Tasty New Japanese Small Plates at Sanraku in the Metreon

L. Chong

Niku jaga, Japanese beef and potato stew.

​Sanraku at the Metreon has unveiled a list of a dozen Japanese small plates, available at happy hour, 3 to 7 p.m. daily. We enjoyed every morsel of the dishes we tried:

• Nanbanzuke, a stack of tiny whole fish marinated in vinegar
• Japanese-style ceviche, seafood lightly marinated in lemon juice and topped with tobiko (flying fish roe)
• Ankimo, the Japanese delicacy of monkfish liver, steamed, chilled, and sliced
• Albacore tataki, lightly seared white tuna served with thick Japanese chili sauce
• Niku jaga, a stew of beef and potatoes served with pickled ginger, a popular comfort food in Japan

L. Chong

They're affordable, too.

​The quality and presentation were outstanding, and the prices -- $3 to $5 each -- affordable, especially considering that most Spanish-style tapas in the city are typically $6 to $10. Happy hour also brings eight choices of sake, beer, and wine for $3 each. And the restaurant offers a frequent diner program (a $10 credit for every $100 spent), valid at Sanraku's Sutter location, too (but there's no tapas there). Ask a server, and fill out a quick form to obtain the card.

Sanraku at Metreon 101 Fourth St. (at Mission), 369-6166