Japan Center
(415) 922-3121
22 Peace Plz Ste 510
San Francisco,
CA
94115
37.7843
-122.4306
Neighborhoods: Central North, Western Addition
Reviews & Ratings for Japan Center
19 reviews
What users are saying:
Showing 1-10 of 19 reviews
Amazing fish and an irritable sushi chef in Japantown.
by Patrick Heig
May 06, 2009
Deep in the bowels of the labyrinthine Miyako Mall--through a deserted mezzanine, up a short escalator, through an unmarked curtain door--this pocket-sized sushi spot might be known as one of the best in the city if anyone could find it. Ino is run by a husband and wife team (he prickly sushi master, she gracious hostess in traditional kimono), and is famous in sushi circles for its ambrosial ankimo (monkfish liver), known as "Japanese foie gras." Tips: Call ahead for reservations, order omasake (chef's choice), and be prepared to get the stinkeye from the chef for various imperceptible sushi etiquette infractions.
Rudest waitress in SF serves mediocre food and then rips you off with the bill.
by acaciatree
July 15, 2008
Absolute waste of a restaurant. The rudest waitress in SF demands our order with 90 seconds of our seating. (One gal hasn't even had time to take off her coat.) The rolls were small and fell apart because the warm rice caused the seaweed to lose its stick. This fish was good quality, but there are other places that give equally or better quality with a much much much better user experience. The hand roll was the straw that broke the camel's back: It was $6 for something the size of a small dog dropping. It wasn't even cone shaped either. The four of us left no tip and vowed never to return to this place. What is funny is there is a group of ignorant people that praise this place. Why? Well, I guess it is better that you all stay out of my favorite Japanese places. Only people into S&M would find value here. All others, steer clear.
- Pros: None.
- Cons: Overpriced, overrated, and left feeling like I was ripped off.
Avoid on Friday nights, Great customer service
by OlgaShchur
June 25, 2008
It is a very great restaurant with a great atmosphere and excellent food and great music and excellent waiters and service
Rude, unclean and dishonest
by gattosan
May 01, 2008
This man and his wife are extremely rude, we've been there many times and every time, he's been rude. He refused to give us our plum paste rolls when we wanted them and refused to give us more wasabe. My wife and I have spent 70bucks plus everytime we've gone there and not once has he ever said thank you, even after I decided to be the bigger man and say thank you. he just hates me. he doesn't know I speak Japanese and he always says rude things about the customers. Once he told his wife that we were strange because we didn't order anything raw, got really annoyed and gave us the worst rolls we ever ate, wrapped in some awful seaweed he dug out from somewhere that he wasn't using for anyone else. Always check your bill or he'll take you to the cleaners. I've seen many people call them out on large discrepencies. She wiped the counter you directly eat on with the cloth that a previous guest used to wipe his hands and face - terrible hygiene. He once dropped the smelt he was making for us and picked it up and just used it. Why do I need to be scared to order food that I'm paying for. Retaliate if he gets rude, keep a track of the food you eat or the bill will shock you. I like to eat in a relaxed atmosphere but this man stresses you out. The food is good but the overall experience is just not.
- Pros: Good food
- Cons: Very rude - makes you feel completely unwanted
stay the hell away
by masatoUetani
March 11, 2008
I'm gonna break it down to you in simple terms, INo Sushi is a waste of your time.
What's up with grumpy mom and pop's sushi restaurants? I'll take it only if the food is insanely delicious (which this was not) and to boot, the mom brought out sushi I didn't ask for, and to make up for it she couldn't use that abacus and was way off on the bill.
Hey, I've read the reviews and if you want the opinion from someone that's actually from Japan and knows the market, I can tell you right now, Ino Sushi is a place that caters to people that order "californian rolls".
Spin it another way and head over to Hama-Ko Sushi in Cole Valley. Similar operation except the fish is from a reputable vendor and they WILL serve you if you wait. None of this "no reservations, no serve" BS. Hama-Ko Sushi 415-753-6808
- Pros: I got the check right away
- Cons: food quality, cost, attitude
No Sushi for you. You go now.
by robertscontrino
December 08, 2007
I think they added an extra letter for Ino Sushi when they named the restaurant. It should be called NO Sushi.
After waiting 30 minutes and letting 2 other couples go ahead of me since I wanted to place a order to go. The wife gave the order to the chef and in a irritated voice he said I am to busy to serve you.
I told the wife that I heard you have the best sushi in Japan town and I drove all the way from the east bay to try it.
She said go speak to the Chef to see if he would change his mind. I walked past the curtain and took a look inside and he completely ignored me.
I then told the wife that I am not going to beg to eat here all though they were very happy to place a to go order for a Japanese customer right before me.
One other note they had 2 other to go orders waiting to be picked up. The wife dropped the chop sticks on the floor along with paper she wrapped the sushi box with. I expected her to get another set but she picked them up and used them like they were clean.
I would avoid this place unless you want to have attitude along with your sushi.
Head to Sakae or Yuzu in Burlingame if you want really good traditional sushi with out the attitude.
- Pros: None
- Cons: Rude Mean Owners
RUDE, AWFUL AND MEAN OWNERS, please do not support this poor service restaurant!!!!!
by canuckle
October 15, 2007
I called 2 weeks in advance and asked to reserve a table for 9 people. The man who answered was rude, provided short answers but did take the reservation. I left my name and telephone number. We showed up in 2 separate cabs which came from downtown. The restaurant was CLOSED. Sign said closed for 2 weeks. I can't believe they did not call to let me know. Sure, I should have confirmed (or better, they should have called to cancel) but this restaurant did not even have an outgoing message saying they would be closed. Why did the manager not call? Why accept the reservation? This place stinks! Please go elsewhere. Also hard to find, parking is not easy, reputation for difficult and rude staff........
- Pros: NA
- Cons: service is poor, staff is rude
great sushi
by mjpatane
September 28, 2007
Ino sushi is the real deal, the best sushi in SF by far. Fun atmosphere family owned and operated. The sole chef who also happens to be the owner is great. Those scumbags who gave the place a bad rewiew should be shot and their homes burned down, they are the type of cheap individuals who find solice eating off of the color coded plates at Isobune
- Pros: excellent quality fish
- Cons: seats are uncomfortable
Never, Never, AGAIN!
by takeda22
September 20, 2007
I have a same experience of Scott, the last commentator. If you can understand Japanese, YOU MUST NEVER GO AGAIN. The sushi is oridinary one. Not so bad, but not surprising one. The terrible chef--his charactor. He is always yelling to the employees or customers. "They must eat much more!!!" "Why you are such a foolish!" Once I claimed, he was very creep to put prentty of Japanese hot pepper in my sushi. It's far from Japanese hospitality.
As you know, WE ARE CUSTOMERS. It's totally up to us what we order. Although I only ordered 4 piece of sushis, miso soup, and small sashimi, my bill was over $100. I, never ,.ever ,ever go there again.
Ladis and Gentleman, GO REAL JAPANESE RESTAURANT. I definitelly recoment you not to go there.
Most Embarrassing Moment in a Restaurant
by jbscott
June 20, 2007
I have been to Ino Sushi once before. I had a wonderful time on a Tuesday evening with my boyfriend. The sushi was good and the place was packed. We ordered Saki and a lot of sushi. The bill came to over $100 and the waitress loved us. Well today I went there for an early dinner and sat outside before they opened.
I was so excited to eat there again. I even recommended the place to a group walking by that was looking for great sushi. We all walked in around 5pm. The same lady that served me last time was there, the owner. This time she seemed less than amused to serve me, I was dressed down since I was coming from the gym so maybe that's why but I also heard her and her husband yelling when I walked in. I sat down and she told me quickly that I needed to spend $20 in order to sit at the bar. I said I was fine with that. I ordered green tea, a seaweed salad, tuna and salmon nigiri and a spicy tuna roll. That came to over $20. When I was finished I asked for the bill. The old man that made my sushi looked at me and said, "No more sushi for you?" I said, "No thank you". He started yelling at his wife, my server, in Japanese. She came over and said I needed to order more. Then he started yelling at me in broken English that I needed to eat more. I said, "My bill is a few dollars over $20 so I will not be ordering more." The sushi man said, "No, drink and salad don't count so the bill is only $15.50. I will be charging you $20!" I was so embarrassed that I asked them to quickly get my bill and I even waited in the wait area because I was so embarrassed to be in there any more especially since I had recommended the place to the people sitting next to me. They made the situation so uncomfortable and I think it was because of the way I looked, funny thing is I was carrying a $500 hand bag so I definitely have enough money to spend. I will never ever go back there and this is unfortunate because I thought it was such a cute sushi bar.
