Interested in trying some new Japanese spots in San Francisco? You're in luck: We've found the freshest businesses to fill the bill. Here are the newest places to check out the next time you're in the mood for Japanese food.
Hina Yakitori
808 Divisadero St., Divisadero
The San Francisco reboot of chef Tommy Cleary's Hina Yakitori is now open on Divisadero Street. After Cleary's Oakland restaurant of the same name shuttered in 2017, he partnered up with the team behind Michelin-starred sushi spot Ju-Ni to bring his fine-dining yakitori concept to San Francisco. Like the previous restaurant, this intimate, 12-seat counter specializes in yakitori (Japanese chicken skewers) but this time in an omakase (tasting menu) format. For $110, diners receive 16 courses of Japanese-style tapas that emphasize different cuts of chicken, all prepared at the counter and served directly by the chefs. (An optional wine pairing is available, too.)
With a 4.5-star Yelp rating out of four reviews, Hina Yakitori is getting positive attention.
Yelper Cherylynn N., who reviewed Hina Yakitori on Sept. 17, wrote, "From start to finish, nearly every course was delicious and simply seasoned to best highlight the chicken part (think rich, crispy wing skin and wasabi)."
Jimmy C. added, "The food was amazingly prepared, and the team was super friendly in explaining what we're having and the various ingredients."
Interested? Visit the restaurant's website to make a reservation.
Tender
655 Larkin St., Tenderloin
Tender is a fast-casual eatery offering Japanese curries and more. At Tender, guests customize their own curry rice bowls, with a choice of three curry sauces (Japanese-style kare, Aloha Curry and Thai green curry) and proteins like chicken, pork belly and fried tofu. Also on the menu are bowls of ramen soup, chicken katsu, teriyaki salmon or chicken over rice, and three varieties of khao mun (a Thai chicken and rice dish).
Tender is well received so far, with a 4.5-star rating out of 56 reviews on Yelp.
Yelper Yokyok N., who reviewed Tender on Sept. 26, wrote, "The staff was very friendly and made sure I was satisfied with their service."
Brandon S. noted, "Being in San Francisco, finding reasonably priced food is near impossible, unless you're in neighborhoods like the Tenderloin. Tender does a great job at promoting and wanting food to be affordable! Can't beat it."
Tender is open from 11 a.m.–3:30 p.m. and 5–10 p.m. daily.
Donburi Ya
764 Harrison St., SoMa
Donburi Ya is another fast-casual Japanese spot, serving up rice bowls and more. Guests at Donburi Ya can choose from one of six signature donburi rice bowls — such as the slow-cooked pork cartilage bowl, the poke-style salmon bowl and the mapo tofu bowl — or build their own, with toppings like katsu chicken, beef, salmon, soft-boiled egg, kimchi, mixed veggies and more. Also available are miso soup, edamame, gyoza and seaweed salad, as well as wine and beer for dine-in customers.
Donburi Ya currently holds four stars out of 11 reviews on Yelp, indicating good reviews.
Yelper Raymond C., who reviewed Donburi Ya on Sept. 20, wrote, "The beef sukiyaki bowl is great."
Sally L. wrote, "Solid lunch spot with the typical San Francisco prices — worth a try!"
Donburi Ya is open from 11 a.m.–3 p.m. and 5–9 p.m. on Monday-Saturday. (It's closed on Sunday.)
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