Rintaro

On the Grid : Izakaya Rintaro

"Rintaro is an upscale but rootsy feeling Japanese eatery on 14th street off Folsom which isn't the most scenic part of the Mission but this place is well worth it. Their menu consists of many small and shareable plates which are based on Japanese tradition and while they may have updated ingredients or techniques the care and precision in how they make each dish is evocative of traditional Japanese cuisine. The space itself is worth a visit even if the food weren't as great as it is. They were also just voted by Bon Appetite Mag as the 8th best restaurant in the country!" - Avocados and Coconuts

The 25 Best Restaurants In SF - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"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, patrick wong, ricky rodriguez

"Delicate izakaya cuisine with a produce-centric NorCal sensibility awaits at this Japanese sanctum, where wood-framed booths crafted from redwood wine casks and a Hinoki cedar bar create a serene setting.The kitchen transforms even the most humble dishes into works of art. Starters like teba no karaage, or crispy chicken wings with tangy sansho pepper, are perfect for sharing, while Teishoku lunch sets are consistently good. Freshly made soft tofu is infused with fragrant bergamot peel, while meaty king trumpet mushrooms join classic chicken thighs and tender tsukune on the menu of smoky, caramelized charcoal-grilled skewers. The blancmange, infused with white sesame and topped with sweet black soybeans, is particularly unmissable." - Michelin Inspector

The 20 Best Outdoor Dining Spots In SF - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"The courtyard at this Mission izakaya has string lights twinkling, plants everywhere, and is serene—so go here if you want to forget about whatever’s dumpster fire-ing in the world over the best Japanese small plates in the city. We almost always have trouble narrowing down an order because everything on the menu is fantastic. But when in doubt, go with the gorgeously charred tsukune, gyoza dressed up with lacy skirts, and miso cod plated alongside a leaning tower of sunomono." - lani conway, julia chen 1, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong

The 25 Best Restaurants In The Mission - San Francisco - The Infatuation

"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