Restaurant

An | Japanese Restaurant

JapaneseSan Francisco$$$

An | Japanese Restaurant is one of the best japanese restaurants in San Francisco for date night, especially if you want a strong option in San Francisco.

An [庵] — the name itself is the thesis. In Japanese, it refers to a modest cottage where monks and artists once retreated from the noise of the world, and that etymology is not incidental decoration. This is a 12-seat sushi counter on the second floor of San Francisco's Japan Center, marked by a small sign on the side, open just five nights a week. Chef Kiyoshi Hayakawa, who opened the restaurant with his wife Ayumi in 2015, built An around that philosophy of deliberate smallness: a place where the format enforces attention, and where the cooking asks to be taken seriously on its own quiet terms rather than competing for hype. The room is for diners who find a counter seat at a chef's restaurant to be the beginning of focus, not a compromise.

Taste ID

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Taste Score 8.1/10
Rating (Google) 9.6
175 reviews
San Francisco
At a glance
The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.
8.1/10
Taste Score
Google 9.6 from 175 reviews
Best for
date night and hidden gem
Price and pace
More of a night out
Neighborhood
San Francisco | 22 Peace Plaza, #510 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA
Price
More of a night out
Taste Score
8.1/10
Address
San Francisco | 22 Peace Plaza, #510 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA
What to order

Signature dishes at An | Japanese Restaurant

Spoonful of Happiness (uni, quail egg, tobiko ponzu)
Miso-marinated black cod
Mushroom chawanmushi
Why go

What makes An | Japanese Restaurant worth the move

An | Japanese Restaurant is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. Spoonful of Happiness (uni, quail egg, tobiko ponzu) and Miso-marinated black cod also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 175 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating
9.6 from 175 Google reviews
Best for
date night and hidden gem
Style
Japanese in San Francisco
Spend
More of a night out

Best for

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.6 from 175 reviews
Price point: $$$
Popular dishes: Spoonful of Happiness (uni, quail egg, tobiko ponzu), Miso-marinated black cod, Mushroom chawanmushi
Website linked on this page
TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by Marcus Chen for An | Japanese Restaurant

Google snapshot
9.6 from 175 reviews
TastyPals notes
Editorial review by Marcus Chen
No diner notes for An | Japanese Restaurant yet.

Every note in this section is written by a diner who actually ate here, so we leave it empty until there's a genuine one to share.

For now, An | Japanese Restaurant holds a 9.6 rating across 175 Google reviews.

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Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does An | Japanese Restaurant serve?

An | Japanese Restaurant is a Japanese restaurant located in San Francisco, San Francisco. An [庵] — the name itself is the thesis. In Japanese, it refers to a modest cottage where monks and artists once retreated from the noise of the world, and that etymology is not incidental decoration. This is a 12-seat sushi counter on the second floor of San Francisco's Japan Center, marked by a small sign on the side, open just five nights a week. Chef Kiyoshi Hayakawa, who opened the restaurant with his wife Ayumi in 2015, built An around that philosophy of deliberate smallness: a place where the format enforces attention, and where the cooking asks to be taken seriously on its own quiet terms rather than competing for hype. The room is for diners who find a counter seat at a chef's restaurant to be the beginning of focus, not a compromise.

What is An | Japanese Restaurant best for?

An | Japanese Restaurant is best for hidden gem, date night. An | Japanese Restaurant is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. Spoonful of Happiness (uni, quail egg, tobiko ponzu) and Miso-marinated black cod also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 175 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at An | Japanese Restaurant?

An | Japanese Restaurant is in the More of a night out price range ($$$). Google rating: 9.6 from 175 reviews

What should I order at An | Japanese Restaurant?

Start with Spoonful of Happiness (uni, quail egg, tobiko ponzu), Miso-marinated black cod and Mushroom chawanmushi. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is An | Japanese Restaurant worth visiting?

An | Japanese Restaurant holds a 9.6 Google rating from 175 reviews. An | Japanese Restaurant is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. Spoonful of Happiness (uni, quail egg, tobiko ponzu) and Miso-marinated black cod also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 175 Google reviews.

Where is An | Japanese Restaurant located?

An | Japanese Restaurant is located at 22 Peace Plaza, #510 2nd Floor, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA. Directions are available via Google Maps.

Is An | Japanese Restaurant good for a date night?

Yes — An | Japanese Restaurant is tagged for date night dining. An | Japanese Restaurant is an easy yes when you want somewhere that feels considered rather than fussy. Spoonful of Happiness (uni, quail egg, tobiko ponzu) and Miso-marinated black cod also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.6 rating across 175 Google reviews.

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