Let's review our sushi cred, will you? For SFist, we have been to quite a few sushi places; we are very familiar with the big names in the sushi market, the Ebisus, Blowfishs or Kabutos, which we visit periodically, and our s.o. comes from Japan. Yet, we find ourselves back at Hamano a few times a month, rain or shine. Why don't we ever stray too far? Part of it is the relationship we have with the management there, whom said s.o. befriended after becoming a regular there. Most of it is the stellar sushi.
Hamano's chefs place a large slab of meat, always fresh, always the highest quality, on rice with the perfect temperature and stickiness. And Hamano offers the whole range of sushi: the vegetarian pieces with, for instance, some nato, the fermented soy bean which is definitely an acquired taste; the shiny ones, with sardine and mackerel; the fancy sushi too, with the most luscious-est toro, the fattiest part of the tuna belly, or the almost nutty uni, these yummy sea urchins which turn bad and ammoniumy so fast, Hamano serves them live. Hamano also makes some of the best tempura in the city, with a thin layer of batter perfectly crispy and a rich hamachi kama, a yellowtail collar which meat falls off the bone. With simple perfectly executed nigiri, elegant sashimi, or fancy colorful multi-layered rolls, Hamano satisfies everyone from the sushi purist to the regular Joe.
So Hamano gets the 2005 'Fistie for Best Sushi. A special 'Fistie mention goes to Koo's appetizers, and to the spoonful of happiness in particular, and to the super friendly atmosphere at Sushizone, where we would be all the time if it was not so tiny with such a long waiting line.
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Hate to argue with you, Ced, but sorry, the best sushi is totally at No-Name's! Dirt cheap, tons of rolls, fun-loving sushi chef and chain-smoking waitresses who already remember that I like the ikura nigiri -- the BYOB policy and the KMEL on the radio are totally the tobiko sprinkle on top!
Rita:
oh no, you don't hate to argue with me! If I ever were on a debate team, I would lose every time. I'd be lunch meat to your arguments.
No-name: it's not in the same category as Hamano I'm afraid.For one, it got voted best of the bay by the SF Weekly food team, a sure sign that there is something wrong with it. It is cheap and convenient, for sure. Tell you what: I did not go in 2005, but I'll put it on the list for '06, maybe it will get the 'fisty next year.
Oh, I see, Rita -- for sushi you like dirt-cheap, but for burritos you want the frou-frou stuff? Double standard, Mz. Hao! Explain! (no, just kidding).
Hamano sounds like a plan once the wife can eat raw fish again.
I know! It's perverse! I also only like really cheap coffee and really expensive chocolate.
I appreciate the whole "personal relationship" disclaimer in this post, since it's really the only thing that can justify Hamano being anywhere near the top of a sushi-lover's list. In my experience Hamano is thoroughly average, with occasional flashes of dreadful. That said, I'm of the opinion that great sushi is plentiful in SF and traveling too far past your favorite local sushi haunt to visit the "best" in the city is a fool's errand. Of course, if I lived near Hamano, I would definitely go to Matsuya.
"really cheap coffee??????"
Now I KNOW you're just trying to start a fight.
Matsuya is a delightful family joint, it has a nice cosy atmosphere, but [edited] the food there is more like a home meal in Japan. Hamano provides a completely different experience.
I have to say that Hamano was atop our list prior to us getting to know the people there. We only got to know them by loving the place and coming back again and again when we were living in Noe.
We don't like Hamano because we know the owners, we know the owners because we like Hamano. Get it?
I have to completely agree with Cedric on this. I've been eating Sushi in this town for several years now and Hammano - even before the change of ownership that happened about 4 years ago - has always been my fave. The fish is consistently terrific. One only need sample the Uni at both Hammano and No-name to understand that No-name shouldn't even be named in comparison. And the Hamachi Kama - nice shout out, Cedric - is soooooo good too if you like you fish cooked. Hammano-a-rama!
I used the SFist recommendation for Hamano Sushi when I was looking for a really good sushi place in the city (I live in San Jose). I was not disappointed. It really was the best sushi I ever had. Now, not being a frequent-eater-of-sushi-in-SF I can't speak to the other places, but with regards to Hamano? Freaking outstanding stuff.
How about Anzu at the Sushi Counter? Hands down best variety in the Greater Bay Area. The ony drawback is the sake selection, which doesn't have anything really delicious to match sushi - turns out the chef doesn't drink!
Alice,
Anzu totally deserves to be top sushi in SF. The only thing is I haven't been there recently. But last time I went, I was blown away. Probably the best quality fish in the city at Anzu (with, for instance, sea urchins from the farallons). The rule I set was to pick a place I had visited over the last year, and unfortunately, I cannot afford Anzu as often as I'd like.