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    Chonmage Japanese Restaurant

    4.2 (263 reviews)
    Open 11:30 am - 3:00 pm, 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM

    Order Chonmage Japanese Restaurant Takeout or Delivery

    Chonmage Japanese Restaurant Photos

    CHONMAGE JAPANESE RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Chonmage Japanese Restaurant

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    Order was incorrect, and staff declined to correct it, responding defensively and questioning what the item should look like online. We checked together and found the Tempura Don Bowl had been removed from the website, to which he responded that "the internet must be acting strange," without offering a resolution. Photos attached for reference. The tempura was poorly prepared - greasy, limp, and lacking crispness. Overall, disappointing service and food quality.

    Esmeralda R.

    I was feeling a bit under the weather and was craving some ramen. I was not disappointed! This ramen was so flavorful and actually spicy. For me it had the perfect amount of toppings but you can also add extra for a price. The broth was the star of the show for me it was rich in flavor and the perfect spice level. The service was nice and there was plenty of indoor or outdoor seating. This place was clean and well kept.

    Entrance
    Jeff S.

    The food here is incredible. So flavorful and the presentation is awesome. I've never had such flavorful Japanese food. It's almost a fusion with Southeast Asian flavors which when put together an amazing combination. They're always creating new Ramen bowls here and they seem to get better every time. I recommend the Tom Yum Ramen and the Tokyo Tan Tan Ramen. Even the traditional miso ramen is amazing with pork belly that melts in your mouth. Ambiance was warm and comfortable, with traditional Japanese vibe. Service was excellent and friendly. Service was fast enough to grab a great raman lunch, but comfortable as a night Ramen spot. I highly recommend!

    Spicy tonkutsy ramen

    My favourite place and best ramen in the Marin County! Highly recommended! Thank you for the great service!

    New menu Rice Plates and veggies
    Sean B.

    Great new Menu at Chonmage Ramen. Wide and approachable. Congrats to the new owner for starting there. The food was delicious and reasonable as always. Cudos to the chef, and based on the new experience, I recommend giving these guys a new look for a "locals" type noodles and tempura joint. I particularly like the ala cart tempura menu! Bravo!

    Pork Katsu curry with miso
    C. Henry G.

    Solid Japanese option in downtown San Rafael. Good curry and other Japanese staples. Attentive staff, friendly.

    Shrimp Tempura Udon Edamame Spicy Miso Ramen
    Angelica O.

    My friend loves coming here and told me about it, so we came and the location is tricky since it's next to a cold stone. So you want to eat here and then get dessert there. Ok, you walk in and order then they walk you to a table. I always get edamame, udon noodles with tempura shrimp. My friend gets mango sticky rice, spicy noodles and a Thai tea. The staff is so friendly and they treat and talk to my friend as if they have been friends for such a long time. It's such a cute and comfy place. Always our go to

    Bento box with chicken karage and vegetables tempura
    Belle J.

    Great little spot in downtown San Rafael. It's my first time here and I must say I am very impressed! I got a spicy miso ramen and my husband got a bento box with vegetable tempura and chicken karagee. The ramen was SO GOOD! I have not had ramen that spicy in a long time because most places tend to not make it spicy in case customers can't handle it and return. So I must say if you can't handle the spice, try something else or ask for it to be mild because it was spicy (I am Thai and can handle spicy food) for me and I loved it!! My husband's bento was huge! However, the vegetables tempura could use a bit more flavor. Other than that, everything was so good. All the staff were so nice and friendly. We ordered at the front desk and they serve it at your table. Usually these places will not bother to check in with you after they bring you the food but someone checked on us to make sure everything was good and that was really nice! So I highly recommend this place if you have not tried it yet! The location is a bit hard to see from the street but it's about two stores down from Cold Stone.

    The space
    Hieu P.

    The food is good. I like the atmosphere in their restaurant, small but very cozy and Japanese. The receptionist is very friendly and support me for my first time here

    Tempura Ramen
    Malu D.

    I had an enjoyable and delicious lunch at Chonmage today. My craving for Ramen directed me to this secret gem and I was truly delighted and pleasantly surprised! I had a simple Shrimp Tempura Ramen which absolutely satisfied my tummy! It was just how I hoped it would be! Apart from their tasty food, the staff at Chonmage are as sweet and as friendly as can be. I will definitely be back. They might have made a regular out of me!

    The spicy wagyu ramen
    Christina M.

    After hiking Dipsea Trail, we were looking for some comfort food to heal our aching body. lol This place hit the spot. We all ordered ramen- the spicy wagyu and the black garlic. All was delish! We also ordered some calamari and takoyaki for appetizers. Delish!!! We were so hungry the only pix I took was the spicy wagyu ramen!! If you are in the area, stop on by, you won't be disappointed!

    Spicy Miso Ramen
    Eric L.

    Chonmage has been a steady performer on my lunch rotation. Service is always very friendly, and food quality is very consistent. I've become a fan of the spicy miso ramen at Chonmage. I'd prefer my yolks to be a bit runnier with the eggs they give, but it's still nice. Be careful with you slurp the broth, if you're clumsy like me that spicy broth can give you a coughing fit. The perils of delicious broth. Worth it even I mess this up every time!

    Rib Ramen
    Adrineh g.

    Our go to Ramen spot! Always fantastic Ramen with aromatic broth, perfectly cooked homemade noodles, and the proteins are seasoned to perfection. The service is friendly and we always feel welcomed at this family owned restaurant. Plenty of outdoor and indoor seating for a small place. We are never disappointed, can't wait to go back! A true gem in Marin!

    Chicken Katsu Curry

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    Yuthana S.

    Thank you so much for your great review and will see you again

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    Yuthana S.

    Thank you so much Eric for good reviews to us we hope to see again

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    11 months ago

    Fantastic food great service very helpful staff. Highly recommend. The ramen soup is amazing

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    Yuthana S.

    Thank you so much for very good reviews to us we hope to see you again

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    1 year ago

    My first time. The service was exceptional and the fyi-don bowl was delicious. I'll be back soon. Thank you.

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    Thank you so much Sara for good reviews we hope to see you again

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    Yuthana S.

    Thank you so much Monica for your great review hope will see you again

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    4 months ago

    incredible food at a very reasonable price, the service was excellent and and the playlist was fire

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    Yuthana S.

    Thank you so much John for good reviews hope to see you again

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    Thank you so much Bianca for good reviews will see you again

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    Thank you so much Zoe for good reviews to us

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    1 year ago

    I love Ramen and this place is epic! Small and cozy ambiance. Great service. Tasty ramen. Check out their chef specials - amazing!!!

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    2 years ago

    Food is always delicious and the staff is always nice. This is my ramen go to in Marin as it is hard to find diverse food options.

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    Yuthana S.

    Thank you so much Zachary for your great review

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    Page 1 of 7

    Ask the Community - Chonmage Japanese Restaurant

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    Curry Hyuga

    Curry Hyuga

    4.6
    (1.1k reviews)
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    Today first time here, I was very impressed. The food was great and atmosphere was comfortable and…read morethe best part was young servers was incredibly friendly, always smiling, attentive, made us feel very welcome and took great care of us throughout the meal. Excellent customer service and a wonderful dining experience.Highly recommend!

    There is a reason Curry Hyuga was named one of Yelp's Top 100 Restaurants in the United States. It…read moreis one of those rare places that completely lives up to the hype. If you plan on visiting during the weekend, expect a wait. The line can get pretty long, but after eating here multiple times, I can confidently say it is worth every minute. Some restaurants are all hype, but Curry Hyuga earns every bit of the praise it receives. The katsu is consistently excellent. Whether you order the chicken or the pork, the breading is always perfectly crisp while the meat stays incredibly juicy and tender. That level of consistency is something I really appreciate because every visit has been just as good as the last. The curry is what keeps me coming back. It is rich, comforting, and packed with layers of flavor. Every bite has a depth and complexity that makes it stand out from your typical Japanese curry. It is the kind of meal that leaves you thinking about it long after you have finished. One thing I also really enjoy is the atmosphere. The restaurant strikes a great balance between being lively and comfortable. There is enough energy in the room that it feels welcoming and full of life, but it is still quiet enough to have an easy conversation without having to raise your voice. I often find myself stopping in for a solo meal when I am in the area, and it is the perfect place to enjoy a peaceful lunch or dinner by myself. At the same time, it works just as well when I bring friends and family. It is one of those rare restaurants that feels right no matter who you are dining with. The staff has also been nothing but friendly and welcoming every time I have visited. Even when the restaurant is packed, they stay attentive and keep things moving with a smile. If you have been debating whether to wait in line, take this as your sign. Curry Hyuga earned its place among the Top 100 Restaurants in the country for a reason, and it continues to prove why with every visit. I will happily keep coming back.

    Photos
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    Inside
    Menchi Katsu (Pork) Curry:
    Menchi Katsu (Pork) Curry:
    Assorted Chili Powders チリパウダー盛り合わせ

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    Assorted Chili Powders チリパウダー盛り合わせ
    Nippon Curry San Francisco

    Nippon Curry San Francisco

    4.5
    (463 reviews)
    12.9 mi
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    Dining out during these inflationary times ain't easy, especially in San Francisco! Thankfully…read moreNippon Curry offers a hearty, tasty, and hot meal for under $20...WOW! Ambience is non-descript, soulless, artless, modern, and clean. Service was efficient and robotic, I think the AI-Robots at Google Gemini and Grok have more personality. All good... $17 Tonkatsu Curry...the plate was huge! A thick, wide, juicy, tender, pork cutlet with that signature Japanese crispy crunchy batter embracing each other like a romantic couple on their 3rd date. The lovely fragrant hot, rich, mild brown curry sauce covers it all. Underneath it all is generous mound of steaming hot white rice. +3 Steamed Vegetables...get your vitamins and fiber, and let your bowel movements flow smoothly like Willy Wonka's chocolate waterfalls. The fresh veggies blend in nicely with all that flavorful curry sauce.

    Heard really great things about Nippon Curry but ended up feeling meh about it, especially since we…read moredrove here from San Jose. I think it's because I've had better in the South Bay. I do see that the curry is prepared different from other curry restaurants and the curry itself is actually very good. Rice to curry ratio is like 80% rice, 20% curry. CHICKEN KATSU CURRY (3.5/5) - chicken is super thin and I wish there was more. EBI FRY CURRY (4/5) - decent, crispy ebi. I actually enjoyed the panko breading and it went well with the curry. Overall, nice casual spot. I can see why it's popular with locals but I wouldn't go out of my way for this place especially with the likes of Curry Hyuga.

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    Organized
    Organized
    Pork Katsu Curry
    Pork Katsu Curry
    Very clean- and very almost closed!

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    Very clean- and very almost closed!
    Demiya

    Demiya

    4.2
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    37.4 mi
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    This place is quite literally hidden LOL. It actually took me a second to find it because of its…read morelocation, however once I found it, the interior was so nice and modern. When you enter, someone will seat you and then you order everything through a QR code that's on the table. Once you're ready to check out at the end, you can pay through your phone. It's super easy and convenient to be honest. I was really craving Japanese curry and my favorite place is Coco Ichibanya in southern california and although this place is not as good as my favorite place, it was still pretty good and hit the spot for my craving. I got the chicken karaage curry and added vegetables and an egg to it. I was sad they didn't have a Japanese omelette style egg but this fried egg still hit the spot. I believe I got spicy level 2, but it was not spicy at all for me. I do love spice though so I may not be a reliable source for spice levels... I will be getting a spicier level the next time I go though. If you're craving Japanese curry, check this spot out!!! It won't disappoint :)

    Do you like eating SHARP MELTED PLASTIC SHARDS in your food? Are you looking to tear holes in your…read moregastrointestinal tract? Then you have found the perfect place! After we came home with our to-go order, we first noticed that the lid was broken (melted). Then we noticed that we were eating large amounts of plastic shards! On going back to the restaurant we were actually denied a refund because "the owner is not here". Hopefully this place gets shut down for the safety of the community! Sharp plastic shards can cause choking, internal lacerations, and dental damage!

    Photos
    Order at counter
    Order at counter
    Curry Udon Noodle Soup (Chicken Katsu)
    Curry Udon Noodle Soup (Chicken Katsu)
    Chicken Katsu with brown sauce

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    Chicken Katsu with brown sauce
    Oni Kuma

    Oni Kuma

    3.9
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    4.9 mi
    Family-owned & operated
    Free parking

    Came here for a date night. It has casual hole in the wall vibes. We sat outside the night was…read moreperfect. I ordered the angry edamame, Brussels kushiyaki, and tempura veggie roll. My husband ordered the Hirame Carpacccio, Salmon lemon roll and bacon wrapped mochi. He claimed the bacon wrapped mochi had the best bites of the night. It appeared to have the same sauce as the Brussel sprouts which was delicious. The angry Edamame had a delicious chili garlic oil. The food was solid. The service was attentive and friendly.

    Yelp really needs to offer zero stars--or negative stars--for experiences like this…read more STAY AWAY. Terrible service, cold pre-made food, questionable seafood freshness, and a staff attitude that ruined a family birthday dinner. We came here for my sister-in-law's birthday during a weekend getaway. Our 5:30 p.m. reservation for party of 5 was easy because the restaurant was empty. We chose to sit outside since the weather was nice. At first, everything seemed fine. The waiter brought menus, dinnerware, cups, and water quickly and took our order in a reasonable amount of time. Then the food came out suspiciously fast. The chawanmushi was lukewarm, which is completely wrong for a steamed egg custard that should be served hot and freshly steamed. That made me wonder how much had been prepared too early and left sitting around. The chicken karaage, lemon salmon, tempura udon, agedashi tofu, sashimi, and nigiri sampler were all forgettable. At best, it was average Japanese food for an area with limited options. Worse, the fish had a noticeable "fishy" taste, which raised serious concerns about freshness or storage. The final item we ordered was Curry Tonkatsu, but regular tonkatsu came out instead. We left it untouched because we wanted to send it back or exchange it. By then, we were almost 40 minutes into dinner, everyone had run out of water, and the waiter still had not checked on us. When we finally saw him after another long disappearance, we asked him to come over and clarify the order. That is where the entire table lost its appetite. When we explained that we had ordered Curry Tonkatsu, the waiter became defensive and insisted, loudly and condescendingly, that he had asked whether we wanted curry and that we had said tonkatsu. My sister-in-law explained she said tonkatsu because the menu offered a choice between tonkatsu and chicken katsu, but he kept scolding her. The worst part? She apologized repeatedly--on her own birthday--while he doubled down and said, "Besides, we already made it." So we were supposed to accept the wrong order because the kitchen had already made it? There was zero ownership, zero hospitality, and zero professionalism. My husband asked if we could at least get a side of curry, and we also asked for water. The waiter left and did not return for another 20 minutes. When he finally came back outside, he served the large table next to us first. By the time he reached us, the pitcher ran out, so only three of five people got water. We had to share what little we received before he returned again. The curry side did not arrive until about half an hour after we asked for it. When it finally came out, it was cold and served in a plain white bowl. Either it had been made far too early and left out, or they are microwaving pre-made food for guests. By then, the meal was already ruined. At that point, we just wanted to pay and leave. Everyone was still hungry, but no one had an appetite after being talked down to, ignored, left without water on a hot summer evening, and made to feel punished for questioning a wrong order. The waiter never checked on us again, so we went inside to pay at the register ourselves. As we left, we passed him, and he did not acknowledge us at all. Maybe this place gets a pass because the area has limited Japanese options, but calling it an izakaya is a joke. The food was mediocre at best, and the service was worse than anything I have experienced at far more ordinary restaurants in the midwest like IOWA or MINNESOTA. I will never come back, and I will warn others. Cold food that tasted pre-made or microwaved, seafood that raised freshness concerns, non-existent service, water treated like a luxury, and a waiter more interested in proving a point than fixing a problem. I am genuinely appalled. Avoid this place.

    Photos
    Outside Patio
    Outside Patio
    Karaage Chicken
    Karaage Chicken
    Yasuo head chef

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    Yasuo head chef

    Chonmage Japanese Restaurant - ramen - Updated July 2026

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