We stopped by on our way to see some friends in the mission and wanted something warm. Luckily we found Cha-Ya and was very pleased with that decision. It was a Friday night and we didn't have trouble getting a table. The service was great and super fast. It felt like you were just at your friend's house growing up. The food itself was AMAZING, and without the SF price explosion too! We started with the Vegetable Tempura and the Spicy Eggplant rolls both which were very tasty and unique. We also ordered two bowls, both with the Udon noodles and they were phenomenal. Delicious but delicate broths, loaded with noodles, veggies and tofu. read more

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Outstanding vegetarian (vegan) Japanese food. This restaurant has consistently good food & variety. Our usual order includes miso soup, agedashi tofu, fried tempura sushi roll, and one other sushi roll. The service is great. The restaurant is simple inside but with comfortable seating. Parking is difficult in the Mission District. read more

I came here recently with a vegan friend who was visiting. She loved everything we had and appreciated the variety of options! As a non-vegan, I also really loved all the food I tried. It was extremely flavorful and well cooked. We stuck mostly to the happy hour menu but I'd love to try more of their dishes. Service was quick and the interior was very cute. read more

Cha-Ya San Francisco - Agedashi Tofu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Everything from the Happy Hour menu is incredibly tasty and 100% vegan. I appreciate the beautiful aesthetic presentation of each dish. A lot of thoughtfulness and love goes into all the details. The remarkable staff is kind, welcoming, and efficient. Located in a pleasant neighborhood, the restaurant is peaceful and clean. The simple, charming decor offers a sense of homey spaciousness. One of the very best restaurants in California. read more

We came here on a Wednesday evening around 6:30pm and we were seated right away. The place was decently busy for a Wednesday evening. The place is also very cute with nice decor. I ordered the Takusui which is a hotpot. I didn't think the food was anything special, just a regular hotpot dish you could make at home. Service was great! read more

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Went here on a Wednesday at 5:00 for dinner. The restaurant was pretty empty when we first got there but full by the end. Good atmosphere and the servers were very nice. The food came out quickly and was piping hot. The price of the happy hour is also great. I got the three dishes for myself and ended up being too full to finish everything. The food was good. Nice and comforting. I did feel like it could have a bit more flavor overall and nothing was a stand out to me. Definitely worth it for the happy hour price though. read more

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As a vegetarian, I was very excited to try a restaurant dedicated to vegetarian Japanese food! Visited Cha-ya on a Sunday around 7pm as a group of 5 without a reservation. Was able to get seated quickly but the tables were close together, making it feel a little cramped. Our waitress highly recommended the spicy eggplant roll so we got that to share and then we each got the vege-tofu curry. We asked if we could take our food to go, and the restaurant graciously accommodated. Spicy eggplant roll (3.5/5): Flavor wise, it was pretty good although very simple! Not very spicy either. I don't think it's worth $12 for this. There are only 6 pieces and $2 for a little bit of eggplant and rice seems rather expensive. Vege-tofu curry (3/5): The udon noodles were overcooked and somewhat mushy. The broth had a subtle curry flavor to it, but could have used more seasoning/salt so we ended up adding soy sauce and sriracha and that definitely helped. I liked the vegetables (cauliflower, mushroom, broccoli, etc.) - they tasted very fresh. Overall, the meal felt clean and healthy and the service was good, however, I probably wouldn't return to Cha-ya as the flavors and value didn't quite match the price. read more

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Cha-ya is a solid choice for vegetarian and vegan dining, with plenty of creative sushi options. The curry noodle soup was the standout for me--rich, flavorful, and perfect for a simple weeknight meal. read more

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rainy night in sf healed by the warmth of a homemade broth of a savory soup of a silent room filled with dear friends and a lovely front of house and strangers with peculiar stories passing in and out. read more

Cha-Ya San Francisco - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Cha-Ya is my favorite regular vegan spot in SF. Their happy hour menu is such a great deal and allows for a nice sampling of food without having to over order. We love the kitsune udon (especially on cold days), the sushi rolls, the broccoli, and the gyoza. So delicious and fresh! The service is always kind and quick and the restaurant is so cozy. Love it here! read more

Cha-Ya San Francisco - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

So happy to find this place. Happy Hour was great, 5-6pm. Our favorite was the eggplant roll. The Cha-Ya roll was also very good if you prefer a fried tempura roll. Staff was very kind, accommodating, and helpful. read more

Cha-Ya San Francisco - 3x Happy Hour Meals, Eggplant Roll, and Miso Soup. - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a cozy Japanese restaurant with a vegetarian Japanese menu. The assortment of vegetables in the sukiyaki was delicious and visually appealing! My husband enjoyed the broth in the soba noodles with mountain vegetables. Highly recommend the vegetable tempura as it comes piping hot to your table and all the vegetables are fresh and crisp. The service was great as well. We tried a sake pairing and the waitress was nice enough to also recommend another dry sake for us to try. read more

Cha-Ya San Francisco - Sukiyaki - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

delightful food & such a cute spot! wandered in on a saturday afternoon and immediately got a table + hh menu. we did a hh combo with chaya roll, gyoza, and agedashi tofu. the gyoza were well seasoned but tasted clean & simple (a theme here). i completely forgot Cha Ya was vegetarian because the gyoza tasted like they had pork or some other meat! The agedashi tofu was good but not great-- I personally like a chewier crust/skin and a milder sauce. the bottom sauce was a bit salty for my taste. The Cha Ya roll was also good-- it's a warm sushi roll, more like a tempura rice roll than sushi? Delicious in its own right, but the rice was a little mushed for my liking. i LOVED the veggie medley udon. it was just what i was hoping for-- something warm, savory, clean, and comforting. the broth was rich with flavor but not heavy at all, and the veggies were all perfect in the soup. the udon was a slightly thinner and softer noodle which I still enjoyed. we did get rushed a bit to leave as I think they were closing before dinner, but overall, I'll definitely be going again. read more

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The food here is good and simple. A nice option if you want something delicious and filling but doesn't give you the meat sweats. The service is excellent. The space is just cramped but it's SF, what do you expect? Most places are cramped. Parking sucks but you already know that. read more

Just go there! 3 items for the happy hour for $20. A REALLY nice sake for $6. A wonderful vibe and DELICIOUS food. Sweet as anyone folks work there. I've been going for years and never had a miss. My favorite used to be the Cha-Ya bowl but tonight it was the Cha-Ya roll. Going back again soon. read more

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Came here on a Saturday, it was decently busy. Ordered from the happy hour menu, which is 3 items for $20. Got the cha-ya roll, agedashi tofu, and gyoza. Would pass on the tofu and cha-ya roll if I came again, but the gyoza was good. The tofu was too firm, and lacked flavor. The cha-ya roll tasted fried & sweet. Also ordered the kobucha roll and it was pretty fried, didn't have a lot of flavor except for the sweet sauce on top. read more

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Pros: delicious, clean, healthy, happy hour menu What a wonderful and unique spot to grab lunch or dinner. The food is clean, simple, and delicious. The service is attentive as the restaurant is run by a Japanese (NOT Chinese, Korean, etc) family that clearly cares a lot about the food, service and atmosphere that they create. The broth for their udon/soba is very clean and perfect on a cold day. Very generous happy hour menu as well. Valencia is still recovering from Covid and I really hope Cha-Ya continues to be a presence. For those of you who are skeptical of vegan Japanese food, you should definitely give it a try! read more

Love this authentic, cute & small establishment. The food is fresh and different from other Japanese restaurants.love the vegan vibes and the kind hearted service. Although slow they are nice people. Always disliked the chairs in there but like that corner booth. I usually dine in at this small mission staple. 4/5 Food 4/5 Service 3.5/5 Ambiance read more

Everything we had was soooo good, truly really amazing and fully vegan food. Everything tasted very flavorful, hearty, and you knew it was all so good for you while eating it. The women the run the shop are the sweetest ever. It's really rare to find such affordable, tasty, and healthy food all in one. 10/10! read more

Cha-Ya San Francisco - Soba Salad - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place offers Shojin Ryori which is a strict Buddhist monk diets. There are ample of offerings and also hard to find vegetarian sushi rolls such as kanpyo maki, natto maki and yamagobo pickles maki. It was super nice to speak Japanese with the owner who is petite and adorable. The service was excellent. You can order to share your meals. Clean restroom (this is usually where I check to offer my opinion of any eating establishment). The ambiance is very relaxing and very pleasant. I would love to go back again for another great meal. read more

A great place for vegetarian Japanese cuisine! Shizen is another well known spot but they only focus on (amazing) sushi. Cha-ya has sushi too, and many more options including soups, salads, and noodles. I ordered the kinoko miso soup and the lunch special (in particular the cha ya specialty sushi roll, agedashi tofu, and miso soup). The kinoko moso soup was full of umami with 3 or 4 different types of mushrooms including portobello. The agedashi tofu was nicely crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. The cha ya roll wasn't as flavorful as I had hoped, so for vegetarian sushi I prefer Au Sushi or Shizen. But next time I'll try some more rolls at Cha-ya as the rest of the food was good! The service was excellent and the ambiance is nice and cozy. The prices are also reasonable for downtown sf - the lunch special for example was ~$15 but had a good amount of food. read more

Cha-Ya San Francisco - agedashi tofu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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there's happy hours menu for $20 which has three items. really economic and authentic and I would totally recommend.

The ambiance was incredible -- so peaceful and cozy. The service was great as well and the food was delicious! Be warned that the food is very wholesome, and thus not incredibly savory or unique. Just delicious simple flavors. My only qualm was with the high price. $20 for a very modest bowl of soup. I suppose that's standard for vegan food in SF, though. Allergen friendly! read more

Cha ya was our first stop after giving birth to our daughter. The food is so healing and nutritious that I could feel my insides realigning as I ate. The service is great and fast. It feels like you're coming into a family's home for a filling and delicious meal! It was busy but still easy to get a table and feel well attended to. Our newborn loved the chatter of many happy diners at adjacent tables! read more

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Cha-Ya was such a lovely experience! The staff were super friendly and nice and the food was solid. I'm not vegetarian but I still found the food enjoyable to eat. I really appreciated how there was a great balance of flavors between each of the individual ingredients. My group got the: soba salad, vegetable curry with udon, spicy egg plant roll, cha-ya roll, and the agedashi tofu. Out of the things we ordered my favorites were the spicy egg plant and the agedashi tofu. The spicy egg plant roll was packed with flavor and a kick and was really enjoyable to eat. The agedashi tofu gave quite a bit of tofu and was so yummy. Next time when I come back I want to try more rolls as that's what I really enjoyed. read more

Cha-Ya San Francisco - Agedashi Tofu, Soba Salad, Spicy Eggplant Roll, Vege - Tofu Curry w/ udon - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Love this place! I have been coming for years, and the quality and taste is always great. The staff is also great and I would highly recommend for vegans, vegetarians, or for those looking to eat vegan! Thai soups are especially tasty. read more

I have been here so many times.. Food are fresh, feel like home food and healthy Inspiration read more

Came by for dinner the other night and it was a tasty experience. Cha-Ya is located in the Mission. Parking is available on the street or in city-owned SFMTA lots. There are also a couple BART stations a few blocks away. Cha-Ya seems like a homey vegetarian Japanese restaurant. Cash is preferred and credit cards are accepted. There are no SF mandate surcharges. Started off with the gyoza which came with a side of edaname. The vegetarian gyozas were decent, albeit a touch pricey at $11. Moved on to the agedashi tofu which was mediocre. The breading was a touch thick and the soy sauce was a touch off. The Cha-Ya roll was decent, although I'm unsure how a vegetarian roll is $17... Had the tempura udon as a main course and it was decent. The udon was on the soggy side and came with a couple slices of seaweed and green onion. The vegetable tempuras were different as the tempura batter was a touch on the thick side. Ended off the meal with a couple mochis, red bean and soy bean, both came out warm. Service throughout the evening was very hospitable. ~$65/head after tax and gratuity for dinner. read more

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We visited on a Sunday afternoon. Ordered miso soup, brown rice bowl and cha-ya sushi rolls. Our total was something like 45$. For the price that we paid, the portions are very small and I wasn't full. The service was good however they should increase their food quantity a bit. Food was also testing ok. Ambiance was good. read more

Nice place for veg Japanese food. We tried the vegetable tempura appetizer, cha-ya roll, kabocha pumpkin roll, and veg tofu curry with udon noodles. The rolls were delicious and had house made sauces on them. The curry had a light flavorful broth. Unfortunately, the noodles were a little overcooked as when we tried to pick them up they would break between our chopsticks. The vegetable tempura was tasty and had a nice assortment of vegetables. Should note that our veg tempura appetizer came at the end of our meal and only after we reminded the waitress. Not sure if it's a one off or something that happens regularly. Aside from that the services was fine. Not a bad place overall. read more

Updated review: Agedashi tofu: 5/5 so flavorful, loved it with some sprinkled togarashi on it Kinoko Mushroom medley soup w/ soba noodles: 4/5 flavor was great and they added so many mushrooms but the soba noodles were a bit soft, not sure if it's because the broth is super hot but overall really tasty Cha-ya roll was good, I love the glaze 3.5/5 but also not wow amazing. They way they fry it tho makes it just the right amount of crispy, not overly fried or oily at all. I just feel like for $17 it could have a little more to it. Staff is super friendly and the place is very clean!! read more

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Was really impressed to see an all vegetarian/vegan Japanse restaurant anywhere. It was my first time and they were running a $20.00 special that was just what I was looking for. Very fresh and high quality ingredients sets this sushi apart. Very good service, a rather large selection and reasonable prices leave little not to like about this restaurant. If you like Japanese cuisine but aren't a fan of seafood or seafood smells, etc. then this is going to feel like finding a long lost friend. All the rolls that I had were tasty. Service was very competent and if you ask for a suggestion they will try to lead you in the right direction. Stop by... read more

Great food (not overly salted), clean and open but not loud ambiance, slow service, nightmarish parking

Second time going last week, and it's one of the best places for rainy day dinners in SF. Also love that it's all vegan! My friend and I ordered the Full Moon Sushi Plate (comes with vegan sushi, inari, and kappa roll) and Tofu-Vege Curry Soup Noodle with soba noodles. The vegan roll was really packed with veggies (never had broccolini in sushi), but it was larger roll (had to eat in two bites). KBoth the inari and kappa roll were standard but tasty and well made. The Tofu-Vege soup was great for the cold day, packed with veggies in a salty broth with curry powder flavor. We also got the sake flight - beware, as the unfiltered one is verryyy strong. Service was also so fast and friendly, and they communicated often to make sure we ordered before the kitchen closed. 4.25/5 this time because what I ordered was very good but not AMAZING like my first time. Also hate that SF has generally great food that made me have to be so much stricter with 5/5 Buttt love this place and hope to keep coming to find my 5/5 dishes. read more

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On a cold, gloomy Sunday afternoon in SF, my girlfriend and I were looking for something to warm us up and pick us up a little bit. We were walking around this Mission when we saw Cha-Ya across the street. My girlfriend is Vegetarian, so we figured it would be a good time to get some noodles + soup and see what Vegetarian Sushi is about. I have to say - I was very pleasantly surprised. The shop itself is very quaint, with indoor and outdoor seating, and the staff is very friendly as well. For our meal, we split a Spicy Eggplant Roll and Inari. We also each got a noodle soup - my girlfriend got the Curry Udon and I got the Kitsune Udon. The Inari was made very well and the eggplant roll was a surprise highlight. I wasn't sure what to expect with vegetarian sushi but we were not disappointed The noodle soups were also both great - very warm and hearty and good portion sizes too. Would highly recommend anyone, vegetarian or not, to give this place a shot. Definitely worth a visit. 4/5 read more

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My friend took me here. and people here were so kind and accommodating. We even got a free desert at the end. The grandma here was so nice. But the food, to be honest, was not that impressive. The only sushi I liked was the eggplant ones. The other two had similar pickled vegetables in them, and that tastes like a type of Chinese mustard vegetable. They do not worth $26 to my opinion. But I might come back and try other things. Maybe I will change my opinion about his popular place. read more

Cha-Ya San Francisco - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I've had some perception from the past reviews that you may have to sacrifice the taste in order to be vegan. It's not the case here but Cha-Ya is actually a delicious option for the vegans or whoever wants to have vegan food. The spicy eggplant is new and highly recommended. Crispy inside, soft outside. The miso soup with the mushroom are so yummy, definitely a successful fusion. The gyoza with its thin skin and juicy filling is also a winner comparing to those in normal Japanese restaurants. The services are not bad. Five star vegan restaurant! read more

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Simply amazing Food, service and atmosphere are always great! Been there many times and never had a bad experience. it's pretty much one of the best restaurants ! read more

Cha-Ya was an amazing experience incorporating heart healthy Japanese cuisine that happens to be vegan. It goes back to its plant based roots with fresh ingredients and amazing flavors. I came upon this by accident as another vegan shop in the Mission was closed the day I visited. I'm glad I passed by Cha-Ya for lunch as it really took me back to my days living in Japan, and gave me hope that returning one day as a plant-based herbivore won't be as challenging as I thought. I started with their Goma-ae with Broccoli Florets ($6) which was a fantastic, light appetizer. Who doesn't love steamed broccoli with a sesame-tahini dressing to go on top? Our mains included their Cha-Ya Sukiyaki Nabe ($18) which was a medley of vegetables, tofu, and glass noodles in a sweet-savory broth very reminiscent of the former meat sukiyakis that I had consumed. The presentation was gorgeous, the flavors from the vegetables infused with the broth was a delight, and it made for a very satisfying meal. We also ordered their Sansai Soup Noodle ($15) not realizing we already had noodles in the sukiyaki. It wasn't bad but was too similar to the sukiyaki for it to stand on its own. If I were to go back, I would've ordered a Zaru Soba or something similar. They have a few outdoor tables available for seating which is perfect on a nice day. If you wish to dine indoors, you must show proof of vaccination and a photo ID. Thank you Cha-Ya for your incredible dishes and focus on healthy, fresh ingredients that just happen to be vegan. read more

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Came on a slightly chilly day, not too busy (~6PM) and right off the bat, the customer service was not good. We approached the front door, multiple workers looking at us but no one approaching us until we asked if there was a wait. We were able to grab a table outside and then had to wait for almost 15 mins or more to even be approached. When I stood up to ask if we were expected to order online via the QR code or if someone was taking our order (since it wasn't specified) the lady just looked around and said she could "go ahead and just do it"... 1 star for the service. The food now I must say was pretty good! We ordered some edamame (regular) and 2 rolls (of which I cannot remember exactly) but they were both delicious. One was fried, the other was fresh, definitely would be up to try their other rolls! The soup we got was their miso option with soba noodles and veggies and that too was yummy and pretty filling. For a colder day in the city, it was the right meal. Overall, we were not too happy with the customer service (as were others waiting around and confused with the process), but the food was what made this place okay and got my overall rating of a 3.5 stars. read more

Cha-Ya San Francisco - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California