Shizen

Our experience at Shizen was amazing. It was the first time I tried a vegan sushi bar and the sushis were fabulous. We ordered the following things: 1. Nameko Mushroom Miso Soup: The soup fell below our expectations. The miso’s flavour could be more powerful. We could taste the water and honestly, were disappointed with the flavour as the miso was really diluted. The soup could taste way better if there was more flavour of Miso. 2. Secret Weapon: We loved this sushi. The spicy shredded tofu and the habanero sauce added a kick. After a point my lips were burning because of the spicy-ness of the habanero sauce but I was low-key loving it. Just an advise for people who don’t like spicy food that much - please don’t let the habanero touch your lips first 3. Missing Piece: We really liked this sushi roll as well. I really like soy sauce so I dipped the sushi in it, just to realise that the soy sauce had way too much sodium. Would recommend if they could keep a less sodium version of the soy sauce. The ginger shavings were really nice and helped to bring out the flavour of the sushi more. 4. Boddy and Soul: This was the star highlight of our evening. An absolute burst of flavours. We could not stop making noises while eating this sushi roll. The tempura crunch was just straight outta heaven. It did not need any add ons. It was simply amazing and we are coming to this restaurant just to eat this roll again. All in all, it was a great experience and we will definitely be visiting soon to try other things on the menu. Personally found it expensive (spent $85 between 2 people with tip for 3 specialty sushi rolls + the soup) but the taste makes up for it, I guess.

We came here for my best friends birthday. She is vegan and this is her absolute favorite restaurant. I’m glad I tried it but I probably wouldn’t go again on my own. I don’t eat sea food so I don’t eat sushi so this was a fun spot to for both of us. The location is cute and small, the presentation of the food was impressive, the noise got LOUD and was slightly overwhelming at times. I think it’s a great spot for people that enjoy sushi and are vegan so I would recommend it to people to very certain people. Wheelchair accessibility: I didn’t notice that it was wheelchair accessible because there were a few stairs that you had to go down in order to get into the restaurant.

My partner and I have been going to Shizen every week or two for over a year. It is my favorite restaurant ever for a number of reasons. Some people we have brought in initially express skepticism about a vegan sushi restaurant; by the end of the meal, everyone we’ve brought has been blown away and found the same enthusiasm we have. Shizen succeeds, educates, and elevates. The team is spectacular at creating an integrated and beautiful project that is political, philosophical, ecological, experiential, spatial, interpersonal, artistic, and nutritional. Cumulatively I find it a transformative experience. Our go to order for a more filling meal is the bean curd katsu with a side of spicy agave aioli, the yakisoba, and the boddy and soul. Our go to for a lighter meal is the yuba salad, eggplant nigiri, avocado nigiri, boddy and soul, and sweet potato roll. A few specific notes: Food: The food is world-class. They elevate plants to an art form, don’t try and use imitation meat, and everything is fresh and absolutely delicious. The seasonings and sauces are perfect. Jimi, Harris, Jacob, and the other cooks do spectacular work and are friendly, humble, and delightful. People: the team at Shizen is incredibly friendly, kind, generous, and knowledgable. They are clearly friends with one another and have good vibes. We love Zach, Natalie, Rose, Donelle, Herman, Simone, and the whole team. They always are so welcoming, and in some cases have come to our new years and birthday parties. They are the best and make the experience what it is. Ambiance: the space is simple, elegant, and elevated. The wood, plants, tables, and way that everything is “just so” feels both Japanese and American. The plates are lovely. The space is small but used perfectly. It all communicates an attention to detail that is beautiful but not pretentious. Price: compared to other sushi restaurants in the Mission, Shizen is roughly the same price point. We can get a solid meal for both of us and a Shizen lemonade and secret soda for ~60. For a Michelin recommended spot, this feels like an incredible value. Philosophy, artistry, and ecology: the underlying philosophy of Shizen is a beautiful vision of a world where we care for the ocean and the life in it. It is an exceptional accomplishment to translate that philosophy into a place where people can have a direct experience with a healthy and better way to eat and relate to the world. We are huge fans.

So I asked a local travel group where I should eat that's vegan in san fransisco and this was the #1 suggested spot. You can only book a reservation 1 week in advance and the spots booked up right away, I was able to snag a Sunday at opening (4:30pm). We had a great seat right as you walk in the dinning room and ordered as soon as we could. We tried the garlic edammame, seaweed salad and the miso soup as the appetizers and for rolls we tried the boddy and soul and missing peice. The garlic edammame was amazing if you like garlic like I do, miso soup was boring..nothing special and the seaweed salad was great minus the cucumbers. The specialty rolls..... boddy and soul was insanely good! Perfect amount of spice and crunch...all in all probably the best roll I've ever tried in my life... as for the missing peice ...it was an experience but I probably would never order it again.... too many weird flavors in my mouth from the tomato and the pickled mango. The service was great and fast.. with tip we spent $85 for 2 rolls and 3 appetizers. I highly suggest this place if you're ever in san fransisco and book that reservation asap.

Amazing food visually and taste

"Wow, serves the best sushi ever! The flavors are incredibly rich and explosive, leaving a lasting impact on the palate. Each bite is a burst of flavor that explodes in the mouth, leaving a delicious and unforgettable impression."

EDIT: 2/17/2024 ALWAYS a beautiful place, amazing service, small and very charming! The Garlic Miso ramen + Extra Chashu is everything we could want and more!!! It's still worth traveling for! Yes waits are still long, as it's a small place but so so so worth it!!! Been going here 7 years now and it's absolutely worth it. --- Wow this place is above and beyond amazing! Service is great, waiting times can be long but it is ABSOLUTELY WORTH THE WAIT. We come from Sacramento just to get an amazing, uplifting taste of what this place has to offer! The Garlic Ramen is our #1 choice , along with the perfect gyoza and any roll!! A filling meal, great price and it's beautiful inside! The people here are very nice and friendly too.

Eating at Shizen was an absolutely incredible experience. The rolls were creative and delicious!