One of the only dry ramen spots in the area! This place is perfect for those who like a richer creamier flavor in their noodles. If rich and creamy is not for you, then you might feel that it's a little heavy and consider adding some vinegar into your bowl. Super popular but their line moves pretty fast! They now have both indoor and outdoor seating which helps move the line faster too. The store itself is nicely decorated to mimic a restaurant in Japan. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I dont know how I've never been here before bc it's amazing. Service is top tier and food is sooooo darn good. Interior js also so pretty and best of all, it's clean without having that bleach smell I hate. Keeping this short and saying the two times this week (I know it was so good, we had to go back), the experience was nothing short of incredible. Servers will be around all the time and are sooo nice. Even though there wasn't room yet for our party and we we were waiting outside in the cold, they gave us the option of coming inside and in separate tables while they prepped the one that could accommodate our party's size. Food never takes too long and appetizers come out quickly. I even wanna come back right now as I'm writing this. If you haven't tried it, please go now. It's the best. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Came here around 6pm with my girlfriend! The place was pretty filled, but there were a few tables open. There's no waitlist, so it's first come first serve, I would recommend going there early or on weekday for dinner, or even lunch for a better chance on getting a seat. We were sat on a counter which is perfect because we like sitting next to each other anyways. There is chili oil, vinegar, garlic, sesame seeds, and chili flakes, and in a little compartment there's chopsticks, so cute! For food we got 3 appetizers: The Hiyayakko cold tofu so solid and tastes so delicious, the sauce was delicious. Pan fried gyoza was simple but satisfying. Takoyaki was actually not piping hot so it was good to eat and enjoyable. For the signature aburasoba, we got the homura aburasoba which was actually so delicious the sauces and the side condiments mixed so well together everything was great. I recommend if you like soupless ramen but be prepared to wait if you come during a weekend or dinner. The place is fairly small and with no waitlist, it would be pretty hard to get in. read more

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Good sized portions, great flavors, lots of options, and very rich/filling food! Attended with family and they all shared the same thoughts. I hadn't been a very big fan of dry ramen prior but this was so tasty! Overall, I will definitely stop by again if I'm in the area. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Kajiken has been in my bookmarks for a while and I finally got the chance to try it out! My friend and I arrived around 5pm and there was no wait, even though the restaurant was already pretty packed. We had the option to sit at the bar or outdoors, the bar chairs were uncomfortable, so we chose outdoor seating since it was a nice day! We started with the oroshi ponzu karaage, which was tender, juicy, and had a refreshing citrusy kick from the ponzu/lemon. For the main dishes, I ordered the nikumori aburasoba (spicy minced pork + pork slices), while my friend got the wagyu roast beef aburasoba with extra beef on the side. Both bowls were super flavorful and filling, I loved mine even more after adding some vinegar since I liked it more tangy! Overall, everything was perfect! Definitely will be coming back. read more

Kajiken - NIKUMORI ABURASOBA | WAGYU ROAST BEEF ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Tl;dr Delicious soup less ramen, go with the regular / top choice item if you're not sure what to try or if it's your first time. Cute outdoor patio seating. I, a die hard noodle soup lover, thoroughly enjoyed my soup less ramen at Kajiken! I ate here for a late lunch on a Saturday with friends, and we were seated outside on the patio, which has a few tables in addition to the indoor restaurant seating. I have not really tried dry ramen before since I love noodle soups and typically pick a soup at restaurants that offer both. My table ordered some gyoza and karaage apps to share. Both were tasty but nothing too remarkable. Not having tried dry ramen before, I ordered the #1 item, Homura Aburasoba for $17.50 and was pleasantly surprised. The bowl comes beautiful when unmixed, after which you can add your own amount of chili oil or garlic toppings. I added a little bit of garlic for fun but the aburasoba was plenty delicious and flavorful even without it. I found the pricing to be fair given the high quality meal you get. read more

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Yummy and hearty! Kajiken serves semi-dry noodle bowls with a variety of toppings. As a vegetarian with an aversion to mushrooms, it's sometimes hard to find dishes I like, so I'm so glad Kajiken now has the Megami Aburasoba! Tofu and lots of toppings a in a yummy sauce. The noodles are bouncy and the perfect amount of chewiness. Make sure to mix for 20 seconds as per their instructions! I love their garlic grinders - basically like a black pepper mill, but filled with dried garlic. Genius! Why don't more places have that? Make sure to come early for dinner, or expect to wait in line for 20-40 minutes. When I've come for lunch, I rarely wait. One of my go-to's in downtown San Mateo! read more

Kajiken - MEGAMI ABURASOBA in foreground, NIKUMORI ABURASOBA in background - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

There is often a wait but the line moves decently fast. I will say this is probably the best aburasoba I've had so far in the bay area. I don't think it's as good as what I've had in Japan but this satisfies a craving. The service is always fast and is also a great place for a solo diner. I normally get the Honmura Aburasoba and love all the extra toppings/sauces at the table. There is garlic, spicy paste, spicy oil, and vinegar to make it tailored to exactly what you want. I don't think it's worth longer than a 30 minute wait. read more

Kajiken - Him - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Sometimes the you are just at the right place, at the right time! The lunch spot we were headed to was packed, so from a little Yelp help we learned about this place and we were only a minute away walking distance. I got the wagu option -- so flavorful and a subtle sweetness. I added some chili oil because why not? And it only elevated the already amazing experience. Server was incredible and patient with us. Took us through the menu with lots of suggestions and recommendations for us to explore. Protip: When the food arrived he told us to stir everything around because the sauces are at the bottom. And he checked on us regularly. No wait time, but full restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating options. Decor is cute for lunch. Table and chairs gave modern cafeteria style experience. Recommend and will be returning! read more

I've been eyeing this spot for a long time due to the long line. So I figured this would be a great spot to go to on a cold day and random Wed. I'm not sure if I'm not a fan of dry ramen, so my review may be biased. This is my friend time and the ambiance was great and good looked delicious. However, food wise- I think generally nothing especially stood out for me to want to come back. It could just be this may not be my cup of tea or I had really high expectations coming in. Flavors didn't essentially stand out. Wish there were other options for cocktails but most seemed to be more of a rice wine, sake base. read more

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Tried the Homura Aburasoba. The noodles were nice and chewy which was the best part. There were tons of toppings like chili oil, vinegar, garlic, dried chili, and sesame seeds to mix in, but the base itself was just... lacking. It did not have much flavor whatsoever, so I had to mix in a lot of the add ons just to get a good flavor. Otherwise, service felt relatively inattentive. Water never got refilled, dishes were dropped off without saying which was which, and no one explained how to eat the aburasoba or offered the little placard with the instructions. Decent noodles but the overall experience was just okay. read more

Kajiken - HOMURA ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

This is some of the best soupless ramen I've had! There was no wait for a party of 3 on a Friday around 1pm, but inside was definitely crowded. We were originally seated outside as we had a stroller, but it started to rain and they made room for us inside. The service is kind and quick/efficient. We ordered the ponzu karaage and their top #1 homura aburasoba and #3 wagyu roast beef aburasoba. There are condiments on the table such as chili oil, sesame seeds, vinegar, chili peppers, and garlic. We got our food quickly. We got the karaage first which was okay. It's not meant to be crispy (although I wish it was), but was juicy. The pieces are large though, which unfortunately, led to us having a raw/undercooked piece of chicken. The waiter dealt with it professionally and said we didn't have to pay for it, and also offered to have it remade for us/pack it to-go which I appreciated. The aburasoba came soon after and the presentation is on point. Both versions were so tasty. Noodles are chewy and perfectly cooked. The Wagyu roast beef one was my favorite. The garlic and yogurt sauce was delicious with the noodles and the slices of beef were very tender. We left full and satisfied. Would definitely come back for the aburasoba! read more

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Great place for aburasoba, soupless ramen. The ramen noodles were chewy and yummy, and there are different options for toppings. You can also choose how you want the egg for certain dishes, it doesn't need to be raw eggs. You can swap raw eggs out for ajitama or poached eggs. Mixing in the egg with other ingredients makes the noodles rich and flavorful. There are sesame, other sauces on the table as well. Decent portion and good services. read more

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I ordered the Original Aburasoba. It was creamy and flavorful, with chewy noodles that held the sauce really well. Everything mixed together nicely, and the toppings added good texture and balance. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Portion was satisfying, and service was quick in a clean, modern space.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] read more

Kajiken - Original Aburasoba - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Tldr: had high expectations but the veg options were unfortunately not it.. Stopped by around Saturday 7pm and there was a bit of a line but it wasn't as long as I've seen it before. We ordered the original aburasoba and the mushroom aburasoba. The original aburasoba was decent but wasn't as special as you'd expect from the kajiken reputation. It felt like a slightly upgraded version of prepackaged noodles than a carefully crafted bowl that we've had at other restaurants. The mushroom aburasoba lacked both flavor and texture with only one kind of mushroom and cold tofu being the main ingredients, which just fell flat. Having said all this, the price is pretty good for the amount of food that you get and a bowl of noodle could make for a good quick meal but we wouldn't necessarily wait in line for it. read more

Kajiken - MUSHROOM ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This was my second visit to Kajiken, and I quickly noticed they've added a few more noodle varieties since my last time here. I was craving noodles but not necessarily soup, so Kajiken was an easy choice since they specialize in abura soba. We tried the "Original Abura Soba," which is their classic recommendation, and the "Homura Abura Soba," their current #1 choice. The Homura gave me flavors that reminded me a bit of dandan noodles, at least to my taste, while the original had lighter, more balanced flavors. Both were tasty in their own way. We also ordered the karaage, which was flavorful and juicy. Even though they mention it's not meant to be crispy, I personally wish it had a bit more crunch. Overall, I really enjoyed this visit and would definitely come back whenever I'm in the mood for soup-less noodles! read more

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This is my second time ordering takeout and it did not disappoint. We brought our dogs and had our takeout by the picnic tables outside of the restaurant. We had to order the condiments for an additional $3 as it does not come with the meal btw! Either way, the food here is always amazing and filling and I always crave it! I paid $36.83 for 2 soboro aburasobas, 2 chili oil/ vinegar, and 1 sesame/chili paste/ garlic through the Uber Eats app. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Surprisingly, the line wasn't too bad at 8pm on a Friday evening. There were two bigger groups in front of us, and we waited maybe about 10 minutes. The menu suggests the Original Aburasoba for first-timers, but the spicy minced pork with raw egg yolk was calling my name. I tried the Nikumori Aburasoba, which came with spicy minced pork, pork slices, green onions, and the raw egg yolk. I was told to get a side of the yogurt sauce for extra creaminess, and it just elevated the bowl of creamy noodles. I wasn't a huge fan of the pork slices as it wasn't the tender pork belly cuts I was expecting or hoping for. It was more like pork shoulder. I tried a bite of my mom's Homura Aburasoba, and I think that's what I'll be ordering next time! In addition to your toppings, each table also had sesame seeds, garlic, chili oil, and chili paste. Definitely add it all! We also shared the oroshi ponzu karaage, which was just okay. I'd be happy to eat it again but not a must-try. This was so good, yet so filling. Note to self: half a bowl would have been more than enough (although I know I would want to finish the whole bowl myself haha). read more

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When we arrived on a Saturday night, the line was long but it moved very fast! We got seated outside and it wasn't too cold at all. Our food arrived quickly, which I appreciated. Friendly and helpful staff. The portion was huge! I wasn't able to finish my bowl of noodles. the meal felt hefty. I liked all the individual components of this dish, but felt it was a little too soft in texture. I needed a "crunch" or something to balance it. It definitely helped when adding in the vinegar sauce and the sesame seeds, but it just felt overwhelming eating it. I still enjoyed it and thought the flavor was nice but I think it could use something else. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Came here for the first time during their lunch hour and picked out three different dishes and a side of their cabbage and corn and surprisingly the steamed cabbage was deliciously flavored with something else. I'm not sure if it was like a Dashi or soy sauce, but I was definitely surprised. I wasn't told that it was mixed with anything, but it was a great surprise for sure and the Giza was definitely tasty but my original was very very yummy and then to come find out the red stuff that looks like spicy oil was actually not super spicy and adding the garlic and the sesame seeds was a perfect touch. Everything was super delicious. We were seated right away. They had some Opal available tables. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They had a booster seat or a highchair available for us for my kid.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] They don't sell any toddler food items. No options at all for like maybe a small bowl or anything like that, but I did pick him some Giza, which is just right and they had like a small Tareshi bowl, but I didn't get that but that could be an option for kids read more

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My brother-in-law recowarned me that there wait time is long - but thankfully when I went, my family and I didn't have to wait. The staff were very attentive to all tables and our food was served fairly quickly for 5 PM. I ended up getting the Nikumori Aburasoba and it was really savory. I wish I enjoyed it more and finished it at the restaurant instead of taking it home because it's better fresh, I was just too full to eat. We also ordered chicken karaage and edamame and it was really good, I really enjoyed the wasabi-mayo the karaage came with. read more

Kajiken - NIKUMORI ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

You really can't go wrong with whatever you order here. Everything we've tried has been solid. There's usually a wait, but it's worth it. The inside is cozy and well lit, with a comfortable, lively vibe that makes you want to stay awhile. The food is definitely on the heavier side, and I always leave in a full food coma, but in the best way. The whole street is packed with great food and drink spots too, so it's a fun area to explore and makes the wait easier. Definitely worth checking out. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This review is based on takeout. Ordering online is very easy with options to add or take away ingredients. Parking can be challenging as it is mostly metered parking along the street or ticket parking structure. If interested in dining, they also have outdoor patio. Picking up was very smooth by either telling them your name or the order number. Orders are typically held on a shelf on the right side of the door. Appreciate the paper container versus plastic. We ordered the ponzu karage, mushroom aburasoba and soborro aburasoba. The karage had tasty seasoning. Both aburasoba each had subtle but good flavor and were very satisfying meal. read more

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A very popular restaurant. We went in a Thursday night and we were able to be seated right away. Service was quick and condiments and chopsticks already at the table. We ordered the HOMURA ABURASOBA with poached Eva's snd ORIGINAL KARAAGE. The food arrived quick. The karrasger was hot and crispy and the ABURASOBA was good and there are instructions to mix all the ingredients together before eating. It's a dry ramen noodle dish. The dish has plenty of noodles and was tasty. read more

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Yummy aburasoba (soupless ramen) in the lovely location of downtown San Mateo! Came here with a friend on a Friday evening at 6:30pm and there was a short line, but since we were okay sitting outside we only had to wait around 5 minutes. We asked if we could swap the protein in the Homura Aburasoba (the Top 1 menu item), but they said they don't allow that. They did, however, let me take out the meat entirely. My friend ordered the Soboro Aburasoba with chicken. Both with the raw egg on top. I added basically all the sauces and condiments that were available on the table and then did some thorough mixing like the menu instructions says! Honestly, I think I overmixed it because I did it way longer than 30 seconds to the point that it was a bit difficult to pick up the noodles because they were tangled up haha. I'll follow the instructions more closely next time and see if that changes anything. Will definitely come back! read more

Kajiken - HOMURA ABURASOBA (no meat), SOBORO ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Came here around 12pm (1 hr after open) and barely grabbed a table for 4 without waiting, there continued to be a line after. Nikumori Aburasoba $18.50 At $1 more than the Homura Aburasoba, you get pork slices in addition to the minced pork but they take away everything else: nori, veggied, etc. All you get are scallions. The nori version that I tried from my sister's Homura has mich more depth in flavor and completely changes the taste of the dish. I must say they do give a ton of pork slices. I struggled to even eat 3/4 of this and I was very full at this point, easily shareable or save half for another meal. The chewiness of the noodles was wonderful and for its category, it was a tasty dish. Sub raw egg yolk for ajitama (half marinated egg) or poached egg at no extra cost. Ponzu Karaage $10 Radish shavings soaked up the ponzu sauce and I highly recommend eating with each bite of the chicken. The chicken is not battered up as described and is a bit dry and too salty. read more

Kajiken - Ponzu Karaage - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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First time trying Aburasoba! We came around 7pm on a Wednesday and were seated right away, despite it being busy. As a party of two, we were seated at the high chairs as the smaller tables for 2 were filled and they try to save the bigger tables for parties of 3+. Our food came quick! Few minutes after being seated and ordering. I ordered the Top #1 Homura Aburasoba and devoured this!! Does have slight fishy taste, but not overpowering when mixed with the minced pork, chili oil, and vinegar. Everything blended well together and I would definitely order this again! My friend ordered the Top #2 Nikukori Aburasoba and this also tasted so good! I think I favored this one more especially with the pork belly slices. I'd definitely come back again to try their other dishes. Service is quick and staff are friendly. Would recommend this place to try especially if you're in the area! This place is also nearby many dessert places. read more

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There's always a line out the door for Kajiken so we had to try it. On a Saturday, we lined up early at 10:45am before they opened at 11am and were able to be seated first inside. I have not had aburasoba before (soupless ramen), but it was a great experience. We tried the homura aburasoba and Soboro aburasoba. You can substitute the type of egg as well so we had a ajitama seasoned egg. After mixing all the spices and meat together, each bite was delicious. The soboro aburasoba had too much meat to noodle ratio, but otherwise I'm so happy we were finally able to try this place! They have a really nice outside parklet too for additional seating read more

Kajiken - Storefront and parklet - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Yumm i got to try something different this time and went with the Mushroom Tofu Aburasoba. I think i usually get the Waygu Roastbeef one and wanted something vegan. The Mushroom Aburasoba was really good! Has a lighter flavor, umami/sesame? I added some chili flakes and chili oil and kick was nicely added. Plenty of tofu and mushrooms, only a little bit of spinach. Would order this again! read more

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Arrived right around 5pm and we were seated quickly. However, the place started filling up right around 5:30pm. Started with the Ika Geso Karaage - arrived hot and crispy. Good flavor. Just wished they were in smaller pieces as they were hot and chewy so made it difficult to bite through. First time here, so had to give their Top 1 seller - the Homura Aburasoba - a try. Told to give it a stir for about 20 seconds to make sure all the ingredients were properly mixed together. Can't say I've tried soupless ramen before, but this one was good. The noodles were chewy and it was quite flavorful. Friend ordered the Roast Beef Aburasoba and let me try it - that one had good flavor too. May not seem like a lot, but both bowls were decent portions - quite filling. Service was good in that they checked on us often and made sure to keep our water pitcher full. Would definitely return to try other items. read more

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Good but very rich. We enjoyed the noodle texture but I think this is something we could only eat once in a while. The sauce is pretty thick and rich so by the end of the bowl I got really tired of the flavor. Seevice was good and pretty easy to find parking. But there's always a line on weekends read more

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First time here and I'll definitely come back! The noodles were soft and firm. The seasonings were a great balance and it was very filling. Service was fast but there tends to be a line since it's very popular. The seating inside is kinda small but worth the wait. read more

Kajiken - HOMURA ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Visited on a Tuesday night around 7 PM and got seated quickly with no line. Wanted to see what the hype was about and it was worth it! We ordered the original and the curry noodles and both were amazing - super flavorful, with chewy noodles and generous portions. The dishes were filling and creamy. Minced meat in the dishes were good quality. Service was fast and attentive. They also have a bathroom on-site and there's plenty of parking in the nearby downtown Santa Monica parking structures, which makes visiting super convenient. There's usually a line on weekends, so plan accordingly. Would definitely come back and order both dishes again. read more

Kajiken - Curry - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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KAJIKEN, famous for their bowls of ABURASOBA, in San Mateo at 112 S B Street. Kajiken Aburasoba originally from Nagoya, Japan is similar to Cantonese Lo Mein but with a few more ingredients resulting in a bowl of soba noodles with more complexity. Decor is Japanese clean, simple aesthetics with airy, light woods and finishes. Greeted immediately upon stepping over threshold. When asked about vegetarian or meatless options, Alberto, friendly and helpful, was quick to point out the two vegetarian options on the menu and I was sold. Kajiken actually gives you suggestions on how to approach their Aburasoba. Really appreciated this! Step 1: Mix for 20 seconds until all noodles are coated with sauce. Step 2: Additional condiments like fresh grind garlic flakes, sesame seeds. Or, for: Acid: Vinegar Fragrance: Chili oil Spice: Chili paste Step 3: Dig in and eat while fresh and hot! MOST IMPORTANT STEP! Lol...don't dawdle! Ordered: HIYAYAKKO COLD TOFU w/sweet & spicy sauce, green onions, bonito flakes, ginger & sesame seeds. For some reason Hiyayakko tofu is difficult to find. Maybe because of the simplicity of the original dish and its dependence on freshly made tofu. The Kajiken Hiyayakko's sweet & spicy sauce took away from the freshness of the tofu. While the sauce didn't work for me, you cannot take away from the freshness of the cold, fresh tofu! MEGAMI ABURASOBA w/fried tofu, Bok choy, eggplant, red & green onions, cabbage, garlic chili flakes. Followed the suggestion to mix the noodles well with the sauce for at least 20 seconds. I first opted to try the Aburasoba as prepared. Omigosh it was outstanding!!! As the combined flavors infused my mouth with a wave of sensational satisfaction and savory finish. I had to stop myself so I could try all condiments on the table - see above. Which I did. Honestly, I felt this bowl of MEGAMI ABURASOBA was the most perfectly well-seasoned, well-put together bowl of soba I have ever had! No additional condiments needed. Just mix well, and dig in!!! Definitely would order again! Note: Their other vegetarian/vegan bowl was the MUSHROOM ABURASOBA. Opted for the MEGAMI ABURASOBA because it had more veggies. KAJIKEN ABURASOBA was a great find as soba noodles are a wonderful, healthy option. Eager for a return visit to try their popular bowls like their ORIGINAL ABURASOBA which is what they also recommend you try as a first timer. Also, their HOMURA ABURASOBA, NIKUMORI ABURASOBA or WAGYU ROAST BEEF ABURASOBA. See you there! read more

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if you're ever in San Mateo, you have to come here. It's located in a lively street, full of eateries and bars (SomiSomi and Urban Ritual next door)! We went on a Friday night we were seated immediately which was a pleasant surprise given how busy the street was! We ordered the number one item, the Homura Aburasoba, and the wagyu aburasoba. I really enjoyed the condiments on the side, allowing you the versatility of dressing your meal however you like it (personally, I like my ramen spicy). Homura aburasoba 4/5: the most popular on the menu. Full of chives and minced pork meat and bamboo. Kind of reminded me of DanDan noodles. Flavor was rich and overall a hearty bowl. Wagyu aburasoba 5/5: absolutely delicious and worth the extra few dollars. the meat was very tender, cooked, medium rare. I got the poached egg with this complemented the rich buttery noodles perfectly! If I were to go back, I would get this again lol Didn't get to try their appetizers like takoyaki but people nearby did and it looked very delectable, will consider it when I come back. read more

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Came to Kajiken for a quick late lunch/early dinner after a visit to Alcatraz Island, before our flight. Little did I know this was located right across the street from Philz Coffee, where I had been multiple times before. Kajiken is known for the aburasoba, similar to ramen, but without broth. Aburasoba is quite similar, if not the same as maze(men/soba). Came here around 4pm on a Sunday afternoon, and was instantly seated inside. I had first learned about mazemen from a place i LOVE in Costa Mesa, so since then, i've been looking for similar establishments around serving the same/similar item. I had tried the HOMURA ABURASOBA with a RAW EGG YOLK whereas my friend got the same but with a POACHED EGG. 2 other friends got different items (totally forgot what they got, swear one was probably the WAGYU ROAST BEEF ABURASOBA, but i definitely forgot the other one) The HOMURA ABURASOBA has spicy minced pork, green onions, bamboo shoots, sweafood, fish powder, chives, and as stated option between raw egg yolk, ajitama, OR poached egg. Vinegar, Garlic and Sesame Seed is available at the table for you to add to your desire, as well as chili oil or chili powder. I LOVE adding garlic and vinegar but surprisingly adding sesame seeds (and a lot) was VERY yummy. Flavors were great. Garlic is garlic which is almost always good with everything. Vinegar adds a nice brightness and punch to it all. Sesame seeds was nice and aromatic as well with its popping aspects. Water containers are given at the table to fill at your own desire and are replaced when low. Was delicious. Unsure if portions were as big as I had hoped but still decent. Unlike the place I had in SoCal, they don't offer rice to finish up the "rest of the sauce" at the bottom when you're done with noodles to clean up your bowl. Oh well. Still pretty good overall. Parking could be a pain depending on the time/day you come, since the front of the restaurant is closed to vehicle traffic. read more

Kajiken - Homura Aburasoba w raw egg yolk - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I got the nikumori and my friend got the original. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We got there around 3 pm and there wasn't a long line, but crowded for sure.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Nikumori (9.5/10) had a strong flavor and adding the vinegar gave a good supplement flavor to the noodles. It is really salty though and I think there can be slightly more toppings compared to noodles. Regardless good ramen place read more

Kajiken - NIKUMORI ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

A must for noodle lovers. Fast, comforting and satisfying whether you go for a classic tonkotsu or something a little more adventurous, you're in for a treat. I always leave feeling full, happy, and ready to plan my next visit read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This place is definitely my to-go spot in DT San Mateo! The dry ramen is always so solid for both lunch and dinner. Usually through Fridays-Sundays it's very busy but always worth it. I love the original one a lot, and the karaage is so good as an appetizer! Now there's not only indoor seating but outdoor seatings for sunny warm days! read more