One star, and it pains me to write it because we've been a loyal regular customer here for years but the service has just gone down the hill and the staff was so rude to us. We came in at 7:30 pm and the person at the counter rushed us through our order like we were a nuisance for being there. When the food came out, they brought my 8-year-old son a bowl of raw salmon. We had ordered baked. When I asked them to exchange for baked salmon she refused saying "once it leaves the kitchen, no refunds". I was really startled because the tone and brashness of the refusal was something I have never experienced at any restaurant. I told them I didn't want a refund. I just wanted the baked salmon which I thought we had actually ordered. She still refused but offered to get us a baked salmon plate if we paid for it. To the owner: please take a look at your night staff. Loyal customers shouldn't be treated like a nuisance, and a simple fix shouldn't turn into a standoff over policy. read more

Very pleasant service and no line greeted me today at Katsu Cafe. I was happy to see that I could order a dual beef + chicken teriyaki plate so I could try both, and subbed the rice for extra salad. The food arrived quickly and was a large portion for the price. Unfortunately, the salad was bland - while expected to an extent with Japanese salads, the dressing is supposed to deliver but instead it was meek and watery. I also didn't enjoy the pasta-infused potato salad flavor. As for the meats, the beef was tastier to me than the chicken. Both were cut in very large strips which was a bit hard to manage since no knife was provided. Chicken was fairly stringy, and the teriyaki sauce was mid. read more

Katsu Cafe - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Casual order-at-the-counter Japanese place that serves dishes like teriyaki chicken, sushi, ramen, yakisoba, etc. Their menu is massive, and the selection is quite friendly towards those who are new to Japanese food. The specials are a great deal as the portion is massive and enough to share between two people comfortably. If you dine in, most entrees also come with miso soup. The curry chicken katsu was nothing special; the curry was a little lacking in flavor, and I would've appreciated a salad of some sort to add variety and freshness. The macaroni salad is good though. The D2 special is great value and variety. It comes with miso soup, tempura, salad, macaroni salad, and teriyaki chicken on a bed of fried rice. The fried rice has a shockingly good wok flavor, and the teriyaki is quite good. Not a dish that will blow your mind, but definitely hits the spot without breaking the bank. They have some tables outside if you have a dog or prefer to sit there right by the parking lot; your food will still be brought out to you, just let them know when you order. read more

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Found this spot when cruising the area for a place to eat. Chose this place because it was pretty packed. Very casual, island vibe inside. Service was fast and great. Staff are college-aged young adults who work really hard to keep the place clean and provide fast service. Food was great for a quick and inexpensive meal. Huge servings. I ordered the chicken katsu plate and my husband the pork katsu. Both were great but I preferred the chicken katsu, crispy and juicy. The meal came with salad, rice, Mac salad and miso soup. Great comfort food. We also ordered a rainbow roll. This is our usual order for any Japanese restaurant. We were me with disappointment. The fish was not fresh and because of that we couldn't finish the roll. I'd definitely come back for the hot foods and be cautious over their sushi. read more

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We originally planned to eat next door for AYCE sushi, but it was extremely busy, so we decided to try Katsu Cafe instead. Honestly, it turned out to be a great choice for us. We ordered three rolls: the Triple Fantasy, Salmon Jalapeño, and Hawaiian Roll. Everything came out fresh and flavorful, and it definitely satisfied our sushi craving. Ordering is done at the counter, then you find your own table. The place was really busy, so it was surprising how fast the food came out. They seem to have a very efficient system in place. Space is pretty big but can be crowded at the same time. Overall, the food was good and hit the spot. It was also more affordable compared to what we would have spent next door, which made the experience even better. Parking was not too bad for us since we were able to find a spot right away, but I can see it getting difficult during peak hours. Solid spot if you are craving sushi without the long wait or higher price tag. read more

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Katsu cafe has a huge private lot shared with many other stores. Parking was no issue. Happy hour is from 3-6, we missed it. I was craving some Americanized rolls and they delivered. Service was great. Nothing complain about. We over-ordered. One roll per person is plenty. read more

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Decided to try this place out since curry club was closed next door. When we walked in we weren't greeted, we just stood there for a while reading the menu until the guy asked if we were ready to order. My friend had a few questions but he seemed impatient and not really helpful. The food was just okay. I like that it came with a Mac salad. They also never came by to refill our waters or check on us. The place was packed inside and they had a long line so maybe the other food options are better. They did have a lot to choose from; rice bowls, noodles, sushi, and plates. read more

Katsu Cafe - Katsu chicken curry - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Came to celebrate a friend's birthday and Katsu Cafe place has proven time and time again to have good portions, a friendly environment, and tasty food, serving a wide variety of foods, so you're sure to find something for everyone. Some notes: - I always get the $13 Chicken Teriyaki plate which comes with plenty of chicken, rice, green salad, macaroni salad, and miso soup. - Everything tastes exactly how you would expect, but I will say that the macaroni salad is especially good for reasons I can't exactly pinpoint. - Service is lightning fast. Order at the counter, take a seat, and the food comes to you. Takeout boxes are also self-serve, which is appreciated. - Friends got the curry and the ramen. Again, a super wide variety. 4 out of 5 stars. Comfort food at its finest! read more

Katsu Cafe - Chicken Katsu Plate - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Been coming here for years and it never disappoints. Got the chicken teriyaki plate and the portions are huge where it can feed two people. I like how the plate includes miso soup, salad and potato salad too. Also got the salmon lemon roll and both entrees were delicious. The staff were super friendly and were very attentive. read more

Katsu Cafe - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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DAILY SPECIAL DEALS (4.5 stars) This is a place you go when you looking for good affordable food and portions are explosive. - FOOD: yums - PRICE: affordable - SERVICE: good - AMBIANCE: basic It's an "order and pay at the counter, then seat your damn self" kind of place. Their menu is overwhelming. But I feel whatever you order here will be delicious. Every single table had a full looking plate and I could tell this once is very popular with constant people coming in, tables are full, and many to-go orders. Don't pass up on their daily specials, the menu is a smaller one to the far left and can easily be overlooked by the overwhelming main menu boards. CHICKEN TERIYAKI + FRIED RICE ($11.75) - includes a drink. Also, ONE broccoli - LOL. This was such a steal deal and I love me some good teriyaki. Portions were explosive. Wasn't expecting much until the plate arrived and my eyes expanded. So did my belly after the first few bites. The teriyaki chicken had that nice grill and charred ends, the pieces were cut kind of big but you have a knife and can cute it to smaller - if need be. It was served glazed BUT swimming in sauce, it was the perfect amount of glaze with the option to add more teriyaki sauce (they serve a side of teriyaki with the plate) - I liked how customers are able to control this aspect of the preparing. The fried rice tasted like regular Asian fried rice (minus the peas!!!); it had tiny pieces of carrots and scrambled egg. Very flavorful and liked it a lot. Pairs very well with the teriyaki chicken. I quenched this all down with fountain machine lemonade. HIGHLY RECOMMEND YES!! I will be back more often than my skinny-fat self would like. read more

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I used to work nearby and this was my favorite lunch spot. Fate found me in the area recently and I decided to come by and see if they were still as good as I remember. I used to order the teriyaki chicken with tempura shrimp and veggies. It also comes with salad and potato salad. Very nice sized portions for the price. And the food was just as good as I remember. The young lady who took my order was very nice, however no one really checked on tables while I was there. read more

Katsu Cafe - Miso soup - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

I have been coming here for years and finally got to writing a review. This place is very popular because of the deals and how quick the service is. I do not think I have ever been disappointed in the food, but I was also never amazed by how great it was. There is a LOT on the menu, so luckily, you can appeal to multiple people if eating lunch or dinner. With multiple companies working nearby, this place is popping during lunch hour. There is a variety of Hawaiian and Japanese food options. You can come for a small snack to a whole meal. The beef udon is tasty, flavorful, and the portion was perfect. The specials of the day are a hot commodity, as it does offer a cheaper price for the food, and if you do the girl math, the drink is basically free. I like the Wednesday special, which has chicken teriyaki and fried shrimp (that comes with steamed veggies and rice) The staff is always so nice and very quick. There is outdoor seating that can seat a good-sized group if desired. I do prefer sitting outdoors as it tends to feel a little cooler on a hot day. I will continue to keep eating here and will keep ordering the specials of the day read more

Katsu Cafe - Beef udon - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Hubs was bringing me lunch and so I quickly looked up something to pick up. The word Katsu always gets me! Who doesn't love a good chicken katsu or tonkatsu?!? I can't help myself but try it! We picked up the chicken katsu curry, tonkatsu curry and a shrimp tempura roll. The katsu dishes came with rice and macaroni salad and a cup of gravy for each order. The chicken katsu was bland with no flavor even with the gravy on top. The tonkstsu tasted better but it was still just ok. I never really cared for macaroni salad. Hubs didn't it like it much either. The crunchy roll was also nothing impressive. They are very busy during lunch time, but it didn't take too long for the food to be ready. No issues parking. 2025: 37 read more

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My only regret is that my husband did not tell me about this place sooner. So many things to love! Love the Hawaiian/island type decor, it makes for a very fun relaxing experience. They also have TVs and we were able to catch a fun football game. Plenty of vegan options, when I ordered the cashier said many things can be made vegan. I had the tofu vegetables, a miso soup and we shared the edamame. The portions were very large and decently priced. My kids had cucumber rolls, fries and miso soups as well. They had tea, beer, sodas juices etc. Something for everyone really. We walked right in and the parking was easy as it's a huge lot. What's even more fun is the great tea spot next door for a post-dinner dessert. read more

*amazing service * outdoor service *great for big parties We came here with a large party with no issues at all. Self order but food is brought to your tables. The customer service was excellent. Big portions well served. Katsu chicken was crispy good. Sushi was also tasty we had 2 roll neither disappointed but must say the maya roll was delicious. The spicy edamame's were a fam fave. Will definitely be back. A must try! read more

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We had Chicken Curry Fried Rice Katsu Chicken plate Maya Roll Overall good food despite changing ownership from Teri Cafe. The breaded chicken was crispy and juicy, but the meat could use some seasoning. The roll could use less rice, otherwise it's good. read more

Katsu Cafe - Katsu Chicken plate - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Delicious and inexpensive! You order and pay at the front, they give you a number for your table, and the food is delivered to your table. The restaurant felt super chill and the music choice this day was on point. We went on a Sunday 2pm before the rush. After we ordered, people kept flowing in. We ordered an appetizer of vegetable tempura, Spicy Banzai Seafood Ramen, and Tonk Ramen all for $41! Spicy Banzai Ramen 9/10 (SUPER SPICY - my first time ordering and next time I'll ask for less spicy. It was sooo delicious though. There were lots of noodles, calamari strips, clams, and shrimp) Vegetable tempura plate was a great portion for an appetizer 10/10z We ate most of it and then realized I didn't take a picture. There were green beans, zucchini, broccoli, and sweet potato. read more

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Has the chicken teriyaki special that had a small salad with potato salad and rice and teriyaki chicken. Very tasty. First time I've eaten potato salad with a chicken teriyaki plate. We also had 2 king salmon rolls and a salmon California roll. Very delicious and plenty big for 9.99 a roll. Had the green(Kirkland brand) hot tea and orange soda and sprite soda. Very friendly service. Had to order at the counter and served at a table that was cleaned after we sat down...only bad detail. Had some tv monitors to keep it interesting. Nice ambiance. Cost 75.00 plus 10 dollar tip, so a little pricey for a quick lunch for 4. read more

Katsu Cafe - Front of restaurant - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

My sister's food was fine. Her fried veggies were a little undercooked. I got the chicken katsu plate and could not eat it. The miso soup was fine. I think the smell of the soap in the restaurant was so overwhelming that it seeped into the taste of the chicken for me. Happy the restaurant was clean. read more

Ordered takeout from Katsu Cafe around 11am during the work week and was surprised to see how busy this place was with customers dining in and ordering takeout! I ordered the chicken Katsu bowl which comes with house salad and potato salad. I found it odd that they combined both the house salad and potato salad in one container (see pic), but I guess it is cost efficient. The salad dressing for the house salad was good, but I didn't really care for the potato salad (could've used more seasoning or ingredients for extra crunch). I must say that the chicken katsu was delicious and perfectly crunchy! Coming back again for sure! read more

Katsu Cafe - Salad & potato salad - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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This Japanese restaurant specializes in tempura and creative sushi. Highly recommended: Signature Tonkatsu (breaded pork cutlet) -- crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. Crusty Philly Roll -- coated in panko and fried, offering a unique texture. [Side-eye] Not recommended: Gyoza (pan-fried dumplings), curry, and tonkotsu ramen are just so-so. The chicken tempura has visible fat, and the regular tempura is bland with little flavor. It's around $15 per person, with generous portions -- perfect for sharing. My friend said her kid absolutely loves the fried sushi here; it's crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Plus, parking is easy to find in this plaza. read more

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Pleasantly surprised! I thought it was just Japanese food just based off on the name alone but when i walked in and saw the menu, I knew this was Hawaiian-centric. Got the chicken katsu curry and it was very good, curry was mild and there was a small side of mac salad - a staple. A lot of seating and the service is very good! Definitely coming back because there was just so many things to choose from! Maybe one recommendation I'd offer is that there should be combo plates, very much so like what Hawaii does. Like katsu chicken and yakisoba would be a hit! read more

Katsu Cafe - Chicken Katsu Curry - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Came down to SD to meet with a customer last week and we had lunch at Katsu Cafe. This is a local spot that is a cushion of Japanese and Hawaiian food. The inside has a Hawaiian style to it and the servers were friendly, although they never came back to check on our drinks, maybe we were to go to the front and ask? Which was probably the case since you order as you walk in and then seat yourself. Their fountain drinks have a strange flavor to them anyway, can't put my finger on it, not bad, just different. The restaurant is clean and has lots of indoor as well as outdoor seating, island style decor inside, Ohana vibes. We got a triple fantasy roll which I enjoyed very much. It is shrimp tempura, spicy tuna, crunch, spicy Mayo and eel sauce, really good. Recommended. Also got a spicy tuna cut roll, which was just OK, compared to other places, not very spicy and was basic. Also got the Teriyaki beef and chicken plate that comes with Miso soup, salad and potato salad. The beef and chicken, miso and salad were all great, the potato salad sadly was not great, flavor was lacking and a bit of a let down. All in all, this is a good spot for a nice meal, good choices of Japanese and Hawaiian foods, friendly, clean and comfortable dining. Support local. read more

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I visited Katsu today with 3 friends. The employees were nice and helpful. The place was clean and bright. We, however, didn't really enjoy the food. Every one of us thought the food was really salty. I had the Beef Udon and my GF had the Spicy Miso Ramen and we shared a tiny bowl of Miso soup. Funny enough, the miso soup wasn't salty, which is what I'm used to from other establishments. I highly doubt if I would revisit.... read more

Firstly, the customer service was amazing. I was greeted with a bright smile and warm energy. The food portion were big but great. The katsu was very crispy and delicious. Will be coming back :)) read more

Katsu Cafe - Chicken Katsu Plate - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

This is my go to place for good sushi along with other stuff on their menu. Prices are good and plenty of parking. read more

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Been going here since 2016, still great food. The chicken katsu plate I got was huge and only $15. People say the service isn't great, but it's an order at the counter and they bring your food out to you system. Also it's only $15 for a plate, no complaining here. read more

Katsu Cafe - Chicken katsu plate - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Friendly staff, great dish selections, large dining area. Parking can be really busy depending on time, just keep note. Overall our second time eating here and we really like the taste and portions! read more

Katsu Cafe - Chicken Teriyaki & Tempura combo set. Comes with salad, potatoe/mac salad, and miso soup. - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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The kids and I enjoy the food here. Josh is very sharp, he noticed we were sitting on a wobbly table, busted the table clean, and moved us (all while working the front). Will come again. Volcano roll, double crunch roll, the Cali fries and Cali roll, and the beef and shrimp teriyaki bowl. read more

Great place. Good food and plenty to chose from their menu. They also got a few TVs to catch some games and they serve alcohol. Good vibes and family friendly. read more

We Love this place. Service is great and workers there are nice and friendly. Food is really and the servings are pretty good. The ambiance is very casual. read more

Katsu Cafe - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

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Gross cheap sushi spot! Never again! Should've walked next door to Lolita's. I wanted to be healthy so I ordered the salmon bowl and I should've known by the description that it was gonna be unappetizing.... $16 for raw salmon, "mountain veggies" and rice. The salmon was not fresh, the rice was way too gooey, and the random leftover looking veggies were just an odd combo. Ugh I wish I could've gotten a refund! read more

Katsu Cafe - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

Deserves ZERO stars! ALL I wanted was a simple rainbow roll without "spunky" crab crap (mayo and so on). I asked if I could substitute raw fish (ANY kind) in place of that "California roll" horse shit in the roll...and even after I offered to pay extra...was told by the girl at the counter, "The owners won't do that...they'll give you avocado or more rice," So I got the overpriced, small, shitty fuckin roll! *I also noticed a number of little pissant, scrawled signs near the front which announced that the place was charging extra for various and sundry little items (sauces and so on.) SHIT-SUE KAFAY SUCKS THE BIG ONE!!! read more

Lunch sooo good! Highly recommended. Price is worth the value. The staff friendly and helpful. Great walk in find on CMB. read more

Katsu Cafe - The goods. - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

I have ordered here many times over the decades but on this last visit I saw signs all over the place saying that they are charging for sauces for to go orders. 50 cents for sriracha, spicy mayo, etc. Teriyaki sauce is 75 cents. Damn. That is a LOT to ask for a sauce. I haven't seen any other restaurant in San Diego go this route. I'd hate to see this start happening like at a taco shop or something. This is going to make me heavily second guess coming back here. A shame because I've always liked the food. read more

Katsu Cafe - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

I have been a regular here for a quite a while now and I have noticed how the server does not care for customers at all. I simple asked for another plate so me and my friend could share food. One of the server said: 'Yeah' and just walks off. She never came back. Instead, she just stood there talking to her co-worker. At least do your job and not slacking around. The food is amazing but service? Horrible. I am not coming back. read more

Large amount katsu Small eaters can order 1 plate and share 85 character rule is very anoying annoying read more

HYPES: i recently had their tempura udon and my son got the chicken fried rice. the udon was super tasty and just the right size! everything came individually wrapped. i recommend everyone try this place! its such a great spot. GRIPES: no gripes really. only really that theyre so far from where we live! read more

Been coming here for a while. The sushi rolls are pretty consistent, lots of other options to consider. Order before seating. Casual dining area with both booths and tables, indoor and outdoor. Friendly staff, decent prices, and happy hour available. read more

Katsu Cafe - Rainbow roll, aloha roll, double crunch roll - Japanese Near Me - San Diego, California

4/5 - You order at the counter, seat yourself, and they bring the food out to you. Staff checks in occasionally, and overall, the operation runs smoothly. The food is always bomb. Chicken katsu is $15 for the full plate, which is a great deal. I usually swap out the salad for double potato salad--highly recommend. The large parking lot is a plus; I love grabbing a quiet corner spot to eat in peace. Ambiance is solid, and the customer service is consistently good. As a big katsu fan, I really appreciate the quality here. Totally recommend--it kind of gives off a Japanese version of "Islands" with the way each location keeps that same familiar vibe. read more

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