TLDR: When you're at the heart of Japan town, you have to embody the nation in all the good ways. Kui Shin Bo, embodied the nation's backbone of being average to above average in multiple things. This place covers many of the basics (rolls, ramen, tempura, yakisoba, teriyaki, unagi). I really only see it as a jack of all trades, but a master of none. It doesn't mean that this restaurant has no place in Japantown, but it doesn't inspire confidence when it's located in an isolated region of the mall with less foot traffic, while its competition on the other wing has lines longer than the location's capacity. Black Garlic Ramen: It's always a mystery to me how black garlic improves a bowl of ramen. My expectations, however, remain the same. How thick is the broth? How clean is the broth when consumed? What is the quality of the chashu? Do I get enough noodles? I think the best part of this meal was the amount of soup they give, and the chashu was very good. It sucks that the chashu is tiny, but they did very well. I feel that the noodles were those wholesale ramen noodles that were portioned, and the garnish was fine. The broth was okay, 3.5-ish stars in terms of taste. Dynamite Roll and Volcano Roll: I think it's a problem if I have trouble identifying which is which. I can tell you that both are good enough to try, and the Volcano Roll comes with raw fish. Both come with a good crunch and a good sauce, but like most Japanese places that lean heavily into the rolls, good luck finding out what you ordered and what you just ate. Ambiance: Very classic Japanese. They're really at their best to convince you that you're in Japan. It may get tight during a busy day though. Service: Standard. You order, your water gets refilled, you pay, you leave. read more

Kui Shin Bo - R8. Black Garlic Ramen - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Amazing service and amazing food. This was my second time visiting Kui Shin Bo and it's great every time. We received great service, constant water refills, and our food came out quick. I ordered the chicken katsu and beef teriyaki, which is served with rice, miso soup and salad--the perfect balance, and a bit of everything. The chicken was very crispy, the beefy teriyaki had a nice smoky flavor to it, the soup was nice and warm, the rice paired well and the salad was fresh and tasty. My sister ordered the Crispy Chicken Chili Creamy Ramen. I had some of her ramen and it was delicious as well! The overall, restaurant itself is a bit small but the food makes up for it. I would definitely return! read more

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Okonomiyaki, Okonomiyaki, Okonomiyaki!!! Everybody screamed for Okonomiyaki! I only hope they put this on an ad! Come here for the best service, most authentic atmosphere, and obviously, the tastiest Okonomiyaki in San Francisco! So fresh that the seafood is still moving! With vegetarian option! And hey, like the sign says, if you don't like Okonomiyaki, they have an enormous menu with other things like sushi, Ramen, and so much more! But really, the cute manager is definitely the one to come for. You know who you are. read more

Kui Shin Bo - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Small little place on the top floor of the eastern side of the mall. Seated right away for 2 guests. They have a huge menu with lots of items to choose from. We both chose a type of ramen. Compared to the replaces the prices are about the same but this place feels like there's less ingredients than the other places. The noodle portion was small. 2 pieces of pork and some mushroom. I was not full after eating this. Next time though, I would definitely try their other menu items. read more

Kui Shin Bo - R7. Shio Ramen - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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When in Japantown you've gotta have some noodles and sushi, right? This place was recommended so we stopped by after shopping. We were seated in the tiny nearly empty restaurant immediately but the server took so long to even get to our table to bring menus or get a drink order. Needless to say, we gad to wave him over and he wasn't very friendly. But we stayed and put our orders in then proceeded to wait even longer for our food. The wait was worth it though! The chirashi bowl and sushi were so fresh. The ramen was full of flavor and perfectly done and the salmon was flaky and so tasty. If you have plenty of time on your hands, this is the place for sushi when in the mall at Japantown. read more

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The Japan malls are great! We found this Japanese restaurant, we felt in Tokyo. The owners are really nice and friendly. The ambiance is totally like restaurants in Japan. The food is fresh and delicious! Good price! read more

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This was an excellent place for lunch. They have numerous bento box lunch options starting at $15.99. I got the saba shio and shrimp tempura which were delicious. The staff was friendly and welcoming. Also helpful. Simple Japanese decor. Will be back! read more

Kui Shin Bo - Bento box lunch special $15.99 +$2 for saba shio - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

This place is on the second floor of the Japantown mall. Went with someone in crutches, and there's a lot of stairs. Elevator is on the other corner of the center, so you do have to go a little around to get there if you need an elevator. Not too bad though. Small restaurant. Most of their tables are great for a group of 4 but I'm guessing they could just push together tables if your group is a little larger. Service was good. All our dishes were great. The sushi wraps were good but they can be a bit messy. 2 sushi wraps, 1 ramen, 1 sushi roll, seaweed salad, 2 sodas, came out to about $90. We'll be back to try more. read more

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Small unassuming sushi spot on second floor of Japan Center Mall. The restaurant is on the inside part of the floor, so no windows, which made it a little dark. We were seated pretty quickly on a Sunday evening, and there were a couple of other parties there. They had a sign advertising a special where you can order two items from a list and it comes with soup, salad, and rice, but we ended up just splitting two house special rolls - the Salmon Mango roll and Rock N Roll roll (tuna, avocado, spicy mayo). Both were delicious. I particularly liked the Salmon Mango roll - it was a perfect mix of sweet and savory. The rolls came with 8 pieces each and each piece was a good size, so it was plenty for two of us. I also got a Sapporo beer (bottle) to sip on. Overall, good experience - quick, efficient service and satisfying meal. read more

Kui Shin Bo - Samon Mango roll (left) and Rock N Roll roll (right) - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I ordered Kui Shin Bo to-go. When I was placing my order, I was looking at the bento box options and was surprised to see that they didn't offer a salmon option in the "pick two proteins" bento box. Instead, they had salmon listed as a separate dish that came with rice, salad, and miso soup. I thought that was a bit odd since it would make more sense if salmon could be chosen as one of the proteins in the bento box, but I guess that's just how their menu is set up. In the end, I ordered the chicken teriyaki with California roll bento box. It was decent...nothing amazing, but not bad either. Just a simple, straightforward bento box that gets the job done. Overall, it's a decent spot, but probably somewhere I'd only go if I didn't have other options nearby. read more

Kui Shin Bo - Chicken teriyaki with California roll bento box - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Skip the main entrees and go for the sushi Veggie tempura roll: the spicy mayo makes this place different than others. Shallots on top provide that crunch, comparable to another place that I reviewed recently. Place is tight with 9 tables. Older gentleman with a friendly face greets customers and manages the restaurant. They can be backed up with sushi orders. Lots to choose from on the menu read more

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meh....just meh....The menu is pretty expansive which is okay, the price is decent for the city though. But if you love Converse shoes, friendly warning that the floor here be hella slippery, so tread carefully sk8erz. read more

Kui Shin Bo is one of those no-frills neighborhood spots that quietly delivers every time. The space is simple and unfussy, and the menu sticks to classic Japanese dishes without trying to be trendy or over-the-top. It's not fancy, and that's part of its charm. It feels like you just walked into a random spot while walking around Osaka. The food feels honest and straightforward, just well-prepared basics with good flavors. The ingredients always taste clean and fresh, and the flavors are balanced in a way that feels comforting rather than heavy. They have a pretty big menu with items from sushi rolls to bento sets to udon to ramen to sashimi. So there is something for everyone. I ordered the mackerel set and it was really simple and good (minus the extra bones). Really enjoyed the comforting meal. read more

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After a 15 minute wait for a party of 2, we were seated and given menus. About 5 minutes in, we were ready to order but didn't see our server for another 10 minutes after being seated. The okonomiyaki is a must try here, super flavorful with the right amount of ratio per ingredient. The whole squid was a bit more on the tougher side, but still finished the plate. The main problem I have was after finishing our food and trying to get our server's attention. It took 10 minutes to ask for our check, but we did not see him for another 25 minutes. I understand he's busy, along with the two other staff members, but it seemed to be a problem with multiple tables (some deciding to stand directly in front of the cashier area to pay and leave). I'm hoping it was just a one time thing, because the other menu items seem tempting to come back again. But, if you want are limited on time, I'd recommend checking out another place in the area. read more

Kui Shin Bo - Combo Okonomiyaki and Squid Maruyaki (Whole Squid) - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Delicious Japanese comfort food. Seamless, effective service from the staff--zero fluff, which is appreciated during a quick lunch. Ordered the Shrimp Curry Rice. This is comforting, home-style Japanese food; the curry base tastes genuinely house-made and is well-seasoned, with a depth of flavor that separates it from standard takeout fare. The daikon, carrot, and potato chunks were cooked perfectly. Price point is reasonable for Japantown. read more

Kui Shin Bo - Shrimp Curry - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

My friend and I were looking for a lunch spot in Japantown that didn't have a crazy wait. We found this place online and went to check it out. It is located upstairs on the East Mall side. It is small inside but we got there at a good time where we didn't have to wait to be seated. I did their lunch special where you can pick 2 items to be served with miso soup, salad, and rice. Agedashi tofu (4/5): The tofu was nice and tender. The exterior was lightly crisp. It was served in a warm, savory dashi-based broth which was not too salty. Tonkatsu (4/5): This was good, standard tonkatsu. Nice and crisp. It came with a tonkatsu sauce. Curry rice (3.5/5): This was a bit basic but it paired well with the tonkatsu. The rice was nice and fluffy. The curry was a good amount of spicy and thick. The menu is pretty extensive so there is something for everyone. It isn't as busy as the other restaurants in Japantown so that is nice. I would probably come back if I need a quick meal. read more

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I was definitely sleeping on this Japanese restaurant. My #1 fav thing to eat ever is a good veggie ramen , followed by okonomiaki. I know both these dishes are traditionally not vegetarian but maybe in a past life I really enjoyed this cuisine. Anyway. My highlight here was the okonomiaki. Sushi was great. My partner got the veggie ramen ( very basic shoyu broth. Simple nice. He seemed to love it so I guess that is all that matters). I ordered the cold soba with dipping sauce for mains ( came with the veggie karage) It was my first time trying cold soba with the dipping sauce. At this juncture I have to give a shout out to the manager/waitstaff. He was just sooooo adorable, patient and kind. We told him we were vegetarians and he gave us a lot of recs. I would go back just for the friendly and warm service. Okay so I didn't love the soba. Maybe because I have enjoyed piping hot food - that's my only requirement for food, that it is piping hot. The dipping sauce was a turn off.. it tasted like burnt bbq sauce Good ambiance, great service and truly great food. Would highly recommend if you are vegan/ vegetarian ! read more

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I went here previously and The May's tofu sushi burrito is so good. Last time we ordered the ramen. I'm vegetarian and my husband is allergic to shellfish. Today when we went to order what is on the menu as vegetarian ramen, the waiter who luckily is vegetarian himself stopped us and let us know that it's no longer vegetarian (menu has not been updated) and has fish products in it. We left. They have the right to change their dishes but they should not be advertising it as vegetarian if it is not. Update your menus, and ideally still have vegetarian items. They verified none of the ramen/udon etc are vegetarian now. read more

My goat has fallen. I use to really enjoy their black garlic ramen but it's not as garlicky anymore. The meat was also super chewy and chunky. It's not that good. I left the pieces because it was bad. The soup and noodles are still good but it's not the same. We also got the two meal deal. The fried shrimp gave my wife and I minor food poisoning for the rest of the night! The agadashi tofu was not good. Miso was really good though. read more

Kui Shin Bo - Shrimp tempura gave us food poisoning - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came on a Monday afternoon with zero people inside, it was amazing. Friendly and fast service. The katsu was nice and crunch, juicy in the middle and not too thin or thick. I loved the katsu sauce and the portions of everything were perfect for lunch! read more

Kui Shin Bo - Chicken katsu & Shrimp tempura for $15.99! - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

One of my fave spots to eat in Japantown! Their menu has a lot of variety so whenever we are not sure on where to eat, we usually end up here. Service can be slow on weekends since Japantown can get crowded. There is usually a long waitlist to get seated since the location is small and it usually depends on the day you go. My group of 4 got lucky because we were seated right away and it was on a Saturday during some events that were being held in Japantown. I do not remember the rolls we got, but they were all good! It is definitely giving home-cooked/comfort food so it is not amazing, but it is still delicious. I also tried their hot sake and their seafood okonomiyaki for the first time. Our table loved the seafood okonomiyaki so next time we come back, we will be getting that again! read more

It's been 16+ years, still loving this place! We can't believe it's been this long and the food is still great and the wait for Japantown isn't ridiculous. read more

The sushi rolls are just as what you would expect. The ingredients were fresh, and the prices are great for sushi. The restaurant is pretty small with not a lot of tables. I came on a Saturday evening and had to wait about 15 minutes for a table for two. read more

Kui Shin Bo - P1. Real California Roll (Real Crab) - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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My friend and I came here on the hunt for okonomiyaki. The wait for this place was ~45 minutes, which seemed much longer than usual (which made sense because the Cherry Blossom Festival had just wrapped up). There's not a lot of tables too which could have contributed. We were able to walk around the malls in the meantime, and they called my phone when our table was ready which was nice. There's a poster on the wall from a Google review of this place that says "Excellent okonomiyaki, good enough sushi, and very good prices," and honestly, this is the best summary of this restaurant. We ordered a salmon avocado roll and seafood okonomiyaki. Salmon Avocado Roll: 3/5, the fish quality was alright but the avocado was unripe and hard. Wouldn't come back here for the sushi necessarily. Seafood Okonomiyaki: 4/5, very good and crispy! A little more batter-heavy than I'm used to but delicious nevertheless. They're very generous with the amount of seafood in it, but the sauces do a lot of the heavy lifting on flavor. Overall, there's not a lot of okonomiyaki places in the city, so stop by here if you want to try! I'd order this again. read more

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This was a such a cute spot tucked away in Kabuki mall for my friend and I to grab dinner. The place was small, but we were able to be seated right away. Service was very quick, and the menu had a lot of options. I enjoyed the roll I ordered, but I wouldn't say it was amazing. It's a good option though if you're looking for a quick and convenient sushi dinner while in the mall! read more

Kui Shin Bo - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I've been trying so hard to find a spot that made the Okonomiyaki that I loved at Izumiya which to my sadness closed their business. Tonight I found Kui Shin Bo in the Japantown Mall that had what looked like the Okonomiyaki. Decided to give it a try and I must say they came pretty close but the biggest difference for me was that this version was more like a funnel cake than the traditional pancake. Gotta admit the flavor was all there but it felt like a dessert than a savory dish. Definitely will come back when I need my fix. read more

Kui Shin Bo - O1. Cheese Steak Okonomiyaki - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great lunch menu deal that's also available on the weekend. The place is popular but there's lot of seating so you usually won't wait. Among three friends we tried the tonkatsu, tempura, agedashi tofu, and avoyaku roll. You cant go wrong with getting the tonkatsu as part of your lunch menu. read more

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I've been going to Kui Shin Bo for over 10 years. I was there when their bento was priced at $9.49 and now it's $15.99. Their bentos are my go-to and boyfriend loves it too. I have pictures from 2 different visits with 2 different bento choices. Most choices come with miso soup, rice and a salad and their menu will tell you which ones do not which are the noodles and curry dishes. They have added extra costs to some of the bento choices which suck since one of my and my boyfriend's go-to was their beef teriyaki (+$2). This might not be the fanciest place but their food tastes pretty good and hits the spot when you're tired and hungry. read more

Kui Shin Bo - Teriyaki Chicken & Vegetable Tempura Bento - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came with a friend to try out a new restaurant! The food was amazing! I enjoyed the peppercorn duck leg noodle soup so much that I ate it while it was hot and burned both my tongue and the roof of my mouth. Nonetheless, I would do it again because the noodle soup was just that good. Definitely a 10/10 :) Keep in mind though that the kaki fry is apparently raw in the middle (oysters). Moreover, for the peppercorn duck leg noodle soup, the soup is quite sticky in texture, but still delicious! The restaurant is a bit in the smaller side, but the ambiance is great! Overall, would definitely come back again! read more

Kui Shin Bo - Spicy R6. Spicy Tantan Men - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Have been to Kui Shin Bo a few times previously and have enjoyed their food and hospitality each time. Located in Japantown East Mall on the upper level. Plenty of shops and stores to explore in Japan Town! We mostly come for the 2 item bento meals as the menu offers a great value. Includes salad and bowl of rice. There's an extensive menu of other items to choose from as well. Appetizers, sashimi, sushi rolls and chef specials. I am sure there is something for everyone. Our favorites... Chicken Katsu super juicy and tender, Pork Tonkatsu a bit less tender. Japanese salad was not dripping wet like other restaurants The Wakame udon had light seasoning and not salty. Also had hot sake which was a nice way to kick start lunch. We have been here several times and always walk away full and wallet happy. Please come and try it for yourself. It's not fancy or upscale but you come here for good cheap eats. I had to take one full star away this time for the plastic laminated menus. For some reason it had a horrible foul smell to t. They probably used dirty or unclean rags to wipe them down. Was very off putting. Otherwise the experience was very good and given the fact the restaurant was full by the time we left other people think so as well. read more

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Really good, I was surprised for what is a small restaurant that's almost in a food court in the Japanese cultural center. I have spent a month in Kyoto Japan and this was very authentic and good. The Okonomiyaki (crispy rice, cabbage and grilled chicken in sort of a layered dish. ) was magnificent! Such a tasty dish with everything food needs for a flavor explosion of sweet, smoky crunchy and salty. Truly a stand out. Sushi and combo lunch excellent too read more

The bento special was such a good deal! Very limited seating inside, and the staff is also busy handling carry out orders. Overall, really enjoyed the quality of food and want to try their sushi next time. read more

it was both good and bad for me, the sushi was actually pretty good. I liked the rolls, the mango salmon was good just didn't have real mangoes in it. The chicken karaage was fried to perfection but it was bad because you could tell it was not fresh. It def had a weird smell to it or something was off. As you can see from their health violations, something is for sure off. The ambiance was also weird and empty. Service was not bad, nothing to complain about. Overall not a bad place at all, just wish the chicken was fresh. read more

Kui Shin Bo - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

The staff were so friendly and welcoming. And there were quite a lot of seats for considering it looks pretty small from outside. Personally I do think that the ramen unfortunately was not that great. The broth was bad and my ramen was filled with mostly veggies. The noddles were cooked well and the pork added in was also tasty but overall the overfilling with veggies and broth not having much flavor, made it feel like I was eating a cabbage ramen rather than miso ramen read more

Kui Shin Bo - R4. Miso Ramen (spicy) - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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A friend wanted sushi for dinner so I was looking on yelp to find a place, so happy I decided on Kui Shin Bo! Located in the east Japantown mall, it's not as busy since most of the restaurants are in the other mall. It's upstairs, very unassuming and tucked in a corner. The menu is pretty extensive and has most of the typical Japanese dishes. My friend ordered 2 rolls and I had the Chicken curry Katsu. The service was amazing, they kept refilling our water when we ran out. It seemed like a small family owned place and the ambience was intimate an Overall, this will probably be my new go-to spot when friends want Japanese food in our neighborhood! read more

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This cozy Japanese izakaya is the place to go if you're looking for a wide variety of choices and a comforting home cooked meal! Both the black garlic ramen and shabu shabu were delicately flavored and very tasty! The okonomiyaki was solid as well. Their ingredients are fresh and the flavors felt more elevated than I expected. read more

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Recommend by a friend and would say that it's a good solid 3.5 stars, not too shabby but also not exceptional:) if you are looking for Japanese comfort food, then you may be in for a treat! We order the chicken skewers, grilled squid and an okonomiyaki and we're very full after our visit The chicken skewers were solid, had a nice char to them, very tender!Unfortunately I was disappointed by the whole squid, wish they were grilled more and came out smokier. Not worth the price. We also got the beef and cheese okonomiyaki! One of the more unique dishes. Had lots of cabbage in it but doesn't feel like you are eating vegetables. A very hardy and healthy-ish dish that won't leave you hungry! read more

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Their okonomiyaki is delicious and authentic, just like in Osaka. It's a lot of food, and we couldn't finish it. The portions are very generous. The prices are also really good. Highly recommend. read more

Kui Shin Bo - Chicken Okonomiyaki - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

My friend and I stopped by Kui Shin Bo around 5:30pm without a reservation and were seated right away, which was nice. The restaurant is tucked inside the Japantown mall, so it has that casual, cozy vibe perfect for a quick sit-down meal. My friend ordered the tenzaru soba while I went with the niku soba. Unfortunately, both dishes fell a little flat. The broth in my niku soba lacked depth of flavor, and the shrimp tempura that came with the tenzaru soba was noticeably undercooked. Neither of us finished our meals, which was disappointing since we were really looking forward to some comforting soba. Service was fine, though I don't quite remember if staff checked in on us after we were served. It wasn't inattentive, but also not particularly memorable. Maybe soba isn't what this restaurant is best known for, and that could explain the experience we had. Still, with so many other great options in Japantown, I probably wouldn't return here specifically for soba. read more

Kui Shin Bo - Niku Soba - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We went here on a Saturday night hoping for something warm with some sushi and were disappointed. The menu had so many items it was difficult to know what was actually good. -seafood okonmiyaki - 3.5-4/5 probably the best dish here. -oyako don - 1/5 this was pretty bad, dry/barely any juice from onions, not as sweet, chicken wasn't fresh and taste was salty. felt like we could have cooked this better. -baked scallop roll - taste okay, but scallops dry -real cali roll - taste was okay but dry, needs more mayo with the crab If it wasn't for the donburi we would give it a 3 but the donburi was extremely disappointing. i think it would be best if the menu was really just sushi and okonomoyaki. read more