Kuma on Valencia: Fresh, artful sushi with a buzzing San Francisco bar vibe.
Kuma on Valencia, at 198 Valencia St, San Francisco, blends sushi and Japanese dining in a lively, welcoming setting. Reviews praise fresh, generous fish and standout nigiri like the toro handroll and Zeitgeist roll, along with a robust sake menu and friendly staff. Diners note a buzzy sushi bar and flexible vibe for casual weeknights or longer dinners, though a few menu items are seen as pricey or portioned cautiously.
198 Valencia St, San Francisco, CA 94103, USA
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Fresh, expertly crafted nigiri and sashimi with premium cuts like toro, uni, and seasonal fish.
Artfully arranged chirashi bowls, including deluxe options with added delicacies, served over seasoned rice.
Creative rolls such as the Zeitgeist roll, featuring unique combinations like toro and eggplant tempura.
A curated sake menu and beverage options to complement your meal, enhancing the dining experience.
Rotating dishes that reflect the freshest seasonal ingredients, ensuring variety and innovation.
Comfortable in-person dining at the sushi bar or tables, plus convenient takeout options with quality packaging.
Overall rating
Marc Jank
I love this place. Kuma is a true gem, and I always bring my friends visiting from out of town here. The chefs have incredible attention to detail- their menu changes constantly to reflect the seasons, so no two visits are the same, and we still talk about bites that we had on our first, second, and third visits that we never saw again. My favorites include the local tofu, walu, sea bream, amberjack, fluke, and uni, but you truly cannot go wrong.
Claire
Kuma on Valencia is the real deal. I’m picky about my sushi and this place keeps passing the test. I’ve been three times in person and even ordered delivery twice, and every time the fish has been fresh, generous, and just really good. If you want to splurge, go wild with their nigiri - so many cuts to choose from and all beautifully done. The toro handroll is so decadent I’m salivating thinking about it. If you don’t, the rolls are deliciousssss. My most memorable bite so far was their Zeitgeist roll with toro, eggplant tempura, and purple rice. Honestly a work of art. The sake menu is awesome, the staff is genuinely kind, and the sushi bar has that fun buzz without being too much. It’s the kind of spot where you can go casual on a weeknight or post up for a longer dinner and just keep ordering “one more thing.”
Illan Weiner
Insane that they don't offer hon wasabi from the tube or stem as a takeout item. The one time I was able to get them to say yes, it was a lie and I didn't get anything. Despite the sushi tasting good, I'm genuinely not interested in ordering from here ever again so long as Sushi Shio exists. Packaging is cute, but they gotta work on their accommodations. One of the sushi I ordered was really fishy, yet they did nothing to help.
cantik
Good atmosphere and location, but portion sizes don't match the prices. The Chirashi Deluxe was very disappointing - despite being described as having "all the fixings of our regular chirashi PLUS extra delicacies like toro, uni and scallops" the portions were surprisingly small for the premium price. The Sake-Masu Chirashi offered better value with clearly stated 12-piece serving. The rice underneath the chirashi was served in a very small portion. Ebi Tempura and Rainbow rolls were decent quality. Service at the bar was quiet but adequate. Overall: Nice vibe but overpriced. Would recommend checking portion expectations before ordering the pricier items.
Tina Pak
Always wanted to dine here. Stopped by the other night. Overall, a pleasant experience, but nothing that wowed me. The food was good - but in a city like San Francisco with so many standout sushi spots, it didn’t quite rise to the top. I’ve had better sushi elsewhere in town, so it didn’t leave a lasting impression. Service, on the other hand, was excellent. Friendly, attentive, and everything came out smoothly, no complaints there. The vibe was fine too: comfortable and low-key, but not particularly memorable or unique in a city full of more visually or atmospherically interesting places. All in all, I enjoyed my meal and appreciated the hospitality, but it’s probably not a place I’d go back to. Solid, but not that special for a second visit (to me).
