Rintaro

"Stepping into Rintaro always feels like we’ve left the city completely. The string-light-filled courtyard is surrounded by plants, and the high-ceilinged dining room reminds us of a day spa we'd gladly move into. Space aside, the izakaya food keeps us coming back. Dishes are last-meal worthy, like the crispy-skinned tsukune with a side of rich egg yolk dipping sauce, and hand-rolled udon topped with a lingcod fishcake that soaks up dashi broth like a sponge. Get here with your parents, a group of friends, or someone you want to impress." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez

"When you’re craving izakaya food, but you also want some peace and quiet, go to Rintaro. The Japanese restaurant is on a near-silent stretch of the Mission with a walled-off courtyard and a dining room filled pretty much only with the smell of grilled meats. If the weather’s right, sit outside under the twinkle lights and get some yakitori—the tsukune with egg yolk dipping sauce and the negima are both great. Walk-in seating is limited, but Monday reservations are typically easy to make. " - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong

"Rintaro feels like a secret hideout in the Mission, with a lovely front patio guarded from the street by a bamboo fence. Enter, and find an inviting, wood-clad izakaya from Chez Panisse alum Sylvan Mishima Brackett, whose menu has long drawn a bustling, stylish crowd that lines up before the restaurant even opens for business. Gyoza, yakitori of all kinds, pristine sashimi, and the platonic ideal of fried tori katsu (fried chicken stuffed with Cowgirl Creamery cheese) are all on order." - Dianne de Guzman, Eater Staff

"Stepping into Rintaro is a bit like sinking into a bubble bath that happens to be filled with sweet umeshu. The Mission izakaya is serene—there’s a courtyard filled with plants and twinkling string lights, and private booths under arched wood beams inside. It's also where you'll find the best Japanese small plates in the city. You’re treated to a parade of tare-glazed tsukune you’ll want to clone, juicy pork gyoza leveled up with gorgeous lacy skirts, and impossibly creamy soft tofu drizzled with shiitake shoyu. And the little details are on point every time—chances are high you’ll still be thinking about the precisely stacked tower of sunomono, and the freshly grated wasabi days after dinner. A meal at Rintaro is an escape from whatever’s currently dumpster fire-ing in the world, and one we’re lucky to get right here in SF. " - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong

"It’s easy to walk right past Rintaro, the Mission izakaya serving fancy drinking snacks and other seasonal Japanese dishes. But once you make your way past the shipping container-like exterior, you’re met with a serene patio lit up by glowing string lights, a dining room with curved wooden beams and tucked-away booths, and the sizzle of yakitori getting grilled until charred from behind the counter. Let the Japanese rock soundtrack drown out the “should I post this?” portion of your brain, and dig into housemade tofu and lacy gyoza while fantasizing about breaking your lease to live on an organic artichoke farm. " - ricky rodriguez, julia chen 1