Huge portion and delicious food, but the wait is very long. Seating is very limited inside, and even though there were only maybe 10 people in front of us, it took about an hour to get inside. If you can come on a weekday when there's a short wait, I definitely would recommend! read more

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The food is very good and tasty. Nice portions . I ordered the cold Soba with the Tempura. It comes with a dipping sauce that really adds flavor to the dish. I also ordered the Omakase fish cake. That dish is very flavorful and delicious.,They do not offer drinks just water and the water from the noodles, it is quite comforting. It is more like self service . The ordering is done on an IPad before you sit down. They do not have to go boxes so either bring one or just order enough., there is a line so make sure you come early. The place is small so it is hard to go around. I was so entertained by the Billiken. Look for it when you visit. I was going to give it a 5 star but the table was sticky, so I hope they will do something about it. read more

Sobakatsu - Fish cake Omakase - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Waited in line for about 1.5 hours before ordering. Ordered the Ten Kake, which comes with a bowl of hot soba and your choice of tempura. I opted for the scallops kikiage with vegetable tempura, and my friend got the shrimp tempura. The hot soba broth was tasty and the noodles had good texture. My favorite bite was eating the broth with the one bit of yuzu zest that was in the bowl (wish there was more zest!). I was not really a fan of the tempura - the scallop and shrimp tempura was coated with batter that tasted very coconut-y, and even for the vegetables, the batter was rather heavy and greasy. Would not wait in line for that long again, but it was a solid bowl of soba. There are only two tables that seat 4 and 3 counter seats, so this place would be more optimal for smaller parties. read more

Sobakatsu - Ten Kake with Scallops Kikiage & Vegetable Tempura - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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What a relief! I thought I wouldn't have a unique opportunity from Sobakatsu! After more than half an hour of standing and waiting, I finally got to have one empty seating near the bar after the young Asian customer finished her meal. Can't believe I be sitting in front of the small golden lucky deity; but no, I won't rub its feet for good luck. I paid and dine quickly before heading into downtown market. For starters, I went for a nice bowl of plain-as-day Kakesoba. I once had cold soba in any ramen cafés, but this one was hot, which was good for cold weather. No veggie tempura nor kitsune (fried tofu) needed since they're added to the price. Gluten free, crunchy, fresh, and delicate, it's no wonder none of us afford to go for takeout, nor shall reservations be taken. And its clear, clean broth felt like a lukewarm tub for relaxation. Every time I came into any authentic Japanese ramen cafés, the smell of umami lingers with excitement the moment I get close. With over two tables, each with four seats, while three seats near the soba bar. That's a total of eleven seats, which can be quite a challenge to people waiting for hours in a very long snake line. Just when we think the number of people reduced in the late afternoon, there'll be no snowball's chance once Sobakatsu ran out of soba for the rest of the day. So be sure to arrive very early for a unique experience, or go elsewhere. This family owned soba bar café made such good soba meals with love that never disappoints. read more

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Solid 4 stars - The line did wrap around the building but I respect the owners/cooks taking their time and making sure everything is perfect. I think this place is a tiny bit over hyped as I wouldn't wait in line for 1.5 hours again, but the food was def very good. Havnt had soba this tasty in a while! Small inside , only seats a handful of people and you need a seat before you order. The food comes out fast tho, but what makes it long is people eating slowly/talking - some people have 0 self awareness. The restaurant feels very authentic, and the food was pretty good. They give you a LOT of noodles ! The noodles were good, but the fried pieces were bomb. Preso 10/10 read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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If youre in SF and on the hunt for authentic Soba, this is the place. Ive heard about this small soba spot in SF's japan town and finally got the opportunity to give it a try. Showed up for late lunch around 2/3 and was able to get a seat without any line in sight. The vibes here will transport you to a tiny soba mom and pop shop in japan, with about only 10/12 seats. You order up on the tablet, and wait for your order to be called out. I ordered the zaru soba tempura set, and i've gotta say this soba is right there with the great ones in japan. Definitely a hidden gem and I see why people love the soba here. The tempura was nicely battered without being heavy. Solid meal, and my top pick for best soba in SF. Definitely lived up to the hype! read more

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I love this place!! If you have the time to wait, definitely come check this out. Me and 3 other friends waited about an hour and a half on a Friday around noon. I suggest going early as they do close early for the day if they sell out of their soba noodles! The two old men running the shop were super sweet and like to check in and see if you enjoyed the meal. They're really happy when they see that you finish everything. c: Parking in this area is really tough. If you have time, park in a japantown structure and walk over. This is probably the best soba I've ever had! I got a combo with scallop tempura and the combo also came with assorted veggie tempura. The texture of the soba was perfectly chewy! The dining area can only seat 11 people and you might have to sit next to a stranger with the way the dining system works. The warabi mochi was also sooo good! a must try for a sweet treat. read more

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Honestly a great spot that specializes in soba! (My opinion still stands even after waiting over 2 hours) We ordered Tenzaru (cold soba) with shrimp tempura Tenzaru with special kakiage Spicy dipping sauce Warubimochi The cold soba was amazing and really did taste just like the ones we had in Japan, and so far the best we've had in California. They also get extra points for their spicy dipping sauce. It's not very spicy, but it's very flavorful. It reminded us of a mala flavor, and there were bits of braised beef (?) in the sauce, it was worth the extra $5 for us, but the original dipping sauce was also very good too. Also, the special kakiage is basically just a little bit of everything, which was perfect for me since I like to try everything. If I had to choose between the tempura and kakiage, I think I would get kakiage again. The tempura and the kakiage were both solid, but there were other soba spots where we liked the tempura and kakiage better, but this place definitely wins for their soba, so we'll definitely be back! Long wait on the weekends, we waited for 2 hours (arrived at 12:05, seated around 2:30) on a Saturday. The line was already wrapped around the corner even 5 min after opening. Even if there doesn't look like a lot of people, keep in mind that there's only 11 seats, and also some people hold spots in line for their party. I'd say a good estimate of the wait is probably about 30 min-1 hour for every 11 people in line. I'd say it would be worth a 1 hour wait to try if you're missing soba from Japan and can't afford to go on a weekday (like if there's 11 ppl in line or less). Really did feel like it was bringing us back to Japan from the small storefront with just 2 people in the kitchen, seating for 11 and long lines. There's no shade, so highly recommend bringing a portable stool to sit on, water, sun hats, etc if you're planning to wait! read more

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I've been wanting to try Sobakatsu since it opened last year but decided to wait until the initial excitement died down because I loathe long lines. Had lunch here yesterday and it was delicious! I ordered the Asari clam soba and a side of scallop tempura. The both was light but flavorful and the clams were cooked perfectly. The noodles were bouncy with the perfect chew, zero complaints about the soba. The scallop tempura was just ok, it could benefit from some onions and maybe carrots being added for the texture and sweetness. The space is the smallest I've ever seen for a sit down restaurant. It's very cramped but the soba was 100% worth it and I will be going back. read more

Sobakatsu - Asari soba and scallop kakiage - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Went here around 2 or so on a Saturday and they were almost sold out! I thought overall it was pretty good! The highlight here has to be their kakiage, I loved how crispy and fresh it was. They had a vegetable one w/ corn that was sooo delicious. They have salt packets since the kakiage isnt salted itself. If I ever have a soba craving I would definitely go here and I love that they have self-serve broth for after you're done with your noodles :) read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I didn't envision needing to stand in line on a weekday for nearly an hour for lunch, but I had to try it. Really wish they had a bench or some water available for the outdoor patrons because on a warm day, it's a rough wait on the sunny side of the street with no awning. Luckily I made the first seating, snagging the last seat. Once you enter, you'll be greeted by the scent of a heavy dashi broth that just gets your appetite going. Unfortunately all orders are made to order so you'll just have to be teased by that smell while you wait. It took about 15 minutes for my meal to be made. I had the zaru soba with surimi and overall, the meal was extremely filling with really nice sweet bites from the fish cakes and a nice bounciness from the soba noodles. I agree with another Yelper that a good amount of the noodles were broken so maybe they just toss it too hard in the colander? Still, there was enough to still enjoy some proper slurping though! For the fish cakes, my favorite was the seaweed and corn one followed by the shiitake mushroom one...mmm! I could eat those all day! To round out my meal, of course I needed to get the warabi mochi and this was my favorite. It was generously dusted with kinako and drizzled with kuromitsu, just how I like it! As you finish, don't be surprised that other patrons will snag the seat readily. This concept is pretty interesting - it's a restaurant, but functions like a food court cafeteria. read more

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A not-so-hidden gem! We arrived at 11:45am on a Tuesday thinking there wouldn't be anyone in line but there were already multiple parties ahead of us. Inside there are only two tables of four and three bar seats, so it's definitely cozy (but nice because the whole experience ends up feeling quite communal). Standing in the tiny interior and getting a glimpse into the kitchen where everything was being swiftly and expertly made, it truly felt reminiscent of a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Japan. Total time from getting in line to receiving our order was about an hour, but it passed quickly! I had the cold soba with veggie and scallop kakiage. The soba had the perfect fresh bounce and chew and the broth provided just the right amount of salt and savoriness. I loved the kakiage, especially the kabocha squash and the scallops (lil baby bites that were so tender and sweet). We also got the warabi mochi which were plump and perfectly dusted with kinako. Simple and unpretentious, the food speaking for itself, Sobakatsu is a must try! read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sobakatsu has been on my list to try for a while and I finally had the chance to visit. The space inside is very small with only about 10 seats, so wait times can get pretty long. I arrived about 45 minutes before opening and was first in line. Once inside, you order using the kiosk and get a receipt. They call your number when your food is ready, and after finishing you return your tray to the front. I ordered the hot soba kamonanban, which comes with sliced duck breast and leek. Personally, I thought it was just okay and not really worth the long wait. I also recently tried Sora Dining Soba and ended up liking that one a lot more in comparison. read more

Lunch review. Soba. Ordered: Cold Scallops kakiage & veg Hot Kamo Nanban Pork belly Sobawarabimochi Overall, "as good as it gets." read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here on a Friday for a very early dinner. My party arrived ~4:45pm, and I could see there were 4-5 seats open. However we were lucky enough to get the last two portions, and some people walked in 10-15 minutes later only to be turned away. Would recommend to come as early as you can to avoid missing out! I got the cold soba with scallop and vegetable kakiage. Although the kakiage portion was smaller than I expected, the soba portion size was solid! Next time I'd try their other kakiage/tempura options (the shrimp one actually seemed to be generous with the number of shrimp!). I don't know how often I'll be coming here just because it seems difficult to go if not for lunch or early dinner. But if I get the chance I'd love to come back. read more

Sobakatsu - Cold soba with scallop kakiage and veg - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Let me scratch the itch for you here and to save you 3+ hours of your life and some calories. Naturally, I had high hopes for Sobakatsu especially after hearing all the praises about this place. Little did I know, my dreams of eating a glorious bowl of glistening and perfectly cooked al dente soba yum yum chew would be smashed. As all the reviews say, come before opening time to avoid the long wait or if you're feeling courageous and are a determined diner, expect to wait 2+ hours and if not dining solo, make sure that your dining partners are patient, not easily irritable and someone you'd wait in the Rise of the Resistance ride line with, no hesitations. I came in the later afternoon (with the expectation that I would be hangry by the time I ate, but would soon be satiated with supposedly amazing noods). Boy, was I wrong. I ordered the Ten Zaru and thoroughly enjoyed the special kakiage, which was perfectly fried and oh so crunchy. I just wished that the soba noodles were in long uniform pieces versus the broken noodles that were plopped in a mound of sad soba. I'm not sure how this happened, but it was like a little critter decided to attack my soba mountain and only got to eat 30% of it before being served. Definitely a huge disappointment for me especially since my home boiled store bought soba noodles exceeded the quality of these greatly. This does not compute in my brain. Perhaps I came on an off day. I'm not sure I'm willing to wait in line for mediocre noodles again and rather drive across the bridge to Soba Ichi to get some guaranteed solid soba noodles without the wait. read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

The food itself is super refreshing and flavorful. The only thing that makes me less likely to come back would be the seating system and how small the actual space is. You have to find a table before ordering which means if there are no tables then you probably cannot order:,) Very quiet ambiance, definitely not a sit down and chat type of restaurant. Would still highly recommend the food! read more

Sobakatsu - sobanoodles - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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This place is so hyped that I had pretty high expectations. They open at 12 so you want to get there for first seating (and they have up to 11 seats). We ended up getting there at 11:20 and were 5th in line. Got the hot noodles, cold noodles, and the mochi. Hot noodles was good, cold noodles was just better. Great texture and flavor with the dipping sauce. Really reminded me of Japan. For our tempura we tried the fish cake, jumbo shrimp, and a shrimp and scallop pancake. My favorite tempura was probably the jumbo prawn as it also comes with veggies too. Overall....worth the hype and make sure you come before the first wave read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Really tiny spot, only 11 seats total (3 at the bar, 2 tables of 4). They open at noon, but we lined up 30 mins early on a Tuesday and were already 5th in line. You order at a kiosk before being seated, and if you come as a pair, you'll likely share a table. Food does take a little while since everything's freshly made. The tempura came out light and crisp, not overcooked at all. The soba had that perfect al dente bite, honestly even better than what we had in Japan. Totally worth the wait! read more

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It seemed like we were in the queue for space mountain, instead of being in the happiest place on earth we were on the corner of Laguna and Sutter. That wait was sure a long one, around 2 hours. We didn't realize till we got closer that there were only 11 seats inside, no wonder. You wait for a seat to open to secure it and then you order at the kiosk, from there you wait till your number is called and you retrieve it and after done eating you return the tray. We were starving as we didn't anticipate the wait so much so I ran to super Mira to get some snacks. After securing our seats at the bar ( only had 3 seats) we ordered the yuzu infused beef soba noodles and the soba kamo nanban (duck), the dishes were ready decently quick. Perhaps it was partly the starvation talking but damn that's some good @ss soba. The duck was so tender and the broth was so delicious. The yuzu soba had a more sweeter taste, very similar to sukiyaki. We also ordered the warabimochi, it was standard but it's always delicious with all that kinako dusted on top. Maybe it's me but I felt it was a bit steep at $25 a bowl but then again we are living in a time where gas is crazy high and bahn mi's are over $10 Would def go back but maybe when it first opens so the wait won't be as torturous. read more

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Interior is quite small. I think 11 seats total. Got in line at 10:30 am and waited roughly an hour to get seated. A very comforting, no frills meal. The sobakatsu noodles were very chewy and the dashi had a huge depth in flavor. read more

Sobakatsu - Sobakatsu + shrimp/vegetable tempura - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

My friends and I decided to check it out for lunch on a Friday afternoon and we waited 1.5 hours before getting seated for our group of 3 as the seating is pretty limited, around 11 seats inside. We luckily were able to get the counter row and our food came out soon after we ordered from the tablet. Hot Soba w/ Veggie Kakiage - The broth was so comforting, savory and umami which added flavor to the buckwheat noodles that were bouncy and chewy. The kakiage on the side was a decent portion and I enjoyed how lightly battered they were with a variety of different vegetables. It was filling but felt like a healthy meal all together. Soba Warabimochi - A little on the pricier side being 6 dollars but it had a soft chewy texture and the powder on top added a nice nutty flavor. Their specialty being that their noodles are 100% buckwheat and gluten free is definitely a unique taste of earthy and nutty. Despite the longer wait times, I would come back to try their cold soba and other tempura options. read more

Sobakatsu - Hot Soba w/ Veggie Kakiage - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Delicious fresh homemade soba! It's difficult to find authentic soba in the Bay Area, this is probably one of only a few places. I tried it during the Cherry Blossom Festival so they were only offering a limited menu which was a hot soba. The soba was delicious, the broth was light but flavorful, and the tempura pieces were fried to perfection. The serving size was filling too. This place gets very popular though, so be prepared for a line. I definitely recommend checking it out if you like soba, I want to go back to be able to try other types of soba on their menu (especially the cold soba). read more

Sobakatsu - Special cold soba for Cherry Blossom Festival - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I visited Sobakatsu earlier this year as part of my pre-baby bucket list, and it did not disappoint. We went during lunch and were greeted by a long line. We ended up waiting two hours, and I don't usually say this, but it was absolutely worth it. The restaurant is tiny and intimate, with only three counter seats and three small tables. You order at a kiosk and wait for a seat to open up. There's complimentary soba-yu by the door. After finishing the cold soba, you're invited to pour the soba-yu into your leftover dipping sauce and enjoy it as a warm, comforting soup. It was such a thoughtful and authentic touch. We ordered the ten zaru (cold soba with tempura) and the kake soba (hot soba along with warabimochi) and a side of inari sushi. I love sweet tofu skin, so I had to try it. The soba noodles were fresh and paired really well with the flavorful dipping sauce and broth. The tempura was crisp and light without being oily. The warabimochi was soft, lightly sweet, and a perfect end to the meal. read more

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Came here on a Thursday at 11:10am and there was already a line forming before the restaurant even opened. We didn't get in until 12:10pm. There were only a few seats inside, I believe 4 tables and a bar seating. Seating was just up to customers, you could sit wherever you wanted as long as there was space. Before sitting down, you have to order your food on their tablet at the front which is also self service. Only con is that if you come with multiple people, there may be a chance that there is only 1 seat left, so you may have to split and share tables with strangers. I ordered the jumbo shrimp tempura cold soba which is part of their 1st anniversary special and also got a side of normal shrimp tempura to share. The jumbo shrimp tempura was very sweet and crispy! I also enjoyed my soba which was very refreshing with the dipping sauce. It reminded me a lot of the soba I had in Kyoto Japan! read more

Sobakatsu - Jumbo shrimp tempura + cold soba + a side of shrimp tempura - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Very uniquely Japanese, you look at menu, choose and pay for thr items you want, then wait for a seat to become available, and by that time, you be able to sit and enjoy your bowl of perfectly temp noodles... . I do understand about what others stated about the waiting situation. However, you have to see each placendifferently and why it took longer for you to be seated here than other spots inside Japantown. Smaller more intimate location equals to limited seating. People still come because the food quality and taste are excellent. Then if you all didn't know, the owner and chef is also the owner of Belly Good Cafe & Crepe's! First time I came here and i was like, wait, that's and i immediately recognized him. And I said to myself, no wonder i haven't seen him for a long time! Me and my now wife have gotten Crepe's from him a long long time and everytime, he greets with a smile and just makes you feel very welcomed! He carries that same energy here, just different cuisine and clientele. I would recommend you go here and try his food, you can literally see him and the other chef concentrating in the quality and craft when they are preparing your food. I have to say, if your in the area, you have to try Sobakatsu! Thank you! read more

Sobakatsu - Different view! - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Sobakatsu is tiny (just 11 seats!) and totally worth the wait--though I'd cap it at 45 mins max. Took my parents on a Friday at 1 PM, waited almost an hour, and yes, it's as authentic as it gets. The menu is small (bless!), the sobayu is warm and comforting, and everything is hand-made by just two chefs. One handles all the tempura--each piece made to order and fried to golden, crispy perfection. ‍ Pro tips: Always get the cold soba--bouncy, silky noodles that transport you straight to Japan. Pair it with a warm soba if you're with friends (or it's chilly). And don't skip the shrimp tempura--seriously, best I've had in SF. Feels like a quick trip to Tokyo, minus the jet lag. read more

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Only 11 seats, but it radiates that nostalgic Japanese charm. Cozy, unpretentious, and all about the soba. The homemade noodles? Silky, chewy, and hands-down the best I've had in the Bay. Hot soba was soul-warming on a cool day, but the broth keeps cooking it--so if you want that perfect texture preserved, go cold. I tried the homemade kakiage (scallop and vegetable)--good, but I'd skip ordering extra fried options next time since the hot soba with homemade fish cake was the standout among the fried options and was satisfying enough. We arrived 30 minutes before opening on a Friday and still missed the first round, so budget about two hours. Tip for fellow diners: eat, enjoy, and head out once you're done--others are waiting, and it's worth keeping the soba love moving. Would return for a craving and a shorter queue. read more

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best soba in the Bay Area and it's pretty common knowledge by a lot of real ones that it's the best soba here (and honestly one of the best restaurants in general) the fried stuff don't make me feel bad after Shop is small so be prepared to wait but everyone that does eat here is courteous and tends to eat fast haha read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

One reason I like dining alone is quick seating. This place seats 11, small and cozy. When I arrived on a Friday around 4:45ish, the place was filled with one seating at the bar. Sweet. Another reason I like dining alone is I don't have to wait for friends who don't show up on time and when they do, we have to wait for seats for all parties. Hmph. After placing my order on the self checkout screen, I sat in the last open seat. I got the cold soba with tempura shrimp and veggies. The meal was very light, and guilt free. The tempura was perfectly cooked with the airiest batter, huge fan. Overall, the system they have going on is perfect. The shop might be small but its efficient. Self order, self pick up, self clean up. Bing bang boom. Service was great, food was good. read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Three of us arrived at Sobakatsu at 11:33 AM on a Friday for lunch, joining a line of about 10 people in this shop with 11 seats. We knew right away we wouldn't make the first seating, and it was around 12:45 PM before we finally stepped inside to order. The wait, though a bit long, was absolutely worth it! How it works: 1) Order at the Kiosk: Once inside, you'll use a self-service kiosk to order and pay. A chef is usually on hand to assist if needed. Pro tip: Secure a seat before you order, and definitely print your receipt to get your order number. I missed this but thankfully found my number on the emailed receipt. 2) Self-Serve Water & Wait: Grab a cup of water if you like, then listen for your number to be called to pick up your meal. 3) Clean Up: After enjoying your delicious meal, please clean up your space and return your tray to the counter for the next guests. I'd been eager to try Sobakatsu since it opened, and I'm so glad we finally did! A party of two ahead of us actually left the line when they saw how long it was getting, but we persevered. The moment we stepped inside, it felt like we were transported to a charming soba shop in Japan. The restaurant's signage, explaining the owner's mission to bring people together through food, the availability of sobayu, and the obvious care taken with each dish, all contributed to an exceptional experience. I ordered the cold soba, and my husband chose the hot soba. Both were incredible! The cold soba had a perfect al dente texture, while the hot soba was wonderfully comforting on a cool day. We paired our sobas with fried fishcakes (sooo good!) and shared the scallops kakiage (with small scallops) and the fried chicken wrapped in plum leaves. Everything was delicious but we especially loved the sobas and the fried fishcakes. After finishing our noodles, we added a few scoops of sobayu (the starchy water from boiling soba) to our leftover dipping sauce, which was incredibly satisfying. Despite the extended wait, our entire group absolutely loved the Sobakatsu experience. The authentic atmosphere and outstanding food made it a meal to remember. read more

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Very authentic soba shop where the lines are always long. Come early as they may close the shop when they sell out of soba. Came here on a weekday around 3pm and luckily got the last order of soba and had to tell people lining up that there is no more for the day. The soba tastes fresh and dipping sauce is refreshing. It's nothing mind blowing but just good authentic shop. The workers are very friendly and there is only 2 star who are busy making the tempura and soba. The inside only has a few bar seats and 2 tables so the line moves slow as there isn't much room inside. Good experience trying it out. read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

We've been wanting to dine here for months, curious to try it since it opened over a year ago. The hours and days of the week they are open are odd though. They are open 5 days a week, but have random days off. For instance, they are closed for 2 weeks in July. Every few months this seems to be the pattern. My husband tried dining here on his own a month or two ago, and the computer system was down, so they were not open. Another time we showed up on another closed day of the week even though their Yelp page said it was opened. Tip: check their actual website, and don't rely on their Yelp page. We got here at 11am on a Saturday, they opened at 12pm. We were the first in line. Line started forming about 10 mins after us. We placed our order at 12:03 ish from an iPad, and received our food at 12:15pm. The place is tiny, really only 11 seats. There was no one to facilitate our seating arrangement, if you will. The tables are an assortment of two tables of 2, 3 seats at the bar, and table for 4. That's it. So, after the few parties sat down, there was an odd party of 3, and one of those people grabbed one of the bar stools to sit at a regular table. It honestly looked uncomfortable and irritating, I'm glad we had a choice in regular table. Their soba was good, really great quality. I got the cold soba, and my husband got the hot soba. We each got the July 4th special that came with a special assortment of Tempura, including shrimp, seasoned veggies, mini scallop kakiage, and fish cake. Both the cold soba and hot soba were delicious! The broth of my husband's hot soba was so satisfying and "pure." We also shared a 3-piece Inari, which tasted great too, as the rice as made with some fish roe! The food did taste like what I could get in Japan. That being said though, I feel like I can't differentiate that well a superb soba to a regular soba (i.e. when I eat an Omakase meal, I can specifically taste how amazing the nigiri compares to from a down the block Chinese-owned sushi joint). Therefore, I can't justify waiting in line for an hour to eat here. There is absolutely no way to get out of their waiting in line. You can wait an hour before it opens to get guaranteed seating, or you can get here when it's opened and wait another hour in line. Take your pick. The restaurant will close after they run out of soba for the day. Huge ughs. If you can't get yourself to Japan like everyone else these days, and want to try good quality soba, this is a great alternative. If you don't want to wait in line though, the place in Oakland (Soba Ichi) is just as good, and they are open for dinner. Probably won't be returning, read more

Sobakatsu - Cold soba + holiday tempura special - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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A unique experience for soba in San Francisco. As any social media hyped up restaurant, you have to judge a place on your own before believing what the masses say. This restaurant is truly a hole in the wall place, but I would probably not wait over an hour in line again to eat here. Food (4.25/5) I would probably come here again if the wait was only 5-10 minutes because the soba was quite good. I ordered the ten zaru cold soba and chicken tenderloins with pickled ume and shiso. In my opinion, the chicken tenderloins were the star of the meal because they used a really light tempura batter for the chicken tenderloins and it ended up being not oily at all. In addition, the pickled ume and shiso inside left a refreshing aftertaste that eased the aftertaste of any residual oil from the batter. I could have eaten four orders of these easily! The texture of the soba noodles here are definitely better than what you can get at other Japanese restaurants since this place makes the noodles fresh daily, but I'm not sure I would wait over an hour in line again for them. The dipping broth for the soba was flavorful but I wish I was served a bit more to dip the soba in. Service (N/A) If you come here, don't expect to have a waiter, hostess, or bus boy to help you out because there's only 2 workers here and they're both in the small kitchen. This place is sort of run by the customers in a way because you have to order your food at the kiosk in the front on your own, serve yourself water, grab yourself utensils, grab your food at the counter, and bus your own table after you're done. If you're into these type of places, then this soba restaurant is for you LOL. Also, the owner/chef was extremely busy in the open kitchen so he doesn't have much time to chat. Ambiance (2.5/5) This restaurant is practically the size of a bedroom but they somehow fit in a kitchen, a few tables and a bathroom. The walls are pretty bare, but they had some interesting posters about how soba is made. I would suggest to anyone coming here to just eat your food as fast as possible and leave because there's always a lot of people waiting to eat here. They only have 2 or 3 communal tables and a very limited counter seat, so don't expect to get your own personal space in this restaurant. It is a little rude to take your time while eating here since the line is always long, and a family in front of us held up the entire line for an hour while they ate at the slowest pace possible with their young children. (I went on a Tuesday in the early afternoon and there was still a large line) read more

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The soba here is amazing but the wait can be pretty brutal if you're not here early. We came here on a holiday 30 minutes before opening and ended up waiting behind about 40 people. We were stubborn enough to wait since we already made the trip over and this took about 2.5 hours of waiting in line and 30 more minutes between ordering and getting the food. I would say this place is not worth it if you end up waiting over an hour (maybe 20 people ahead of you?). The inside is pretty cozy and the two chefs are nice. We got the kamonaban which had very rich broth and delicious noodles. The price was fair too in my opinion. The warabimochi was fun to eat as well. read more

Sobakatsu - Kamonaban - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Loved this place so much! It is a super tiny space and not ideal for large groups! My bf and I went there late afternoon in February and they ran out of food shortly after, so be aware of this when u plan to come. So many visuals to teach you how soba is traditionally eaten and what things are. I don't remember exactly what we got tbh but it was delicious read more

Warning: eating at Sobakatsu is 80% journey and 20% destination. I would not recommend coming here if you are not willing to risk a 2+ hour wait or even the possibility of not being able to dine at all that day. In fact, this review is for our second visit because on our first attempt, they ran out of soba. Their tiny storefront is located about a block away from Japan Center Mall (I highly recommend using their parking structure). It took us just over two hours to get in around 1PM on a Saturday and I actually ended up getting some sashimi from Nijiya during the wait. The line moves so slowly because their two staff members feed just under 12ish people at a time in a space the size of a dorm triple, kitchen included. You order using a tablet and can only do so after a seat opens up, after which you sit and wait for your order to be called. Our food took 20 minutes to be prepared. Hot Soba w/Duck: the heat made the noodles soggier than I liked, which was kind of a bummer - I personally recommend getting the cold soba and dipping it. Duck was also on the chewier side. Flavors leaned heavily into the broth's elements - clean and simple. Vegetable Tempura and Scallop Kakiage: wonderfully battered and fried perfectly. The scallops were sweet and tender and cut through the richness nicely. Easily a favorite of the meal! Warabimochi: must try wow. The best description for its texture I can come up with is if a marshmallow had substance and pulled like mozzarella cheese. Combined with the ample amounts of savory kinako and brown sugar syrup, I found it hard to share. Final rating: would probably be considered a tourist trap in Japan, but the food is good and also we're in California, so I'd recommend trying and would probably return! read more

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it's good. but it's really pricey/expensive. and the wait is long (to order, to sit, and for food to come). which is why i can only give this place max a 4. i'll keep it short. it's authentic. what truly shines, is unique/can't find anywhere in sf, and i really really recommend, is the tempura (any tempura/surimiten)/ sides that come with the soba. soba itself is standard, soup/sauce is standard. inari/warabi mochi are fine, can skip if you know how they taste. duck/kamonanban is good and has a slight yuzu in the broth (but needs a bit more salt for me), i still like. ofc, the waiting to get in, ordering and seating are really tough cus it's so small and narrow, def reminds me of japan lol. i recommend to going on weekday afternoons, AFTER lunch rush. so around 2:30-3pm or later. no wait, no wait for seating either. i've never been here on weekends, i wouldn't even try lol. i don't recommend going before it opens, because even on a weekday, if you are arriving 30min before you'd still need to wait the 30 min and maybe more, if there's people lining up in front. then more for order/seat/food to come out. oof. though pricey, it's all very filling (even if the sides/tempura seem so small in portions). will come back to try other sides for sure, maybe the citrus cold soba too. read more

Took 2 attempts before finally securing a seat. Literally was the last party of 2 to be seat before they ran out. First come, first serve. No reservations, no takeout. It was worth it. The noodles, made fresh in house had a slight bite which I've never experienced before. The tempura was lightly battered and not oily. Once done, add Soba-yu to your dipping sauce for a lovely finisher. I now understand why Sobakatsu does not do takeout. As much as you want to savor every bite, you loose the slight chewy noodle texture the longer it sits. I will just have to come back to experience more of it. read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Almost always a line every time we came by. Just depends on how long. Sometimes it snakes around the block. My husband isn't into lines so we went elsewhere UNTIL one day it was only 3 people in line and he said he will wait with me so that I can finally try the soba here. Yay! First you have to wait to get a seat first before ordering on the kiosk. Then, they make and bring the food to you. When you are done, you bring your tray of dirty dishes back to them so that the table is ready for the next customer. Everyone is super respectful and not too loud except for normal eating noises and it's okay to slurp noodles as that's a compliment! We all ate without lingering or much talking so that others in line aren't waiting too long. I think this is a 11 seats place, so very cozy. This nice lady ahead of us was by herself and gave away her place to us as a table for two became available and she instead waited for a bar seat for one. We appreciated so much. On our visit, we tried the Hot Kamonanban Soba with duck slices. Very flavorful and the duck slices so tasty. Someone ahead of us mentioned that they wish the duck slices were bit less well done as the soup continues to cook it, but I still think it tasted really good. We also got the cold soba with shrimp tempura. And a side dish of inari. The cold soba brought out the distinctive buckwheat flavoring unlike other Soba we had before. Such a pleasant experience. The inari while good was just like any other. Service is very pleasant but limited as it's mostly self service here and they bring the food to you. Recommend this place if you like buckwheat Soba cold or hot. Located on Laguna and Sutter. read more

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