Hinata "A sunny place" - San Francisco

Hinata

A Japanese word for "a sunny place" residing right in the heart of the San Francisco's Van Ness district, was an experience I'll always remember as one of the best and affordable Omakase style sushi restaurant I've yet to experience.

A little bit about sushi from Hinata

Even though it is smaller and not infamous as many other Omakase joints around SF, Hinata strives to provide the very freshest and best ingredients; and to do so, the owner heads straight to the source that provides the best fishes in the world - Tokyo, Japan's very own Tsujiki Fish Market. If you didn't know before, Tsujiki market provides 80% of the world's fishes, shipping hundreds of thousands of tons total every single year and thousands of tons per day all across the world.

Thankfully enough, Hinata provides us with an opportunity to consume the freshest shipment they could get straight from Tsujiki and at the lowest possible cost of $78 USD per an 18 course Omakase; this price is by far one of the lowest for such an amazing Omakase course anywhere in San Francisco. There is also an A La Carte menu that is provided halfway through dinner so that, for those wanting more are able to order their individual pieces. Luckily, I was able to snap a few pictures of the dinner as the restaurant didn't have great lighting.

Now for the foodporn!

Seared Hokkaido Scallop w/ miso aioli

King Salmon w/ seasonal fruit

Hokkaido Tofu w/ ginger, katsuobushi

Shoyu braised octopus w/ karachi!

Umi Masu - Ocean Trout

Hon Maguro - Blue Fin Tuna

Bincho - Albacore Tuna

Sanma - Pacific Saury

Kanpachi - Amber Jack

Shoyu Ikura - Cured Salmon Roe

Sake Toro (A La Carte)

O-Toro (seared, A La Carte)

Sawara Spanish Mackerel Smoked w/ Cherry Wood