Washoku Guide
Cities/San Francisco/Sushi/Jin Sho
San Francisco · Sushi · a la carte

Jin Sho

JapaneseSushiOmakaseSashimiNobu-trainedSilicon Valley

Jin Sho has anchored Palo Alto's California Avenue dining scene since 2007, led by Japanese chef-owners Ichiro Takahashi and Noriomi Kaneko, both veterans of Nobu New York. The sushi bar is celebrated for sourcing rare fish — Hokkaido uni, Kyushu bluefin toro, hairy crab — alongside a signature miso black cod.

Price
¥¥¥
Area
Palo Alto
Since
2007
Chef
Ichiro Takahashi
Owner
Ichiro Takahashi & Noriomi Kaneko
Jin Sho — authentic japanese restaurant in San Francisco, Palo Alto
Plate № 14
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About
Jin Sho was established in 2007 by Japanese chef-owners Ichiro Takahashi and Noriomi Kaneko, both of whom honed their craft at Nobu New York. On Palo Alto's California Avenue, they built a restaurant celebrated for premium sushi and sashimi featuring rare fish from Japan — including Bluefin hoho (cheek), Hokkaido Bafun uni, Botan ebi, and seasonal Kinmedai — alongside Nobu-influenced dishes like their signature three-day miso-marinated black cod and Yellowtail Jalapeño. The omakase (from 8 pieces to the full sashimi course) uses Tamaki Gold sushi rice. A noted clientele included Steve Jobs, who was a regular on this block. The open kitchen and sushi bar allow guests to watch the chefs at work.
Neighborhood & visiting

Jin Sho sits in Palo Alto, one of San Francisco's neighborhoods where authentic Japanese kitchens have taken root. Reservations are available online — for a focused sushi counter this is strongly recommended. Check the posted hours before you go — traditional sushi restaurants often close between service periods.

Why it's on Washoku Guide
  • Both chef-owners trained at Nobu New York, bringing world-class Japanese technique to a neighborhood sushi bar format.
  • The rotating 'Today's Sushi Recommendations' board features rare Japanese fish — hoho, hairy crab, Kinmedai — rarely seen outside Japan.
  • The three-day miso-marinated black cod is among the Peninsula's most celebrated single dishes.
  • An 8-piece omakase at $39 is exceptional value for Nobu-caliber sushi in Palo Alto.

Reservations are recommended and can be made on OpenTable. The outdoor California Avenue patio is dog-friendly. — Format: Sushi bar & Japanese restaurant. Authenticity: Owner-chefs Ichiro Takahashi and Noriomi Kaneko are both Japanese, trained at Nobu New York before opening Jin Sho on Palo Alto's California Avenue in 2007.

Links
Reserve →Website →Map →Yelp →Tripadvisor →

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Frequently asked

About Jin Sho

Is Jin Sho an authentic japanese restaurant in San Francisco?
Yes — Jin Sho is featured in Washoku Guide because it meets our authenticity standard for japanese in San Francisco: a kitchen grounded in Japanese technique, ingredients and preparation consistent with Japanese practice, and a focused sushi format.
Where is Jin Sho located?
Jin Sho is located at 454 S California Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94306, San Francisco, USA in the Palo Alto neighborhood.
Do I need a reservation at Jin Sho?
Jin Sho accepts reservations online. For an authentic sushi experience, especially at a focused counter, booking ahead is strongly recommended.
What is the price range at Jin Sho?
Jin Sho sits in the ¥¥¥ price range — typical for japanese of this format in San Francisco.
Keep exploring
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