Dragon Horse, San Francisco, CA

Rating:

 4.7

Cost:

$30 – $50

Explore Dragon Horse in San Francisco

Dragon Horse in San Francisco, CA, stands out as a vibrant Japanese restaurant blending lively ambiance with creative culinary offerings, including an array of inventive cocktails and a dedicated space for karaoke enthusiasts. This spot highlights fresh flavors in its Japanese-inspired dishes, making it an ideal choice for those seeking authentic tastes in a welcoming setting with thoughtful accessibility features. Patrons can enjoy a variety of options like expertly prepared bites and drinks, perfect for casual gatherings or special occasions in the heart of the city. Whether you're in the mood for something light or a full meal, the moderate pricing adds to its appeal as a go-to destination for Japanese places near me.

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What People Are Buzzing About

Folks often rave about the fresh and flavorful dishes at this spot, with creative cocktails and tasty sushi options standing out as highlights that keep diners coming back for more. While some mention occasional waits or smaller portions that might not satisfy bigger appetites, the overall experience is lifted by friendly service and a fun atmosphere that makes every visit feel special. Many appreciate the solid value, especially for quality Japanese fare in a bustling area, making it a reliable pick for anyone hunting for top-rated sushi nearby. Despite a few mixed notes on timing, the positive vibes around the inventive drinks and fresh ingredients help maintain an upbeat feel, encouraging visitors to give it a try for a memorable meal.

Summarized by AI using the Grok-3-Mini model.

Address & Phone

SoMa
917 Folsom St
San Francisco, CA 94107
(415) 324-4742

Wheelchair Accessiblility

Entrance:Restroom:Seating:

Parking Options

Free street parking:Paid street parking:

Payment Options

Accepts credit cards:Accepts nfc:

Reviews

  • Shelby Rice  4

    Overall good value for the area. They were out of chicken gizzards so I got the chicken skewers. They were well-cooked, but had a strange, almost bitter flavor. The nigiri tuna was good.

  • Melody  5

    If I could give more stars I would. The food is always delicious, the cocktails are incredibly creative and perfectly mixed, and the service could not be better. Every time I come here is a great experience. I honestly can't say enough good things about this restaurant. It's a hidden gem for sure.

  • Stephanie Yang  2

    Let me start with the positives - the drinks were really, really good. We were big fans of the Onion Cream Cheese and Seaweed Mustard cocktails, both of which sound a bit bizarre, but had amazing flavor profiles. We also tried the Tomato Jalapeño, Guava Thyme, Smoke Umami, and Tea N Strawberry, all of which were very solid. The scallop nigiri was really fresh and the karaage & gyudon were fragrant and perfectly cooked. The hamachi collar was tender, but had some bitter parts (maybe from burnt bits that stuck onto the outside from the grill?), but overall, was pretty decent. My biggest gripe was with the service. It was a Monday night and wasn’t terribly crowded when we arrived. Drinks came out within 20-30 minutes, which is a bit slow but acceptable, but the first dish (gyudon) didn’t come out until 45 minutes after ordering. The 2 small pieces of scallop nigiri, which didn’t even require any cooking, took a full hour. We also ordered monkfish liver and hamachi collar and checked with the waitstaff 2 times on the status of our order because our food was coming out so slow. We waited 1.5 hours for these two dishes but they maybe forgot to put the order in or and never checked with the kitchen any time we asked about our food. When we inquired a third time, they finally checked with the chef and said they had run out of the monkfish and only just started cooking the hamachi. We ended up subbing the missing monkfish for karaage because we were starving. The portion sizes for each were also quite small and we had 4 people, so it was difficult to fill up on enough food for it to qualify as a proper dinner. We had planned to order more, but the food was coming out so slowly that we decided to just eat more elsewhere. Also because our food took forever, none of our individual dishes came out at the same time, so we were awkwardly left watching each other eat. The waitstaff was kind and apologetic when we mentioned how long it was taking, but the long wait times soured our experience. Such a shame when the food and drinks themselves were quite good.

  • AJ F  4

    Restaurant blending Japanese aesthetics with a touch of fantasy.The nigiri rolls are very good and Each piece bursts with fresh flavors .The Game of Thrones/Camelot-ish-inspired cocktails are a brilliant touch that adds an extra layer of fun to the night.Service was prompt and friendly, and the staff was knowledgeable about the menu.

  • Corina  3

    Out of the 3 dishes we ordered, dragon horse roll, organic chicken skewers, and karaage chicken, the karaage chicken was the only decent dish. The sushi tasted pretty low quality like what you’d get from the supermarket, and the organic chicken skewers were too salty. For drinks we got the flaming dragon and miso peppercorn and ended up preferring each other’s drink, so we swapped. I think maybe this place would be better for karaoke where the food is just an addition to the entertainment.