Vegan
Japanese
Vegan sushi bar and izakaya, eat. Jan 2015. Offers sushi, ramen, and Japanese food in small plates in a unique dining set-up with matching wood beams and tables. Open Mon-Thu 5:00pm-9:00pm, Fri-Sat 4:00pm-9:30pm, Sun 4:30pm-9:00pm.
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370 14th St (at Valencia, Mission District), San Francisco, California, USA, 94103
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Last update on 16 Oct 2023 by taiwanesetexan
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Added by condekedar on 14 Jan 2015
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228 Reviews
First Review by AshleyLorden
DSpocklington
Points +44
Great place - Edit
Shizen was busy on a Saturday night, but we got our food promptly and it was excellent. The wait staff was very helpful with first-timers who were unfamiliar with the menu and they helped us choose a delightful meal. It is such a pleasure to dine at a place where they understand vegan food and offer a wide array creative choices. An excellent value.
Read morePros: Simple/sophisticated decor, Excellent food, Good Value
Cons: seating is a little tight
Guest
Fit_Fathers
Points +307
ichiban - Edit
Authentic vegan sushi experience in San Fran at #Shizen - We went with the spicy garlic miso Ramen, vegetable tempura, edamame, a few rolls and the mushroom plate. Yes, we're highly satisfied! #VeganPro
Read morePros: many options , fulfilling
Cons: uses white rice
Guest
kasia
Points +144
Amazing. - Edit
We went there in about a week ago and had spicy garlic miso ramen, scarlet smile, plot twist and flying colours and it was one of the best meals of my life.
Read moreThe ramen and scarlet smile were absolutely amazing and I wish there was a place like that in UK where the only vegan sushi you can get is an avocado or cucumber roll.
I'm dreaming of that gorgeous heavenly ramen as well.
Superb!
Guest
ryann
Points +32
Suuuuuppaaaa - Edit
A bit pricey for a college student, but completely worth the treat.
Read moreGuest
LorenaH
Points +88
OK I give them credit - Edit
First of all, it is good that they try to make sushi that is creative and tasty without using meat or dairy, and the "fake meat", they claim, is soy-based and locally made. My problem was that they advertise brown rice on the website and on the menu, but it is not available, not at all, anymore. Secondly, a little too much salt and soysauce, and way too much sugar for me. The diner at the table next to me asked if they could make gluten-free tempura, nope; but it doesn't hurt to ask, does it?
Read moreUpdated from previous review on Saturday April 25, 2015
Pros: Vegan, creative, tasty
Cons: no brown rice, too salty, too much sugar
Guest
Rob D
Points +130
One of the Best Vegan Restaurants in SF - Edit
With Cha-Ya and the recently closed Minako, the mission district had plenty of options for vegans looking for great Japanese food. Since the opening of Shizen, I haven't felt the desire to go to either of those restaurants. In nearly all respects, it outshines any other Japanese food I've had in San Francisco.
Read moreShizen has all of the standard sushi you'd expect to find at a vegan restaurant, but go for the specialty rolls that are beautifully presented and bursting with unexpected and tantalizing combinations of flavors and textures. This is nothing like the sushi you'll find at other Japanese restaurants.
The ramen is perfect on a cold day with a rich broth, noodles and meaty tasting slices of smoky tofu. Salads are fresh and perfectly dressed.
Shizen is one of those restaurants where I'm faced with the dilemma on repeat visits: I want to eat the dishes I've had before, but also want to try new ones. After four or five visits, there isn't a single dish I've tried that I would not happily order again.
Service is top notch for the most part. The only fault I could find is that they currently only have one dessert selection. Shizen is currently working on a menu update and it would be great if they expanded the dessert offerings. Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing.
Updated from previous review on Tuesday April 21, 2015
Pros: Great food, Unique & creative specialty sushi rolls, Good service
Guest
aner1kind17
Points +1215
amazing - Edit
I thought it would be hard to top the vegan sushi place in New York, but shizen is just incredible. I went with 2 big meat eaters and they claimed it was the best restaurant they ate at in SF! Very creative, great presentation, and utterly delicious. Highly recommended!
Read moreGuest
niambi
Points +24
Outstanding!!!! - Edit
I'm not gonna waste your time: JUST GO RIGHT NOW. Its not a game! The *only* downside--they don't take AMEX (who friggin cares?!? GO.)
Read morePros: All
Cons: Stop that. GO.
Guest
FoodAndLoathing
Points +294
So freaking good - Edit
Omg, I can't even take it, this place. It's too much yum. It's better than any sushi you've ever had ever. I think a fish-eating person might not even realize there's no fish. This place serves up enormously creative and delicious dishes. It's pretty affordable, too.
Read moreThey don't take reservations and the place was packed when I got there. I suspect people don't know it's vegan, they just think it's an awesomely hip, yummy new sushi place.
The only thing I'd warn about is that if you are going to this place with an alcoholic who is in recovery, you may want to beware. We got a dish that had one piece in it that was spicy, while the rest were not. It came with a shot of sake in the middle. Whoever gets the spicy piece gets the sake. That's definitely a cute and fun idea, but since it is not indicated on the menu, I feel it could do harm to folks in recovery.
Guest
Yakimom
Points +74
So Very Yummy - you won't regret it! - Edit
OMG this place was amazing! Went with my omni friend and he was impressed. We ate so much- spicy ramen, the hidden agenda special roll, the body and soul special roll, gyoza, shizen shiitake mushrooms, the grilled asparagus, and the mochi. Everything was delicious and so beautifully presented. We were stuffed! For that level of service and presentation the price was reasonable. I can't wait to go back again!!
Read moreGuest
aps101
Points +341
My new favorite in San Francisco - Edit
My new favorite restaurant in San Francisco and one of my favorites ever. Shizen has been open just about a month now. I am still dreaming about this meal one week later. It is tastefully and minimally designed (but not stark in the least). A warm and inviting place to dine. The atmosphere is great and the staff is friendly. The manager especially was fantastic, accommodating and knowledgeable.
Read moreThe menu is one of the most creative I have ever seen. I was blown away by the variety of choices, the breadth of ingredients and the combination of flavors. (I will list below what I can remember of what we ordered, though there was more.) Everything is presented beautifully. Stunningly so. Every new item brought with it incredible delight. Nothing disappointed. Nothing. And just when we thought they couldn't do better, they did. This food is amazing and easily satisfied a party that included vegans, vegetarians and carnivores. All I want to do is go back and eat there again.
Some of what we had...
Beet salad
Ramen
Agedashi
Avocado
Asparagus Robata
Sweet Potato Tempura Roll
Body and Soul
Scarlet Smile
Professor Puzzle
Pros: Food, Menu, Atmosphere
Guest
AshleyLorden
Points +1238
Classic Japanese in a classy space - Edit
Shizen brings a variety of classic Japanese dishes (ramen, izakaya/small plates, sushi) to the table; the element of creativity is making them entirely plant-based. There's a fair amount of imitation on the menu, from "eggs" in the ramen to "cream cheese" and "mayonnaise" in the rolls, to "crab meat" all over. There are also the favorite vegan dishes from Tataki, a related omni restaurant -- vegetable tempura, avocado/ cucumber/ shiitake/ sweet potato tempura rolls.
Read moreThe restaurant has an intimate feeling, with almost all furniture and decoration being natural wood, 6 seats at the sushi bar and room for about 40 in close-together tables. I thought it was lovely but could also imagine it turning into a super loud echo chamber if full of people.
Menu includes a few cocktails, sake, wine and beer along with the array of food selections. No dessert menu. My partner and I got 3 small plates, an uramaki roll, a special roll and 2 drinks for around $60.
Service was nice, although obviously the waiters were new since they've just opened this week.
As a vegan person, I sometimes don't enjoy eating things that closely resemble animal foods I would normally avoid. Unfortunately that happened here -- some of the dishes we ordered left me with a "fishy" feeling in my mouth which I did not like. I bet that is a great feature for bringing mixed groups or tentative vegans here. For me, I will go back and order dishes featuring planty flavors next time :)
The location is sort of in between a few neighborhoods -- not far from anything but not in a busy center either. I would probably pay for parking rather than leave a car in the street in the evening around here for security, but it's not unsafe to walk from public transit either.
Pros: Classy, pretty interior, Interesting food, Nice service
Cons: Loud
Guest
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