Ebisu

I am thankful that Ebisu continues to be well loved and visited by many. It deserves to be appreciated. It's been around for over 40 yrs - serving the Inner Sunset with outstanding fresh fish. In 2024 - it continues to serve up quality sushi.

Ebisu is a short distance from Golden Gate Park - perfect if you're looking for some quality picnic fare, or if you are wanting something to eat, after emerging from the park. They offer lunch and dinner from Tuesday to Saturday (they are closed on Sundays and Mondays). You can eat in, get takeout- and even order online (I used to order delivery from here back in the day).

Recently I came here with a friend around dinner time. We found a space at the bar. Our server couldn't have been more helpful. I had eaten ahead of time - so I wasn't planning on eating anything. I let the server know, and she was so accommodating. She was quick to bring out hot water with lemon for me. My friend ordered some rolls and a tofu dish. Her order came promptly - and she gushed over how flavorful everything was. We both welcomed the opportunity to catch up together - and we never felt rushed by our server.

The sushi chefs were also fantastic. They checked in on us throughout our meal. Watching them gracefully craft rolls - it was evident how much pride they take in their masterfully made sushi.

Ebisu isn't necessarily a place you go for ambiance. There's definitely better spots around for a sushi date night etc. But if someone was to ask me what sushi spot I would recommend in the area for quality fresh fish - I'd recommend Ebisu. They've remained consistent throughout the years and that says something. It's inspiring to me - that amongst all of the changes in SF - Ebisu is still around. Still committed to serving the area with solid sushi. And for that I give them a five stars. For prevailing.

Trust.

I honestly don't see the hype surrounding this spot. From the moment I walked in, I was struck by how small and cramped the restaurant is. The tables are packed so tightly together that there's barely 1-2 feet of space between each one. It's nearly impossible to have a private conversation without feeling like you're part of the conversation at the next table. The atmosphere is anything but comfortable; it feels more like being on a crowded subway than enjoying a relaxing meal.

And then there's the food, which was a major letdown. For the steep prices they charge, I expected something exceptional. Instead, what I got was far from impressive. The fish, which should be the star of the show, was just okay--nothing more, nothing less. There was no distinct flavor or freshness that would make it stand out. The rice wasn't packed tightly enough, causing the pieces to fall apart easily.

All in all, this restaurant is very overrated. The cramped space, mediocre food, and steep prices make it a spot I won't be returning to anytime soon. There are plenty of other places where you can get better food for a much fairer price, all while dining in a more comfortable environment.

What a wonderful lunch in a lovely peaceful restaurant. After exploring the Botanical Garden and the Japanese Tea Garden, we were ready for lunch. It's walking distance from the two gardens. (Irving St. has limited parking, so please plan ahead.)
Dreams of lunch and Miso were in my head.
Ebisu opens at 11:30 and we were waiting patiently ... it's a long time favorite on Irving St. In the Sunset. It filled up within minutes!
Hubbie had a fantastic roll - was it the "home run"? - really good Tuna w aioli. YUM!
Tasty hot Miso soup, great California rolls (you won't want them anywhere else), so many choices. Quality ingredients, well prepared.
All their food is great, bring a couple friends so you can have more variety of rolls.

1. We came here for a date night and were really looking forward to our meal but left with a sour taste in our mouths.
2. There was a bit of a wait when we arrived but given the popularity of this spot, it was expected.
3. We ordered the salmon sashimi and it ended up being frozen. Yes, I'm aware seafood can come frozen and we could've waited for the rest of the fish to defrost but it would've taken a lot longer than we would've liked. We ate the rest of our food and when we finally had the courage to tell an employee, we were gaslit by one of the chefs. The employee brought the sashimi to the chef, he inspected the fish while glaring at us, and the employee came back and told us the chef said it wasn't frozen. In the end, they gave us a new order but it was a very uncomfortable situation.
4. The kakuni braised pork belly was the highlight of our meal. It was tender and flavorful.

Ebisu is one of my favorite sushi spots in San Francisco. It was the first place I visited when I started eating raw fish. It's an excellent introduction for those new to raw fish, as it's incorporated into rolls in small bits rather than large pieces of sashimi. My favorite roll here is the Family Affair--it's delicious, and I order it every time I visit. The ambiance is pleasant, and the service is consistently good. However, wait times can vary, and sometimes the wait can be quite long.

We've visited Ebisu a few times now and usually the experience is good. The fish is always fresh, their toro is the best I've had. Recently tried their chirashi bowl and it was pretty good, fresh and the portion is decent.

Because the restaurant is always packed, and it is a tight soace, it is sometimes hard to find your server to place another order or get more water. Everyone is nice and welcoming, and this restaurant stays on the list of restaurants to go back to.

Date night! We tried this restaurant for the first time for dinner. They don't take reservations, so you sign up on a clipboard when you arrive. It's a small, cozy space, and we only had to wait 15 minutes on a Wednesday. Our server, Nori, was excellent. We ordered a few yummy appetizers, like seaweed salad, edamame, and shrimp tempura. The hand rolls were great, with fresh, crispy seaweed--there's nothing worse than old, chewy seaweed! We also loved the "chef's choice", and my favorite was the Romeo/Juliet roll. The Aladdin sake was flavorful and unfiltered, just the way I like it. The team-based service was appreciated. Highly recommend, and we'll definitely be back!

Overall A: Service very good; environment homey (as we'd lived here for 30 yrs). Panko breaded oysters a bit too big but tasty esp for a non-sushi person; Gyoza, Spider roll, Yellowtail. Highly recommend.
(PS: on Yelp your html tagline is misspelled 'Ebidsu')

I've been to Ebisu a few times for lunch and dinner, and the food has ranged from average to excellent.

My usual go-to is the chirashi bowl. The quality, flavor, and variety of the fish is quite average. What was particularly impressive, however, was a recent seasonal menu item that came with cold udon, chawanmushi, and ikura/salmon don. All three items were flavorful, fresh, and delicious.

The wait for a table can be quite long during peak times so I try to come on "off" days when possible.

Overall a solid option when I am craving Japanese food!

I've been coming here pre-Covid and haven't been back since. I remember loving this place as their specialty rolls are my favorite. On a Friday night, there was a wait list (unfortunately no online waitlist option and you have to place your name in person) with about 6 people ahead of us. Inside, there's some bar seating as well as tables but it's typically smaller tables (for parties of 2-4). We waited about 30-45 minutes, but we were able to kill time by walking around the area. We ordered the:
*lobster dynamite
*dexter carter (shrimp and salmon)
*Romeo and Juliet (scallop and salmon)
*rainbow roll (assorted fish and shrimp tempura)

We also ordered 2 large beers to go with our meal (definitely more than enough volume for 2 people to share). For some reason, I remembered the rolls being bigger, but was a little disappointed when they came out. Taste-wise, I enjoyed the freshness of the fish. Our total after food and drinks came out to a little over 100, which isn't bad for sushi in the city. Ebisu is still my go-to spot for more affordable, quality sushi in the area.