We sat at the bar and we could watch the chef make all the sushi which was nice-great vantage point with an unobstructed view. The waitresses were nice and the food came out quick. The sushi was good quality, the spicy tuna roll was pleasantly spicy, the cooked salmon was well seasoned, and the presentation was very nice.

Minh San, the Head Chef, was so incredibly sweet, welcoming, and friendly. I was seated at the bar and watched as he carefully prepared my rolls behind the bar. He offered me some of his special fresh wasabi, which he told me he learned how to make in the mountains of Hokkaido, Japan. I've never had fresh wasabi before, but it was so good, I asked to take some home with me. I will definitely be back!

Came for lunch on a Saturday afternoon and we were seated quickly by a very welcoming waitress! - Calamari: seasoned and fried well, sauce was also good and good portion size for $11 - Teriyaki Chicken Set: chicken skin was crispy, salad was fresh, miso soup had a lot of seaweed and tofu - Teriyaki Beef Set: meat was tender and flavorful, same sides as the chicken teriyaki set - Pink Dragon Roll, Seared Salmon Belly Roll: both solid rolls, no complaints - Mixed Tempura: batter was on the lighter side but good variety of vegetables

This restaurant is just minutes away from my work and I didn't even realize! Came here for dinner one night and although there was only one other group dining at 7pm, the place quickly filled up afterwards - might be wise to make a reservation in advance! We ordered some nigiri, and also an assortment of rolls and hot dishes. Overall, fish was fresh and everything was fairly priced. Appetizers/hot dishes: Agedashi tofu ($10) - chewy exterior with a few tempura veggies (an added bonus!). Gindara miso ($18) - miso black cod had good flavor and was cooked well. It was just a really tiny, miniscule portion! Great for one person, not so great for a party of 5 unless you want to ration out one bite/person. Stuffed jalapeno ($13) - the only dish that I didn't care for. The albacore tuna was rubbery and overcooked. I would pass on this one. Specialty rolls: Seared salmon belly roll ($19), dragon roll ($19), spider roll ($18) - all pretty good! Standard rolls: Natto ($8), gobo ume shiso ($9), california roll ($10), spicy hamachi ($10) - classics were made well. I don't typically see gobo paired in an ume shiso roll, so was excited to try. Service was good. Our water cups were refilled and staff were all very attentive without being overbearing. It's a lovely neighborhood sushi spot! Also, bathroom was really clean and gave me spa vibes.

Excellent sushi spot. Clean, and seated right away. They have a very large selection of veggie roll options for all the vegetarian sushi lovers, rolls, sashimi and appetizers. The staff is very friendly and the fish was fresh. I got the oishi roll and both the salmon and hamachi were delicious. Would have snapped some pics of the food, but ate it all so fast because it was so good!

Great friendly neighborhood sushi spot! Came here for the happy hour deal from 5-6pm and had excellently priced food with kind and quick service. The edamame was regular, nothing special, but the wakame salad was SOO good! Miso soup was a nice big portion and warmed me up. The fish was super fresh and the sushi rice was also not too sweet or sour, very fresh food all around. Spicy tuna roll was my favorite by far because it had a perfect spice level to it. So glad we found this chill neighborhood spot. And the $15 bottomless sake is a STEALL

My girlfriends and I were out exploring Japantown when we decided we wanted to eat some sushi. We took a walk through the neighborhood and landed on this spot. There was no wait and the hostess graciously seated us and placed our orders in super fast. She was very sweet and explained the menu to us. The sushi plate was prepared quickly and the chef was passionate when explaining where the fish came from and how he prepares each piece. The ambiance for lunch was very relaxing and there was a steady flow of people coming in and out, but never noisy. I will definitely be coming back to Akira. The highlights for me was the beautiful presentation/freshness of the fish topped with the fresh wasabi. You just can't beat that!

Small but cozy Japanese restaurant in lower Pac Heights area! My partner and I had dinner here a few months ago when we were craving chirashi. We ended up ordering two sets of chirashi and a karaage to split. The fish was super fresh and a good portion; chirashi also comes with fresh salad and miso soup. Karaage was yum too! Not the cheapest place to dine but you're definitely getting quality food and friendly, attentive service. Would come back!