Bay Area · Japanese
Izakaya Rintaro
Mission District izakaya from Sylvan Mishima Brackett; house-made tofu, yakitori, and hand-rolled udon in a wood-forward room.
- Price
- $$
- Opened
- 2014
- Neighborhood
- Mission82 14th St, San Francisco, CA 94103
About
Chef-owner Sylvan Mishima Brackett opened Rintaro in November 2014 in the former Chez Spencer space on 14th Street after years at Chez Panisse and running Peko Peko catering. The restaurant serves izakaya-style small plates with a Northern California produce emphasis: charcoal skewers, house-made tofu, hand-rolled udon, and seasonal specials. Michelin lists it as a Bib Gourmand; Bon Appétit named it among America’s best new restaurants in 2015, and Brackett later published a Rintaro cookbook. The room is known for redwood booths, a hinoki bar, and a courtyard when weather allows.
Menu highlights
- Charcoal yakitori and tsukune
- House-made tofu and agedashi-style plates
- Hand-rolled kake udon with seasonal toppings
- Korokke, tonkatsu, and shareable fried items
Diners say
Reviewers repeatedly praise the wood interior, yakitori, udon, and tofu, calling it a date-night or special-weeknight izakaya. Recurring caveats include hard reservations, weekend waits for walk-ins, noise, and tabs that add up when ordering many small plates. Service comments split between attentive pacing and occasional slow or rushed nights when the room is full.
Review synthesis as of 2026-07-28. Synthesis of recurring themes in public Yelp and Google Maps reviews sampled July 2026; not a rating or ranking.