Village Sake

https://guide.michelin.com/en/california/fairfax/restaurant/village-sake

48,074 Postcards · 8,013 Cities

"Set along a bustling stretch, Village Sake is a mighty hot and mod izakaya delivering authentic goods in the heart of quaint Fairfax. All the classic small plates are in full force here: crisp and creamy takoyaki (octopus croquettes), okonomiyaki, tataki (made with silky smoked hamachi) and coconut mochi cake complete with cardamom gelato. If you must have sushi, there’s a small selection of excellent nigiri, too—make sure to sample the shima aji and kinmedai.The look of the room suggests Tokyo, with closely spaced tables, an array of wood accents (including a live-edge wood counter) as well as a friendly staff, many of them Japanese natives. This is a popular spot that doesn’t take reservations, so expect long lines, especially on weekends." - Michelin Inspector

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/features/animal-neck-bones-fish-collars-food-cooking

48,074 Postcards · 8,013 Cities

Ingredient Spotlight: Necks and Collars

"Pigs aren’t the only creatures sticking out their necks. The Bay Area’s Village Sake serves grilled yellowtail collar with ponzu for dipping."

https://sf.eater.com/maps/michelin-bib-gourmands-san-francisco-bay-area

391,113 Postcards · 10,988 Cities

All the Michelin Bib Gourmands in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mapped

"Grilled skewers, sushi, and izakaya plates all draw crowds to Fairfax’s best Japanese restaurant." - Dianne de Guzman, Clair Lorell, Paolo Bicchieri

Village Sake/Facebook

https://sf.eater.com/2018/8/15/17690276/west-marin-dining-scene-bolinas-olema-point-reyes-inverness

391,113 Postcards · 10,988 Cities

Where to Eat in Bolinas, Inverness, Olema and More - Eater SF

"Word is that the fish at Village Sake, though, is totally current. Since opening in 2015, it’s become the Japanese place this side of the Golden Gate. It arguably usurped Sausalito’s 32-year-old stoic and serene Sushi Ran, from whence chef Scott Whitman came." - Rachel Levin

Philippa Pham H.

Google

Wow! This place rocks! Every single thing we are was amazing. The service is great. This town is so cute. Highly recommend

Linda P.

Google

overall A: atmosphere and service great for a fast-seated supper, fabulous nigiri sushi, tuna cevice, chicken karaage, sake. Good prices; excellent recommendation by a local; highly recommend.

Kim I.

Google

Everything was amazing! We went in willing to try anything new and we were not disappointed. We signed up for our table online which was great for a Saturday night. We had the citrus salmon roll, tuna crunch roll, miso salad (amazing dressing) and smoked hamachi app (my fav). The service was great everyone was friendly and the food was not a long wait. We are so glad we tried this place out and this will be one of our favorites in the area! Worth the drive yum!!

Christine S.

Google

This place used to be our go to for sushi but not anymore after today. Shockingly cold and dismissive service by our waiter. We watched her treat the other nearby tables with hospitality and grace but not us. Everyone else got waters but we had to wait a full 20 minutes after being seated to get ours (even though I specifically asked for water). She cheerfully asked her other tables how was their food and made suggestions about the menu to them. But could barely bother to stop by our table and wouldn’t make eye contact. I wonder if she assumed my husband and I wouldn’t be generous tippers because we rolled in looking a bit dusty and sweaty having just finished a hike. Despite the discriminatory treatment, we tipped well on the assumption that the wait staff divvies and shares their tip. As regulars at Village Sake, we have only ever had excellent service but this waiter is new (we haven’t seen her before). I hope the restaurant figures it out quick that this member of their staff needs better training. The other bummer was the food. Overly enthusiastic use of chili crisp which overpowered all the other flavors. Quality of the fish in their nigiri has gone down. Tempura portions have shrunk. We will not be coming back.

Jackie Z

Google

We came too late so some of the most popular dishes had been sold out. We still had a great dinner. All dishes are tasty. The place is kind of understaff, it’s hard for us to get service after being seated in the corner.

Laura R.

Google

Just amazing flavors and presentation. Every dish we had was amazing, with such good flavors and textures. I would highly recommend the steak. One of the best Japanese meals I've had!

Omer H.

Google

I almost don’t want to post about this place because it’s already hard to get a table here. The chef here is an absolute artist and I don’t mean it in a Michelin guide kind of way , every bite is exact and well thought. From the amazing greens salad to the most tasty appetizers and fresh sushi . Top Top notch. Great portions and friendly staff. Easily top 3 in the entire bay .

Angel R.

Google

Had fabulous sashimi, sake and appetizers. Service was friendly and quick. Nice atmosphere

paulina c.

Yelp

Hidden gem?..... no the word got out. Worth the wait in line outside? Rain or shine? Always. And we spent time in SF. The chefs are amazing, the fish is FRESH. The service is very perceptive and intuitive

Kimberly R.

Yelp

Village Sake in Fairfax gets one star for Service and 4 stars for food. If you want to wait a long time for yummy sushi served by really unhappy, stressed out staff who haven't yet been taught (or maybe are not allowed) to manage a table service as well as a general manager who says she can't promise you a second beer during your meal because they're too busy, check out village sake! We were there for dinner on Sunday night 2/16 after work. About an hour and 15 minutes into it we decided to check out and go elsewhere to finish our evening . The most disappointing part of the whole evening was the general manager, also looking very stressed out and unhappy, who basically said there was nothing she could do to help a beer arrive in a more timely way because they were just too busy to serve guests. (All she needed to say was apologies! And that she'd be right back with our beer. ) Like I said, miso soup amazing, sushi was great. For dumplings I think I'll stick to buying the fresh/frozen ones on Irving Street in SF from Yummy Dumpling because the ones at Village sake were not cooked well and we're cold by the time they were delivered to us by the frenzied and very unfriendly runner. I would love to say that I love Village sake because it's the only sushi game in town. I've been there on a night when it was slow/quiet/calm and had a great time and good service. Sunday 2/16 at Village Sake was perhaps the worst service experience I've ever had in a restaurant.

Jeanne W.

Yelp

In general the food was very good and reasonably priced. Critique: Not as much fish varieties as at other high end sushi restaurants. Our miso soup arrived towards the end of the meal and at that point should have been comped.

Randy F.

Yelp

No-nonsense popular spot Village Sake is the downtown Fairfax's spot for sushi rolls and Japanese classics but if you take the time to explore more deeply beyond the deep fried or flame torched sushi rolls, there are some surprising gems. I loved the Kabocha tempura mixed with deep fried shishito peppers and green beans and the Wagyu beef tartare is a steal at $24 for such flavorful and quality beef. The omakase nigiri at $60 for 7 pieces is on the pricier side but the selection is solid and it's cheaper than ordering a la carte. Overall, tasty and satisfying Japanese meal in a part of town where there are less options. Dining is indoor only and there are no reservations. All credit cards including Amex are accepted.

Paulina F.

Yelp

Really, really good fish, especially for Marin. I think the nigiri can be more seasoned, though. The scallop roll is standout. I almost never order rolls.

M S.

Yelp

Delicious food and awesome service. Highly recommend it. Exceeded my expectations. Vibe and ambience great.

Denisse F.

Yelp

I can't stop thinking about their chili hamachi roll. It's on the pricy side but, for a treat, it's well worth it. Every other roll we've tried has been delicious and they come out quick. The pork belly skewers are a biiiiit on the salty side but I love them regardless. Miso soup is rich and perfectly hot when served. We've sat outside and in the bar room - they are the more quiet options to the main dining room. Staff had always been friendly and efficient. I'm sure we'll be back whenever we crave sushi. Definitely recommend!!

Josh H.

Yelp

I love this place, the food and atmosphere are perfect to bring a date. The guy server that is there most of the time is awesome, he very good at recommending new things and also very funny.

Allie P.

Yelp

Ok... so it's been a long time since I have last checked this establishment out and wow has it blossomed! I am happy to report that this is the best sushi thus far I have experienced in Marin. The sushi is balanced, the cookery of proteins is executed perfectly and the flavor profiles are pops of joy! Def check it out.

Dana S.

Yelp

Starters were awesome (I always order the agadashi-tofu) and sushi was fresh! I love this place because they're always friendly servers who greet you with a smile and the food is consistently very good!

John W.

Yelp

Maybe I should not write this at the moment because I'm pretty frustrated. But I don't care how good the food is. I ordered for pick up online over an hour before my allotted time of between 8 and 815pm. I arrived at 8pm and waited for several minutes then was told to come back in 5 minutes. I was asked my name probably seven or eight times by different staff. I waited over a half an hour total, most of it standing there, starving, hoping my food would appear any minute. I will never order from here again. I don't like sounding disgruntled, but what a shit show. I'm adding to my review. The fish was excellent but I still stand, no pun, by my initial review because of the experience of waiting around so long.

Maribeth G.

Yelp

Food is good - not that over the top - over priced over hyped - slow service - waited for all our food way too long - they are over impressed with themselves!! Ok it's sad good Marin for good & service?!

Mar F.

Yelp

Excellent sushi, friendly staff, would definitely come back-- the star dish was the amazing mouthwatering fresh local uni nigiri which made this 5 stars. We joined the waitlist around 5:05 pm on a weekday evening via their website and received a text telling us our number in line and an estimate of the timing. The text provided a time estimate based on our place on the list. We were promptly texted before the estimated time that a table was ready and we let them know when we could arrive which worked out. Some of the food highlights: - Sunomono Salad- fresh seaweed salad with a nicely textured variety of seaweed, avocado slices and crunchy cucumbers -- this seaweed salad was phenomenal and bright. - uni (sea urchin) nigiri- highly recommend it - came in super fresh from Fort Bragg- melt in your mouth delicious with an uplifting taste of the ocean. - fatty tuna spicy daikon radish roll We also enjoyed: - The Village roll was excellent. - King salmon nigiri - Agedashi tofu was flavorful (has a medium firmness). The ambience was pretty relaxed outdoor atmosphere with fun 2000s indie pop music.

John D.

Yelp

She's back baby! Thank you for opening up your cozy indoor space again! Love you! Best sushi in Marin hands down.

Zoe S.

Yelp

The food was unbelievable. Every bite was perfection. All of the classics done with simplicity with ingredients that shine. I love that there waitlist system means you can wait at home or near by without worrying about losing your table. They were super accommodating and helpful with food allergy concerns.

Erika R.

Yelp

I waited years to try this neighborhood favorite in Fairfax...definitely not worth the hype. Horrible service. Food is fine, but the service was so disappointing and disrespectful. I was very shocked at the low level of customer care. Definitely do not recommend.

Angie C.

Yelp

Thanks to Soleil Ho's SF Chronicle recommendation (and Yelp reviews), we timed our visit to Village Sake well -- getting in line 30 minutes before opening to ensure first seating and outdoor dining on a Friday afternoon. Drop by Fairfax Scoop half a block away to get a sweet cold treat while your party waits for a table. The reviews were right. This place is a treat for the taste buds. Each dish is lovingly prepared and uniquely tasty. We loved the squid, scallop chive dumplings, chilled asparagus covered with black sesame paste, perfectly tempura-ed green beans with kabocha and shishito peppers, pork belly skewers, and hamachi collar. Next time, we'll get the waygu beef tataki.

Kelsey M.

Yelp

Does not disappoint. Our favorites are the miso black cod, smoked hamachi tataki, chicken karaage, and the village roll. Can't forget the donut holes! Only wish it took reservations!

Andrew E.

Yelp

Love love love Village Sake. We have been many times and have tried most things on the menu - the sushi is all excellent, but don't miss the hot dishes (such as the Miso Black Cod) which are delicious. Great selection of sake. We typically sit at the bar, which only has a few seats and has a nice, intimate vibe. Service is warm and friendly. Every visit here is a treat for us - our favorite restaurant in Marin.

Fefe A.

Yelp

Village Sake perfected every dish. I can see why they are on the Michelin guide! I would highly recommend dining here. What you need to know : there is indoor and outdoor seating as well as seating by the bar. They don't take reservations ahead of time . Only same day reservations; and they do have a waitlist. The area is busy so give your self some extra time to park. The ambiance is casual and relaxed. We ordered the Wagyu Beef , hamachi Kama and shrimp dumplings from the small plates menu . I loved them all equally. We also did the chefs choice sashimi and ended our meal with the donut holes . The donut holes just melt in your mouth !!!

Jacqueline S.

Yelp

How could you go wrong with a great staff, chefs, and it's local to Fairfax . I wish it had even more seating available than the outside added tables ! Hard in the winter !

Abbie D.

Yelp

We've been coming here for years and are almost never disappointed. The food execution is on point. Sometimes we don't feel full enough, but we don't want to spend $200 for dinner for two- a common problem for sushi. But unlike Nobu, the quality of the food actually commands the prices they charge. I guess that saves room for dessert though- we LOVE the donut holes and always each get our own order and devour them!! If you go here, they are a must...and hands down beat out the famous beignets at Spruce in SF. Service is usually good, but sometimes they just get slammed and things feel uneven as far as the timing of food and drinks coming out and attentiveness of the servers. They have done the best they can with the Waitlist and the extra tables outside post-covid. But make no mistake, if you don't arrive or put your name on the list right when they open, you're probably not going to eat at Village Sake that night. It's that popular. Parking can also be problematic in Fairfax especially on Friday and Saturday, but that's not their fault.

Nathan L.

Yelp

This is a 6 star spot. Of course the food is awesome. It stands toe to toe with the best Japanese spots in SF. Someone compared to Akikos recently which is great - very high quality of ingredients and superior attention to details. What really stands apart for me is the experience. Tranquil Perfection. The service is warm, friendly, and attentive in the right amount. They notice the little things, which is a mark of someone that has passion for what they are doing. The environment (outdoors only right now) is welcoming and you can tell someone has put care into crafting it, down to the littlest of details. There is even strong community support - I saw an un-housed person come by asking to borrow the phone and the hostess was supportive and patient to help out. Come often and tip heavily. This is THE gem that deserves all our support. P.S. - don't forget the donuts!!

Beth N.

Yelp

We had a fantastic dinner at Village Sake recently. My first time there, we lined up promptly at 5 PM and got a nice table for 4 near the window on the porch. It was a hot day so the shade from the blind and the breeze felt good. We tried a little bit from each section of the menu. Favorites were the scallop hamachi roll, grilled eggplant, black miso cod, shrimp and chive dumplings. Everything was super fresh and beautifully plated. We also tried 2 sake tasting flights. The beer was cold and refreshing given how hot it was. A great meal for a hot summer evening.

Kevin D.

Yelp

We sat down right as expected based on the wait list, food was excellent across the board, and staff was friendly, engaging and efficient. We also enjoyed the casual but active atmosphere. Outstanding experience from start to finish.

Jb D.

Yelp

Awesome experience at Village Sake. Amazing food and great service. Highly recommended.

Richard M.

Yelp

Make sure you get on the waitlist at 5:05pm. Then check in at the restaurant about an hour after that. Probably the best way to get seated as quickly as possible. The place is small, but does offer outdoor seating, indoor seating, and a bar area. The staff is very friendly and attentive. We ordered the pork belly skewers(delicious), dumplings(very good), and chefs choice nigiri(very good), Village roll(very good). Don't forget to try the donut holes which were a lovely dessert. The food was very fresh and properly prepped. Definitely proving it's Michelin rating. Ambiance was nice and low lit. They had some mainstream electronic music playlist which worked surprisingly well with the environment. Overall a great experience, one of the best sushi spots i've ever been to. That all made up for the interesting waitlist process. Would definitely come back again!

Melissa S.

Yelp

Everything was absolute perfection. Hidden in a beautiful town in Marin, this sushi restaurant exceeded all experiences that I have had outside of Japan, and only rivaled one at a private park in Tokyo at the Four Seasons in 2001. The dishes were elegant, perfectly presented, and the ingredients were absolutely top notch. Textures and flavors were optimal for their presentations. The sake list is one of the best in the country. Highlights were the tempura shiso wrap, scallop chive dumplings, and the wagyu tataki. 50B

Ghazal K.

Yelp

Best sushi we have had in a long time. We went to NOBU in SoCal and were not impressed. We can't wait to visit Village Sake. Wait is very long but service is great.

Kate R.

Yelp

FANTASTIC dinner! We waited in like about 10 mins prior to opening and were seated within 3 mins or so. We ordered hot sake, a few starters, a roll and some sashimi and everything was amazing! I think our eyes were bigger than our stomachs, but we managed to finish it all, it was that good! Also the service was impeccable. Our server was very attentive, and there were others around clearing empty plates quickly before the next round came. We can't wait to go back!

NICOLE A.

Yelp

Worth the wait in line, the food is outstanding. The menu varies, but everything I've had was delicious. Inspired cooking.

Kathi G.

Yelp

Celebrated a family birthday here last week. I'm not a big sushi lover but this was absolutely delicious! The waitstaff were friendly, professional and were happy to answer all our group's questions, even when asked more than once!

Rose G.

Yelp

The food and service were outstanding! Love the concept and the server recommended the best of the best! They have a large selection of very good sake and other spirits. The sushi is fresh and delicious. The appetizers were tasty and all the food had a beautiful presentation. We finished the evening with their Village Donuts with ice cream! Yummy dinner from beginning to end. It's small but very cozy! I highly recommend this restaurant!

Ms. B.

Yelp

Excellent take out experience, the sushi is so fresh and packed well. Beats waiting in line for over an hour for a table any night of the week - also Sake to go is a plus!

Bob B.

Yelp

The restaurant has a poorly run "wait list" system. The system assumes you live within walking distance of the restaurant in Fairfax. if you live any driving distance from the restaurant , their system will be very inconvenient for you. They gave us poor estimates of when our table would be ready; and we wasted an entire evening waiting and after which they told us that they could not wait 20 min for us to arrive for our table. We are in the never again camp. We would strongly suggest you to reconsider making plans here unless you live very close by.

Jennifer A.

Yelp

This was our last stop on the top hundred restaurants in the Bay Area. It took us a while to get here because they do not take reservations. We arrived at 4:45 PM before opening and we were able to get bar seats for our group. The hanger steak skewers were my favorite, but the avo roll and squash tempura that I had were also good. You can never go wrong with edamame either. The less expensive, unfiltered sake was sweeter so we went with that and weren't disappointed. it was definitely worth a visit!

Eric M.

Yelp

food is great. service was the pits. stood at the door at least ten minutes after we were pinged our table was ready. then we were seated at the counter in the side space - and it was just chaos. you could tell the staff was not well organized. we had to ask for water twice, followed up to get our drinks delivered a few times - food started coming before the drinks. over all the food is terrific but for the price and the wait list policy - they should button it up. strange part was the restaurant wasn't terribly busy, and there was plenty of staff / there just was no cohesion , organization or frankly and warmth or care that we were dining there.

Matt F.

Yelp

Hands down the best restaurant in Marin. Everything we ordered from beer/sake, to the food and, service was excellent. Seating is limited so you must get on the wait list as we did. They have heaters outside. It is a bit pricey (~$200 for two people) but so very worth it. As of right now this is our go to monthly date night spot, and only restaurant we will happily stay in Marin for. If you want high quality Japanese food, no need to go into the city, come here.

Herman F.

Yelp

The only thing missing is actually seeing the food being crafted in front of you, since that is mostly done in the back kitchen instead, and what a shame since everything that came out was so well crafted! We've been to Tokyo izakayas pre-pandemic , and loved the small vibe of them and while this one is small, it was relatively large enough to fit more guests surrounding the bar area which sort of loses the community vibe in comparison to our Tokyo experiences, but still a great experience. We got there early for first come first serve (4:55) and there was 2 other guests waiting with us on a winter Wednesday. It also has a good amount of bigger seating outside with covered seating areas with heatlamps. The food there did not disappoint, the sushi is prepared immaculately and the taste is exquisite. Staff was very attentive and personable. You can order just a couple of 2 piece nigiris and keep ordering as you go to create your own experience. Each order comes out really fast even with a 3/4 full occupancy so ordering as you eat went like a breeze.

Perry V.

Yelp

Village Sake is hands down the very best Sushi in Marin County. Every dish they serve is stupendous. I try to make it to Village Sake at least once a month. This is a family owned restaurant and the service is always great. A few tips, get in line at least 45 minutes before they open if you want to get a table. They only have outdoor tables, fully covered with heat lamps. Leave room for the doughnut holes with miso caramel sauce.

AL S.

Yelp

Best sushi in Marin. Literally perfect. You guys crush sushi ran. Food is sublime. Service is fast and courteous. HOWEVER! Congratulations you have the single most incredibly confusing and annoying reservation system in the history of restaurants. A full on head scratcher. How can every other restaurant in the universe use 1 system and you make up your own, which spooks anyone who doesn't live in down town Fairfax. Hey everybody sign in to our website at 5 pm sharp and get a 2 hour window for seating then come "hang out" in the neighborhood until we may or may not contact you around the projected reservation time. Take the palm of your hand and slap your own forehead twice. Here is the recap -Your food is incredible and your service is impeccable and your reservation thingy is asinine.

Ian T.

Yelp

Amazing food. Had the sashimi and all pieces were fresh and delicious. Also did the same tasting before getting one to share we table. Pork belly was also a table favorite

alexa c.

Yelp

My favorite sushi spot in the universe. The fish is so fresh, amazing sake, nice staff, beautiful restaurant (please reopen the other side!!!), and in such a cute little town. Amazing find

Ella J.

Yelp

The food was delicious! 10/10 4 stars because: 1: the waitlist situation is a bit bizarre (and stressful lol) - I signed on right at 5pm and ended up #22 on the list which translated to 8pm seating... 2: Service was so/so...I guess after waiting for 3 hours for our table we were expecting a bit more ( but I will say Fairfax has a great selection of bars while you wait!)

Al B.

Yelp

Excellent food, service and ambience! The staff are so accommodating and took great care of us even though they had a full house and we had no reservation. Our favorite thing was the Wagyu Beef Tataki and the Village Doughnuts - but everything was amazing!! We especially appreciated the over-the-top hospitality from Jenny - she's so sweet! We'll certainly be back!

Lola R.

Yelp

Food is a 5. Ambiance is a 2. It's SO LOUD in there. Prices are pretty intense. The food is for sure worth the money but it's hard to enjoy when you go home with ringing ears. But again, the food is otherworldly. It's even better sushi than that super fancy place in Sausalito I used to go to.

Jan F.

Yelp

This is the best Japanese in Marin. It would be nice if they took reservations. We only go here when we can arrive at 4:30 to wait in line for the first seating. Otherwise you can wait a long time to get in. This visit we had seasonal greens, the Wagyu beef, seared Albacore, salt and pepper shrimp, Tai crunch roll, and hamachi, umi masu and Tamago nigiri. Everything was outstanding from the service to the food.

Yasi N.

Yelp

Excellent sushi- fish is super fresh and prepared well. It's a bit pricey but for what you get it's worth it. Hostess is friendly and accommodating. I highly recommend!

Troy R.

Yelp

I can't believe how long it took me to visit Village Sake! I finally made it to their subtle location in Downtown Fairfax, so quaint in this historical city. I knew that I was going to have trouble trying to get a reservation on a weekend, so I popped in on a Wednesday and got a table instantly. (a little birdie told me that they get BUSY on the weekend.) PS if you want to plan anything here they start taking them at 5pm. I had many dishes here but there are two I'd like to highlight and that is the pork belly skewers and the dumplings. The Pork Belly is slow-cooked then finished on the teppanyaki grill, sansho & scallions to finish. The Dumplings are scallop & chive and such a gorgeous sauce that you can bathe in! You won't leave hungry here, everything is made to share, just get ready to have great food tapas style!

https://guide.michelin.com/en/california/fairfax/restaurant/village-sake

48,074 Postcards · 8,013 Cities

https://guide.michelin.com/us/en/article/features/animal-neck-bones-fish-collars-food-cooking

48,074 Postcards · 8,013 Cities

Ingredient Spotlight: Necks and Collars

"Pigs aren’t the only creatures sticking out their necks. The Bay Area’s Village Sake serves grilled yellowtail collar with ponzu for dipping."

https://sf.eater.com/maps/michelin-bib-gourmands-san-francisco-bay-area

391,113 Postcards · 10,988 Cities

All the Michelin Bib Gourmands in the San Francisco Bay Area, Mapped

"Grilled skewers, sushi, and izakaya plates all draw crowds to Fairfax’s best Japanese restaurant." - Dianne de Guzman, Clair Lorell, Paolo Bicchieri

Village Sake/Facebook

https://sf.eater.com/2018/8/15/17690276/west-marin-dining-scene-bolinas-olema-point-reyes-inverness

391,113 Postcards · 10,988 Cities

Where to Eat in Bolinas, Inverness, Olema and More - Eater SF