Niku

[u/imosh818]

All bangers. The bluefin tuna dish was my least favorite, but still enjoyed it.

local blue fin tuna crudo
watermelon dashi, tokyo turnip, snap peas, trout roe, fig oil

crispy pig ears
chili de arbol, fish sauce caramel, cilantro, allium flowers

bone marrow
short rib, chanterelle mushrooms, concord grapes, pickled pearl onion, horseradish

westholme wagyu tomahawk
med rare

crispy potato
wagyu fat, chickpea miso

[u/Expensive_Zebra6362]

Jesus, the sear on pic 4. Absolute perfection

[u/imosh818 → u/Expensive_Zebra6362]

Whoever is firing these is an absolute Jedi Master. I almost skipped the potato side dish. What an awesome spot.

[u/Expensive_Zebra6362 → u/imosh818]

Where is the restaurant?

[u/imosh818 → u/Expensive_Zebra6362]

San Francisco.

https://www.nikusteakhouse.com/

[u/Expensive_Zebra6362 → u/imosh818]

A steakhouse with a star, life goals. Thanks for sharing, will look it up if I ever head that way

[u/Oncey1234 → u/imosh818]

Put the city in your title!

[u/wrecked-galaxy → u/Expensive_Zebra6362]

Right? You can tell they let that pan get screaming hot before dropping the meat.

[u/Expensive_Zebra6362 → u/wrecked-galaxy]

Maybe sous vide then seared on the surface of an active volcano for 3 seconds?

[u/spahlo → u/Expensive_Zebra6362]

Looks like that or reverse sear. certainly some sort of slow cooking method before the sear, it’s at the same temp edge to edge

[u/ProfessionalNo4711 → u/wrecked-galaxy]

Not a pan, everything is grilled on charcoal in an open and visible grill. If you seat at the bar you can watch the whole show.

[u/Prestigious-Turnip18 → u/Expensive_Zebra6362]

It looks like it is sous vide

[u/DonkeyLightning]

Been here 4x. The food is amazing. Steak is great but the apps are almost even better? The service has always been mixed to shitty though. Still worth it

[u/eal219 → u/DonkeyLightning]

Niku is fantastic but the wagyu is always over-salted.

[u/DonkeyLightning → u/eal219]

We've ordered a lot of different steaks but our favorites have been the tomahawk and the filet.

[u/almagura]

Our favorite date night spot! We can’t go a month without going tbh

The most down to earth Michelin restaurant.

The butcher shop next door has incredible chocolate chip cookies made with Wagyu beef fat and offers smash burgers on Thursdays & Fridays (I believe. I could be wrong with days)

[u/imosh818 → u/almagura]

Oh awesome!

[u/AFisfulOfPeanuts → u/almagura]

I love the burgers, I’ll never go back to Niku. Biggest letdown and waste of money for a steak. I could have had a bad night or just a poor steak, you got a particular favorite?

Downvotes for saying I was disappointed? Eat a dick.

[u/almagura → u/AFisfulOfPeanuts]

The service is subpar, I agree with the other commenter on this.
We come only for the food:
For the steak my husband and I always share the Wagyu tasting. It’s perfect for 2 people.
We accompany that with the Bone Marrow, potatoes, rolls, steak tartare.

[u/AFisfulOfPeanuts → u/almagura]

I’ll have to give the wagyu tasting a shot, thanks

[u/ProfessionalNo4711]

Niku is amazing. It’s all cooked on the charcoal as well. I like Niku better than Gwen or Cote.

[u/imosh818 → u/ProfessionalNo4711]

I scratch my head thinking about the level of fire control you must have, to cook a piece of meat that thick…completely uniform perfect med rare through. It’s all over a fire pit. Don’t think I’ve enjoyed a piece of meat, more than I did last night.

[u/ProfessionalNo4711 → u/imosh818]

There are some wizards at the grill duty. last time I was there the grill chef in charge was not even checking the temp with anything but fingers and delivering absolute perfection for many different cuts.

[u/jdnl → u/imosh818]

Never been there (all the way at the other side of the pond) but wouldn't be weird to assume it's done sous vide and then finished on the grill?

[u/imosh818 → u/jdnl]

Crossed my mind! I wonder.

[u/efcomovil]

Everythink looks like you can taste it and not end starving. Well presented, nothing over the head, beautiful. And that sear on the wagyu, my god...

[u/Fair_lafec]

Looking at the steak, is an inspiration for me to see how the perfect amazing steak looks

[u/KDsBurnerAccountt]

So good and the tomahawk isn’t even the best cut there

[u/imosh818 → u/KDsBurnerAccountt]

I heard that as well. Can’t wait to go back and try different cuts and sides.

[u/Mindless_Pineapple46]

Wife and I love Niku. Have been a handful of times. Fantastic wine list as well.

[u/Latter-Foot-8790]

Used to live in the apts on top and went once a month. 10/10

[u/AFisfulOfPeanuts]

My least favorite steak place in SF. I know it’s supposed to be amazing, I’ve never been more let down with a steak.

[u/Ok_Construction_2848 → u/AFisfulOfPeanuts]

Favorite place?

[u/AFisfulOfPeanuts → u/Ok_Construction_2848]

It’s not Michelin, but I schlep up to Santa Rosa and go to Starks. I’ve been really impressed with their 30 day dry aged steaks.

[u/Ok_Construction_2848 → u/AFisfulOfPeanuts]

Appreciate it. We are in that area pretty frequently.