Saru Handroll Bar

"This sister spot to Saru in the Mission differs from its sibling in that the sole focus here is the mighty handroll. The menu keeps things simple and straightforward: just a few small plates and a wide array of temaki. Sets come with three, four, or five rolls — no substitutions — but the a la carte list includes tempting options such as red crab, lobster, sea urchin, and cucumber with plum." - Dianne de Guzman, Eater Staff

"Saru Sushi Bar's sister spot is laser-focused on one thing: simple yet flawless handrolls. The operation at this Russian Hill counter is pretty straightforward. Just slide up to the bar, mark your order on the paper menu, and wait for a sushi chef to hand you neatly rolled pockets of fish and vinegared rice. There are sets of three, four, or five, and they all include high-quality, uncomplicated fillings like fatty tuna or crispy green onion-topped yellowtail. It’s walk-in only, but things move quickly. You’ll be in and out faster than it takes to find parking on Polk. " - julia chen 1, lani conway

"Saru has been serving top-notch sushi in Noe Valley for more than a decade, so you can be sure there’s plenty of skill behind this handroll-focused spinoff. The Russian Hill restaurant doesn’t take reservations (though there is an online waitlist) and offers its rolls either by the set or a la carte along with a small selection of appetizers. A caviar supplement or uni temaki will set you back about $20 each, but overall handrolls come in under $10 with a set of five costing just $43." - Lauren Saria, Eater Staff

"Saru Handroll Bar (formerly Saru Sushi Bar) is the neighborhood destination for flawless, simple temaki. The operation at this Japanese spot is simple: slide up to a bar stool, mark your order on the paper menu, and wait for a sushi chef to hand you neatly rolled parcels of fish and vinegary rice across the counter. Go for the set of five, which will get you full (but not too full) and always include showstoppers like fatty tuna and yellowtail with a smattering of green onions. There are no reservations, so if there’s a line, grab a drink at Macondray or Bar Iris while you wait. " - will kamensky, julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez

"Saru Handroll Bar keeps things refreshingly straightforward. It’s a sushi bar, where you eat handrolls. Simple as that. Here, the temaki aren’t topped with caviar, foams, or gold flakes pumped through a dry ice machine and spit out in the shape of a daisy—the high-quality seafood speaks for itself. This Russian Hill spot (formerly Saru Sushi Bar) prescribes to the idea of “less is more” (down to the minimalist design), so you’ll get in and out in less time it takes to find a parking spot on Polk. There are no reservations. Walk in, slide into your assigned bar stool, and pencil in your order onto the paper menu—for LA transplants, this is when KazuNori déjà vu will set in. Neatly rolled temaki will cross the sleek wooden countertop, and then it’s time to enjoy them to the soothing sounds of people biting into perfectly crispy nori. photo credit: Carly Hackbarth photo credit: Carly Hackbarth But don’t get too lost in meditative thought, since you’re going to need to decide how you want this temaki journey to go. Order off the a la carte menu, which covers everything from delicately fried shrimp tempura and eel to uni, or go with the set of three, four, or five that change up occasionally. The five-set is the path to fish-fueled heaven. It gets you full, but not too full. And there’s room to add on more handrolls by the piece. The next time you need to fulfill your sushi quota for the month, pull up to the bar. This meal is a minimalist's dream. It might inspire you to clean out your closet and wear the five same tees forever. Food Rundown photo credit: Carly Hackbarth Set of 5 It really is choose-your-own-adventure in terms of the number of handrolls to get for your meal. If you believe in self autonomy, order a la carte. But like we said, we prefer the set of five. What fish are featured changes, but will likely include salmon, tuna, or yellowtail with a smattering of green onions. Simple perfection." - Julia Chen