Domo Sushi

As a sushi aficionado, I'm constantly looking for new Japanese restaurants to try. So I was delighted to discover Domo Sushi, a hidden gem tucked away in a nondescript area in Hayes Valley. The space is very small, with only about 15 seats, so I made sure to get there before the dinner rush. The menu mostly features sushi, so if you like your fish, this is your spot.

Complimentary edamame

What piqued my interest in Domo were their "crudos" - individual servings of raw seafood, garnished appropriately and served on spoons. And at $4.95 for any two spoons, these tasty bite-sized morsels are still on the affordable side.

Crudos galore! From left to right - uni, ankimo, and scallop

The uni crudo was simply amazing! The buttery creaminess of the avocado highlighted the mild sweetness and soft texture of the sea urchin, minimally garnished with sea salt. I would go back for this crudo alone.

My friend seemed to enjoy the raw scallop, which was topped with minced yuzu cucumber and tobiko. However, I was disappointed with the ankimo, as I'm very picky about this particular delicacy, and there seemed to be something amiss with the garlic ponzu sauce.

I would also definitely return for the sashimi. Simple presentation and fresh, thick slices of deliciousness.

Hamachi sashimi ($9)
Marvelous texture along with the signature light, buttery taste of yellowtail

Domo's menu also has a good assortment of sushi rolls, ranging from the usual suspects like spider and rainbow rolls, to their own house specialties.

Sexy Mama Roll ($11.95)
broiled asparagus and tobiko, topped with salmon, sliced lemon, and yuzu cucumber

I rather enjoyed this roll, as it was a fun medley of textures and flavors (sweetness of the salmon, nutty bitterness of the asparagus, and citrus zest from the lemon). I'm still a bit bewildered by the name though ... I wouldn't exactly associate lemons with sex appeal. But maybe it's just me.

Domo Sushi
511 Laguna Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
(415) 861-8887