YUJI - San Francisco

This was my second visit to the restaurant, the first being in 2022. Unfortunately, this time was abysmal. We opted for the sake pairing, but the food itself was nothing special, frankly quite common for the price. The service was provided by a seemingly bored chef who appeared overweight, resulting in lackluster attention. With three latecomers joining the nine bar seats, the chef became distracted, attempting to accommodate them while neglecting the sake pairing. It felt like dining at a bad diner. The chef's hospitality declined further as he was seen drinking alcohol with a guest, and the food quality suffered. The dishes were disturbingly bland even before his drinking. Given the intimate nine-seat setting, there was an odd pressure to praise the chef for simply being present and serving. He repeatedly forgot about our sake pairing, requiring us to remind him. He would then haphazardly retrieve bottles, claiming they were from his hometown, then near his hometown, then sort of near his hometown, with no clear connection to the food – a stark contrast to the promised pairing. We are knowledgeable about sake and recognized he served us bottles we routinely use for cooking or casual drinking. The worst part was his repeated forgetting of the pairing. Out of nine dishes, we received only four drinks served in mini sake glasses. I strongly advise against the sake pairing. The entire experience was not worth $800 for two people, especially considering the minimal sake provided and the mandatory 20% gratuity. On a positive note, neither of us got dysentery, which is a plus. Yay! Would I recommend? NO. We won't ever be back.

My experience at this restaurant was fantastic! The place is gorgeous, and the food is excellent. Our server, Jordyn, was incredibly sweet and truly made the experience great.

This was my first omakase experience, and it was made very wonderful and special by Yuji. Each course offered a unique flavor, and the chef provided an introduction with every serving. My personal favorite was the grilled black cod, where the soft yuzu taste blended perfectly with the cod. The matcha tiramisu served at the end was so good that I didn't need to seek out dessert elsewhere. Overall, it was a very solid experience. While the space felt a bit cramped, the interior was cool and provided enough room to enjoy the meal.

My experience at this restaurant was truly exceptional, offering the best omakase I've encountered in San Francisco. It felt like being transported back to Japan. Every dish was incredibly good, and I highly recommend indulging in the sake pairing. We will definitely be returning.

My experience at Yuji was that of discovering a true hidden gem for traditional Japanese course dining that deserves more attention. Unlike many omakase spots that focus primarily on nigiri, Yuji delivers a well-rounded experience with a strong emphasis on expertly crafted cooked dishes. Some standout highlights from our meal included the Eggplant with sea urchin – perfectly balanced, with savory uni adding richness to the soft eggplant. The Grilled black cod was lightly marinated, flaky, and beautifully textured. The Kagoshima Wagyu sukiyaki featured high-quality, authentic beef served with a flavorful and unique egg dipping sauce. We also enjoyed the Sweetfish tempura, which was tender with a perfectly crisp batter that preserved the delicate skin. For a satisfying finish, the Sesame cold noodles had a rich, creamy sauce paired with springy noodles. All of this was part of an incredible tasting menu priced at just $160. Another aspect I truly appreciated was the seasonal rotation of the menu — something rarely seen in omakase-style restaurants. They adapt the menu monthly based on ingredient availability, which keeps each visit exciting. Seasonal crab specials to watch for include Hairy crab season from July–August and Premium snow crab from Japan from mid-November–December. We’re already planning to return during crab season and can’t wait to see what the next menu has in store!