San Francisco: Best area to stay in??

Jamie123 said:
Like I said, I absolutely LOVE Sushi! However, so far my research (i.e. Google search) has led me to believe that the Sushi places in SF, while not bad, are not in the same league as some of the good ones in L.A. and NYC. Feel free to challenge this view, though!

I love high quality Sushi and am prepared to pay a bit more if it's really good. But of course somewhere there's a limit. Apparently there's a Sushi place in NYC that starts at $400 a person and goes up from there. Now that's definitely out of my price range! To think of all the film that money could buy! 🙂
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Didn't know it was a competition between SF, LA and NYC, or Google vs. RFF. And I am not sure if quality and price are related, unless it is important for you to eat Fugu or watch Robert de Niro while you eat.

Never mind.
 
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OK I hated on the Wharf, so I'll go positive with a defense of Japantown.

Worth checking out:
The New People mall (blue bottle coffee in the cafe), the gift store, the home design store, the gallery at the top. http://www.newpeopleworld.com/

Mochi at BenKyodo
The donut flavor is probably not authentic or subtle, but it's good!
http://www.benkyodocompany.com/

Kinokuniya Bookstore
In the original Japantown mall, I think one of the only places to see/get the Japanese camera magazines. Modest photobook section as well.
 
I agree that sushi is much much better in LA than in SF......

That said I've had a pleasant sushi experience at Kabuto on Geary (try the escolar as it's stellar there). Sebo in Hayes Valley is good as well and Okina Sushi in the Richmond District. Koppon Gomi that Sug suggested is excellent but of course it's not a sushi place.
 
ferider said:
Didn't know it was a competition between SF, LA and NYC, or Google vs. RFF. And I am not sure if quality and price are related, unless it is important for you to eat Fugu or watch Robert de Niro while you eat.

Never mind.
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It's not generally a competition but since I'll also be visiting LA and NYC on this trip I could skip SF if the Sushi turned out not to be so great there. There's lots of other food I also love so it doesn't have to be Sushi all the time.

I'm really not into eating any endangered species or fish that could potentially kill me. What I want is really fresh fish, good rice and a Sushi chef who keeps his workplace clean and knows what he's doing. Don't care how fancy it is or isn't.

So do you have any suggestions?
 
IMO, you can't beat Ebisu, at 9th between Lincoln and Irving, in the Inner Sunset. Can't tell you if the new locations are any good, tho'.

Same goes for Katsu's Sushi On North Beach. Both are fantastic and no-nonsense sushi joints. Sit at the bar and let the chefs take you on a journey.
 
heres some of my SF recommendations for your trip btw:


San Francisco

Mama's - great brunch spot, but it gets busy
1701 Stockton St
(at Filbert St)
San Francisco, CA 94133
Neighborhood: North Beach/Telegraph Hill
(415) 362-6421
tues-sun 8am-3pm
http://www.yelp.com/biz/mamas-san-francisco


Ike's Place - one of my favorite sandwich spots of ALL TIME!! amazing. long lines
3506 16th St
(between Sanchez St & Prosper St)
San Francisco, CA 94114
Neighborhood: Castro
(415) 553-6888
www.ilikeikesplace.com
mon-sun 10a-7p
http://www.yelp.com/biz/ikes-place-san-francisco


NOPA - the best porkchops you'll ever have. seriously delicious - open late
560 Divisadero St
(between Fell St & Hayes St)
San Francisco, CA 94117
Neighborhood: Western Addition/NOPA
Mon-Sun 6 p.m. - 1 a.m.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/nopa-san-francisco

Bi-Rite Creamery - really good ice cream - get the salted caramel and the one that has heath bars or something in it
3692 18th St
(between Dolores St & Oakwood St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Mission
(415) 626-5600
biritecreamery.com
Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Fri-Sat 11 a.m. - 11 p.m.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/bi-rite-creamery-san-francisco

Limon Rotisserie - sooo good, call in for a reservation though. its like latin american food - get the chicharon de pollo, lomito saltado, and rotisserie chicken
1001 S Van Ness Ave
(between 21st St & 22nd St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Mission
(415) 821-2134
limonrotisserie.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/limon-rotisserie-san-francisco#hrid:_bMt0UCh46XZSN4RZIKBwg/src:self

Seniore's Pizza - pesto garlic chicken pizza mmmm - open late
2415 19th Ave
(between Taraval St & Ulloa St)
San Francisco, CA 94116
Neighborhood: Parkside
(415) 661-2222
www.seniorespizza.com
Mon-Sun 10:30 a.m. - 3 a.m.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/seniores-pizza-san-francisco

Burma Superstar - really great burmese food; one of the best salad appetizers ive ever had - gets really busy
309 Clement St
(between 4th Ave & 5th Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94118
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond
(415) 387-2147
www.burmasuperstar.com
Mon-Sun 11:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Mon-Thu, Sun 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Fri-Sat 5 p.m. - 10:30 p.m.
http://www.yelp.com/biz/burma-superstar-san-francisco

Bstar Bar - this is the sister restaurant of burma superstar - some pretty good food here too
127 Clement St
(between 2nd Ave & 3rd Ave)
San Francisco, CA 94118
Neighborhood: Inner Richmond
(415) 933-9900
www.bstarbar.com
Mon, Wed-Fri 11 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Mon, Wed-Thu, Sun 5 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.
Fri-Sat 5 p.m. - 10 p.m.
Sat-Sun 10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
 
+1 for the New Mall in J-town, it adds a fresh fun funk to the ailing J-town of old. And the acccompaning Viz theater highlights boutique asian films..

Sushi Groove in SOMA was always great, but havent been there in a year or so
 
Good thing about SF compared to LA when it comes to eat out including but not limited to Japanese:

Eat anywhere, drink whatever. Taxi Magic will bring the car to you while you are in the restaurant, you'll be home/hotel in no time for $10-$15. Or just walk home. Small is better in this case.
 
One more thing.

Good combination of local feel, shopping, Sushi including Sebo, Domo, and Otoro: Hayes Valley.

And stop by at True Sake if you can bring some sake back home.
 
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