Delicious Ways to Explore Japantown

There was a great deal of buzz when Southern California-based Ramen Yamadaya opened a location in San Francisco, and rightfully so. The long-simmered tonkotsu broth is notable (some hardcore fans go for the extra-rich kotteri). The spicy ramen is another favorite, but you can’t go wrong with the classic Yamadaya ramen, either. Get the chashu, of course, and be prepared to wait if you’re there during prime dinner hours.

While you may be in a sea of Japanese establishments, you’ll also find excellent Himalayan and North Indian cuisine at Royal Indian Cuisine. It’s a charming spot for lunch or dinner, with tasty momos and tender chicken and lamb curries. With friendly staff and pleasant surroundings, you'll want to return again and again. 

Savvy foodies may have encountered Marufuku Ramen in Austin, New York, or other parts of California, but the popular operation began here in San Francisco. At their Japantown location, you can enjoy the creamy broth and thin noodles that put them on the map. Their chashu pork belly is worth the wait.

Nijiya Market

Japanese food lovers (or the food curious) will want to head to Nijiya Market to check out all the interesting Japanese products on offer, and pick up some of their freshly packaged sushi, seaweed salad, or even just a package or two of Japanese snacks. You can take your goodies to the nearby Peace Plaza, and enjoy them while people watching. Nijiya is also a great place for hard-to-find but useful kitchen tools at startlingly low prices. They're the perfect souvenirs for a gourmand.

Yuji

For an exclusive dining experience in Japantown, look no further than Yuji. Specializing in the kappo style of Japanese cooking, which uses only the freshest available ingredients, Yuji has attracted the attention of San Francisco's elite diners, as well as the Michelin Guide. A reservation-only venue with less than a dozen seats and a high price point ($150+ per person), Yuji may take a good deal of advance planning, but we think it's well worth the wait.

Looking for dining a little more down to Earth? Visit Tenroku and sample as much as you like from its conveyor belt of quality sushi. You'll be amazed at the variety! An affordable option that's open late seven days a week, Tenroku is perfect for groups, families, or visitors on a budget.

Ready for some dessert? The Blum’s coffee cake at Yasukochi’s Sweet Stop has been a San Francisco classic for over fifty years. The layers of chiffon cake are frosted with whipped cream and then covered with a coffee crunch candy that owner Tom Yasukochi learned to make from the candy maker at Blum’s, a soda fountain chain that was popular in San Francisco in the 1950s and 60s. The cake is still available at this tiny shop, but often sells out by 11 a.m., so get there early (they open at 10 a.m.)—or plan ahead and order a whole one two days in advance! They’ve also got a selection of other cakes, plus fun candies and cookies.