Bay Area Eats: Okane
Okane is a neighborhood sushi & sake haven by the famed Japanese restauranteur Kash Feng, who opened the popular michelin-starred Omakase (with a chef’s tasting menu only starting at $150/head). The new Okane, right next door in the SOMA district of San Francisco, succeeds in taking the same innovative and impossibly-fresh Japanese dining experience and making it more accessible to the casual diner.
The vibe of this modern Japanese gastro-pub is contemporary and cozy, with a bustling crowd of young techy diners. The delicious menu focuses on small plates and rolls, making for an easily sharable and enjoyable experience for a date or a group dinner.
What to order:
The traditional chawanmushi ($8) an egg custard made with a Jidori egg, topped with shrimp tempura and bok choy. This was our favorite part of the meal.
Shimofuri hamachi ($22). Yellowtail that’s flash-cooked outside but the inside is still raw, and then topped with olive oil, yuzu shoyu and jalapeno. Delicious.
Grilled sake lees cured Alaskan cod ($15)
Sake. They have one of the most extensive (and delicious) sake menus I’ve ever seen. We had a light and floral sake served in beautiful crystal glasses. A perfect pairing with the meal.
Make a reservation. Okane, 669 Townsend St., San Francisco. PH: 415.865.9788. Open weekdays for lunch, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; dinner, Monday through Saturday, from 5:30 p.m.