Niku Steakhouse
Wagyu meets Burgundy in the best way
SoMa · San Francisco · Japanese Steakhouse · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed April 7, 2026
Wingman Metrics
First Impression
The wine list at Niku lands like a serious document — 400 to 600 bottles deep, anchored by some of the most coveted names in both Burgundy and California. This is not a list that got assembled by accident. Someone here genuinely cares, and it shows from page one.
Selection Deep Dive
California and France split the spotlight evenly, with Burgundy running so deep you could spend three visits and not repeat a bottle. The heavy hitters are all here — Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Leroy, Domaine Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin, Domaine Leflaive Puligny-Montrachet on the French side; Screaming Eagle, Harlan Estate, Opus One, Sine Qua Non, and Kistler on the California side. It's a collector's list as much as a restaurant list, which means the ceiling is sky-high but so is the floor. If you're not deep in the weeds on either region, Ryan Torres and Matthew Montrose are the sommeliers to lean on — they can navigate you toward something genuinely exciting without making you feel like a tourist.
By the Glass
With 20 to 35 by-the-glass options, Niku punches well above the steakhouse average here. The range covers enough ground that you can drink thoughtfully from start to finish without committing to a full bottle — a real consideration when the bottle list skews toward major financial commitments. We'd push the staff to walk you through what's currently pouring; the selection at this level changes meaningfully and the difference between a good and great pour by the glass is everything.
Kistler Vineyards Chardonnay — $80
On a list where bottles routinely climb into the hundreds and thousands, Kistler Chardonnay represents the entry point worth grabbing. It's a legitimate California Chardonnay from one of the state's most consistent producers — rich, structured, and built for a table with serious food. Relative to everything else on offer here, it drinks above its price point on this particular list.
Leroy Bourgogne
Most people at Niku are eyeing the DRC or the Harlan and completely bypass the Leroy Bourgogne. That's a mistake. Village-level Leroy is still Leroy — biodynamic farming, obsessive winemaking, and a house style that makes straight Bourgogne taste like other producers' premier cru. If it's on the list and within reach, order it before someone else does.
Opus One
Opus One is a fine wine. It's also one of the most recognized and most marked-up bottles in the American restaurant system. At Niku's price tier, you're paying a significant premium for a label that's available almost everywhere. On a list with Sine Qua Non and Harlan Estate available, spending your money on Opus One is the least interesting move you can make.
Domaine Rousseau Gevrey-Chambertin + A5 Japanese Wagyu
A5 Wagyu is all about fat — intricate, buttery, intense marbling that coats every bite. Gevrey-Chambertin from Rousseau brings exactly the right counterweight: earthy depth, firm structure, and enough acidity to cut through the richness without bullying the beef. It's the kind of pairing that makes you understand why Burgundy exists.
🔥 The Bottom Line
Niku is the rare steakhouse where the wine list earns as much attention as the beef — a Best of Award of Excellence since 2022 that's clearly not just decorative. Prices are steep across the board, but if you're already dropping serious money on A5 Wagyu, the list has more than enough to make the whole evening worth it.
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