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Mas Sake
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Mexican Japanese, Mexican [Edit]
2030 Lombard St(between Fillmore St & United States Highway 101)
San Francisco, CA 94123
Neighbourhood: Marina/Cow Hollow
(415) 440-1505
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 6 pm - 10 pm
Thu-Sat 6 pm - 12 am
Sun 5:30 pm - 10 pm
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
About This Business:
At Green Chile Kitchen, we use Bueno chile products grown in New Mexico. They are hand-picked, flame-roasted, peeled, packed and flash-frozen, all… read more »
538 reviews for Mas Sake
Review Highlights
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"The sushi is straightforward and tasty." In 340 reviews -
"The sake bombs ($4 each) were warm & delightful." In 75 reviews -
"Seared Ahi Tacos are a tasty treat, surprisingly very, very..." In 8 reviews
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538 reviews in English
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Review from Mariangeles C.
San Francisco, CA
5/24/2012
I have been here a few times, a friend of mine loves throwing bashes here...
The food is really tasty WOWZERS
I have tried the steak sushi (loved it ) the fried rice (decadent, unique, and tasty) also have tried the chicken wraps AMAZING..and the list goes on ..their sushi is tasty and fresh and their drinks are good...
It's in the Marina so yah there are some douche bags wearing circa 2005 Lacoste Polos and stuff of that nature , but the ambiance is legit .. AWESOME MUSIC ...
some people dont like the "unce unce " music but they play top 40.Im a house /trance lover so im partial to it lol but they play good music not just rave beats...
good experience, attentive people..my only thing is maybe make sure everyone in your party brings CASH...
we split our transaction up on a few cards and someone got over charged but they fixed it quickly for us..
mas sake ill be back soon to see you ~! -
Review from Janell H.
San Francisco, CA
5/2/2012
Last night was by second meal at Mas Sake. I ordered mainly rolls during my first visit and was not impressed. They were all kind of bland and boring.
During last nights visit, I tried the seared tuna appetizer and the tacos. Both were FANTASTIC! The tuna was perfectly seared, peppery and in a great ginger sauce.
I also tried some of their chicken taco, steak taco, shrimp taco and tuna taco. The shrimp and the tuna were standouts. The steak was pretty good but couldn't compete with the unique tuna and shrimp tacos. The chicken was good but a little bland. The guacamole served along side was super fresh and chunky but could have used a little more salt.
TIP! We were there on a Tuesday for their special, $4 tacos!
I plan to return on another Tuesday to hit up those tacos. They were pretty good size and 2-3 along would fill me up nicely. I also recommend the seared tuna appetizers. -
Review from Karen R.
San Francisco, CA
4/16/2012
Full disclosure - Mas Sake isn't really my scene to begin with. They play untsy club music and people do sake bombs and woo at 6pm on a Sunday. It's also significantly overpriced for mediocre sushi.
However, they offer all-you-can-eat sushi on Sundays, when better sushi restaurants are closed since they can't get fresh fish, so I decided to give the place another try last night. BAD DECISION.
The all-you-can-eat menu offers a selection of rolls and nigiri. A member of our party couldn't eat white rice so we asked for brown rice. That was a no-go, but no big deal - he just ate the fish off the top of the nigiri and everyone was happy...Until the manager came over and informed us that we were going to be charged $2.75 PER PIECE for each piece of RICE that was left over.
Now, I understand having a deterrent in place to prevent people from over-ordering and leaving a bunch of uneaten food behind, but having to finish all of the rice? Seriously? Listen, Mas Sake, if you're really that concerned about people eating too much fish and not filling up on rice, then DON'T OFFER ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT. Don't be a dick to your customers because of their dietary constraints. -
Review from Owen S.
San Francisco, CA
5/22/2012
Rolls are mediocre, atmosphere is a nightmare. Staff dress like they are about to start pole dancing, but they are friendly. Unfortunately, the techno music is so freaking loud you have to yell in their ear to get anything ordered. I left with a pounding headache, a hoarse voice, and not satisfied with the food.
-
Review from Taylor C.
San Francisco, CA
If you love loud DJ music, eating sushi, sake bombs and models who happen to serve food, you are probably gonna love Mas Sake. The later you go, the more of a club atmosphere you are going to get. Did I mention the models who happen to serve food? Come for a pregame and do some sake bombs and get a roll, you'll enjoy yourself
-
Review from Stephanie C.
San Francisco, CA
4/3/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
3.5 STARS
I've been to Mas Sake a couple times and I'm not gonna lie, the first time I'd been there wasn't that great. The second time around, however, was my most recent trip and I had a great time! I came here for dinner with my friends for a girl's night out.
I made a 9:00 reservation through OpenTable which I HIGHLY recommend because this place can get packed FAST. We ended up having to wait about 15 minutes before we were seated, though.
Once we were seated, we started dinner off with some sake bombs. Pretty standard, just a bottle of warm sake (I'm not sure what brand) and some Sapporo. They did the job ;) If these don't get you in the mood to party, then the music sure will! It's like a club in there! We also ordered a few rolls - California roll, spicy tuna, tempura shrimp, and another roll that tasted like a California roll but also had cream cheese. The rolls were fresh and were pretty tasty but nothing to write home about. Overall, I thought they were good but just overpriced.
Service was okay. The hostess apologized for making us wait and our waitress was really sweet, she always came to check up on us.
The major reason Mas Sake is getting almost 4 stars is for the party atmosphere! This is a great place to go to for a late dinner before going out, especially since there's a DJ that plays awesome music (mostly top 40, mashups, and house) and it's also close by some bars in the Marina. -
Review from Therese F.
San Francisco, CA
1 star for the food and 3 stars for the service/atmosphere.
Upon my arrival, it seemed as if I entered a night club instead of a restaurant due to the dim lighting and loud, upbeat music (not the usual restaurant atmosphere, but trendy & fun).
I honestly don't think people come here for the food, but rather for the hooters looking like waitresses. Our waitress was super friendly, but I think her and the rest of the waitresses' main purpose was to distract us (customers) from the not so good food. I literally only took a bite of each dish ordered (very unlikely of me because I usually go for seconds and thirds). Even for the small amounts consumed, I thought it was a waste of calories. Maybe the Japanese Mexican fusion just doesn't cut it for me. On the other note, the sake was pretty darn good. It was smooth and quite tasty. It's sad to say, taking in consideration that I'm not a sake/alcohol drinker, but that actually tasted better than the food. -
Review from Robert R.
San Francisco, CA
2/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
(B) Food was average
(B+)Drinks were good
(B-)Ambience was expected (loud)
(B)Crowded, but again expected
(FFFF)Service was terrible( waited for service, waited for drinks, waited for food and then the check was prompt haha Terrible)
Overall: Would not come back. I am sorry, but I don't care what your waitresses look like, I would rather have great service. -
Review from Christina P.
Aliso Viejo, CA
4/24/2012 Seated via OpenTable
Saturday night reservation on Open Table via Yelp and we were seated quickly. Drunk servers, decent sushi rolls, and fun atmosphere. Don't bother with the sake (Pear Cider beer) shots. Weak but I guess it's cute. Our Snooki look alike server was rude and drunk.
If you don't care waiting and reminding your server, the club atmosphere here is not too bad.
Perhaps all I needed was a stronger drink and a sex change for my Snooki server to like me. -
Review from Erica T.
3/2/2012
If you think of sushi, this place will never pop into your mind. I feel like it is a dirty bar up front and then you see the restaurant side when you walk to the back. No bueno! Servers looked like go go dancers, dinner tables looks like clubbing tables, how do you eat sushi if the table is so low to the ground and the chairs are the same height as the table?! Just be warned, if you are wearing white, make sure you have your napkin on your lap so if someone accidentally bumps into you and you drop your food... you have that napkin to protect you.
We ordered a lot of different dishes, but the only two I remember was:
Sushi cups ($12): This concoction was pretty good but not worth the crowd and crappy seating areas. The textured and flavors all went well with each other.
Seared Ahi Tacos ($12): I think the taco I had was overcooked and not as good. My friends seemed to like it but maybe they got a better cooked ahi than I did.
Service was ok. I know she was busy, but man.. I didn't expect to be ignored the whole time, we wanted to order more, but never saw our server till it was just that time to ask for the check.
P.S. if you want a place to talk and catch up with friends.. this is NOT the place to be! music is loud that you have to yell to your friends for them to hear you. -
Review from Mark i.
San Francisco, CA
+3 stars for spicy Japanese and Mexican menu - should be tasty, right? I like Mexican food and I like sushi, but should the two be allowed to marry at one restaurant? Like science and fiction, some things are just fine on their own but their merger can be quite wacky. You be the judge on this one.
- some amount of stars for the service and especially the *vibe* there... let me try to run it down for you.
You know that feeling you get after reading a import tuner car mag, tattoo mag, or something like FHM, Loaded, or any of those 'lad-mags' that might have had Olivia Munn on the cover a few years ago? You know, the ones that now can only run mildly-famous bikini-ed car-show booth models - and then the models in the pictorials are just mildly 'off / skeevy'? It makes *you* yourself feel skeevy for even looking at the pictorial? And it's not even hardcore, just - I don't know - the models seem needy, desperate, or something? Make sense? Happen to you? Ever?
Yeah, well - going to Mas Sake is like the real-life version of reading that mag with the slightly-off models that make you feel skeev-ish for even looking at the pics / being there in person amidst the needy, desperate vibe. With passable Mexi-sushi.
Don't say I didn't warn you. -
Review from Hillary B.
San Francisco, CA
2/28/2012
My boyfriend surprised me with Vday dinner here and I found it to be different from what I had expected. The decor was nice as we walked in but as we went to be seated one side on the room had oddly placed wood panels and there other side had mirrors and large tvs. The music choice was good and very club like. They also had family style tables which makes an intimidate date night out awkward when you are placed by loud obnoxious people.
The food was good, a little unexpected with tacos and sushi on one menu but interesting. The roles were very filling as I got three amigos (YUM), caterpillar and one other that I forgot but still enjoyed. My boyfriend got teriyaki chicken with rice and asparagus and he was filled and enjoyed his meal. I would go again even with the high prices because it was a lot of food for the money and very filling. -
Review from Tania D.
San Francisco, CA
2/26/2012
One of my favorite places in San Francisco. Love the vibe, the music, the food and the drinks!
Fun place to come with a group of friends to eat! The atmosphere is a cross between a restaurant and a club.
The sushi is fresh and delicious! the Sake w/ Sapporo or pear cider is very good! -
Review from Roxy H.
San Francisco, CA
4/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
Sushi was ok but you come for the bartenders n the feel. And the feel of this place is darn fantastic. Lindsey is fantastic she is the big draw. Bubbly n fun great service.
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Review from Dave K.
12/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
Dear Haters of Yelp
After seeing numerous haterade-ish reviews I must come correct. Mas Sake is actually pretty darn good. As a matter of fact, it's beyond pretty darn good. Mas Sake is amazing for several reasons:
1) Despite paying $730 million dollars for their sushi, I actually enjoyed what I ate. I know it's blasphemy to consider spicy tuna a quality sushi, but this "Sushi Cupcake" on their specialty menu is pretty awesome. As TV personalities on the Food Network would say "a ton of flavor mixed together in your mouth".
2) Let it be known: the attractive waitress staff at Mas Sake will make you feel like you just entered Spearmint Rhino in Vegas (not that I know what it feels like, I'm just saying...zzz) that serves sushi - no pun intended. Yelp is PG.
3) My latest discovery tells me that Mas Sake has AYCE Sushi for $25 bucks, and Sunday bottomless Sake for $14
In conclusion, why would anyone, ANYONE, say "no" to a decent sushi restaurant with AYCE and bottomless sake options served by a bunch of ridiculously good looking girls? -
Review from Jon P.
San Francisco, CA
2/22/2012
I am a little torn in writing this review (but I got over it after I re-read the review after I was done writing it). As far as the more "gimmicky" sushi restaurants in the City go, the quality of food here is actually pretty good - though I am always leery of a sushi restaurant that doesn't have a sushi bar you can sit at and watch as your food is prepared. The reason for the low rating is the service. Absolutely dreadful. My wife and I got there right when the place opened (about 5 minutes beforehand, in fact) and decided to sit at the bar instead of a table.
Understandably, there seemed to be a few last-minute things the two girls on staff were trying to get done before the official open time, so service was a little patchy right off that bat.
Well past 6:00 however, the two girls seemed completely oblivious to the fact that they were at work, and my wife and I felt ignored entirely. Neither the hostess (who was doubling as a server towards the end of our visit) nor the bartender seemed interested in what they were being paid to do at all. It was a struggle to get our initial appetizer order in, and then an even longer wait to get someone's attention to order sushi. Bartender girl took to eating on her shift out in plain view of the restaurant. Now, both my wife and I have worked for restaurants in the past, and that would have NEVER been tolerated. She was also slow to respond to additional drink orders, and we resigned ourselves to a very slow-service night. Luckily we were not in a rush. We finally got our second appetizer about 15 minutes after the first one. The bartender apologized because the kitchen staff was running behind. I then looked around and saw 4 patrons in the place other than us.
A third girl meandered in at some point, and proceeded to gossip with the other two girls, both at the bar and in a back service area (still in plain sight and sound of the dining area). She then proceeded to eat her food at the opposite end of the bar from us. She came behind the bar for something at one point and waltzed away without even checking on us or even saying hello.
Our sushi rolls finally came, with another apology about the kitchen running so behind. At this point, there are MAYBE a total of 10 patrons in the place, other than us, split among three tables. I can only hope that the owner or manager of the restaurant has an ad placed on Craigslist or somewhere else for another sushi chef to help out the poor overworked sushi chef that works tirelessly in the kitchen by him/herself. Ahem.
When we were done with empty plates, we had to stack them at the empty seat next to us because no one bothered to bus anything away from us until we were well into our main courses (appetizer plates, edamame bowls, empty bottle of sake and glasses, etc.). After we were done with our rolls, we placed one last order of Nigiri sushi... and waited. And waited.
Always up for a spectacle, I watched as Hostess girl finally brought the plate of Nigiri, right past BOTH the other girls who were loitering at the end of the bar, and set it down on the bar's service counter. Gossip girl walked right by the plate, into the bar area, grabbed a drink, walked right past it again, and wandered off into the dining room. Bartender girl sat there writing something - a journal? A love note? Homework? Who knows. Perhaps she was writing an exposition on Work Ethic and Hospitality in Metropolitan Sushi Restaurants. She eventually got up and walked away. So then my wife decided to get up and walk over the service counter and deliver the plate herself.
The best part (and by "best", I mean... well I am sure you can figure that out) was that afterwards, Bartender girl must have suddenly realized that she had a job to do and walked back to the kitchen to find our food. After not finding it at the kitchen service window, she walked up to us to confirm that we did indeed get our food after she noticed the empty plate amongst the wreckage of uncollected used plates. My wife politely informed her that she grabbed it herself. I had a MUCH more sarcastic response in mind, but she beat me to the punch.
Absolutely ridiculous. I am sure Tuesday isn't the busiest day of the week for Mas Sake. But there really needs to be a manager on site to make sure stuff like this doesn't happen. If there was a manager on site, I can only assume that they were tied up and gagged in a broom closet somewhere. And if one of the ladies that was working at the time was the manager, then I weep for the owner(s) of that establishment. -
Review from Emma H.
San Francisco, CA
I thought this place was really good. I saw $$$ and thought uh oh this is gonna be pricey but no- sushi rolls ranged from $10-$15 and cocktails were about $10- standard. The sake bombs were $4 and were made with hard cider which was really pleasant. The largest thing I must stress is the sushi was REALLY good. The tuna was some of the freshest, most flavorful I've ever had- just really good intense but clean tuna flavor. My top shelf margarita was strong in a good way and made with fresh lime, not overly sweet at all. OK so the servers were scantily clad, but ours was so friendly and attentive. I saw some of the others leaning on counters with their cell phones or talking with eachother with sour pusses on their faces so I can't say they were all perfect but our was very good. Oh and the guacamole was really good too- exactly what you'd expect from a great Mexican restaurant. Yes the music was loud- just like a club, but I dug the idea. It was filled with young people dancing at the bar and in their chairs, having a fun time. It's like: don't go to the library if you don't want to be quiet- Mas Sake isn't the place if you want to have a conversation. At Mas Sake you eat yummy food, get a little tipsy and party with everybody around you.
***Make a reservation! -
Review from Jennifer W.
San Francisco, CA
12/17/2011
Mas Sake is not going to blow you away, but it is dependable sushi and pretty good. It can get loud, but it makes the atmosphere fun and lively. Great people watching.
I don't know what to say about the scantily-clad waitresses. It's not why I go there, but it certainly is why others do. They provide great service though and have always been friendly.
The sushi cupcake is BOMB. Gotta try that! I also really liked the the hugo roll. -
Review from sandeep R.
Castro Valley, CA
2/11/2012 1 Check-in Here
what a mess of a night! i was here with a birthday party this weekend and im just surprised how a place with lack of management and servers trying to rip of patrons can be so popular with people.
I should have seen the signs. usually restaurants don't accommodate very large parties unless they have a pre-fixed menu but they did. the food was good and there are no complaints about the quality of the food.
however, the service was weak. Our large party was sat on two separate tables when clearly they could have accommodated us in one large table. some of the stuff I ordered was never brought out. I felt like the place is like a nightclub, obnoxiously loud and cocktail waitresses served the food. WHY?!?!?!
finally, they should hire someone people who can at least calculate bills correctly or someones who's not trying to get a bump on their tip money. having girlsl walk around in skimpy clothes is cool and all but i can see girls like that anywhere. I don't know if our server was dumb or was trying to rip us off but when someone pays with cash and credit and says charge all the cash and then split the rest on the cards, it means exactly that. in our case, the girl took the gratuity i gave to be paid to the bill and pocketed then charged extra on the bottom line on the cards. Upon complaining of the extra charge, I was told that thats how they do things around there. Finally, I talked to "the manager and the head chef" and sorted things out but not without an argument. WTF? last thing i want when i go out to have a good time is terrible service that ruins the night.
Never going back here again. ARIGATO! -
Review from Jessica R.
Alameda, CA
2/24/2012
The service was horrible and the girls were stuck up and really rude. I was shocked with how they treated their vendor's guests. my experience at this location was embarrassing and the worst service I've had in a long time. I had to ask for a menu and the waitress walked right by me and gave it to my friend instead and did not acknowledge me. my friend and I had a wait to be served for about 10 to 15 minutes. When the waitress finally came serve us she told us that the table we were sitting at was reserved for an events that we happened to be attending. if you're looking for service with people that are fashionable it's a place to go, but they're lacking customer service skills.
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Review from MIA N.
10/10/2011
Yummy! Really fun place to start off the night with your girlfriends!
I came here for the first time a week or so ago and am totally into the cupcakes! Sushi cupcakes. So cute. A must try.Listed in: Girls' Night Out, SUSHI TIME!
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Review from Jenna L.
10/11/2011
Not great sushi so have a few drinks before you eat and it tastes a little better.
Fun atmosphere. Loud music (DJ on some nights). Cute waiters. Great for sake bombs and birthdays. -
Review from kittCAT L.
San Francisco, CA
8/29/2011
I wish I could give a review of the food here, but the experience was such a poor one, we didn't even make it to the food part.
Three of us tried to dine here a few weeks ago for an impromptu birthday celebration. My friend tried to call to make a reservation earlier that day, but was told that they only take reservations for groups of 5 people or more. So we just decided to walk in.
We got there around 8pm, and the place wasn't too crowded yet, but we could tell the party was just beginning. We checked in with the hostess, who told us the wait was about 20 minutes. She asked for my phone number, barely able to hear me over the blaring club music. I repeated it twice to her and told her we'd be sitting at the bar...in front of the host stand...and she just nodded absentmindedly and walked off.
Our 3rd person hadn't arrived yet, so my friend and I were happy to sit at the bar. But after about 35-40 minutes, I went to check in with the hostess again. She rudely told me she had called me and I didn't answer. She had called the wrong number because she'd taken the wrong number down. So I told her we'd still be at the bar, pointed out to her where we were and told her to get us when the next table was ready. An hour and half later, still nothing, even after my friend checked in again and she was RUDE AGAIN.
So I spoke to the manager, Nicole. Nicole apologized and told me to email her and she would offer us a free meal or something to compensate. So I emailed her. It's been 3 weeks now, and I still haven't received a response from her.
I am really disappointed at the poor service AND even poorer management at this place. Nicole could have at least had the courtesy to return my email. Sometimes I can't even believe people with such horrible customer service skills still have a job... -
Review from Jaron B.
San Francisco, CA
2/28/2012
Wonderful! Great place to get some different types of rolls. The Ecstasy Roll by far is way bomb! We also had the Pork Spareribs which came out as our appetizer which was a good switch than the sushi. It had a tangy teriyaki feel with shredded carrots and sesame seeds. Tasted more like ribs from chili's than the hawaiian style I was aiming for though. Anyways they have a great ambiance with upbeat music and a relaxing environment. Only reason I didn't give five stars is because the recommended roll by the waitress was pretty basic/bland and not a good choice to represent the establishment, but would definitely go back to give it another go!
-
Review from Susy C.
7/12/2011
NO.
NO.
NO.
Just say no. -
Review from Tracey L.
Redwood City, CA
7/23/2011
I bought the groupon for Mas Sake and was really excited to use it, unfortunately, my friends and I were completely disappointed with the service (especially) and the food!
We were a table of 8 and it all started when the waitress seated us at a booth towards the front of the restaurant for 10 which was very comfortable for us. She then proceeded to ask us to move to a smaller table that sat exactly 8 people, but was right in front of the handicap lift which made the space much smaller than an 8 top. We requested to be moved to an actual table that would seat all 8 of us comfortably and the waitress was rude and acted put-out by our request. Once moved, it took about 15 minutes to get anyone's attention to take our order. From here on out the service just got worse and worse. There was no designated waitress for our table, which made it difficult to place any orders and get any help with questions. At one point we requested to speak to the manager, who had zero customer service skills and gave no apology for the lack of service.
Overall, not worth your time or money, I am sure there are much better sushi restaurants in SF that will provide more bang for your buck! -
Review from Connor Skye R.
Oakland, CA
7/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Not a very good club and not a very good sushi restaurant. It'd definitely get more stars if it specialized in one or the other.
Drinks: I'm seriously opposed to sake bombs; if you're not then you may very much enjoy Mas Sake. Hot sake is most often a cover up for awful sake, and dropping it in a beer is just lukewarm and gross.
Food: Only ok. The spicy tuna salad was pretty pleasant.
Bar/Music: Generic top-40 dance.
Website: Flash and loud audio. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul. -
Review from Cyndi G.
8/3/2011
Don't come here for the food alone. Believe, if you come here just for the food, you will be sorely disappointed. Let me rephrase that, if you love Japanese food and come here expecting good Japanese food, you will be sorely disappointed.
However, DO come here if you are looking for a fun and lively venue for a Friday or Saturday night...that serves food.
The vibe and atmosphere at Mas Sake reminds me of Blowfish (also in SF) but Blowfish dishes out better food from the kitchen.
To that end....
1 star for food
3 stars for the venue -
Review from Nicole S.
Mexican and Japanese fusion? This I had to try...
Our party of three came here Wednesday night at around 7:45pm. We were seated immediately. I read a couple reviews stating that they thought atmosphere was similar to that of a club, but I guess that only happens on the weekends.
We started out with their House Specialty Sake Bomb which was made with raspberry cider and a side of hot sake. I wanted to try it since it was recommended by many Yelpers. The verdict? The cider was delicious but you couldn't taste the sake at all.
SIDES/APPETIZERS:
*Sweet Potato Fries - Yum! The sweet potato fries were deep fried to a slightly crispy exterior and was accompanied by a delicious wasabi aioli sauce. Don't overdip your fry, the sauce does have a slight kick.
*Chicken Potstickers - Good. The potstickers were similar to gyozas and served with a vinegar soy sauce.
*Cucumber Salad - Pass. Although the menu says the cucumbers were marinated, they didn't taste like it. It looked as if cucumbers were sliced and placed in a bowl and sesame seeds were sprinkled on top. Oh yeah, the cucumbers were room temperature and not cooling at all.
ROLLS:
*Jess' Favorite Roll - Interesting, but not great. The contained Cajun shrimp (which wasn't spicy), crab and avocado. In addition, it also contained tomato, cilantro, jalapeno (didn't taste it), spicy chili sauce (didn't taste it), and a preserved lemon (didn't taste it). The mix was odd.
*Hotate Roll - Good! Raw, marinated scallops, cucumbers, and chili sauce was the middle portion of the roll. The scallops were tender, delicious, and not fishy at all.
*Crunchy Roll - Yum. Shrimp and cucumbers were enclosed in the middle of a sushi roll with tempura flakes and sauce drizzled on the top. It also comes with roe (fish eggs), but since I'm not a fan, we asked for it on the side.
BOTTOM LINE:
Interesting concept, but the two really shouldn't be fused together and I probably wouldn't be back. Pricing point is expensive; our bill came out to $155 before tip.
SERVICE:
Okay. Our waitress was nice and made recommendations when we didn't know what to order. However, she did disappear a couple times, once for when we looked for her because we didn't receive one of our rolls.
PARKING:
Metered street parking. Since it was a weekday, we found parking immediately. However, I believe on the weekends, parking can be a bit more challenging since the bars and lounges are only two blocks away. -
Review from Ariadne R.
Castro Valley, CA
11/16/2011
I really like the atmosphere at this place - it makes dinner a whole experience. The sake bombs are great, and I loved the food. Maybe you need to know what to order. We had broccoli tempura which was delicious, a few freestyle sushi dishes and the sushi cupcakes. The chocolate lava cake was to die for!
I understand the people that come here and the servers may be infuriating at times, but it really is a unique place and worth coming to! -
Review from Joe M.
San Francisco, CA
6/10/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Sometimes I write reviews so I can say I wrote a milestone review. This review will mark Mas Sake's 500th. That's a benchmark. So here it goes:
Mas Sake gets hated on a lot. Mostly because it embodies everything that is wrong (right) about the Marina. It's kinda fake. It's kinda sassy. It pretends it's more classier than it is. It's like the 10K Millionaire of sushi restaurants.
That being said, like the Marina itself, it gets hated on more than it deserves.
Just because Mas Sake seemingly only hires gorgeous servers and bartenders (females only), has oonce oonce music bumping, and is dark and atmospheric to make everyone look attractive (though most of the clientele usually is anyways), doesn't mean it isn't a fine restaurant.
Yes, the sushi is more of an afterthought. But people go to Mas Sake for the event. Beautiful people in a party setting eating sushi and gulping down sake bombs. What's not to like? You don't go here to get Japan quality fish. You come here to have a great time with friends and have some pretty decent sushi along with it.
I'm a big fan of how every waitress gets her own roll and my favorite is the Spicy Marisa. The Dragon Roll, while nothing out of the ordinary, is another favorite of mine. Brian Wilson, Mr. Fear the Beard himself, had them put the Philly Cheesesteak roll on the menu, and although it's hardly a real piece of sushi, which is fitting considering the source, damned if it doesn't taste good.
There's plenty of great sushi places around SF if you're looking for great sushi. There's a smaller amount of places that combine the feeling of a club with sushi dining. That is what Mas Sake is and all it's trying to be. No reason to hate. Go and party and enjoy. -
Review from Matthew D.
Los Angeles, CA
7/2/2011
If you're a sushi enthusiast and come here looking for your fresh uni, you're more than likely going to be disappointed.
But, who really comes here for the food?
Mas Sake is advertised as a "freestyle sushi" restaurant, but it's more or less a lounge. There are tons of people who are having dinner, usually in large parties for birthdays and whatnot, but typically you'll see a crowd full of twenty-something's congregating around the bar looking to have a good time. Surely, that is not too difficult, being located in the heart of the Marina and typically equipped with a live DJ spinning a good mix of house and sometimes hip-hop. Let's not forget to mention that another reason people (well, guys) come here is because of the beautiful blonde waitresses at your service.
The space is quite small though, so on Friday and Sat nights it will be very tough to mingle in the bar area, which may be why people end up dining there despite the fact that I never actually saw a sushi chef on the premises. Also, because of the space, people may come off a bit snoody because everyone standing around may be a little too close for comfort.
Overall, I'd have to give it 3-4 stars because the food was not horrible but not amazing, the tight space, and mixed feelings about the service. But because of the crowd, environment, and eye candy, I always make it a point to come back when I'm visiting home, and I've been doing it for 4 years! -
Review from Rylan C.
7/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Wasn't really impressed by this place. It was rather stuffy and a little claustrophobic as there is very minimal natural light coming in. I was constantly ignored by the servers but at least the drinks were good. As with most places in this area, the establishment is small but at least it wasn't that crowded.
I have yet to come back and try the food but everything else was ok. Nothing special but also nothing bad about the place.
Again, this is just a review of my experience at the bar. -
Review from amanda c.
San Francisco, CA
3/15/2011
Awful. I went here to meet up with my friends who had a table and had been there since 10:00 I showed up at 11:50 to pound a drink and walk to a party, but the bouncer said I could not come in because they were closed and that only the staff was there (all lies they close at 12:00 and my friends were there) long story short it was pouring rain and he wouldn't even let me stand in the doorway while I was trying to get a hold of them. I come to find out later that my friends got in a fight with the manager because the waitress had pocketed the cash for a big portion of the bill......classy this place is "A" for awful
don't bother there are so many great sushi spots in the city! -
Review from Devin K.
San Francisco, CA
2/1/2011
Mas Sake is a good place for the following:
1) Your male friend is having a birthday, and he wants a side of boobs with his sushi.
2) You want some solid, well made sushi that is definitely NOT authentic (I'm looking at you philly cheesesteak roll) but is delicious. Oh, and you don't mind waiting about 45 minutes for your food.
3) You have a business colleague (male only) in town and want to make sure that a) he has a great time and b) help the hotel earn 14.99 for an adult video rental later that night...
4) You're going on a date and you want your date to look super hot. If you bring a girl on a date here, make sure she knows what she is getting herself into. Exact quote from my female friend: "I used to spend like 2 hours getting ready if I came here on a date." Yeah, that sounds like a well-spent 100 bucks.
This is a 4-star place. Not for the sushi, but for the overall experience. And with regards to the 1 and 2 star reviews... weak sauce. Every bad review I can find mentions that the ambience is too loud for a japanese place, or that it took a long time to get food, etc.
This is a damn party restaurant. The waitresses are hot, and they dress in slutty going out dresses. You don't come here for a quiet catch up dinner with your friend. You don't go to McDonald's and bitch because there was a playland do you? It's what you signed up for by walking in the door.
Also, I think a lot of the bad reviews are from girls, who were pissed that the waitress flirted with their boyfriend. They're working for minimum wage plus tips, cut them some slack. How do I know this? I've sent a couple of my colleagues, including the executive chef for a major corporation here, and they loved it. I'm talking about foodies who come to town and want to eat at One Market or Spruce. So let's be honest, if they liked it, the bad reviews are an anomaly.
I -
Review from Jamie T.
11/6/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is super fun for large groups! The sushi is just ok but the environment is super fun. Theres a live DJ and having a large group there to do rounds of sake bombs - just so much fun. Pricey though so be ready to pay up.
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Review from Joe S.
San Francisco, CA
2/6/2011
This is my first one-star rated restaurant. I am torn about this because the sushi itself didn't make me retch, and was relatively decent.
However, the pounding music did not make my dining experience good by any stretch of the imagination. I went with three friends, and stopped bothering to try to talk to two of them, because I couldn't read their lips. I'm really not exaggerating here.
Getting served sushi by waitresses in stripper heels is also alarming. It's alarming in the same way that buffets at strip clubs are alarming. -
Review from Fritz C.
Union City, CA
1/8/2012
My buddy brought me here one time to kick off a Friday night out on the town. Plus his cousin works here so we got the hook up. And on top of that all the rest of the waitresses were hangin' out with us the whole time -and on top of that they're all hott -and on top of that there's just a bunch of hott chicks comin' in and out of this place period -and on top of that LOL! Anyways, I was hooked. Good Food, Good People, Good Music. Fun place to bring a group of people for a pre-party jump off. Each time I've been here has been as good a time as the last -Keep the sake bombs comin' cuz we're drinkin'! Oh yeah, and the sushi ain't too bad either LOL!
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Review from LeeAnn C.
Buhl, ID
8/7/2011
This was a perfect place to come for a 21st birthday dinner!
I had an absolute great time. Good atmosphere, very lively! Good food, lots of Sake of course! -
Review from Vanni F.
Davis, CA
3/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went to Mas Sake for dinner. We went too late the day before, the hostess told us that the bar is first come first serve, and the seatings were filled. You have to call them to make an appointment after 5pm.
I was a noob, called at 12pm- no one picked up. Called again at 3pm, still no one picked up. I was so frustrated. Then I called again after 530p, finally someone picked up the phone to take our reservation. Got it for the next day at 630-7pm. Anything after 7pm, you need reservation.
Then I read some where on yelp that you have to call them after 5pm, since it's a sushi bar.
First impression: read from yelp that the place was just like an Asian hooter place. I was kind of worried since Ill be taking my boyfriend there(lol). Anyways, the place from the outside doesn't look like a Japanese sushi bar. It looks more like a club/bar place. It was pretty from the inside. The music was really loud. Feels like a clubbing place. People dance and there's a mini lounge and a bar in the front. The lighting was dark, so it's perfect for blind dates or regular dates lol.
We started eating.
We ordered cupcake sushi and spicy tuna, etc.
Cupcake sushi was hyped on yelp. I wanted to see what it's all about. You see, it tastes like no other sushi, very creamy. I actually liked it. I'd give it an 8.8/10
Spicy tuna: pretty. I actually taste the spicy tuna. The quality overall- 8.5.
We then ordered 15ml hot sake. It was soooooo good! But then what sake doesn't taste good, lol.
Overall: 8.7/10
Doesn't love it, doesn't hate it. I liked it, and it definitely hit the right button on my tummy.
