I've been coming to Kaita for over 5 years now and have constantly returned when craving Japanese food, so this review is long overdue. Kaita is a small and casual restaurant but the food is amazing and authentic. I've tried items from their daily specials, sushi, rice bowls, and sashimi. I've never been disappointed and that's what keeps me coming back. I love that they have combo options which really satisfies my craving by getting to have a variety of options. The fish has always been fresh, so Kaita has earned my trust to take friends here whenever we're looking for Japanese food. The staff is friendly and attentive, which is always appreciated. I plan on being a loyal customer for as long as I live in San Jose! read more

Kaita Restaurant - Kaisen Don - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

Really great authentic Japanese food. Location: Kaita is located in the middle of Japan town SJ. The restaurant is on the smaller side. I would say its not suited for groups bigger than 8. If you do not come during opening times expect some sort of wait time. They have metered street parking around the area. Food: I have been to both their lunch and dinner times. They have different menus for both. I would say the lunch menu is more limited. They only offer select things. But there dinner menu has ample of options. I really enjoy their handrolls and sushi rolls. My favorite thing on their menu is their salmon soup rice. I do not know a lot of Japanese restaurants that make the o cha salmon rice soup anymore. I also had their katsu curry. The portions they give you is huge for the price you pay. Service: Service here is fantastic. They are very attentive. They give you free hot tea and water. Servers are always walking around making sure your glass is not empty. The food comes out relatively quickly as well. Overall, I would highly recommend this place to anyone who is in the mood for authentic Japanese food. read more

03/11/23 -Kaita There are so many wonderful restaurants in Japan town. I do my best to show love to all of them. Came in at 7:30 PM on a Saturday and got seated right away. Kaita is a causal Japanese restaurant, the inside is small but nice. The staff is sweet and attentive. The food is good for the price, the fish is fresh, and the portions are great. read more

Kaita Restaurant - Tempura Combination - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

Nice restaurant in Japantown - get there early if you want to avoid a long wait. Had lunch here with an old friend and former colleague who was visiting. We found street parking nearby and walked over, being one of the first few patrons seated soon after they opened at 11:30. I ordered the sashimi, fried chicken and soup special ($27.50) from the board propped up against the front window, and she ordered sushi from the regular menu. Food arrived quickly. The service was attentive even though they were short-staffed. I enjoyed my fried chicken, but wasn't impressed by the sashimi. My friend seemed to enjoy her sushi. They didn't have any dessert on the menu - the server suggested we get mochi at the shop next door, but there was a long line, so we opted to get coffee at Roy's nearby instead. Will try other places next time we visit. read more

Kaita Restaurant - The daily specials are posted on a board propped up against the front window. - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

I got the Kaisendon which in included about 5 different fishes, shrimp, tomago, scallop, squid, octopus and unagi. Special Kaisendon comes with uni and toro compared for regular Kaisendon. Overall decently priced for a Kaisendon and tasted like good quality fish. It's a smaller restaurant and we went on a Friday night which wasn't a long wait. They also had special combos which we had missed before we ordered so next time we'd want to try that instead. read more

Kaita Restaurant - Kaisendon - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

I have been going here for years. I live alot closer now, so I go somewhat frequently. It has a nice variety of food. Sushi is good (although not the best I've ever had--Tomi might be a bit better). I used to love the tonkatsu here, but something's changed the past year. Did they change the pork quality? It's just off. Because it's a small place, they fill up quick. However, their food is pretty authentic in both food and hospitality. You may find better Japanese places in other areas of the Bay Area, but I will save you some trouble: this is the best restaurant in San Jose Japantown at least. Some of the others down that street are garbage. read more

Went in for lunch around 1:30 and was glad Kaita was still open and taking guests. We were seated right away. The people who work here are so sweet and welcoming and friendly! I love that about Kaita. I usually stick tot he specials but I was in the mood for simple and basic. I got the beef teriyaki for the first time here and I was very pleasantly surprised. Cooked perfectly medium and the sauce was good texture, not too thick or thin. I thought Gombei had the best teriyaki but this visit to Kaita may have changed my mind- definitely tied at least. The salad and miso hit the spot and the service was awesome! This is true comfort food for me, with plain white rice- best lunch out, in a long time! Wife had the chicken teriyaki donburi and she enjoyed that as well. It was a very large portion and she took a lot home for later. We had one soda and loved the complimentary tea. Lunch for two was $35.71 before tip. Can't beat that price, the quality and deliciousness of the food, and the friendly and genuine sweet service made our day! read more

Kaita Restaurant - Beef Teriyaki- so good! - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

We visited this restaurant with friends while we were in California for vacation. Our order and ratings (1-10 with 10 being the highest) were: Fried oysters - 8 Scallop Curry - 8 Short Ribs - 8 Combo sushi - 7.5 Spider Rolls - 7 The service was prompt, and the food was the correct temperature. It's not a huge place, but we only had a short wait until we were seated. The staff were friendly and we felt welcome. The sushi was okay, nothing special, but the other dishes were good. read more

I've been to many Yakitori around the world and recently from Japan. Regardless of what they grilled, the flavor of the charred grilled by long charcoal (長炭) is what made it special. You can taste it. The teriyaki chicken was grilled with that flavor. I assume the chef must use charcoal to grill this. I'm gonna have to announce this may be one of the best chicken teriyaki in the world. The spicy tuna was done perfectly, Spicy tuna flavor and the amount of sushi rice and its taste. Ichiban!! read more

Kaita Restaurant - Spicy chicken teriyaki - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

The food is good. Portions are reasonable. Service is quick and fair. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Ambiance is average.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The place is small.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]It was one hot Saturday when we dined here and their AC is not enough to keep us comfortable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]I wish they expand their restaurant space.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Yes, we will come back again. read more

Excellent Japanese cuisine with great service. I love the Katsu Curry. I'll definitely eat here again!

[[HIGHLIGHT]]extremely disappointed as a date spot.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] My guy wanted to try Japanese rice cakes in Japantown so I took him here instead of Onigilly in Valley Fair. the food was ok. the biggest problem is that at many Japanese restaurants, they are still sexist. so after dinner the waiter asks if there's anything else and my guy says no and is happy and I ask dessert. my guy says no, I say yes, he says no, I say yes. most places convince the man to get dessert, just take a look at the menu. our waiter leaves. i tell my guy "I wonder how sexist this place is- will they come with a check or menu?" they came with a check. what a way to ruin the night. my guy saw that I was upset and then said we can go to the store next door and get some. too late. total evening ruined. thanks sexist culture read more

I went to this place once because my Japanese friend said it seemed like home food and it really did not disappoint. Went again and brought my whole family and each meal was just excellent. I got the negitoro don (special menu, on white board when entering) and it was some of the best fish I've ever eaten. Would 100% hands down come again and again. Service is great and fast. Location is clean and nice. read more

See all

My colleagues and I came here on a Tuesday night for dinner. We walked around and decided to come to Kaita. I've been here before so I recommended my colleagues since it was all their first time. The service was strange, as usual, but food was delicious! This place is really small so unless you come outside of rush hour, there will be a wait! I got the Chirashi bowl, so good! They have lots of combos on the wall or special menus. Their menu is huge and all over, so check them out carefully to see what you like. Overall, you can't really go wrong with any of the options here. Great food! read more

See all

Gave this place a shot and left with zero regrets. We started with some fried chicken. Flavor and seasoning better than many places but I wish it was a tad crispier. Still, don't skip it. My sushi and steak teriyaki bento was a sizable amount of food. I was really umpressed by the steak. There was a nice char and some pieces is meat were still a bit pink. The California roll was decent. The tuna and salmon nigiri were excellent (other couple pieces were tasty too). Next time I'll get the sashimi instead. The meal has plenty of rice as is. Seating is a bit limited so come early before you need to put your name down. read more

I can't believe I never had review for our favorite go-to restaurant for more than 6 years! We always take our friends and family here for meet up, celebration, our birthday, anniversary and always have quality time together. Both Food & service here have never disappointed us. Their daily special could be checked out on their fb page which is what we mostly end up getting. Our toddler loves here too! Ambiance is more on the quiet side so you could actually have conversations. Our favorite dish is grilled Hamachi Kama (cheekbone of yellowtail), fried oyster, Sake Ikura (salmon and fish eggs don, sashimi plate, basically any set from special. You never go wrong with any items from there; It's like eating in Japan. read more

The wrong dish was served, so I asked to correct it. The surprised waiter says, unable to, that my friend took a bite. When the dish is completely untouched. Never had such a poor experience dinning here with a friend on business. read more

Delicious food, generous portions and family owned. The miso katsu and their gyoza is so delicious. I can't speak to their sushi as my husband is allergic to fish but that is also a big reason we go here because we have never had a cross contamination issue. Polite and fast. The service is prompt and kind. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is clean, simple, and comfortable.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Super cute hole in the wall spot that you definitely dont want to miss! We came here on a Friday night and it was surprisingly not a long wait to our table (20 min on a friday? we'll take it!) The spot is very cozy and tables are small, but I would not skip! Everything we ordered was delicious and fresh, and came out in the perfect timing! We definitely recommend the uni, amaebi, and salmon, as well as a hot soup like the nabeyaki udon to top off your meal. Definitely a new fave of ours, and we'll be coming back for another date night soon! (Highly recommend the squid and sea urchin with wasabi dish, its the best way to try both for a really good price and portion!) read more

See all

We ordered the bento box with chicken teriyaki, beef teriyaki, sushi, and rice. The food quality and service were both good, and the ambiance was pleasant. We look forward to dining at Kaita Restaurant again to try other dishes. read more

Pretty decent but pricey spot in a very ambient location! The restaurant is at the heart of Japan town next to the world-renowned mochi shop Shuei-Do. FOOD: Overall pretty good, not the best sushi for its price point, however. The plating is very beautiful and nice looking though! The miso soup and salad were also pretty good, though I wish there was more tofu in the miso soup. PRICE: The Nigiri Sushi Combo was around $22 dollars for a California Roll, one salmon nigiri, two yellowfin, one shrimp, and one tuna, alongside a small salad and miso soup. Overall, if you're craving nigiri or rolls, it would be best to head across the street for cheaper sushi. LOCATION: Pretty solid location! There are a ton of interesting shops around that you can go around which include Shuei-Do, a gift shop, ice cream, and the Japanese market. AMBIENCE / SERVICE: It is very nice inside and it is very lively! They have very cute decorations and it gives a very traditional, homely feel. It is a bit loud at times so it may not be the best location for a date or business chat, but it is great otherwise. The staff are very sweet too! My group stayed five to ten minutes past closing and the staff were very sweet about it. read more

See all

I came by during lunch on a weekday and didn't have to wait. The restaurant is pretty small but we got seated immediately. I ordered the poke don + udon special and my mom got the sashimi and Karaage special. The total came out to be $60 after tax and tip which was steep for the amount of food we got. My poke don came with a small amount of fish and lots of rice. This dish was enjoyable but wish there was more fish. I had a lot of leftover rice. The udon soup was good but udon texture was too soft. The sashimi was pretty decent and fresh. We were both disappointed in the karaage. It was dry and the breading wasn't crispy at all. Overall, food wasn't amazing but it's a really cute restaurant! read more

See all

Kaita is an incredibly authentic, comfy, Japanese spot located in the heart of Japantown. There is nowhere else you can get a Negitoro Don w/ Tanuki Udon lunch special for UNDER $20 and at this quality. The tuna was fresh, the udon was bouncy, and you leave satisfied. Service is quick and attentive and turnaround is fast. I look forward to coming back and trying some of their other offerings! Support local businesses y'all! read more

I read an interesting and outstanding review of Kaita Restaurant in the local Metro newspaper. Took my daughters there for lunch. We each ordered different items from the menu. Food was outstanding, fresh and delicious. Reminded me of the restaurants we ate in Japan recently. read more

Mainstay Japantown restaurant. We've been here for lunch and dinner. Food quality and service are consistently excellent. They do take reservations. This is a small place, seats about 25 people. Menu offerings remind me of home-style Japanese cooking. Yum! read more

Kaita is my go-to Japanese restaurant in San Jose. The dishes I've tried have for the most part been tasty. The nigiris are delicious - fresh fish, good fish to rice ratio & majority of time, decently prepared sushi rice. Their futomaki roll is also unique and a favorite. There's unagi & tobiko in it. But the price has increased drastically over the last 10 years (more than doubled, real estate style ), so value for this roll is declining. I think it used to be around $8 and it's now $17. I still order it once in a while if I don't feel like anything else. The negitoro don (minced tuna rice with scallions) is really tasty! For lunch, they have this as a lunch special - smaller portion but just as satisfying. Occasionally, they also have geoduck nigiri on the menu and those don't disappoint. Quality of bento boxes is decent. Teriyaki beef is usually prep very well (medium rare with good char marks) and you get a generous portion. Curry rice here has a very strong pepper taste, so that's 1 item I've not reordered. For dinnertime, the price is slightly higher for the same dishes but the wait & parking is more manageable than lunchtime. Very attentive & polite service from the moment you walk in until you're leaving. Waiter & waitresses greet you instantly, unlike some places that let their customers wait awkwardly when they're busy. And I've never had to wait a long time for my food even when they have a full house. But on weekends, lunch time can get super busy and wait for a table can be quite long (30-45min). About once a year, they'll be closed for a week or so (I'm guessing to take a well deserved vacation) and when that happens when we had plans to eat there, it's always a big disappointment for us because no other Japanese restaurant in Japan town compares! (Don't be fooled by other Japanese restaurants within the vicinity with a lot of Yelp reviews - I've tried a few as an alternative when Kaita is closed and always left these restaurants unsure how they're rated so highly.) read more

It's been a really long time since I've hung out in Japantown SJ, and I usually swing by for art shows but tonight, I came out early enough to decide and try a new spot to eat. I randomly chose Kaita for dinner tonight and I was NOT disappointed. I was greeted by a super friendly staff member who seated me promptly (the restaurant didn't really have anyone eating dinner as early as I was, about 5ish). Skimmed through the menu real quick looking for chicken teryaki, put in my order, it came out and boy was I impressed. I ordered the teryaki entree, I think it was, and nigiri for appetizer. I was really happy about how organized the presentation was with the food, how clean it was plated as well as the portions of the teryaki with the sauce and when it comes to teryaki sauce, they don't skimp. I'm pretty critical about that when I get the teryaki with rice dishes or bentos from different japanese restaurants cause most of them don't give enough sauce or the portions just aren't good, but Kaita definitely had the balance right. My meal was filling, flavorful, and awesome. The atmosphere of the restaurant is very cozy and welcoming, and it's very clean here. Next time I'm in Japantown SJ again, I'm definitely coming back, but maybe I'll go for the Katsu next time. Thank you, Kaita! 5 stars for sure! read more

See all

Fresh sushi at reasonable price prices. Recommended! Small space doesn't accommodate many people or big groups. read more

See all

Came here on a weekday for some nice sushi. The waiters seemed very rushed which felt a bit overwhelming. It seemed a bit understaffed when we came, two people cooking and one waitress. Once they took our order, we waited over an hour for our food, which was okay. We ordered a small natto, but it was forgotten so we had to remind them. Inside the restaurant it is very small so there arent many seats. The food wasnt anything impressive. I dont think id come again. read more

Kaita Restaurant - Roll Combo - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

Been coming here since they opened. One of the best sushi and sashimi in the Bay Area. Highly recommend the special Kaiden don although the price is pretty steep. It's so difficult to find decent and authentic sushi these days. Kaita really delivers and I hope they will stay in San Jose Japantown forever. read more

Kaita Restaurant - Sushi Sashimi Combo - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

Casual spot with a variety of good eats! Tasty tempura, sashimi, sushi. Nice relaxing spot for dinner. read more

A decent Japanese restaurant. I only tried their hot food so far but definitely want to come back and try the sushi next time. I got the Tonkatsu, which came with rice, potato salad, miso salad, and miso soup. The portion was huge! I had leftovers enough for another meal. The tonkatsu itself was very crispy outside, but slightly tough on the inside. The savory sauce it came with paired really well with it! I also really liked the miso salad - the flavor was just right and not too salty. The miso soup was a little salty, though. read more

Kaita Restaurant - tonkatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

Came here for dinner with a friend after work. It took us a little while to find parking nearby on a Friday evening. We ordered the tempura shishito peppers which was one of the special appetizers and both got the roll special dinner that came with a California roll, yellowtail and green onion roll, and a tuna roll. The food came out quickly. We were lucky to get a table when we arrived. read more

Quaint yet sizeable, Kaita seems like it has a loyal following of regulars, and I can see why. Although the prices are competitive and the staff up front seems constantly hurried, spread thin between tables, the food is enough to keep people coming back. The Small Mixed Poke Don & Small Tempura Udon set is small but mighty, and I very honestly couldn't even tell between the three dishes that arrived at my table and the amount of food on them. The poke was fresh and delightfully fatty. The seasoning was subtle, making it rather fish-forward, which I prefer. The tempura included a single shrimp as well as an array of vegetables, and the udon was noodle-heavy and very filling. The only downside of the set was that the udon noodles served were the thinner kind and I prefer thicker noodles in general, and especially for udon. Though it was still tasty, I can't help but think that I would've enjoyed everything more since that's what I expected when I ordered udon. Overall, a very fair price for the amount of food served. On future visits, ordering two sets and sharing them between 2-3 people would be a good bet depending on how much everyone eats, I think, because I came out absolutely stuffed. read more

Kaita Restaurant - Salad - Japanese Near Me - San Jose, California

See all

Kaita doesn't have the flashiest signs or the biggest space, but it is hands down my FAVORITE place to get lunch in Japantown. I'm gonna have to echo my friend Joanna S's sentiments on the Negitoro Don w/ the Tanuki Udon lunch special (#4). At $13.25, it is as big of a steal as it is freaking delicious. I could realistically eat this once a week and be thrilled with it every. single. time. The fiancé usually gets lunch special #2, the Spicy Chicken Teriyaki, Spicy Tuna Roll, & Soup. Again, delicious with big portions for $12.95. I'm in lurve. The service is always friendly and the atmosphere here is so authentically homey and Japanese. We're usually in and out of here in 45 minutes or less. See ya next week, Kaita! read more

See all

Always the best fresh fish with great deals especially for lunch. Love the saba shioyaki, free tea, family ran as well!

I love coming to SJ Japan Town as there is an assortment of shops and restaurants to choose from. It has been years since I had dined at Kaita and I have always had a great impression of their specials. My party of 3 ordered 1) sake (salmon), ikura (salmon roe) over rice & soup, 2) negitoro (diced tuna with green onion) over rice & soup, and 3) chirashi (scattered sushi over rice). Everything was well presented, nicely prepared, and flavorful. Sake and ikura have always been a favorite meal combination of mine and I was definitely not disappointed. All of us enjoyed our meal at Kaita and it's also great to see that the place is still thriving after so many years! read more

See all

Excellent small, family-run, traditional Japanese restaurant in San Jose's Japantown. Excellent staples, hot food, and of course fish! Attentive service, lovely ambience with regular customers coming in and out and being greeted by the staff with visible familiarity. Highly recommended, would come again. read more

The manager put his finger in my face pointing to the table I requested to be seated in when there were only three tables seated. He was vividly talking down to the poor server as she denied my request. I politely asked him as he aggressively approached me, got in my space--quickly pointing at the empty tables saying that they are for larger parties--with his hand and pointy finger an inch from my face. I think he was expecting me to flinch, instead I ordered him to take his finger away from my face immediately--as he did and apologized like the coward he is and was raised to be... He better get on his hands and knees and thank God that I know the law and I didn't let it get the best of me... read more

Another of my travel rotations is to try something in San Jose Japan town, first and last time here Spider Roll: 3.5 stars Toro: 4.5 stars Combo dinner Salad was below par Miso: 4 stars Katsu: 3 stars, the pork was over done Sashimi / Tempura: 3 stars, tempura was a bit soggy, sashimi was bland read more

See all