Shizen
Vegan restaurant · Mission
370 14th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
"At first glance, this stylish izakaya and sushi bar could be another in a line of similar places that dot the San Francisco landscape were it not for a major twist: everything on the menu is vegan. Purists and die-hard carnivores may scoff, but the food is exceptional, skillfully manipulating vegetables and starches to recreate seafood-centric Japanese favorites.Spicy tuna gets a run for its money from the impressive tofuna rolls, with chili-inflected minced tofu and cucumber, crowned with creamy avocado and dusted in chili “tobiko.” A yuba salad with miso dressing and tempura-battered shiitake mushrooms stuffed with faux-crab is equally compelling. Throw in a sleek, contemporary setting, and Shizen is a winner for eaters of all stripes." - Michelin Inspector
"There aren’t many vegan sushi places in the city. But this casual Mission spot stands out for its creative (and cheesily-named) plant-based specialty rolls bursting with so many textures you’ll forget that there’s no actual fish involved. The excellent Prime Suspect has creamy gochujang aioli, crunchy sweet potato crisps, and slabs of soft marinated eggplant draped over it. Tiny rice crackers and vegan caviar dot the top of the Surprise Ending (where one piece is secretly spiked with habanero aioli). And we never leave without ordering the Boddy and Soul, a lightly-fried roll decorated with spicy aioli and shichimi togarashi for an added kick. Whether you’re vegan or not, eating dinner in a spot that looks like the inside of a Swedish sauna is always fun." - julia chen 1, lani conway, patrick wong
"There aren’t many vegan sushi places in the city. But this casual Mission spot stands out for its creative plant-based special rolls bursting with textures. The excellent Prime Suspect has creamy gochujang aioli, crunchy sweet potato crisps, and slabs of soft marinated eggplant draped over it. Tiny rice crackers and vegan caviar dot the top of the Surprise Ending (one roll is secretly spiked with habanero aioli). And we never leave without ordering the lightly fried Boddy and Soul decorated with spicy aioli and shichimi togarashi for an added kick. Whether you're vegan or not, a meal inside the place that looks like a Swedish sauna is always a good time." - julia chen 1, lani conway, ricky rodriguez, patrick wong
"A standard-bearer for vegan sushi in the Bay Area, offering plant-forward sushi that serves vegetarian and vegan diners seeking high-quality sushi alternatives." - Dianne de Guzman
"This Mission District plant-based Japanese restaurant has a reputation as one of the city’s finest vegan options. The restaurant continues to live up to that hype. The price point is not egregious, and the elegant ambiance and food are worth it: plant-based kaarage with spicy agave aioli or green mango nigiri. Reservations here are golden tickets, so book in advance." - Paolo Bicchieri
