Sadly this one time favorite place for japanese comfort food has steadily declined over the place several years. The food is inconsistent, service has degenerated to being combative at times and decor is no longer neat, clean or attractive. Have to cross this place off my list after 15+ years... read more

It's such a lovely little mom and pop kind of shop! I came with some friends on a Friday night and had to wait about 10 minutes for a table. The shop itself isn't big but it definitely has its charm, especially with all the ducks at the tables. I was recommended the Katsu curry since I was in a curry mood. The portion is pretty big and the Katsu itself is crispy and delicious. I would definitely recommend trying this place! read more

Ducks - Hours of operation - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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The food and customer service was amazing! Found this place after a friend wanted curry and also one of our friends is nicknamed Duck. They were super accommodating for a party of six. The udon noodles with veggies ask for vegan were my option and delicious. The fried items are cooked in lard so no go for me. The guys loved the Yuzu beer and their dinners. What they liked were the mini combos and options to try a little bit of everything. Highlights were unagi, chicken, beef and of course the curry. Ambiance wise most tables are for 2-4 people. Lots of cute duck decorations and items. While we are they were playing the Ducks hockey game. The staff came around multiple times to check up on us and also gave great suggestions for food to try and also what was veggie versus vegan. Added to our list of places for when we are down in SoCal. read more

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Ducks is one of those places that linger in the back of your head and makes you want to come back again and again. Plenty of parking available in the lot outside and the servers are always so quick and hilarious too! I have been here plenty of times in the past for dinner AND lunch, and I usually go for the katsu curry (dinner) or cold ramen + mini curry (lunch). If you ever go for lunch PLEASE order the cold ramen!! It's honestly the best, most underrated dish they have and pairs so well with a hot summer day! read more

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

I enjoyed the Hot udon and katsudon meal. It was tasty and I would recommend. They had fans on and there was no ac on inside. Service was good. The duck decor was cute. There's a parking lot shared with other businesses in the plaza. read more

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Good food, good music, chill vibe. Stopped by here after a long day from tge Rose Bowl after a stressful pokemom event. read more

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

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Was on the hunt for katsudon and found Ducks, a quaint little shop full of ducks and flavor. The pork katsudon was good, but the veggie/shrimp tempura and chicken curry katsu stole the show. Highly recommended, must try, don't forget!!! Super fast service and friendly staff. It gets busy so time your visit wisely. Pleas read more

Ducks - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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This is one of my favorite spots for comfort Japanese food. They've got the best udon, tempura, and cold noodles. Service is always great, and the ambiance is spacious. Definitely a must-try! read more

So good! One of my favorite places. A gem! Came here for the first time in a while and everything we ordered was amazing. We came for dinner and ordered: -udon + katsudon combo -chicken katsu curry -veggie tempura Just 1 udon noodle contained so much flavor. All the cutlets and tempura were soooo crispy. I think this is where I had my first katsudon and it always hits! The curry rice was a huge plate and my partner devoured it and left no crumbs because it was soooo good. We're excited to come back during lunch for the mini curry lunch combo. Staff are always so nice and attentive. The duck trinkets are a fun. read more

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I came by here for dinner and got the Cold Soba noodle with a Katsudon. The soba was fresh and the sauce that you dipped in it was light but flavorful. The katsudon had a nice big piece of chicken on top with eggs and a sweet sauce on top and it paired well with the cold soba. It was an overall hearty meal and I would definitely order it again. Service was friendly and quick and I had my food out in less than 10 minutes. Ambience was casual and it felt very homey. They had duck décor sprinkled throughout the restaurant and the bathroom which I thought was a nice touch. They have good-sized menu with other various Japanese dishes and I'm looking forward to coming back soon to try the rest of the menu, read more

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

I remember passing by this place growing up wondering what an establishment named Ducks could possibly entail. Years later, I finally got the answer. I ordered the chicken katsu curry over rice and got a spice level of hot. For me, the spice was pretty mild, next time I'll try it extra hot. The katsu had a much lighter batter than most katsu I've tried. Including tax and tip it came out to around $21. Overall, it was pretty solid katsu and I'd like to come back to try their other dishes. read more

Ducks - Chicken Cutlet Curry Rice (curry comes on the side) - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

Bookmarked this spot to try a few months ago and finally got the opportunity! Service - the workers were all very helpful, friendly and the food was served quickly. Showed up before peak time and then it got busy but they managed really well! Food- I got one of the combos which came with shrimp tempura over rice, katsudon and miso soup. Overalls it all tasted delicious! My favorite was the katsuudon, mixture of egg with rice and the sauce tasted amazing! The miso soup was okay but the shrimp tempura was so good too! Crunchy but also great flavor too it and you could tell it was fresh! Ambiance- cute little spot that was decorated for the holidays so it was so warm! Overall loved it and will def go back! read more

Ducks - Miso soup , Katsu Don , Shrimp Tempura - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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I had a great time here for my birthday! My homie hooked me up with Asahi and I ordered the udon and katsudon dinner combo. The udon broth was kinda sweet but the service and the hot food is so good. There are ducky decorations everywhere! A great, family-owned restaurant. read more

Small mom and pop's Japanese restaurant in the SGV and it was always on my list of food places to try. It's located in a small plaza but parking wasn't to difficult to find. There is also street parking. I went on a weekend around 6 pm with my bf and was seated right away. I was craving soba noodles so I got the soba noodles and tempura combo while my bf got the mini katsudon and mini tempura combo. The soba noodles were really refreshing and the sauce was very light. The tempura was fried well not too batterly. The mini katsudon and mini tempura both came with rice which was a hearty meal. I really like the complimentary salad that was provided. Service was friendly and quick. The restaurant is kinda small so during their busy times, they might be a wait. read more

Ducks - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

Came to Ducks finally with a few people after hearing about it throughout my time living in the area. Storefront & Parking: The store is somewhat small at the corner of a plaza but there is a decent sized parking lot. There is street parking on the side if needed. My friends and I all ordered different things but I ordered the Katsu Teishoku. I thoroughly enjoyed the katsu as it was crisp and juicy. Contrary to other katsu dishes, this lunch wasn't too heavy and the sauces were on point. I really enjoyed the dishes. I also tried some curry from my friends and it was delicious! Definitely would get it next time I visit. The only thing I would have to comment is that I visited Ducks during a hot day and the restaurant didn't seem to have any AC. Other than that, it's a great lunch spot. read more

Ducks - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

Cute homey Japanese vibes. It's a small restaurant so I can see there'd be a wait on busy days. Luckily we only had to wait about 5 min. The menu is straightforward. Comfort Japanese dishes. Service was great, they're super nice and very attentive! The tempura was good, sauce was great too. Katsu was fried perfectly, sauce was tangy and fantastic, just wish the pork was more moist/tender. Karaage was just okay, probably wouldn't order it again, most of the flavor came from the sauce. My dad loved his eel bowl set, flavored and cooked well. My katsudon bowl was delicious, again katsu was a little dry, togarashi is a must with this bowl. And the cold soba noodles were great, the sauce dip was perfectly seasoned and noodles were perfect texture, very refreshing to eat. Parking - small free lot! We had no issues getting parking. read more

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A great spot that is casual, comfortable, delicious and filling. The food is very well made and extremely satisfying. Their signature is the Katsu curry and it really hits the spot. Had to wait around 20 minutes on Sunday evening since it is so popular. The staff are extremely friendly and helpful. There are lots of cute duck decorations inside too. Highly recommended for a quick and delicious meal. read more

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If you want comfort Japanese food, look no further! A great comfy hole in the wall Japanese restauranthat has great soba/curry lunch special. If you ever want just some simple cold bowl of soba, Ducks is the place for you! The curry and katsu are nothing special, but taste good enough that I would not deduct a star. The star of the show is going to be the chicken karrage. The best way to describe it is that the outside is a soft crisp that really reminds me of a chichiron while the chicken inside is moist to perfection. Most karrage I get are dry chicken or the crispy is not as crunchy. 10/10 I would recommend trying this with a friend. Service is great and attentive, but it is a small restaurant so be prepared to wait if you go during one of the rush hour. Tip: most of these foods are meant to be eaten there, quality goes down significantly when you bring it home to heat up again. read more

Ducks - Lunch combo, soba and curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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Came here because it was close to home and in search of a comfort food place. It was on a very very hot day so all we wanted was cold noodles. We tried two combinations and 1 beer to share. I had the cold soba noodles with tempura mix. Soba was good, but the noodles could be slightly less cooked. The tempura shrimp was good, but the other veggies were kind of depressing, especially the cilantro... kind of wth selection. We also tried the cold udon with the mini katsudon (fried pork chop, katsu with egg, over rice). It was not good, rice and katsu was really soggy and tasted like it was premade. Not the comfy location I was looking for to skip a cook. Service and team were really nice though, but just cannot justify this to be a dinner go to in the area. Also, the price was quite high for the amount and items they were giving.... cannot afford to be a usual here. read more

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I love the decor of the place, seems very old school and cozy. Includes lost of rubber ducks everywhere as decor. The service was good. Foodwise, I thought the place was pretty good. I tried the katsu with the curry. Katsu is pretty decent in flavor. Texture was alright but the curry was really good. read more

If you're a SGV local looking for comforting Japanese eats, Ducks is a charming mom-and-pop spot. True to its name, the restaurant is filled with adorable duck-themed decor that adds a quirky, homey vibe. We went for their combo meals - cold noodles paired with a mini katsudon, and another with a mini tempura bowl. For a small extra charge, we swapped the default noodles for soba. The presentation had a nostalgic, Japan-like feel. Portions were small, with a heavy emphasis on rice and noodles and less protein than expected. The tempura, while crispy, had more batter than substance. Despite the minor drawbacks, it was still a good meal. read more

Ducks - Combo: Cold Noodles w/ Mini Katsudon & Cold Noodles w/ Mini Tempura Bowl - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

Randomly came across Ducks when trying to find a place for a friend and I to grab dinner. It's located in a small plaza and shares parking spaces with the businesses around. However, it seems most of those places close early and/or have little foot traffic so parking in the lot is easy. My friend and I came around dinner 6 PM for dinner and we were seated right away. The menus includes your typical Japanese noodle dishes both in soup form and stir-fry. We both decided to get the udon stirfry With chicken and we were surprised at how big the portions are! The udon was chewy and had a nice char taste to it. I had to stop myself from eating the whole thing because it was that good! All the dishes are reasonably priced and I like that there was a variety to choose from. The location is spacious and has plenty of tables so they're able to accommodate bigger parties. read more

Ducks - Udon stirfry - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

I usually come here for katsu curry when I crave it. The parking lot isn't bad and there's a decent amount of seating inside. The pork katsu is flavorful on the inside and it has a nice crisp on the outside. It's real simple curry and it's good enough for me to enjoy. If you prefer it to be more spicy, they'll give you a hot sauce bottle so you adjust the curry to your liking. read more

I got to say this place was very tasty. I got a duck dish and I was not disappointed!!!! read more

Ducks - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

Me and my mother came on Sunday around 1 PM. The service was quick and friendly, and we didn't have to wait for a table, which was a plus. The food itself was pretty average. I felt the portions were a bit unbalanced--the protein (unagi and tempura) was noticeably smaller compared to the generous servings of rice and soba. Our order came out to almost $60 plus tax, and it felt the price tag was not worth the quality and portion of food we got. Overall, the dishes were similar to what you'd find at other spots in the area. The ambiance stood out the most for me. The interior is super cute with fun duck-themed decor, and the 90s/2000s music playing in the background gave it a nostalgic vibe. There's also plenty of parking, which made the visit even more convenient. read more

Ducks - Cold Soba Mini Tempura Bowl & Unagi Miso Soup - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

Came in for a quick lunch and were easily seated on a weekday. We tried their soba and curry lunch special and loved how delicious and clean the meal tasted! The ambiance was very casual and fun with literal duck memorabilia everywhere. Will definitely be coming back when we're back in town! read more

I've come to this restaurant over and over because my son likes their curry for whatever reason. I really can't understand why... It's just not that good! When I come here, 4 out of 5 times, I end up with a bad experience.... Sometimes it's the service. Some times they're friendly, and other times they make me feel like they're doing me a favor. The food is NOT that good. The chicken cutlet is always too greasy. The beef in their curry dish taste and feel like it came out of a can. I try me best to not return here, but I hope they make improvements in case I come back because of my son... read more

Curry was great! Definitely a depth of flavor beyond your average curry spot. Katsu was dry and tasted like it was fried in old oil though. Service was very fast and great. Pricing was reasonable. I went at 3PM on a Sunday and there was ample seating. Vibes were great with a mix of Japanese decorations and cute knick knacks and manga. read more

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

One of my daughter's favorite to-go restaurant. We love their pork katsu with curry rice & katsu done. Pay special attention on their rice. You can taste the quality of the rice they use & I believe they must followed the traditional Japanese way of washing/ massaging the rice before cooking them. Each grain is not sticking with another. Amazing! read more

I came here during lunch around 1pm on a Wednesday. The parking was pretty full but I managed to find a spot to park. The restaurant was not busy, four other tables were occupied, I got seated and served immediately. The restaurant was a little bit warm. I ordered a combination of cold soba and tempura. The cold soba was perfectly done. It's an amazing dish on a hot day. The dipping sauce was flavorful. The texture and temperature of the soba was on point. However, the tempura was kind of disappointing. There was a cilantro tempura? I've never had that before and not a fan of it at all. I guess that's the cheapest veggie, so .... The other tempura was okay but not wow. I had better tempura in the area. The combination after tax and everything was around $25. The food was okay. Does it worth that price? Nah. read more

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Nestled in the heart of San Gabriel, Ducks restaurant is a small Japanese cuisine establishment. This cozy establishment boasts an inviting ambiance that blends both American and Japanese culture. The interior of Ducks is cutely decorated, with warm lighting and small duck trinkets everywhere. It makes it perfect for both intimate dinners and casual gatherings. The space is thoughtfully laid out, with comfortable seating that encourages a leisurely dining experience. This location also offers a selection of manga to read while dining in. The service is attentive and friendly. The staff was able to quickly get me settled in with my ordered placed. The menu contains a wide variety of Japanese food from Donburi rice bowls, Udon, Curry, and Ramen. I opted for the Katsudon, and the flavor was absolutely amazing. I love the crispy katsu mixed with the sweet-savory soy infused rice. Please keep in mind that the dish will take roughly 15-20 mins to arrive to the table. read more

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I had a terrible experience at Ducks today. Previously, I ordered a mini curry + hot udon lunch special and was able to adjust the spice of the mini curry to hot, even though they mentioned that it is usually just mild spice. Today, I ordered the same thing and the waitress told me that they are not allowed to adjust it. I explained that I was able to have the spice modified the last time I had it and she said "I don't think so." What do you mean you don't think so?? This kind of gaslighting is insane. A group of 3 men (who seemed to have been regulars) also ordered the hot udon + mini curry lunch special. When the waitresses gave them their order, one of the men said "Which one is mild and which one is hot?" The waitresses were trying to be subtle about pointing out which one was which because they knew we were listening. That already doesn't make sense to me, because they JUST told me that they aren't allowed to adjust the spice level. It looks like they only cater to regulars' special requests, and this favoritism is unprofessional. I will no longer be supporting this business. read more

I came across this place with my friend since it has good reviews, and it definitely did not disappoint! We came on a saturday night and was seated right away. The menu was pretty extensive but I ended up getting a katsu don which was $16.95. It was very flavorful and it was a big portion just enough for one person. I also really enjoyed how the eggs and katsu were cooked just perfectly. This place has solid japanese food and i highly recommend it! read more

Ducks - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

We were searching for zaru soba for a while and finally find it at Ducks! The zaru soba comes as a la carte entree or as a combo; we got the soba & curry rice combo (both are house special items) and the soba & Shrimp tempura combo; this set is a bit pricier than the rice option. The zaru soba was simple but hit the spot. I really enjoyed the tempura set; the crispy veggie was delicious. Ducks is known for its curry rice, and it never disappoints! read more

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Service and availability for seating was great again. I love the personal touch to list if specific tables experience a colder temperature than others. I love that this place is a great mom and pop shop to visit as there are a variety of groups that dine here (family and group of friends). I saw kids would read their manga collection and by the time the meal was done parents would put the book away. Hot soup noodle (Soba) & Tempura Set: Soba set actually fills you up pretty well, broth was light flavor similiar the sauce served with cold soba noodles. Made a mistake and ordered a hot soup on a warm/sunny day. This dish would be perfect for a cloudy day. Tempura Set was crispy and lightly battered. Ordering this set it created a fun way to eat two different textures. Hot Udon and mini katsudon (breaded chicken and rice): Katsudon were nice breaded perfectly not heavy or too light, and it was covered with a scramble egg to give more of a savory flavor. read more

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What the Duck?!?! Japanese comfort food?!?! Count me in!... The food hits the soul, making you feel cozy on the inside, you feel safe cause a flock of ducks guard your perimeter. The cold soba noodles with soba dipping sauce perfect for a warm summers day. The noodles al dente, the tempura crispy... is it the best Japanese restaurant? No... but it'll give you comfort, leave you smiling and feeling good. What more could you ask for? Friendly service, that don't "duck" you, water glass always full. read more

A local gem with good Japanese food. I have the lunch combo with cold soba and curry rise. A fulfilling meal with a cold beer in this hot day. Very friendly service. You can't stop smiling when you see those cute little ducks read more

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Ducks was recommended to us by our good friend and decided to try it. After looking at the menu and pricing, I hoped the juice was worth the squeeze. Unfortunately Ducks didn't live up to my expectations. As you can see, the presentation was nice, but could use a bit of work on the quality. The pork katsu was a little dry and the coating wasn't consistent. The chicken karaage had a little too much breading and it was confirmed from the other reviews I have read. Personally I think too much breading and the chicken needs to be marinated a little longer. The curry was good but nothing to write home about. What this place really needs, ASAP, is to fix the ambiance. The ducks all over the place, I get. But it's a turnoff to see ladders in the corner and cases of take away boxes out in the open. It just ruins the whole vibe of the restaurant. Also, make sure there are paper towels in the restroom. Ambiance 4/10 Service 9/10 Cleanliness 7/10 Food 7/10 Bathrooms 4/10 Value 5/10 Will I Return? Sorry...there are a lot of Japanese restaurants, but maybe not as much in the SGV area. read more

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This restaurant is located at the corner of the plaza. Parking can fill up quickly, so you may have a tough time finding parking during busy hours. It feels a bit small on the inside and appears more suitable for small to middle size parties. The katsudon had a sweet soy sauce and egg on the top layer, pork cutlet in the middle, and a layer of rice on the bottom. It also came with some cabbage salad. The katsudon had a large portion and tasted good. The cabbage salad was on the bland side. For the karaage chicken, there was a lot of pieces. It was crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside! read more

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

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Went at 1130am and the restaurant was half packed, full by the time we left. Service is a bit on the slower side. - Katsu-don This was VERY salty.. they added too much soy sauce in the don.. I guess it kind of balances out with the rice but on the saltier side. - Cold Soba combo w/ Tempura Um... I was baffled when they came out with my food. CILANTRO TEMPURA? It doesn't taste like anything but the batter... the tempura is a bit over battered. The soba is just regular soba, nothing special. Would I get it again?-no.... Free parking in lot. read more

Ducks - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Gabriel, California

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