Wabi Sabi SF at Nob Hill Introduce
Hello, California sushi lovers and Japanese cuisine aficionados! If you're searching for a consistently excellent and genuinely welcoming Japanese dining experience in San Francisco, then it's time you discovered Wabi Sabi SF at Nob Hill. Nestled on Pine Street, just off Polk, this restaurant has quickly become a cherished spot for locals and families, celebrated for its superb food quality, warm ambiance, and truly personable service.
Wabi Sabi SF offers a delightful journey through authentic Japanese flavors, from "super fresh" sashimi that boasts "distinct and clean taste" to artfully crafted sushi rolls. What truly sets this place apart, as many satisfied customers attest, is the combination of top-notch ingredients with a staff that genuinely cares. Whether you're a sushi connoisseur or looking for comforting Japanese fare, Wabi Sabi SF provides an experience that balances incredible taste with a relaxing and friendly environment. Get ready to find your new favorite repeat restaurant, where every visit feels like coming home.
Wabi Sabi SF at Nob Hill is conveniently located at 1517 Pine St, San Francisco, CA 94109, USA. This address places it perfectly within the charming and upscale Nob Hill neighborhood, specifically on Pine Street between Polk Street and Van Ness Avenue. This area is known for its beautiful residential buildings, local businesses, and excellent access to various parts of San Francisco.
The restaurant's location offers good accessibility within the city. It's situated "off Polk," a major street that is well-served by Muni bus lines, making it easy to reach from different neighborhoods. While Nob Hill is famous for its steep inclines, the area around Pine Street is generally manageable for walking, and public transportation options are robust. Cable car lines are also within the broader Nob Hill area, offering a quintessential San Francisco experience. For those driving, street parking can be found in the vicinity, though as with most urban areas in San Francisco, it's advisable to allow extra time for parking, especially during peak dining hours. The restaurant's presence in this desirable and accessible part of Nob Hill makes it a convenient and attractive destination for a quality Japanese meal.
- Extensive Sushi and Sashimi Selection: Wabi Sabi SF specializes in offering a wide range of sushi and sashimi, noted for its "super fresh" quality and "distinct and clean taste." This includes various nigiri options (e.g., Tuna, Salmon, Yellowtail, White Fish, Albacore, Chu Toro, Seared Toro) and sashimi platters.
- Creative Specialty Rolls: The menu features inventive and flavorful specialty rolls, such as the "Yogan Roll" (with crab and baked salmon with spicy aioli) and the "Hotto-Sake Roll." Classic options like the "plain ol’ California Roll" are also available, ensuring a balance of familiar and adventurous choices.
- Chirashi and Donburi Bowls: For a comprehensive and beautifully presented meal, the "chirashi deluxe lunch special" offers a variety of fresh sashimi over rice, praised for its "very pretty" presentation. Other donburi bowls like Fresh Water Eel, Tempura, Teriyaki Chicken, and Sashimi Bowl are also offered.
- Traditional Japanese Hot Dishes: Beyond sushi, the menu includes appetizers and entrees such as Carpaccio, Crispy Kama, various Tempura dishes (Shrimp, Veggie), Chicken Katsu, Teriyaki Chicken/Salmon, and more, catering to diverse preferences.
- Genmaicha Tea with Endless Refills: A unique and appreciated service highlight is the "Genmaicha tea" with "endless refills for $2." This tea, a blend of green tea and brown rice kernels, offers a pleasant and lower-caffeine beverage option.
- Personable and Caring Staff: Customers consistently praise the "very very nice staff," who are described as "so personable and caring" and provide "excellent service." This creates a highly welcoming and comfortable dining environment.
- Chef Interaction: The opportunity to interact with the chef, including the head chef, is a key service feature. The chef is noted for being "very welcome," chatting with customers about ingredients, and being attentive to their needs.
- Dine-in and Takeout/Delivery: Wabi Sabi SF at Nob Hill offers both dine-in service and convenient options for delivery through popular apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats, allowing flexibility for customers.
- Lunch Specials: They offer lunch specials (e.g., chirashi deluxe lunch special) during specific hours, providing great value for midday dining.
- "Absolutely Amazing" Yogan Roll: This specific specialty roll, featuring crab and baked salmon with spicy aioli, is highlighted as an "absolutely amazing" and thrilling must-try item.
- "Super Fresh Sashimi" with "Distinct and Clean Taste": The quality of the raw fish is a paramount feature, consistently praised for its freshness, flavor, and beautiful presentation, especially in dishes like the chirashi deluxe.
- "Perfectly Seasoned Rice": The foundation of good sushi, their rice is noted for being "perfectly seasoned," indicating meticulous attention to detail in preparation.
- "Very Very Nice Staff, So Personable and Caring": The exceptional service and genuine hospitality from the staff are consistently lauded. They are described as "excellent service" and make dining a warm and welcoming experience.
- Chef's Engagement and Knowledge: The chef's willingness to "chat" about ingredients and their love for anime, coupled with their attentiveness, adds a unique and memorable interactive element to the dining experience.
- Endless Genmaicha Tea Refills for $2: This specific offering is a significant highlight and a reason customers "love this place," providing a comforting, lower-caffeine beverage at an excellent value.
- Consistent Repeat Business from Families: The fact that it's a "repeat restaurant for us as a family" underscores its family-friendly atmosphere and consistent quality that keeps patrons coming back.
- Beautiful Presentation: The dishes, particularly the chirashi, are noted for their "very pretty" presentation, adding to the overall dining pleasure.
- Clean and Flavorful: The food is described as "flavorful" and "clean," indicating a balance of taste and freshness that appeals to discerning palates.
Wabi Sabi SF at Nob Hill focuses on delivering consistent value through its high-quality food, excellent service, and unique offerings rather than traditional, rotating promotions. However, there are a few aspects that can be considered ongoing special offers for patrons:
- Unlimited Genmaicha Tea Refills for $2: This is a highly valued and explicitly mentioned "special offer" by customers. For just $2, diners receive endless refills of Genmaicha tea, a unique blend of green tea and brown rice kernels. This provides a comforting and affordable beverage option that enhances the dining experience, especially given its lower caffeine content.
- Lunch Specials: While specific details beyond the "chirashi deluxe lunch special" are not fully detailed, many Japanese restaurants offer various lunch specials that provide excellent value during midday hours. These typically include set meals at a more affordable price point than dinner. For example, some online menus indicate "Weekdays Lunch Specials 11am-3pm" across Wabi Sabi SF locations.
- Consistent Quality and Service as a Value Proposition: For a repeat family restaurant, the "excellent service" and consistently "amazing" food are promotions in themselves. Customers find the experience to be of such high quality and consistency that they continuously return, highlighting the inherent value.
While explicit, time-limited discounts might not be heavily advertised, Wabi Sabi SF at Nob Hill's commitment to quality ingredients, personable service, and thoughtful touches like the unlimited tea refills serve as ongoing benefits to its customers. For the most current information on any daily specials or new offerings, it is always recommended to check their in-restaurant menu or contact them directly.
To plan your visit and experience the delightful cuisine at Wabi Sabi SF at Nob Hill, you can use the following contact details:
Address: 1517 Pine St, San Francisco, CA 94109, USA
Phone: (415) 810-9793
Operating Hours:
- Monday - Thursday: 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM (Lunch), 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM (Dinner)
- Friday: 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM (Lunch), 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM (Dinner)
- Saturday: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Lunch), 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM (Dinner)
- Sunday: 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM (Lunch), 5:00 PM - 9:30 PM (Dinner)
Wabi Sabi SF at Nob Hill welcomes both walk-ins and reservations. For larger parties or during peak dining times, it is always a good idea to call ahead to inquire about wait times or to make a reservation. They also offer convenient online ordering and delivery through platforms like DoorDash and Toast, making it easy to enjoy their delicious food from the comfort of your home.
For Californians, and particularly those residing in or frequently visiting San Francisco's Nob Hill area, Wabi Sabi SF stands out as an exceptionally suitable and highly recommended Japanese restaurant. Its appeal to locals stems from a perfect blend of high-quality cuisine, genuine hospitality, and thoughtful amenities that cater to the community's preferences.
Firstly, the consistent praise for its "super fresh sushi and perfectly seasoned rice," along with "amazing" specialty rolls like the Yogan Roll and the beautifully presented chirashi deluxe, means locals can rely on Wabi Sabi for authentic and delicious Japanese food. This commitment to fresh, flavorful ingredients ensures a satisfying culinary experience every time. The diverse menu, offering everything from traditional nigiri to comforting hot dishes, also caters to varied tastes within a family or group of friends.
Secondly, the "very very nice staff" who are described as "personable and caring" and provide "excellent service" create a truly welcoming atmosphere. In a city where dining experiences can sometimes feel impersonal, Wabi Sabi SF fosters a sense of familiarity and warmth that resonates deeply with repeat customers, making it feel like a cherished neighborhood spot. The unique touch of "endless refills" on their delightful Genmaicha tea for just $2 further exemplifies their commitment to guest comfort and value, a detail that truly endears them to regulars. The ability to interact with the chef, gaining insights into their craft and ingredients, adds an educational and engaging dimension that discerning locals appreciate. Overall, Wabi Sabi SF at Nob Hill offers a reliable, high-quality, and genuinely hospitable Japanese dining experience, making it an ideal choice for families and individuals alike who seek delicious food and a welcoming environment in the heart of San Francisco.
Wabi Sabi SF at Nob Hill Photos










Wabi Sabi SF at Nob Hill Location
Wabi Sabi SF at Nob Hill
1517 Pine St, San Francisco, CA 94109, USA
Wabi Sabi SF at Nob Hill Reviews
Wabi-Sabi in Nob Hill off Polk in San Francisco is 💯! Yogan Roll is absolutely amazing with crab and baked salmon with spicy aioli. Hotto-Sake Roll is good but not as thrilling as the first one. And the plain ol’ California Roll was moist and tasty, perfect to balance the spunk of the other two. Try the Genmaicha tea (endless refills for $2 - one reason I love this place. This tea is a blend of green tea and brown rice kernels so half the caffeine of green tea. Very very nice staff, so personable and caring, excellent service. This has been a repeat restaurant for us as a family!
Mar 10, 2025 · Vik ChaudharyI came by for lunch and got the chirashi deluxe lunch special. The sashimi, as expected, was very fresh and flavorful with distinct and clean taste. The presentation was very pretty too! Chef was very welcome and chatted with me abt their ingredients (and our love of anime) while preparing the fish and other ingredients for that day behind the counter. He and the servers also makes sure I get everything I need. I can't wait to go back next time for the nigiri!
May 15, 2025 · Gary ChanThe service is wonderful and the food is superb, fresh and so delicious. I had the Miso soup and avocado roll, with some miso soup to go.Lovely comfortable atmosphere. Looking forward to our next meal here.This is a picture of our desert.
Apr 02, 2025 · Sassy SercyIf you live close by, you definitely need to drop by for their lunch menu on weekdays. No crowd. Great food. Great deal. Great service. The owner is very friendly. This is my favorite lunch spot in the neighborhood.
Mar 06, 2025 · Ming-Chuan TsaiWabi Sabi had a great little sushi shop ambiance. Staff were prompt and attentive. Our food was exceptional. We say that after quite a letdown at another well reviewed place nearby. What a relief to find a tasty spot nearby.We had the a5 wagyu nigiri, maguro tuna nigiri, hamachi yellowtail nigiri, the 7 piece nigiri sampler, and the wabi sabi roll. All were excellent. The cut and texture of each piece was perfect. We ordered a second round as all was tasting so good.They surprised us with matcha green tea ice cream, which was also great.P.s. the tables have a slip about reviewing for a free dessert. This is our review 2 days after and purely separate from that request. I leave this to help a delightful restaurant succeed...cause they earned it.
Dec 31, 2024 · Jonathan Brooks
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