Sushi Ran — Restaurant in Sausalito

Update: This used to be my favorite place, and it pains me to change my rating so drastically, but this just isn't the same place I went to before the pandemic.

I've gone several times over the past year, and always ordered the omakase, but table service rather than sushi bar due to the sushi bar being closed due to Covid (understandable). One of the things that made the omakase great, was that it came one piece at a time so you could eat each as they were prepared. This might sound picky, but eating it 10 minutes after it was prepare vs. within minutes makes a big difference. When it's fresh, there's still a temperature difference between the fish and the rice, and when things are seared, they're still warm. When it's been sitting at your table, and you're eating them in the intended order and enjoying each piece rather than scarfing them all down at once, they all just become ambient temperature.

Even with all this, I would have probably rated 3 stars. The thing that dropped it down to 2 stars was this: we were told the omakase came out all at once, but during a previous dining experience we had during covid it was brought out in two platings. I understand that table dining means that it'd be really hard to bring one out at a time, and the purpose of serving it all at once. If the server just said due to the staff constraints, we can't split it into two, or something along those lines, it would have been fine - instead, she looked at us annoyed, said it would be the same whether it came out at once or separately, and it was at this point I decided not to return until the sushi bar was open again.

I love this place as it was my favorite sushi dining experience, but prior to the pandemic I had only ever sat at the sushi bar. I will return to try the sushi bar again, but I cannot recommend the table dining service at all. Note that this is specifically for their omakase, I can't speak to the rest of their menu.

Original: This is the second time I've been here. Came here with my girlfriend both times, and what really brought us back was the A5 Wagyu sushi. It seems odd to go to a sushi place for this, but NO other sushi places I've gone to came close to the A5 Wagyu sushi this place has (including Sushi Nakazawa).

The first time we ate here, we had a table and thoroughly enjoyed everything about the dining experience from the service to the food. This time, we ate at the bar specifically because we wanted to try the Omakase and it was amazing. Our chef was fantastic, and it was great fun to watch him work. Plus, he was a bit witty himself which just led to all around fun. All the sushi he served was great, but what stood out the most to me was the Uni from Japan (I think Hokkaido?). It was the best ever. Up until this, the best Uni I had was freshly cracked at the Santa Barbara Pier, but this was just melt-in-your-mouth-and-saturate-the-rice-as-you-chew amazing. And as awesome as I remembered the A5 Wagyu sushi being last time, it was just as...

Update: 5/2023 just came back and had the omakase again. It was $105 for 11 pieces and was amazing. Different pieces of nigiri this time the omakase had wagyu.

Had dinner here recently. It was our first time visiting Sausalito. I like sushi and usually eat at what I call "fast food" sushi restaurants. You're average typical sushi restaurants you can find all over the bay area. When it comes to more higher quality fish/sushi notable places I have dined at are Sanraku, Amami, & Ju-Ni.

We had the Omakase which was 10 PCs for $90. On this day the 10 PCs consisted of oyster w/caviar, snapper, salmon, mackerel, Chu toro blue fin, barracuda, golden eye snapper,fatty toro, uni, a5 wagyu. It was delicious, we also had the miso glazed black cod $28, also amazing and the portion was huge, I was expecting 1/2 the size. The house green tea was also really good, and for dessert soy cheesecake, also great. The only place that I can compare this to in terms of price & quality is Ju-Ni, but I dined at Ju-Ni when it first opened & before they got their Michelin star. Back then I think it was $90 for there tasting menu which included appetizer, 12 pieces, soup & dessert. the quality & experience beats out Sushi Ran. Ju-Ni currently is $150 for the tasting, comparing the prices now I think sushi ran will give you more bang for your buck vs Ju-Ni. Bar seating wasn't offered or available for our visit, but I'd like to try it someday, id prefer my omakase to be made and eaten one at a time instead of have the whole course all at once. Regardless Sushi Ran was totally worth the visit. I would have loved to try their other rolls cause they looked amazing, but we had to go for the Omakase on our first visit. We will be back for sure. If you're looking to try a good quality Omakase at a more reasonable price check out Amami or Sanraku they're usually under $50 (lunch Omakase...

Sushi Ran offers a cozy and intimate dining experience, perfect for a romantic dinner or a quiet meal with friends. They also have an outdoor seating area.

While the service was friendly, the pacing between courses was quite slow, which detracted slightly from the overall experience.

We dined at Sushi Ran during SF Restaurant Week. The seaweed salad, while fresh, was a bit too crunchy for my preference.

However, the Surf and Turf was a standout. The wagyu steak was cooked to perfection, juicy and tender, and the red miso sauce complemented it beautifully. The miso-glazed black cod was also a highlight. The fish was cooked to a flaky perfection, and the glaze added a rich, savory flavor.

The toffee cake with spiced caramel and ginger gelato was a delightful conclusion to the meal. The warm cake paired perfectly with the cold, creamy gelato, creating a delightful contrast of textures and flavors.

We also sampled the tempura oysters, which were crispy and light, with a perfectly cooked oyster inside.

Their nigiri was also fresh and each nigiri included a thick cut of the fish. Also, $15 for some fresh Hokkaido uni was a pretty good deal (usually restaurants charge MP for uni but Sushi Ran had a fixed price).

Overall, Sushi Ran is a solid choice. While the service could be improved, the quality of the...