San Francisco · Izakaya · a la carte
Izakaya Rintaro
IzakayaYakitoriIzakayaJapaneseMichelinBib GourmandMissionCalifornia-Japanese
Izakaya Rintaro is one of San Francisco's most celebrated Japanese restaurants — a Michelin Bib Gourmand Mission District izakaya where Kyoto-born chef Sylvan Mishima Brackett brings rigorous Japanese craft to California's finest seasonal produce.
- Price
- ¥¥¥
- Area
- Mission
- Since
- 2015
- Chef
- Sylvan Mishima Brackett
Plate № 26
About
Opened in late 2014 and named Bon Appétit's Top 10 New Restaurants within six months, Izakaya Rintaro has been a touchstone of San Francisco's Japanese dining scene ever since. Chef-owner Sylvan Mishima Brackett was born in Kyoto and raised in Northern California; he trained at the Soba Ro restaurant in Saitama and at a ryotei in Aoyama, Tokyo, before returning to California as creative director at Alice Waters' celebrated Chez Panisse. At Rintaro, Brackett's dual heritage converges: pasture-raised chicken grilled over binchotan charcoal, hand-kneaded and hand-cut udon, wasabi grown in Half Moon Bay and grated on sharkskin board, and housemade tofu and umeboshi made from scratch. The Michelin Guide has awarded Rintaro its Bib Gourmand designation every year since 2016 — one of the longest-running continuous Bib Gourmand records in San Francisco.
Neighborhood & visiting
Izakaya Rintaro sits in Mission, one of San Francisco's neighborhoods where authentic Japanese kitchens have taken root. Reservations are available online — for a focused izakaya counter this is strongly recommended. Check the posted hours before you go — traditional izakaya restaurants often close between service periods.
Why it's on Washoku Guide
- Michelin Bib Gourmand continuously since 2016 — one of San Francisco's most durably recognized Japanese restaurants
- Kyoto-born chef Sylvan Mishima Brackett trained at traditional restaurants in Saitama and Aoyama, Tokyo before opening Rintaro
- Everything is made in-house: tofu, udon, umeshu, umeboshi, and pickles — a rare commitment to Japanese craft in California
- The izakaya facade and interior were built by Len Brackett, a renowned Japanese-trained craftsman, using 1906 earthquake cottage materials
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Frequently asked
About Izakaya Rintaro
- Is Izakaya Rintaro an authentic izakaya restaurant in San Francisco?
- Yes — Izakaya Rintaro is featured in Washoku Guide because it meets our authenticity standard for izakaya in San Francisco: a kitchen grounded in Japanese technique, ingredients and preparation consistent with Japanese practice, and a focused izakaya format.
- Where is Izakaya Rintaro located?
- Izakaya Rintaro is located at 82 14th St, San Francisco, CA 94103, San Francisco, USA in the Mission neighborhood.
- Do I need a reservation at Izakaya Rintaro?
- Izakaya Rintaro accepts reservations online. For an authentic izakaya experience, especially at a focused counter, booking ahead is strongly recommended.
- What is the price range at Izakaya Rintaro?
- Izakaya Rintaro sits in the ¥¥¥ price range — typical for izakaya of this format in San Francisco.
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