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    Kissako Tea

    4.1 (497 reviews)
    Closed • 11:00 am - 6:30 pm

    Kissako Tea Photos

    KISSAKO TEA ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Kissako Tea

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    Vincent P.

    We saw this onigiri spot across from Jina Bakes and I unironically enjoyed it more! The onigiris come out pipping hot and they were tasty! We ordered the Salmon, Mentaiko Spicy Cod Roe, and Spicy Salmon. All of the onigiris were enjoyable. At $3.50~ per onigiri, the price is very affordable! Definitely grab an onigiri or two from them if you're in the area!

    Mitarashi Dango
    Rose T.

    Located on the bottom floor of the East Mall in Japantown, this small stand offers a wide variety of drinks, mochi, onigiri, and other snacks. I've tried their onigiri in the past, and enjoyed them, so I figured I'd have one for an afternoon snack. My order: Unagi Onigiri ($4.50): +Rice was well cooked. +Good amount of boneless unagi +Nori was crispy. Mitarashi Dango ($3.15): -One of my friends raved about this, but I thought it was just okay. It was served cold, and I would've preferred it warm or at room temperature. In addition, the soy sauce glaze was more sweet than savory. *Verdict: I love how they make the onigiri fresh to order so will be back when I'm in the mood for a savory option.

    Haru Mochi and Matcha Mochi ($4.35 each) = delish
    Peg C.

    Thank you, Yelpers, for steering us to this yummy onigiri spot on the first floor of the Japan Center Kinokuniya Mall in Japantown. My hubs and I were tired, hot, and needed sustenance quick. We ordered two spam onigiri ($3.35 each), one chicken teriyaki onigiri ($3.15), and one beef sukiyaki onigiri ($3.15). We also got two skewers of three little mochi each ($4.35 per skewer). We sat down at one of the tables next to the place. (Many places in the mall are takeout but some restaurants have their own seating.) Our order came out in about five minutes since there was hardly anyone in line (surprising for a Friday around 12:25 pm). When I opened the box, I was amazed at Japanese ingenuity once again. The plastic wrap around the onigiri is so the toasted seaweed doesn't touch the rice ball and it stays crisp. So great. The spam onigiri was salty, fatty, yummy. If you don't like spam, don't get it, but if you know, you know. The beef sukiyaki was a flavorful chipped beef and onion filling. The chicken teriyaki was less flavorful but I liked it because I needed something plain after having the spam. I ate two of the matcha mochi, one with red bean and one with white bean mixed with green tea. Both were fresh, soft, delicious. Saved the rest for a treat later. Kissako Tea was affordable and tasty. We will definitely come back here next time we're in SF!

    Certificate in display at the window
    Dianna W.

    This is the Japanese cafe inside Japan town , San Francisco. It sells freshly made rice snacks and drinks . We ordered a spam onigri and a beef sukiyaki onigri one hour before dinner . They were perfect because the portion was a small snack that would solve the hunger immediately but not ruin the appetite for the dinner . It has table and chair to rest and eat next to the shop. There is always a line . Since the snacks are handmade when orders are placed so it has 5 minute waiting time . The onigri is very hot and the rice tastes good and lots of spam in it . We did not find much beef until we ate half of the onigri and discovered the beef was inside the other half of the rice ball . Taste was good and fulfilling. Like to come back and try other menu items.

    Serena L.

    Cute little stand in Japantown that sells drinks and onigiris I think i got a roe and tuna onigiri. Great flavor on both! Not sure if it's mostly just the sauce or if they gave a decent amount of filling, but I would get it again.

    Elaine C.

    Just popped in for a small snack but the mochi here is so soft and chewy and delicious! I recommend both the sakura and kinako. Great treat in between browsing the cutesy shops at Japantown.

    Menu
    Jennifer T.

    I bought the red bean snack. I also tried a piece of mango mochi because my friend bought fruit mochi. It was very yummy. I would like to come back to try other items on their menu. There are tables and seats next to this food vendor stand inside the mall to sit down.

    Onigiri
    Kamy T.

    Fresh onigiris made to order. There's something about having hot rice that makes it worth getting as a snack. It is true that there a high ratio of rice to filling, but there is a reasonable amount of filling nonetheless. Crispy seaweed to surround the rice. The onigiris are only a few bucks each, so it's hard to ask for too much. My favorite was the unagi eel!

    Nirsh A.

    Honestly, I was super disappointed with the onigiri here, there was barely any filling inside. I feel like they totally ripped me off. The reviews generally looked good, so I was excited to try this place but then when I got my order, I was really disappointed as there was barely any beef in it. I felt like I was eating straight rice. I definitely like onigilly downtown better.

    Onigiri
    Sally C.

    Came by on a Saturday in the late afternoon and the place was busy. There was a pretty long line, and since the rice balls are made to order, be prepared for a bit of a wait. It took about 10 minutes to order and another 20 minutes for our food to be ready. I tried three flavors: Spicy Tuna, Spicy Salmon, and Beef Sukiyaki. All were solid, especially for the price. The spicy tuna had a little too much mayo for my taste, but the flavor was still good. The fillings aren't super generous, but for how affordable everything is, I really can't complain. What I love most is that the rice balls come out hot and fresh--definitely worth the wait. I'll be back for sure to try more flavors!

    Menu
    Kevin C.

    This place is a great little spot right in the middle of the Kinokuniya Mall in Japantown. It is super easy to find, and there are plenty of tables in the public seating area right next to it, which makes it perfect for grabbing a quick bite. They have a really nice mix of sweet and savory options, plus drinks and even full meals that are made to order, all at very affordable prices. The staff are always friendly and helpful, and the ordering process is simple. You place your order at the front window and pick up your food at the side, which keeps things moving smoothly even when it gets busy. I love their onigiri, and the beef sukiyaki one is my favorite so far. I also tried the haru mochi and thought it was delicious with the sweet red bean inside. Everything comes out hot, fresh, and fast, which is always a plus. Whether you are looking for a quick snack or something more filling, Kissako Tea is a great choice. It has become one of my favorite places to stop by whenever I am in Japantown.

    Mitarashi Dango
    Jacqueline N.

    My mom and I have been coming here for their handmade onigiri since middle school. The mentaiko was super yummy but it could have had more filling. The spicy shrimp mayo onigiri was also good but it could have had more shrimp. The dango was quite delicious and chewy. The melon cream soda was good too although melon soda has a unique flavor so be wary! Their prices have increased over the years but the quality has stayed pretty consistent. Also expect to wait for your food to come out because there's only 1-2 people manning the stall at all times.

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    Anne M.

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    Kissako Tea Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Kissako Tea

    Do you have sitdown area?

    There is public seating in the court area for all visitors in the Kinokuniya Mall. Unfortunately, we do not have exclusive reserved seating.

    Past couple times I came by they were closed... including today which says open on google & here. Does anyone know why they're closed & when they'll reopen?

    Sorry we missed you. We posted a sign to key everyone know we were closed on wed. 6/1 for our sons' graduation. We are back to regular hours. Wed-Mon 11-6:30. Closed Tuesdays. If you are coming after 5:30- call ahead to order since sometimes… 

    Do they make their own taiyaki or is it already pre-made?

    Our taiyaki is pre-made from Japan.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    This is a great place for sliced cakes, especially if you like Asian inspired flavors. They have a…read morereally nice variety of mille crepe cakes and other desserts, with flavors like pandan, matcha, ube, taro and more. I love that you can get individual slices instead of committing to a whole cake, which makes it so easy to try several flavors in one visit. The cakes are really pretty and have so many thin layers that each bite feels light and creamy. This is perfect if you enjoy lighter cakes. I think the Asian flavors are what make Sweet Glory stand out from a lot of other cake spots in the city. There are plenty of familiar flavors, but also combinations that you don't see anywhere else. The space is also surprisingly spacious, with plenty of indoor seating and a cute patio in the back. It's a nice place to sit down with a few slices and take your time. Great dessert spot if you want to try a few different cakes in one visit. The fact that you can order by the slice makes it especially easy to explore the menu without having to choose just one.

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