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✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in
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I sincerely apologize. I truly appreciate the feedback and the opportunity to improve. I’ve already made changes, and most of our items are now prepared with gluten-free soy sauce to better accommodate our guests since October 2025. Thank you for your understanding and continued support. Warm regards, Chef Tom
Hours
| Friday | 12–3 PM, 5–9 PM |
| Saturday | 12–3 PM, 5–9 PM |
| Sunday | 5–9 PM |
| Monday | Closed |
| Tuesday | Closed |
| Wednesday | 5–9 PM |
| Thursday | 5–9 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 301 W Portal Ave, San Francisco, CA 94127
Phone: (415) 742-4872
Website: https://lionwestportal.com/
Menu Photos
Related Web Results
Lion West Portal
At Lion West Portal, we specialize in Japanese cuisine meets California. Our … 301 West Portal Avenue, San Francisco, California 94127, United States.
Lion West Portal (@lionwestportal) · San Francisco, CA – Instagram
958 followers · 67 posts · Chef Tom Fuji alum presenting LION featuring wild or sustainably farmed fish and seafood plus very exotic Japanese vegan menu.
Lion West Portal Delivery Menu – San Francisco – Grubhub
Soy California Roll. Imitation crab, avocado, cucumber, masago, sesame seed wrapped with soy paper.
Reviews
Gaelen Gates
LOVE this place! We’d been missing a great vegan sushi place ever since Tataki Canyon closed, and I’m so glad Lion opened. Everything we had was delicious, and the little carts going around, Dim Sum-style, were a nice treat. Service was wonderful. The no-tips model makes me feel good about patronizing an establishment that pays its servers fairly rather than forcing them to rely on tips. We’ll be back here frequently.
… moreJessy
The menu and happy hour info was a little confusing but nonetheless we had a wonderful time. The cart with $5 bites was ver unique and all the food we tried was amazing!! So delicious and fresh!! Will definitely be back
… moreDan Brook
The food, presentation, and service were all really good in this vegan-friendly, no-tip restaurant with some strict rules, including no substitutions and no teriyaki.
The loud reggae music didn’t seem to fit the vibe of the place.
Nice bathroom with Japanese toilet.
… moreThe loud reggae music didn’t seem to fit the vibe of the place.
Nice bathroom with Japanese toilet.
Amiñya Milaniya
Heya (vegan) and Bow to your sensei (vegan) were both recommended by the waitress and they both did not disappoint!! Both were delicious – but I must say the Heya roll won my top choice. All the flavors in the roll and the vegan salmon made me feel like I was enjoying a ‘real sushi roll’
It was also nice to have the whole top floor section to ourselves while eating the waitress was attentive and friendly.
The only things I wouldn’t order again were the two items from the dim sum cart (see photos) as they were just alright – too much rice
… moreIt was also nice to have the whole top floor section to ourselves while eating the waitress was attentive and friendly.
The only things I wouldn’t order again were the two items from the dim sum cart (see photos) as they were just alright – too much rice
Paul Chan
Great addition to the neighborhood. The food is not your typical sushi fare. More like little dishes, grilled items, selection of rolls and other innovative chef specials. Everything is super fresh and tasty.
… moreJustin Mattson
I visited during their soft open, it was just their fourth night of business. The service was still getting itself worked out, so things were a little slower than I would have liked, but things were on par with other soft open operations I’ve seen.
The food was really good and more than made up for the front-of-house hiccups. The dishes were unique and filled with a host of flavors. We ordered one main from the menu and then had a bunch from the cart. This place will be GREAT if you have a mix of omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans.
We ordered “Paul the Pilot”, named in honor of a customer which has followed the chef in various restaurants through the years. The dish is cooked table-side using open flame, it’s really an experience. What emerges from the foil is a delicious combination of flavors.
Next the restaurant has a cart that comes around every 5-10 minutes with small plates that might be sushi, maki, or a variety of other interesting creations. I can’t remember exactly all the things we ordered, but they included scallop sashimi, vegan “salmon” sashimi, a couple of rolls, and bean curd pockets filled with rice and sea urchin.
A great “bonus” for this place is that it is tip-free. I love not having this pressure. I thought the prices were reasonable, and if I take 20% off, the prices are quite good. Thank you to the chef/owner who decided, “let’s just put the real cost on the menu”!
Do GO HERE if you want a calm atmosphere to enjoy unique dishes, in each of which you will find a complimenting set of flavors, and an interesting dining style, thanks to the mix of menu and surprises from the cart.
Do NOT GO HERE, probably, if you’re looking for a fast bite as parents with a couple of kids. The service is likely to be a little slower than you want and the dishes might be a challenge for picky or nervous diners.
… moreThe food was really good and more than made up for the front-of-house hiccups. The dishes were unique and filled with a host of flavors. We ordered one main from the menu and then had a bunch from the cart. This place will be GREAT if you have a mix of omnivores, vegetarians, and vegans.
We ordered “Paul the Pilot”, named in honor of a customer which has followed the chef in various restaurants through the years. The dish is cooked table-side using open flame, it’s really an experience. What emerges from the foil is a delicious combination of flavors.
Next the restaurant has a cart that comes around every 5-10 minutes with small plates that might be sushi, maki, or a variety of other interesting creations. I can’t remember exactly all the things we ordered, but they included scallop sashimi, vegan “salmon” sashimi, a couple of rolls, and bean curd pockets filled with rice and sea urchin.
A great “bonus” for this place is that it is tip-free. I love not having this pressure. I thought the prices were reasonable, and if I take 20% off, the prices are quite good. Thank you to the chef/owner who decided, “let’s just put the real cost on the menu”!
Do GO HERE if you want a calm atmosphere to enjoy unique dishes, in each of which you will find a complimenting set of flavors, and an interesting dining style, thanks to the mix of menu and surprises from the cart.
Do NOT GO HERE, probably, if you’re looking for a fast bite as parents with a couple of kids. The service is likely to be a little slower than you want and the dishes might be a challenge for picky or nervous diners.
Katherine Gawlas
I love this sushi place. The vegan sushi is amazing and the fish sushi is super fresh. Not only that, all of the staff is so kind and warm. We have brought our 1 year old here a few times, and they remembered her and were super welcoming of us having her with us. I come here as often as I’m able!
… moreMike Gaal
Went during the soft open – was very good and I am excited for them to do well as they bring a different type of sushi experience to West Portal. The sushi dishes were very innovative and had interesting combinations, and the quality was excellent. The bluefin sashimi with house made soy sauce and truffle salt was very good, and the omakase nigiri had unique pairings – such as uni on top of tuna. We also couldn’t say no to everything they brought over on the carts in addition to what we ordered. It’s clear they are running at reduced capacity right now while they move toward a full opening so would give the service some grace as they figure out their groove. The upstairs looked nice for a future sushi bar/bar setting. Also a no tip or service fee restaurant.
… moreDrew Tillotson
Saw on NextDoor about this new restaurant, then realized Tamir “Tom” Erdenbat had opened his new place. I was one of his fans and a regular for Saturday lunch when the place was “Fuji” before it eventually closed. I’m talking like back in 2004-2009 when Tom was – as their website says, a “cub” — and in college at the time. He was an excellent young sushi chef even back then, and has only grown his talents. So, reserved a table last night. His food is truly special, not just because I have fond memories of the old days – his ingredients and recipes left us admiring of his success and accomplishment as a world class sushi chef. The quality of the fish is top notch very fresh and his ingredients only enhance the fish, instead of overpowering it. He left Fuji, and opened so many successful restaurants – COVID clobbered the food scene in SF. So it was heartwarming to both see him again and how he has come full circle to a neighborhood that loved and still loves him. If you love sushi, you should go there. We ended up with his Omakase sashimi, then two rolls, The Mr. Herb Roll, and the Night Nurse Roll. Night Nurse in particular explodes with flavor in your mouth, so many well placed ingredients with a Hamachi base. He serves a vegan selection which we didn’t try, so veggies would like it here. Nice selection of saki, beer, wine. The atmosphere is cozy and chic and well planned. And Tom is slaving away in the kitchen with some loyal employees. Service is very caring and cheerful. We had saki, beer between us so spent a bit more but it was worth it – It’s a top 10 place. And West Portal is a charming area of town if you’ve never been. Old school San Francisco with a community of long established folks generationally. I’m just so happy to have Tom back in the hood. And his story from “cub” to “Lion” is inspiring, especially as small boutique restaurants have had such a hard time post-COVID. Thanks for a great meal!
… moreBrian Kq
Vegan sushi is amazing. Food took some time to come out on a Friday night but absolutely worth it.
… more