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Nisei

$50 and over

Japanese

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 11, 2025

7:00 p.m.

Booked 4 times today

Experiences are available.

Good for special occasions
Innovative
Neighbourhood gem

Nisei presents a contemporary approach to Japanese American cuisine by combining deep Japanese flavors, refined cooking technique, and Northern California's finest ingredients. The restaurant is a personal reflection of Chef David Yoshimura's unique experience as a Michelin starred chef and second generation Japanese American, or Nisei.

Nisei can accommodate most severe allergies with advance notice, however due to the nature of the tasting menu format, we can not meet all dietary restrictions or aversions. In order to maintain the spirit of our cuisine, the following items can not be removed: Salt, sugar, soy sauce, and egg cooked into items.

All Experience prices below reflect a 20% Service Fee and 8.63% SF Sales Tax applied to the base price of each experience. This Service Fee goes towards paying our employees a livable wage as well as providing health insurance.

Why they're an Icon

Executive chef: David Yoshimura

MICHELIN 1 Star2024
MICHELIN 1 Star2023

From the OpenTable editors: Come to Chef David Yoshimura’s MICHELIN-starred spot for one of the city’s most innovative tasting menus. He expertly fuses Japanese techniques with Northern California ingredients to create bold, modern dishes that could include anago (salt-water eel) with fiddleheads or crispy kakuni (pork belly) with snap peas and ramps, paired with clever wines and sake for a singular dining experience.

Additional information

Location
2316 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109-1822
Award-winning
1. MICHELIN 1 Star 2024
2. MICHELIN 1 Star 2023
Phone number
(415) 827-6898
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Japanese, Contemporary Asian, Japanese Speciality
Hours of Operation
Dinner Wed–Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa

Experiences

Spring Menu at Nisei
US$286.80 per person
Prepaid
Multiple dates available
The tasting menu at Nisei features the pinnacle of Japanese American cuisine and is a personal expression of Chef David Yoshimura. Nisei combines the finest ingredients of Northern California and Japan to create a truly unforgettable experience. Guests can expect 13 courses with over 18 bites total, with options for supplements. Please allow at least 3 hours for the dining experience. The price of this experience reflects a 20% Service Fee and 8.63% SF Sales Tax. This Service Fee goes towards paying our employees a livable wage as well as providing health insurance.
Frog's Leap Winemaker Diner
US$660.00 per person
Prepaid
Mar 30, 2025 only
6:00 p.m.
Join us for a special evening with Rory Williams of Frog’s Leap Cellars featuring library wines all the way back to the 1990s! This ticket includes the wine pairing and an intimate experience in our Kimono room with discussions with Rory. "Located in Rutherford in the heart of Napa Valley and founded by John Williams in 1981, Frog’s Leap proudly puts farming first. Our vineyards are certified organic since 1989 and dry-farmed since planting. Forty years in, the Williams family and team continue to garner accolades for the Frog’s Leap signature style: wines of balance, restraint and deep respect for the natural expression of the vine. Our home estate features our historic Red Barn, built in 1884, as well as our certified organic culinary gardens and fruit orchards. Join us and be regaled by our Wine Specialist team with stories of Frog’s Leap’s rich history, most of which are true."
Frogs Leap x Nisei
US$510.00 per person
Prepaid
Mar 30, 2025 only
We will explore the wines of Frog’s Leap through the lens of Nisei cuisine over a special 7-course menu. Guests for the evening will partake in the wine pairings from Frogs Leap chosen by Master Sommelier Andrey Ivanov and paired with seasonal dishes from Chef David Yoshimura. The pricing includes the wine pairing and this experience is in our main dining room.

What 89 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.9Service
4.8Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Loved For

San Francisco Bay Area
Japanese
San Francisco
Best Service
San Francisco
Innovative
San Francisco
Japanese

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Nisei offers an extraordinary dining experience, blending Japanese tradition with American innovation under Chef David Yoshimura's leadership. Guests rave about "exceptional food and service," and a "memorable culinary adventure." The beautifully presented dishes and thoughtful sake pairings make it "one of the best dining experiences," ensuring a "fantastic" and "unforgettable" visit.

89 Reviews

D
Don
San Francisco18 reviews
4.0
Dined 3 days ago
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Very different, sometimes tasty, sometimes not so much. Wonderful culinary adventure that expanded our taste buds to the max. Service and ambience first class throughout.
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JW
JairoW VIP
Los Angeles7 reviews
5.0
Dined on March 2, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Great. It pretty much worth going. The unagui and the duck were outstanding as everything
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M
Makinna
Denver1 review
5.0
Dined on February 21, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wow, Nisei was fantastic! I think the service was a real highlight for me - the staff and chef were so personable. The food was gorgeous and delicious. I’m a huge fan of soups, so the ichiban chowder and the pine nut miso soup were definitely my favorites. The chowder foam was somehow light and hearty at the same time. Sourdough mochi was a great compliment- so delicious that I’d buy them by the dozen if I could. If you can, would definitely recommend the wine pairing - I found a new favorite wine (Lumier Winery, “Mitsuki” 2023) and learned so much from the sommelier. Overall, a 11/10 experience. I love going out to Michelin star spots for a special treat, but this will be the first time I return to a spot once they move to the next seasonal shift in their menu:)
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N
Nicholas VIP
San Francisco5 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 16, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
My partner and I had our Valentines Day Dinner here and it was absolutely amazing. The service, the ambiance, the food were all incredible. Chef David was also very kind in greeting all of his guests! The staff are super friendly and we absolutely recommend it! We plan on checking out Bar Iris next door very soon! Shout out to the Chef Elle too! The desert was amaaaaaazing!
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N
Nikko
San Francisco1 review
5.0
Dined on February 14, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Incredible. My wife and I like long dinners that give us time to enjoy the food, talk about it and connect. Nisei did exactly that and provided the perfect ambience of a relaxed upscale experience. The staff was excellent, both extremely kind and attentive. Every dish wowed us with complex flavors. We left full and feeling like we at the highest quality ingredients. It was an unforgettable experience.
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D
David
San Francisco1 review
5.0
Dined on February 10, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
It was a great time at Nisei. Thank you for the hospitality
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A
Arthur
Orlando5 reviews
5.0
Dined on February 8, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
At Nisei, Chef David masterfully fuses Japanese tradition with American innovation in a stunning thirteen-course menu. Impeccable dishes, thoughtful sake pairings, and a passionate staff make it one of the best dining experiences. Highly recommended!
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H
Hugh VIP
London1 review
5.0
Dined on February 2, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
Seasonal tasting menu. Sake pairing. Stylish, welcoming, superb.
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F
Florence VIP
Mexico City5 reviews
5.0
Dined on January 26, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Great all around experience at Nisei!! Food Service atmosphere. All geared towards your enjoy
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G
Gonzalo
San Francisco27 reviews
5.0
Dined on January 6, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Wonderful experience overall! Love coming back. Celebrated my daughter’s birthday.
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FAQs

Nisei is rated 4.8 stars by 89 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Mar 11, 2025

7:00 p.m.

Booked 4 times today

Experiences are available.

2316 Polk St, San Francisco, CA 94109-1822

Additional information

Award-winning
1. MICHELIN 1 Star 2024
2. MICHELIN 1 Star 2023
Phone number
(415) 827-6898
Price
$50 and over
Cuisines
Japanese, Contemporary Asian, Japanese Speciality
Hours of Operation
Dinner Wed–Sun 5:00 pm–9:00 pm
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Street Parking
Payment Options
AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa

Nisei

Make a reservation

Why they're an Icon

Additional information

Experiences

Spring Menu at Nisei

Frog's Leap Winemaker Diner

Frogs Leap x Nisei

Menu

What 89 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Loved For

Review summary

FAQs

How is Nisei restaurant rated?

Is Nisei currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information