Kibatsu

This was my first time here. A friend who lives in the neighborhood recommended it and I couldn’t have been more pleased. Very cute dark intimate atmosphere, unique plating, great quality flavor and really friendly staff. The chef even gifted us a tasty special piece of sushi. Highly recommend!

The other night, we had a wonderful dinner, at Kibatsu. I don’t know when I’ve had such an amazing omakase set! The restaurant is tastefully decorated and the lovely lighting lends to a feeling of intimacy! Table settings were unique for each dish presented and the staff were warm and attentive! Roy was fabulous in creating innovative and unusual dishes for us on our Omakase, though we added a few items! The selection of seafood was delicious and aesthetically beautiful! It included many types of fish that are rare for sushi restaurants to serve outside of Japan. The crab broth was absolutely delicious and the steak and cloud mushrooms, followed by caviar embellished ice cream cones were a fabulous ending to a delectable seafood meal! Will definitely be back to this restaurant when I am in town!!!😉

Hands down favorite sushi spot in San Francisco. Chanel the primary waitress brings so much joy and personality, makes everyone feel special. The fish is some of the best we have had, such high quality sashimi. Roy the primary chef has been doing this since 1991 and sources the best sashimi in the Bay Area. Everyone should add this as an SF staple.

Excellent sushi quality esp for its price. Highly recommend sake sushi and toro temaki. Friendly and attentive staff.

For a $180 omakase experience, I’ll say it’s not worth the dollar u spent. I don’t think the chefs are professionally trained to do this. I personally have limited knowledge about omakase and sushi culture, but I know some basics. For example, you always cut your fish right before you eat them to ensure the freshness. And the way you slice the fish is extremely important because that will affect the flavor of the sashimi. But they precut all the sashimis and leave them outside in room temperature, which completely disrupts the flavor. A few sashimis I had were not in good quality. You can tell they are not from the best part of the fish, either way too greasy or too chewy. The chefs don’t know how to treat the fish in order to avoid the tendon and that leaves some weird fiber in a few bites we had. And you can’t even chew up those. Again, for a $80 omakase I won’t complain. But I paid $180, I expect excellency and perfection in every single dishes you present. To anyone who wants high-quality omakase like those you would have in Japan, do not choose this place. You will disappoint yourself.

Kibatsu is a really special place, one of SF’s best sushi restaurants. We’ve come here multiple times now and the food is always spectacular with overflowing pieces of fresh fish. Some of their dishes are super creative - most recently we had a skewer with tempura lion’s mane mushroom that tasted like steak! Chanel (the owner) is SO kind. We can’t wait to come back!

We did the omakase experience and it was great! Some unique dishes, all were delicious though and we left VERY full. The pace is kind of strange, they were replacing our dishes with the next course quite quickly at first (we were one of the few ones there) and then there were some lulls later when it got more crowded. However the ambience is easygoing and we enjoyed good conversation while we waited- I also appreciate the intimate setting and that you don't have to yell to talk to your company. The most unique part was that when we got our ice cream dessert, it game with a piece of seared wagyu which was random but fun! Will definitely be back.

Kibatsu's intimate ambiance and ambitious omakase drew us in, but the experience left us feeling like we had walked a tightrope - some moments exhilarating, others a little wobbly. One man show: Our entire restaurant relied on a single server. While her enthusiasm was undeniable, it stretched thin. Long waits between courses and forgotten requests detracted from the flow. It felt like a charming solo performance occasionally needing an understudy. Speed demons and sleepy snails: Dishes arrived at a puzzling pace. The melt-in-your-mouth tuna came swiftly, while the delicate wagyu languished. Some nigiri arrived lightning-fast, and others took ages, leaving us wondering if they'd gotten lost in the kitchen labyrinth. Fishy tales: The nigiri itself was a mixed bag. Some pieces were divine. Others, however, had a distinct fishiness and slightly chewy texture that left us wanting more freshness. Like a magic act, some bites disappeared in a delightful puff, while others required more chewing than anticipated. Wasabi woes: The liberal use of wasabi was another inconsistency. Some pieces had a perfect kiss of heat, while others were overpowered, drowning out the delicate flavors of the fish. Perhaps a lighter hand would allow the natural sweetness of the fish to shine through. Missed opportunity: All the uni dishes that were served missed the mark. Instead of highlighting the creamy and buttery uni flavors, the dishes were overpowered by other flavors. Course overload (in a good way): The $158 omakase was certainly generous, offering a plethora of dishes. The whole experience consisted of small plates, nigiri pieces, sashimi and a dessert. Cozy charm: Despite the service hiccups and inconsistencies, the intimate setting and warm lighting created a unique atmosphere. It's a place where you can easily get lost in conversation. Final verdict: With some attention to service consistency, pace, and flavor balance, Kibatsu has the potential to be a great dining experience. For now, it sits at a 3-star tightrope walk - charming, ambitious, but needing a few tweaks.

We did a walk-in this evening, but I think it wasn't because people left the city for the holiday weekend. We were promptly seated and chose bar seating. Everyone was very attentive to us even when the restaurant started to fill up as the evening went on. | f o o d | We decided to order a la carte. Here's what we ordered: - 49er roll: a classic roll! Love the salmon and lemon for some citrus. - golden mountain roll: A MUST. This roll is loaded, but all the components work together very well. It's very rich but not overwhelming. - hamachi sashimi: the sashimi was worth it because the slices were THICK. So incredibly fresh! They - toro nigiri: we know toro is always a hit and yup this was delicious. Because of the holiday, the sushi chefs threw in some items on the house for us. We were so grateful and left even fuller than expected. - albacore with crispy onions: the fish was seared which paired well with the crispy onions. - wahakamachi: whoa an explosion of flavor and textures! I would gladly order this next time. We enjoyed each item we had and appreciated their creativity. Thank you to our chefs Roy and Jimmy for the dinner service! | t l ; d r | A cozy neighborhood sushi place with amazing service and quality fish. We will definitely be coming back!

Went back to Kibatsu this past weekend, and it didn't disappoint! We kinda decided last minute to go, so we had no reservation, but we were able to snag a seat at the sushi bar which honestly our favorite seat in the restaurant. Why do we love sitting at the sushi bar? Honestly it's because of two things, the guys behind the making the sushi are so incredibly nice and it allows us to see a variety of dishes made that we ultimately end up ordering lol During our dinner we saw them making a seared toro sashimi dish, and we ended up ordering it ourselves. For $35 you get a generous portion on toro and it was so buttery and melt in your mouth, it's something I could eat everyday! It was on special that night, so hopefully it'll be there on our next visit. Another new thing we tried was their walu nigiri, which we asked to be seared, and it was so damn good. Those are the two menu items I'll never skip. The lady in restaurant is also the sweetest. Always remember my girlfriend and I and the service here is always 10/10. Kibatsu is our go-to sushi spot because of the amazing food and service. Definitely a place where we'd feel comfortable taking anyone who is craving sushi!

Service was amazing! Super friendly and offered great recommendations. Ambiance was very cozy and inviting. Perfect date spot! The dynamite roll was our favorite, but the tuna tataki was a close second! Everything was delicious.

Came here with my sister yesterday to treat her out early for her birthday and she wanted to go here so here we are. My sister and I both ordered the 13 course omakase which is $180 a person at the time of me making this review. Note, one of the courses contained a 5 piece nigiri and another course w/a 3 piece nigiri. Most of the courses were plated on a neat bark. The highlight for me were the 5 piece nigiri course. Each piece of nigiri tasted good and had its own flavor/texture. I also found the ice cream dessert w/wagyu on top unique and enjoyable as well. My sister had the yuzu sorbet while I had the green tea. It's the perfect combo of savory and sweet. The restaurant has a nice minimalistic earthy woody design to it. The restaurant is also small so I'd recommend getting a reservation ahead. Overall, I would honestly give them a 4.5 if it was an option. The one thing that I feel like this place can improve on just a little bit is the service. But I would say in fairness, they only had one server in a packed restaurant so it's kinda understandable. Anyways... try it out if you like. :)

Hidden gem! The cool thing about this spot is, you can go fancy $ for a celebration or have a modest dinner with well priced rolls. Choose your journey ;)

Superb intimate sushi spot for our catch up dinner. The tableware was eye catching, it matched very nicely with the decor. Loved the dim lighting! Not a huge space so be mindful of making reservations ahead of time. I would recommend this place for small close groups, and for date nights. We ordered the edamame, three rolls, the salmon sashimi, and two carafes of the hot sake. The price was extremely reasonable and worth my penny. The staff even gave us each this complimentary salmon tostada. The sashimi was incredibly buttery, there was no chew or tug, it just melted in your mouth. Fish felt very fresh overall. Will be back!

Took a group here just before New Year's and Kibatsu continues to deliver. Excellent "new style" sashimi and amazing classics. Uni was perfection in addition to a host of other delicacies. Chanel and Chef Roy make this place super friendly, definitely a neighborhood jewel.

Phenomenal omakase experience! Fish was super fresh, tastefully prepared, and beautifully displayed. I left feeling satisfied but not stuffed, I could have eaten more. Service was to the point, I wish it was more attentive but they seemed understaffed. Super charming ambiance and decor, very intimate space (a table meant for 4 is split with a clear plastic divider). I would rather sit at the bar next time A few notes: - Uni with rice was absolutely delicious; salty, creamy, warm and cool. The tableware was mindfully picked, I appreciated the experience of the spoon and bowl this course was served with - Fish and kimchi soup was delightful, the soup had a nice kick while still being mild - Wagyu and ice cream for dessert was super interesting and unexpected, a pleasantly sweet savory combo Omakase was $168 per person and worth it! I will be back

Truly, one of the best sushi spots to go in San Francisco if you want a great experience in great even better food, the entire staff is phenomenal and very down to earth and this has been my go to spot forever!! Great spot to take a special date!

Wow what an incredible experience. We found this restaurant sort of on a whim/quick search but it did not disappoint. The inside ambience is cozy and intimate with just a handful of tables, bar seating. We ordered a few maki rolls, a specialty nigiri, seaweed salad, and fried gyoza. Everything was absolutely delicious - my mouth is watering as I reminisce on the meal! I would 100% recommend this to anyone visiting and looking for good sushi

Overall a solid meal for a reasonable price. I came here to celebrate a birthday this past weekend and had the omakase for $168 per person. It came with 14 courses (one of which was 6 pieces of nigiri) - most were solid, a few were misses. The fish quality was excellent and they included many nice ingredients throughout the meal (toro, uni, caviar, truffle, crab, etc.). The nigiri was probably my favorite course. A couple of the plates were overly salty (soft shell crab and tiger shrimp), and a few just "didn't work" (for example, the toro/caviar/uni roll was very rich but didn't really have a focused flavor profile). Overall, it was an incredible amount of food for the price you were paying! The plates come at you very quickly, so pace yourself if you want to enjoy your food more slowly. The service was attentive and friendly. The ambiance is cozy and intimate. Not the best omakase I've had, but a solid meal especially for the price (considering we're in SF).

The uni here is good! As for the rolls, my favorite was the dragon roll. The eel was perfectly done and is placed on top of the sushi. The rolls in general here are filling. I also liked the negi toro roll. As for the spicy scallop and the sayonara roll I thought it was ok. They sauce the rolls too much. The hot and cold tuna roll tasted well separately meaning if you eat the tuna and the deep fried sushi by itself vs having all the ingredients together since it didn't really mesh well to me. The seaweed salad on it didn't have much taste. The super crunch roll was decent. Not sure if I would return here since it's decent but wasn't super memorable. Also, instead of having a couch in the middle of the restaurant they should have more seating in place of it for dining.

Must try! Came here for a birthday, party of 6. Reso recommended! Our server was attentive and nice! We ordered ALOT of food. We double ordered the dragon roll because eat roll came with its own unagi which is rare and it was so good! They use a lot of avocado on all their rolls, I'm not an avocado girl so I didn't like that but I'm sure everyone who loves avocado would love the rolls. We also had the super crunch roll which was really really good! I had the hamachi Kama which was a great portion!! It was delicious! The dipping sauce was a great pair. I also got the sweet shrimp nigiri which was so fresh and good. We also got the hamachi sashimi 6 pc which was the best hamachi I ever had!!

Food: we tried the Omakase and they were amazing! Service: they were quite busy so not crazily attentive but the chef behind the sushi bar is so cool. We take time on eating every dish and all of them were delicious. Ambiance: a small place but enough tables. Surroundings and decores are very nice and comforting. Sorry about not able take all the photos but we are too fast.

Just the best. Period. If I could afford it I would go daily. Even parking was not that hard to find.

My girlfriend and I love sushi, and this is by far our favorite sushi place in the city. Their fish is super soft and tender. I've had their omakase and several rolls as well as hot plates. Everything from this place has been stellar to say the least. It's priced really well too for the quality of fish you get. You'd have to pay a lot more elsewhere for the quality you get at Kibatsu. I love this place, and I'm sure you will too.

Came here for the omakase. It was probably like 3 and a half stars but didn't feel like the price was worth it. Service was good and the restaurant is lovely. At the end of the day, my rating is because the fish was just ok and a lot of the dishes had seasoning or balance issues. You get about 16 courses for $158 which is fair. Due to the usual SF surcharges this hikes that price up a bit but I actually think the price is not bad for the amount of food. I was more disappointed by the food itself. Started by a number of very disappointing sashimi courses. They were a little fishy and I have honestly had better fish at some way cheaper neighborhood spots (which are quite good but still). I did enjoy some of the preparations and seasoning but overall the first 5 raw courses were underwhelming. Next came the Nigiri. This was actually quite good and a highlight. There were 6 of these and I don't remember what all of them were but they were all really tasty and perfectly seasoned. The ones that had some light searing or other touches were all well done. Grilled shrimp course was hard to eat and also very salty. I did kind of like the flavor aside from the salt. The hokkaido uni with rice course was odd. The rice was very overpowering and vinegary and salty and made took over what should have been a lovely uni dish. Next came 2 more nigiri. One was cooked and super salty, not great. The wagyu and mushroom course that followed was baffling. The wagyu was deep fried (!?) and had no seasoning and was overcooked. Why would you do that instead of just searing it nicely and adding some flaky salt or something. The mushroom was fine but I did not understand this. Final course was their signature uni toro caviar hand roll. I've had a pretty similar roll before that had way more flavor even though that one did not have caviar. This roll was ok but just a bit mushy and again lacked seasoning. The dessert of ice cream and wagyu was cute. I would have wished they candied the wagyu or something instead of just a piece of beef but it was definitely better than the earlier wagyu course. The black sesame ice cream was delicious. Overall, I would just expect a much better tasting meal. A bit surprised by the reviews. Maybe it was an off day, who knows.

Kibatsu Omakase never disappoints. This is my 3rd time getting omakase at Kibatsu. It's easy to make a reservation. Service is great. My water and tea was consistently getting refilled. The ambiance is nice, small and intimate. The food is just chef's kiss every single time. And the ice cream with wagyu desert is the perfect way to finish the Omakase. I highly recommend the Omakase here. The price is pretty reasonable for omakase in SF.

Such a disappointing omakase experience. we did get seated at the table vs sushi bar which may have contributed to some of the gripes i have but not really lol. So, first impression ambiance it was dark and moody but not in a comfortable ~ambient~ way. it was more like a 2000s abercrombie kind of dark. then we got seated and the tables were literally so tight it was like we were all eating in one table. i could hear everything the neighboring convo was saying and when my bf and i were talking it was like we were all talking over each other. just SO uncomfortable. Now the omakase. it was an incohesive and mid quality set of sushi and too many cooked dishes. some of the fish was literally flavorless- no garnish/seasoning, the grilled saba was overcooked, the uni was given with some sort of fried rice that was so bad and out of place, the grilled shrimp was tough and chewy, there was some random chicken thing that was also out of place and just not yum, the seaweed for the uni toro caviar piece was already soggy when it came to us, AND i have a dairy allergy which we told at the beg of the meal and the dessert was still ice cream with wagyu stuck on top. usually places would sub ice cream for sorbet/fresh fruit however this place obv forgot the allergy. also the beer was not cold. honestly, the worst dinner we've had in a long while. esp when it comes to $500 something lol (drinks + tip). they also presented the pieces on interesting plates that seemed aesthetic via yelp pictures but in person..it didn't appeal as well. like they were attempting to elevate their presentation without knowing how to actually make it look good. To note, another table was ordering rolls which looked good. Maybe this place is better at making rolls and whatever other stuff they offer. but won't be back to try those regardless. I never leave reviews even if the place was meh because I'm lazy BUT we were just too annoyed at this experience for me to not share my thoughts. plentyy of other places to have a much more pleasing, comfortable, and tasty sushi dinner.

Great sushi quality for the price. Honestly the service wasnt great - we made a res but had to wait a while after our original res time. The service wasnt great... but would come back for the food!

The other night, we had a wonderful dinner, at Kibatsu. I don't know when I've had such an amazing omakase set! The restaurant is tastefully decorated and the lovely lighting lends to a feeling of intimacy! Table settings were unique for each dish presented and the staff were warm and attentive! Roy was fabulous in creating innovative and unusual dishes for us on our Omakase, though we added a few items! The selection of seafood was delicious and aesthetically beautiful! It included many types of fish that are rare for sushi restaurants to serve outside of Japan. The crab broth was absolutely delicious and the steak and cloud mushrooms, followed by caviar embellished ice cream cones were a fabulous ending to a delectable seafood meal! Will definitely be back to this restaurant when I am in town!!!

Excellent sushi spot in lower haight. I love their sashimi, nigiri & rolls. My fav are the albacore tataki with crispy shallots and the blue fin tuna toro with chili oil, but honestly, I have not been disappointed by anything here. I haven't done the omakase here yet, but it also looks excellent. Worth a visit if you're in the lower haight but it's also worth making a trip out to eat here!

I got fatty bluefin tuna toro nigiri but the tendons were not properly removed so it was not a good experience to eat. Proper sushi chefs should be mindful of how they are cutting the fish so that it is the best experience for customers to eat. I was extremely disappointed since it was the most expensive thing I ordered but my least favorite due to the tendons. The other nigiri I ordered were good I thought the female waitress was mindful and explained what she brought out but others would just put our food down and walk away without explaining what was brought out. I assume they are back or house and were helping out due to there not being enough wait staff employed. This should be reevaluated. The back of house staff should focus on cooking and another wait staff should be hired to give a better service experience. Ambiance was nice. Dim lighting, but no music if you can't stand not having music. Seating was comfy with pillows. Lastly my boyfriend got food poisoning from this place and started feeling woozy after 30minutes to an hour. Then he had diarrhea and was throwing up the rest of the night. I forget the roll he ordered (one of the large American style rolls) but he did order hamachi no kama as well. We will not be returning.

Best fish I've had in the city! We got the omakase, about $200 per person after tip. So delicious and fresh and well made. The fish melted in my mouth and the meat was all so flavorful and tender. My favorite dish was the rice and uni, served with the cutest little spoon. They put so much detail into these dishes, they are beautiful. Look at those marble and wooden serving platters! The service was friendly and professional. The ambience was chill and dimly lit, very cool vibes. I do wish the miso soup had green onion, tofu, or seaweed in it as mine was just broth. But it was still yummy.

Reasonably priced sushi in SF? Say no more. If it's good enough for... em... Bad Bunny (!) then it's good enough for you. But no, the sushi is excellent and it won't break the bank either. Make sure to order the hot and cold tuna, as well as the rock shrimp from the Omakase menu.

Pros: The interior was very cute and cozy and the service was excellent. We got several dishes to try such as butter fish prepared 2 ways, and several rolls to share. All of the dishes were delicious. We noticed that several of the dishes we ordered only come with 3 pieces (per menu description), but they provided 4 pieces for our party. This was very thoughtful and very much appreciated! Areas of improvement: We made reservations for a group of 4 on a Friday night, but our table was not ready when we arrived and we were asked to wait a half hour. I was disappointed that some of their more interesting dishes mentioned on Yelp are not part of their regular menu. Like one of the other reviewers mentioned, I'm not sure why they charge a cleaning fee. Overall, some hits and misses as mentioned above. For the price, there was nothing that stood out enough for me to come back with the plethora of sushi restaurants in SF.

This place has been on my list for a while now so I decided to check it out with some friends. For the weekend I definitely recommend making a reservation, since the restaurant itself is quite small and intimate the seating is really limited. I like the vibe of the restaurant really beautiful minimalist wood decor and the plates were so pretty these used these rock crystal plates that were to die for. The food itself is good I think it is a tad overpriced for what it is. The fish quality is good and I think all the dishes with just fish were pretty good. The rolls were a bit disappointing. The rice to filling ratio wasn't great and the rice itself was not stick and easily fell apart. The service was good, it seemed like there was only was server taking care of all the tables but despite that they moved from table to table pretty fast. This is a good date night or intimate dinner spot for sure. Hopefully will be back to try out more stuff.

Went in for omakase, with 13 courses + dessert. Every single plate was so fresh and tasty, absolutely no complaints. There's a great balance in variety that showcases how fish & beef can be plated. The chef also gave us a bonus plate with the nacho carpaccio. The omakase ends with a small ice cream cone with wagyu on top - this is a funny, unexpected quirk and the beef tasted amazing but the ice cream itself is pretty standard tasting, nothing crazy. Overall, this place is a great date night spot, with an intimate environment & dim lighting. One thing that could be better is the pace of service - there were times where there was a big gap in time between each plates.

Chef Roy and all of his creations were delicious! Plate after plate, we tried something new that I never would've ordered had I not done omakase. I'm pretty sure we had about 18 different pieces of fish. He adjusted well to one pescatarian only and one meat eater, to satisfy both customers. The service from the host was wonderful despite it getting busy in the restaurant and all of her recommendations for sake were perfect! It was expensive but well worth the price for everything you get and the experience. The red bean dessert at the end was the best! My partner got wagyu on sesame ice cream but I got caviar on red bean and it was the perfect finisher to the meal. Don't know how I fit everything! I would definitely come back again for regular dining and when Chef Roy has a new omakase offering!

This might be the best sushi I've ever had - and sushi is my favorite dish. The environment is not noisy, the service is top-notch, and the sushi is basically unbeatable. They have a good variety of fish and some of the preparations are very unique

Came here with friends for a reunion and wow this place was so nice and cute! Good: - Super cute intimate seating! - Quiet and easy to catch up settings - Each dish was so well plated and so pretty and all the fish was so fresh, loved the sushi rolls like the dragon and golden mountaintop and nigiri was the best I've had in SF - Super good and sweet Tamago, I had two in the end - Nice sake as well Bad: - This place is definitely pricey! - Ice cream was a little chunky here - Service can take a little long but everyone is really nice Overall this place is super good and I would come again!

The worst sushi and Japanese dining experience in San Francisco. The service was not friendly and they only serve white people. I would not recommend this place. And this is my first negative review for Japanese restaurant in San Francisco after living here for 5 years

-3 stars because they charge a "sanitize fee" like what even is that..... why do customers have to pay for this restaurant to sanitize their own establishment.... We made a reservation for 2 on a Saturday evening and were actually satisfied with our meal and service. But the "sanitize fee" was such a turn off.

Some of the best and most creative sashimi I've ever had. Every dish was wonderful. The decorations are creative and picture perfect. The plates are all unique and beautiful. I did Al la carte but they offer omakase as well. Service was great. It's a small place so be sure to make a reservation. It's expensive but worth it.

This place was so intimate and beautiful, it feels like being at home, but elegant. The food was phenomenal, I HIGHLY recommend the new sashimi on their special menu, I never had anything like it and it was melt in your mouth good. I want to go back for more. The tuna belly maki sushi was delicious, and we loved the rainbow roll! One of my new favorite date night spots :)

One of the best sushi experiences of my life! The sushi beyond amazing, the staff welcomes you like family, and everything is very fresh. Each dish was an excursion and the presentation was simple, but precisely stated. It's challenging to get reservations, but 1000% worth the wait.

4.9 stars. (Almost 5 stars!) Kibatsu is a little hidden gem in the Haight area of San Francisco with no signage. We love their dark and rustic interior, it's very intimate and romantic. What a meal!! This was our first omakase experience, and it won't be our last. We enjoyed the chef's selection ($318/2 people). It was fun to be surprised by the dishes the chef selected for us. The food was simple but beautifully presented. Everything was incredibly fresh & the sushi was melt-in-your-mouth delicious, especially the toro, Wagyu, and uni. So good. If you need an intimate and delicious place for date night or just a delicious meal, you gotta come to Kibatsu. Thank you kibatsusushi for the wonderful dining experience, everything was perfectly balanced, unique, and delicious with the perfect amount of food.

Kibatsu is dishing up omakase that with a little more refinement could be excellent! As it stands, it is a huge amount of food for good value. The nigiri were all fresh and very delicious, although albeit heavy handed on the wasabi at times. But, some of the other dishes just were doing too much in my opinion. Green tea ice cream was fine, but the blob of deep fried wagyu fat was unnecessary and unpleasant to eat. The single slice of truffle on the scallop seemed like an afterthought as there was barely any truffle flavor. The three piece skewer was a mix of over cooked wagyu, a soggy mushroom, and a completely raw whole scallop. It was just kinda strange mix of things. I'm all for adding buzzy ingredients like wagyu beef and truffle, but I will these ingredients shined more. The service was fast and amicable - she made sure when to tell us each time that no soy sauce was needed. The restaurant is unassuming on the outside, but the interior was comfortable and welcoming. Overall, the experience was good - but i'm not sure if it was "$400 for two people" good.

Great food and wonderful vibes. Service was quick and smooth. I reserving a table as they open because by the time we left it started to get slightly busy.

Been eating delicious food from the chef's and staff here for over a decade! They are simply amazing: food is always fresh and delicious, service is top notch, and atmosphere is inviting. You will not be disappointed!

Probably the best Omakase in terms of food and price I've had so far in the Bay Area. They don't have Omakase in the menu so you have to ask the staffs. But when you ask them about that, get ready for a treat. We were having around 20+ different types of cuts and they were amazingly good. Some I haven't even had before and I lost count after the first few. My favorite of the night was the Wagyu wrapped scallop, king crab with quail egg and toro with caviar. The first few were served really fast, probably bc we were the first there when they opened. After an hour, serving started pacing out since there were more people, and I'm glad they did that bc we were getting full. Don't forget to have some warm sake to pair it with. We made a reservation for an early dinner and I'm glad we did it. We were so full and it's definitely not good if you have late dinner. It's a cozy nice place, not too small like the other Omakase but not too big that you can't see the chef preparing food.

Kibatsu: A Hidden Gem for Authentic Japanese Cuisine in San Francisco My daughter had the brilliant idea of celebrating her birthday at Kibatsu, a hidden gem of a Japanese restaurant tucked away at 400 Haight St, San Francisco, CA 94117. While it may not be the easiest place to find parking, the effort is undoubtedly worth it. As we approached the restaurant, the only sign indicating its presence was a charming chalkboard on the sidewalk, bearing the name "Kibatsu", and this set the tone for what would be a delightful dining experience. From the moment we arrived, I couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation and warmth emanating from within. The large plate glass window allowed me a glimpse of the inviting interior, where a diverse and seemingly ecstatic crowd was relishing their meals. The atmosphere was hip and exuded happiness, hinting at the fantastic evening that lay ahead. The first thing we were served was a truffle and perfectly cooked scallop, setting the bar high for what was to come. It was a harmonious blend of flavors and textures, showcasing the chef's expertise in combining ingredients. This initial bite was a promise of the culinary journey that awaited us. Inside, the wooden walls and simple seating arrangements transported us to an era where things were basic but perfect - good food, great company, and a warm ambiance. It was a reminder that sometimes, it's the simplicity that truly shines. One of the first things to note about Kibatsu is that they offer an omakase menu, which means that the chef creates a personalized culinary journey for you. While I didn't manage to snap a picture of the menu, I can assure you that every dish that graced our table was nothing short of outstanding. The quality and flavor of the food were so remarkable that, with my eyes closed, I could have easily believed I was dining in the heart of the Ginza district in Tokyo. Two dishes, in particular, stood out--the toro and uni with truffle risotto. They were among the finest I have ever had the pleasure of tasting. The innovative use of shaved truffle to complement these delicacies created a symphony of flavors that danced on my taste buds. The exquisite sea and foraged food combination was a true testament to the culinary expertise at Kibatsu. Adding to the experience was the owner, who also served as our waitress and hostess. Her dedication to ensuring that we savored each dish to its fullest was commendable. She took the time to inform us that soy sauce was unnecessary on every dish she and her team served, and I wholeheartedly agreed. The food was so carefully prepared that it would have been a travesty to drown it in soy sauce. Each plate that arrived was a work of art, served on unique 5lb stone plates that looked like they had been plucked from the depths of the Sea of Cortez, as if they were ancient relics from some shipwreck or archaeological find. Kibatsu also boasts an impressive selection of sake, ranging from dry to fruity varieties. The sake perfectly complemented the exquisite dishes and heightened our dining experience. Surprisingly, the plates themselves became a talking point among our group, adding an unexpected but delightful element to our evening. In conclusion, I cannot recommend Kibatsu highly enough. It is a hidden treasure that transports you to the heart of Japan with its authentic and exquisite cuisine. I am eagerly looking forward to my next visit to San Francisco, as it will undoubtedly include another unforgettable meal at this remarkable restaurant. Kibatsu is not just a place to dine; it's an experience that lingers in your memory long after the meal is over.

I have come here every year for my birthday living in the city. Such a hidden gem in SF! Not to mention, the staff is absolutely amazing too :)

What a nice atmosphere of a place. First timer. Especially this year I've been doing my best on trying as many poplar restaurants as I can for the first time. The most challenging parts are getting reservations. This place is no exception and was great.

Fresh fish, fluffy rice, cozy hand made wood interior from recycled wood. Everything superb.

It was a quiet place. Cold, but quiet. Sushi and other food left much to be desired. Sake and wine were both bad and overpriced. Another IG influencer dupe... Happy eating -- at home instead.

Came with a large party, the seating feels very intimate, but there were larger tables we slot into. The rolls appear not cheap at first (true) but the quality of them justifies the price! We had all deluxe rolls and they come split into 8. Golden mountain was my fav due to how it just melted in my mouth. Shout out to the dragon roll which I didn't capture but tasted amazing Gyoza was pretty standard as a starter maybe skip for more rolls. Service here was fast and efficient, very friendly, they gave us utensils for cutting a birthday cake we brought and also gave us hamachi on the house! Great ambience and great taste, a solid spot to impress

Absolutely amazing, we fully did not expect to be sat later on a Friday but wanted to check- we were seated at a great spot, I'm veg and my friend was not and they were so nice about it!! Made veg roll for me (thank you!) and they were almost out of miso soup but managed to get some (thanks again) AND made a special dish for us. To top it off, ice cream cones as a surprise dessert ?? I will talk about this forever, thank you team kibatsu!!!

I've only had the Omakase at Kibatsu but I was so impressed! Sometimes, you leave an omakase restaurant ready for a second dinner. NOT here! My hubby and I were stuffed and we both eat a lot. I even had to finish some of his last few bites for him... haha! Some of the memorable bites were the seared toro over crispy rice with caviar, wagyu beef/scallop skewer, and truffle scallop. I believe the chef changes up the omakase selection based on the season and day though. Service was extremely friendly and the omakase was well paced. I don't like when things come too fast or too slow (for obvious reasons), but the staff was super attentive as to when we finished one dish and thus were ready for another!