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Shizen Vegan Sushi Bar & Izakaya
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There aren’t many vegan sushi places in the city, so this casual Mission spot already stands out. Add creative (and cheesily-named) plant-based specialty rolls to the equation, and Shizen is a place you'll return to so often that your maps app will suggest it as a weekly destination. When you do get here, stick to the rolls—they’re the best part of the menu, and unlike anything else you can get in San Francisco.
Exhibit A is the Prime Suspect. Each bite has so many textures you'll forget there’s no actual fish involved. There are crunchy sweet potato crisps, slabs of soft marinated eggplant, and creamy gochujang aioli for an added kick. Other rolls you should have on your table are the Surprise Ending, which includes one piece that's secretly spiked with habanero aioli, plus the Boddy and Soul, a lightly-fried roll dressed up with spicy aioli and shichimi togarashi.
The rest of the menu ranges from solid to mostly good. There’s a section of $8 nigiri, which are basically just vegetables and rice. They’re generally forgettable, so feel free to skip. The ramen comes with well-seasoned bean curd char siu, but we wish the broth was more flavorful. But know that despite these few misses, the specialty rolls alone are what make a visit here worth it.