If you would have told me that the only place I'd find delicious okonomikyaki outside of Japan, and my kitchen, was in Tampa -- I would have never believed you. Chanko was incredible! I loved being able to take my time and order via their screen, absorbing the oddly New Jersey-esque diner vibe, filled with little toys and posters that made me yearn for another trip to Tokyo. The serving sizes were more than I had hoped for, the pork belly was think and after a few bites, guaranteed that there would be leftovers to enjoy. Ugh, it was ALL SO GOOD. So happy we tried this tonight and got in right before the dinner crowd so we could enjoy some quiet time to explore. Highly recommend for anyone who has eaten okonomiyaki before, or wants to try something you will not get anywhere else. read more

Chanko - Hiro Classic - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

See all

Great food. The restaurant needs a deep cleaning however, I know it's self service but it's off putting when you just feel like everything needs a good scrub. I love supporting local so I want to see this place to stick around but just feel like cleanliness needs to be addressed in the dining area read more

We went on a Friday, expecting it to be a long wait but it was easy to get right in. We love that they only do a few things but they do them very well. The ambiance is awesome too! read more

My favourite little hidden gem in tampa. i'm so glad i found this place so many years ago. they have never disappointed. i usually come here for their curry dishes but i tried their beef rice plate today and it was delicious and such a great deal with how much it comes with. they also have okonomiyaki (japanese savory pancake) which i've only tried from my friend's, but it is perfect and i'm dying to come back and order it for myself. read more

See all

I love a good Japanese meal, especially panko chicken - not too overly breaded, chicken wasn't dried out, plenty of rice. You enter and place your order at the counter and then they call it out for you to pick up to take to your table - so no real service, which is no problem, just a heads up. A solid amount of food for the price - so if you're feeling a good meal that won't break the bank, that looks like it was an old diner (love the decor by the way), this is your spot. read more

Chanko - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Craving okonomiyaki, some light research put Chanko on the short list. Located in Seminole Heights, Chanko is laid out like a diner but with flair, with anime figurines and Daruma dolls behind the counter. One orders on a tablet and then the food is brought out to the counter. On to the food. In my past experiences, okonomiyaki meant a thick pancake with cabbage and other veggies imbedded inside. The okonomiyaki at Chanko are "Hiroshima style", which I was not previously familiar with, but in this instance meant essentially a yakisoba noodle bowl with a paper-thin crepe buried at the bottom, the noodles topped with sauce, furikake, tempura flakes, and your choice of meat. I went with the pork belly and while wonderfully crispy/sweet/fatty, there were only a few slices. Outside of the limited pork belly, the other ingredients abounded and none of us came within 40% of finishing our gigantic meals. If you crave a giant mound of noodles with savory/sweet/creamy/spicy/tangy/savory toppings, this is your bet. Just don't be upset if your okonomiyaki looks more like a bathtub full of yakisoba than something you would find at IHOP. read more

Chanko - Interior - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

See all

Delicious meals, large portions. Got it to go twice now and it's been amazing both times. Super cute restaurant and unique, flavorful food. Highly recommend! read more

Chanko - Kimchi Mentai - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

See all

Super yummy food in a cute little spot. It has a diner feel mixed with some izakaya vibes. Everything we ordered was delicious. It's hard to find okonomiyaki in Florida so I was happy to see it on the menu. We also ordered chicken katsu curry over rice. Their menu is small, but everything was cooked perfectly. The portions are hefty as well; we had enough for leftovers. This place is definitely going on must return list for whenever I visit Tampa again! read more

See all

My friend recommended me this place saying the curry is good so I figured I'd give it a try! The restaurant is self service so you order on a tablet and grab your food from the pick up window. I also liked the atmosphere with fun decor and lots of natural light. We ordered the curry with chicken katsu and kimchi okonomiyaki with grilled chicken. Overall I thought the food was decent. The chicken was crispy and juicy and curry had a nice heat as I chose the hot level. It honestly tasted the same as the one I made at home though ... Oknomiyaki wasn't my favorite because I was expecting more of the pancake style which is standard. But this had noddles with veggies and chicken on top. I think it's a cute place to try and it would be nice to visit at night when it's busy to experience the fast paced diner style. But it wasn't my favorite! read more

See all

Cute spot! Japanese insulted interior I definitely felt overseas Stumbled upon this space with my friend as he was visiting in town. The menu for entree choice is small, and it made it so much more simpler for us to decide. The ginger pickles are so good. Super yummy. Will get them next time again~ The karage was nicely fried too! read more

See all

Really didn't know what to expect. I saw from others that they are a bowl place all in takeout containers, but I hadto see it to believe it. Interesting concept... Chanko reminds me of a Hawaiian "plate lunch" takeout setup. Yes, they have more Ghibli decor than a Ghibli store, but the indoor/outdoor, quantity, and takeout vibe are very Hawaiian. Their Hiroshima style okonomiyaki is even better than some of the okonomiyaki that I've had in Japan, because the noodles are toothsome and the toppings more plentiful. I can see why people love their chicken here, it's got a great charred flavor. Still, not my favorite. But, for a kiosk and takeout place, it's decent. read more

See all

This place never disappoints. I have been a regular since the original Chop Chop Shop location. They have changed the menu several times over the years, but my favorite thing, by far, is their pork belly rice bowl. They've kept most of their original sauces even though they have different names. My go to is the pork belly cooked well with Chicago Lee sauce. The ambiance at their new location is dimly lit and mostly pleasant. They have a self serve model, where you order at a kiosk, grab your own utensils, seat yourself and someone brings your food out to you. There isn't much chance to ask for anything you need aside from going to the pick up counter, but this didn't affect our overall experience at all. read more

Chanko - Pork belly rice bowl - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Recently returned from Japan, where my most memorable meal was at quite an unexpected location. Basically, what could be called a japanese fast food restaurant called CoCoICHI where they served curry dishes. I ordered their Tonkatsu Curry, and it was divine. Having eaten many Indian curries before, but nevering having had Japanese curry, it was not at all what I was expecting. I knew that when I returned to the States, I would need to find a place that served Japanese curry. Luckily, I quickly found Chanko. I ordered the Curry with Veg and Chicken Katsu as the protein. The Chicken Katsu was just okay, a little on the dry side. If it wasn't for this mistake, they would get 5 stars from me. The curry, on the other hand, was almost indiscernable from what I tasted in Japan. It was exactly what I was hoping for. Will definitely be returning for my curry fix in the future. It turned out I had actually been to this restaurant about a year or two ago, but it was a lackluster sandwich place back then. I'm glad to find this new curry place in its spot. One thing to note that some people may not like is the loud music that plays inside the restaurant, as well as the almost indiscernable loud speaker they use to call when your order is ready. If it kinda sounds like they said something that might be your name, your order is probably ready :) When I was there, I found it entertaining :) read more

Chanko - Curry with Vegg, Chicken Katsu, ITO EN Green Tea - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

See all

Where else can you order Hiroshima-style Okonomiyake in the Tampa Bay? I liked the Chop Chop Shop, but I was very excited to hear that they were evolving into Chanko. Why? Because I ai Sushi stopped serving (Osaka-styled) okonomiyake years ago, and I wanted to eat non-sushi Japanese food. They have a fast service set up going on right now. You can order online or in the restaurant from touchscreens. Then they cook up your food and put it in takeout containers. You can either dine in or take your food home. I ordered from the touchscreens, and my food was ready in less than 10 minutes. There was plenty of seating available both inside or outside. I tried the traditional okonomiyake with katsu pork. It was a huge portion, way too big for me (and I was hungry and can put away quite a bit of food). It could have fed two easily. There's a thin crepe on the bottom, followed by a layer of cabbage, then a layer of thin noodles, then the meat, and then the sauces and tempura bits. I found everything to be very tasty. The katsu was nicely crispy and kept crispy despite the heavy drenching of Kewpie and house sauce. I generally find that most places use too much sauce and that their sauces are too sweet, and that was the case at Chanko (I felt that way about Chop Chop Shop too), but the savory-ness of the rest of the food helped balance everything. Just drink plenty of water, and you'll be fine. All in all, this is a great addition to Asian foods available in Tampa in general. In addition to the Hiroshima-style okonomiyake, they also have rice plates (should be pretty familiar to most Chop Chop Shop regulars and be a good option for the less adventurous eaters) as well as curry plates. They have a handful of Asian drinks (Calpico anyone?) as well as some beers. I'll happily return. read more

Chanko - Okonomiyake, Hiroshima style - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Came here with high expectations but instead literally high failure... It's a self ordering system- I get that .. but absolutely NO service/ nor assistance. Came on a Thursday evening around 8pm. Vibe is great... Cleanliness zero. Most all the tables were / are dirty & sticky. The A/C doesn't work ... Sweat shop torture.. Food taste ? Mediocre.. if you would like to try it go ahead and try for yourself but my pictures attach speak for themselves. No thanks - bye Sad - sorry NOT sorry ... read more

See all

Chanko has replaced Chop Chop, and while it appears some food items will be very similar, some things are very, very different. Because it is a new (to me) concept, I tried the Chop-Chop Style Okonomiyaki, of which there are four different options. The Miyagi I ordered was described as a base of crepes, cabbage, leeks, bean sprouts, fried egg, okonomi sauce, kyurizuke, crushed wasabi peas, Japanese mayo, tempura crisps, furikake, and nori powder. To me, it seemed like a base of a crepe, then shredded cabbage, then noodles, then another crepe, then a fried egg, then topped with chicken, scallions and sauce. It needed a bit more sauce, but other than that it was delicious, and very filling. I've never had anything quite like it, but I would definitely order it again. A couple of notes - if you order online, make sure to order from their site directly, because food delivery services charge more for every item. The restaurant has gone with completely touch screen in-store ordering or online ordering - so place your order ahead of time, and go left when you walk in to the pick-up counter. There are still tables you can eat in at. Parking is available both south and north of the store. read more

See all

Second time coming here and was impressed with the quality of the food and good ambiance. It's a basic table service concept. Order at the kiosk and they bring your food to the counter. No complaints about the portion size. Wish they would stop serving food in plastic containers. The best sauce is the chanko spicy, it's a spicy mayo aioli with a hot chili sauce base. Impressive and different than other sauces in town. There's an Elvis booth haha supposedly where he sat over 50 years ago when this restaurant was a diner. Cool place with good Asian fusion. read more

I work right up the road and needed to kill sometime after I got off, so I decided to give Chanko a try. It's very cute, diner vibes. Watch the door as you go in, it's on the shorter side haha There's no front of house service to speak of. Just the kitchen and you order yourself on a kiosk. It makes it slightly impersonal but also no nonsense haha I ordered curry with chicken katsu. It was ready pretty quickly. They call it out at the end of the counter and all the utensils and stuff are there for you. I will definitely be back. read more

Chanko - Small Curry with Vegg and chicken katsu - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

This place popped up on one of my socials and knew I needed to check this place out. I didn't realize till I was almost there that it was located where Chop Chop was at. Got my meal to go. I got a Hiro Classic Oko, bf ordered Japanese curry with pork katsu and I got a side order of Menchi katsu. Everything was soooo delicious! Substantial portions too so definitely shareable. Will have to come back and try other plates. Come hungry! read more

See all

Got the classic bowl. Delicious! $13 but a huge portion sizes, definitely have leftovers. Classic diner thats looks better and more nostalgic at night read more

This place was amazing. The food, the music, and the ambiance couldn't have been any better. Everything was so delicious! I tried the: - tiger slaw; this was my favorite item. I should've ordered 2. - Karage; perfectly crunchy and the paired perfectly without making the outside loose it's fried texture. - side noodles had great flavor - pork belly; I wish this was way more crispy The portions were very generous and inexpensive. This is a self-service restaurant. You place your order on the kiosk right when you walk in. They have a really cool retro vibe. There's indoor and outside seating available. I highly recommend checking this place out next time you're in the Seminole heights area. read more

See all

Excellent...Japan in Tampa. Bring your date,cat ,dog,grandma!!! 101% love it and highly recommend it. Flavor... super yummy Authenticity...It's as close as u get. Cost..Fair Portions...Great Ambiance...Hip and coexist culture. read more

See all

The food and service were excellent! One thing I love about this restaurant is the creativity that goes into their food. Many restaurants lack creativity. This restaurant is spot on. I will definitely return. read more

I've ordered delivery from Chanko several times and the food is absolutely amazing! I usually get the curry with veggies add chicken katsu and it never disappoints! Today I walked in the restaurant for the first time and realized it's a self service restaurant. The vibe is amazing! Love the self service in that place! Definitely going back read more

The reviews don't lie, this place is amazing! The diner vibe is super cool and the decor was cool to look at. I got the Chicken katsu and japanese curry and both were very delicious! The workers were all very friendly. Will definitely be returning here!! read more

See all

Very cute interior and exterior, never would think a Japanese place would be so good in a 50s shell diner. The food was fine, I just with the okonomiyaki wasn't noodles. I would have preferred it more traditionally with cabbage, I found my self eating the toppings and not caring for the noodles. That being said, the chicken was great. The sauces were great. Just disappointed in the okonomiyaki as a whole. read more

Don't let the area fool you! This place is phenomenal. My cousin works nearby and told me that I should stop there while in town. They make it pretty easy to order by having multiple order screens where you can do your own orders. You can ask for help if you need it but it's pretty self explanatory. The food is fresh, delicious and the sauce is soooo good. It's one of those places you eat from and then have a taste for later. I love it! I will definitely be back whenever im in the area. 10/10 read more

Chanko is in a very old diner, over 50 years old, originally Nicko's, followed by Ayres. Having lived in Tampa for over 50 years, I actually remember this diner! Elvis actually ate here when in Tampa, and the booth has a sign where he dined. It's a very different concept here, with no servers. You place your order on one of four monitors located at the diner counter, with full color pictures of everything on the menu, and the only mode of payment is credit card. It was 'different', but I do prefer a human server to self serve. I ordered the Kimchi Mentaiko Okonomiyaki with fried squid, which I've never had, nor heard of, but reading the ingredients, I knew I would love it. It was layered with a crepe, Yakisobi noodles, cabbage, leeks, bean sprouts, fried egg, furiyaki, seaweed flakes, Tempura crisps, fried kimchi, and mentaiko mayo. The squid was fried baby squid, so was it mostly tentacle, my favorite part. The combination of the numerous ingredients was a taste explosion in my mouth with every bite! The tempura squid was crispy the entire meal. The portion was huge, and I took home over half, easy to do, because the meal is served in a to go container with a lid. My lunch friend ordered grilled chicken Japanese curry with vegetables, medium heat. The curry sauce was served separately in a pint container, and the sliced grilled chicken was over rice with a side of yellow pickled daikon. Again, a very generous serving, and he was happy enough with his meal that he would order it again, and I can say that about mine as well. In one word, delicious! read more

See all

They give you so much food for the cost and it was delicious. My favorite is the pork belly. read more

Chanko - Kimchi Mentaiko - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Where to begin...well we have been frequenting Steve and Olivia's establishments since Chop Chop Shop started in Seminole Heights. Now Chanko- our loyalty has never waivered and neither has the quality of their food. By far Chanko is one of the most consistent restaurants in Seminole Heights. The flavors are fabulous- and fulfilling. Being a creature of habit I always go for the Karaage Rice and my husband loves the pork belly rice - both with egg! Their sauces are out of this world too. Like- amazingly tasty. We opt for the Chanko sauce and the Bangkok (spicy) - both are our faves! Love love love it! The Beef rice is amazing too! Katsu is amazing- Shrimp rice is too! The slaw and pickles are always spot on and add great flavor to whatever you have. You really cannot go wrong with Chanko- there is an enormous amount of love and crafted flavors in their menu. Steve Sera is a force to be reckoned with in Tampa's culinary scene and his commitment to quality is 5 stars itself. If you haven't tried Chanko- what are you waiting for???? read more

This place is so unassuming. It's located in a classic diner turned into a Japanese haven. You walk in and there are touch screens to order on. It's straightforward and easy. The menu ordering offers photos of what you are getting and there is a list of sauces to add on. You pay with your card, put a name and you are on your journey to some amazing food. When it's ready, your order is called and you grab it from the end of the counter. There you will find utensils and cups (& saki shot cups). I got the grilled chicken curry and it was amazing. I poured some of the curry broth/sauce over my entree. Wow. The Japanese pickle yellow things are unlike I've ever had before. My kids got a rice plate and didn't want their slaw...I dumped that on top for some extra crunch. This place is seriously good. There is a large assortment of sakis and Japanese style sodas for sale, as well as some beers. We had a Yuzu saki and it was very yummy. It went well to cleanse my palate between bites of deliciousness. We went with our family (13 of us) in the afternoon and we found tables pretty easily together. This place is a gem in Seminole Heights! read more

Chanko - Ordering counter - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Pretty good spot. Real unique. The old diner ambiance really makes it feel like how it's always been. Real Tampa type place. The service isn't really present. It's automated. Not necessarily a bad thing but you really have to know what you are getting. Food is unique. Not your average Asian place. Excellent Japanese cuisine. read more

Last weekend, we decided to check out Chanko for their Japanese curry. The curry was very good, the experience left a bit to be desired. We arrived around noon Sunday to grab lunch. We both had never been and had heard good things about the Japanese curry. The automated ordering system was unique. We entered our order and when we went to send it, it disconnected and failed. We retried a few times and it continued to disconnect. There is a service button, which we pressed, but nothing happened. The guys in the back looked at us, but did not come out to assist. We moved over to the next ordering station and reentered our order. This time it worked. We both went with curry w/veg and katsu chicken. I went with spicy and added an egg. I also ordered a fountain drink. We sat down and waited for our food. There were two other tables in the restaurant, so it wasn't busy. One of the cooks came out and called my name and handed me a cup that was already sitting on the counter. Seemed odd as I could have grabbed it easily. I grabbed my drink and he called our name for food shortly after. The order was served in togo containers even though it was to be eaten in the restaurant. This may be for efficiency, but it doesn't highlight the food well. The katsu chicken is steaming with the rice losing its desired crispiness. The egg was fried hard and buried under the chicken. A runny yolk would be a nice option or even a poached egg. The curry itself was very good. It was rich, slightly sweet, and had great depth of flavor. The katsu chicken was good and complimented the curry well. I enjoy the pickled veggies as well. Overall, I enjoyed the food but not the experience. I would order the curry again for take out, but wouldn't eat at the restaurant. The concept is unique, but we just didn't really enjoy it. read more

Such a wonderful surprise! Everything was flavorful, hot, and delicious. Loved the ordering on screens and contactless service. Staff were quick and clean. read more

Great, unique food in an old school diner atmosphere. Generous portions. Would go again. read more

See all

Delicious food, great Katsu chicken with spicy sauce, the ordering process seem less and fast, and the environment and music is original. I will try Japanese curry next time.Chicken Katsu read more

Chanko - Northeastern looking dinner - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Let me start off by saying the vibes here are nothing short of perfect. Old school diner layout, killer Japanese playlist with a ton of songs from anime outros, moody vibrant lighting and a ton of awesome decor. Ordering is made super easy with these big touch screens on the counter where you first walk in. If you need any help, there are printed descriptions and definitions by the kiosk and a service button should you want to speak to a person. Everything looked so delicious, it was hard not yo add it all to cart! We ordered the karaage, chicken Katsu miyagi okonomiyaki, and chicken Katsu curry. Got these fun canned peach jelly sparkling sake, watermelon soda and yuzu soda to drink. The food... the FOOD! Smelled incredible when we opened the containers. Tasted amazing and the portions were so big. Their signature, the okonomiyaki we ordered was layers of crepe, yakisoba noodles, cabbage, leeks, bean sprouts, egg, furikake, seaweed, tempura crisps, Japanese pickles, wasabi peas topped with chicken Katsu and Japanese mayo. It was incredible delicious, so filling abd the portion was HUGE. Everything comes in plastic lidded containers, perfect to take home all the leftovers there were. The karaage was delightfully crunchy, juicy and flavorful. And a lot of pieces in the order. The chicken Katsu was crispy and paired perfectly with the curry, veg and rice. One of my favorite foods, some of the best I've had. Can't wait to eat leftovers today! read more

See all

Tried a bit of everything and the food was 10/10. Definitely more of a take out spot because you will leave smelling like food if you stay and eat inside. The prices were amazing for the amount of food you get and the Chanko sauce was also a must! read more

See all

Omg, I visited just yesterday and I have really bad allergies...I'm allergic to a lot and they have where you can select what you're allergic to...this is 1 of my biggest scares when going out to eat is them takin my allergies seriously bc mine are life and death some of them and I REALLYYYYYY APPRECIATE THIS ‼‼‼‼‼‼ Thank you all so much and THE FOOD IS AMAZINGGGGG WE ARE DEFINITELY COMING BACK THANK YOUUUUUUUU read more

Cool place with Japanese decorations. I believe used to be a dinner and turn into japanese curry/okonomiyaki restaurant. Ordered tofu curry and taste japanese curry flavor with spice that will stay in your mouth. Also pork belly which is also so good. The self serve order, cashless in my opinion will be the future in restaurants business, make them cook good food and let customers judge it. Portion wise is pretty good. Drink selection from sake and sangria is enough for this space. You have to try it ! read more

See all