Red Box Sushi
581 Eddy Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
This place is so small that it’s easy to almost walk past without noticing it, but it serves up some great sushi in the Tenderloin. The fish is fresh and almost buttery, and it’s the perfect place to go before seeing a show or movie. I went there before seeing the Preservation Hall Jazz Band at the Great American Music Hall with Erin.
We started with some miso soup, which was really flavorful compared to the stuff you get elsewhere. Maybe they put in too much miso paste, but I liked it. We ended up getting a few maki and the sashimi combo (although i thought we ordered the sushi combo…). The sashimi was melt-in-your-mouth good, especially the salmon. The unagi maki was also good, but somehow less memorable to me. There were a number of crazy American-style rolls if that’s your thing (it’s not mine). The standout thing for me was an innovation of the chef that he called “firecracker balls.” These are spicy tuna maki, batter-dipped and deep fried, with what tasted like sriracha, mayonnaise, and tobiko on top. If you like spicy food, definitely get these. All in all, a worthwhile trip. Next time I’ll go with more people so we can try more things.
An Ergodic Walk 
An addendum: If Anand tells you that the firecracker balls are “not too spicy,” he’s lying. The burn just hits you late.
Also, I found the fact that they were projecting Star Wars: Episode 3 all across the back wall with no sound to be a little odd.
But still, infinitely better fish than I could ever get in Ann Arbor.
mmm… deep fried….
OK, the firecracker balls sound utterly fantastic. I’m coming to visit, and we’re going there.