Zushi Puzzle - Reviews

I really wanted to like this small, family-run place. However, there was one significant problem: the food just wasn’t very good, or frankly, good at all. The fish could have come from any chain supermarket; it was edible and probably fine if cooked, but raw? No. The way it was cut and served didn't help. The sauces were blah, and the rice was also blah. Sorry.

Make sure that you know what this costs before booking. Had I been booking for a special occasion - this would have been an ‘experience’. However, I thought I was booking a reasonably priced sushi restaurant (based on the menu prices online) on a random Thursday night while visiting SF & got completely shocked by a $360 bill for two (not including an expected tip). The other couple that had randomly come in (having literally just gotten off a plane from Europe & looking for quick sushi) had the exact same shock. If cost is not a factor & you want a special experience - I don’t believe you will be disappointed, but if you get encouraged to start trying things and aren’t given a menu be aware that you will get whatever produce needs to be used by the restaurant as an omasake experience and charged the very top market prices.

My partner and I had a wonderful evening at Zushi Puzzle! I highly recommend taking a seat at the bar. Roger, the host, personally attends to each guest and their dining preferences, serving as much as you desire or stopping when you say so. He explains the background of each course, including the origin of the fish, how it's prepared, and importantly, how sushi is traditionally eaten. As the restaurant was relatively empty, we were fortunate to have a private experience. The quality of the fish was truly excellent – by far the best fish we've ever had. According to Roger, much of it is imported directly from Japan and around the world. The differences between the salmon varieties were particularly impressive (as was the Wagyu, of course!). They work with many flavors to achieve a perfect umami taste. Fantastic! We can also recommend the house sake and beer; both harmonize perfectly. We were thrilled and can only recommend the restaurant to everyone. Thank you for the great experience.

I randomly found this place with great reviews and popped in at 7 pm on a Saturday, wanting to escape the crowds at Fisherman's Wharf. We were able to get seated right away without reservations, and the service was spectacular. The sushi was insanely good quality and well-priced. While the service wasn't super fast due to having only one chef who was also handling an omakase seating, we finished our entire meal within 1. 5 hours, which we felt was normal speed. I would absolutely come back and recommend this place!

My experience at this restaurant was disappointing. We had heard good things and can only assume there are new owners. The restaurant was nearly empty at 7: 30 pm on a Thursday. The sushi was mediocre and poorly presented, appearing slapped together and scattered. The salad, which should have had ginger dressing, instead came with bottled ranch, making it inedible. The soft shell crab was so overly-salted it was inedible, and the tofu was covered in a corn starch sauce. We rarely rate restaurants poorly, but this was a bad experience.

My experience at this restaurant was incredible. The sushi was amazing, and the atmosphere was top-notch. Sitting at the bar and interacting with Roger was a highlight. The overall experience, including food, service, and atmosphere, was a perfect 5 out of 5.

My experience at the restaurant was defined by exceptional sushi and an amazing chef, Roger. While we didn't have a menu, the price was steep when the bill arrived, so be prepared to spend a lot. However, it was worth the experience.

What an unexpectedly pleasant surprise! I've lived around the neighborhood for 4 years but only stepped in by coincidence today. I wanted to sit at the chef's counter because I thought it'd be cooler to watch. Little did I know I stumbled upon an accidental omakase experience. It was such a delight and honestly felt like an immersive theater experience where each of the other guests also played a character, and we were all moderated by the incredibly entertaining and opinionated Chef Roger Chong. I would definitely go back, but make sure to leave enough space in your stomach because it was a lot of food.

Run, don’t walk, to Zushi Puzzle – especially if you like a true Anthony Bourdain experience. Make a reservation at the bar with Roger. Come on a weeknight, like a Monday or Tuesday, and enjoy the Echigo beer. Let Roger create the experience for you; he sources the freshest, most interesting, and unique fish from Korea, Scotland, and Japan. I’ve had great omakase experiences in LA, Seattle, DC, Miami, and NY, and Zushi Puzzle in San Francisco is the best. The space is unassuming, which only makes it better. Roger makes everything himself, including the incredible dessert: Wagyu fat popcorn ice cream, mango sorbet, and black sesame ice cream.

My experience at this superb little sushi place was highly enjoyable. The owner/chef was very entertaining, which made our early dinner pleasurable from a distance. While the bar seating area was occupied, preventing us from fully experiencing it, it was still a great dining experience overall. I ordered the tempura chicken appetizer with lemon wedges on the side, and the combination was terrific – fresh and tasty! The salmon sushi roll, served with avocado, cucumber, wasabi, and fresh ginger, was also a great combination. It was filling but not overly so. I would definitely recommend this place to sushi lovers.