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Welcome to Wako Japanese Restaurant

Wako Japanese Restaurant, located on Clement St in San Francisco’s Richmond District, embodies a rich culinary journey steeped in tradition. With a focus on authentic omakase, diners experience a curated selection of seasonal fish sourced from Japan and beyond, including delicacies like bluefin tuna and cherry trout. The cozy ambiance invites you to savor each meticulously prepared dish, from elegantly plated starters to melt-in-your-mouth nigiri. Guests rave about the personal touches, attentive service, and delightful surprises like complimentary birthday cards. Wako is not just a meal; it’s an artistic celebration of flavors and craftsmanship, promising an unforgettable dining experience.

LOCATIONS

Discovering Wako Japanese Restaurant: A Culinary Gem in San Francisco

At the heart of San Francisco’s Richmond district, nestled on 211 Clement St, lies Wako Japanese Restaurant, a cozy haven for sushi aficionados seeking an authentic omakase experience. This intimate dining spot has garnered acclaim for its thoughtful, expertly crafted sushi that highlights the beauty of Japanese culinary traditions.

Upon entering Wako, guests are immediately enveloped in a warm and inviting ambiance. The restaurant consist of a few counters and tables that foster a communal and engaging dining experience. Reservations are highly recommended given the restaurant’s limited seating, especially for special occasions.

One of Wako's standout features is its curated omakase menu, priced around $165 per person. This prix fixe dining experience includes a variety of meticulously prepared dishes, ensuring every visit feels special. Start with a refreshing steamed abalone paired with blueberry and cherry tomatoes, or the vibrant mozuku seaweed with strawberry. The selection of appetizers reflects both creativity and tradition, with dishes like crispy black cod katsu that tantalize the senses.

The real stars of the menu, however, are the selection of nigiri, which showcases fish sourced from various regions in Japan, New Caledonia, Alaska, and Baja. The quality of the ingredients is paramount, as reflected in dish reviews that rave about the striking flavors and freshness of every bite. Diners have noted particularly memorable pieces, including the cherry trout from Yamagata, known for its smoky undertones and buttery consistency, alongside the rich uni and melt-in-your-mouth toro.

  • Highlights of Wako's Omakase:
    • High-quality, fresh ingredients from multiple sources.
    • A meticulously crafted seven-course experience featuring warm dishes, sashimi, and dessert.
    • Engaging and knowledgeable chefs who enhance your dining experience.
  • Signature Dishes to Try:
    • Omakase Nigiri chef's selection.
    • Seasonal fish like kamatsu and bluefin tuna belly.
    • Uni and tamago (seafood egg cake) as standout items.

As noted by patrons, the high level of service complements the dining experience at Wako. The staff’s attentiveness combined with the chef’s skillful presentation creates a welcoming and educational atmosphere. Whether it’s your first omakase outing or you’re a seasoned sushi lover, Wako offers an experience that is both enlightening and satisfying.

In addition to the delectable food, Wako’s commitment to detail can be seen not only in each dish’s presentation but also in the delightful environment, where laughter and banter flow freely as chefs interact with guests at the bar. Parking in the area can be challenging, but arriving early adds to the anticipation of discovering this hidden gem.

Wako Japanese Restaurant stands out not only for its delectable cuisine but also for the heartfelt experience it offers diners. For sushi lovers and culinary adventurers alike, it is a place that promises to leave lasting impressions with every visit.

START YOUR REVIEW OF Wako Japanese Restaurant
Bellina C.
Bellina C.

Enjoyed a lovely omakase experience at Wako for my birthday. We made reservations ahead of time and the restaurant was fully seated-both table seating as well as bar seating. I was greeted by a relaxed cozy atmosphere and an adorable birthday card-a sweet gesture for the occasion we were celebrating. The prix fixe menu is $165 per person and includes a starter, appetizer, 11pc chef choice sushi The appetizer was beautifully presented and had the perfect balance of flavors: sesame tofu, steamed octopus, mozuku seaweed, fish tempura with plum sauce and shiso leaf, lotus root with mustard egg yolk, and miso cream cheese with dried persimmon The nigiri was of high quality-sourced from different parts of Japan (Kagoshima, Chiba, Mie, Yamagata, Ishikawa, Hokkaido), New Caledonia, Alaska, Baja, and Turkey. My personal favorite was the Cherry Trout from Yamagata. It had a wonderful smokey flavor that was a standout. Street/metered parking can be limited in this part of SF so be sure to arrive early.

Kalpita P.
Kalpita P.

Visited Wako for their Valentine's Day omakase. The service was amazing and they even gave a pair of cute earrings from Japan! Overall it was a great omakase where the chef truly knows how to pair simple flavors with each fish and highlight its quality. Every bite was tender, flavorful, and well thought out. You can truly tell how much preparation and planning went into the whole set. The ambiance was fun and social. We had a great time chatting and listening to the chef cracking jokes while he walked us through the meal. Would definitely recommend Wako the next time you have a special event as they do really add a personal touch and try make your night extra special!

Eugy H.
Eugy H.

We went the 02/12/2025 Great omakase with interesting options, attention to detail service, and chill cozy ambiance. Fair pricing for great quality fish. You can see that they put a lot of thought and consideration into where they source their ingredients. I especially loved the uni and mackerel! Sit by the bar if you can. We loved chatting with the chef and seeing the process of preparing the sushi. Finding parking is a nightmare, but it's not unique to this restaurant but this street in general.

Julian C.
Julian C.

High quality and very tasty omakase but certainly more of an occasion meal; I'd recommend it for any sushi / omakase enthusiasts. Presentation was all beautiful and food was very fresh, clean, and delicious. The hot apps were pretty unique compared to what we've seen at other Japanese places and we loved the variety of flavors and textures we got to try. We really enjoyed the fried cod and snail; all of these were really good except I was not personally a fan of the seaweed dish. As you'd expect, all of the nigiri were fresh and tasty but a couple of our favorites were the uni, toro and surprisingly the tamago. Usually not a standout piece but the tomago had an amazingly soft/springy texture with a very fragrant seafood flavor. Hot soup with eel was also so flavorful and a really nice warm bite. Great service as well, super attentive staff. Really fresh ingredients, delicious flavors and variety of bites.

Kamy T.
Kamy T.

Had an amazing omakase experience here with my husband. Dinner on a week night was a full house. The service is phenomenal and the fish is high quality. We had a winter melon starter and some appetizers to begin with that the servers brought out. First time having fig tempura, but it was nice! For the nigiris, we were served by the chef directly at the counter. It was awesome to watch him carefully slice and prepare each dish. Some nigiris were lightly seared, seasoned, or accompanied by some topping. We ordered a pot of green tea which they constantly refilled throughout the night. In addition to the set menu, we ordered 2 golden eye snapper and uni nigiris. My favorites had to be the skipjack, barracuta, and the golden eye snapper. All the fish just melts in your mouth. The rice was a good temperature, the proper amount, and just the right texture. Also, the seafood egg cake had to be the best I've ever had of that. We were happy with our experience of high quality fish from Japan but close to home.

Marc R.
Marc R.

5 STARS This is my favorite omakase place in all of San Francisco and I highly recommend it for anyone looking for a reasonably priced omakase (~$125/person) with amazing service every time you go. I've been to Wako 5-6 times in the last 10 years, and I am never disappointed. They serve seasonal fish depending on the time of year that you visit. The chef's omakase comes with a starter, appetizer, 10 pieces of nigiri, a grilled dish, soup, and a house made dessert. You really can't find another omakase like this in the city. I think there are 2 options for either 9 or 11 piece chef omakase since the last time I visited. My favorite nigiri from Wako are the striped jack, ink squid with uni, and of course, the blue fin tune belly. The chefs are so nice and explain every cut of fish to you as they serve it. Be sure to make a reservation well in advance, as spots do fill up. Try to get a seat at the counter, so you can watch the chefs as they prepare the dishes. Parking can be a little tricky in this part of town, given how many restaurants, bars, and surrounding shops there are, so be sure to arrive a little early!

Pam M.
Pam M.

One of the best kept secrets in the Inner Richmond with the most reasonably priced omakase menus! I've had dinner here several times & it's always on point. Super fresh, delicately prepared dishes and nigiri. Sake recommends are helpful too. Menu changes on what is available. Sit at the sushi bar if you can (reservations go quickly) so you can watch the sushi chefs in their craft & artistry. This is a cosy (small) restaurant so reservations are strongly recommended.

Olivier G.
Olivier G.

Wako is a small sushi restaurant on Clement St in the Richmond district, a street with many dining options. The restaurant is cozy and has a neighborhood feel. They offer only one menu, an omakase menu, priced at $165. The menu features a wide variety of dishes, including several hot items. Here's the menu from my visit at the end of June: 1. starter: steamed abalone with blueberry, cherry tomato, and okra 2. appetizer: mozuku seaweed with strawberry, sesame tofu with wasabi, simmered sea snail, black cod katsu with tartar sauce 3. sashimi: young king mackerel and another fish (suzuki?) 4. chawanmushi with hamo (pike eel) and ikura 5. madai (red snapper) 6. hirame (halibut) with fin's fish 7. hotate 8. toki shirazu salmon 9. ao ebi (blue shrimp) 10. deep-fried shrimp head with lemon 11. kamasu (barracuda) 12. bluefin tuna in jalapeno soy sauce (zuke chutoro) 13. bluefin tuna belly 14. anago with mountain pepper 15. chopped bluefin tuna handroll 16. tamago seafood egg cake 17. red miso soup with shimeji mushrooms and mitsuba leaf 18. extra sushi (optional): A5 wagyu +$15 19. matcha panna cotta The menu was well-rounded with some nice specialties. The steamed abalone was a pleasant surprise, though a bit chewy. The black cod in the appetizer was good, but the katsu preparation of black cod and tartar sauce felt unconventional for a Japanese restaurant. The chawanmushi with hamo (a summer delicacy) was excellent, and the addition of fin's fish on the halibut was a nice touch. The ao ebi was a great type of shrimp, with the crispy head served separately. The kamasu was excellent and is actually one of my favorite nigiri. Unfortunately, the tuna had a slightly acidic taste, possibly from the marinade. The anago was well-prepared. While the menu doesn't include wagyu or uni, they can be ordered as extras (I had the wagyu nigiri for $15). Although most fish come from Japan, some fishes are sourced elsewhere: ao ebi from New Caledonia, halibut from Korea, and bluefin tuna from Baja, Mexico. Overall rating: 4.5/5.0

Sherry L.
Sherry L.

My fourth time to Wako, and this time it's been at least 8 years. I didn't even realize they were on Clement, because I remember it was on Geary. The restaurant is still small, with maybe 8 counter seats and 5 tables. You can make a reservation on Tock and prepay a deposit which is then refunded when you honor your reservation. The tasting menu is $165 per person to start with optional add ons that you can choose before dessert is served. The tasting menu includes one starter, one appetizer (4 small bites), 4 pc sashimi, chawanmushi, 9 pc nigiri, one hand roll, 1pc tamago, miso soup, and dessert. Everything was very good. Standouts were the blue shrimp, akami, toro, and uni. Sake list is good and goes well with the food. Service is pretty great. Street parking only.

Jeany L.
Jeany L.

Before Covid, we used to live close by but never had a chance to try...we are so glad that they still there after the pandemic. The vibe was peaceful and friendly. The chef, Jin, was so friendly and informative. He answered every questions we had. Also other staffs were so nice as well. The quality of fish, rice, wasabi and sauce they used were great and amazing in every bite. It's very worth the money and experience. If you wanna try Omagase for the first time or look for something that you won't regret to pay, I totally recommend Wako. All in all, it's very impressive and here's one of the top of my list for the Omagase experience in SF!!!