Best Restaurants with a Tasting Menu in Civic Center / Hayes Valley / Van Ness

Everything is perfect here in every way except the table vs. tableware sizes. Their service plates are beautiful and of generous size. The tables are just barely large enough to seat either 2 or 4 persons. If you order more than 2 0r 3 items at once things get tight immediately. Item number 3 or 4 appears and if you find the food is so good that you have taken a little time to savor and appreciate each just a bit, the runner is not prepared to cope and just stands there, holding the new dish and looking non-plussed. Our runner was not prepared to move items around on existing plates to reduce density. So the diners had to do it and messy plates were produced. Clearly the space is already filled with tables, so larger ones are not an option. On our future visits, we will order only 2 items at a time and order new ones when service plates can be removed timely. BUT the great food is the thing, after all. We both judged this to be the best sushi meal we have eaten outside of Japan, so we are more than willing to drive in from Marin. FIVE STARS in every category that really matters! We shall return soon and often.

Joyous experience. Our third or fourth time here, fabulous food and service each time. Maz and Jordan are extremely attentive and friendly. The dishes are exquisite and delicious. The Taste of the ocean dish is a must. So good. The menu changes seasonally, with some staples on there year round.

Service was really great. Very attentive and dirty dishes were removed quickly. Pork salad was divine, Caesar was superb and dinks were perfect.

Every dish was crafted beautifully! Each morsel delicious! Such a unique and tasty meal! Service impeccable! Will come back! Would like to see more Napa reds on the wine menu and higher rates wines.

Have you ever dreamed about having a meal where everything was perfect? Have you ever thought, I would love to taste Waygu beef and have it melt in my mouth? Do you have someone special in your life who you want to have a once in a lifetime dining experience? You will have all these things happen, and more, when you choose Yakiniku Shodai. I can say without hesitation, this was one of the best, if not the best dinners I’ve ever experienced. Yes, there will be sticker shock, but this isn’t Sizzler. Go ahead and live life. You will never ever regret you did this for yourself and the person(s) you love. Thank you Shodai, for the meal, experience, evening of a lifetime.