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    Kajiken

    4.4 (1.5k reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Noodles
    Closed 11:00 am - 2:00 pm, 5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Kajiken Takeout or Delivery

    Kajiken Photos

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    KAJIKEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Classy

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    Recommended Reviews - Kajiken

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    Reviews With Photos

    Anh P.

    Super dope!!!!!! My ultimate favorite aburasoba of all time! Brought my mom here to try Wagyu roast beef aburasoba and she approved this place! Some personal thoughts: If you want something light, or try to order for the elders, wagyu aburasoba is a better choice, since the meat is more lean and yogurt sauce help balance the richness. Homura aburasoba is also great, but minced pork is a bit fatty, and traditional sauce is also rich, so I normally find it hard to finish a bowl because I'm too full. Nevertheless, I don't say it's not great, do not order. What I meant is that if you have a preference for light food (like me), hate something too oily/ greasy or afraid of fat, wagyu aburasoba is always a better choice!

    OROSHI PONZU KARAAGE
    Rovingaile P.

    4.5/5! The karaage was nice and tender. The tofu tasted good but wish it was the agedashi type, which I think would elevate the dish! Homura aburasoba was the highlight of the meal. The noodles were nice and bouncy, and the sauce, ground pork, and garnishes were a perfect harmony.

    Memi O.

    Great chewy noodle texture and very flavourful!! Would definitely come again. There was a line but short wait for the outdoor seating. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Chill ambience, the space between tables was reasonable but you could clearly hear your neighbor's conversations at very loud volume.. we overheard a very spicy and shocking conversation from the table adjacent to us.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] At first it seemed like a lot of onions and chives but after mixing it was a good ratio of sauce noodles and toppings. Friend ordered the mozzarella cheese add-on topping and it was literally just a little bowl of the shredded mozzarella cheese you can get at the grocery store... so we joked that next time we can just bring our own cheese (BYOC) I ordered the homura aburasoba (spicy minced pork, green onions, bamboo shoots, seaweed, fish powder, chives with ajitama (soft-boiled eggs marinated in soy sauce, ramen egg)). Highly recommend this place to anyone who likes noodles !!

    Karage
    Justin D.

    Located in San Mateo I would rate this place a 3/5 [[HIGHLIGHT]]Interior design is nice an beautiful.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was okay most likely due to the large amount of customers coming in and out. A lot of the workers are busy so you have to flag them down and they rarely come check in on you Homura ABURASOBA 7/10 Chicken Marage 7/10 The food here definitely is packed with flavor but the portion sizing is significantly smaller than Elk Grove location. [[HIGHLIGHT]]JD Big Back tip: if you get seated near the door you may be interested in bringing a jacket because it does get very windy and cold.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Also if you want a spoon you will have to go to the front to request for one.

    Jacob C.

    Forgot to take a photo before mixing, but it did look very aesthetic. Ordered the wagyu roast beef abura soba with raw egg yolk off delivery. I've seen the line in person and it's normally very long. With the yogurt, and other mix ins, it was very flavorful and creamy. The noodles are great texture and they give a big portion. I recommend this and want to try it in person

    WAGYU ROAST BEEF ABURASOBA
    Sheila T.

    Came for dinner with my girlfriends on a Thursday at 7pm-- there will be a line outside but it moves fairly quickly. They ask for your order while you're waiting in line so that when you are seated, the food comes out very quick. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The inside of the restaurant was packed but it didn't seem too loud![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I got the waygu roast beef aburasoba! This is the first time I tried the brothless ramen & it definitely was super delicious! The egg mixed in makes it super creamy. My bowl was seasoned great! I would definitely come back again to try some appetizers. My friend who ordered the unagi loved her bowl except there were large bones that were hard to pick out.

    Outdoor seating
    Vinkin Ken T.

    We arrived on a Sunday at 6:20pm and waited 10 minutes for a table. Meanwhile our order was taken so after sitting down our bowls were served within 5 minutes. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Besides inside seating they also have counter seating and outdoor seating.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They offer 9 different dry ramen variations plus a monthly special. You can add additional toppings for an extra charge. They also serve appetizers and rice bowls. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a very casual dining experience with Japanese pop music playing in the background.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The dry ramen is a very hearty meal with various condiments on the table including garlic, sesame seeds, chili, sesame oil and vinegar to adjust to your taste. The noodles were cooked al dente. I tried both the original and the Homura aburasoba and liked them both. The spicy pork wasn't spicy at all and the char siu was very tender. Had a bit of leftover and took it home.

    Homura aburasoba
    Ruby Z.

    One of my favorite noods places in the bay area! I've never tried dry ramen before Kajiken, but now it's one of my go-tos when I'm craving something saucy and carb-y and delicious! Sometimes the line can get long, especially during weekend rush hour, so I recommend going a little before they open and snagging a table early. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have both indoor and outdoor seating, casual nice.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Ive tried their top 3 most popular ones, and they're all delicious! Highly recommend dining in as they have vinegar and spicy sauces and garlic chips you can add to your bowl. Definitely worth a visit, especially if you stop by on a day there's no wait!

    SOBORO ABURASOBA and HOMURA ABURASOBA
    Diane N.

    Kajiken hits the spot between comfort and pure gluttony! I typically do not love noodle places, but this is on another level. I have been to Kajiken twice now, and it has been absolutely delicious each time. It is located in downtown San Mateo, so it does not have its own dedicated parking lot. If you come on the weekend, it can be harder to find parking, and the likelihood of a wait is high. When it gets busy, there is a section outside for you to line up. The servers typically come out to the folks closest to the front of the line and hand them menus so they can decide what they want before being seated. When it is not as busy, you can walk in directly and request a table. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The shop itself actually has a lot of seating, but there is always an influx of people, so it fills up quickly.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior gives off a nice modern Japanese chic vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] :) [[HIGHLIGHT]]They also offer outdoor patio seating, which is great if you are trying to enjoy a nice day outside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I have tried both their Wagyu Roast Beef Aburasoba and their Soboro Aburasoba. The roast beef is tender and adds a nice chew against the silky noodles, while the soboro chicken is juicy and coats your mouth with a savory soy flavor. Additionally, I've had their karaage on both occasions I visited, and it was succulent! I love how the juice from the chicken balances with the generous amount of grated ginger and green onion. This place is definitely worth a try! If you can go on a weekday before the dinner rush from people getting off their 9-5 jobs, that would probably be the optimal time frame. I came here on a Wednesday around 6:15 PM, and it was not too bad until around 7 PM when it started getting busy.

    ORIGINAL ABURASOBA
    John C.

    I was in San Mateo, and I was hungry. I checked Yelp and Google, and there were so many places to choose from, I didn't know what to pick. I checked Michelin, and it help me narrow it down to Kajiken. As I walked to Kajiken, I knew I was getting close because it was the only place that had a line-up outside. There were probably 12-14 people waiting, and I wondering if I should find another place because I didn't want to wait. Fortunately, as a single diner, they sat me right away. I ended up ordering the Original Aburasoba and it came in about 5 minutes. It was good. Great texture, good flavours, and a reasonable serving size. Service was fine but minimal. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Dining area is typical of modern ramen places.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Overall, a nice quick meal. Maybe closer to a 3.5 or 3.75 as it was good, but I was also very hungry. I would consider returning.

    Justin M.

    I've come 4 times now and it still hits every single time. Almost always a line, but it moves extremely quickly. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Service is good, interior is well-lit and clean, and the food is just amazing.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Make sure you get the hot tea as well! Noodles are so fresh and perfectly cooked. FOOD: Wagyu Roast Beef Aburasoba (9/10) - My personal favorite! The roast beef is extremely tender, and the yogurt sauce pairs perfectly with her. Pro-tip, add a little bit of vinegar - tastes even better Nikumori Aburasoba (9/10) - Slightly spicy with a ton of pork inside. The sauce coats the noodles perfectly - amazing!

    OROSHI PONZU KARAAGE
    Bethany W.

    [[HIGHLIGHT]]This place is solid, but can get really busy at nights so it took us a while to try it![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We came on a late Saturday afternoon and sat outside. The outdoor seating is pretty nice and inside is even nicer.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Good vibes all around.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was fantastic and very attentive too. Prices are very fair for the portion sizes and quality!! The aburasoba was good and had a lot of components. I always appreciate an array of condiments on the table too for making the bowl taste exactly how you like! I added a lot of vinegar and it was really yummy! The ponzu karaage was really good! Super tender and the grated daikon mixture on top added great freshness! I'll be back to try some other dishes (as long as the wait isn't long haha)!

    curry aburasoba
    Gina N.

    Came here on Sunday around 3:45PM and there was no line. There were plenty of outside and indoor seating. We opted for inside since it was so cold. On the menu, there were so many great options to choose from along with appetizers and toppings to add into the noodles as well. I got the keene curry aburasoba with a seasoned egg and my friend got the homura aburasoba. I added chili oil and garlic to my curry noodles for more flavor. The noodles here are so soft and chewy. I can't wait for them to open a location in south bay :)

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    Page 1 of 37

    Kajiken Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kajiken

    Is this restaurant dog friendly if outdoor seating is available?

    We have a dog-friendly patio at our Kajiken Elk Grove location. Feel free to bring your pup!

    Wait time on sunday?

    Depends on how many in your part, approx. 15-20 mins for 2-3 ppl. longer wait for bigger party.

    We are planning to arrive Friday 1:30pm. Will that be ok? Do they stop taking order at certain time? (it shows lunch time until 2pm. )

    That should be fine as the line moves quite fast as they hand over the tap to the customers once they finished for the next table. They probably stop the line once the clock strikes.

    Can we get the yolk on the ramen again or are they still just putting boiled egg?

    You can get raw! I went last week, my husband had his w/ raw egg yolk and I had mine w/ poached egg.

    Do they take reservations? If not, what has the wait time been for Friday (non-holiday) early lunchtime (11am)?

    No reservations. Turnovers are fast. If you come early as they are just opened, it's usually not bad.

    Is there outdoor seating now?

    Unfortunately not the last few times I was there

    Will it be possible to visit with 6 people if we wait in line?

    Yes. We had a party of 8 are we were able to get a table. Let the host know you have 6 and he will arrange your table.

    Are you open on Labor Day?

    Yes we are!

    Is this place okay with serving large parties (10-12)?

    It's gonna be tight.

    Do they take apple pay?

    Yup!

    Do they do take out?

    They HIGHLY don't recommend it, but will if you insist.

    Do the noodles have buckwheat?

    While Soba does refer to buckwheat noodles, most Aburasoba uses ramen noodles actually. Chuuka Soba (Chinese Soba) was the old name for Ramen in Japan which is where the name comes from.… 

    Can the mushroom aburasoba be made without garlic and onions?

    Hi Liza, thank you for your question. Unfortunately, it can not be made without garlic. Onions can be removed.

    Does Kajiken offer take out options?

    No they don't. We asked the server and she said the only way would be to order an extra bowl with your dine in order. Then, you could get a takeout container to take it to go.

    Do you have food delivery?

    Is it open today during President's day holiday?

    Yes! We are open on President's Day from 11-2pm then 5-9pm!

    Does this place offer takeout? I see it as a feature on Google/Yelp but there's no phone number.

    No takeout yet.

    When is the best day/time to go to avoid line as much as possible?

    Weekday lunch.

    Any vegan items?

    Mushroom aburasoba $14.50

    Is there a digital waitlist or do you just have to wait in line?

    It seems like you just have to wait in line.

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    Taishoken - San Mateo

    4.3
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    Been here many many times and each time I've enjoyed the Mazesoba. I've tried the soup ramen and…read morethe dipping ramen which are exceptional too, but nothing beats the Mazesoba. Taishoken does this dish so well, even better than other restaurants where Mazesoba is their specialty. This dish really does not get the attention it deserves here. Today in addition to the Mazesoba we also ordered their fried squid, and wow it delivered! Worth ordering everytime in our future visits! They usually are very busy, but they have online waiting list you can set a time you think you'll arrive and they are very good and efficient with seating and waiting times. Can't say the same for a few other ramen places also in San Mateo. The service here is very consistently excellent too. Parking is hit and miss on the street but around the corner are the garages and that is very reliable. This is a great go to when in San Mateo.

    In the mood for dipping ramen as I have not had it in a long time, and my partner suggested going…read moreto Taishoken as she felt it was as good or even better than Japan when she went. We were headed toward San Mateo and were able to check in when we were closer, it looked like there were about 7 parties ahead of us so we walked around. About 20 minutes later, we got the message to be seated and walked on back. The place is nice, very intimate, you have the tables right in front of you when you walk and the chefs on the right side behind the counter making the food. No Tv's but I was able to catch FIFA on my phone! We both had the Tsukemen dipping ramen with pork, and damn, was it yummy! Broth was great, the meat was tender, the egg was perfectly cooked, and things mixed extremely well with each bite! I'm also a sucker for Karaage chicken, and the Karaage here did not disappoint, perfectly crisp, tender inside, and the sauce was delightful, washing it down with a cold Sapporo was great after a long day! I'll definitely be coming back to try the other items on their menu, like the duck!

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    Shugetsu

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    $$

    Shugetsu is my go-to place for tsukemen - Taishoken is also pretty popular, but Shugetsu is my…read morepreference because I like the texture and taste of their noodles more. I used to get one Shugetsu Tsukemen Special on my own, but it's been harder and harder for me to finish one by myself. Now, I order a Shugetsu Tsukemen Special with the mega size, get side orders of the chashu pork and marinated egg, and split with my boyfriend (since the Special already comes with pork and egg for one person, the a la carte orders are enough for a second). The broth is super flavorful, smoky, and roasty. Keep in mind the broth does err on the more oily side for the more health-conscious folks, and I wouldn't wear white, as the broth might splash back as you eat! The restaurant doesn't have a flashy storefront and is rather more hidden in the marketplace it's in. Be cautious about leaving valuables in your car. The inside itself is also not too big, so that on top of its popularity is why there might be a wait. I would also recommend coming earlier than typical meal times. While the hype has definitely died down ever since they opened during Covid, it's still pretty popular so I would be prepared to wait. I highly recommend trying out Shugetsu, and definitely recommend coming hungry because the portions are huge! They recently opened another location in Fremont, so East Bay folks get to try this one out there too.

    We came about an hour before lunch hours ended. It was still quite busy, and folks were still…read morefunneling in! We had a bar seat, which was neat to watch how things were prepared. We ordered a Shugetsu Tsukemen special and a Shugetsu Ramen. They let you add more noodles at no extra charge. We saw the pork slices getting charcoal(?) grilled in the back! For the tsukemen, I opted for hot noodles. They're a bit clingier when hot, but have a great bite to them. The soup is a little on the sour side, but it was delicious. There's little bits of pork and menma in it, and it clung to the noodles well. Definitely recommend the extra egg and pork! The ramen was equally amazing. The broth was light yet hearty. These noodles also had a satisfying chew to them.

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    Abura Soba
    Abura Soba
    Tsukemen
    Tsukemen
    Green Onion Ramen Special

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    Green Onion Ramen Special
    Udon Mugizo - San Mateo

    Udon Mugizo - San Mateo

    4.4
    (365 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$
    Kid friendly
    Locally owned & operated

    This location is so pretty and its so convenient too because it is surrounded by all the other…read morerestaurants and sweet treat options (so you can get dessert afterwards :P) I love how the portions here are huge and you definitely get your money's worth. I would say that nothing beats the udon here whether it be the other non noodle dishes or other restaurants. Udon mugizo udon noodles are thick, chewy and super bouncy.

    My go-to udon place!…read more I recently went on a weekday afternoon, around 11:15am and it was relatively empty. It started to get more busy closer to lunch time, as expected. The servers were nice and attentive towards us. Out of the countless times I've gone, I've never had a bad experience with the service! I typically always order the Mentai Cream Sauce Udon, but this time I also ordered the Spicy Garlic Edamame. The udon was delish as usual, with the flavors all mending perfectly without being too heavy. (If you're lactose intolerant I would highly recommend taking a lactaid prior). The edamame on the other hand was just okay. I love me some edamame but this one just felt like they slabbed on some spicy chili sauce on top so the flavor didn't catch as well as I thought it would. Overall just not the flavor profile I had expected for this. Even on busy days it's never too loud, but it's always a good hustle and bustle noise. Definitely recommend for people who haven't tried before!

    Photos
    Tempura Donburi
    Tempura Donburi
    Udon Mugizo - San Mateo
    Udon Mugizo - San Mateo

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    Zen Noodle Bar

    Zen Noodle Bar

    3.9
    (603 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    The red bean buns are highly addictive. Seriously! I've…read moreordered many different dishes from this restaurant and the only thing that consistently sticks each time I order are those red bean buns. So delicious!!! And they reheat really well. Service is quick and efficient. Restaurant is always busy when I go in so I always call in my order and pick up/eat at home. Clean restaurant every time I visit! [this review was made in connection with a Toast promotion, Zen Noodle Bar did not ask me to write this review]

    This has been a family favorite for when my son is in town but this time sadly, it didn't hit the…read moremarks. Maybe an off day so we'll try again. We loved the pan fried dumplings cuz they used to be so juicy when you bit into them the juice would just squirt out and splash the person sitting across from you but this time the meat was tiny and not juicy at all! The bun was crispy but compare to before...2/5. If you've never had it when it was awesome, maybe a 3/5. Chicken cutlet on noodle 3/5: The noodle was a bit dry but the cutlet was good. Again, used to be better. Beef wrap 4/5: Actually I didn't eat this but hubs and DIL did and they both liked it. looked like a lot of beef but the end piece was a little skimpy. The service was great, the lady refilled our water and she was nice. It's still a tiny hole in the wall type place but down to earth. we'll prolly try one more time and see how it goes.

    Photos
    Lots of stuff around, but still about 10 tables.
    Lots of stuff around, but still about 10 tables.
    Shen Jian bao
    Shen Jian bao
    Dan Dan noodles

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    Dan Dan noodles

    Kajiken - japanese - Updated July 2026

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