The Tongue Story

Welcome to our restaurant, come and taste!

online pickup
order delivery
A hand holds a bowl of beef and rice with green onions, with the Bay Bridge and city skyline in the background.
Grilled meat with distinct char marks being basted with sauce on a barbecue grill using a silicone brush.
Grilled meat slices with sesame seeds, held by chopsticks over a takeout container.
About this Amazing Japanese Restaurant
At Tongue Story, we believe that great food doesn’t need to be complicated.
Our founder, Jo Zhou, spent years as a chef at the Michelin-starred restaurant San Ho Won in San Francisco. After working behind one of the city’s most respected kitchens, Jo discovered a simple truth:
the most memorable dishes are often humble, comforting, and made with care.
Tongue Story was created to bring that Michelin-level craftsmanship into everyday life.
Our signature dish — thick-cut grilled beef tongue rice bowl — is slow-cooked for tenderness, flame-grilled for flavor, and paired with fresh scallion salad and pickled jalapeños. It’s refined technique made accessible, designed for busy people who still want a truly satisfying, restaurant-quality meal at home.
We make good food simple — and simply good.
Close-up of tongs holding juicy grilled glazed pork slices over a barbecue grill.
Glazed pork slices being brushed with sauce on a barbecue grill, with raw pieces nearby.
Japanese butadon rice bowl with grilled glazed pork slices topped with chopped green onions, served with side dishes including pickled vegetables, miso paste, and scallions.
Close-up of a single thick glazed pork slice searing on a smoky barbecue grill.
Sliced glazed pork pieces grilling on a barbecue with visible flames and grill marks.
Bowl of rice topped with grilled glazed pork slices and chopped green onions, with sauce being poured over.
A takeout bento box with grilled meat, green onions, and white rice, placed on a wooden table.
A "Tongue Story" takeout box with two bowls, featuring Chinese text and colorful peppers on a wooden table.
Reviews from Google

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Amazing Japanese food with a unique focus on beef tongue. The beef tongue rice bowl was incredibly tender and full of flavor. Clean space, friendly service, and definitely a place I’ll come back to. Highly recommended!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

If you’re looking for something different from typical Japanese restaurants, The Tongue Story is a must-try. Their beef tongue rice bowl is perfectly cooked and very satisfying. Great quality ingredients and a welcoming atmosphere.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

One of the best Japanese dining experiences I’ve had in San Francisco. The beef tongue bowl was rich, well-seasoned, and comforting. You can really tell they care about quality and authenticity. Worth the visit!

Phone

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Address

900 Avenue D

San Francisco, CA 94130

Hours

Coming Soon