Tekka Japanese Restaurant

DO NOT GO HERE You will have to wait a long time and sometimes they might even turn you away. This was my third attempt to get in and finally got a seat for two. That being said if you really read reviews. This place lives up to the hype. The fish is fresh and delicious. My friend and I opted to have the Tekka Diner for two ($130). It comes with 2 appetizers, sashimi combo, 1 roll and unagi (eel) nigiri and we even got a bonus pineapple dessert! Everything was delicious and fresh! It’s probably one of the best sushi spots in the city for an affordable price. Jimmy and his mom runs this restaurant Tuesday-Friday. It’s a cozy traditional 10 seater Japanese sushi restaurant hence its’s difficult to get a table! It’s walk-in only but sometimes the owner will allow you to reserve if you’re a frequent comer and become friends with the owner/chef. We sat right next to Dave and Sashana who have been coming to the restaurant since 1996! They told us to write 1 star to gate keep this restaurant but in all honesty they totally deserved 5/5. Thanks for listening to my tedtalk.

This place is AWESOME! My boyfriend and I got the tekka dinner for two and received the pleasure of good food and great conversation from the chef/owner.

SF local here! I'll cut right to the chase - the sushi is absolutely delicious and the best i've had in the city, hands down. The fish is fresh, the atmosphere is intimate, and the price is extremely reasonable for the quality you get. I'll definitely be coming back! BTW was told to leave it a 1 star to keep it hidden but couldn't get myself to do it!!

Small place but definitely one of the must try dining experience. I came to wait on line around 5pm on a Thursday and there was already someone ahead of me and my friend. But the wait was a great experience as we manage to chat with everyone waiting on line :). If you can get it you should always get the limited item. But you have to be first/ second in line since the quantity for limited item is limited to one per day. We manage to only grab the salmon collar, but the couple that was first in line who grabbed two of the limited dish was kind enough to let my friend and I try the salmon skin they ordered which is amazing! (Best couple ever!) The soft shell crab is great too. All the serving size is huge. I recommend getting sashimi platter for one to share with two people ( lots of groups of two ask for to go boxes because sashimi platter for two is just too much )and get the eel and scallop nigiri. Overall, I can say that this is the best dining experience I have. It’s a small place and we end up striking conversations with everyone around the table. It feeling like we are eating dinner with a group of friends instead of random stranger in a store. The couple who owns the store really feels like they do this out of passion. They are so kind and put so much effort into the dishes. They don’t skim on the ingredient and charge such a low price that I was shock my meal only cost around 134 for two people. As someone who had omakase going for 200 dollar per person in nyc, this is so worth. Obviously this won’t be a store for the most skilled sashimi cut or nigiri. But I personally enjoy this atmosphere so much more than the fancy omakase out there. I really enjoy seeing the old man preparing the dishes because I can see he’s really there to share his love of his food and not just for cash grab. Also don’t be afraid to ask for take out boxes if you cannot finish :)z

Highly recommend the sashimi combo. Very fresh. It contains about 20 pieces of different sashimi. Usually two pieces for each. The eel nigiri is also excellent. Worth every penny you paid. They recently changed the dinner time. Instead of 6pm, they started at 5pm. The second round starts around 7:30. Maximum 10 persons for each round. But sometimes the owner has friends who reserved seats so it’s possible that the actual available seats are less than 10.

Important to note: - CASH ONLY - Limited seating (seats up to 8 at a time), first come first served A very intimate experience. It felt like I had a small taste of Japan. The restaurant is ran by a husband and wife duo who has been doing this for quite some time. My friend and I ordered the sashimi dinner. I’ll have to say that it’s different from all the other sushi I’ve eaten. A very good and delicious different. And amazingly fresh.

Vibes: 3 Food: 2.5 Service: 3.5 Overall: 3 My experience here just wasn’t good. I went with two friends on a Thursday night for dinner. Inside was partially full. Outside also had people seated but I wouldn’t describe it as packed. One friend and I got the tasting dinner. The other friend didn’t and her food arrived a full 20 mins before ours. People want to eat together. Once our meal arrived, it was just not great. Too much fish compare to the rice and the fish was not the freshest.

Good quality sashimi and cute atmosphere. Also relatively cheap price! I ordered soft shell crab appetizer and sashimi platter for one. The bill was less than $50 before tip. If you want to come here, bring cash, and arrive before 6:00pm to actually get a seat. Otherwise, you’ll have to wait until 8:00pm.

Came back for the husband's birthday a year later and again, did not disappoint! Sometimes when you take time off between a restaurant you really liked and enjoyed, you notice that something has changed. With Tekka, this is not the case. The quality of the food, the service, and ambiance were the exact same: excellent

I think about this place daily. No reservations, only walk-ins. Closed weekends. Only seats a handful. Come hungry and order the dinner for 2. This is an experience that cannot be described in an online setting. I would say as someone who did the same process: find the time to come here, wait in line for numerous attempts to be rejected to try another night, to finally that one successful night you got in is WORTH it.

Food is Amazing, Service ... Close to a 3 michelline restaurant, Ambianze ... Took me back to Tokyo

Finally!!!!! I have been wanting to visit Tekka but I was so scared with long line so I have been postponing. I love Japanese food. I love eating but I hate waiting that was why I never went there yet. But today was the day Yelp said they open at 6.30 so my friend and I prepared to get there early so we could enter at the first round.. we got there at 5.30, he dropped me off and went to find parking.......... Omgggg it's open! And I got seated right away It was so small that I felt like we had to whisper we waited about 10 mins until the lady came to take the order. Menus was small, food wasn't that slow. And I could feel the LOVE in that place. I didn't feel like it was a business. James took over as a chef after his dad ( if I mistaken ~ I apologized) passed. He was so friendly and the way he prepared food was so neat. I even saw him threw away many pieces of tuna that didn't seem to pass his quality control. I finally asked him what time are you open? Okay guys.... Who has never been here READ THIS...you will thanks me later They are open @5 for the first round and @7.30 for the second round(if they even have a second round!) TUESDAY-FRIDAY ONLY Today there were 7 people ahead of me , then 2 of us... after that 4 more showed up and got seated. Another couple came and James told them you guys would be my last gust for tonight. Total 15 lucky people today only Slow pace, nice service that full off love and great quality of food. No complain at all. CASH ONLY. Omg . It was my day today Thank you Tekka.

I love this place a lot! It's a mom-and-pop shop, the interior is quite small and only sat 9-10 people. The sashimi is soooo fresh, it was chefs kiss. Tips: this place is cash only. Food: 5/5. We got the sashimi combo and all the fish and seafood were so fresh. I used to be not a big fan of raw scallops until I tried the raw scallops at this place. Super sweet and juicy. Their other sashimi were good too. The portion sizes are big and the chef is super generous with the food! Experience: 5/5. Expect a wait when you come. I waited for around an hour before opening. The place is small so it fills up quickly. The owners are an old couple. It's definitely a cool experience since the restaurant is decorated with notes from people who ate at the restaurant dating back to 2000s.

Highly recommend the sashimi combo. Very fresh. It contains about 20 pieces of different sashimi. Usually two pieces for each. The eel nigiri is also excellent. Worth every penny you paid. They recently changed the dinner time. Instead of 6pm, they started at 5pm. The second round starts around 7:30. Maximum 10 persons for each round. But sometimes the owner has friends who reserved seats so it's possible that the actual available seats are less than 10.

They have a sign stating no cellphones so I do not have photos to share. But the experience was very cozy and delicious. It is run by mom & son, who do their utmost to make sure we all had a good experience, from explaining the menu with recommendations, and providing fresh pots of tea. We got the dinner for 2, it was plenty of food, we did not need any supplemental courses. The highlights were the sashimi combo, mushroom agedashi tofu, and "dessert" unagi nigiri. We could see the chef preparing the dishes with care, while he made conversation with the entire restaurant. We can't wait to come back and try their new dishes, their dinner for 2 menu rotates appetizers etc every two weeks.

I just don't get it. Why wait around for two hours for the privilege of eating average sushi when there are dozens of equally average sushi spots that seat you immediately, take credit cards, and give you a full menu to choose from? To guarantee yourself a seat, you have to stand outside for around 2 hours. The wait is uncomfortable (especially in the cold), and the cramped interior is no relief. I would MAYBE understand if the sushi was super cheap, but at $100/pp I hardly think of Tekka as a deal. Save yourself the trouble and go to Japantown.

Went 1.5 hours early to be first in line and it was so worth it. Not only was the food spectacular, James was an awesome host. It was super intimate with our group of 7. We exchanged laughs, learned about each dish, and filled our tummies with very refreshing flavors. Overall, lovely experience. 10/10 - core memory unlocked!!

Very interesting Japanese restaurant. Only seats about 10 people total. Son does most of the food prep while mom prepares the hot or fried items and serves tea. It was nice to sit down at the sushi bar and hear about the chef's experience. Ordered the fix menu dinner while adding the kama (grilled yellowtail collar). Thoroughly enjoyed the food but actually ended up ordering and eating too much. The kama was delicious and well seasoned. The unagi was probably the best we've had and we've eaten a lot of Japanese food including our two visits to Japan. The sashimi platter was fresh and delicious. Only drawback was probably having to show up early just to ensure we got seated. A few couples were turned away as they showed up late (or 20 minutes before seating). Would definitely go back but will bring bigger appetite.

WOW definitely the BEST sushi I've ever had in my life! Everything was superior quality and melt in your mouth. It was an UNREAL experince to be dining here. If you're lucky enough to snag one of the ten seats you're in for a treat. There is a 5:30pm and 8:00pm dining sessions so make sure to plan accordingly. I asked around in line and found out that one party stood in line at 4:45 to ensure a seat during the first round. So make sure to arrive early. First off the space has incredible character and life, you either sit at the sushi bar or at a small table in the corner. Everydish is either served up by the sushi chef or made in the back kitchen. The chefs sashimi combo is definitely a MUST. Every single fish we had was unique in flavor profile and texture. Notably what we think was makeral had a smokey and dense profile while the scallops were buttery smooth and incredibly sweet. The agdashi tofu was also jelly like and very smooth and silky in texture. We were lucky enough to order a Hamachi collar and it was delicious. Smokey oily, and packed with decadent meat. So yummy! Another highlight of the meal was the tea, my party of two went through 2.5 pots of tea and this helped pace our meal and aid in digestion! Would recomend stopping by but make sure to get in line early!!

So I guess I got wildly lucky but I walked in at 5:10 on Wednesday and snagged the last seat at the bar without waiting in line. I should probably study my horoscope for that day and figure out what happened and buy a lotto ticket next time. I think the menu kind of varies but the fish is very good, the portions are kind of ridiculous, and the prepared dishes are great. Plus you get a great home-y feeling and the chef is fun to talk to. Would be great to be a regular there one day.

Retweeting all positive comments. I've been wanting to come try tekka for YEARS now since I'm not from SF. FINALLY. It happened. We were lucky to have gotten in. We started lining up at about 5:10 and there were already 5 people in front. We were a party of 3 and going by the strict capacity 1 of us wouldn't have been able to get in since he had friends that evening too and they get first dibs. However, the owner pulled out an extra stool and made an exception for us amazing! Food was great. We weren't sure what to order and didn't end up making the best decisions everything was still so good but we could have tried a larger variety of food and ordered less. Here's my tip: - get the sashimi platter if you're sharing - get the eel nigiri!!!!! But no need to order more nigiris with the same fish on the sashimi platter - except the scallop if you're into that - we didn't look at the appetizer menu and I thought it might have been good to get a salmon skin or miso soup to warm up - there wasn't uni on the menu the night or else we would have definitely made sure we had some! - the owner's wife takes the order. Ask her if it's too much or too little food and go conservative. We ended up paying $200 including tips for 3. Such a good deal cuz we were stuffed and happy. What an unforgettable experience!

A magical experience I will never forget. We saw how there are typically two rounds with 6-8 seats for each (the restaurant is not being hard, that's literally the number of seats they physically have) so we decided to try on Friday, getting there at 5:30pm. There was already a long line and we were literally the 9th and 10th person in line. Yoshimi (the grandma) was kind enough to ask us if we'd be willing to come back at 8pm. We decided to hold our hunger and wait, exploring Richmond area. We were also the party she told to come back at 8pm. When we got back, we saw there were a group for 5 friends of Tekka who have literally been eating there for 20 years (im lowkey envious, want to be their friend). We were so hungry so we ordered as much as we could without going overboard: Hamachi collar, Sashimi platter for 2 and 2 eels. Hamachi collar was exquisite, Yoshimi cook this in the back and it was so tender on the inside, so crispy on the outside. Sashimi platter -- let me tell you, I'd DIE for this anyday. Nobu (the grandpa) cuts and prepare every fish himself. The fish was so fresh so juicy -- the scallop simply melts in your mouth. Nobu will also bring you rice and nori to make it into a roll yourself. Eel -- I'd have to be honest, the rice of nigiri is not the typical sushi rice, not as sticky BUT the eel itself was HUGE and impeccable. No bones, again just melt in your mouth Steak -- Yoshimi gave us a free dish because we were trying to order more but all the fish was used up! She also thanked us for waiting -- the SWEETEST thing ever. I absolutely loved this meal and cannot wait to go back even though you are gambling everytime hoping for a seat.

Such a cute and cozy hole-in-the-wall restaurant run by an older couple from Japan! It feels rare to find experiences like this--slow dining, conversing with strangers (as the place only seats 6-8 people), hand written notes from long-time customers lining the walls (the oldest we found was from '89!). It seems like many people love this restaurant and the couple, and many have fond memories here. The cuts of sashimi were very generous and everything was amazing--we ordered way too much and they knew it . Would def recommend the sashimi combo, agedashi tofu, and hamachi kama!

Haven't been here in years since the pandemic started!! So glad they are still around. Amazing couple has been running the joint for years. Max seats is 11. Don't forget about the "family & friends" rsvp that can occur any night. They get first dibs at the bar and no wait. They have recently adjusted their opening times. First seating is now around 6, 2nd is at 8pm. I would recommend to at least show up 30-45 mins early to wait in line. Do not over order. They will not let you anyway. Portions are huge. Please respect the couple and their rules. Be patient.

One word AMAZING. I don't need to be redundant. There are so many 5 star reviews that are spot on with the whole experience from food, service and ambiance. I felt like I was in Alice in Wonderland. I just want to say "domo arigato" to sushi chef James who works magic with his knife skills and mama-san Yoshimi for making the most memorable kick butt salmon skin salad that I will forever dream about. Your hospitality is greatly appreciated. We will definitely return.

Thank you, Tekka, for being there and having the freshest, intimate dining experience ever. Strangers that seemed like old friends checking in and seeing what is our commonality. So cool to be a barfly. I've been thinking of coming for about 6 months. We had a great time all 7 of us at 5:00 seating. Thank you, Bonnie, for sitting next to me. Will check out "Good Byes." Six San Franciscans Strong, one SF adoptee. WooHoo. Celebrate, we got in. Two seats empty. I barely made it. Next seating 7:30 pm. The lucky few. I got the most delicious green tea. I have no idea how to order, so i went with the sashimi combo chef's plate ($70). Salmon pieces in the shape of a flower. Octopus that was very tender, not chewy. Mackerel is my favorite. I think it was marinated. Scallops. Tuna. Yellow tail? Hamachi (2nd favorite). Home-made marinated ginger. Wasabi, that was very mild. Homemade soy sauce because it was not salty. No cell phone allowed, so i was honoring the sign, so there were no pictures. Actually, someone already posted a picture. Son and mother duo. We got some history. His dad was 76 years old when he stopped working. During Covid, they had to go. Tues to Fri. Cash only. Try not to go Friday, less of a chance to get in. That is my only tip. Next time, they have a couple's special with 3 appetizers and ...(i couldn't keep up with the explanation). It sounded good. Till we meet again.

Even though I no longer live in SF - I will always come back to tekka every chance I get. The tekka dinner blew me away, each and every time. A very peaceful dining experience with a very welcoming and skillful chef! I'm

2 seatings/ 8 covers per seating. Plan ahead, best dinner ever... Got lucky on my bday and was able to accommodate my family, now want to get sake cup on the shelf

Tekka is a very small place now it is run by the son and mom. We use to love going and didn't mind the long wait but recently we haven't been able to get seats even if we wanted to wait. Twice already we would drive up from down south just to find it was private party only. It would be disappointing. So even if you want to wait, it sometimes is left to fate. But if you do get to go, the sashimi is amazing and the portions are very generous. I also love the clams cooked in sake and the grill salmon skin.

This is easily one of the best hidden gems in San Francisco! Please be aware that things recently changed for the restaurant. Noburu's son (James) has taken the helm along with Yoshimi and the restaurant is as amazing as ever! Also know that seating times are now 5 pm and 7:30 pm (a little earlier than before). So, if you want to eat during the first seating, make sure to line-up earlier as only 10 people can enjoy each seating (with groups of 4 or less). This is (and always has been) the best value for a sushi/sashimi restaurant in all of San Francisco. You must visit!! The food is phenomenal and the experience is divine. We have been coming for years and it's easily our favorite place.

I've been wanting to try Tekka for years. Finally, we were lucky to have gotten in for the second round at 7 pm. We loved every thing that we ordered. Chef was so friendly and professional. Nice ambiance!

I am a tad behind on my review since we ordered here takeout on the first week of June. They are no longer offering take out but I wanted to write my review since this place deserves these 5 stars. We ordered a variety of dishes but the one that stood out to me was the Omakase. I forgot the price but it's around $70(?) and an amazing deal!! You will see some complaints about it but the omakase literally can feed two people so you can think of it as half the price. I only took a photo of half of the Omakase (it came with another plate of rice and other goods). The fish was extremely fresh and soft!! Incredible quality in SF. They also cut them very thick and generously. As you can see, it was also a LOT of fish (and this was only half of the dish). This place is also run by an authentic Japanese couple. When we picked up, they spoke Japanese with us and can tell they are genuine and good people. 100% would come again and support this local business!!!!!!

Rating: 4.5 Wow this place is incredible bang for your buck! We ordered two Omakase and a hamachi collar. We got a comically large platter of sashimi and a hamachi "collar" that was more like half the fish! After attempting to eat this and the 2 of us barely finishing half the sashimi and some rice (but not anything else from the rice box or the hamachi collar yet), I wondered if we accidentally ordered 2 "omakase for two".... The website is not clear but I know they used to have "Omakase for two" for dine-in. My favorites were the scallops and the salmon. Some of the other pieces of fish were a little chewy but maybe it's because they were all cut very large. I appreciated that they gave you nori and rice to make hand rolls because I definitely needed a flavor break from all the fish. Make sure to order ahead online because as one tip said you may not get the day you want. My first attempt at ordering failed because I never got a confirmation but maybe it got lost in my spam email. Our second attempt was successful with we got a text confirmation on the date we wanted.

I was very excited to try this restaurant with a friend yesterday evening, but upon waiting outside, the chef approached me and informed me that he would be refusing service to me because I am accompanied by a service animal. This is not only against ADA law, it is completely humiliating! I am someone who depends on my service animal to assist me due to a disability; I have a right to be treated with respect and allowed entry to public spaces the same way anyone else would be.

Local secret spot and hole in the wall I could eat at everyday. If you long for Japan and sashimi, this is your fix. Traditional sashimi house vibe transports your mind to a side street in Japan with a Legendary chef, hand making your dish right in front of you, to me is a better experience than most Michelin star rated restaurants.

My daughter is disabled and has has a service dog due to a long history of traumatic brain injuries. She was told she could not eat at the restaurant with her service dog who has been a well trained service dog for years and is extremely well behaved. The owner/ manager said they had a right to refuse her service and told her to leave. This restaurant does not deserve to have your service if they cant follow the American Disability Act. This is a civil rights issue.

Definitely one of the best value for money sushi places in the city. The portions are huge, the quality is excellent and the hot dishes are quite good also Downside is getting in is super painful. You have to be willing to wait in a long line and hope there are only 6 or 8 people in front of you

Small cozy spot that can only sit 10 customers at once. Without the waitlist--it might be an hour wait before you get seated. Food is quality but we keep coming back for James!

*LOCATION* Tekka is actually pretty easy to miss if you don't know where to look. There is no sign and you'll likely only spot it because of the people lining up outside. Parking is street/metered but is free after 6pm (I think). *WAIT TIME* This was our second attempt at eating here. We tried previously on a Friday night at 4:45 but the 10 seatings for that night were already filled when we got there. The first person in line had said he had gotten there at 4:30. We decided to try again the following Tuesday. There was a sign on the door that said only 6 seatings that night. My boyfriend arrived at 4:30 and was the first person in line. The next person arrived about 10 minutes later. When we left dinner around 8:15, there was no one in line for the second seating. (Pro tip: bring thick layers and some snacks for the 2-hour wait in the freezing cold.) *FOOD* We ordered the sashimi combo for two and some separate nigiris. (Side note: You need to specify how many portions of the sashimi combo you want.) We had wanted to order uni but they didn't have any that night (wahhh!). I had also wanted to order hamachi kama but I guess I pronounced it wrong or she misheard me because we ended up getting the hamachi nigiri instead. But not complaining because it was really good too! My favorite parts of the sashimi combo were the scallops, tuna and salmon. The scallops were so sweet and literally melted in my mouth. The tuna and salmon were both also very fresh and buttery. My boyfriend's favorites were the salmon and hamachi. We enjoyed the nigiris just as much as the sashimi. The unagi was soo tasty and the sauce was just the right amount of sweetness. As shown in the picture, each piece of fish was as big as half the size of my palm! *SERVICE* The service is pretty good considering there's only two people working there. The wife takes the orders and refills the tea, while the husband cuts and prepares the fish at the sushi bar. When we first went in, we were given a hot towel to warm our hands and also hot tea to warm our souls. Depending on where you sit, you may or may not be able to see the preparation of the fish. *AMBIENCE* It is a very intimate setting and you can pretty much hear everyone's conversations. I was pretty much whispering the whole time because I didn't want to talk too loud. There is a small tv behind the sushi bar that plays a movie during dinner so there is some background noise but you are still able to hear everything. Overall, we very much enjoyed our experience at Tekka (minus standing in the freezing cold). We might come for the second seating next time to avoid the long wait. However, I definitely think the price is more than reasonable for the amount and quality of fish!

This place is such a gem. I was lucky that the first time I got a seat and didn't have to wait on a Thursday. I try to come again a few months later and couldn't get a seat. It is really hit or miss. They are cash only and there is an ATM nearby. We ordered the sashimi plater, eel and tuna sushi, eggplant appetizer, and some alcohol. The quality of the food is superb and the portion is pretty big. I would come again if I can get seated.

Hard to gauge wait times... fyi they open before 6:30 or 6:00 which are the times listed on Yelp and Google. Tried for the first seating and it was full. They said to come back for the second seating at 7:30. Came back at 7:15 and they were "full for the night."

I've waited 1.5 hours in Japan for a Michelin starred ramen place, but waiting for Tekka beats that at a 2.5 hour wait. I've heard from so many of my friends that you have to wait at 4:30PM even though the first seating starts at 7PM (Nobu and Yoshimi come in earlier to begin the prep, but you cannot go in yet - so wait!). We lined up on a Monday evening at 4:30PM (group of 4) and we were the first ones in line until about 5:45PM when a couple lines up behind us. Since the restaurant only seats about 10-11 people (7-8 people on the counter and 2-3 people on the small table near the window), we played it safe. My friends and I got seated at the bar up close and personal with Nobu preparing all the amazing sashimi orders, hand rolls and nigiri! My bf & i ordered the sashimi combo ($58 for 2 orders - so worth!!!) which contains 2 sashimis of 7 different fish. It was amazing and very fresh! I also got to try the soft shell crab (~$14) and their uni (~$9) so delicioussssssss. The soft shell crab was perfectly crisped. I also must say that for anyone that hates uni for the ocean-y taste, you MUST get the uni here at Tekka because the uni texture is so perfect and the taste is very faint. Everything is comparable to Japan :) I would definitely come back here if I was in the area and there was no wait... It does take some effort to coordinate when you go! There are only 2 seatings (7PM and 9PM) and they're only open Monday thru Friday so plan accordingly. Also it is important to make sure that they are not on vacation! So check their calendar when you plan your visit. I highly recommend waiting around 5PM from Mon-Wed but for Thurs-Fri you might have to play it safe and line up earlier! There is street parking, but parking is only free after 6PM.

Came here with a few friends. The fish was fresh and the cuts were sizable. If they tell you it will be too much food, do listen! Very experienced. Only thing was the Kama was slightly over salted.

The Sushi gods legit blessed us! We came on a rainy Wednesday night at 7 pm and noted the sign said "8 seats only." We walked in and there were only five guests so lucky us we got to sit immediately. Restaurant capacity is like ten guests max so I don't think we'll ever be as lucky ever again. We were a bit lost on what to get but this restaurant is primarily known for their sashimi combo and the price varies anywhere from $38-$45. We were told it is enough to share, so we did one order and one salmon roll. The sashimi portions were generous! The fish is so fresh and melts in your mouth, I wanted the whole plate to myself. Half the enjoyment is watching the chef prepare it with such precision and care, it's humbling knowing he has worked in the same place for 30 years coming this June! The environment is cozy and it appears that there are some frequent locals. Overall a true Sf gem I am so happy to finally experience!

Everything was great. Service was great and the patient was very knowledgeable and patient. Food was delicious too. The premium sashimi is a must get. Ambiance was also great in that it was extremely quiet.

Humans of San Francisco, I got in line as the 5th person in a small line waiting for Tekka ~5pm. Why did EVERY SINGLE PERSON in line before me add two to FIVE friends over the course of m two hours, so now we have to wait another thee hours for second seating? Five Stars I'm sure for the fish. One Star for all the inconsiderate people who saved 2-5 spots for others. Come at 4pm and bring a lawn chair and heat lamp to be the first in line.

Best meal of my life, best sushi I've ever had, best quality for the buck. Hidden gem of a spot - I thought twice about posting a Yelp review to keep it to only those who know, but I need to express my love for this place. When I posted pics of my meal here on IG I got around 30 DMs asking for the name of the place. If yelp would allow a 6 star review once in a lifetime this would be it. My fiancée took me here 4 years ago for my birthday and I have been dreaming about it since. We tried to come here another time last year but couldn't get a seat, so we made sure to get here extra early on MLK Jr day when we both had the day off. Here's what you should know: - One of the smallest restaurants you'll ever go to, seating up to 10 but often times several are reserved for the owners' family/friends. So 6-10 is typical, and they only post a sheet of paper on the door the day of so you'll need to stop by. - Only open on weekdays, but sometimes they'll go on vacation or take the day off. You'll just need to go to their restaurant to see if they post any signs by the door. - Several years back they had two seats - one at 7, one at 9. Now they only do once a day seatings at 7. - cash only, but this place is super affordable. 2 people might average $120-$150 after tips. I would be spending $400 on "fancy" omakase spots downtown, but this place is far better. - Owned by an elderly couple, the husband prepares the sushi, the wife takes the orders and makes all other food. Super sweet. If I recall correctly they do this because they enjoy it, not to make money - their son is fairly well off (lawyer?). Hence they haven't raised the prices in years.. - Fish is brought in fresh daily, they usually arrive around 5:30 to start preparing, often carrying bags of fish with them. Several years back they had a seafood truck deliver the fresh fish but that's when they had two seating times per night. Some options like scallops might be frozen but it's still great. - Don't mind the use of toaster oven (to heat unagi) or microwaves (to heat warm sake and some appetizers) - food is delicious and understandable given everything is prepped by just two people. - if you look through pictures you'll see nigiri pieces the size of phones - they're thick too! Insane, sometimes I wonder if they're losing money selling these. Kusakabe would probably sell each nigiri here at $20 each, but it's only $5-$6 at Tekka - Advice: bring a chair next time you wait, try to get here by 4. Don't be the ass that stands in line by yourself and tell others you have 3 others coming. Generally saving a spot for just 1 other is courteous as long as you tell people coming in line later that the spot is taken. - Better advice: go here with a special someone, eat and be in heaven, dream about this place. Don't tell anyone else about this place if you can resist posting on IG (you probably can't).

Best hamachi kama I've ever had! The fish came out hot, crispy, juicy, and full of flavors! So good!! My fiancé and I came on Monday and were the first ones in line at 4:28pm (more than two hours before the restaurant opened) because I wanted to make sure we got seated since I was treating my fiancé here for his birthday. After almost 2.5hr wait, we got seated. We ordered the sashimi combo for two, uni, unagi nigiri, and the hamachi kama. Everything was fresh and good! The sashimi combo had all the basic fish we liked. Salmon, hamachi, and raw scallop were always my top three and they did not disappoint. The freshness of the fish were better than most restaurants in the Bay Area, but it still did not compare to Japan's fish market where the sashimi melted like ice-cream in my mouth. The uni was fresher than most places and did not have the strong ocean taste! The unagi nigiri cost $5.5/piece, and it was literally the size of my hand. So worth it! The homemade sauce they used blended well with the eel. This place was very cute! An elderly couple worked here so the restaurant pace was much slower. Must try if you had the time to wait for seating. They were cash only too and not all the prices were listed on the menu. They did not allow take out either so it made it difficult to order freely as we normally would, just in case we over-ordered or run low on cash. Overall, the experience at Tekka was great; different from other Japanese restaurants in SF with similar style to some of the restaurants I've been to in Japan. Review dated back to April 2019!

Is smoking cigarettes INSIDE by the owner in the small kitchen, near all the food allowed and 2 steps away from all the dining patrons? Have the laws changed in California about smoking indoors? I can't imagine this is sanitary.

Wow, what a transcendent experience. First, the food was delicious. The portions are generous. You'll order too much, but you'll eat it all regardless. The ambiance is fantastic, the mom and pop vibe sends you through a portal of sushi heaven for the 2+ hours you'll spend in there. Although awkward initially, try talking to the people sitting next to you. You'll share dish recommendations and even maybe share a bite to really convince (me in this case) to order the salmon skin. Best sushi experience ever. Go in with an open and hungry mind and you'll love Tekka too!!

My husband and I wanted to try a new sushi restaurant in our neighborhood. Sometimes you just need to change up the routine when it comes to your regular but favorite sushi spot. I somehow remembered this restaurant, that I do remember our friends raving about ~10 years ago, when we were all in our early 20s. I also remembered it being on some SF Eater Sushi list at the time. I've tried to recover the list, but it has since changed over time. I'm glad I finally got to try this restaurant. I guess I've technically been wanting to try it for over a decade now. The great thing about the pandemic is that they're only to-go, which takes away that horrible 1.5 hour wait factor, which I think is probably why my husband and I never tried going before. The comments I remember from friends were that: -It's a really cute tiny mom & pop restaurant, with 6 chairs around this tiny sushi bar -You will have to wait 1.5 hours in line for a spot, whether you come before it opens, or wait for 2nd seating, and there is never a guarantee with getting to sit down because the owners have friends that always take priority over you -The sushi is delicious, and they give generous portions Their website is quite easy to navigate. The menu in regards to their sushi is simple - literally just omakase sashimi, or sashimi salad. They do have a large selection of other small hot food items too. However, there are a lot of stipulations going on: -You must order before 12pm of the day you want your food, and they're not open everyday of the week -You order from the website, but must wait for their confirmation via email (and they are 100% accurate about it going in the spam, because mine did), otherwise it's a no-go. -Cash Only We ended up doing 2 Omakase Sashimi, and 1 Hamachi Kama. The ordering went pretty smoothly, as they do text you to check your spam email to confirm. The pickup went smooth. However, when eating their sushi at home, my husband and I felt kind of disappointed. I was really trying to analyze why I wasn't a fan, as the fish is very fresh, they gave a wide variety, and plentiful. Actually the quality is decent too. However, it's the WAY the slice their fish that is not the real sashimi way. The slices are extremely thick, which I can see some people going nuts over, but the fish slices were so thick for us, that the slices become CHEWY. After eating here, I realize how the slicing of fish can truly make a huge difference in your experience. Not only that, but the rice was really off - the flavor was not right. Either too much rice vinegar, or too little sugar, and the texture was a bit too gummy. Lastly, the other frustrating thing was that we believe that 1 Omakase Sashimi ($64) is actually portioned for 2 people, but they DO NOT specify this on their website. The portion was HUGE and they did give us 4 chopsticks for our entire meal....So we ended up with double amount of food....which was so wasteful, and frustrating. I did love the Hamachi Kama that we ordered though - it was cooked perfectly!!! Would I return? No. I think about whether it was an off night or not...honestly, the fish was fresh, and decent enough quality to return. However, it was the knife cutting skills, that I don't think the chefs will be able to change over time. I am glad that we finally tried this restaurant, especially in to-go format without having to wait 1.5 hours. It was disappointing on many levels. I do believe that if I had come here about 10 years ago, my husband and I probably would have enjoyed it, in that early 20s phase of our lives. I just feel bad that sushi in San Francisco, and Bay Area, has really changed over the past 10 years. We have great access to sushi restaurants that are springing up left and right; Michelin and even regular mom & pop neighborhood gems too. On their website, they have a little quote: "When Tekka opened in the late Eighties, there was absolutely nothing like it in San Francisco, or, in fact, the entire Bay Area." -- which honestly, probably is a true statement. However, the tides have changed in regards to sushi and the palette of others. I do love the mom & pop sushi restaurants, but there are so many other great ones to choose from in this neighborhood, including Ariake and Izakaya Mayumi, that just blow this restaurant out of the ballpark, unfortunately.

If you can get a seat - which is a big if - its the best sushi restaurant on planet earth. I've eaten more sushi in my young life than just about anyone and this is it - the Mecca. Stood outside in the cold for an hour and got two seats at the bar. We ordered pretty much everything. The hamachi collar was massive, fresh, perfectly seasoned and melt-in-your-mouth tender. The soft shell crab was light and perfectly done. The right amount of crunch and saltiness. The asparagus and mushrooms were stunningly good with a peppery sauce that worked perfectly. But the star of the show is definitely Nobu, the sushi chef. An absolute master of his craft. Some of the highest quality fish I've ever had and in massive portions. The sashimi plate is a must. I have never had Ika like this, the butteriest squid imaginable. The uni was tremendous. All the nigiri, especially the tuna, was perfect. My new favorite restaurant in the Bay Area. Be ready to run a huge tab!

What a find! The set-up is probably better during the Pandemic, since you can order/pick up, rather than wait in a long line to dine inside. We got the Omakase, which seems like the way to go. Over-the-top-abundant! Such value! And for a sushi restaurant, no less. If you try to order on the same day (particularly if it's a Friday), they may not be able to accommodate your order. So plan ahead. And don't tell all your friends about this place ... we want to keep it to ourselves.

I don't write review often but this place is great. The couple is super sweet and nice. The sushi portion is huge especially the sashimi combo and it's delicious. The eel nigiri is really good and it's literally the size of my hand. The place is pretty small and only the two of them working, so get there early or be patient.

Been coming here for years! Well technically 3 times. I had their first seating and second seating. So if you want first seating back than was 5pm wait outside but now its 4pm. So to be sure, come at 4pm with chairs and hidden cocktails and snacks while you wait for their first seatings. If first seating is taken than wait till 6:30pm when owner/chef arrive and tell them you'll be back for the 8:30p seating. This place doesn't disappoint in food. Mom n pop restaurant for over 20 years, Authentic Japanese and fresh of the day. Oh this place doesn't serve exotic fish like barracudas, ocean trout, etc. Base of all the photos its the basic salmon, tuna, hamachi, scallop, etc. Their appetizers are also good, their sashimi portion are huge and price is very reasonable. Biggest unagi nigiri ever! For party of two... I would suggest to get 1 portion of sashimi combo, unagi and uni. Next get all their appetizers. This way you get to try everything. Party of three same thing but order two portions of the sashimi combo. Anyway you get my point its a must go.

$25 a plate full of delicious Sashimi! Squid was surprising creamy! Octopus had the right amount of bite! Salmon and scallop melted in your mouth! $5+ Nigiri! Salmon and Unagi Nigiri were fat! Literally the size of spam musubi! 4.5 outta 5 Stars for this mom & pop hole in the wall sushi restaurant! Next time I'm gonna try the rolls and uni! Cons: they only serve a group of 10 people everyday at 6:30 and 8:30pm. Have to line up early at like 5 to get a spot!

I agree with Angie C. Nobu San and Yoshimi San are the humans of San Francisco. They opened Tekka since 1980s, and remains the style for years and years. Tekka only opens Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday from 6:00 pm- 9:00 pm. Two round of tables each shift. So, if you try to get a seat on the first round, it's better to start waiting on line around 4:30 pm. Tips: CASH ONLY and LIMIT STREET PARKING What we ordered for 3 ppl: Assorted Sashimi plate (5/5): fresh, good quality, huge portion. Nigiri (5/5): Literally hand size!! Highly recommend the water eel nigiri Shishito pepper (5/5): I am not a big fan of green pepper, but these Japanese pepper leave me a good impression. Hamachi Kama (5/5): The freshest Hamachi Kama that I ever have! Yum! Agadashi tofu (5/5): Love the soft tofu wrapping with crispy skin. Tekka may not the best Japanese restaurant in San Francisco, but it is the most human one. Appreciate to Nobu San and Yoshimi San's food. :)