• Banner 1
  • Banner 2
  • Banner 3

Welcome to Robin

Nestled in the heart of San Francisco at 620 Gough St, Robin redefines the omakase experience, blending traditional Japanese cuisine with innovative twists. With a dynamic sliding-scale menu priced from $109 to $209, diners enjoy personalized tastings that can include an extraordinary array of sushi and sashimi. Patrons rave about dishes like the chewy toro over toast and the unique sashimi inspired by Thai papaya salad, each crafted to highlight fresh ingredients without overwhelming the palate. The restaurant’s modern ambiance, enhanced by a lively soundtrack of R&B, sets the stage for an extraordinary culinary journey where attention to detail and creativity thrive. Robin promises a memorable evening filled with delightful bites and attentive service, making it a must-visit for sushi lovers seeking both quality and ambiance.

LOCATIONS

Welcome to Robin, a vibrant gem located at 620 Gough St, San Francisco, CA 94102. This innovative Japanese restaurant invites you to embark on a culinary adventure that redefines the omakase experience. Offering a sliding scale menu with prices ranging from $109 to $209, Robin allows diners to curate their meal according to their budget while indulging in a diverse array of flavors across approximately 12 to 20 courses.

The atmosphere at Robin captures a unique essence—modern, stylish, and imbued with a cozy intimacy. The warm wood accents combined with an eclectic soundtrack of R&B and hip-hop create a lively ambiance perfect for date nights or casual celebrations. Customers rave about the attentive service, with staff members who are not only knowledgeable but also genuinely invested in enhancing your dining experience.

The highlight of Robin’s offering is undeniably their nigiri, crafted with freshness that is consistently praised in customer reviews. Each piece is a testament to culinary craftsmanship, with exquisite pairings and sauces that enhance, rather than overshadow, the natural flavors of the fish. Diners have particularly enjoyed the sashimi inspired by Thai papaya salad and the decadent toro over toast, with its creamy texture that lingers on the palate. Reviewers also rave about creative options like A5 Wagyu with Foie Gras, delivering indulgent bites worth every penny.

  • Notable Dishes:
    • Toro with Caviar - A luxurious must-try!
    • Sashimi with Thai Basil Sauce - Refreshingly unique!
    • Garlic Noodles with Truffle - A savory delight!
  • Sweet Finale: Don’t miss the coconut milk-based soft serve paired with tart cherry sauce—a finale that balances sweetness and tang beautifully!

While the vast majority of dishes impress and delight the senses, some diners have noted occasional lapses in flavor balance, especially towards the meal's end. Yet, even with these minor critiques, the overall experience is often described as unforgettable. The innovative approach to traditional sushi not only sets Robin apart but elevates it to a must-visit destination for anyone seeking high-quality, contemporary Japanese cuisine.

In summary, Robin embodies a perfect balance of culinary innovation and modern dining culture—complete with a playlist that makes every meal feel like a celebration. As one diner put it, “Robin single-handedly ruined omakase for me” because it sets such a high bar. Embrace this culinary journey, and prepare to be pleasantly surprised by what awaits you at Robin.

START YOUR REVIEW OF Robin
Chloe S.
Chloe S.

What a perfect birthday dinner! The staff were friendly and informative. Come here to dine in a complementary ambiance with rnb music playing in the background. The base price for the tasting menu starts at $109 then as your budget increases you get more dishes. An interesting pay style that allows you to add more dishes throughout your meal if need be. The staff assured us that additional courses would be fish based. The nigiri was fresh and the pairings were well balanced. Nothing overpowered the fresh fish. One of my favorite dishes had to be the sashimi inspired by Thai papaya salad. The fish was chewy and bouncy which matches the coconut milk nicely. Another notable dish was the toro over toast, one of the creamiest bites I've had. We ended our meal with a coconut milk based soft serve which was smooth and luxurious. It was paired with a tart cherry sauce which made for a sour bite through the sweetness of the soft serve! Would highly recommend for a casual but delicious omakase spot!

Tylyn W.
Tylyn W.

First time doing omakase in SF! We were celebrating a birthday. Sooooooo worth every $$$$ penny. Everything was delicious. Idk the name of anything but there were a zillion courses (and we did the most basic tasting). It's a mix of sushi, noodles, and soup. The servers were great. The vibes are cool and sexy. Two people got the sake tasting too, and the pours were quite generous. Unrelated to the food, the bathroom floor has pennies in the tile and it looks so cool.

Harry L.
Harry L.

I'll be honest, the first time I came here, I wasn't sold. Maybe the portions felt too small, maybe it was a little too experimental for my tastes, but I left feeling like I just didn't get it. But after giving it another shot, I can officially say--I GET IT NOW. Food: 4.5/5 Around 12 courses, each one delivering something completely different. This is not your typical omakase--expect flavors that push boundaries. Yuzu, plum, smoke, traditional wasabi, soy--each bite was a new experience. Some dishes were delicate and refined, others packed a punch. My mouth went on a JOURNEY. Ambiance: Robin nails the vibe. It's dark, but not too dim. The wood accents give it a sleek yet warm feel--perfect for a date night or special occasion. Robin completely redeemed itself for me, and I'd definitely recommend giving it a shot if you're into high-end, innovative sushi. Come with an open mind and an empty stomach.

Jacqueline R.
Jacqueline R.

We recently visited Robin for Valentine's Day and it was a wonderful experience! We spent around 180 per person and felt that portion was perfect for filling us up. Each nigiri was delicious! I feel the artistic take on each of the fish was done really well, everything added to the nigiri was intentional and brought out the flavor - well done! The only letdown was the menu had some filler dishes towards the end such as cold noodles and a soup. We felt that these items were a bit lackluster, especially the noodles as they were mostly flavorless. They put these dishes right before a fantastic wagyu and foie gras nigiri which I deeply enjoyed, so luckily you can still end with a delicious flavor. However, the soup and noodles were the low points of the meal. The servers were very attentive and gave us great insight into the menu. Ambiance-wise, this place is very unique! It is more artistic and hip than other fine-dining restaurants which is great. We felt the music was a bit loud and distracting, making it slightly difficult to feel relaxed and converse with each other. Overall a tasty evening!

Jane W.
Jane W.

My cousin took me to Robin for my birthday and I overall had a wonderful experience. As other diners have mentioned, you can pick a price (between $109-209) and they will tailor your omakase experience to that price point (i.e., it will determine the # of courses you get). We ended up starting at $109, but then added more courses until we hit $150. The omakase is overall nigiri heavy and all courses were delicious! I forget how many bites we had for $150, but I left satisfied and thinking that $150 was a very fair price, especially considering we're in San Francisco. I think what sets Robin apart from its peers is their thoughtful (and delicious) choice of sauces and toppings for their nigiri (really enhanced the flavors of the fish without overwhelming the palate). The service was professional, efficient, and friendly, and the ambiance was modern yet cozy. They had a hip-hop playlist going in the background, which was a surprising choice for a high-end sushi restaurant (but in the best of ways). Highly recommend!

Cathy H.
Cathy H.

Came here on a Saturday evening for dinner with some friends to celebrate his new job. The ambiance is intimate with cute decor. Robin is an omakase experience with a sliding scale so you can order as much or as little as you want between $100 - $200. We were really hungry and ended up on the higher end of the scale. Service was quick; they brought us one item after another in rapid succession. Everything was delicious; some of my favorites include the toro with caviar, all the smoked nigiri, scallop sashimi, garlic noodles with truffle. Highly recommend if you want great food in small bites, attentive service, and a lovely environment.

Amy L.
Amy L.

Food: 4/5 Service: 4/5 Price: 4/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 I really enjoyed the vibes here -- modern, sleek, and stylish. The staff is incredibly warm & welcoming, making sure you're comfortable while guiding you through the experience -- making it feel special. I do like how they have a sliding-scale omakase pricing so you can choose how much you want to spend & the chef will curate your meal for you. While I do like this approach since it allows for some flexibility, it is kind of confusing how they explain it to you & how many/what dishes you'd get. It seemed like the courses were mostly the same, though the quality or portion sizes might have varied slightly. We ended up going with a $150 option. I really enjoyed how the flavor combos are pretty unique & well thought out. Each bite is delicious & flavorful, and there were some truly standout bites that I still dream about. Some of my personal favorites: - Sea Bream Caramelized Onion Salmon - Any & all of the dishes with tuna - Albacore with Thai Basil Sauce - A5 Wagyu with Foie Gras shavings: SO DECADENT & INDULGENT; I would come back just for this Lol one miss that still makes me chuckle when I think about it was their "Potato Chip Nigiri with Caviar". I guess it's kind of unique but it's exactly what you think it'd taste like and there wasn't even a lot of caviar on it. Definitely would've preferred another fish nigiri, even if it was a small piece, over this. Overall, super glad I gave Robin a try. They do a pretty good job at making you enjoy a creative omakase experience that was pretty fun & memorable. If you're looking high-quality sushi & something little different from the usual, this is definitely the place to check out. If you visit, recommend staying in the $130-170 range!

Vy T.
Vy T.

I've heard so much about Robin and from the article on the owner's journey. I'm glad Robin is alive and well, even opening a new location in South Bay! the good: - service was thoughtful and the space was cozy and cool looking - they have a scaling menu from 109 to 200, which I thought was thoughtful. We opted for their recommended $160pp for the scallop, toro and uni addition, but honestly we could have passed on it and still had a good time. - 20+ small bites came our way. It was a nice experience - my favorite plates of the night were their appetizers, like the refreshing grape and white fish and the sesame noodles. - huge sake selection. We got a small local nigori to share and liked it The meh: - there was no memorable piece that would make me want to return. And some items were just bland like their pumpkin soup, which was served nearing the end of the meal to fill up the rest of your stomach space. - they didn't feature my favorite pieces which are hotate, sweet shrimp. At the price range, I'd expect it. Also both uni pieces were a let down and small. - their $20 addition for the toro, uni, and scallop piece was a let down for me personally. It was small and I couldn't even taste the Santa Barbara uni with the fruit mixed in.... It was supposed to be a spin off of the decadent hamburgers (toro, uni, scallop) from nyc but it just made me crave nyc sushi more

Stephanie C.
Stephanie C.

Came here with the boo for fancy date night. What can you expect from a sliding scale omakase? Frikkin amazing food catered to your budget! Not to mention the very hip ambiance with modern pop music gives it a very fun vibe. (Very different from the more traditional quiet omakase restaurants where you can't talk too loud for fear of other patrons overhearing your conversation). Prices start from $109 to $209, and you let them know at the beginning what price you want to pay. They will check in with you towards the end of the sushi portion of the meal to see if you want more. We opted for $160, but also added Japanese uni to our list, which was totally worth it. However you still have 3 more dishes plus a dessert before the meal service is done. Extremely fresh and very delicious. Definitely worth the splurge!

Izzie L.
Izzie L.

Honestly... Robin single-handedly ruined omakase for me because ever since first trying it FOUR years ago, I've never had any omakase as good as this. It's THAT good. Robin has the perfect amount of food to have you feeling fulfilled and satisfied at the end of your meal. The presentation of the dishes is modern and immaculate, and the taste is even more impressive. I received approximately 14 courses for ~$140. Reasonable price point. Excellent service. Divine courses. Would highly recommend you check this out.