Food was incredible. Ambience was great. Service slow as only one server. Was great for us as we like to dine out slow but for others might be a problem. read more

A cozy place for Tonkatsu, Kama and skewers! Great Vibe! I really love the cozy understated and unique (for the States) modern yet traditional Japanese ambiance of this place. It's probably the very cool looking cloth lampshades that really dial in the cozy vibe here. Though there were some hiccups with service being shorthanded on the night of our visit, we thoroughly enjoyed dining here for the firfst time. TONKATSU & KAMA: We ordered quite a few items, but we enjoyed the big chunk of Hamachi Kama (collar) and their Signature Tonkatsu the best. The breading in particular of their Signature Tonkatsu was superb. A big slab served tender on a cooling rack 5/5. The Kama was perfect with tons of meat - perfectly grilled and moist throughout. 5/5 GRILLED ITEMS: The grilled items (mushrooms, prawns, chicken wings and thighs on skewers) were on point too. Of these, we ordered seconds of the the chicken thighs and wings (Teba). Nothing too special with the skewers, but they did not disappoint. AGEDASHI TOFU - We also tried the Agedashi Tofu as appetizer. With this, you get six deep fried cubes of tofu served on two skewers. Each cube of tofu has a thick and crunchy crust with a great mouth feel. The sauce in the dish beneath was complex and good being both mildly sweet and salty to complete the dish. 4.5/5 We look forward to coming back to enjoy another meal at this cozy little enclave right off the J Line Muni Metro. Parking is achievable in this neighborhood too. read more

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ATTENTION: Kawanoya has sushi now and they're sooo good! I ordered the scallops (Hokkaido hotate), amaebi and hamachi toro sushi and they were all really fresh and yummy. This time, I ordered Kama, which is fish jowl that comes with rice and miso soup - it's actually quite filling and I couldn't finish the rice. We also had some appetizers and everything was delicious and made with care. The design of this restaurant is very comfortable with tasteful artwork, from the lamps to the wall art. Service was top notch- it could get busy so be patient when the server needs to make her rounds. read more

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The quality of food at Kawanoya reminds me of my trips to Japan. Me and my wife always find ourselves coming back and this will be our 12th time here. Tonkatsu Plate: 5/5 Katsu is often hit or miss at most places but here it is always consistently delicious with a thin panko layer and fat rendered pieces of pork. Black Miso Cod: 5/5 Delicious sweet glazed miso flavor but not fishy at all. This dish is comparable to what you can find in Japan. It is so soft, it literally melts in your mouth. I can tell the chef is constantly improving this dish because previously the dish was just the fish itself but now it comes with a side of salad and ikura on top of generous portion of cod. Fried Chicken Cartilage: 5/5 If you love chicken cartilage, this is the place to get it. The portion is bit small but the quality is amazing. It comes perfectly fried with a outer layer that is crunchy but soft. The chicken is juicy despite being the cartilage part. Overall, this place is still a hidden gem in San Francisco. I don't think it will be long before Kawanoya is featured on the Michelin guide and wait times skyrocket. Try it while you can. read more

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Do I even want to tell people about this place... 10/10. Would go back tonight if I could. A LOVELY interior, lots to look at and see, but still very comfortable. Service was attentive and we got a couple complementary dishes, so sweet of them. Food was fabulous. Must get the skewers. Lots to talk about. I went with my boyfriend and we had different favorites which was fun. Great for smaller groups (2-4) but there was a nice big table of 6 or 8 and they were having a blast. read more

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Kawanoya was such a vibe. From the ambient japanese music playing softly in the background, to the soft lighting and light rain outside... everything was perfect! The food was absolutely amazing. Everything is made with high quality ingredients-- I could tell because my stomach didn't feel super icky after eating so much! My favorite was the tofu salad. It was so light and refreshing, and yet so filling. The toasted sesame seeds on top were the perfect mix. The staff were also very attentive and friendly:). I will 100% be returning to Kawanoya!! read more

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Very solid Japanese food place! The yakimono we had were nicely prepared over charcoal, and each was really tasty. In particular, the unagi and miso eggplant were especially tasty. We each got different mains; saba shioyaki, tonkatsu, and salmon tonkatsu. The tonkatsu is very nice: the breading is a very small grain size, and it has a nice crumbly crisp texture. I also like how they give you a mortar and pestle to grind up sesame seeds to put on the katsu. It's a very nice touch. I also liked the shredded cabbage: it was a very fine shred, and like the panko breading, very delicate and unique. read more

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We went for dinner for my friend's birthday and was fantastic. Good quality food. For apps we got the Nasu eggplant and fried oysters. My favorite was the oysters. Not soggy and right amount of panko. Eggplant was seasoned perfectly and not soggy at all either. Unagi Don was not too salty and the egg under the eel complimented it very well. The katsu chicken was unexpectedly thick but the cheese on top and katsu sauce together was perfect. Ambiance was immersive and well decorated. Service was kind and attentive. Restaurant is small on the inside so I would not recommend anything bigger than a party of 5/6. By dinner, they had ran out of their matcha ice cream and tiramisu. Would rather go for lunch next time. read more

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This new spot has pretty great food, but is still working out some of the kinks in their service. We showed up at 6 on a Friday without a reservation so we were seated at the bar. We ordered two appetizers and those came fairly quickly and were tasty: seaweed salad and skewered shishito peppers. The problem was with our two entrees, which came 20 minutes apart. So mine was cold by the time my friend's arrived. When we pointed this out to the waitstaff they were apologetic and said something about the broth taking more time, but I suspect they forgot the second dish. Still, the food was good (a salmon rice dish and the sea bass) and the presentation is nice. We will give them a second try and see if their timing is any better. read more

Kawanoya - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Very cute, woody, nature-y vibes interior! The ambiance is definitely giving Japan~ I wish they had a better system for waitlist because it seems like it's just based off the memory of the waiters. My friend and I came around 7pm on a Thursday night and the restaurant was packed. Be expected to wait! We got seated around 30 minutes and ordered: Signature Tonkatsu ($28 3.5/5 meat was soft and i enjoyed the salad that it came with b/c of how finely chopped it was but for the katsu, I wished it had a thicker breading), Pork Katsu Curry ($28 3/5 curry was alright, definitely needed the spicy seasoning they had on the side & rice was more on the mushy side & katsu same thing with the crust too thin), Duck Skewer ($7 for ONE, 2.5/5 wished it was juicier & not as tough to chew), and Pork Belly ($6 for ONE, 3/5 exactly what you would think it to be). BTW, they have changed their menu since last year. Overall, not sure if I would come back especially if their prices have jumped so much in a span of 3 months ($22 for Tonkatsu to $28 now) & if their quality of food is just alright. read more

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The restaurant is nice and bright and open. They are low on servers and probably low on kitchen help so you should expect to wait and sometimes the food and drinks will come out fairly slowly. I would not recommend for large parties because at this time you will not likely get your entrees all together. That being said, if you are aware of the wait, the food is pretty good. I enjoyed the skewers, good flavor and fun to eat. The miso eggplant is unexpectedly a favorite. The duck is very good. The curry katsu is very good. Large portion of pork katsu! The hojicha coconut drink is tasty and refreshing. read more

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The restaurant is nicely decorated and super clean. When you walk in you are greeted with kindness and customer service. We sat down almost immediately. Food was great. I had a beef tongue skewer and some agedashi tofu. Friends had signature katsu plates. We got to crush sesame seeds for the katsu sauce and that was fun and fragrant. Overall I'd come back for sure. The only downside was the katsu wasn't crispy all around but not. big deal everything was yummy! read more

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Mindset coming was basically here we go again, same sake and skewers meat but I was actually blown away by how each stick had their own unique delicious flavor and also cooked to their perfect tenderness. Felt like the tiger prawns were a scam, they were regular sized shrimp imo. Menu is a little smaller and was sad no chicken skin but other than that, this was definitely top 3 izakaya. read more

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I'm usually one of the next-to-last people to try new spots around town, but the Yelp app search algorithm kept the spotlight on this one. Open only for two months since early December 2025, this sleek new izakaya is off to a great start. In fact, I've been here twice now, even though I don't live in Noe Valley. Fortunately It's easy to find because it's conveniently off the J-Church MUNI line. I have to say upfront the quality of both my meals here really impressed me. The well-crafted menu would satisfy the most fastidious salaryman in the middle of the Shibuya Scramble. Not only do they offer katsu entrees but yakimono, hot pots, karaage, and even ochazuke which made me think the ghost of my okasan was in their kitchen. On my first visit, I ordered the $12 Fried Chicken Cartllage. As an innards fan, I was struck by the simple execution of the dish as it appeared to be flash-fried to the ideal level of chewy consistency (Photo 9). The gizzards had just the right amount of bite for me. I went for the yakimono for my entree starting with the $18 Veggies Combo Set, five skewers of bright vegetables lightly grilled and seasoned with shio. They were neatly organized on a plate (Photo 8). Okra, shimejis & grape tomatoes, shiitakes, shishito peppers, zucchini. I indulged myself in one meaty skewer, the $6 Pork Belly (Photo 7). Quite satisfied, I came back today to try a dish that wasn't on the menu before, the $28 Pork Katsu Curry, their only curry offering (Photo 10). It was a hearty, tasty rendition with a panko-encrusted cutlet, fully tender with plenty of curry sauce and rice. Oishikatta! FOOD - 5 stars...quality execution on izakaya favorites, the curry rocks AMBIANCE - 4.5 stars...spacious and sleek Noe Valley addition SERVICE - 5 stars...quietly effective TOTAL - 5 stars...I'm finally in the early wave of discovery here...that makes me hip, right? RELATED - Exploring Noe Valley? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/fVeVkoGerL read more

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Beautiful interior and delicious food! Only gripe is the price is a bit high, but worth it for the ambiance and taste. Tried out their ripe tomato appetizer as well as the cheese filled pork tonkatsu. Holy moly the tomato marinade was insane - tangy, yuzu umami - so refreshing! The tonkatsu was a great set, with a big bowl of rice and sauces to match. Had a great time sitting in the place till they closed, and service was very sweet. Making a reservation was very easy as well. read more

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A new member to upper noe, we had high expectations upon walking in! The decor was interesting, a very modern approach mixed with Japanese elements, a lot of lights seemingly there just for the aesthetic... We started with the fried squid. Self proclaimed as "shattering" in terms of their crunch on the menu, this left us very disappointed. The squid had ZERO crunch, the battered coating was soft and tasted overly starchy. I understand this is a new addition to their menu but it feels like it's bluffing its way through. I hope this dish develops to fit its description in the future The Cod meal was decent. Though the portion of the cod was a bit disappointing, sitting on its loooong banana leaf, the flavour was ok, a nice outside sear, but not much flavour had seeped through to the centre The katsu curry was also decent. Good taste in the curry, different from your standard curry cube, though unfortunately the katsu was pretty dry Growing pains are sure to occur with a new spot, but this coming to just under 100 dollars for two people no drinks post tip, makes it hard to want to come back. It seems other dishes are favoured by other yelpers, so try those out! read more

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This was the perfect date night! The food was so delicious, best izakaya style bites I've tried in Noe Valley/ Mission area. We ordered a few skewers, a salmon donburi bowl, and a tonkatsu plate but I forgot to take a picture. We walked in and had to wait around 20 minutes to be seated, so better to make a reservation beforehand. Overall great experience. read more

Kawanoya - Pork belly skewer, shishito pepper, shiitake mushroom - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I met a friend for lunch at Kawanoya and it was a great meal. First off, their tea selection is nice. They have a nice assortment of dishes that already makes me want to come back. I had the duck ochazuke which was very good and gave me the perfect comfort food experience. My friend had the tonkatsu which was served with cabbage and rice. I like when you get to grind your own sesame seeds to go with the sauce. They also bring a bottle of the salad dressing to you so it stays refrigerated. It was a good size portion. Their mushroom skewers were a good add to our meal as well. Service is very polite, with one person handling the whole room. I love how serene the restaurant felt on a drizzly day. I also like that they have coffee available too as a drink option. I saw the espresso machine in the back. All in all I think this is a great place to meet up with friends to catch up for a good Japanese meal and conversation. read more

Kawanoya - Grilled duck ochazuke - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Me *Squeals*: "I need a mini pig in my life....they're SO cute!" Also Me: "Mmmm, tonkatsu!" While driving to the vet last week, I noticed a new business took over Clay Oven Indian Cuisine. Yay! Something that Noe doesn't have, a Japanese resto specializing in Tonkatsu (fried pork cutlet) and Yakitori (skewers). Kawanoya offers takeout, delivery, and dine-in. Rezzies accepted. F O O D * Nankotsu: Fried Chicken Cartilage ($9): https://tinyurl.com/464fr9e3 Deliciously crunchy with a soft gelatinous bite. Light batter and seasoned just right. A must get starter. * Yakitori (price per a skewer) - Choice of seasoning: Shio (salt) or Tare (soy based sauce) - We choose shio for all skewers. - I forgot to ask if they use binchō-tan (Japanese white charcoal) -- Kamo: Duck ($6 x2) - https://tinyurl.com/yc5x5wn8 Fav skewer of the night - tender and meaty breast with a smoky crisp skin. -- Unagi ($4): https://tinyurl.com/5xupspt8 Rich and fatty with a savory sweet flavor and crunchy skin. -- Karubi: Beef Short Rib ($8) On the leaner side, I would opt for tare seasoning. -- Teba: Chicken Wings ($4) Butterflied wings were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. -- Momo: Chicken Thighs ($4) A touch overcooked as it was on the dry side. I like that all the yakitori was very lightly seasoned so you can enjoy the natural proteins. To pair with the yakitori, they gave us a side of juicy tomatoes lightly dressed with a tangy vinaigrette and topped with onions and shiso. * Signature Tonkatsu w/ tonkatsu sauce ($22): https://tinyurl.com/3stk4wuf - Includes miso soup, cabbage slaw, and rice Great contrasting textures from the shatteringly crispy panko crust and thick, tender, and juicy pork. Not greasy. Served with a tangy sweet tonkatsu sauce similar to a fruity worcestershire sauce. The cabbage is so finely shaven that it has a fluffy texture. Drizzle the sesame dressing before enjoying. Miso soup was hot and comforting, not too salty. This is a personal preference but I prefer short grain rice that has a sticker, moister texture. * Tiger Prawns Katsu Combo ($22) - Includes miso soup, cabbage slaw, and rice Not mine but this combo includes two ebi fry and a smaller pork tenderloin. S E R V I C E Welcoming, friendly hospitality from the owner and our server, Christine. She brought us hot mugs of jasmine yuzu tea (on the house) since it was cold outside. Very thoughtful. A M B I A N C E Great renovation from the previous resto - bright and modern with earth toned furnishings. There's about 8 tables, bar seating, and window seats. The owner was kind enough to bring a table outside for us. Overall, Kawanoya is a welcome addition to Noe serving delicious tonkatsu and yakitori dishes at SF affordable prices. Hope they consider adding offal to their yakitori menu! read more

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Came here recently and this place is definitely more about the aesthetic and vibe than the food. The interior is super nice with warm lighting, clean wood design, and a modern Japanese feel. It is honestly a great spot for Instagram pics or just sitting and chatting. As for the food, it was just okay. We tried a few skewers and a tonkatsu set. Presentation looked good but nothing really stood out taste wise. The skewers were too oily and not memorable, and the tonkatsu was crispy but pretty standard. Portions also felt a bit small for what you are paying. We had a stomachache 15 minutes after we left the restaurant, maybe our stomach couldn't handle the oily skewers. It feels like they have good ideas and a solid concept, but the execution on the food side is not there yet. With so many strong spots around, I am not sure they can really compete unless they improve the quality and food variety. Overall, nice place for vibes, photos, and catching up with friends, but if you are going for the food, there are better options. read more

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came here around 4:50 pm and we waited a little to get seated because the server was busy taking someone's takeout order, but we didn't mind waiting, all the tables were already set with water & menus, and we got to sit anywhere since there wasn't anybody there. it started to get a little busier once we sat down. there is plenty of street parking but if it is peak hours it would probably be filled up. since there was one server, it did take her a little to get to us but we didn't mind because we took a window seat and we were just watching and enjoying. for drinks: coconut matcha - so good, matcha is authentic and flavors blended super well with each other, honestly really refreshing since it wasn't a latte but it was topped with a little bit of cream, which was a nice sweet touch. coconut hojicha - authentic as well, same thing with the matcha, with a little cream on top, both were on par flavor wise and probably one of the most authentic spots in sf for matcha & hojicha. for food: yari ebi skewers - these had the shell on, it was nicely edible and chewable and wasn't hard at all, tastes so good and we finished it in seconds. unagi skewer - grilled to perfection, didn't have any bones, was so delicious. you need to try it to believe it, wasn't that slimy either. ochazuke grilled salmon - presentation wise was up to par, sides were delicious and paired well with the tea broth, surprised that this felt so authentically made. it was like something my grandma made for me when i was younger. hamachi kama - great grilled yellowtail cheek, honestly was grilled well and wasn't burnt, the ponzu sauce and squeezes of lemon was so delicious. matcha ice cream - wasn't too sweet, topped with mint and matcha powder, great dessert. this place was honestly surprisingly super good, i don't find a lot of authentic japanese places especially from where i live at all, and im so glad sf brings home the cake with so many places like this. my girlfriend and i ate everything up, we felt so fulfilled and happy. i highly recommend, i see so many bad reviews and i don't understand why, everybody's experience is different but ours was perfect. all the food came out accordingly and fast as expected as you would at any restaurant. read more

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I've been ordering takeout food here for a few months, perhaps every 2 or 3 weeks, since they opened and have ordered a variety of things. My experience has been outstanding most of the time. I mainly rotate through three of their fish dishes, all of which are five star: The Gindara Saikyo-Yaki is a grilled fish with a miso glaze. It is so tender and flavorful. The Ichiyaboshi Theadfin is a whole partly-dried fish. I initially got it because I've never seen it before, but it is quite good so I keep getting it. The flavor profile is milder than the Gindara, but it's a nice change of pace. And I've recently added the Unagi Donburi to my rotation after trying and loving it. It comes with a slightly sweet sauce. I notice they seem to still be experimenting with presentation. When I last got the Gindara, it came with a (very) small green side salad that used interesting lettuce and several small veggie incredients. It was much more interesting than the typical salad that is served at a Japanese restaurant. I enjoy their eggplant miso skewers and okra tare skewers and get them every time I get one of the above fish dishes. I've also tried and liked their tamago skewer. I've had the mushroom skewers and zucchini skewers and, while there's nothing wrong with them, I didn't find them particularly interesting. I've had their hojicha tiramisu a couple times. As I strongly dislike anything with coffee, I appreciate their tea version. It's good, and the hard chocolate base is top-notch. Their wakame salad is good. As I said, my experience has mostly been outstanding. Here were the glitches: My second time there, they got my order wrong and gave me the threadfin rather than the mixed mushroom ochazuke I had ordered, possibly because I also mentioned how much I had liked the threadfin. When I finally did order and receive the mixed mushroom ochazuke, it got boring rather quickly as it was mushroom after mushroom after mushroom. The one time I tried the salmon ochazuke it seemed that the salmon was underdone. Full disclosure: They've comped me extra skewers a number of times as well as a dessert. I did not request the comps and they did not offer them in exchange for a review. read more

Wow! This place was sooo good! Saw this place on tiktok and knew I had to try it. Love the interior it was very modern and clean. Came here on a Friday afternoon at 1:30pm and there was no wait! You can make reservation as well on yelp. Got agedashi tofu and chicken karage for appetizer. The tofu was good I would get it again. Would pass on the chicken karage next time because it wasn't crunchy or crispy :( sauce was good. There was only one female server during lunch. Service was decent. Me and my friend both got the signature tonkotsu $28 and it was delicious! Felt like we were back in Japan! We would definitely come back and try other stuff on the menu. Would recommend this place to friends and family. read more

Kawanoya - Signature tonkotsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Cozy Japanese tonkatsu restaurant.with a hint towards a neighborhood izakaya in the heart of Noe Valley. Since they soft opened three two days ago, I'll be splitting this review in two parts. In the first part, I'll focus on the tonkatsu and the second on the skewers. Kawanoya - Tonkatsu Generous, crispy and juicy tonkatsu. After squeezing the lemon across the meat, you can use the Japanese-style pestle to hand ground fresh toasted sesame seeds and add to katsu sauce. Their tonkatsu sauce is tasty, but I needed to ask for more. Cabbage shaved finely and tasty dressing. Heaping portions of hot rice. It's the perfect meal if you're missing Tokyo. Waitress was friendly. And you can peek through the kitchen to see them hand breading and deep frying all tonkatsu. read more

Kawanoya - Tonkatsu, shaved cabbage, miso soup, and white rice. - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We found this new restaurant and wanted to try it out. Overall, I think the restaurant isn't ready for prime time yet. Main issue was food running. They have the same person taking orders, making drinks, and running orders. There were severe backups, with food waiting to be served for very long time periods. I could see the chef look through and try to figure out what's going on We had appetizers not delivered within 20-30 minutes and had to check in to see if they remembered I think we were a little more perceptive because we had a kid who was hungry and wanted the tofu appetizer We ordered 2 appetizers, 3 entrees, and skewers. Katsu plate - katsu came out cold but was otherwise tasty. It sat there for a solid 10-15 minutes Salmon ochazuke - solid Hot pot rice - this was a bibimbap that was fine, but I probably should have picked something else at a Japanese place Chicken cartilage appetizer - wouldn't order again Tofu appetizer - came after our dinner ended. I asked to check in on it and it still came after we finished our entrees. after it came, we wouldn't order it again Skewers - fine Decor - beautiful, warm, and inviting All in all I'd be open to trying this place again but I really hope they figure out the logistics because it really set a bad vibe for the dinner read more

Best cheese tonkatsu in the valley. They added a mortar and pestle for you to grind your own sesame seeds. Service was quick. It was very clean inside. read more

Kawanoya - Cheese tonkatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Kawanoya is a new Japanese spot that opened up in Noe. The space is has a very light, relaxing ambiance. I appreciate the decor, the attention to detail- the lamp shades were really pretty. There's lots of indoor seating, the bathroom is clean too. This is a new spot, they're figuring out the service. This is very common, so I gave the server a lot of grace. One woman is greeting, serving tables (checking on them), running food, this obviously made the service slow, but once again this is common for new spots figuring out the flow. We ordered a variety of skewers to start. They were okay, not really seasoned. The duck one was great! We ordered the Japanese yellow curry with pork katsu and the shrimp katsu. They come with rice, only the shrimp had additional miso soup. The katsu is the star of the show here. Everything is seasoned and fried perfectly with a delicate, crisp crunchy outside. The yellow curry was so delicious and comforting. I appreciate the mountain of cabbage on the side too. The table has sauces and sesame to add additional flavor. It's a little pricey for katsu, but it was super good! I highly recommend coming out to try one of their amazing katsu dishes. Shoutout to the one server running around! She was fantastic, doing the most, serving over 7 tables at once. Don't forget to be kind!! read more

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Decided to give kawanoya a try after searching all over the place for a restaurant to eat at. This place is fairly new so they currently have no alcohol license as of currently. As well as some items on the menu are unable to be made due to limited items.. The ambience was nice and well light with warm lights, the host was awesome and gave us good insight about the food. We tried the coconut hojicha and it was fantastic! The coconut was not overpoweringly sweet just strong in the coconut taste. I ordered the signature tonkatsu and was surprised to found that the quality of chicken used was fantastic. It had a good amount of fat and was moist as well as the crunch from the coating was perfect. I thought it was nice that the tables had katsu sauce there. Overall 10/10 must try again. Arguably one of my favorite katsu places based off quality read more

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Finally there's a Japanese restaurant in SF that serves authentic tonkatsu!! The pork cutlet at Kawanoya is perfectly fried: super crispy on the outside, juicy and tender on the inside, and without that overly thick breading you usually see. Best of all, it's not greasy at all, which is rare for tonkatsu around here. I've been to Japan and Hawaii many times, and this honestly compares to some of the best tonkatsu I've had. I also revisited Ginza Bairin in Honolulu last month and noticed the quality has gone downhill... and I would now much rather have the tonkatsu at Kawanoya! (Tamafuji in HNL is still good tho) I also really liked the cheese katsu, the pork was super tender and the cheese was rich without being overly heavy/greasy. Highlights: - Tonkatsu - Cheese Katsu - Fried Chicken Cartilage - Grilled beef - Grilled chicken cartilage - Hojicha tiramisu - Mont blanc - Hojicha coconut The interior design is also very nice. The restaurant is fully renovated with lots of nice Japanese decor. Seems to be a great place to hang out with friends or come as a family. They're currently in soft opening, so the full menu isn't available yet, but everything I tried was delicious and service was great. I can't wait to come back once the full menu rolls out. TLDR: Amazing authentic Japanese tonkatsu along with great yakitori and Japanese desserts. Nice ambiance. Highly recommend for anyone craving real Japanese comfort food done right! read more

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My partner and I ordered the short rib and duck skewers to start, tonkotsu and salmon ochazuke for our main meal and two yuzu lemonades. The short rib was okay. The duck was great though. We both liked our entrees and drinks. The yuzu lemonades had a strong yuzu taste which we love. If you're walking in on a Friday night, expect to wait a very long time upwards to an hour or two and once you're seated, you'll be waiting quite a bit as well. There's two waitresses that clean the tables, pick up the food, make the drinks and tend to the waitlist. My partner had his food much earlier than I did and was done with his meal by the time mine arrived. read more

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Finally got a chance to eat here in person and it was absolutely worth it. The food was great as take out/delivery, but getting the tonkatsu plate straight from the kitchen was just amazing. I spent 4 months in Japan when I was younger and this brought back wonderful memories of eating in Tokyo. We also had some skewers, which were excellent as always, the tomato salad, which was nice and refreshing to start things off, and the cheese the mushroom (portobello cap with cheese, shizo, and crispy garlic). That was a surprise hit since he really weren't sure what to expect when we ordered it. Well worth it. The space itself is very nice; small enough to feel cozy but I never felt crowded - even with a party of 8 seated next to us. Even packed (on a Tuesday night!) the noise levels were surprisingly mild. I never had a problem talking to my wife, and the buzz of everyone around us helped the space feel more alive. read more

Kawanoya - Pork tonkatsu plate with brown rice. I already ate the tomato and squeezed the lemon of the pork - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wow, that's what I want to start with! This restaurant reminds me of the very authentic Japanese cuisine I had in Tokyo! For real, even the rice was so moist and soft, the tasty Japanese rice! My four years old daughter normally would not eat rice, but this meal she finished all of her rice herself. The skewers were simply amazing, all my past Japanese skewers memories came back! The Hokkaido scallops were moist and fresh; the chicken cartilage was moist and crunchy. The grilled duck is a must try; they are able to make the duck skin crispy and yet not oily at all. The duck meat was tender and super yummy. Appetizers wise, this time we tried the soft shell crab and the tiger prawn with mango tartar sauce. I've tried many softshell crabs and rarely are they evenly crispy all the way through. Some parts are usually soggy and some crispy. But not here, every part of it was crispy and delicious! The tiger prawn was indeed giant and crispy, dipping it in the mango tartar sauce was so refreshing! As for the main courses, we tried the signature tonkatsu. It was fantastic, crispy and moist. My kids loved it so much that they finished the whole tonkatsu set by themselves! We also tried the grilled sea bass. It was so tasty as the fish skin was crispy and the fish was so fresh and moist. We instantly demolished it and we had to order another set of grilled sea bass. Definitely a must try! Overall, I think food is amazing and price wise, it's very reasonable as well. I would definitely recommend this Japanese restaurant, and I will be back for sure! read more

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Came here on a Wednesday evening and it wasn't too busy. We had reservations, but probably didn't need it. Tried their signature tonkatsu and their tiger prawn tonkatsu. Both were really delicious and cooked perfectly. Really liked the sesame dressing that they provided for the shredded cabbage. The portion sizes were small considering the price, but understandable knowing how expensive it is to run a restaurant in Noe. My only real complaint is that they somehow ran out of both the cheese tonkatsu and the fried tofu katsu (on a slow Wednesday night at 6:30pm). Perhaps it's because they're still new and figuring out their inventory / food prep? Decent restaurant regardless. Will probably try some other tonkatsu spots before coming back. read more

Went for the pork katsu, but the highlight was definitely the duck skewer. So flavorful and the fat was rendered perfect. Great value for your money, the katsu portion was huge and came with rice, miso, cabbage, and more. Ambiance was very nice and the service was quick and friendly. Highly recommend! read more

Kawanoya - Pork katsu meal - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here to celebrate a friend's birthday. We ordered the tonkatsu, curry, and salmon ochazuke. All of our main dishes came out cold and lukewarm. One dish you do not serve cold is a ochazuke. Informed the waitress and they made my party a replacement. We sucked it up and ate the curry and tonkatsu cold. Also ordered a coconut matcha and I found a dead fly in my drink! Told the waitress immediately after I had only taken a few sips of it. She offered a replacement but at this point, I am fed up with every dish and drink being a disappointment, I declined and informed her to take it away. When the bill came, I was SHOCKED to still be charged for a $8 drink that had a dead fly in it, when I didn't even drink it and had the waitress take it away. Paid the bill and still left a 15% tip, but NEVER COMING BACK. read more

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Such a quaint neighborhood spot with cute decor. The ambiance was warm and inviting, perfect for a quality casual meal. We had the beef donburi, prawns katsu, and some skewers, everything was wonderful. According to the waitress, this place is only 2.5 months old, so I imagine they'll get even better once they have more experience under their belt. We'll absolutely be back. read more

the tea soup was delicious beautiful presentation with beakers to pour and perfectly tender salmon great skewers make sure to try the sauce duck a bit chewy great eel skewers read more

Kawanoya - bar - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Priscilla the waitress was phenomenal. She and her co worker took care of the whole busy restaurant in incredible fashion and ultimate attentiveness. The food was delicious. The Tonkatsu, karage, everything was authentic and tasted the great. The indoor decor is stunning and tranquil. The music perfectly matched the vibe of the decor. 10/10 outstanding! read more

Kawanoya has a beautiful interior with simple and clean lines and it looks like a restaurant one might encounter in Japan. But this is not so much a Japanese restaurant as a restaurant created by a fan of Japanese food. It is not so much an izakaya as a restaurant that offers an eclectic menu. My experience here was dream-like: things appeared perfectly normal until one notices that things were slightly off. Instead of the ubiquitous Japanese wooden chopsticks, there were the metallic Korean chopsticks and rounded spoon. The counter to the side looked like a sushi counter with a glass refrigerator that would normally house a fish selection but it was empty. People sitting at the counter were eating something, but it wasn't sashimi or sushi. The ochazuke came with what looked like an old fashioned coffee siphon instead of a teapot. Despite the off-beat feel to the place, the menu items were intriguing and so we ordered a couple of appetizers and main dishes. Here is where the pacing derailed our dining experience. First it took some time for the waitress to take our order. The first appetizer to arrive was some sort of seafood salad that was a tad overdressed. The waitress also brought over a mortar and pestle and instructed us to grind sesame seeds at our table. We didn't quite understand why the sesame seeds needed to be ground. Soon thereafter, my companion's house special tonkatsu arrived. It looked crisp and delicious. These two items were followed by....nothing. After waiting 20 minutes, we inquired as to the status of the chicken cartilage appetizer and my main course - the duck chazuke. My companion explained that he did not want to eat his meal alone but the tonkatsu was getting cold. The waitress got a little exasperated and said that the ochazuke takes longer because the tea had to be brewed. I told her that was nonsense. Tea does not take so long to make. Besides, if the ochazuke was actually going to take that long, they should not have made the tonkatsu until both dishes were ready to go. The restaurant owner then rushed to our table to smooth things over. He got both the chicken cartilage and the duck chazuke to come to the table soon thereafter. Unfortunately the cartilage was too bony (not crunchy) and the duck was too gamey in the chazuke. To the owner's credit he took the chazuke off our bill without our prompting. In reading other reviews, it appears that the pacing here has been a problem with other diners. Perhaps Kawanoya is still working things out as a newish restaurant. We wish them luck - it is a beautiful local restaurant and we would like them to succeed. read more

I hate to leave bad reviews for small businesses, but our experience at Kawanoya was just so bad. We were excited to try a new neighborhood restaurant that had just opened and had pretty good reviews. We arrived around 5 pm. and they were busy, but we were seated fairly quickly. We ordered a few appetizers, drinks, and main dishes. Everything was fine so far. The drinks arrived, and the appetizers came out one by one. It took a while, and it was fine. Then my boyfriend's main dish arrived. They dropped his plate off, and I thought mine would follow shortly. I told him to start eating! I waited while he enjoyed his. He felt bad eating in front of me while I sat there waiting. About 15 minutes later, I asked the busy waitress, "Is mine coming?" She checked and said they needed more time. Another 10 minutes passed, and I asked another waitress, "It's not ready yet," as my boyfriend finished his meal. I saw my dish waiting at the counter. I called the waitress over and asked again. She looked over, saw it, and brought it to me -- without the miso soup that was supposed to be included. She said she would bring it. ( which never came)  I started eating my grilled fish, and it was completely raw and inedible. I got the attention of a waitress and told her, and she said oh sorry, I will cancel it. No, can I get you something else? We just asked for the bill, and brought the wrong bill? The person I assume is the owner saw us looking around for someone to help. He said they were short-staffed, people were sick, and someone had a bad back. He removed my fish from the bill but apologized. I totally get it, running a business is hard, finding good people is hard. But this was probably one of the worst restaurant experiences. I feel that if a business messes up this badly, make it right and ensure your guests feel valued. We are really bummed we won't be going to Kawanoya again. Thank goodness I had leftovers at home to eat when I got home. read more