What an incredible, unforgettable experience. The food is exquisite: the ingredients are of the highest quality, the preparation is top-notch, and the flavour combinations are stunning. It’s a wonderful combination of dishes, including sushi, though that’s not the star of the show. Instead, the other dishes are the highlight of the evening: from the slow-cooked octopus to the sashimi and, most of all, the gyuoku banana cake. Incredible. The wagyu sushi, an addendum, is also marvellous, perfectly executed. The service is also lovely. Everyone is incredibly friendly and attentive. A very minor comment is that all explanations about the courses were very standardised, including the speed of delivery (sometimes hard to follow), making it feel a tad less personal. But that’s only for the explanations of the dishes—other than that, it was really personal and intimate. The ambience is also excellent. I will absolutely come here again.

One of my favorite omakase experiences I have had was at The Shota. Jason was our chef and we talked with him about his experience training in Japan and how he was a San Francisco native. Every course was amazing but I really enjoyed the sashimi course! Aside from the food the place is beautiful and the plating is so well thought out.

This is probably the best and most impressive omakase I’ve had in San Francisco so far. I highly recommend it, especially for special occasions like birthdays or celebrations. The service, the food, everything was absolutely perfect. The freshness of the fish was outstanding. I really loved it and I’ll definitely be back again.

The Shota offers some of the best nigiris that I have had. Their handling of the blue fin tuna is impeccable. I recommend trying all cuts of the tuna. The squid in uni sauce is another amazing dish. I usually do not care much for the rice in nigiri, but they take rice to a different level here. The rice is seasoned well. The presentation of each dish is gorgeous. Service is very attentive. I usually find sake a little too sweet for my taste, but the sommelier/sake person helped me find a couple things that are just right. The chef and staff keep the bantering going well. The interior is well decorated. However, during my dinner, a young chef/helper was scolded in front of the diners. I found that kind of off putting, and it kind of took away from the experience and vibe a little. I think the reprimand should have happened behind the scene. Otherwise, it could have been another perfect experience.

One of the most personal and intimate sushi experiences of my life. And I call it an experience (And not a restaurant) for a reason. Also, saying the food was amazing is the understatement of the century.

One of the best meals/experiences I've had. From the moment we walked in to when we left, everyone was super attentive and constantly checking in on us. We did the drink pairing and they were very generous in keeping each glass topped off for each course. The sake selection was truly fragrant and tasty! Now the food was just superb. Amazing Japanese flavors and the presentation was sublime. There wasn't a single bite that I could criticize at all. It was enjoyed thoroughly by everyone in our dinner party! Hands down I would come again.

A special experience that highlights resourcefulness and unrelenting focus to details. Although I will not say the taste of everything I had was to my liking, I am grateful for the hospitable warmth that The Shota brought to my palate. Throughout the meal I could feel the Chef's desire to give me unique tastes while highlighting how important it is to stay in touch with the ingredients. The service is truly excellent, constantly trying make us feel pampered and appreciated for dining with them.

We came here to celebrate a birthday and did not leave disappointed. The food was really good and had some fun spins on Japanese ingredients that were creative compared to other omakase spots in the city. The whole vibe of the place is modern and polished, yet warm. Before the courses begin they show you the fish that will be used and the supplements you can get, we got the uni supplement which came in a little box for us to enjoy through out the meal. It was of really high quality, sweet and light with no after taste. There were two types of in house made ginger with different textures that pair well with different courses and they brought outa bluefin tuna head to tell us more about the fish and how it’s used in sushi which was fun. Would highly recommend for an occasion!