Stopped by the Food Hall while I waited for the Tesla to charge. Koja caught my eye and stomach so decided to check it out and ordered one of their more popular items, Braised Pork Koja (braised with miso coconut sandwiched between crispy rice). Pork was flavorful, juicy, and I loved the hint of the coconut. The crispy rice was also perfectly warmed and crisp. I really like the idea of making this into a sandwich instead of a bowl because it was a lot easier to eat, and much more efficient for people who are always on the go! read more

KoJa Kitchen - Braised Pork Koja - Japanese Near Me - Emeryville, California

Went there with my husband last night and ordered the taco Tuesday deal, umami fries, soy garlic wings, and the pork rice bowl. It took about 25min to get our food after ordering from the kiosk but once we got our food and sat down to eat at a table right next to their stall, the tacos and the fries were cold! I notified one of the employees there and first asked if he could reheat the tacos and he said that it's going to be the same? I was confused and just asked to be refunded for the cold food and went to super duper burger instead. read more

I don't usually yelp but the manager has the worst attitude. I complained about how they're using the small shrimp and advertising it at Large Pacific shrimp. That's a lie. She got mad and tried to talk over me. Went to the back and stayed there. First time trying Koja kitchen. Definitely the last. Edit to Connie's response; Show the video of me shouting at your manager and security being called. Didn't happen. Whoever was the guy in the front maybe the chef, he wasn't sure what to say about the size of the shrimp when I first approached the counter. He went to get the manager. Even he was laughing at the way your manager reacted. Not once offered me a refund so that's a lie. Not even offered to give more shrimp for the small portion I was given. She went on the defensive right away about how that is what is given to her to use. Maybe you should start using 16/20 Shrimp, they are not considered prawns. You should look into using that or remove the word LARGE SHRIMP off your menu because it's misleading and untrue. I should've checked the yelp first because it seems that customer service and quality cooked meals are on the decline at your kiosk. Good luck and don't worry, I would never return. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Shrimp and Avocado Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Emeryville, California

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I've been to this location a few times now and the food is solid. Easy to order at the counter, Apple/Google Pay friendly. At 1pm on a Friday afternoon it was a short wait for food, maybe five minutes. The ahi poke bowl is great if you have a lighter appetite. I didn't expect to eat all the rice, but ended up chowing down the whole thing. Piggy me. I noted a couple of vegan options on the menu as well. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Ahi tuna bowl - Japanese Near Me - Emeryville, California

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Have you had a Chicken Koja sandwich? Well, I haven't and thought I'd stop in at Bay Street to see who was still open. Thankfully, Koja Kitchen was opened! I ordered the Chicken Koja which is marinated chicken pieces in a delicious sauce on a bed of lettuce between two compressed rice patties. Who knew that my first bite would be a pleasant delight of mixed flavors and textures?! My tastebuds did a happy dance from the first bite. This sandwich provided a really pleasant experience for my taste buds. Yay! I can't wait to check them out again in the near future. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Chicken Koja - Japanese Near Me - Emeryville, California

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Ordered original koja burger & soy garlic wings. Both tasted the same, one note - overly sweet & drenched in sauce. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Koja burger - Japanese Near Me - Emeryville, California

12-13-2020 3:07 p.m. Afternoon stroll thru The Public Market onna Sunday afternoon...Not much going on or to do for that matter but to eat durring this shut down, so I went for a lil stroll here...After pondering the few places to get a snack the gentlemen at the conter said a social distance hello...I quized him on the best dishes here and it came down to the two items on the menu...The Kamilazee Fries vs. The Umami Fries...now the Kamikazee are the public fav...he said his fav was the Umami Fries...So of course I took his advise and went wit his fav The Umami Fries....These are off the hook, glad I went with these...hella bomb...Out of couriosity I went back the next day to try The Kamikazee Fries...hands down my choice is The Umami Fries...Kudos to the gentelmen at the cashier that day... 5 stars....I will be back read more

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My mom was really craving Korean wings so we stopped by KoJa to see if they had anything. We specifically asked if their wings were crispy and after they confirmed, we ordered the soy garlic ones. They ended up not being crispy and were really salty :( it was pretty disappointing and my mom and I ended up getting Korean wings afterwards from bonchon to satisfy her craving lol We ordered the short rib koja too and it was super interesting. I will say that it's really messy to eat and there's definitely a variety in texture (which I like). I think it might be a little too fusion-y for me. I think taking rice and short ribs and a hamburger concept together is cool, but I'd rather just eat them separately. Some of their bowls and other menu items looked promising though and I would be open to try them. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Soy Garlic Wings - Japanese Near Me - Emeryville, California

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Located within Public Market, KoJa Kitchen is one of the few vendors open at the moment during COVID. Love visiting this location for the great tasting food and the super fast, efficient service. Even with a line built up, staff is able to quickly move through customers without sacrificing preparing and plating food with care. If you're in the Emeryville area and looking for a great eat on the go, stop by the KoJa Kitchen in Public Market. Although I have tasted many things from KoJa, all very good, my absolute favorite item from their menu is The Original "KoJa." A short rib sandwich, diced into cubes of deliciously marinated meat with some lettuce, lightly dressed, wedged between two of their signature crispy rice buns...the perfect marriage of all ingredients. This Emeryville location does a great job of packing out the sandwich with meat. I definitely feel like I'm getting a great quality sandwich worth the price. read more

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I ordered the pork rice bowl! Customer service was efficient and friendly. My order came out fairly quickly, which was great. Can always trust the pork bowl is gonna be good and it was! Recommend for a quick and tasty lunch! read more

KoJa Kitchen - Japanese Near Me - Emeryville, California

I wish I could write about the meals, but I couldn't even get that far. There was no "wait service" but there were two people in the cooking area. After waiting awhile for someone to look up, I called (I thought in a pleasant way with a smile) for someone to come to the wait counter. The woman came reluctantly with an impatient look on her face. She continued to be so rude to me, I had to excuse myself and told her I thought she was too rude for me to order anything, whereupon she rolled her eyes. An unpleasant experience, but fortunately, the counter wait staff across the way was tremendously kind and friendly and served me a most delicious shrimp taco. There's no reason for me to try Koja Kitchen again, sadly. read more

It used to be amazing however tonight It was actually horrible. This is the second time they have ran outta of food. When you order, there's only one tablet available for customers to use to place an order But it does not allow you to know whether or not that particular item is sold out until you're completely done with your order and trying to pay for it which sucks when people are standing behind you. The guy in the kitchen looks lost&the girl behind him was taking a break and really looked like she didn't wanna be bothered with questions. I'm just praying the food still taste the same. The atmosphere is very pleasant I was satisfied with my order but I've gotta say it's been better by all means this was literally a place I would bring a family member visiting from out of town. However, I'd second-guess doing so now. read more

Located inside the Public Market. I ordered the short rib bowl and it was fantastic. The kimchi was crunchy and tasty. The short rib was perfectly tender. Plenty of parking in the area (street or garage). read more

The short ribs bowl and kamikaze fries are my go-to's. I've tried the KoJa burger, but it's not big enough to satisfy my appetite. The short ribs are nice and tender. They have the salty and sweet taste I expect. The kamikaze fries have just the right amount of sauce so that they aren't drowning. During all the COVID19 times, KoJa has been a quick and easy option. You can order online and it's ready pretty quickly. I remember the good old days being able to eat inside Public Market with a beer. There's now outdoor seating in the back, which is nice but also extremely windy every time I've eaten there. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Beef KoJa - Japanese Near Me - Emeryville, California

Manager Mari who was had to be telephoned won't honor passport card discounts even though the card called out the Emeryville location as a participating location. Employee just walked way from us and didn't say anything else afterwards. Extremely rude and not professional. read more

I ordered Kamikaze fries for pickup. I arrived 5 minutes before they were ready. The staff was incredibly rude to me and refused to acknowledge me. There were just a few other orders. There were 3 staff in the kitchen. They took 15 minutes longer than the promised time to put my food out. They prioritized cleaning the grill and wiping the counters over my order. No pleasantries were exchanged. Why are they committed to this kind of inhospitable experience? It feels awful on the customer side of things. On top of that the food portions get smaller and smaller and my fries were burnt. read more

Decent experience . The scent of the food was enticing , but there was a delay in receiving my order as someone else was served first. I enjoyed my meal. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Side of Spring Mix Salad - Japanese Near Me - Emeryville, California

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3 stars for food 0 stars for service. My umani fries were served cold because they sat out for a long time while my main dish was being made. When I brought this up to the manager, she rudely told me that it was not possible, turned around and ignored me. They were singing in the back while the guy in front took forever to make my food. Nobody would give me new fries. I even pre tipped, never again. read more

- fast service - good food Came here and ordered the Kamakaze fries. The ingredients blen well together and is not overly spicy. The fries were crunch and not soggy like most loaded fries. Bulgogi wasn't too overpowering either. Enjoyed it a lot! read more

Came to give this place another shot and it did not disappoint. I ordered their Kamikaze fries and they were so bomb. It's definitely a different dish that I have never seen before and I would def recommend it as it was a solid 10 out of 10. There was a bit of a communication error that has happened each time I have came here hence why it is only 4 stars. The kitchen is exposed and you can see that it is quite clean as well. read more

Can never go wrong with KoJa! It was one of my "go to's" back in San Jose. Glad they have one in Emeryville and within two minutes of my apartment. They're super friendly and make the food quick. Best of all is it's in the market place so you can grab beer and other food! Come check it out next time you're in town. read more

Everything went well! Never fails, this place is my go-to for quick, UMAMI meals! Fabian and team are awesome and very helpful. Fast service, good food and happy faces goes a long way and greatly appreciated! Highly recommended. read more

located in Emeryville's public market this is a must try spot for lunch or early dinner. Good food fast service too. you can order in person or through kiosk. there are tons of parking outside so its wouldn't be a hassle. I ordered the kamakaze fries and some tacos. The fries were hella bomb and generous portions too. The tacos were also very good and very flavorful. I would say you have to eat the fries first cause if you plan on taking them home they will end up soggy. read more

Honestly, I'm a little salty with this place. Granted I forgot to show them the 15% off check-in with Yelp. A lot of other places with the same register system as them would cancel the old transaction and re-ring me up for the new price. Too bad though, I'm probably never going to use the coupon anyways. I've been to the Koja in SF and Berkeley and loved it. Their food is usually amazing but here... not so much. I didn't like my umami fries or my short ribs bowl. The short ribs were dry and tough; the umami fries pork was pretty salty. However, their rice, salad and kimchi were great. I'm not sure if they make their own kimchi, but it was really good. There's public parking all around. They give you a buzzer, so you can order and wall around . read more

KoJa Kitchen - Umami Fries- wheres my masago? - Japanese Near Me - Emeryville, California

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Food looks good. But service at this location is really. A lot of in line to order and you don't know how to place an order on the computer, no one will help you. Even if you ask the people that works there. You're on your own. They ignore you when you call them. So sad...... read more

I am surprised I have never been to one of these locations before considering the number of spots they have. Although my experience wasn't amazing, I definitely think I will come back to try their other items to see if it is tastier. I ordered my food through DoorDash pick-up. It said that it would take roughly 15 minutes to complete but ended up being ONLY 5 minutes. I went straight to the pick up line. Although I appreciated how quick it took, it may have affected the taste of the food. I ordered: - Ahi Tuna Bowl: Although there was a good amount of food, there was no flavor. I appreciated that there was seaweed salad in it but seemed like most of it (especially hiding under) was a lettuce mix (although it is not even in the description of the food). There was a small scoop of tuna (you can definitely get way more at a poke place for the same price). The soy-ginger sauce does not taste like anything and unfortunately does not add anything. - Short Rib KoJa: Although filling, this lacked flavor. Like a lot. The meat was tough and a bit overcooked and there was no sauce. Don't recommend spending $8 on this. - Kamakazi Fries: I recommend. Not only is it tasty but they put a good amount of sauce and meat. The fries are nice and crispy and are not thin. Yummy. I'm willing to try the other items since the fries was good and was really quick. We'll see... I definitely want to try the tacos and the umami fries. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Ahi Tuna Bowl, Kamikaze Fries, Short Rib Koja - Japanese Near Me - Emeryville, California

I LOVE the food at Koja kitchen! The flavors are interesting and creative and every time I've been, it's been quickly and perfectly prepared. Oscar was working today and I loved my meal. Thanks Koja! read more

I happened to be in the area around lunch time and thought it would be fun to pop into The Public Market for a bite to eat. I have had a couple of very positive experiences here in the past so I was looking for something I hadn't already tried. KoJa Kitchen had a couple of people in line and I saw a customer walk away with a beautiful, delicious looking bowl. When it was my turn to order I asked what was the most popular on the menu. I was told the Original KoJa. When I asked what it was, the cashier dismissively pointed to a small picture taped to a wall behind him. It looked to be a bowl with rice and cooked beef on top so I ordered it. What I got was an interesting looking sandwich with two rice patties as buns and a heap of shiny brown meat in the middle along with some wisps of cabbage sticking out. Hmmmmm....this could be good, I thought. Not a bowl as I was expecting, but interesting nonetheless. I pinched off part of a rice "bun" and gave it a taste. It had a nice crunch on the outside, with soft tender rice on the inside. It lacked flavor. But I'm sure the juicy meat inside would more than make up for that. As I picked it up to take a bite, I noticed it was partially wrapped in paper like an In & Out Burger. Nice touch! I took a large bite and begin chewing. My first thought was "nice flavor on the meat" and I like the contrast of the crunch rice "bun". I continued to chew....and chew.....and chew....and chew. After chewing for what seemed like forever, I realized that the piece of meat I was eating was not going to break down any further so I spit it out. Thinking it was a fluke, I took another bite of the KoJa and chewed...and chewed...and chewed...and chewed...and spit out the meat AGAIN!! At that point, my jaw was worn out from chewing. So I decided to pick the meat out piece by piece and try eating it that way. Same thing with the third piece of meat. It was so tough that I couldn't even pull it apart with my fingers. I reluctantly decided to try a 4th piece and to my utter surprise, it was soft and tender. Whew, I thought, until I tried the 5th piece. Tough again. In all, 5 of the 7 finger-sized pieces of meat in my KoJa were tough and inedible. I ended up eating the rice cakes by themselves, soaking up some of the juices from the meat to give them flavor. What a disappointment! The most popular item on their menu was tough, inedible meat? So I walked away concluding one of two things: Either the meat was somehow accidentally under braised that day, or this is the way it always is and people somehow like it. I'd like to think it was the former and not the latter. Either way, I was underwhelmed with their dismissive service, their lack of large, visible menu photos, and for promoting a substandard inedible product as their best seller. They are lucky I was generous with 2 stars instead of 1. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Original KoJa - Japanese Near Me - Emeryville, California

Tried this place out on a Sunday afternoon with my kid. Tried the chicken bowl and Gyoza. Sauce on the chicken was too spicy for my kid, but employee or manager there was super nice and provided a small serving of chicken with no sauce so my son could eat. Really appreciate the customer service! read more

Rating more like a 3.5/5 but would lean more towards "okay". Came with a friend on their recommendation. Got the original koja and shared an order of kamikaze fries. Will say the crispiness of the rice patties of the original koja were on point. However, they do tend to fall apart. The meat was tender and flavorful, but not much was in the burger itself so most of my bites were rice. At the end it was all the drippings that dripped from the rice onto my hands/box, don't expect to not get messy (not against the burger just a statement). The kamikaze fries were forgettable. They're on waffle fries with an unequal amount of toppings making each bite different. Overall, great service, got our food very quickly, but the food itself was only okay. Might try out the rice bowls but not sure if I would go for the burgers again. Tip: Check in for a yelp deal, I never ended up using mine but it is available. read more

I'm only writing to express my opinion on the service! Which was horrible today 7/25. The lady behind the counter was rude! And she had a nasty attitude. Rolled eye eyes as I was ordering, slammed my food on the counter and never called my number when I asked if this was mine she just walked away. I was excited to try this place but her rude attitude made me rethink a second visit read more

Love the concept and the food did not disappoint. I had the short rib bowl and the rib meat was nicely spiced and came out piping hot. Also in the bowl was rice, some lovely kimchi and lettuce greens (I would have liked a little more kimchi and less lettuce to make it more proportional). I didn't need to add anything to it, it was perfect as is. The Korean BBQ pork koja was also a delight with succulent meat, rice bun to provide texture and a little spice. Pro tip: check in for the Yelp discount! read more

KoJa Kitchen - Japanese Near Me - Emeryville, California

This Japanese-American fusion restaurant never fails to deliver in flavors. I'm not a fan of bread so their rice buns are the answer to all my problems. Lightly fried, the rice adds a rice crunchy texture and the hint of garlic makes for a wonderful aroma. I always get it with short ribs, which is so juicy and melt-in-your-mouth tender. The flavors in the tacos are so good as well -- the perfect balance of sweet and savory. Absolutely yummy! read more

KoJa Kitchen - Original Short Rib Koja - Japanese Near Me - Emeryville, California

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We are regulars at Koja and have been supportive of this business before they had Brick and mortar locations. When they had food trucks and did the Eat Real Festival. Sadly we have noticed a decline in quality and service. One more than one occasion I have ordered food and it's been burnt, thrown together or a completely different order. Today we ordered Beef kamikaze fries and gotten something thrown together with chicken and a sea of hot sauce. We are very disappointed because no one communicated that they were out of beef before we ordered. When we spoke with the person at the register and chef they were very dismissive and didn't think it was an issue. We were very polite and should have been accepting of the alternative if we were given the choice. Making meal changes to people food can Ben extremely dangerous due to people dietary restrictions and food allergies. I hope that our poor experiences are only isolated to the Emeryville location and not the company as a whole. We desire that Ownership and management would look into this location to help retrain staff to provide quality customer service and honesty to patrons. read more

This food was a true delight! If you are ever in the Bay Area I strongly suggest "The World Market " where this restaurant is located. There was no person to service, you order you food using an app or the kiosk. I went after a day on the beach, and the price in very reasonable at $15. The vinaigrette I assumed was for the sales went over thee top of the enter dish and I have zero regrets. You'll be tempted to try an appetizer or two from neighboring restaurants in the market. They have high hard top tables and smaller tables if you bring the kiddos. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Shrimp and Avocado Bowl - Japanese Near Me - Emeryville, California

The food is very tasty, I recommend it. You have to try the short rib dish. Thank you for the good service. Araceli, I thank you. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Japanese Near Me - Emeryville, California

I've been to various Koja Kitchen locations now and this one seemed even better than the rest. It's located in a prime spot in Emeryville's Public Market and I was lucky that there was no line when I stopped by for dinner takeout. Service was super friendly and patient with me as I decided what I wanted. I checked-in on Yelp while I was ordering to see that I could get 15% off a bowl and a side item! The staff member was kind enough to tell me that tacos could count as side items so that's exactly what I did. I got their ahi tuna bowl and braised pork taco. The ahi tuna bowl was solid! Not as good as bowls from actual poke places, but I loved the seasoned rice and the tuna and I loved the combination of all the ingredients in this bowl. The pork taco was really juicy and flavorful. My order was probably ready in about 5 minutes. The whole process was really solid and I look forward to my next Koja experience. read more

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Our first time trying Koja Kitchen in the new and improved Emeryville Public Market and everything has changed for the better here, at least for me. Dude isn't used to having a cocktail bar, clean tables and chairs, and the quiet atmosphere. We remember the old days when they had the ball pit where our kids could jump into, clean or not (eek) and fried food being cooked. There's only one stall that remains from the old public market and they have spiffed up the stalls to look clean, nice and their signage is uniform. Gone are the boards with large photos of foods, everything is neat and tidy; however, I miss seeing photos of food and deciding what I want to order. Koja seems to be the only one that had at least a screen at the counter which shows what is on their menu. We ordered the chicken bowl and spare ribs bowl. Both had salad which is healthy and the entrees hit the spot before a dance lesson. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Japanese Near Me - Emeryville, California

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I enjoyed my salad- ahi tuna salad bowl with the dressing on the side. It was tasty, I liked the tuna and seaweed. The crispy wontons were too small too have a significant taste or crunch factor. Nonetheless, I would definitely order this again. read more

My experience this time was not good. Unfriendly atmosphere. I ordered the Original Koja it was not good at all. The rice "bun" was greasy with no flavor, did not taste fresh. Hardly any meat inside. When I asked for just a little kimchi in the small containers they had out for hot sauce or other things, instead of saying you can order a side for x amount of money, I was told by the guy standing next to 2 giant jugs of kimchi "we charge for kimchi" then he turned away. Not very good customer service. I do not recommend this, better options and service elsewhere. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Short Rib bowl! So good! - Japanese Near Me - Emeryville, California

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