Came by on a Wednesday right around 5 as the shop opened and the shop was very clean and quite minimal in furnishing so it felt spacious. Good variety of hot and cold udon options; I personally went with the mentai yamakake with a side of vegetable kakiage. You can choose to sit at any table you want and the food will be brought out to you. Water is self serve and there are baskets to put your personal items in by your table. I have never tried mountain yam before but I always wanted to, and this was the first restaurant ever that I have seen it offered so I had to try it! The mentai yamakake is very light in flavor and the texture is very unique. It has a slick, viscous consistency (very similar to that of natto or okra for example) but nothing distinctive in flavor. I think it adds a lot to the texture of your udon, particularly to the broth and it's something I have not seen anywhere else so if you are curious about it, I would definitely say to give it a try! The mentai itself is also not particularly distinctive in flavor so overall the entire dish is on the mild side which in combination with the cooler temperature of the broth, lends itself to be more refreshing than a warm dish. The udon noodles themselves are so bouncy and chewy! The veggie kakiage is also really light and not oily at all, which I appreciate. The dipping sauce is light but flavorful and very savory which I enjoyed. This alongside the mentai yamakake dish is perfect. The staff here is incredibly nice, especially the front register person/waitress! On our way out, one of the chefs also greeted us front the back which was nice. Lovely ambiance and I would go again! The prices are bit higher than other places I have been but with the unique menu and great service, I think it's worth it. read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Mentai Yamakake Bukkake and Vegetable kakiage - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

So yummy! Came here on a Wednesday around 6 pm, no line. You order first then sit down. We got the kakaige, which is the one with tempura and the niku, which is one with the meat! Really enjoyed this meal, the udon is so good and right amount of chewiness! Can't wait to come back and try more read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Kakiage Udon - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Recently went to Katsuo + Kombu for dinner over the weekend and waited about 25 min which was not too bad considering the hype of this place. The seating is limited and ideal for parties of 1-3. Staff are welcoming, accommodating, and efficient in turning tables over. Katsuo + Kombu specializes in handmade udon served hot and cold. The noodles are super chewy and bouncy. My friend and I both ordered the Toriten Bukkake - chicken tempura served with yuzu kosho and udon in cold seaweed broth. Both of us never had cold broth before and felt conflicted about it. The chicken tempura was excellent on its own served on the side, but in the broth it became cold and not as enjoyable. All in all, the taste is there but cold udon may not be our particular cup of tea. I am open to going back, but this time for their hot udon. read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Toriten Bukkake - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Omg this udon place was sooo good, literally one of the best udons I've ever the inside is small, only limited amount of seating but the wait goes fast. Service is great! Very friendly & fast. The mentai butter was so rich & buttery and the texture of the udon was perfect, I would def come back & try the other udons!! read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Kama tama mentai butter - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Decently flavorful with handmade noodles (saw them cutting it right by the glass) - not explode in your mouth wow but very solid Considering price vs quality vs portion size it's pretty worth imo :)). Tan tan dry portion sizes were kinda small but I like that it came with veggies and they balanced out the dish Limited seating but pretty high churn you can probably get a table no prob unless you have a large group Also had interesting topping options like shiso?? Leaf tempura :ooo Their niku beef broth is also pretty satisfying and clean was my favorite dish - would come back for it if I was in the area read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Tan Tan DRY - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Their service brings me back to Japan. I very like how they offer basket for customers to storage their personal belonging. It's a small store so line is expecting around meal times. We got their early around 5:30pm on Friday and didn't need to wait in line. We got the Hot Curry Udon and the Vegetable Ten Zaru. The curry udon was perfect for the cold rainy day. The udon is very chewy which we like. The tempura was fresh and crispy. Overall, this was a very satisfying friday night dinner. read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Finally got to try this place! We arrived right at opening on a saturday and were able to get seated right away. We both got the fukuoka signature. The broth was super light and refreshing, and I especially liked how flavorful the chicken was. Since it was cold, the udon was also very chewy. My friend and I were entertained that the broth came in beakers and thought it was fun. read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Fukuoka Signature - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Was really excited to try this place since it has such a high rating and there's always a line. The line was short on a thursday night. We got the sesame miso pork udon and the niku beef udon. I thought the udon noodles were ok but I wasn't a fan of the broth... The sesame miso pork was sour and too vinegary and the broth for niku beef was just ok.. Was not impressed by the food. read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Udon was so good for a foggy day, but what really made us feel at home was the incredibly kind server (i think her name was ashley??) who not only reccommended things on the menu, but also things to do in sf! Thank you! 25/06 read more

Came in right before the dinner rush at 7 and avoided the long waits. There's limited seating since it's a smaller place and it's walk in only so definitely recommend eating at an off time to get seated fast. I ordered the chicken karaage and the pork udon. The meat was super tender, noodles were perfectly cooked, and the broth was super flavorful. I would definitely swing by again to try their cold dishes and more of the menu overall. read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

We went here after a busy day at the museum and for a foggy day in SF, this place was amazing! Not only was the chef incredibly kind but the server was so sweet recommending other things for us to do in the city! 10/10 would come again - these guys are great! (P.S. the food was outstanding - definitely the best udon I've had in the city so far). read more

I've been passing this restaurant a lot and it always has a line when I pass by around dinner time. During the middle of the day, there is practically no line, but the restaurant was practically full, save for 1-2 open tables out of maybe 8 total tables. There's one chef working and one person at the cash register so the food honestly took a pretty long time to come out. I got the kama tama mentai butter while my friend got the fukuoka signature which comes with tempura. My flavor was not bad, but it wasn't a super brothy udon, it was just more of a butter on top, and I kind of wish I had gotten a soup or that there was more sauce to make it a little goopy-er. The initial udon choice I wanted was actually sold out already which, we arrived at 12:15pm so that was interesting. Definitely good flavors to try since the only other udon I eat in the city is at Udon Mugizo which has different flavors. read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Kama Tama Mentai Butter - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here as a group of 4 on Monday evening around 6pm and had to wait outside for about 30 mins. The line wasn't too long, but the space is more optimized for groups of 2. Overall solid, but wouldn't recommend anyone to go out of their way to try it, unless they're really craving udon and want to try a spot other than the large chains - udon mugizo, marugame, etc. This place is a bit pricey, and portions are on the smaller side. My group each got a different dish, so I got to try all of them. **Vegetable tempura** 4/5 -- Light and crispy without that oil grease aroma. Not a tempura aficionado, but this was pretty solid. **Toriten Bukkake** 5/5 -- My favorite of the bunch. It was simple and clean, and had the chewiest noodles of all 4 options we got. The chicken was perfectly crispy and juicy, and the orange yuzu-kosho condiment on the chicken was a nice citrusy, aromatic touch. **Tan Tan DRY** 4/5 -- Husband ordered this and it was his favorite. It was rich and flavorful, definitely leaning more Chinese, which is what this dish is supposed to be. **Kama Tama Mentai Butter** 2.5/5 -- Too salty!! My friend fell in love with mentaiko in Japan, which drew her to this option, but she really did not like this. I personally am underwhelmed by mentaiko and get tired of the richness very quickly, so my rating makes sense. **All-Star Bukkake** 4/5 -- A decked out version of their cold udon options - came with beef, one chicken tempura, one shrimp tempura, and a soft onsen egg. A good option if you have a bigger appetite. read more

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I had the opportunity to dine in on a Thursday evening during holiday season, so I expected it to be a bit busy with tourists and locals (it was!). I went with the intention of *dining solo* as per Infatuation SF's recommendation on their specialized guide. I ordered the Sesame Miso Pork hot udon, per recommendation of the cashier/server. Here are my thoughts: Presentation: Excellent, I think the color choices are vibrant and the variety of vegetables and textures made this a very visually appetizing meal. Service: Great! The staff was knowledgeable and kind. Food arrived swiftly. Taste: The miso flavor is pronounced yet balanced. I could distinguish it's slightly sweet and fermented flavor within the dish but it also melded beautifully with the pork. The addition of eggplant was extremely smart and added a fresh umami flavor that was really unexpected! Price: Relevant to area, quality of ingredients and portion size (I'm delightfully full). OVERALL: A solid udon! I have a favorite spot in Japantown that I frequent, and this is certainly a contender! Thanks for having me :) read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Sesame Miso Pork Hot Udon - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

5pm weekday dinner had no wait. Pay at counter and seat yourself. There's about 8 tables, so may be tricky for super larger groups. Cold days means warm soup. Order curry udon ($19) and sesame miso pork ($19). I wish the udon was chewier, it was just too soft. In addition, the portion size for udon seemed quite small. The curry was really creamy, had a small kick, but was quite salty. I did like that there were some veggies like the kabocha squash, kale, and bell pepper. As for the sesame miso pork, the soup was sour, meat was flavorful and tender! Confused on the soup since it is listed as sesame dashi, but was sour instead. I think having a slight larger serving will justify the price meal. read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Curry Beef - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Aside from the wait, everything was great. We waited 15 mins total, so not too bad. The service inside was a little slow and they looked busy, but still worth it We ordered some lemon shochu drinks, they were very bitter - if you like that flavor it's for you (we were expecting more lemon drop) The food was amazing! It was the perfect amount of noodles and the broth was well flavored. I love that they gave a hearty piece of prawn also, big plus. It was fairly well lit and lively in there , a bit loud , but worth it. I can't wait to come back! read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Veggie - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place really surprised me and exceeded my expectations!!! I know it was going viral on tiktok so i was skeptical because I love udon! I got the Fukuoka udon and it was really good. Very clean, simple, but also flavorful and filling at the same time. I didn't feel stuffed or wonky after. I loved it! I'll be coming back if I am back in the area :) read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

At ~5:30pm on a Tuesday, there was no line and almost all seating was available. Our meal arrived quickly, less than 10 minutes after ordering. The sesame miso pork was pretty good! It was a little sour and spicy. I'd love to try the cold udon next time. The interior was cozy. Very Asian style restaurant- there's small cloth baskets available to take, which you can put your bags / backpacks in and slide under the table. read more

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Counter service restaurant that has a lot of heart. We got two hot udon dishes - the kama tama mentai butter udon and the kakaiage udon. The butter udon doesn't come with broth but comes with butter and an egg yolk that you stir into the noodles for a sauce. The kakiage came with broth and shrimp and vegetable tempura. Both were really good. Even better was the service. Tatiana helped us at the counter and she helped us choose our dishes. She was working very hard, taking orders, delivering dishes, packing to-gos, and bussing tables. She was super friendly and did a great job! read more

Cute neighborhood udon shop that's counter service with some small tables for dine-in. I was craving homestyle Japanese food so udon seemed like the perfect choice. I got the Fukuoka Signature cold udon with chicken and gobo tempura. The chicken tempura was tender and juicy and the gobo which is burdock was light and crispy, really nice dipped into the broth for a light veggie tempura. The noodles itself were chewy and fresh but I thought the cold broth could have had more flavor and tie everything together better. I also tried my friend's Sesame Miso Pork udon with braised pork ribs and a spicy rich broth. This was a bit heavy for my taste as I prefer lighter cold udon but the braised pork rib was pretty good and very tender. A good spot if you're craving udon and for SF, it's a small shop that reminds me of my favorite udon places in Japan! read more

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Got the Kama Tama (obsessed) and the chicken tempura (wow). There was a wait on a Tuesday after 8p, but it was worth it. Great service, not easy to balance seating, service and bussing but the woman was wonderful to everyone who came in. read more

We stopped by on the way back from Pacifica and we were in need of some warm soup! I love udon so I wanted to give this place a try, and it looked really cute. We were able to get seated fairly quickly, and we ordered at the counter; water is self-serve. Our food didn't take too long to arrive. Udon was a little too soft and the kakiage and shrimp could've been crispier, but the dashi warmed my freezing hands (SF moment). The sesame broth was rich without feeling coma-inducing. Also the cashier was super nice and she gave me a Kitkat! Parking isn't metered, which is nice! read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Kakiage Udon, sesame - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Saw this on IG. Fast casual restaurant you order at the counter then they bring it to you. They make their own udon so the noodles are fresh. Got the kakiage udon with tempura on the side and added egg. I don't like when my tempura is soggy so I always ask for it on the side. My friend got the niku udon with his gobo tempura on the side as well. Broth was light, tempura was fried to perfection and not greasy. Simple, good food. I have been to Japan. Not the best udon I ever had but a solid choice read more

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My husband and I went for lunch on a day in November. He had the Niku beef udon and I had the kakiage. The tempura was really good, and so the broth. Very good spot with fast service. read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

This is a solid udon restaurant! It's not quite my favorite udon spot in the city, but it's definitely above average. I got the niku udon, which I enjoyed. The broth was flavorful yet not too salty. The niku was clearly high quality and had a great texture. My partner ordered the curry udon, which he didn't enjoy. He said the curry broth was too watery. He said also said the ingredients didn't go well together. read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Such a charming little udon shop on Divisadero. I've been a few times with friends, and really enjoyed the udon (something I usually don't order at a Japanese restaurant since I've always thought, well, how much better could it get than instant udon). Happy to report that the niku udon here is very delightful -- flavorful, but the broth isn't too heavy at the same time. The kakkiage (mixed root vegetable tempura) has really good texture -- my friend got that in their udon, and we got some extra on the side. Excellent balance of crisp and airiness and chewiness. You order at the counter here and wait for your food. Don't come with too many people since there's not much seating inside, and there's often a wait during peak hours. That said, would love to come back soon and try more udons! read more

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I came back again! This time, I got the miso pork belly udon once again. The pork belly is as always super smoky and tender. The miso is flavorful and strong. My friend got the cold udon with fried chicken. We went on a weekend night and had to wait for around 20 to 30 minutes. The udon was delicious, but it could taste soggy once the udon has been sitting in the soup for a bit. read more

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I love this place! It's small so you have to come at the right time to avoid a line - most recently I came at lunch and it was easy to get a table. The employees are Japanese and so polite and sweet giving great recommendations. The tables all have a basket for your things too. The udon itself is so good - chewy noodles and great flavors depending on what you get. My friends get the warm bowls and the broth is very good. My personal favorite is the mentai yamamake bukkake which is cold udon with mountain yam and roe. So refreshing and delicious. One of my go tos! read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Mentai Yamakake Bukkake - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Food: fast casual type restaurants. Order at the counter and they bring it to you. Udon was pretty bouncy and definitely fresh, but hard to compare after you get back from Hawaii. Got the beef udon and it was tasty and flavorful. Service: order at the counter and self serve water. No frills. Ambiance: updated and modern. Cool to see the kitchen and how their iron is stretched and made. Seating is few so go honestly right at opening! read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

The kakiage udon with tempura shrimp and vegetables is a must try! The broth is light and flavorful with a hint of lemon, so delicious! The portion sizes are on the smaller side so if you're hungry you might want to add more noodles or an egg. Absolutely delicious udon! read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Kakiage Udon - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

My friend recommended this place to me saying it was her favorite udon in the city, so I knew I had to try it. Came here around 7:00 PM on a Tuesday and it was packed. They don't let you into the restaurant unless there's a table available, and the seating space is fairly limited. We were lucky a party of 2 were leaving just as we arrived so we didn't have to wait long. You order up at the counter and they bring your food to you. I got the Kakiage Udon, and it was incredible! I've never had such chewy and fresh udon. The shrimp and vegetable tempura were so fresh and crunchy, and the broth was delightfully light yet comforting. I agree with my friend, this is the best udon I've had in the city so far. Looking forward to being back! read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Kakiage Udon - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Cute little shop, it was nice to visit for an early dinner with no wait. Definitely recommend adding on shrimp tempura read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

This spot usually has a line, so come early! The service here is pretty fast. You just line up at the counter, place your order, and find a seat. They'll bring you the food, and it usually gets there pretty quick. The space is a bit small though, so you'll want to come with fewer than 5 people, ideally. Excellent spot, the udon here is always so springy and bouncy. I got the Niku udon this time, and the soup was nice, light and refreshing. The beef is a bit leaner than I'm used to, but still very tender and well-seasoned. I also got the ikura onigiri, and that was great. The rice was nice and warm, the roe was cold and salty, and the seaweed was nice and crunchy for a little bit, although quickly became soggy due to the heat and moisture of the rice. The flavors were great, though. I'm definitely coming back here and will try more items on the menu in the future. read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Niku with egg - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was so excited to try this place out. Very casual but well executed place. The team of 3 people were constantly preparing and serving food I was amazed. The selections are plentiful and I don't think you can go wrong ordering anything off of the menu. The udon noodles were delicious. I only wish it was a little more chewy but considering they make the noodles in house- I won't complain. You can see all the bags of flours they use right next to the register. I ordered the kakiage udon and loved my tempura veg and shrimp. Not greasy at all! My guy had the niku udon which I tried and I loved that you could taste the katsuobushi so well in the soup. I will be coming back! read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Kakiage Udon - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Every time I've gone here (which is a fair few) the service and food has been nothing but excellence. The noodles are literally so good! The beef soup I've had and the butter with cod roe soup were so contrastingly different yet was the right mood when ordered. In other words, versatile yet quaint menu that varies in flavors and are all good! They have tiny little desserts I've never tried but the portion looked well, tiny. Other than that, I can't wait til the next time I'm in Panhandle to have me a good bowl of noodles! Super underrated place imho! read more

Chose to come here on a rainy Thursday evening for some warm udon to warm up. Was not disappointed!! I will preface this with saying there is a line, and on the weekends it's definitely long. There's no reservation system, walk ins only. However the staff are incredibly kind and try their best to get you seated quickly. The udon noodles are made fresh in house daily, with the right softness and chewiness. I had the opportunity to go to Japan recently and would say this udon is on par with what I had there. The owner was friendly and originally from Japan. I got the Niki udon, worth it. Will be back!! read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Niku - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Excellent udon, just perfect noodles. My wife got the sesame miso pork hot udon which was more flavorful than the niku beef I got. They have beer and sake. The line moves relatively fast. You order at the counter and then they bring it to your seat. It is relatively casual but yummy read more

Food - I had a cold udon ( shiso mental cold udon). I liked the texture of the udon :) Ambiance - the restaurant was very clean. I really liked how everything there was designed = simplicity (from their business card, menu, and such). Service - I really liked that all of their stuff were friendly and nice! I was ready to be in line but I got seated right away. (I went there right at their opening time:) I will go back there! read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Cold mental udon - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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this is where i actually go on a rainy day. Also, udon mugizo. but both are great. I love the unique toppings/ crunch you can get here. read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I was excited to try Katsuo + Kombu with some friends after work. Great for casual dining or takeout since it's counter-service and has very few tables. Since we dined in on a weekday around 8pm, there was no wait! Katsuo + Kombu specializes in fresh/handmade udon noodles. Lots of broth choices, but I went with the Sesame Miso Pork. Firstly, the udon noodles were DELICIOUS!!! Personally, I've never been crazy about Udon, but maybe that's because I never had Katsuo + Kombu. The broth was rich and comforting after a long day at work. I finished every last drop! I could have used a little more spice, but was able to add some chili flakes. Friendly & quick service! Would definitely recommend checking this restaurant out, I know I'll be coming back. read more

Katsuo + Kombu - Sesame Miso Pork - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California