I first encountered Koja Kitchen at the Off The Grid food truck event at Fort Mason, and was so happy to learn that they have a physical location as well. Their go-to dish is the aptly named "koja"- your choice of protein between two fried rice buns. My word, this is amazing, especially when you consider that one of the "fillings" is short ribs. The rice bun is perfectly fried and crispy with hints of garlic and I found the short ribs to be perfectly flavored. I was mighty sad when it was all gone- On a recent visit I decided to get a slightly healthier option, opting for the short ribs over mixed greens with kimchi (their version of a bowl that normally comes with rice as well, but I decided not to have). To be honest, the salad was great because the meat was so well seasoned but it's better to be fat and get the full koja vs the salad. Their strawberry lemonade is also to die for, and the locations also have a good mix of beer/wine to enjoy! read more

KoJa Kitchen - Short rib bowl with lettuce instead of rice - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Super good. They have a soda fountain which is what brought me in.....I could see it being cold in there....only in sf do people ask you to pay them to eat their really good food while freezing to death or vice versa...for example, i went to the mcdonalds today on Potrero to get a $1 iced tea, (which was delicious) and it was 85° inside (70° outside) and everyone seemed ok with that. It's that the same people who wear 3 mask were hangin' there , but with no problem, will touch the muni bus poles that are covered in blood, pus and poop.... read more

I can't tell you how MANY times I've been to Koja! It is a Japanese & Korean fusion place. It is honestly one of the BEST places to eat in San Francisco. I've eaten here so many times. It's our go to place to eat. I absolutely love their rice burgers and the kamikaze fries are to die for!!! Best fries ever. I highly recommend this place if you're ever in San Francisco. I can't express that enough. read more

See all

Came here to grab a quick snack and beer with a friend. Short Rib Koja Kamikaze Fries Braised Pork Taco Ginger Beer Everything was good in quality and quantity. Fresh ingredients cooked perfectly. Jon, one of the owners, was very attentive to our needs. Excellent service. Great environment to watch the game, grab a snack, or catch up with your friend(s). read more

Kamikaze fries!!!! Lol when I'm craving waffle fries and want a quick dinner I'll stop by and get my fix lol...the short rib bowl is definitely a solid option,also ask about there secret menu items read more

See all

Previously a food truck, Koja has paused its wheels and settled in the Inner Richmond. Known for its ramen burgers and fusion food, it has a casual, fun vibe and it's a good place to grab a bite with friends. Pass the seating area with the televisions to place your order. We each got a ramen sandwich of sorts and some tacos. Find a seat and wait to be called. Seating can be kind of hard to find depending on how crowded it is, so heads up if you live nearby and want to get your food to go. I think I prefer the tacos and fries over the ramen burger and ramen chicken sandwich. The tacos were flavorful whereas the sandwich felt like I was just eating it to stop my stomach from grumbling in hunger. The fries were also tasty, but the portion felt a bit on the smaller side. Or maybe I just was really loving the fries. Overall, if I come again I would order some new food items alongside some of my declared favorites. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Pretty tasty asian fusion food, good prices and good portions. The taste is on the heavy or strong side, definitely not light or nuanced in flavor. The kamikaze fries have been one of my choices since koja was just a food truck, and I like the way they make the waffle fries. The meat can be dry at times, but tonight it was fine. Tonight I also grabbed a chicken bowl and my son the beef bowl. The mix of rice, greens and chicken was pretty tasty. The chicken was tender and had good flavor. My son liked the beef bowl, although it wasn't a slam dunk. He doesn't like spicy so we didn't get the red sauce, so he didn't have a sauce. I would like some other sauce options for people to choice from, maybe a teriyaki sauce or a milder or non spicy red sauce. Also I thought that eating salad with my rice is just a tad strange. Obviously that's just me, but I think I would rather have some Asian veggies with my rice (boy choy or gailan (chinese broccoli for example.) Overall I enjoyed the meal a little more than my son. read more

This is absolutely one of our favorite places. Whenever we are out we look to see if there is a Koja kitchen close by. We order about 12 sandwiches and leave some in the fridge for leftovers. read more

This was on the radar simply because it was very close to my final destination this evening. I expected a little bit more when it came to the setup, but was pleased with the simplicity of the menu, the seating arrangements and ease of ordering. The food was pretty good. Short rib koja has very interesting flavors, but the short rib wasn't as tender as I hoped it would be. The rice cake buns are a very nice twist, but it's not cohesive and it's tough to keep together as a sandwich. Umami fries were good but again, inconsistencies. The top of the fries were delicious but far too many fries were butt naked! Strawberry lemonade was an excellent and refreshing addition to the meal and I'd definitely grab another. I'm gonna come back for more, which is the true test of any restaurant experience. read more

I heard about this place on DDD (Diners Drive-ins and Dives) so I decided to check it out while I was in SF. I decided to go with the chicken koja with a fried egg. I thought it was okay. My boyfriend had the teriyaki bowl and he wasn't a fan of it. The fries looked pretty good, maybe we should've tried that. FYI - 1 chicken koja and 1 teriyaki bowl for $16 (after tax) read more

See all

Koja! Koja! Koja! Clement Street just continues to get better and better. The location that Koja Kitchen currently occupies has been a revolving door recently, and it really has been a shame. The tenant before Koja did really upgrade the covered patio, though, putting in the two TVs and the heat lamps, which makes for a great dining area, even on a cold, rainy evening. Okay so apparently this place was / is a food truck, and this is their first brick and mortar location. I don't know the history, but I do know that they serve delicious food. A lot of people are talking about the kamikaze fries. Honestly, they are good, but they aren't to die for. The umami fries are probably better. The best food they serve are the kojas and the bowls. I prefer a koja. I've tried all the meat flavors, and I think their best is the short rib. It's freaking delicious. Get a fried egg on it because everything in life is better with a fried egg. The bowls are good too, but I think the "koja bun" is really unique, and you should try it if you're there for the first time. The tacos are essentially kojas in taco form, but you get less stuff in them, and they're not as good. I'd say skip the tacos. If you want the koja rice bun, get a koja. If you don't, get a bowl. There is no need to ever order a taco. Some say their wings are amazing. I like them. Amazing? Not so sure. Bottom line: This is a fantastic addition to Clement Street. All of their meats are good, but I strongly prefer the short ribs. Get a short rib koja. Have your friend get a different koja. Split some umami fries. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

I had eaten at KoJa a couple of years ago and was very impressed with the taste and the quality. But it has changed since. I read some of the other reviews who spoke of excess oil and sauce. Mine was the complete opposite. I ordered the Original KoJa, and it had so little sauce - it was two rice buns (which had no garlic flavor at all) with meat and lettuce. I think maybe they took the feedback other reviewers provided to the extreme? I gave 3 stars because my order was ready pretty quickly (through GrubHub) and their fries were pretty decent. read more

This place feels like a Super Duper Burger with a Korean Japanese twist. I gave it 4 stars, the food was interesting and I'd try it again if I were up for comfy food while in the neighborhood. I almost gave it 3 stars because it struck me that they were kinda lost between a fast food place and something nicer. I'm hopeful they migrate away from the fast food feeling. In my humble opinion, if you are going to charge $7 for beer and you're not AT&T Park, ditch the plastic utensils and go for proper silverware. The rice bowls are more filling than the burgers, but the burger "buns" are made of that delicious "bottom of the pot" rice that's all crispy. It's kinda like an Asian hash brown. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Umami Fries and a porter. Yum. - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Have been before and can recommend the Ahi Tuna Salad if it's the same as it was a year ago. Back at that time I also shared a few items with friend. The Kamikaze Fries; name is slightly more exciting than the product, but the "Original Koja" Signature dish, I believe had a bad day today. The fried garlic rice bun tasted thick and stale. Too much for the tender filling it houses. Also unfortunately, that tender short rib meat was full of gristle, and not chewable. I had to spit a lot of it out. Between all of that and small stature, I sat there thinking to myself, "what a waste of $10" They've expanded quickly, perhaps quality was sacraficed. To end on a positive note though, I have partaken in their taco happy hour at there San Mateo location. Very taste and decent value, I would return for that if so convenient. read more

This place is amazing. The door is delicious and juicy. But my recommendations is to get a bowl. Filling and a little bit of everything. It's like you have your can and you can eat it too.. lol. read more

See all

It's just as good as the food truck - if not better! This time I sampled the pork tacos (delish) and of course had to go back to with a Koja but tried a new one - the Chicken Koja... it was not as good as the braised pork but still quite good. The kamikaze fries are also super good...love the waffle fries, beef and sauce. The braised pork rice bowl was also super tasty...try it with an egg on top. And while I didnt try the chicken wings, the table next to us ordered them and they smelled amazing and were gone in 3 minutes. Gotta try that next time. read more

I've caught Koja Kitchen at Off the Grid: Picnic a while back. Everyone was walking around with their epic looking waffle fries and i had to have one too! Once their brick and mortar opened up in the inner richmond i knew i had to check it out. Cool space. Order inside and get a buzzer. Inside seating is available but the best spot is in their covered patio with community tables and a couple decent sized tvs to catch the game. Good place for beer and munchies with asian flavors. BOLD flavors. Everything was a little sweeter and spicier than "traditional". Short Rib Koja: garlic rice patties and korean bbq beef. Order this! Beef Taco & Chicken Taco: i really liked the beef. Chicken was in a wasabi lime mayo sauce but a little too much wasabi for me. Not spicy, just not a fan of anything similar to horseradish Umami Fries: Good, I prefer the kamikaze fries though. It's what brought me into the restaurant in the first place. Korean Buffalo Wings: Bit of a kick. A little tangy, good heat and nice crunch read more

KoJa Kitchen - Wings, koja short rib, umami fries, chicken taco - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Koja Kitchen is always my go to food truck when I visit Off the Grid, so I was excited to find out they finally opened up their brick and mortar location in San Francisco. They're located in Clement, so be prepared to take at least 15 minutes to find parking and bring some change to feed those meters! When you first walk into their restaurant, there is a big heated patio area with the menu hanging up on the left wall and two huge TVs. There's a combination of communal and separate tables to eat at both inside and out. To make it convenient, there are menus hanging from the doors where you can take it up with you to order at the register. Whenever I eat Koja Kitchen, my usual order is always the short rib koja...so good, every time! I wanted to venture out and try something new and different since their menu offers more variety here such as rice bowls, salads, tacos, etc. So I went with the braise pork koja and a beef taco while my boyfriend got the beef bowl and we shared a side of regular fries. The braised pork was cooked with miso coconut, arugula, wonton chips, garlic, masiago and a lemon wedge to top it off. The pork was tender, but the miso coconut was a little too milky for my liking. It wasn't bad, but I think I would stick to the short rib meat. The beef was tasty and the perfect size, I would get this again. The fries were a good plain side, but they could have used some seasoning or a little salt at least. They also serve alcoholic beverages so you can definitely take your time enjoying your meal here instead of standing or with crowded seating at the Off the Grids throughout the city. read more

See all

So we popped in here on the way back to the North Bay from another eating adventure at Hawker Eats. It was Sunday at 4pm and the place had a nice crowd. I loved the inside/outside feel and atmosphere super inviting and friendly vibe I got from this place and cool to know they had some great local beers on tap even though I was taking the afternoon off from drinking. The menu at Koja was super intriguing. My friend and I split the Beef Koja and the Kamkaize fries. Both were delicious, I thought the short rib meet was better than the beef meat though, a little more tender. I really enjoyed the rice cake bun. I cant want to take a GF friend here and see what they say! Next time I'll try the Umami fries and those sound amazing too. Great food, good prices and great service, super fast and efficient Looking forward to my next visit to Koja! read more

KoJa Kitchen - Oh Fock - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tbh I wasn't thoroughly impressed... I wished the kamakazi fries were more mixed together vs dumping the extras on the top. We got the beef, braised pork and chicken tacos as well- beef and chicken weren't super memorable as they were pretty standard. Braised pork had great flavor and was definitely our favorite by far just wished it wasn't so soupy. Venue is pretty nice though, kind of weird that their food menu is outside, behind the order station so when ordering food you're constantly turning around trying to read the menu... read more

KoJa Kitchen - Beef, braised pork and chicken tacos with kamakazi fries - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Tacos are very good! Unique ingredients and very savory.

Interesting menu but the food is yucky. Sings r hard batter.. kamakase fries omg yuck..salad hmm .. I'm not coming back again.. good luck to them !! read more

I first tried their food on offthegrid food truck and it was the fries that blew me away. Now they are called kamikaze fries in their restaurant. It's not bad but it can't compare to the ones I ate on the food trucks. I tried their short rib rice plate and it was sooo good. The short rib were juicy and tender with a lot of flavor. Don't let their portions look small to you because I was full when I finished the rice plate. All in all it was worth coming to try their restaurant and will come again. It's nice to know that I can always eat those kamikaze fries whenever I want now. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Kamikaze fries on left Short rib rice plate on the right - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I've been to the Berkeley location a couple times so was excited to compare it with this location. The experience was pretty different, in which I prefer the ambiance and set up of this SF Koja Kitchen. The interior is more modern and hip, and they serve alcohol, which I don't remember the Berkeley location having. Service: quick and friendly. Food: Umami fries: 4/5 - Loved them! Since I had just eaten a burger at Chairman Mao not too long ago, this served as a perfect cap to the night. Well cooked waffle fries, braised beef, aoili, and red sauce all combined to offer one satiating dish. Would definitely recommend. read more

KoJa Kitchen - My umami fries were delicious - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here for a late lunch over the weekend and ordered 4 items. Although this is fast food establishment, the bill suggested otherwise (over $30 for the 4 items.) Short Rib Koja - the rice bun is good, reminded me of the crispy rice from clay pot rice. I love it! but i dislike the texture of the short ribs, too chewy. I think it is because the short ribs been sitting in a food warmer for too long since we went there at 3PM. I will give it a shot again if the short rib is fresh. Chicken Bowl - Not my cup of tea, the chicken's texture and taste is very similar to the Korean Pork Jerky you find at Costco. SKIP! Kamikaze Fries - the fries were COLD! the meat where COLD! perhaps its time to pick up some tips from McD. Korean Buffalo Wings - just like the fries, the wings were COLD! read more

KoJa Kitchen - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Really like Koja! I like the crispy rice " buns ", and the kalbi meat instead of a regular beef patty. I just do not have room to try those yummy looking fries I saw other people getting... I also have tried the kalbi bowl... Will add a fried egg next time I eat here. Parking in the Richmond district is pretty hard though. read more

This is one of my aunt's favorite spots to go, so I'll come occasionally with her. They have a great concept of fast Korean Japanese fusion food, along with beers and other mixed drinks! I got the ahi tuna salad, which has Ahi tuna, salmon sashimi, wasabi mayo, seasoned edamame, seaweed salad, imitation crab salad, green onions, masago, wonton crisps, and soy ginger dressing. It was pretty good! We also had the kamikaze fries, which come with crisscut waffle fries, minced korean bbq beef, kimchi, red sauce, japanese mayo, green onions. The sauce is what makes the fries :) It's a yummy spot and they also have food trucks, so be on the lookout for some Koja Kitchen! read more

Great Asian fusion in the Richmond area and it's not super expensive too. I'd recommend the Kamikaze fries, which is cooked to perfection. Sort of like Chik-Fil-A fries topped with sweet, crumbly bulgogi. It's not super original but it does make for a tasty snack. The Kojas are interesting... they're like burgers but instead of patties, you get rice. Nice to try but don't think I'd order again. Burgers shouldn't be fusion-ized in my opinion. Keep the rice on the side, I'd prefer the bun. Great staff! Casual and cool ambiance. Nice open patio seating with TV screens. Would come again for the fries. read more

Koja Kitchen is pretty good fusion food for the Bay Area. It's usually packed Friday and Saturday night, but the line shortens quickly and the food comes out very fast which everyone can appreciate. Their drinks are bomb, so I would recommend any. Alcohol or no alcohol! I always get the kamikaze fries. Add sriracha and it's fire (both tasty and spicy)! I think the short rib rice taco is just ok. I rather go with the tortilla taco. I love the menu board because it's easily laid out and the art at the bottom is rad. I would recommend this place to anyone visiting SF, but I think LA does it better. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

See all

Tender and perfectly cooked for my intake on their OG koja. Love it and the kamikaze fries is also bombs read more

KoJa Kitchen - Og koja and the braised pork bowl - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Koja Kitchen is one of a kind! "It's pretty much like a burger but better!"I'm glad they opened a location near the richmond area (my hood!). Anything you order is pretty much great and they do tacos, bowls, wings, and salads too! It definitely gets filling so I would share the the fries (Kamikaze or Umami). I really enjoyed the Short Rib Koja for first timers! read more

KoJa Kitchen - Short rib koja and braised pork with umami fries - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Wow. My boyfriend has been raving about this place and it is definitely amazing. I got the beef koja and kamikaze fries and they were both so good!! They both had so much flavor and every bite was perfect. They got the recipe down pat. I also got the strawberry lemonade which was really bomb! (Tastes like a starburst :) ) Very clean and modern atmosphere. A lot of seating. The staff was nice and the food was ready in about 10-15 minutes. Couldn't have been any better. For sure going back, soon! A+++++ read more

KoJa Kitchen - Beef koja with strawberry lemonade, sooo good - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Came here for lunch on a Friday. We ordered a good amount of food but I felt like some of our food was just OK. I was a regular at their truck when it was at the UN Plaza but I felt like the food here wasn't the same. Shortrib Koja (2/5)- I felt like the flavoring of the meat...actually the whole thing was just a sweet soy sauce. It fell flat after a few bites. Kamikaze fries (3/5)- Our fries were not freshly made. They were lukewarm. They were still crispy....but I really wished they were hot. Braised Pork Tacos (3/5) - I enjoyed these but felt the coconut flavoring was too strong and overwhelmed the other flavors. read more

See all

We ordered two kalbi bowls and one chicken bowl, andnall were very tasty. However, we found a metal staple in the salad greens in the chicken bowl. Thank goodness the staple wasn't swallowed and nobody was injured. We enjoyed the meal but probably won't order from KoJa Kitchen again. ETA: After the restaurant's follow up response I've checked the discarded bag. Both staples are actually still attached to the bag, and I don't see any additional staple holes in the bag where the staple may have come from. I appreciate the response and suggestion. read more

THIS PLACE IS THE BEST! I am so happy to find a place with a good idea, great interior design, and best of all good food. You want to go there and get the Koja. It's their version of a burger but they use a sticky rice deep fried patty. The have veggie and meat options. I got the Zen Koja and my friend got the Pork Koja. Super good!! It is so unique that you will crave for it again. We also got the Kamikaze fries which is waffle fries with kimchi and beef and a spicy sauce. Everything we got there was good. You order and pay at the front and then sit anywhere to eat. Pricing is cheap. Place is clean. and they have a secret menu? Definitely recommend this place. If you plan on being in this area, stop by here. read more

See all

Nice addition of Asian fusion to the Richmond district! My friends and I came here on a late night decision to catch up over lunch the next day. Honestly, Koja Kitchen was a name I saw time and time again but did not have the chance to try. The restaurant is a pay-at-the-counter dining experience with plenty of seating. I originally planned to order the Koja, which is a spin off of a burger, but the portion looked small so I went with 2 tacos and kamikaze fries instead. The fusion inspired tacos were unique. I had miso coconut pork and Korean chicken with wasabi lime mayo. However, flavor profiles were not something I personally enjoyed. The coconut pork was a bit odd and the wasabi lime mayo was a little too over powering for me. The kamikaze fries were my favorite part! I love waffles fries; the combination of Korean beef, sauce, green onion, and masago was perfect and harmonious. It's definitely a must-have. Koja Kitchen offers good affordable food with a twist on flavors you won't expect. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Kamikaze fries, miso coconut taco, and chicken taco - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place is great for a delicious quick lunch. I thought it might just be a really hyped-up gimmick, but it really is tasty. I ordered the braised pork koja for $7.75, which is a pretty good deal for the area. Service was relatively quick; it only took roughly 7 minutes to get my food. Out came my food, which was some pork shoulder with a garlicky mayonnaise sauce between 2 somewhat slabs of grilled garlic rice. The pork was flavorful and fatty (but not overly greasy), and there was a perfect amount of sauce distributed throughout the burger. And the rice "buns" had a really good garlic flavor, and had the perfect amount of external crispiness and held together until the last bite. I honestly wouldn't mind eating these instead of regular burgers any day of the week. Even though the food is a touch on the smaller side, it's packed with unique, delicious flavor, and is just a great quality meal. read more

To be honest, I'm not a huge fan of Korean fusion food. I've tried it in a few other places, like Kogi Taqueria in LA, and also TLT in SoCal. Koja kitchen is a similar concept, but more focusing on the Korean aspect versus. Korean & Mexican fusion. I guess I'm not the fairest judge here. I ordered the short rib bowl, which came with small bite-size short rib pieces, rice, kim chi, and lettuce with dressing. It came out to roughly $10 for the bowl. I mean the quality of the meat was decent, but nothing too mindblowing. The rice was definitely disappointing, since it was so soggy. My bf got the Short Rib Koja, which was kind of like a burger, except instead of the bun, it was rice that was fried, that acted as the bun. I actually thought that combo with the short rib was a lot tastier than my plain rice bowl. They have alcohol which is nice, like beer, soju, etc. It's kind of a nice place to go with your millennial friends. Even though I am not a fan of Korean fusion food, I still give this place 4 stars since the service was nice and swift. Also the ambiance is fun for a big group of friends, with alcohol included. read more

3.5 stars, but round it to 4. The Good: Amazing beef koja, marinated and BBQed to perfection, takes you to flavor-town. Miso-coconut braised pork. Casual atmosphere with inside and outside seating. The Bad: Price for portion size. Portions are not big. Had a bowl and a taco and was still hungry after. The bowl looks like it comes with a of meat, but it sits on a fat bed of mixed greens. read more

KoJa Kitchen - Left: braised pork taco Right: beef koja bowl - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I never write reviews but I had a really good experience yesterday, so I will document it! food review: Koja is literally 10/10. I always get the chicken koja & the kamikaze fries... LITERALLY, FORGET ABOUT IT... SO GOOD! Also, the wings are top-tier. Usually, my issue with wings at restaurants are that the breading/skin/sauce has flavor, but the chicken itself is lacking. But koja really does a good job at making the chicken and the skin hit on the flavor scale, juiciness scale, crispiness scale, just all the categories. Service review: I used to go to koja a lot when I lived in the Richmond, but now it's a treat since I live in the mission. So much so, that when I went, I ordered food to eat there and then made a whole other order to go so I could keep the magic going at home. But, to my dismay, I was given the wrong and didn't realize it till I had gotten home after like 40 minutes on Muni (You know my order maybe should have been reviewed, but I could have just as easily looked in the bag myself to check). Scandal on all fronts. BUT, when I called and talked to the manager he made it so I got my food delivered within the hour AND comped my order so all I had to pay for was delivery services, in light of the understandable error that occurred. It was very nice to have someone just have a quick and easy solution that tended to my needs and not because I was being rude about it, and he felt like he had to, but if anything I think he just wanted to provide a quality service to his customer. Big shout out to the manager at the Clement st. Koja. I never write reviews but this man is a superstar and deserves his praise. I think his name might have been Jeff?? It at least started w a J. You know who you are J-man *heart emoji* Thank you for reminding me how and why I love Koja so much that I will go out of my way when it's around to stop by. read more