YUJI

This is my second time here. The first time was 2022. This time, was abysmal. We chose the sake pairing as well. The food is nothing special, in fact down right common for the price . The service is by a seemingly overweight bored chef. Meaning the service was lackluster. There were 3 late comers to the 9 bar seats. The chef was distracted, trying to accommodate the new guests but meanwhile forgetting about SAKE pairing . You felt you were eating at a bad diner. And as the chef was drinking alcohol with one of the guest, his food quality slid along with his hospitality. The food actually was disturbingly bland even before his drinking (maybe he drank already for inspiration ?) And because the restaurant only has 9 seats, you felt compelled to celebrate this chef for his participation of being a "chef" that he was still standing and serving. He seriously forgot we had sake pairing. We had to remind him. And he would seemingly wake up and drag some bottle out and claim it was from his home town, then the next bottle was near his home town, then the third tasting was sorta near his home town (how does that relate to the food?🎈 Remember, pairing?!). Sake pairing not sake near where your home town is. [We also know our sake, he gave us sake we routinely buy to cook with or drink casually] Worse was he seriously forgot we had the pairing. Out of 9 dishes, we got 4 drinks out of mini sake glasses. DON'T do the pairing. Suffice it to say, not worth $800 for 2 people + the sake pairing 4 drinks out of mini sake glasses each. And mandatory 20% gratuity. And the food, well neither of us got dysentery: that's a plus. Yay! Would I recommend. NO. BUT WAIT'. Well, I'm sure they would take $800 of of you for 2 people. But we won't ever be back. Fool me once....

It was my first omakase experience, and Yuji made it very wonderful and special. Every course had its own unique flavor, and the chef gave an introduction to every course when he served them. My personal favorite was the grilled black cod. The soft yuzu taste blended so well with the taste of the cod. I was planning on getting dessert after, but the matcha tiramisu served at the end was so good and I didn't need to go get separate dessert after. Overall, it was a very solid experience. I do think it's a bit cramped there, but it is cool inside and there is enough space to enjoy the meal.

A true hidden gem for traditional Japanese course dining that deserves more attention. Unlike many omakase spots that focus primarily on nigiri, Yuji delivers a well-rounded experience with a strong emphasis on expertly crafted cooked dishes. Some standout highlights from our meal: • Eggplant with sea urchin – Perfectly balanced, with savory uni adding richness to the soft eggplant. • Grilled black cod – Lightly marinated, flaky, and beautifully textured. • Kagoshima Wagyu sukiyaki – High-quality, authentic beef served with a flavorful and unique egg dipping sauce. • Sweetfish tempura – Tender, with a perfectly crisp batter that preserves the delicate skin. • Sesame cold noodles – Rich, creamy sauce paired with springy noodles. A satisfying finish. All of this was part of an incredible tasting menu priced at just $160. Another thing I truly appreciated was the seasonal rotation of the menu — something rarely seen in omakase-style restaurants. They adapt the menu monthly based on ingredient availability, which keeps each visit exciting. Seasonal crab specials to watch for: • July–August: Hairy crab season • Mid-November–December: Premium snow crab from Japan We’re already planning to return during crab season. Can’t wait to see what the next menu has in store!

It was a beautiful Friday in the peak of spring. A friend from college had invited me to Kappo Yuji to experience his favorite omakase, and boy did it live up to the expectations. Though it was a little hard to find(you have to go upstairs with minimal signage outside), however once seated you find yourself in a super cozy setting with only 8 seats available. Then we began our meal. Chef Yuji started us out with the first of a number of dishes and his recommended sake. Throughout the courses, I was blown away by how simple, but balanced everything was. According to my party, this place is the most authentic to Japanese in the US, so with my limited knowledge, I took absolutely everything in. We were taken on a journey of flavor and technique which culminated in a fantastic dessert. The whole place was a complete vibe and Chef Yuji is definitely the X factor in this restaurant. His energy guides you and helps you understand everything. I really enjoyed my time here, and though I may not have left completely full in my stomach, my heart and brain were full nonetheless.

One of my favorite dining experiences in the city that has flown below the radar for far too long. Kappo yuji is an intimate traditional Japanese restaurant that serves an array of dishes cooked in different ways: raw, fried, grilled, etc. If you like omakase but want to take a detour and still have that same quality of ingredients, this is a great place to go to. I’ve been here around 3x and the menu has changed seasonally. Some of my favorite dishes that I’ve had include the seiko kani, which is a delicacy basically a female Japanese snow crab with a lot of roe, their grilled sea bass, and an uni soba dish. Yuji has never failed to impress me, and get me rather full. Every time I’ve underestimated the set menu and always order extras and end up stuffed. It is also a set menu worth the price at around $160, quite comparable to most set menus in sf, but in my opinion more worth it due to the intimate small seating setting and quality ingredients used. Conveniently located in Japantown but easily missed in a humble no sign entryway. Parking is easy in the japantown plaza lot.