Cuisine:
Japanese

ISDC Rating:

Pros:
Nice Japanese-style décor
Beef dishes can be quite good
Better-than-average sushi
Excellent miso soup

Cons:
Sushi served too cold
Service can be erratic
Too close to the N Judah

FogWatch Crew Members in Attendance:
Rear Admiral Phineas Fogg-Bottom
The Cabin Boy
Countess Honoria Lick-Wilmerding
Princess Bathsheeba Luxoria Masada
Michele "Gigi" Le Bouef

Hana Restaurant has been a fixture on Irving Street for many years, and marks the beginning of the Irving Street corridor. While the restaurant does well in several areas, the service is uneven, and there are definitely better options for sushi just blocks away.

Hana is tastefully appointed in the Japanese style, with large wooden beams across the ceiling, big paper lamps, and samurai memorabilia adorning the walls. A sushi bar in one corner adds to the traditional feel. The service staff consists of older Japanese ladies in traditional dress. Most are charming; however, Hana's service became a major liability as the Dining Club's evening wore on.

Hana offers a mix of sushi and other Japanese fare, such as teriyaki beef, tempura, and sukiyaki. The Dining Club found the sushi to be better than average, especially the unagi and the house specialty, the Hana Roll. The sashimi was also good, although both the sushi and sashimi tended to be a bit too cold, bordering on frozen.

Hana's sukiyaki probably was the standout dish of the evening, featuring perfectly cooked beef, "Like buttah." Another excellent dish was the donburi chicken, served very lean and with a tasty sauce. The sukiyaki donburi was dubbed merely average, with too much fat on the beef and the sauce tasting a little off.

Unfortunately, the evening was marred somewhat by the extremely late arrival of the sushi, which was served after some Dining Club members had already finished their meals. Why the one dish that requires no cooking took the longest to prepare is a question that only our Shinto ancestors can answer.

Another liability is the N Judah Muni train, which rolls by every 15 minutes or so. The N Judah can be an unwelcome distraction from an evening of calm dining. Hana should consider a comprehensive retrofit to minimize the effect on diners of the streetcar's noise and vibration.

Hana Restaurant is a good option in the Inner Sunset for Japanese cuisine. The beef can excel, and the sushi is good, while not up to the standards of Sunset standouts like Ebisu and Yum Yum Fish. However, the erratic service marred what would have otherwise been a pleasant evening.