The Shota - Reviews

I miss this place and hope Ingi and the team are back soon. I'm going to miss Seth. The Service, Atmosphere, and Food were all excellent, receiving a perfect 5/5 for each.

My experience at this restaurant was absolutely perfect. I had what I believe is the best and most impressive omakase I’ve had in San Francisco so far. The freshness of the fish was outstanding. I highly recommend it, especially for special occasions like birthdays or celebrations. The service, the food, everything was top-notch. I really loved it and I’ll definitely be back again.

My experience at this restaurant was absolutely amazing. I'm sorry to hear they will be on pause while they ramp up their cafe on New Montgomery, but if I could give this place 10 stars, I would. The staff was perceptive, attentive, and inviting. The food was amazing, and the presentation was incredible. The attention to detail was superb. While the price is not for the faint of heart, the memory will last a long time.

We celebrated a birthday here and were thoroughly impressed. The food was excellent, featuring creative and fun twists on Japanese ingredients, setting it apart from other omakase spots in the city. The atmosphere was a perfect blend of modern, polished, and warm. A highlight was being shown the fish before the courses and the option for supplements, like the high-quality, sweet, and light uni. The inclusion of two types of house-made ginger with different textures and a presentation about a bluefin tuna head added to the engaging experience. We highly recommend this restaurant for a special occasion.

We have been to The Shota twice for New Year's omakase, and what an experience – incredible both times! It's great if you are a seafood lover. Since we don't eat meat and it's mostly fish and vegetables, it is perfect for us. The food is amazing and there is a lot of it. The experience of watching them prepare it is like art; the precision and combination of flavors is just so delicious. I don't know anything about Sake, but their accompanying tasting menu was quite good. Our chefs both had a great sense of humor, adding to the atmosphere. Fabulous for 2 people, great for 3 or 4 if you can get the corner of the bar; more than that and you're spread out. But for a very special occasion for two people, it's awesome.

My experience at this restaurant was marred by a significant issue with service. It seems staff treat regulars differently and ignore other patrons. We repeatedly had to apologize for delaying our course as it sat there. The situation was exacerbated by regulars using foul language and yelling across the counter, even trash-talking another couple who wasn't present, and the staff just laughed it off. While the Omakase was above average, the overall experience is not worth it unless you are a regular.

My experience at this restaurant was truly incredible and unforgettable. The food was exquisite, featuring ingredients of the highest quality, top-notch preparation, and stunning flavour combinations. While the menu included sushi, it wasn't the main star; instead, other dishes like the slow-cooked octopus and the sashimi were the highlights. The gyuoku banana cake was particularly memorable. Even the wagyu sushi, an addendum, was marvellous and perfectly executed. The service was also lovely, with everyone being incredibly friendly and attentive. A minor point was that the explanations about the courses felt standardized and delivered at a speed that was sometimes hard to follow, making it feel a tad less personal. However, this only applied to the dish explanations; other interactions were genuinely personal and intimate. The ambience was excellent. I will absolutely come here again.

My experience at this restaurant was truly one of the most personal and intimate sushi experiences of my life. I consider it an experience rather than just a restaurant for a reason. The food was absolutely amazing, which is an understatement of the century.

My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! Each bite of food was delicious, and the beverage pairing perfectly complemented the meal. It's one of my favorite restaurants in SF.

My experience at The Shota was one of my favorite omakase experiences. Our chef, Jason, a San Francisco native, shared his journey of training in Japan. Every course was amazing, but I particularly enjoyed the sashimi course! Beyond the incredible food, the place is beautiful and the plating is so well thought out.