Love this place! Great home cooking and wonderful owners! Fast, tasty, and cheap eats with integrity for food. Hits: salmon teri bento- grilled well and generous size, curry rice with katsu (chicken or pork-crispy, hot, and juice), karage, tempura- all hot and crispy. Rolls- ca, dragon, futomaki- others are yummy! Dessert- gotta get their sesame balls- pipping hot and Sakura mochi. Brown rice available. Namaqualand chicken was good with a Mayo like sauce- but like karage more bc of volume of chicken. Small place, few tables. Parking is ok depending on time- day. But can find, just gotta walk a block. Lovey, lovey owners. read more

It feels like they teleported an underground train station diner from some tertiary Japanese city (Kobe ? XD ). The curry isn't just "Golden Curry" like so many JFC paint-by-numbers Korean/Chinese run Japanese restaurants. If I would compare them to Gombei in San Jose, their menu is less complicated, but I would give Kobeya the win in flavor. Stop overpaying for Katsu at Yayoi in the mall and eat here. The only thing they're missing is a huge container of free mugicha or ice coffee to go with the meal. Maybe add a "drink set" for $1? I doubt it would eat into your premium beverage sales (alcohol) with the lunch crowd. read more

Order (Lunch takeout): · Tonkatsu Curry · $10 Pros: · Quick and easy ordering, nice, friendly chef/owner. · Pleasantly crispy exterior, even after driving home with it in the container · Fair sized portion · Somewhat moist meat Cons: · Somewhat moist meat · I thought the curry was a touch on the sweet side. Comments: · Great spot for a quick meal. · I'm bumping this to 4 because the coating was crispy and I want to support small businesses. read more

Minimal decor, just a couple of pictures and a poem hung on the walls. Semi-open kitchen. Hand written menu specials on the wall. An old retro style that I wonder if is reminiscent of typical Asian restaurants of an older era, when Asians weren't on people's social radar, and having a restaurant was more means to making a living than expressing a passion. The room looks generic, but will get the job done. Perhaps this restaurant was passed down the generations. I didn't ask. We ordered a chicken katsu curry. Soon we were out the door with a small box with a cup of curry on the side. As we opened up the food, the touch of pickled onions, the curry in the cup, the fried chicken on the rice, this would go on to have no faults. No frills, no, but just a simple, well done formula done right. The chicken was tender, with the batter still crispy. Rice... Well, perfectly cooked with its clumpy yet individualistic, with is classic soft yet grain by grain texture. The curry basic but good. For once, I understood the pickled onions. It wasn't overly salty and gave an acidic contrast in taste to the curry, and crunch to the chicken. It's just a simple dish done right, nothing special. No wine in the curry, or spices in the chicken batter. But if you are feeling the munchies when in the area, this is a good choice. read more

Amazing food and great prices. Don't sleep on this place. I forgot take pictures of the ramen and the karage chicken ate it too fast. Their flavours are right on point. Compared to others who are too salty. This chef knows what's he doing with his flavours and doesn't over power the palette. Everything is perfect. I only tried a few parts of the menu so far but plan to keep coming back. Seriously one of the better home style Japanese places in the bay. Worth traveling and easy to love. Now if they add some yakitori. Damnnn read more

Kobeya - Katsu curry - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Mateo, California

This review is overdue! We started going to Kobeya about 2 years ago and they have never disappointed in quality of food or service. Our regular order is the chicken katsu curry which is always perfectly crispy and juicy. I get my son the miso soup which is also very yummy. Their potato croquette is also absolutely delicious. We ordered the sesame balls for the first time today and they were probably the best we've ever had and were served warm. The restaurant is a sweet little hole in the wall with vintage Japanese pop culture posters. Very casual and comfy cozy. read more

I was picking my dog up from the groomers across the street and decided to grab some japanese curry from Kobeya as I've had them on my bookmark list for awhile now. Tldr, come for the curry, skip the salmon teriyaki bento box. We got the tonkatsu curry. Perfectly cooked, seasoned, great crunch. Lots of curry on the side for to go orders. Delicious. We saw a lot of salmon teriyaki bento box pics so tried that. Salmon was horribly overcooked, it was barely edible. Needed a lot more teriyaki sauce so it wasn't as dry. As for the other items in the bento box, all basic but expected: macaroni salad, greens, and glass noodles. As for the space itself, it's super small, they have like 3 small tables but they're really a to go spot. They had a lot of orders coming in when I arrived. So if you're craving curry, give them a shot. read more

Wonderful place. Stick with their specialty (katsu curry) and you can't go wrong. Feels like a mom-and-pop, which i love. A small place, not too many tables. Came here twice, great both times. If you like Japanese katsu curry, you must go! read more

Another trip to San Mateo lands another trip to Kobeya. One of the few standing establishments left in the area which provide excellent food, service and consistency. Switched it up tonight and had tempura and chicken teriyaki bento, both items were top of the line. Finished dinner with sesame desert, excellent. read more

Kobeya - Tempura - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Kobeya gets bento right! All their food is delicious and reasonably priced. Just enough variety on my plate to keep my taste buds interested. It is a little loud when the fan kicks on when they start cooking though but easy to ignore when the food is fresh and yummy. read more

Kobeya - Salmon Katsu Bento - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Mateo, California

I know this place has reviews that say no MSG is used, but I had an experience that would contradict this info. I recently ordered a chicken kaatsu plate. It tasted fantastic. The chicken was perfectly fried. Crispy on the outside, and moist on the inside. However, 10 minutes after I ate, I became dizzy, and my head started throbbing. It got intense. Fifteen minutes later, it's all over. Been a long time since this has happened to me, but I distinctly remember what caused previous episodes - MSG. Many years ago, every Asian restaurant used it, and we'd have to ask for "no MSG." At some point, it became the standard for most restaurants to not use it, so I never ask anymore. Even if the restaurant doesn't add MSG, it could still exist in some of the ingredients they purchase from their suppliers. I suspect this is probably the case, and this is why it's important for a restaurant owner to know what they're serving. If they say they don't serve MSG but they do it anyway, that's not good. In the end, there's no real harm done. However, it's never fun to have an allergic reaction to a meal. So, I guess I've gotta add this place to my no-fly list... read more

Great Japanese standards in a small mom and pop shop. Portions are not very large and priced accordingly, perfect for a casual meal. I especially liked their chicken nanban, something that I will not need to go to Yayoi for again. read more

Very nice person working there, but unfortunately I thought the curry was somewhat bland and the pork quality for the tonkatsu lacking.

YOU NEED TO HEAD ON OVER TO KOBEYA RIGHT NOW! From the packaging and presentation all the way to the taste, this place is an absolute gem. I came across Kobeya online while looking for bento boxes and was surprised I never tried it before. San Mateo has a lot of competition in terms of Japanese restaurants, so I think Kobeya got hidden within those bulk of restaurants. But let me tell you, they have some of the most authentic Japanese food on par with food I've tried in Japan. The two dishes I tried out were the tonkatsu and tempura plates. Tonkatsu Plate - Nice and crunchy panko with well seasoned pork. This wasn't one of those super think and tender pork fillets, but rather was a thinner tonkatsu similar to a schnitzel (which is still super tasty just a different style). Comes with a small sachet of bulldog sauce. Tempura Plate - This was perfectly battered tempura. I've had my fair share of tempuras and Kobeya does it right. Super light and airy batter that wasn't overly oily! Came with 3 pieces of shrimp, onion, zucchini, carrot, broccoli, and sweet potato. Comes with tempura dipping sauce. All plates come with a side of rice, salad, macaroni salad, and Japanese noodle salad (similar to japchae). Now pricing. Plates are around $10+ each which is fair (and on the more affordable side) considering inflation and the pandemic hiking up costs like crazy. Another caveat being that the portion size is, how do I say, not American. Meaning, the plate is an appropriate size for a filling meal, but don't expect any leftovers. read more

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This is the Best Japanese restaurant in San Mateo . The ambience is not Fancy but then it's Not a Hole in the wall either . What makes this place an excellent choice is the "Quality of the meats and the Freshness of their Salads". The price is the same as other places, the food is great. My Grandson who is 13 likes this place so much that he was willing to pay for his own Bento Box today $16.25 "Thank You" we took our Bento box on a picnic in Foster City" the best afternoon ever ! read more

Great food is back! New owners and they have brought the good - no great food back. All the regular menu items are back better then ever and new yummy options added. We had the ramen and the moment it was set down we could tell/smell this was a handmade from scratch broth, I cant rave enough on how delicious it was. Seriously can not wait to get back in here to try something else. read more

Kobeya - Ramen bowl - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Mateo, California

I decided to get some food here to start off my birthday weekend. Finding this spot wasn't too big of a hassle. Only issue was finding parking, but what do you expect out here in the city? I recommend going here during the day, just because you never know what kind of people might be walking around the area. The spot is cute and quaint, which I liked. The older gentleman that ran the spot was very nice. It didn't take long to get my food, 10 minutes at most. I ordered the chicken katsu bento meal, and it is the best simple bento I have had so far! I was also running around before I ate, so the fact that it was still good after awhile says something. I highly recommend checking them out and supporting their business. Definitely a good spot to get a cheap meal out here. Oh, also, they are only doing to-go orders right now, due to the pandemic. (I wish I had a photo of this to show, but I was too hungry.) read more

Came here recently during COVID SIP for takeout after finding out it was under new ownership. The food is still very yummy and the prices are very reasonable for Japanese food on the peninsula. The portions are not huge but adequate. The curry sauces are so flavorful and good and totally taste homemade. I had it with the pork tonkatsu and saved the leftover curry sauce to use with some air fried shrimp and chicken nuggets I had the following day. I also tried their ramen for the first time. There is only one ramen flavor but it is done very well with a very flavorful and rich broth to complement the fresh tasting noodles. Give this mom and pop restaurant a try! You won't regret it! read more

Kobeya - Curry pork Ton Katsu Curry Rice - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Mateo, California

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2nd time here! They still have the BEST Tonkatsu Ramen! No regrets! The lady working here is the best!! Would definitely come back for more! read more

Kobeya - Tonkatsu Ramen - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Mateo, California

A tasty spot for authentic Japanese comfort food bentos to-go. The bentos here are made fresh to order and are well-priced at a time when not much is... I recommend the popular chicken katsu curry or the tempura. read more

Kobeya - Tempura bento - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Mateo, California

We love this place. We keep it simple with avocado rolls, veggie tempura, etc. The kids love it, and the prices are so reasonable that it's hard to justify going anywhere else for this type of meal. read more

Great food, great value!! Ate here for the first time today with a friend. At this restaurant, you go up to the cashier and order there. After you've placed your order, you can choose where you want to sit and wait for your order to come out. I ordered a tonkatsu bento box and shared three rolls with my friend (California Roll, Alaska Roll, and Philadelphia Roll). The bento box came with tonkatsu, rice, japchae, side salad, one piece of karaage, and one piece of sweet potato tempura. Each roll came with 6 pieces. I appreciated the variety of food items, and it was extremely filling. Kobeya offers a bunch of side items and appetizers that you can add on to your dish, so there are a lot of different options for people with different tastes. I also really liked how they served hot tea, which you can get up and pour for yourself. I'd love to come back here to try out their curry! This location will definitely become a go-to of mine in San Mateo. read more

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Wonderful food; fresh, high quality ingredients masterfully prepared and beautifully presented....their bento looks like art in addition to being delicious. Friendly & efficient service and a clean and comfortable dining room. Kobeya is terrific. read more

I get the Saba Shioyaki. Comes with quality rice, mini salad and mini scoop of mac salad. Good tasting fish. Try the salmon shioyaki, its good too. All in all solid Japanese food. You can taste quality here. read more

Very good curry. A bit on the sweet side. The pork/chicken katsu are fired well and the price is very reasonable!

Small restaurant with great portion control and affordable prices. Kobeya is a little sushi place located on the 25th ave, San Mateo. This place is ideal if you're in the hurry. The food comes out fast and I've never seen lines here. Most of the portions are smaller than in other sushi restaurants: sushi roll is about 6 pieces here, standard miso bowl and a bit smaller seaweed salad. I love it because I tend not to overeat here, which is great! This is not a typical sushi place with a wide variety of rolls, but a six table place for quick dining. There are some bento boxes on the menu which are popular. You order your food at the counter and they bring it to you in about 10 minutes. The only thing to remember is that they're closed on Sundays. Overall, it is a great place for fast dining when one is in the hurry. read more

My friend Coco volunteered to bring me lunch for work so she went to Kobeya and I told her to just get me the beef teriyaki rice order thing. Rice plate? Meal? Yeah that thing. First impression: skimpy. No lie, y'all. Look at my photo and look at that depressing amount of salad I got. And they give you japchae noodles as the other side but both portions were small and disappointing. The beef teriyaki was overcooked and the rice was hard in some places. Overall, very disappointing. Don't feel like I would pay a visit here any time soon. read more

Kobeya - Beef teriyaki - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Mateo, California

Nostalgic Japanese food. Great value for what you get. Go to is the salmon rice plate and chicken katsu :)

I ordered the Chicken Katsu Bento Box as I don't feel eating curry today. It came and is surprisingly cute! I don't expect such a cute presentation! The chicken katsu is juicy, the karaage is also fresh and juicy, the salad is good, everything is above average except the tempura, it is not freshly made which I kind of understand, this is something to be added on to the bento box, so it doesn't bother me. The place is like a hole in the wall, but place looks clean and seating is comfortable not crowded beyond 1:30pm. I will definitely come back. Price is super affordable, I like to go to Yayoi sometimes but I will definitely come here if I am craving chicken katsu. Menu choice is limited so please check it before you come. read more

Kobeya - Chicken Katsu Bento Box - unexpectedly cute! - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Mateo, California

If you're ever wondering where to get Japanese food, this place is it. It's heavily underrated and I will definitely come back for more. My chicken Nanban was sublime and the service was exceptional. read more

Just tried, solid! Walked in and ordered. (Trying to order more directly instead of through DoorDash.) Currently still to-go only, but great option is chicken katsu curry rice. They also have brown rice substitute for 0.50 extra (might try next time). Fair prices, nice people, good food :) read more

Kobeya - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Mateo, California

Came around 3PM on Saturday. Very nice waitress and food was absolutely delicious. Decent meal and will be back again soon. They also served me a hot tea and the food portion was perfect. Parking is little hard to find in this area, I would suggest to go 10 mins earlier so you can find a parking around. read more

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[Pretty solid 4 stars] I'm not sure if it's because I was starving and food deprived from an intense workout just minutes before devouring my meal, but the food here is quite flavorful. When we walked in I was worried the wait was going to be a hot minute since ALL the tables were taken. We waited on a small bench located on the side an practically stared as everyone ate their delicious looking plates. A lady right in front of us just got up and left, since no one came to take her order, yay for us- we took her table. A must to try here is their homemade curry which is made (from scratch)! With the addition of the chicken Katsu, this dish is a sure win with the combination of brown rice! Also pretty tasty is the gyzo (fried potstickers) & tempura shrimp roll. Can't go wrong with the tasty miso soup. Sadly, the only downfall 'bout this place is the service. I watched as one little lady acted as the server/busser/cashier. It was sad to see customers getting annoyed, but they need to hire more help...expect a good wait on the wait service. read more

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When our wallet is as empty as Al Bundy's, I'm always on a hunt for cheap eats. Fast food restaurants don't count; besides they're not even cheap. I recently noticed that McD "value meals" are now $8+?!?! That's expensive! "Of course you wouldn't notice, you're not the one driving nor the one paying at the drive-thru at 2 am when some drunkie wants McD French fries dipped in vanilla soft serve," he says. Hmmm, I wonder who that is? =X Seriously though, piping hot McD fries dipped in cold, creamy vanilla soft serve is the bomb! Kobeya has been on my cheap eats list for a long time and we decided stopped by on our way home to SF for a late lunch. On the menu are teriyaki, katsu, curry, and sushi rolls. They also have a menu for vegetarians. The prices are old skool cheap: 6 piece gyoza is $2.75 or a 6 piece CA roll is just $2.95! Nothing is over $7.95. No msg is used. CC's accepted. I ordered the Chicken Katsu Curry ($7.95): http://bit.ly/1xMA0Kf. The panko crusted, flatted chicken thigh was fried to a lovely golden brown that laid atop a bed of sticky Japanese short grain rice with a generous ladling of curry sauce. I didn't care for the curry sauce which was watery and bland. Wish there was more fukujinzuke (Japanese pickles) to add some flavor. I had to eat it cold though...more on that later. Mr. NSS ordered Chicken Teriyaki ($5.50) which he said, was dry. It's no better than what you can get at the mall food court but for the price, you really can't complain right? Food was 3.5 stars but service was just plain bad. Not expecting stellar service considering the price point but the staff is unfriendly, ridiculously slow, and the kitchen has poor time management (saw 2-3 cooks in the kitchen). It took 30 minutes for my order (it was not busy) but our waitress forgot Mr. NSS' order. 25 minutes passes by, my food is cold and at this point, two solo tables who arrived after us had already eaten and were waiting for their bill. When he finally received his order, the waitress just plops it onto the table and walks away. Dayam girl, I know this ain't Gary Danko but a "sorry, thanks for waiting" would have been nice. *rolls eyes* Leaving it at 3 stars though because the prices are super cheap which leaves you with money for more important things. Ya know, like romancing Mr. Hendrick's! read more

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I love it more and more each time I come. Service is always on top of things. you must try- japanese katsu curry.... dear Lord. Thank you so much for this food you have blessed into my life. read more

We used to come here a lot pre-pandemic, so it's been a while. It was so good and had all the options for varying tastes. Just good japanese comfort food. Please visit and keep this place in business. It's not a fancy place, but I don't want fancy all the time. This hits the spot with delicious food and good pricing. read more

Love this place, I've had in the past the tempura and also beef curry rice, sort of reminds me of my Mom's curry, parking can be a little hard still angled parking slots but the prices are reasonable, nice clean restaurant. read more

Inexpensive but cut corners, such as no octopus in the takoyaki. Quiet and convenient.

The fried stuff here is good. The other stuff is not. LOL. Basically I had ordered the chicken teriyaki rice plate and it was pretty terrible, not gonna lie. The teriyaki sauce def was a bit more sour than I would usually prefer. However, I had tried my friends katsu, which was hella good. I also ordered the potato croquettes (pretty good) and the potstickers (not too shabby either). Also, I didnt try the curry, but my friend said it was HELLA good so if you're a fan of japanese curry, maybe give it a try. It's a cheap, quick, and convenient lunch when you're out in San Mateo. Is it superb quality? Not really. But you get what you pay for. read more

Kobeya - Pork Gyoza $2.95 - Japanese Curry Near Me - San Mateo, California

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We live in the neighborhood and mostly order to go. Every time we call they are super friendly. Everything is consistently good. Our go to orders are usually the chicken and salmon katsu meals. Crisp, fresh, delish! Also don't miss out on the sesame balls!! read more