We just decided to check this place out. We found it on Yelp first time here.. Did we luck out! Everything was delicious. Servers were great. The restaurant looks very clean and organized. It had a nice aesthetic. We sat by the window. We did not have reservations., although we did listen to everybody that came in everyone seemed to have reservations, but we got seated right away and we got really lucky. We got street parking directly in front of the restaurant. Will definitely come back again! read more

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I kept seeing Kawanoya on social media, and I love tonkatsu so I knew I had to try, but it was just okay to me. I made a dinner reservation for 2 on Yelp for counter seating as there were no more openings for regular tables, but when I arrived the counter seats were full. Luckily, a table had just opened up, but it seemed a little disorganized. My partner and I wanted to try a bunch of food, so we ordered everything to share: - Chicken karaage: the spicy mayo was our favorite part of this... the chicken itself was decent, but the breading was bland and barely crispy. We ended up pouring the Japanese spice powder on the plate and dunking the chicken in it to add more flavor. - Miso eggplant yakitori: this was easily my favorite dish of the night. The eggplant was sweet and soft and grilled well. - Okra yakitori: I really like okra and wanted another veggie yakitori, and this was a decent option. It had a very light charred flavor which I wish it was a bit stronger. - Aburi hotate (scallop) yakitori: this was a very chewy and somewhat fishier scallop than I'm used to. - Duck yakitori: I liked the tare glaze, but the duck itself was not very tender and maybe slightly overcooked. - Signature tonkatsu set: the breading was again not very crispy, but the pork itself was decent and not dry, especially considering it was a pretty thick cut. I wish the server explained the process for making your tonkatsu sauce, as I imagine people who've never done this before might be confused about the empty bowl on the tray. - Unagi hitsumabushi: the unagi was pretty good, and while it was neat being able to eat it three different ways, the ochazuke version was not my favorite. The dashi had a bit of a burnt rice flavor that didn't go well with the unagi in my opinion. My favorite condiments were the nori and pickled items, but I wish there were more of them. - Fresh ginger sparkle: the ginger flavor was strong and bright, with a hint of mint. Super refreshing drink! - Sake flight: I'm a beginner when it comes to sake, so I appreciated having the option for a flight. I liked the junmai the best (which tracks as I also prefer my wines to be dry), but also liked the fruity fragrances in the junmai ginjo. The aesthetics of the restaurant were cozy and felt traditional. Service was a bit slow, though they were busy all night. I was decently full at the end of the meal, but the price tag was a little hefty considering we weren't super impressed overall. I'm glad I tried it, but unfortunately the social media hype was not real for me. read more

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There was so much hype about this spot that I HAD to try it out! I tried making a reservation for 2 but their reservations on Yelp are wonky. The only available times for a table of 2 were at 5pm or 9pm, but when I tried looking for a table of 4, there was available all evening. I thought it was going to be packed so I made the 5pm reservation just so I could make sure I'd be seated but the restaurant was not nearly as packed as I thought it would be. In fact, it only started getting busier at 6, though I still wouldn't describe it as packed. Maybe the hype died down a little. Regardless, the food was great! Honestly very reasonably priced. My friend and I both ordered the Kawanoya Signature Tonkotsu and it was delicious! Though if I were to redo the meal, I'd probably share one of those and order other bites to try instead. Portion is large!! Salad is so refreshing!! And the presentation is gorgeous! It's a bit far for me to go back regularly, but that was definitely not the last time I'd be there. read more

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

My mom and I visited on a weeknight and were glad we called ahead to make a res because it was a little busy during the dinner rush. We ordered a variety of raw and cooked items and instantly wanted seconds on the sashimi and nigiri dishes because they were SO FRESH. The sweet shrimp & uni nigiri were our fav. It was the perfect rice to fish ratio which is hard to find at a standard Japanese restaurant nowadays. My mom got the blue fin sashimi (3pcs per order) and praised the quality and freshness of the fish. It was also a generous portion as the cuts were pretty big. The tonkatsu was a visually impressive dish but personally it was a bit heavy for me. The matcha ice cream dessert bowl was underwhelming. There was ice on the bottom of the bowl which made everything really cold to digest. Service was great and I loved the warm & inviting ambience. Overall it was a solid meal and I look forward to trying other things from their menu next time. read more

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A lovely restaurant with an earthy and calming vibe. With it, a much slower pace of service that requires patience. The signature tonkotsu is a thicker cut with shredded cabbage and miso soup. The side condiments of sesame and tonkatsu are helpful in adding extra flavor, and the salad dressing was much appreciated. Our favorite dish here is the Suzuki Shioyaki. Just perfectly cooked with the right texture and with a brown butter that is a perfect match. read more

Kawanoya - Passionfruit fruit tea with oolong. - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Some of the juiciest katsu I've had! It was perfectly crispy and light while the meat was tender and sooo juicy. We were able to walk in on a Friday and get seated around 7:30 for a party of two. Definitely worth making reservations for! We also had the ume and yuzu highballs both were just okay. We did like the ume one a little more, it even came with a plum inside the drink. To start we had the grilled mochi, which was chewy and came topped with seaweed strands. The flavor was reminiscent of the seaweed rice crackers. We also tried the hamachi roll which was a hit. The fish was buttery and the rice was well seasoned! For our mains we did a pork katsu and a grilled mackerel. Both of which were great! The mackerel came in a pretty big portion and the meat was so tender and had that perfect oily texture. The katsu was delicious and you even got to grind your own sesame seeds to make the dipping sauce. Next time we'll be back to try the dessert menu! They had shaved ice :) read more

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We were able to snag a last-minute reservation the same day, and I'm so glad we did because this place was packed. The restaurant has a really cozy, warm atmosphere that honestly made me want to visit Japan again. Since it's a pretty compact space, it can get a bit loud and be hard to hear the person you're with when it's busy. Service was a little slow at first, but they were extremely busy, so it was understandable. The menu is pretty extensive, but we came for the katsu. We ordered the yuzu highball, which was refreshing and tasty. It did get a little watered down toward the end, but that's more on me since I'm a slow drinker. To start, we had the trio sashimi platter. The fish was incredibly fresh, and they definitely didn't skimp on the portions. Each slice was thick and generous. We were told the sushi is a newer addition to the menu, and based on what we had, I'd definitely recommend trying it. For our mains, I ordered the salmon katsu, and my partner got the pork katsu. The salmon was my favorite--it was perfectly crispy on the outside while staying light, flaky, and juicy inside. I'd never had salmon katsu before, so this was a pleasant surprise, especially since salmon is my favorite fish. I stole a piece of my partner's pork katsu, and it was really good too. One of the fun touches was that the meal came with a mortar and pestle so you could grind your own sesame seeds for the katsu sauce. Both dishes also came with miso soup and a salad, which made the meal feel complete. Overall, I'd definitely come back the next time I'm craving katsu. read more

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Love getting here early when it's not crowded and greeted by warm friendly service. Just can't get enough of this cozy wonderful place. This time, my daughter ordered the pork katsu, which was juicy and crunchy at the same time. My Hamachi sushi was beautiful and delicious. My friend ordered her usual Kama set, which is tdf! Thank you, Kawanoya, for another awesome meal! read more

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Stepped in and didn't expect such a quaint japandi style interior! Really cool spot tucked away in Noe Valley. The food is a mix of all Japanese cuisine except ramen, where we ordered the crudo but it was out for the day. The hamachi kama was well salted, the oshizushi was much much better than what I had in south bay, and the ochazuke was really good and more savory - didn't seem like a tea broth but more a meat broth. overall very very pleased, would come back! read more

Kawanoya - oshizushi salmon - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place is so yummy it's a gem! I love the interior decor and all the cool lamps. Nice date spot. We ordered the fried chicken cartilage (3.5) and a mushroom appetizer (5/5). I think the chicken cartilage skewer (5/5) is better than the fried app. The hamachi shiso sushi was sooooo tasty (5/5). I need to come back again just to order this. Perfect dish fr. Pork katsu is good where you grind your own sesame for the katsu sauce. The shredded cabbage was very refreshing and tasty (they have sesame salad dressing for you to add yourself at the table). Looking forward to coming here again! read more

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**3.75 / 5 STARS ** Good, but maybe a little too overhyped or my expectations were a bit high. If I come back I wouldn't go for the pork katsu, maybe shrimp instead and the other dishes. Overall the meal was good, but honestly a bit pricey and felt like it wasn't quite worth the bill. *Signature Pork Katsu with Cheese* 3/5 stars. For the main dish this was a tad disappointing. The pork was cut thick which meant that the meat was on the drier side which even the cheese couldn't help. *prawn tonkatsu* 5/5. Perfectly fried but pricey. I was really happy I ordered these as a side order. The batter was light and crispy and went well with the fresh shrimp. Enjoyed this more than the pork. $8 a piece tho. *deluxe sashimi* 4/5. Fresh and delicious, but again, at this price point it should be. I've had sashimi platters with just as good quality at cheaper prices at other places like Rintaro. Service 2/5. They weren't crowded or full when we went in but the service took forever to acknowledge us and take our order. Servers seemed to be hidden even there was no apparent rush where it'd keep them occupied. read more

Kawanoya - Deluxe sashimi platter - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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New place unlocked and I am hooked! Dropped by 11:30am, opening time, on Friday, at a friend's recommendation that this place gets busy. Aside from one party in front of us, this place started to fill up during our meal (by 12pm). What we got: - Yuzu Kosho Nankotsu Kushi ~ Highly recommend if you are a chicken cartilage fan. Perfect amount of char. Crunchy yet soft from the cartilage. - Gyutan ~ Perfect in texture with the right amount of char. - Shiso Mushroom Cheese Yaki ~ very truffle fragrant. Melted cheese on a juicy mushroom, where the shiso leaf added freshness, this dish had us mouth watering! - Salmon Katsu ~ YUZU KOSHO STOLE THE SHOW(-OH)! The salmon katsu exterior was crispy, crunch, yet light and airy. Yuzu kosho and salmon roe seasoned each piece well. Comes with a mortar and pestle where you grind your own sesame seeds for the katsu sauce! - Suzuki shioyaki ~ the hojicha butter was the star of this dish! Mixed with rice, this tasted like a leveled up ochazuke! Fish paired well with grated radish soy sauce! All in all, this place blew me away. From the modern earthy decor to slightly charred yakitori, every bite left me wanting more. Will return (especially for the newly released dessert menu!). read more

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New find in the Mission / Noe area! This place takes reservations which we found out after the fact. Highly recommend to make a reservation in advance since this place seems very popular. We thoroughly enjoyed the salmon katsu which came with salad and soup. And you also get to crush your own sesame and throw it into the sauce or directly onto your rice Other items we tried were the curry tonkatsu and grilled tamago and grilled eggplant skewers. They were all delicious! My hubby likes the place so much that he requests to have his birthday dinner there! read more

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Made a reservation for two at this place since I heard the line gets crazy. The moment I walked in, it was packed but no line. Waited by the entrance and no workers acknowledged us. They looked at us and continue to do what they're doing. Waited about 5-10 minutes until the sever finally helped us. Got seated down and ordered a few things. Keep in mind they don't have sushi on Thursdays. I came on a Thursday and they said the sushi chef doesn't work on Thursdays... I ordered the squid karage, shiso mushroom, unagi skewers and two signature tonkatsu. Squid karage was good. The shiso mushroom was oily but overall good. Unagi skewers were tender. The signature tonkatsu was good! Loved that you can grind your own sesame to make your own sauce. Overall it seems like this business is still working on their grand opening. During my dining experience, they kept breaking things in the back. It would be so loud the whole dining area would get quiet and look over to the back. read more

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We came on an early weeknight with my three year old kid and got seated pretty quickly for a party of three. We ordered: Pork katsu (5/5) - juicy inside, very generous portion, this was my toddler's favorite! Tea broth salmon rice bowl (5/5) - the broth works really well with the rice and salmon. Definitely my favorite! Beef skewers (4/5) - could be slightly more seasoned for my liking but overall still delicious. PS there is a changing table in the restroom. Convenient if you have to change your baby/ toddler. Very cozy ambience. Good service. Will definitely come back again when I'm in town! read more

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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 first 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. Parking is somewhat achievable in this neighborhood too. read more

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Would give this place a 10 star if I could! I found this spot on TikTok and absolutely loved it. It gives homey modern inside, super cute. The owner Henry was so welcoming and gave us the best experience! We started with chicken karaage and the beef skewer. For our entrees we got the tonkatsu set and the shrimp with katsu set. The breading on it was so crispy, but not oily at all. I typically don't like shrimp, but it was huge and super succulent. Portions are huge and worth it for the price. I had a wonderful experience and delicious food. I will be back!! read more

Kawanoya - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Such an amazing, authentic Japanese experience on a quiet part of Church Street in Noe Valley! Every dish was perfectly cooked and bursting with flavor. Simply cannot go wrong. Particularly enjoyed the unagi donburri read more

Kawanoya - Shiitake Mushrooms - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

IIIIIII loved it. and as of now, I've gone twice with another one planned on the way We made reservations the day of on a Saturday and when we went at 6:00 it was pretty busy, so glad we made the resi. The interior is a nice cozy, warm feeling atmosphere and a fair size restaurant for the neighborhood. The service was great, fast, and punctual. No complaints here! Tonkatsu: It was so absolutely yummy. It was crunchy and the meat was juicy. I come back for it every single time. They also have the little ground things (I actually dont know what it is) that you ground and put the tonkatsu sauce in! It's a lil fun activity and I love an activity with my food. read more

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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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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new japanese spot in noe valley! they seem to be lined up all night, we were lucky to get a call-in reservation day of. there aren't that many seats inside but there's a large table in the middle that could accommodate a big group. the vibes are intimate but still somewhat casual. service was a bit slow but staff were very sweet. we got the: - agedashi tofu: loved the crisp but the sauce was a bit weak in flavor - coconut hojicha: love the coconut milk + hojicha! unfortunately it was too sweet for my liking. - signature tonkatsu: the breading was great but honestly the pork was a bit dry - hojicha unagi ochazuke: unique dish with a comforting broth. the unagi was excellent (crisp outside and soft inside) but the hojicha dashi broth is definitely a bit of an acquired taste - matcha kakigori: very generous portion and strong matcha with matcha ice cream at the bottom! overall would recommend coming here to try the variety! bill can get large but we were also stuffed afterwards! read more

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The fried tonkatsu left a lot to be desired. Not fried that well but it's unfair that I'm comparing it to my favorite spot in Hawaii. The ambiance in this place is great but it was fairly new when I went last month and staff wasn't very attentive. Was hard to get attention to even ask if there was room for party of two to walk in. read more

Really yummy spot for reasonable pricing. The spot has a great feel and Japanese restaurant feel. The wakame salad was really good, fresh seaweed that had a great bite to it. The yakitori was great - we had beef tongue, chicken cartilage, and scallops. The unagi was the best part of the meal!! The service was decent and they were very friendly in there. They get really busy so I would recommend making a reservation. read more

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

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The food was absolutely amazing and delicious. We ordered so many things yet every one of them was so good. I would definitely come back and would recommend my friends and family here! 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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Kawanoya is a Japanese restaurant that serves high quality, authentic Japanese food. My wife and I dined on a Saturday night and were able to walk in around 5:30, but I would highly recommend reservations. It is NOT a wacky sushi roll restaurant (although they have recently started serving sushi, which we did not try). We started with 2 skewers - Hokkaido scallops (5 smaller scallops with the mantles attached) and zucchini (although we were served grilled squash). The flavor and preparation of both were very good, but I don't think they were outstanding and we probably won't order skewers next time. Then, the real fun began. We had the grilled Hamaichi Kama (collar) which was truly outstanding. It had a great smoky flavor and was cooked perfectly. Probably one of the best Kama dishes we've ever had (and we order the dish all the time) We finished with the Signature Tonkatsu, which was a very moist pork tenderloin. The presentation was very classic - lemon, sesame seeds to be ground with a mortar and pestle, a not-too-sweet tonkatsu sauce, finely-shredded cabbage with a sesame dressing (which you add to taste), a bowl of rice that was good but not outstanding, and a bowl of miso soup that was very nicely done. Although I generally prefer fattier cuts, the tenderloin was not dry at all. We are definitely coming back for the Kama and the Tonkatsu. Good service, not too noisy and a pleasant dining room with well-spaced tables. Highly recommended! read more

Kawanowa food really brings you back to Japan! As always, the Japanese cuisine is presented like art and they taste sososo good! This time we tried the Hokkaido scallop nigiri, they put the perfect amount of wasabi underneath the scallops. I normally don't like wasabi, but how they did it was refreshing! Highly recommend to try that. The skewers are always good as well! My kids always love their Tonkutzu, must try! This time we tried their dresser matcha shaved ice, surprisingly the cream on top is not that sweet at all, it is a perfect combo with the matcha and mochi ball, yum! 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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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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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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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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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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Very cute restaurant, and good service. The portions for the apps and skewers are tiny, so definitely over order there. The mains are pretty big! The miso cod was A++, and the tiger prawn katsu was also amazing! Will be back! read more

All the food we had was really good! We got the signature tonkatsu, saba shioyaki, hamachi oshizushi, and yakimochi. The tonkatsu was crispy and juicy inside. The saba was very buttery and flavorful; it came with a sauce but we didn't need it. The yakimochi was a pleasant surprise, tasting very similar to an arare cracker in the best way. The sushi might have been my favorite, the fish tasted so fresh and the rice was delicious. Def coming back again! read more