I was too excited for my food so I ended up taking this pic mid-meal. I appreciated that they gave me my katsu chicken curry with a curry bowl as opposed to the curry being served with the plate with the chicken. I feel like not a lot of places offer that and it was nice to see. We also got the cold soba which was perfect for the weather. Wasabi, onion, the whole soba package. This place was good and charming with the ducky decor. The staff were also super nice. Will def be back! read more

Ducks - Chicken Curry Rice - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

This was my first time trying Ducks, and I really enjoyed it! The service was super nice and quick, the restaurant felt warm and cozy, and of course, there were ducks everywhere! I got the shrimp tempura and cold soba. The tempura was perfectly crisp and so delicious. It was also the first time I tried parsley tempura, which was very interesting. I do with the soba had a little more buckwheat flavor, but it was still good. Overall, a great place to try! read more

Ducks - Cold Soba Shrimp and Veggie Tempura - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

My favorite place to get cold noodles! It's definitely a hole in the wall spot! The staff is always friendly and attentive. Food: honestly everything is really good! They give you a light salad as an appetizer which is really airy and refreshing. The lunch specials are the best for the deals so try to go around that time! For cold noodle options they have ramen, udon, and my personal favorite soba! The portions of the soba are huge and the amount of different kinds of tempura is definitely filling (squid, shrimp, potato, carrot, cilantro). The sauce to dip the cold noodles in are perfectly balanced in flavor and comes with green onions and wasabi as an add on if you want! Atmosphere: cute place with very humble and on brand theme of ducks! They are all over the place even the restroom! Price: price is not bad for the amount of food you get, but would definitely try to go during lunch. read more

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Ducks is located in the same small plaza as Escape Duck (an escape room business and do not believe they are related to this restaurant). I have been wanting to try Ducks for a few years now but never got a chance to try them until last Friday. Since we were in the area, we decided to make a to go order in person. We came in a few minutes before 7 pm and were greeted by an employee behind the counter (actually right as we were able to come in, a nice employee who was outside in front of the entrance opened the door for us). We told her that we wanted to make a to go order so she gave us menus to look over, in which we ended up getting: Ebi Don, $17.95 prior to tax- I decided to get a rice meal and opted for the shrimp tempura meal. This meal came with 3 long pieces of shrimp tempura, served over a bed of rice that has a lightly sweetened soy sauce drizzled over the rice. I really liked this dish and thought it was delicious. I shared one piece of shrimp and rice with my mom and my husband. They also both really liked the food. Veggie Yaki Udon, $14.50 prior to tax- My husband decided to order this dish because he wanted a noodle dish. Please note that this dish is a dry style noodle dish and not a soup udon dish. I thought this noodle dish was tasty and I liked that there were plenty of vegetables in the dish. The sauce used was tasty. My mom also had some and she liked it and so did my husband. ----------------------------------- (Total= $35.78 after tax) Service was friendly and wait time was not too bad, rather reasonable. I ended up using the restroom while I waited and was surprised to see a cute duck soap dispenser in the bathroom (but being that ducks are everywhere, maybe I should not have been surprised). I did enjoy the food and would consider coming back again to try the other entrees. read more

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My yakiudon was too saucy. The udon was wet and since there was a puddle of sauce, which explained why the kaarage was not crispy-- batter was sauced up. For a stir-fry noodle dish, I expect it to be dry. The kaarage was overly salty. I had to drink a lot of water and I definitely needed that rice from the rice bowl. The beef don on the other hand, was delish. They didn't use the typical thinly sliced beef, they used chunkier beef, like chuck roast or something like that. I wasn't sure how I felt about it, but I did enjoy the meatier dish! This dish is what I am more used to, it was a bowl of comfort. Decor is cute, with lots of duck decor! Service was great. read more

Ducks - Beef Don and Karaage Yaki Udon - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

What a delicious lunch! Friend and I had never been and have been wanting to try this place, so we finally made it to lunch. The place definitely reminds me of smaller mom and pop shops in the South Bay. We had just had curry, so skipped the lunch special combos and went with the cold noodle and rice, with an extra kaarage. We also opted for the upgrade to so a noodles. Food was delicious; nothing fancy, just good cooking and good ingredients. The chicken was hella crispy and juicy, the noodles just the right texture, and my mini katsudon was so yum. Friend had the mini tempura rice bowl and that was also tasty. Can't wait to go back, and bring some of my own duckies for the restaurant. read more

Ducks - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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I've been coming here since high school and the quality has stayed the same. Everything here is delicious. The staff is so super friendly and welcoming. If you're looking for a good, local hidden gem for Japanese curry ... look no further! read more

Ducks - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

I've heard so much about Ducks Restaurant being one of the best Japanese spots in the SGV, so I'm glad we finally made it here! We actually ended up here by accident after losing our patience waiting for a table at the red 99 Bistro Grill down the street, I'm so happy we did. Even though it was our first time, it totally lived up to its "famous" reputation. The food is incredible and feels so authentic. We tried the " curry chicken katsu" and the "cold udon noodles". The curry has such a deep, great flavor, and the katsu was perfectly crispy. The udon was the real star, though. It's super chewy and had that perfect texture that reminded us exactly of the meals we've had in Japan. Service was great. The people here are very friendly and welcoming. If you're looking for a legit Japanese comfort food spot in San Gabriel, this is definitely it! read more

Ducks - Japanese curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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Glad I finally got around to trying Ducks. The service was great, staff was attentive and turn around was swift. I'll give it a 5 but I think a 4.5 would be the most honest rating Food: The fried fish cake was my least favorite dish, it was underwhelming and the fish cake itself was small, I didn't finish it and I wouldn't order it again 1/5. The soba on the other hand was delicous and flavorful, the serving was generous and filling 5/5. My friend liked the curry and gave it a 4/5. Cute duckie decor and plenty of parking. Definitely worth checking out. read more

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One of my favorite spots in the area for home-style Japanese food. A true San Gabriel Valley staple, Duck's stands apart from the usual ramen and sushi scene, offering a more rustic, comforting take on Japanese cuisine that feels like a mom-and-pop gem. For this combo, definitely choose the cold soba. The noodles have a nutty flavor and satisfying bite that pair beautifully with the light, vinegar-balanced dipping broth. The chicken curry is warm, cozy, and gently spiced -- the perfect contrast to the chilled soba. Thoughtful, balanced, and quietly excellent. read more

Ducks - Cold Ramen with mini curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

I don't think there's a place I love as much as Ducks. If we're in the area and we're hungry with no specific place in mind, Ducks is our choice. Spicy Miso Spaghetti - I wanted to try something different on their menu, but I don't think one is for me. The flavor is really strong and my husband liked it, but it just wasn't my choice. The taste is very similar to Vietnamese curry. I actually really liked the noodles, they were super chewy. Lunch Special with Curry Rice and Cold Soba - The curry felt so homey while the cold soba felt very refreshing. I was nervous at first because it's so much carbs and not much meat in it, but we actually managed to clean everything. The soba noodles were very light and had a good dipping sauce to add some light flavor. read more

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We love this place, all items we've ever tried has great flavor & crispy textures! The curry is so tasty! I got the medium hot & it has a really nice kick to it. The only thing is that I noticed the cutlet doesn't have much flavoring without the curry, but it's tender & great texture read more

Ducks - Chicken Cutlet Curry Rice - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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Ducks has been my go-to place in the SGV to satisfy my katsu curry cravings. This place gives off cozy vibes which makes you feel at home and welcomed. There's ample amount of parking in the plaza it's at as well. Right when I entered, I was immediately greeted and seated. There isn't too much seating inside, but there was surprisingly no wait on a Friday night. I love how flexible they are with their orders since we were able to substitute the meat in their katsudon for chicken instead of pork. Their katsudon is well seasoned, and the rice was cooked perfectly. I got their pork katsu curry (medium spice). The panko on the katsu was very crispy and pork wasn't dry at all. They put the curry on the side which I loved so I can put as much curry on the dish as I wanted. I think next time I'll get a lower spice level since I'm still a little weak when it comes to spice, but overall the food was delicious! I'm always down to come back to experience this amazing comfort food. read more

Ducks - Katsudon (chicken) and Pork Katsu Curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

I come here looking forward to eating their Katsudon. Their Katsudon here is one of the best I've had in the SGV. It's flavorful, sweet and mildly crispy. I also highly recommend trying their hot udon. The soup in their hot udon is light and full of umami flavor. Their cold soba is also really good! Also, they don't actually serve duck here lol. Overall, great place for Japanese food, and I always return here for their Katsudon. The place is also really cute and silly with rubber ducks decorated throughout their restaurant. read more

Ducks - Cold Soba Mini Katsudon - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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Today, my cousin and I tried the tonkatsu here. Of all the Japanese themed restaurants I have traversed, this tonkatsu is a hit. I can only describe this dish in the form of haiku, entitled... "Savory, Sunday". Soft, tender pork melts Teeth on vacation today Dreaming of flavor I've never had such a succulent, delicate tonkatsu. Most places you go to, it is a bit of a workout. Not at Ducks. Leave them a duck! read more

Ducks - People who love this restaurant give them miniature ducks! - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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Ducks is known for their curry and spaghetti. So I ordered their curry and spaghetti. I love matcha. The thought curry and spaghetti sounded strange at first, but I realized it's no different than a curry udon bowl. To my surprised, I enjoyed the dish far more than what I had anticipated. Anyways, Ducks has amazing service and the ambiance sells the experience very well. The inside of the restaurant features different rubber ducks, hence the name, and a diner-like feel. If you are looking for authentic Japanese curry and cold soba noodles I would recommend coming to Ducks. I love matcha. read more

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The restaurant isn't very big, so we did have to wait a bit to get seated, but the wait wasn't too long. It was a warm day when we visited, and the AC didn't seem to be working very well near the entrance, but once we were seated it felt noticeably cooler and much more comfortable. This was my first time trying this place, but my husband used to come here often back in his high school days (over 25 years ago), so he was excited to revisit it. We ordered the pork cutlet with curry on the side, and it was incredibly crispy and paired perfectly with the rich, flavorful curry. I had the hot soba with shrimp and vegetable tempura, and everything was excellent--the tempura was light, crispy, and not oily, and the soba noodles had great texture with a delicious broth. We also shared the gyoza, which seemed to be lightly battered with the same tempura coating. It was unique and surprisingly delicious. You can tell this restaurant has been around for a long time. It's simple, no-frills, and feels like you're being invited into a friend's home for a great home-cooked meal. If you're looking for comforting, delicious Japanese food, I hope you'll give this place a try! read more

Ducks - Pork Cutlet Curry Rice (curry on the side) and Gyoza (only one in the picture b/c we ate the rest) - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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Was craving Japanese udon and found this place on Yelp. This place did not disappoint!! The service was very kind and there was no wait to get inside. Coming into the restaurant, there are a bunch of duck themed items inside and it felt very cozy. I loved the food and can't wait to come back!! read more

Ducks - Hot Udon Mini Katsudon - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

I've been wanting to try this place for years! My sister lives close by and said it was good. We were in the neighborhood after going to Vincent lugo park and came here after for lunch. This place is small and was busy! We waited for maybe 10-15 minutes. Staff is super nice! We ordered the karage chicken for our daughter, I got the udon and tempura, hubby got the udon and curry. All was yummy! read more

Ducks - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

Best tempura place hands down. The food is crispy but not too oily or "cake-like". Always quick service. Great place to get a quick bite and beer! read more

Ducks - Gyoza - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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The service is good. The breading on that Tempura and the Karaage and the Pork Cutlet was THICC. Like legit that's a lot of batter. We ordered the following: 1. Chicken Karaage 2. Shrimp Tempura 3. Mini Udon and Mini Tempura Bowl 4. Pork Cutlet I prefer batter light, but ate all the food up regardless. No wasting food here :) read more

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I went back with my partner this time, and was able to try their chicken katsu, pork katsudon, and stir fried udon with chicken karaage. I still love their cold soba so much, but I did really enjoy the tanginess of the sauce for the chicken katsu. The pork katsudon was also very flavorful, and I loved how tender the meat was on all three of the meat dishes! read more

Ducks - Cold soba and tempura - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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I ordered a katsudon here & it came with a side of kewpie mayo cabbage, which was good bc I liked balanced meals. I enjoyed the thick pork cutlet. The flavors were also delicious together, runny egg, and accompanied by a sweet sauce along with the rice. Portions are definitely filling! My only complaint would have to be the fact that the cutlet wasnt as crispy due to the runny egg and I wish it still was because that would've made the experience a lot better. I would suggest keeping the egg cracked on the rice instead/add egg separately, so the katsu keeps its crispy exterior. Besides that, this is a great katsu place and their katsu curry is amazing as well. The curry is separated so when I had their katsu curry, it was crispy, just how I like it! Workers are friendly and it's a cute little shop! read more

Ducks - Katsu Don - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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We ordered to go from this place the food is nice pricing is okay the name of the restaurant is funny on the side but is definitely worth trying if you're in the neighborhood and to go orders are common read more

called ahead to double check wait times and was surprised there was no wait on a Saturday atdedicated parking lot and plenty of street parking available as well. lunch special is unbeatable! $15 for cold noodle with mini curry. so affordable and yummy!! will be coming back more when it gets hotter. read more

Ducks - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

I randomly stumbled onto this place after finding out what soba is from scrolling YouTube, fantasizing about a long-awaited Japan trip. I looked up nearby options, saw Ducks was incredibly close, and I sort of just shot gunned it and went. Glad I did, the soba was a super cool new experience. Even while eating my good soba I saw other peoples ordering other dishes that also look really good So definitely want to go back. The vibe inside was super chill authentic and btw everything is duck themed in really fun ways. Also the service was super attentive. read more

Solid Japanese comfort food spot. Ample parking and comfy space. It's not big but people seem to eat quickly and leave. I had the cold soba and tempura set. The soba stands out to me with the good firm texture and a refreshing cold broth that pairs nicely with the onion and Wasabi. Tempura is fried nicely too although I could skip the broccoli thing like everyone else called out. It was a bit hard to eat and I had to break it down with the chopsticks. But otherwise super filling and it gets the job done nicely. Can see myself back as a solid local spot. read more

Ducks - Tempura and cold udon set - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

We love coming to Ducks. They have great food and great service. What I ordered (this time): -Meat spaghetti - I order this when I'm not in the mood for the cold udon or Katsu curry. This is a Japanese spaghetti and it's no the sweeter side but it's not as sweet as Filipino spaghetti. - Lunch hot udon with a side of tempura - the hot udon was amazing! It was light and not too salty. The tempura is always churn by and not too oily. Good to know: - They sell their own merch - the place is filled with rubber duckies. you can trade your own rubber duckies with them! - They take card and cash. - I never had an issue with parking but it can get busy and you may have to wait for a table. There's only about 8 tables in there Price point $ - Under $15 $$ - $15-30 Final Score: 5 out of 5 stars. Would and always w read more

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3.5-4/5 stars, vegetarian review included: The food: There are two vegetarian/vegan options: veggie yaki udon and the veggie curry. I was craving noodles so I went for the veggie yaki udon. It came with some veggies and stir fried udon, and tasted fairly light for a carb heavy dish! While it didn't blow me away, it was still a rather good attempt at including the vegetarians/vegans, so I'm not mad! But, I would try the veggie curry next time instead. My friends ordered some sort of katsu with rice and it came with miso soup (not vegan). They really enjoyed their meal as well. Portion sizes were super fair and the food came out rather quickly. We went on a Friday night so we waited about 20 mins before getting seated inside. Everything else: The interior is super cute and nicely decorated with ducks--consistent with the theme for sure! It shares a tiny lot with other businesses, but I was able to snag a spot by the street parking. read more

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This is a hidden gem if you are in the mode for some comfort Japanese food, especially if you are in the mood for katsu. I ordered katsu curry and it was so good. The pork was cooked perfectly. And the curry (I got the medium spice) hit the spot. It's served on the side so if you don't finish it (although I can't imagine not eating it all) you can pack it up. Service was great. They are attentive and quick with all the orders. Their dining area is pretty open and the tables are flexible so they can accommodate parties of different sizes. And parking is easy. I'll definitely be back. read more

Authentic cold soba noodle. Sooo yummy and fresh tasting. Katsudon lacked chicken, there were only like 4 pieces but it was cooked AMAZING. The karage chicken was super crispy and juicy. The sauce that came with it made it super tasty. It was an interesting sauce that made it very flavorful. Super nice people, the older ladies working were very accommodating to us. The restaurant was pretty small, maybe 8-9 tables. It was clean but there was one small bathroom in the back that wasn't as clean. read more

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Where has this place been my whole life? Probably the best karaage chicken I have ever had (it's up there with kaarage chicken I've had in Japan). Hot, juicy, crispy and amazing flavor. Loved everything I had there. The cold udon had the perfect chewy al dente texture. You go hungry. You go in, get seated, order food, get it quickly, eat and leave satisfied. Service is great and the meal is just quick and efficient, but you don't feel rushed. Such a homey and cozy feel. They've been in business for 30 years for a reason. I'll definitely be back. read more

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With the abundance of Asian food in the SGV, it's surprisingly hard to find a restaurant that serves simple, comforting Japanese food. Enter Ducks! It is located in an unassuming plaza with plenty of parking, and the inside is similarly no frills with welcoming faces each time you visit. Their staples are curry, tempura, and noodles. Their lunch menu is available on weekends as well which is a plus! My go to is the cold soba and mini curry lunch special. The food is always consistent and solid in terms of taste. The ladies there are always attentive although when it gets busy it can seem a bit short staffed. My only real gripe about the restaurant is the climate control. It always feels a bit warm inside and on hot days, it can feel pretty uncomfortable. read more

Ducks still remains one of the go-to meetup spots for my friends when we don't know where to go. The food is consistent, and I feel like I've tried pretty much every dish at this point. There are definitely some huge hits and some misses/okay items. This time around I got the karaage bowl, and although it was about half rice, the karaage itself was very good, fried well and overall really tasty. Beer prices are also pretty solid, as we shared two large bottles for four people ($15). Will be back! read more

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I was really impressed by Ducks. It felt like a home away from home. We came a little before the dinner rush and were lucky to get seated right away. I could tell by the time we left that this place fills up quickly. I got one of the combos and everything was on point. The cold udon had that perfect al dente texture. Better than anything I've had at Marugame or even homemade. The tempura was crisp and light without being greasy. Every piece had great flavors. The ambiance is warm and homey. The duck decorations scattered around the restaurant actually worked and gave the place a lot of charm. It felt relaxed and welcoming. Not to mention the kids had a blast looking through the different ducks. We're already looking forward to coming back and trying all the other combos. This one's going into the regular rotation. read more

The service was good and the food was delicious. This was my first time there but we plan on becoming a regular. The udon noodles had the perfect amount of chew read more

After my driving lesson today my dad, sister and I stop by Ducks for a tasty lunch Food was outstanding today can't go wrong with their delicious food especially my favorite chicken cutlet curry the chicken katsu curry has the right amount of flavor and the chicken is so crispy the service I enjoyed it the Servers are very welcoming like they will ask you how many people in your party and they will take your order whenever you're ready read more

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Saw this restaurant on a blog and decided to come try it since it had so many rave reviews. 10/10 it did not disappoint! I got the Beef Don bowl and it was cooked to perfection. My husband and I also shared the tempura which was really light and crispy. My husband got the Chicken Cutlet Curry and he really enjoyed his dish as well. We had been missing food from our Japan trip and this definitely hit the spot! Ducks is definitely worth the hype! read more

Ducks - Beef Don and Tempura - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

Ducks in San Gabriel has become one of our family's go-to spots whenever we're craving good Japanese comfort food. We love Japanese cuisine, and this place hits the spot every single time. Their cold soba noodles and tempura are always fresh and flavorful, and the Unagi Eel Bowl with miso soup is a must-order -- perfectly prepared and so satisfying. It's a small, cozy mom-and-pop restaurant with service that truly stands out. The staff is attentive, friendly, and always makes us feel welcome. Since it's conveniently located near our home, it's an easy choice whenever we're in the mood for something delicious, comforting, and consistent. If you're looking for an authentic, no-frills Japanese meal that delivers every time, Ducks is definitely the place to go. read more

Ducks - Unagi Bowl with Miso Soup - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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I've been coming to this Japanese restaurant since college. They serve traditional soba--buckwheat noodles, cold or warm. Simple. Honest. Just the dipping sauce and the noodle. And that's enough. That less-is-more spirit runs through the whole menu. Even the rice stands out--fluffy, cooked just right. Most places overlook the rice. They don't. Their combo meals are a quiet deal. No flash, no fuss. Just good food that brings you back now and then, the way old favorites do. read more

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