Flying Ninja — Restaurant in San Francisco

It can be rare to walk into an establishment, rather it is restaurant or bar and instantly feel welcomed. Today I was witness to one of those rarities. Could have been the time of day, 3:00pm on a Sunday doesn’t appear to be a busy time for the tourist trap that is Fisherman’s Wharf SF, save for the Museum Mechanique that seems to always bustle with locals on cute dates and the clatter of quarters. Could have been their natural flavor, warm and welcoming.

Walking into the finely decorated Flying Ninja we were greeted with smiles by the owner, her name escapes me, but her presence still a lives warmly in my memory. Within minutes of ordering, and after seeing us flail, we were expertly being instructed in the house variety way to enjoy a Saki Bomb. The imported beer was cold and the Saki hot, authenticity in every sip of the experience.

Behind the bar the husband sat waiting, thumbing through receipts with the news as his backdrop. Once we ordered and before our beers were half empty, our eyes feasted on a divine serving of unagi. Two pieces of the “freshest” fresh water eel I’ve ever had and a mountain of roe on two beds of seaweed wrapped rice nigiri. The portions were generation, no frills or gimmicks needed. Simply fresh and delicious seafood made with care.

If frills are your thrill their menu also has traditional signature rolls overflowing with exquisite elegance, cocktails and many other Japanese-inspired favorites. Come...

A Disappointing Experience at Flying Ninja

We had walked by Flying Ninja many times over the last few months and always wanted to try it. Finally, we got the chance to do a takeout. I stopped by the menu outside for a glance and was pleasantly welcomed by the lady and gentleman working there. The menu looked very inviting. I decided on a Sherek Roll and their Salmon Special, which came with a few pieces of nigiri, sashimi, and something else I do not recall.

I had read the reviews, and I was hoping for a pleasant experience, but we were disappointed. The fish did not taste fresh at all, and we did not finish either dish because it just did not feel right.

As mentioned above, I had read other fellow Yelpers' reviews and ratings, so I am guessing Flying Ninja had a bad day on that date. As for the environment, the outside seating area looked fine, but when I walked in, the tables and the counter were a bit messy, so if we were to eat there, I would not sit inside.

I am giving them a three-star rating instead of two to account for the possibility that this was one of those bad-timing situations, and things are usually...

I ordered 6 items for pickup, 5 rolls and seaweed salad. When I went to pick it up.. I just remembered, asking if the crab in the rolls was real.. since some places use imitation crab.. the waitress said “imitation”… I was surprised saying wow you charge high prices for imitation crab… waitress didn’t say anything the chef seemed annoyed I would’ve asked saying every place use imitation, real crab is too expensive . .I said NO.. other places I’ve been to uses real crab. if not, menu says “imitation crab” or krab meat with a “k” not “crab meat” which is false advertisement. I know some people don’t mind or can’t tell the difference wrapped inside a roll.. FYI the ingredients are made from bad parts of a fish..google it. Not only was I disappointed about the fake crab the seaweed salad was slimy not fresh.. wasted. There are many Sushi restaurants.. find one with an...