Japanese
Trip Ideas
Explore Further
In the Financial District and SoMa neighborhoods, you’ll find plenty of sushi restaurants to choose from, from the most ultra-casual walk-up lunch places to the fanciest fusion joints. Ame (689 Mission St., St. Regis Hotel, 415/284-4040, www.amerestaurant.com, daily 5:30–10 p.m., $34–42) is one of the latter. Appropriately situated in stylish SoMa, this upscale eatery serves a California-Japanese fusion style of seafood.
Raw fish fanciers can start out with (or make a meal of) the offerings from the sashimi bar, while folks who prefer their food cooked will find a wealth of options in the appetizers and main courses.
The attractively colored blocky dining room has a modern flair that’s in keeping with the up-to-date cuisine coming out of the kitchen. You can either start out or round off your meal with a cocktail from the shiny black bar.
Forget your notions of the plain-Jane sushi bar; Ozumo (161 Steuart St., 415/882-1333, www.ozumo.com, lunch Mon.–Fri. 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m., dinner Sun.–Wed. 5:30–10 p.m., Thurs.–Sat. 5:30–11 p.m.) takes Japanese cuisine upscale, San Francisco style. Order some classic nigiri, a small-plate Izakaya pub dish, or a big chunk of meat off the traditional robata grill.
The high-quality sake lines the shelves above the bar and along the walls. For non-imbibers, choose from a selection of premium teas. If you’re a night owl, enjoy a late dinner on weekends and drinks in the lounge nightly.
© Liz Hamill Scott from Moon California, 2nd Edition
Buy Moon Travel Guides
Search
Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.