Order Katsuya Takeout or Delivery
Katsuya Photos
Business Info
Katsuya Popular Dishes
KATSUYA ATMOSPHERE
You might also consider
Recommended Reviews - Katsuya
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
"Inexpensive Japanese in downtown San Francisco financial district" My son and I stopped here for dinner randomly on a Friday night just before 6pm. He just visited Japan a few months ago and had a hankering for some chicken katsu. It's a small, narrow establishment, not far from the See's Candy store, but well-lit. One orders on a set of tablets at the front of the restaurant and then sits down. I ordered the chicken katsu don, which has the chicken katsu above vegetables, rice, and egg. My son wanted the chicken katsu curry rice, and also was eager for the Takoyaki (which has octopus). There was a complementary water station in the back (which we didn't notice before ordering bottles). I was impressed the entrees were all under $20 before tax and tip-- great for downtown SF. We didn't anticipate complementary miso soup, but we got it, and it was tasty. The takooyaki arrived next-- maybe 6 pieces and quite good. When you pop it in your mouth and bite, you get a burst of milk-like flavor in you mouth. I frankly couldn't taste the octopus, but that's OK... it was still yummy. I really liked my chicken katsu don-- I wanted some veggies, and the cabbage underneath was good, as was the seasoning. The chicken itself was excellent. My son said it wasn't quite as good as in Japan but agreed it was still good. The portion size was big-- I wasn't quite able to finish all the rice in mine. Service was fine-- I don't remember them checking on us after we got food, but we really didn't need anything since we'd already paid, water was available, etc. The restaurant itself was clean, too. I did stop at the washroom upstairs, and it had nice wooden floors, a large plant, etc., and clean overall. Overall, a solid choice at an amazing price for the area, so I'm happy to give 5 stars.
Truthfully, I didn't know what I was in for in visiting Katsuya. Apparently I wasn't alone. Arriving for a work lunch during lunch hours, one thing we did know, as a group of 5, is that we immediately needed to grab a seat while we figured it out. From there, I definitely felt like I was in some sort of clue based, escape room style, "figure-it-out" gameshow. Once settled, my group struggled to find a menu apart from one on the wall above the order kiosk (which was difficult to view from our table). We also had a time deciphering that not one but two restaurants occupied the space, each with their own menu. Woohoo, clue unlocked! Apparently we missed out on complimentary miso, but after ordering, and a short wait, we were rewarded with sandwiches! Although these sandwiches were beautiful and fragrant, the vibe at the table was sheer surprise! These meals are huge, and in addition to your sandwich, they arrive with multiple sides. All things said and done, they offer an impressive meal at a competitive price. Just make sure to read the Yelp reviews first so you're in the know!
My hubs and I were visiting SF for a long weekend and after visiting the very popular Farmers Market at the Embarcadero on Saturday, we wanted a place away from the crowds to eat lunch and decompress. Katsuya in the Financial District was the perfect place for this. On weekdays, this place is probably packed, but on a Saturday, it was only half full. Music was playing but not too loud. It was cool inside. Ahhh, great place to take a load off. We ordered at the kiosk. There are two--one for Katsuya and one for another restaurant that makes Korean food. We ordered the chicken katsu bento, the karaage chicken, and a side of rice. One of the staff came and cleaned off our table before we sat down. We got some ice water from the free standing dispenser. Our food came pretty quickly. Everything was cooked just right. We especially liked how savory and crunchy the chicken karaage was. The only thing we didn't eat was the shredded cabbage that came with the bento. It looked innocent but it was mixed with a light horseradish dressing and was too spicy for us. I'm taking off one star because the stairs to the bathrooms upstairs were slippery and yet the banister was broken with a sign saying to not touch it. This was kinda challenging to navigate. But other than that, Katsuya was a great place for lunch, the staff were friendly and efficient, and we'd definitely come here again next time we're in the area.
Conveniently located in FiDi and sharing the space with another eatery, Katsuya is a solid option for lunch or dinner. On my last visit I ordered online for pickup on my way home from my class. I arrived a bit early so it wasn't ready yet, but np - since it was near the end of the day there were plenty of seats inside to wait. There were a few people dining in, but even more coming through for takeout and delivery - staff were bustling about too, which is usually a good sign. Prices seem to have gone up over the years (IIRC they used to be in a different location), but the portions are generous. My husband and I typically share a tonkatsu sando meal and it's still plenty for the both of us.
I came here with my friend after work on Monday. There was only one other table at this time since it was 5:30pm after work. This is a small restaurant where you just order on the self-serve kiosk, sit at a table, and the server would bring the food to you, so you don't really interact with any of the staff. The place seems fairly chill and casual. I would imagine it's much more hectic during the lunch hour. My friend and I were confused at first because the two kiosks had different menus before we realized that Katsuya and Seoul Bunsik share this place. I went with the Chicken Katsu from Katsuya, and my friend went with Seoul Bunsik for the Creamy Carbonara. We sat down at a table, and a server brought us soup. I think it was miso soup, and it was pretty good. Our food came out in 15 minutes. The chicken katsu was crispy and flavorful, not dry. The macaroni salad was savory and saucy. I felt like it was a pretty good portion size for one person, and I left feeling satisfied. The total was $19.89 for my meal, so I would say it's not too pricey given the portion size. Before my katsu plate arrived, I had already finished my soup. I completely forgot to get water to drink while eating the katsu plate, but I didn't feel thirsty, so I think that it's good how the meal itself wasn't dry at all. I think this place is great for a meal if you're catching up with someone after work. I'm not sure what it's like during lunch hour, but dine-in might be busy.
I tried both their katsu pork sando bento box and katsu pork with rice bento box before. It's similar except the sando one comes with 4 sesame balls that has an orange type of sauce. I don't like that orange sauce or their salad dressing because it's spicy with a kick of wasabi. I usually omit the salad dressing and use the katsu sauce on the salad instead. This place used to be in the International Court. Glad to see them do well and moved to their own space.
A small little restaurant sharing its space with another restaurant, your exposure to the staff will only be when they bring food out and clean up. You'll order and pay at a kiosk in the front, and self-service water and utensils. We ordered a chicken katsu, a pork katsu curry rice, and a chicken karaage. The chicken katsu itself was fine. The sides weren't that great, either. The macaroni salad was a bit too pickle-y, the dressing was a little off to us, and the miso soup was watered down. The pork katsu was fairly crispy, but a little dry. The curry was incredibly watered down. Would not recommend getting this at all, even if you need a curry fix. The chicken karaage was fine. Fairly crispy and juicy, and the accompanying spicy mayo was decent. It did not come with any lemon.
A great option in the fidi area for lunch, come here pretty frequently. Love the lunch plate options they have here. Good portions here and a nice variety of things on the lunch plate. The katsu is crispy and juicy and they offer a variety of soup/sides for the lunch plate. The katsu curry is also super crispy. Got this to go and it had sat for 40 mins before I got to eating it. Even sitting through and have steam build up the texture was still crispy and didn't sog up! Katsu sando is stuffeddd with cheese and meat, def on the heavier side but so tasty.
This was fine is not forgettable. I'm over the non-interaction ordering system that used to be just at busy airports but has crept its way into so many restaurants. It just doesn't land for me, hard to explain. Especially as a group, it's a bit awkward to take turns with it, know what to order, etc. so I just defaulted to trying what the group ordered, a chicken curry katsu. The chicken was the highlight as it was flavorful, but the rest was OK. It was thick and under-flavored.. I found myself shaking some sort of unlabeled spicy powder all over every bite I took to spice it up, literally and figuratively. Probably a good spot if you're on your own and can grab a spot up at Salesforce Park on a nice day. For us, we squeezed into a table and the atmosphere is very much a "to-go" vibe. Wouldn't make it a point to return, but it wasn't bad.
Wow, this was so delicious! Portions are huge. The katsu sando itself is massive, and if you go with a box it comes with all sorts of accompaniments like mac salad, bean balls and cole slaw. The chicken is super thin, crispy and flavorful. If you like katsu chicken then you really cannot go wrong. Grabbing seats, ordering at the kiosk and getting our food was all a pretty quick and seamless process. They have a big lunch crowd but people move in and out fast. This is a nice pick for lunch in the area if you want something fast, quality and filling.
Katsuya has always been the spot in the International Food Court for the longest time, and I wanted to try this location! Geared towards the work lunch crowd, it's fairly fast for getting your order and getting seated (or getting out, if you're doing to-go). There's a set of ordering kiosks and menu right by the entrance. Punch in your order and get seated. Plenty of seats if you're not there during the lunch rush, otherwise it can get packed. Service is fairly non-existent apart from when they bring you your food. For this meal, I went during dinner time (greeted by a mostly empty restaurant and lots of available seats). I got a Chicken Katsu Curry Rice and my friend got a Chicken Katsu Sando. Chicken Katsu Curry Rice is fantastic as always, with crispy hot chicken and a large amount of curry and rice to pair it with. Complimentary miso soup is included. Portions from Katsuya are generous and filling, though flavor/taste isn't as great as other places. Not a spot I would take someone out for dinner, but for dollar for your work lunch, Katsuya is a great spot and hasn't let me down when I'm in Financial District on business.
I've been wanting to try this place for the longest time! I remembered they had a location inside the International Food Court, but they opened a location up closer to my work place. My bestie and I wanted to try this place out since we were both craving Katsu, so we decided to come here for lunch. It was only a 5-10 minute walk from Beale Street, which is great! They have two kiosks, but one of them was for another restaurant. There is only one tablet available to order take out or to dine in. My bestie and I already knew what we wanted to eat, which was the following: ITEMS ORDERED: -2 Cheese Katsu Sando Meals $19.95 each -1 order of Cheese Balls $5.95 (comes with 5+ pieces) -1 order of Chicken Kaarage $7.45 -2 Diet Cokes $2.50 each Mind you it's super busy during lunch time, so I would come here right when they open or order ahead of time if you're taking it back to the office! My bestie and I came here around 12:15, but we did not get our food until 12:45ish. They had plenty of tables around, and they do have a small table with water and takeout boxes for you available. REVIEW OF EACH ITEM TRIED: -Cheese Katsu Sando Meal: The Cheese Katsu Sando Meal was delicious! It was SUPER heavy though. This meal came with miso soup, a side salad, sesame balls with a spicy mayo, the cheese katsu itself, and pickled veggies. They do not skimp on the portions at all. I barely touched my plate and got full super fast. I was able to save more than half of everything for dinner later! The Katsu itself was super cheesy and fried perfectly. The Miso soup was a great starter, and the sesame balls with spicy mayo was a combination I never knew could work so well. This bento box was such a great combination of flavors and it was all delicious!! -Cheese balls: These were super good! They were fried balls that had mozzarella inside, that were covered in that spicy mayo like sauce that was SO good. I got full off of these super quickly but definitely super cheesy! -Chicken Kaarage: THESE WERE SO GOOD. The batter itself was light and the flavor of the chicken was juicy, yet SO delicious! Highly recommend getting these for yourself or to share! They were still crispy, even after being in the fridge to cool down and after being microwaved! I'll definitely come back and try other things off their menu! I definitely enjoyed my meal, although it got me super sleepy after. Amazing portions and the flavor of everything was great!
1 year ago
I enjoyed both items on separate occasions, but the ebi (shrimp) sando was my favorite. It is a bit pricey and heavy for lunch so not an everyday lunch spot but a nice option every once in a while. read more
Tried chicken katsu - good curry and rice. I liked it pretty much. I was really impressed with the quantity. Pretty generous in my opinion. The place offers 2 menu - one Japanese and another one chinese. It is a mix of self service kinda place - you take your own water, order through a kiosk machine etc. so can't really comment on the service. read more
Unassuming and hidden Japanese spot slinging some solid Katsu and Katsu Sandos. My friend and I decided to pop by here for dinner after catching a movie in Japantown. The restaurant itself is hidden within an International food court - you take some stairs down into a quaint but relatively spacious dining hall. Orders are done via a tablet. For our meal I got a cheese Katsu Sando with a side of curry and my friend got the cheese Katsu plate with a side of takoyaki. Food took about 10-15 minutes to be prepared and came out very fresh. The Highlight was definitely the sando (combined with they curry too). It's cheesy, savory and quite delicious. All the accoutrements that came with it were also really. I can't stress enough that you HAVE to get the curry with it. Without the curry i found the katsu to be good, but the curry is what brought it from good to great. Would definitely stop by here again if I find myself in this part of downtown. 4/5 read more
Located in the international food quart. There was an option to order just the sandwich which works out for me because I do not care for the side imitation crab (or was it macaroni) salad in the bento version. I like that they fry their meat per order, so it's fresh. The sandwich came with katsu sauce on the sides and stuffed with shredded raw cabbage, dusted with aonori. They also ladled a small portion of miso soup which was a nice pairing. Service was pretty quick because I got in before the lunch rush. Ambiance is a food court. Overall, it's not bad. Chicken Katsu sandwich alone is $10.50 (pre tax) and was pretty filling for me. read more
I grabbed lunch from Katsuya for the second time yesterday. I like the different items that are on the tonkatsu lunch box- the macaroni salad, the pickles, and the dressing in the cabbage salad are all tasty. It was plenty filling for the price, too. But when I went yesterday, the star of the show (the pork katsu) was dry. And, because they give you a very minimal amount of sauce for it, I ate most of the meat pieces dry and sauceless. That doesn't mean I don't recommend trying it- the first time I went, the katsu sando was right on point, although a bit heavy on the bread. And, if you order ahead, there's a 20% coupon code on their website right now. For me, the lack of consistency and the large number of other places to lunch in the same area, in the same price range, means I'll move on and try other things. read more
This little shop is tucked in a small food court in the financial district. My sister and I tried the ebi katsu sandwich and it was so yummy! The ebi was so thick and paired perfectly with the tartar sauce. The bread was soft. I definitely want to try the other sandwich options. There is plenty of seating in the area and gets busy during lunch time. read more
11 months ago
Good food. I liked that they had order kiosks. The sandwiches and miso soup were delicious. The white bread was a lot to chew down sometimes. The floor was a little slippery. But overall a chill place to eat read more
I saw this spot on social media and wanted to give it a try since the photos looked good. I was disappointed. The portions are pretty small and the flavor wasn't all there. The soup was my favorite part. If I come back, I want to try the ebi katsu read more
2 years ago
From Underground to Aboveground! Katsuya is my go-to lunch spot in downtown with the best value for money! Of course, it's a bit different from when I first started coming here--the ingredients have become a bit less generous. But for this price and portion size, it's best to just quietly enjoy their delicious sandwiches, haha. Not just sandwiches, but also dishes like tonkatsu,curry, donburi, takoyaki... There's a wide variety on the menu, so I recommend trying them all at least once! read more
6 months ago
Review for delievery- Cheese Katsu Sando and Tonktsu were both so juicy and delicious. We will definitely order again! read more
1 year ago
Grabbed a tonkatsu sando on the way home from work from here because the location is really convenient (right next to Montgomery bart station) and I've been eyeing photos of their sandos. Sad to say that the sando was quite disappointing - not very flavorful and the pork was quite dry. :( Quite aesthetically pleasing though! read more
2 years ago
I went to Katsuya for lunch with a couple of friends. I was excited to try their katsu sandwich combo. After trying the item a la carte and in combo, I would recommend only getting the a la carte. The additional items in the lunch plate were not flavorful and overall didn't add much to the meal. The katsu sandwich is tender and saucy but could be a little messy when eating. A good amount of seating is available. Its a casual setting where you order on the kiosk. On the pricier side for lunch but very convenient as it is near all the corporate buildings read more
During lunch, the place was a bit busy as they were restocking supplies. (In and out with boxes) I ordered chicken but was accidentally given pork. It took a while to find a staff member since no one was immediately available (everyone was in the back) Once I flagged someone down and showed my receipt, they apologized and brought me a side of chicken after about 15 minutes. The food presentation was impressive, but the flavor could use improvement. Place is not too big but comfortably spaced out. read more
What a great find in the city's financial district! Katsuya checks all the boxes for quality/taste/size/ of their sandos! We've always wanted to try this place but they're only open during the weekday. We had an opportunity to make a trip to the city and this was definitely worth the trip! It's below ground but don't let that deter you. It's clean and organized, even though it appears to be an older building.The one lady that helped us our orders was friendly and helpful. She made the sando kits perfectly and deliciously. My ebi sando was thick crunchy and tasty. All the sides hit just right as well. Same thing w/ my friends chicken sando! Crunchy and seasoned well and bread was toasted just right! Thanks Katsuya! We can't wait to revisit if you're open. Lol read more
I come here for the chicken Katsu sandwiches and quirky underground dining vibe. Katsu sandwiches tend to be pricey but compared to the limited other places that have them (Okinawa Café, Bread and Chu,) it's pretty much the same price but here you also get some sides in a bento box like macaroni salad, sesame balls, and salad. It was definitely a good amount of food. The International Food court is easy to miss because it's downstairs but there are signs in front and it's close to Belden Street. The underground location reminds me of all sorts of cute clandestine food places in Japan. It's more to suit office workers in the area because so keep in mind it's closed on the weekends. read more
2 years ago
Was surprised by the flavorfulness of this sando! This food court is tucked away in a basement floor of a FiDi building and rather unassuming, but I think Katsuya is my fav out of all the options in the court. I came here after a workout and got the katsu sando - the chicken was nice and crispy and I liked the slaw in it toox The side dish pairings are a bit odd (sesame balls in sauce and macaroni) but tasted decent. It's not busy for dinner, so service was fast. Overall a solid pick if you live or work near the area and are craving some solid (albeit untraditional) sando. read more
I came here with a friend on a Friday for lunch. It's actually located within a food court and there are ~15-20 tables to sit at. Food came out pretty quickly in ~10 minutes and was packaged nicely in a takeout box and bag with sides like salad and macaroni. I got the cheese katsu and it was very yummy!! I got my cheese pull and I was very happy :)) The katsu was super crispy on the outside but soft on the inside Would definitely come back again for a great work lunch. Prices were pretty normal for SF ranges. read more
I'll KATSU (catch you) up on this old food trend real quick. Katsu Sandos *insert buzzlight year everywhere meme* wow, am I the odd ball here? Maybe I should have ordered the cheese katsu... ?? A bit late on this food trend, but better late than never, came on 10/2022. I was SO excited to try this but very disappointed .:: Food ::. Tonkatsu Sando $16.95: pork cutlet sandwich made with milk bread served in a bento box with side dishes of- sesame balls in a mayo sriracha sauce, pickled cucumber, macaroni salad, salad. Actually a very good sized meal, I shared with my friend and I was full. He was not but, I guess it depends on how hungry you are. I didnt see anything particularly special. It was a bit dry overall.. but MAYBE I should have gotten the cheese one, but sharing with my friend he is lactose intolerant so I could not order the cheese one. The pork cutlet though was pretty crispy but inside was not as juicy as I thought it would be, pretty dry. If you look at the pics I attached, the cutlet is SO thin compared to before (I looked at pics from other yelpers and mine was SOOOOOOOO thin which may explain why it was so dry) .:: Service / Ambiance / Parking ::. Er. It was quiet. Like no one was there. We walked up to the cashier and it was completely quiet for a good 5 min. Finally someone came out to take our order, not much interaction. We put our order in and there was no one else, until a couple min after us, we did not get our food until 15+ min later. We were on a time crunch so I was definitely watching the time to head back to a seminar. Seems like we only had one order but the chef was trying to make everyone's at the same time who came after us, so it was way longer. The place is in an underground food court. So very hole in the wall. Dont expect anything fancy. Wooden chairs, food court type of table. Parking definitely sucks AF downtown SF. I would advise not to drive honestly. Rarely in this area, was only able to come due to a dental convention in the area. read more
They're not the best chicken katsu sando I've ever had in SF. But if you are craving it and are nearby, it's not a bad choice. Their price is on par with the rest of SF. I don't think this sando in particular is very traditional. The bread tasted like brioche and it had some pickled sauce or spread I wasn't expecting. The katsu itself was cooked really well, very juicy and tender. The sandwich was still good, just not what I was expecting. And the miso soup is the same as every other miso soup you've ever had. read more
4.5 Yelp Stars*** Katsuya was my first Japanese sando spot and it was delicious! My husband and I shared the pork katsu cheese sando lunch box as a quick lunch. It was very filling and a well-balanced meal. Our favorite was of course, the sando and the sesame lotus balls with that citrus sauce. Yum! Everything else was good too! The second time we tried it and got it to-go, it did not taste as good as the first time. Prior to this, I managed to try two other Japanese sando spots in SF. Our favorite one overall in terms of taste, pricing, and convenience, would probably be District Tea in Mission. Their service and parking was much better than Katsuya, which was located in financial district with no stopping for metered parking. It was also hidden inside the International Court with limited lunch hours. It was clear their targeted customers were mainly FiDi workers. As mentioned, it was inside the International food court so it was a food stand where you order and pick up. The sando box took over 20mins to make and they did not answer the phone for pre-orders. Definitely not the most convenient location but it was worth it to try. The food court was pretty dark inside and much more quiet compared to the mall food courts. There were also other food stands that served Thai and Korean food which also sounded good. read more
Katsuya is tucked away and hidden inside of the International food court (downstairs). If there's one thing you MUST get here, it's the cheesy katsu sando! The mozzarella is soo cheesy - the cheese pull is literally insane. It came in a bento box with lots of yummy side dishes like mac salad, shredded cabbage salad, and a few sesame balls with red bean for dessert. They use Japanese milk bread which gives it that super fluffy, soft texture. Combine that with their crispy panko-coated, mozzarella-stuffed pork katsu - absolute delight!! The katsu bowl was also good and surprisingly very filling. We also tried a side of their curry which was just OK imo. Overal, great lunch spot! read more
"Don't worry! You've got daddy here. He's got credit cards and cash." - Akio Ogino. Hmm I admit I was expecting way more from that Katsuya Sandō. You could say I'm a self-proclaimed aficionado of Japanese comfort foods, so yeah, I know a thing or two about what a delicious Sandō should taste like! Don't get me wrong it was good... enough. As a young child my sister and I was dropped off at my Grandparents home. Grandma would cook up all these Japanese comfort foods from scratch while I sat on Grandpa's lap as he chained smoked a pipe. So yea, as a child, I experienced delicious foods, curries, dried cuttlefish, and a ton of smoke - thanks Grandpa! Back to Katsuya and my experience, located in the International Food Court in the Financial District it is easy to find. But do yourself a favor and peruse the menu carefully, and even if you do, you still might order the wrong like I did. Why did I think Cheese Katsu Sandō included Chicken Katsu? Then I read some other reviews and it's the wording on the menu! So ordering at the kiosk is easy and really you can't blame anyone but yourself if you're placing the order, right? Wording is odd. Prices are higher than your typical Sandō spot, but you do get a ton of sides too, including small Mac salad and Sesame balls! Like a fusion of sides I guess, lol! Back to the Sandō... Cheese Katsu Sandō was good, prob better if you're a huge cheese lover, but for someone expecting meat in there... I was really thrown off! Hmm says my taste buds. Sides were good too, but so much going on! I felt like for pushing $20 (after taxes, tip) the Sandō had to be the star! Sadly for this boy, raised on Japanese Asian comfort foods, it was just okay. In the end, I admit I ordered the wrong (like others did too) so I take accountability. Is it worth it? So many choices out there, so for $20 you might consider elsewhere. The sides were generous but too much going on, imho. The Sandō should have been the star, but didn't do it for me... maybe Grandma spoiled me... read more
It was our first full day in SF and we wanted to find something delicious and quick. Upon searching on Yelp, we stumbled upon Katsuya. We're all big fans of katsu and this place looked super promising so we took the Bart and headed on over. Portions were very generous so you can definitely share one order with another person or take the leftovers back for another meal. As we were a decent group, some of us decided to order different things so we could try everything out. The sesame balls that comes with your order are so delicious and addicting! As it is one of the shops of a basement food court, I did wish the lighting was a little better so it didn't seem as dark and uninviting, but that's probably more of a note for the property owner. || L O C A T I O N || -Located in a basement that houses a food court (other food options are Korean, Thai, and Mexican food) -Cross Streets are Bush St. and Kearny St. || F O O D || Ebi Katsu Sando ($16.00) - This was everyone's favorite. It's a couple dollars more than the usual pork cutlet, but it's definitely worth it in my opinion. The breading wasn't overly thick and the ebi katsu was pretty flavorful! Cheese Katsu Sando ($15.50) - This was another favorite, but it wasn't as good when the cheese got cold. I recommend eating this as soon as you get it. I would choose the regular cheese katsu if you want it without the bread. If you love all things cheesy, this is for you! Ton Katsu Sando ($14.95) - So juicy! Honestly it's hard to mess up tonkatsu unless you're using old oil or if you overly fry it and it becomes all dry. read more
3 years ago
SO GOOD. Due to some urgent business, my partner and I had to go into the city on a weekday during working hours... so we decided to take the opportunity to check out this katsu sando place I kept seeing on Yelp and Instagram. TL;DR it lived up to the hype. LOGISTICS Katsuya is a stall in an underground food court; there's a set of stairs from the main street that lead you there. This was my first time going into one of these, luckily there was a sign near the entrance so I wasn't too lost in looking for it. Food can be ordered online for pick up, but they also have a digital kiosk where you can make your orders. Sandwiches are made to order so make sure to account for time, as they fry fresh and assemble the sandwiches / sides. While this place is delicious... I still have to knock it on some things: - Only open on the weekdays, the bitterness I have as someone who doesn't work in SF or live in the area to get delivery. - Parking is terrible in the area where this underground food court is located. This is not their fault, but something to note if you try visting here. Unless you work or live nearby, you'll need to take public transportation as there was no where for my partner to park on a weekday in any of the nearby streets, aside from overpriced garages. Luckily I was able to put in my order for takeout and pick it up while my partner circled around until I was ready to get picked up. - Excuse my millennial speaking, but I wish the packaging was more environmentally friendly. The bento itself was nicely packed, but I wish it was either compostable / more cardboard or a reusable bin. FOOD Katsu Sando: Went for fried pork sandwich; meat was still tender, not too chewy, and had a food fried outside from the panko. Sandwiched between some soft white bread and shredded cabbage, it made for a nice balanced meal of flavors and textures, between soft and crispy, sweet and savory. The bread is more of your traditional Asian soft breads, a little like Wonder Bread but thicker. They also put in tonkatsu sauce in the sandwich which the sandwich soaked up a little by the time we sat down to eat. Ebi Katsu Sando: This was my favorite, but I'm a sucker for fried seafood sandwiches, especially in a large patty form. The sauces used here were a little different from the katsu sando, it was more of a wasabi mayo vs the brown tonkatsu sauce. But the components like the bread, cabbage, etc. were the same. Recommend this for those that like fried seafood, especially when I don't make a seafood katsu very often, Cheese Katsu Sando: This was basically the tonkatsu (fried pork) sandwich but with some cheese in between. I would recommend eating this fresh... by the time we go home, the cheese was already cooled and gummy vs being melted and gooey. Still tasted great but definitely a sandwich to eat right away after receiving, rather than doing takeout for a 30 min drive home. Sides: Wanted to talk about this separate from the sandwiches - each sandwich came with a bento box filled with side dishes. And they were all delicious! There were some sesame balls that came with a sweet/savory orange sauce, not the typical thing I've seen with those, but it was tasty. Pickled veggies were a nice compliment, while the shredded cabbage / salad was a nice veggie break from the fried sando meats. Miso soup was appreciated for cutting into the fried greasiness. Mac salad was just OK, still appreciated the carbs. OVERALL I've said this in numerous reviews by now, but I've gotten used to paying for overpriced meals in the Bay Area. Especially in SF where you'll pay like $15 for a meager salad or some ritzy tapas plate. Here? No that $15-$20 will give you a satisfying meal. We focused on eating the sandwiches and saved the sides to eat later since there was a lot of them. Now excuse me while I wait for another location to be open... maybe more south, with easier parking. read more
6 months ago
didn't expect to have pretty decent food at an underground food court haha but I missed my fav japanese food katsudon :"D katsu wasn't very juicy but was crispy enough. I didn't fancy the macaroni (mayo) salad and the cheesy sauce that ruined the red bean sesame balls. but overall generous portions and we liked it read more
I'm going crazy for the Katsu sandwiches at Katsuya! Located in a facility in downtown San Francisco called the International Food Court, which is below ground and has two entrances, one along Bush Street and the other along Kearny Street, Katsuya has been on my to-visit list for quite some time, especially after one of the popular local food blogs raved about their custom-made breaded pork cutlet sandwiches, and after seeing the pictures that accompanied their online post, I was definitely intrigued. What brought me here on a recent weekday afternoon was when a friend and I were walking down Kearney Street and we were both hungry and many of the more well known fast casual restaurants that were street level had lines of people waiting to order their food. So as we walked, we saw the famous elongated red awning leading downstairs to the International Food Court, and I mentioned to him that they had a number of food stands within the food court and did he want to check it out. He said he was interested in looking and we headed downstairs. The atmosphere within the International Food Court is less than desirable but it works for them and everyone who visits them as currently there are just four food stalls serving people, two served Korean food, one street food, on soup, and the third was a Thai Food stand that had a line accumulating in front of it, so we knew they were popular. But almost as a beacon of light there was the ultra modern exterior of Katsuya calling our name. I told my friend that this was the stand that was garnering so much buzz, granted it didn't feel like it on this day as there was no line in front. Sure there were a number of takeout orders ready to be picked up but with no one in front, we had our reservations, but once we saw the menu and how easy it was to order on their touchpad kiosks we were sold. The menu at Katsuya is separated by categories including Katsu, Katsu Sando, Donburi, Sides, and Beverages. There was one thing that I came for, and that was their signature Katsu Sando, which was a prime center cut savory pork loin served between two slices of white bread along with tonkatsu sauce and thinly shredded cabbage. All of the entrées at Katsuya are also served with a variety of sides within a bento box at no additional cost. Within my bento box I received four sesame seed covered takoyaki balls filled with red bean paste which were covered in covered in a sweet sauce, a scoop of macaroni salad, a salad with shredded lettuce, red cabbage, cherry tomato and a sweet vinaigrette dressing on the side, pickled vegetables and a side of miso soup. Talk about taking home a full meal for lunch! It didn't take too long for my food to be prepared by the one restaurant worker they seem to have this afternoon, as we waited for about eight minutes total for our names to be called out. My friend ordered their Ton Katsu meal which the only difference being mine was a sandwich and his was the sliced breaded pork cutlet served with all of the same accompaniments that I received. My total bill for my meal was $18.41 before gratuity was added in, and I found that totally reasonable considering the amount of food we were getting upon this visit. Upon returning to the office with my meal, I tore into my Sando and it was as delicious as it looked, as the Katsu Sando wasn't overcooked or over-breaded. Thankfully they added in additional sweet Katsu sauce of which I poured directly over my sandwich as if it were ketchup. I also loved the Takoyaki balls, which is significant as I am not the biggest red bean paste fan, sacrilege I know, but I never liked the taste until today as the sweet sauce really counteracted any other tastes that I may not have liked. But this was a complete meal that I enjoyed, and now I cannot wait to come back for more, as my meal was compact, delicious, and the perfect way to sample their signature dish, while still making me want more. I can't wait to return to try their Donburi dishes and their Curry and Karaage, the latter of which are served as sides and are very affordable. At Katsuya, they are an underground gem that is not so hidden, as they deliver on their trendiness by serving up traditional Japanese cuisine with a stylish flair. Here's to hoping for their continued success, which will hopefully lead to additional locations throughout the Bay Area! read more
2 years ago
Katsuya is located in a small and nearly hidden international food court near Chinatown specializing in Japanese style cutlets. They are most well known for their instagram worthy cheese pulls from their cheese Katsu sandwiches. On this visit, I opted for a more traditional katsu pork sandwich. The sandwich had all of the fixings of a great katsu sandwich with soft white Japanese bread, slaw, and bulldog sauce to complement the pork. My one criticism was that the pork was a bit dry during my visit, however this may have been an anomaly as I've had friends who had different experiences. If you're looking for a katsu sandwich place in the heart of San Francisco, make sure to try Katsuya! read more
2 years ago
located in an underground food court which was a little dingy. we went on a tuesday night and it was pretty empty - some of the other restaurants were closed for the day. - chicken katsu set meal (3/5): not bad, though the katsu sauce felt a little too vinegary (?) - cheese katsu set meal (3/5): i liked this more than the katsu sando, but the cheese hardened really quickly - i appreciated the various sides in the set meals and the miso soup, but overall the meal was the definition of mid. it wasn't so bad to where i didn't finish my meal, but i would not come back again or recommend it overall, cool concept and aesthetically pleasing, but the food was just meh read more
1 year ago
Delicious cheese katsu sando! Was curious about trying it after seeing pictures, but the cheese pull is no joke! The cheese is hot and still oozing when served. While I would enjoy the mac salad and side salad separately, together with the cheese katsu it is a bit overwhelming. The red bean balls are drenched in sauce, so perhaps if there was a way to have that sauce on the side it would complement the meal a bit more as dessert. The kitchen was busy with takeout orders during a Friday lunch hour, but workers were still helpful when flagged down. read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
Solid katsu sandwich spot. Can be hard to find since it's located in an underground food court. Came during weekday dinner, and the place was basically empty. Felt eerie dining in the basement, but it's probably more lively during lunch hours. On the bright side, our food was ready pretty fast. The chicken katsu lunch box is pretty good. The portion is big, and you could probably split this between two people. It's like a bento with sections of different sides. My favorite was the mac and cheese salad with crunchy pickled veggies. The miso soup was also nice as a mellow broth to balance everything. Was not a fan of the sesame balls. They have a chewy sesame coating with red bean filling, which on its own would taste amazing. Just for some reason...they're drizzled with sour cheese sauce? Felt confused eating this. I'm all for sweet and salty combos. But this is not it. The katsu sandwich is great, but does lean on the sweeter side. It has tender breaded chicken with pickled cabbage and a tangy sweet sauce.The white bread is so soft and fluffy! Overall a nice lunch box for a quick meal. Really filling and enjoyed the variety of sides to try. read more
More info about Katsuya
132 Bush St
San Francisco, CA 94104
Financial District
Directions
(415) 757-0404
Call Now
Order Takeout or Delivery
Start Order
Full menu
Hours
Payment methods
Food & Alcohol
Indoor Amenities
Outdoor Amenities
Other Amenities
From the Business
More Info
Health Score
Katsuya Reviews in Other Languages
Ask the Community - Katsuya
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
5 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
3 years ago
5 years ago
4 years ago
5 years ago
Katsuya - japanese - Updated August 2026
Best of San Francisco
People found Katsuya by searching for…
Restaurants in San Francisco, CA
All You Can Eat Sushi in San Francisco, CA
Cheap Eats in San Francisco, CA
Hawaiian Food in San Francisco, CA
Bento Box in San Francisco, CA
Ayce Sushi in San Francisco, CA
Sandwiches in San Francisco, CA
Little Italy in San Francisco, CA
Chicken Bowls in San Francisco, CA
Trending Searches in San Francisco, CA
Browse Articles
Browse Nearby
BEST of San Francisco, California Coffee near Katsuya
BEST of San Francisco, California Restaurants near Katsuya
BEST of San Francisco, California Desserts near Katsuya
BEST of San Francisco, California Sushi near Katsuya
BEST of San Francisco, California Things to Do near Katsuya
BEST of San Francisco, California Parking near Katsuya
BEST of San Francisco, California Ramen near Katsuya
BEST of San Francisco, California Omakase near Katsuya
Browse Brands
Related Searches in San Francisco, CA
All You Can Eat Sushi Buffet Deals in San Francisco, California
Authentic Izakaya Dining Experiences in San Francisco, California
Best Places to Enjoy Curry in San Francisco, California
Best Shabu Dining Options in San Francisco, California
Best Teriyaki Chicken Meals in San Francisco, California
Delicious Onigiri Options to Try in San Francisco, California
Discover All You Can Eat Sushi Spots in San Francisco, California
Discover Delicious Noodle Soup Options in San Francisco, California
Discover Top-Rated Noodle Dishes in San Francisco, California
Discover the Best Rice Dishes in San Francisco, California
Discover the Best Sushi Spots in San Francisco, California
Enjoy Authentic Gyoza Dishes in San Francisco, California
Enjoy Authentic Tempura Dishes in San Francisco, California
Enjoy Conveyor Belt Sushi Dining in San Francisco, California
Enjoy Fresh Soba Noodles Near You in San Francisco, California
Enjoy Sushi Lunch Special Deals in San Francisco, California
Experience Authentic Omakase Dining in San Francisco, California
Explore Delicious Vegetarian Food in San Francisco, California
Explore Top Taiwanese Food Choices Around San Francisco, California
Fast and Fresh Sushi Delivery in San Francisco, California
Fast and Fresh Sushi Takeout in San Francisco, California
Find Bento Boxes Available in San Francisco, California
Find Delicious Rice Bowl Options in San Francisco, California
Find Fresh Salmon Dishes in San Francisco, California
Find Top-Rated Sushi Buffet Spots in San Francisco, California
Find the Best Sushi Lunch Options in San Francisco, California
Find the Best Sushi Rolls in San Francisco, California Today
Find the Best Teriyaki Dishes in San Francisco, California
Find the Best Tonkatsu Dishes in San Francisco, California
Find the Best Udon Noodles in San Francisco, California
Fresh Sashimi Options in San Francisco, California
Get Authentic Miso Soup in San Francisco, California
Order Bento Box Lunch Specials in San Francisco, California
Order Fresh Ramen Noodles Near San Francisco, California
Order a Fresh Sushi Boat in San Francisco, California Now
Popular Yakisoba Dishes Available in San Francisco, California
Savor Authentic Yakitori in San Francisco, California
Savor Cheap Sushi Favorites in San Francisco, California
Savor Delicious Japanese Food Options in San Francisco, California
Savor Delicious Ramen Restaurants in San Francisco, California
Savor Delicious Udon in San Francisco, California
Savor Japanese Curry Dishes in San Francisco, California
Sushi Happy Hour Specials Available in San Francisco, California
Taste Authentic Katsu Dishes in San Francisco, California
Taste Authentic Omakase Sushi in San Francisco, California
Taste Delicious Hawaiian Food in San Francisco, California
Top Sushi Restaurant Choices in San Francisco, California
Top Sushi Restaurants to Try in San Francisco, California
