Take a Look Inside Chīsai Sushi Club, Mission Street’s Tiny New Omakase Spot

As of Tuesday, September 7 chef Erik Aplin is officially offering omakase tasting menus at Chīsai Sushi Club, the chef’s debut restaurant that has taken over the former Ichi Sushi on the corner of Mission and Godeus streets. Those familiar with Ichi will already know the matchbox-sized room, which Aplin has finished with Victorian-inspired design touches including stained glass, Tiffany-inspired lamps, and gold detailing. Aplin is a Bay Area native who worked as Ichi’s chef de cuisine alongside owner Tim Archuleta until 2015. Now he’s back in the neighborhood and serving American-Japanese small plates and temaki.

The sushi bar still anchors the approximately 500-square-foot space, with a tall back bar of wooden shelves stocked with bottles of sake and towers of plates. Aside from the eight seats at the bar, there are all of about 12 others scattered around the intimate dining room at tables primarily for 2 diners. Aplin selected a dusty shade of cornflower blue for the walls, adding black beadboard wainscoting and teal curtains for dramatic flair. The centerpiece of the design updates is a grand painting of Ocean Beach, the Cliff House, and Sutro Baths from artist David Imlay. “It’s a moment in San Francisco past,” Aplin says of the painting, which he worked with the artist to commission specifically for the restaurant. “I think it’s a very calming setting.”

Diners can choose from three tiers of menus: the Chīsai, 13 courses for $80; the Oki, 17 courses for $110; or the Yasai, 12 vegetarian courses $65. Each menu will include a selection of nigiri sushi, hand rolls, and several composed dishes such as uni carbonara or crab louie.

Chīsai Sushi Club is located at 3369 Mission Street and is open for dinner from 5:30-9:00 p.m. Monday through Wednesday and from 5:30-10:00 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. Reservations available online.