I love the idea of happy hour, but when I’m done with work—and not taking a boot camp class or teaching a class of my own—I’d rather eat than drink. That’s how my friend and I found ourselves at Sudachi last Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
 
Admittedly, that’s an early dinner hour—and if I lived in a retirement community in Florida, I’d be all over early-bird specials—but, lucky for me, more and more happy hours are including food breaks along with drink deals. Back when I could get out of work before happy hour ended at 6 p.m., I’d head to Ozumo for sushi and sake specials. I also hear that Tokyo Go-Go makes a mean (and cheap) hand roll—with happy hour all seven nights. Now, adding more to the mix, there’s Sudachi. (Happy hour runs Monday through Saturday from 5:30 to 7 p.m.)
 
When we sat down at our tatami table, the thought of happy hour hadn’t crossed our minds, but when we read the little menu—and saw the specials—we couldn’t stop ourselves. The deal is $2 beer (Kirin on tap) or a bottle of hot sake, a $5 cocktail of the day (on our visit it was a blueberry-aloe mojito) and $4 bites along the lines of hand rolls and fried snacks. We each got a hand roll, then ordered everything else—edamame with lime and pecan salt, scallop carpaccio with heirloom tomatoes, jalapeño hamachi and a bonsai roll, among other dishes—from the regular menu.
 
It’s nice to know that my options aren’t either/or (either eat or drink) anymore. Now, I get to have my cocktail and eat, too.


Happy hour hand roll


Edamame with lime and pecan (with a homemade tofu amuse bouche in the back)


Scallop carpaccio and jalapeño hamachi

Sudachi
1217 Sutter St.
SF, CA 94109
415-931-6951