyaki set - Pink Dragon Roll, Seared Salmon Belly Roll: both solid rolls, no complaints - Mixed Tempura: batter was on the lighter side but good variety of vegetables

Ok service didn't clear plates our table was pretty messy my ebi in all my dishes I had was awful possibly frozen chewy and just gross in all way in my roll and chopped up which was not normal in my cucumber dish I probably will never be going back do not recommend but my friends enjoyed their raw sushi rolls

Customer service was okay, but the food was not good we got the negi toro, spicy tuna, edamame, and grilled jalapeño

I wanted to try a different sushi place. So while walking we came across this place. I'm sure glad I went in. The food was AMAZING!! I had a delicious BBQ eel over steamed rice. I was yummy. My husband had his favorite salmon. If there 8s salmon on the menu, he will get it. We also ordered the most amazing crispy fried spicy tuna roll. I will most definitely get that again. So if you're ever in the city. Definitely give this place a try. You won't be disappointed.

Went to pick up quick takeout before a show. The good: the staff were incredibly sweet and hospitable while I waited for my order and they fulfilled it really quickly. The bad: The sushi was really poor quality (I haven't been this unhappy with sushi ever), the portions of standard items were incredibly small, and the prices were insane. Two specialty rolls and two orders of nigiri were $70. Really disappointed

Party of 4. 249.55 Good service. Nice crew. There was a large table of 12 for a birthday party. They were young adults having fun, but it was ear ringing lound till they left. Good quality fish. Portion could have been more generous. Good, but cost definitely on the higher side for value and quality. I wouldn't go out of the way to go there, but if I was there again, I'd enjoy it.

I am a sushi lover, but I wanted agedashi tofu for a somewhat late snack. This Japanese restaurant had a great dish with the best broth!! The hamachi carpaccio was flavorful as well. I loved the added mangoes. The sashimi was fresh and nothing tasted off or old. The peacock roll wasn't my favorite, but that is just my personal taste. I didn't like the combination of salmon, tuna and eel all at once. The shrimp tempura was seasoned well and the broth they used is my favorite! I highly recommend this place any and all!

Okay. So online rezzie for another Japanese restaurant glitched. We were so disappointed and famished but luckily found Akira and managed to get a table for 4 last minute for 6:15pm Saturday evening. Hip and small, we weren't sure what to expect from this SF neighborhood Japanese restaurant we found on Yelp - but we were all blown away! Fresh chirashi, perfectly grilled salmon, delicious grilled squid and tempura cod, everything was wonderful. The staff surprised us with their attentiveness; overhearing that it was a bday night, they surprised us with mango and strawberry mochi ice cream! 100% would recommend. Thank you Akira for saving the night!!

Such a hidden gem. They offer $120 Omakase for both lunch and dinner, got to taste the best of small fishes, raw and cooked fish, nigiri, and dessert! $120 for SF is such a good deal. I especially liked the uni spoon, nigiri, and sashimi! The fish was so fresh and well cut. The chef came out at one point to show us pictures of the fish being shipped from Japan. The location is 5min walk from center Japantown so way less crowded. The decor is also less "high end" comparing to other restaurants that only serve omakase. But for the taste, fish quality, and price it's such a hidden gem.

Best sushi in the neighborhood... never fails to disappoint. Highly recommend the Beef Teriyaki.

this is such a hidden gem in the city for some high quality sushi at very reasonable prices! all the fish was incredibly fresh and the food is both beautifully plated and tasty. can't forget the cozy interiorthat made for an intimate but comfortable dining experience! the service was also great we started off the meal with complimentary warm towelettes to wash our hands with and the waitress was efficient and kind! -- -- -- pictured: " agedashi tofu ($10.00) // we started with this delicate fried soft tofu with a delightful umami sauce that paired so well! " rainbow roll ($19.00) // a classic roll but done beautifullythe rice to fish ratio is on point, and all the sashimi was fresh and flavorful. would highly recommend! " spicy tuna roll ($10.00) -- -- -- make sure to check them out

Loved this place! Amazing food and excellent service. Small dining room but mighty! 10/10 would recommend :)

We had an early reservation for 5:15 on a Saturday. Upon arrival there was only one other table, but the restaurant filled rather quickly, soon after. This place feels really authentic with a focus on the fish, as it should. We went with the Omakase for $120 each. I always like to try Omakase for every first time visit to a sushi restaurant- it just gives a good overview of what they do best. Portions were very very generous, but the wow factor wasn't there, they were just simple and fresh dishes. We left satiated, but not uncomfortably stuffed, which is perfect! My favorite was the Miso Black Cod, but the Nigiri round was a very close second. My partner and I, neither one, are huge fans of Abalone or Uni (I know, I know- it's a shame) and both made an appearance. Service was very attentive in this quaint little neighborhood Sushi restaurant, with great specials. We'll be back for sure, since it's a quick walk from home, when a sushi craving hits.

Minh San, the Head Chef, was so incredibly sweet, welcoming, and friendly. I was seated at the bar and watched as he carefully prepared my rolls behind the bar. He offered me some of his special fresh wasabi, which he told me he learned how to make in the mountains of Hokkaido, Japan. I've never had fresh wasabi before, but it was so good, I asked to take some home with me. I will definitely be back!

Disgusting old fishy tasting sushi . The owner is super rude too and couldn't take feedback or replace refund the nasty food. What a waste of money. Completely feel ripped off

Came here on a Saturday evening and were seated immediately. The service was great and gave wonderful recommendations for our first time coming here. We got the kakuni pork belly, pumpkin tempura roll, seared salmon belly roll, and the creme brûlée. - The pork belly and sauce were sooo delicious, only wish the serving size was a bit bigger. - Both rolls were so good and really loved the unique pumpkin tempura roll rather than the more common shrimp tempura rolls. The fish was fresh and hit the spot for our sushi cravings. - The ginger creme brûlée had very subtle ginger flavoring, so would've liked it to be more prominent given the name. It was a solid creme brûlée though. Overall, Amira has great food and service! The downside is that the portion sizes are small and for that size is on the pricier side.

Great fresh fish.... Very solid sushi restaurant. I highly retreat you try it out. Sake selection is solid

All the food was great and tasted fresh. They were short staffed but still did a good job. The restaurant was a bit small but there was no wait. It's a little on the pricey side but everything was great.

We really wanted to eat sushi and decided on this restaurant after seeing the ratings on Yelp. The food was pretty delicious and good value for the price they offered in their menu. The location of this restaurant is pretty random, kind of a hole in the wall, but definitely a must visit! The service was okay, they did take some time to come collect our order or get the bill, but overall very kind people. We got some crab rolls and chicken karage, both were super flavorful!

Ming and Judy are incredibly gracious hosts! The Nigiri was fresh and incredibly flavorful. Would absolutely go back again'!!

Absolutely loved everything about this restaurant. Akira is located in a very unassuming place on Bush st, a few blocks away from Japantown. The restaurant has a modern style, while still being cozy and welcoming. I went with a party of 4 and we all ordered miso soup and a variety of sushi. Visuals, taste, variety- everything was 10/10. Some of the best sushi I've had in SF. The service really topped the whole experience off. We all just felt so well taken care of. Nothing but good vibes in Akira. Definitely the first place I would recommend if you're looking for sushi in the city!

Nice atmosphere, good service and of course great food! Definitely recommend it! We will come back for sure

The sushi were really good but the portion were a little small for the price. The staff were really accommodating and my friends and I had a good time. It's better to book a table before you come on Friday or on the weekends

Sushi was extremely fresh. Many varieties to choose from. Service was impressive, never had to wave to get service. Ambiance is very warm with ample space to move around. Music was just right.

Came here for a weekend dinner and was very pleasantly surprised by the Kalbi dinner set - it was flavorful, and the sides were pretty good from the dinner set, the salad was alright but the dressing is what made it. It's a small, intimate restaurant but that means the servers are really attentive

Had the sushi sampler lunch special. Not cheap but very high quality fish and good service. Choice of fresh wasabi was novel and tasty. Will come back soon to explore more of the menu.

My favorite food it their sesame salad dressing. It is prepared in house with fresh ingredients and it is so much better than the one I got from Japanese grocery store. The beef lunch special is large in portion and decent meat quality. Sake Toro is tasty, but the oyster is quite skinny that day. Nice place to grab a quick lunch I guess.

What a great restaurant, they have a great friendly and comfortable vibe with a great and spacious dining area. We were greeted by the very pleasant server and seated at a cozy table. The menu items were plentiful without being overwhelming, some classics sushi and Japanese dishes and some interesting and delicious sounding ones I look forward to trying. We had hot green tea and the lunch specials with the choice of two items. I had the tempura ( mixed vegetables and one shrimp) and the salmon avocado roll my husband had the mixed tempura and the beef both came with rice, soup and salad. We had a California roll and shrimp roll, both were tasty but very thin and small rolls even the roll that came with my meal was very thin and small. Overall our meal was good but the price point just wasn't right for a $25 meal and the teeny rolls.

Small portions but super fresh, so delicious. We came at 6 pm on a weekday and were seated immediately. Cute interior, and not too loud. Although our server for the first third of the night was a bit rude and curt when we asked questions about the menu items, our server changed later in the night and the second one was really great. Pink Dragon: The ponzu sauce made it so refreshing and light. The tuna and garlic were really good together. I thought maybe one roll would be enough for dinner, but the portions are very small. So onto the next... Gindari Miso: SO good. The fish was really tender and juicy and flavorful. I savored every bite -- perfectly cooked. Ginger creme brulee: This was a fun one. It was a nice twist on a classic creme brulee. The ginger is pretty subtle though, I wish it was a little stronger. They also gave us a complimentary miso soup and hot tea halfway through the meal, which was so nice! I'll definitely be back.

nice japanese place. they gave us warm towels for our hands when we sat down, which i was not expecting at this price point. the stuffed jalapeños had a bone in them and didn't taste very good, but everything else was ok. the interior and waitstaff are quite nice so i find the place had a slightly nicer feeling.

Met my friend here for lunch. The quality of the sashimi was excellent. We also ordered the Shokado Bento. Absolutely pleased with the taste, presentation and quality. The Japanese sushi chef was impressive.

Great service great food great price. Place is small so if it's a weeknight try reservation but worth it I got spicy tuna roll and was good, not the biggest portion but get what you pay for

Excellent sushi but a little noisy almosphere- love their grilled squid. Service is great too

Stopped by Akira with my coworkers and loved our meal! They do not have reservations. We went around 6PM on a Friday and we're seated immediately. They have both indoor and outdoor dining options. The menu is on a QR code and they have many different dishes. The grilled squid was delicious - very soft and not extremely hard/chewy. The seaweed salad was good (nothing super amazing but it was a standard salad). We ordered four rolls - they are a little bit on the smaller/pricier end but they used very good fish. The fish felt of good quality and they did not cheap out on the fish inside of the rolls. We enjoyed all of them!! I particularly love the Rainbow roll, as the fish on top were very fresh. They also do have lunch/dinner combo sets which seem to be a good deal. If you're looking for fresh fish sushi, then this is a place to try!