Reviews - Shizen
Reviews summary
Shizen is a fantastic spot for vegetarian and vegan sushi lovers. Known for its creative and satisfying plant-based dishes, the menu offers a variety of specialty rolls that are both delicious and innovative. The use of ingredients is impressive, with dishes like the Body and Soul sushi roll standing out for its unique flavors. While the prices may be slightly higher, the quality of the food and the artistry put into each dish make it worth it. Reservations are highly recommended due to the popularity of the restaurant, but the experience of dining at Shizen is definitely one to remember. The interior design adds to the overall ambiance, making it a great spot for group dining or a fun night out. Overall, Shizen is a must-visit for anyone looking to explore the world of vegan sushi in a vibrant and creative setting.
Was Susie C at Shizen a mag?
Gorgeous vegan food, we tried so many different things and enjoyed every single one. My favourite was the Karaage starter. It's a really popular busy place so be sure to book a table as soon as possible (it looks to book out a week or a few days in advance) View all feedback.
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Last update : 06.03.2026
I never thought vegan sushi options could be so tasty. Tried the best seller one boddy and soul, it’s really the best one. Food: 4 Service: 4 Atmosphere: 4 Price per person: $30–40
Best vegan sushi in town! I’ve tried several Japanese spots, but I always find myself coming back to Shizen. Food: 5 Service: 5 Atmosphere: 5 Price per person: $30–40 Recommended dishes: Ramen, Candlestick, The Candlestick, Missing Piece Recommendation for vegetarians: Highly recommend Vegetarian offerings: Menu is all vegetarian
Last update : 03.06.2025
This is our compulsory “once a month” place. Having so many vegan options is pure bliss. Food is super creative and also extremely delicious. Have tried almost everything on the specialty list and haven’t found single item that I wouldn’t haveagain. Everyone who visits SFO must visit this place. Highly recommended! You will enjoy the ambience and have a greattime. You need to book a table in advance and they have tables only for 2 or 4. In case you want to try for a walk-in, callahead to check your chances and reserve.
I’m surprised how they pulled off the taste of sushi, still making it vegan. Kudos! Food is totally worth the price. Be prepared to wait for min of one plus hour if you don’t have a reservation. Friendly staff. Glad to stop by this place.Definitely recommend it.
I loved Shizen. I'm new to the plant based movement and was skeptical when told that there was a place serving vegan sushi. So I went to check it out. What a great experience. The staff was excellent. The presentation, variety of textures, andflat out deliciousness of the food were amazing. Whether you are plant-based, plant curious, or just in the mood for somethingdifferent, try this place. It won't disappoint.
I told my husband I could die now because I just ate the best meal off life!!! I was completely blown away by this place—the ambiance- the service, and of course the food l. It was like eating art. Everything on the menu sounded amazing and it trulywas. I wish I had 10 people with us to order everything on it. If you are in the area, you need to eat here. Unlike anything Ihave ever tried!
Made reservation day of! The place has a great atmosphere. The food was delicious and we ordered a variety! I ordered the ramen and the tofu had to be the best part! The drink I ordered is a sake base with strawberries and lychee, I liked that it wasn’tstrong. I would recommend ordering the roulette sushi if you are dinning with a group. I am not vegan myself, but I almostforgot it was a vegan place.
Last update : 13.10.2023
Top notch food, service and atmosphere.
Awesome vegan sushi and Yaki soba
We got the boddy and soul roll and the open invitation roll and it was worth the hype and more-! Now onto the full review: The boddy and soul roll (the one with the red topping) was spicy, creamy, and crunchy, like a spicy tuna roll (although it doesn’t taste like meat) and overall heavy packed with flavor. The open invitation roll (with the dried chip on top) was lighter and had sweetness from the sweet potato. To be clear, neither of them tasted exactly like meat and it wasn’t the point of the roll. My personal favorite was the boddy and soul, although both were great. Service was okay, and the ambiance was nice. It was a small spot. We walked for 2 in on Saturday night and waited 1 hour, but it was worth it
Delicious vegan sushi
What a stellar place for a vegan or vegetarian sushi lover! I could finally eat all the pretty things that my raw fish loving friends could, but only better. We had two specialty rolls the proud peacock was so creative and tasty (mango and roasted peppers especially). Boddy and soul has my heart though. The tempura roll concept is SO creative! And the spicy aioli is the best I’ve had so much better than the spicy mayo I’ve had at regular sushi places and poke bowl spots which usually make me nauseous. Also, I was visiting from Toronto so to anyone listening please bring this up north!!!
Last update : 19.09.2023
Great meal overall! Ordered three specialty rolls for two people and left sated. Got walk in seats at the sushi bar right at opening on a Saturday afternoon and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. FWIW, my partner and I are both omnivores, but frequently prepare vegetarian and vegan meals at home.Prime Suspect 5/5, wonderfully layered umami, fun textural contrast with three crispy elements, our personal favorite (and our server's too! Secret Weapon 5/5, sweet and spicy, the pineapple and jalapeno really make it sing!Surprise Ending 4/5, fun roulette concept, but a little one note due to how beet forward it is (and we love beets!
Visiting the area and was recommended this place by a friend. Really friendly staff and fast service. Appreciate the fact that a fully vegan sushi place exists. The food itself was good but for the price maybe I expected a little better. I would still recommend this place to others to try for themselves! (Edited to add price is for three people)
Fantastic interior design the food is even better! Get the Surprise Ending if you’re looking for a fun group eating experience. Also had the matcha ice cream for dessert, it was made with coconut but wasn’t gritty or too coconut-focused in flavor, it was fantastic!Vegetarian options: Whole menu is vegan!
We’ve been willing to try Shizen for so long and we were not disappointed. Everything was amazing from the cocktails to every single roll.I recommend to pick several small plates, rolls and nigiri and share them.We got a few different rolls, they all were super tasty, flavourful. The texture of the agedashi tofu was fabulous and the tempuras were delicious.You need to book in advance and it can be hard to get a spot but it’s totally worth it.The staff was also super friendly and careful.
One of our favorite Vegan Sushi spots in the Bay. The food is worth the hype but service can be hit or miss sometimes. Try making reservations since it can be hard to get in on most days!
Last update : 21.07.2023
If you are a sushi fan, no matter if you are vegan or not this place is must visit in Bay area! We went to have our Friday night dinner here and it was amazing. Appetizers : Gyoza beautifully flavored and cooked to perfection Rolls: Surprise ending it’s a fun dish especially for spice lovers, Spicy Tofuna roll , Proud Peacock. Looking forward to trying more dishes from their menu in future! PS : Prior reservations are required as this place gets quite busy.
The wait was worth it! To guarantee we could go, had to make a reservation two weeks in advance no regrets! The space is not too big and it was packed, and now I understand the popularity. The sushi we had was fresh, creative, and delicious! Lots of tofu used in different ways (couldn't tell it was tofu if it wasn't written in the menu), mushrooms and algae. Also enjoyed the cocktail.
Two years later and I still love it. Please expand and multiply. San Diego Vegan Sushi needs help I will never understand how you're able to make the spicy tofu so similar to actual spicy tuna The candlestick is hands down the #1 best roll. Also make a reservation at 5:00 PM (as soon as they open). You won't have to wait long at all to get seated!
I thought it was…fine? After all the hype I was a little underwhelmed. We ordered some less popular menu items and, while I loved the drinks and the ambiance, and the service was fantastic, the food itself was just kind of…okay. No standout flavours, nothing memorable. I was a little disappointed to have spent $100 on a pretty okay dinner, honestly. I can see why vegan sushi is novel and exciting, and I like a lot of the concepts, but I don’t know that I’d go through all the trouble of securing a Saturday night reservation for this again.
I'm not vegan, but I really enjoyed this. The use of ingredients is pretty innovative. The texture of the Bean curd in the katsu was tooth some. The eggplant grilled and then marinated and served cold may have been my favorite dish even though it was so simple. The specialty rolls also really blew me away. My only gripe would be the price. You're paying for the art, not the ingredients.
Last update : 30.05.2022
We loved it so much that we came back twice in the four days in san fran. absolutely beautiful eating in a love environment. everything is fresh, tasty and well fed. I don't think I could even choose a favorite dish, everyone was a winner!
Seriously get the body and soul roll. So good
I always bring non-vegans to this restaurant to impress them. flavors are fantastic! I highly recommend getting the kaarage, it is my favorite thing, except the special roles! direct parking available, also a parking space near for $20.
This vegan sushi is truly remarkable. It is made with incredible attention to detail and is simply fantastic!
I had high expectations for our dinner at this restaurant, and it definitely lived up to them. We tried eight dishes from the extensive menu and loved every single one, especially the mushroom-based ones. The specialty rolls were the standout dishes, beautifully presented with complex and innovative flavor combinations. If you're in the mood for something different, I suggest trying the spicy garlic miso ramen. The only thing missing is a dessert menu!
