Checked out Yakitori Yuchan back in the summer of 2021. At the time, they were transitioning away from their original yakitori-focused concept and putting a greater emphasis on ramen and donburi bowls. Today, that change has become permanent, with the restaurant now operating as Yuchan Shokudo. Even during the transition, the food absolutely hit. I especially loved the cozy red-and-black interior, which gave off warm izakaya vibes. - Tan Tan Ramen -- rich and creamy broth with Japanese noodles, tender chashu, minced chicken, menma, bean sprouts, and green onions; packed with protein and full-bodied flavor - Tokyo Shoyu Ramen -- noodles in a lighter chicken bone and fish shoyu broth, topped with pork belly, half a tamago egg, fish cake, menma, bean sprouts, and green onions; lighter but still satisfying, though I wished there was a bit more pork belly Located in the heart of downtown Davis, it's an easy walk from campus. Prices have risen over the years, so it feels more like an occasional treat than a casual student meal these days. We also ordered a side of sake to complement our ramen. Since then, the former sake bar has been removed as part of the restaurant's evolution into a full-fledged shokudo concept. Service was friendly, our food arrived promptly, and the overall ambience struck a nice balance between a cozy ramen shop and a casual Japanese eatery. read more

Yuchan Shokudo - Spicy Tan-Tan Ramen, Tokyo Shoyu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Davis, California

This has a good mix of everything. Ramen, curry and wait carbonara? my husband had the carbonara and he loved it. the squash fries were also good. actually everything was good. Staff was friendly and professional. Place is fairly cozy and a little dark. Booths were spacious. A little expensive. Street parking or nearby parking lots. Would order here again. read more

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I visited on Sunday around 12:30pm for lunch. The restaurant was getting busy but I was seated right away. Spicy tan tan ramen: the broth was rich and creamy but not overwhelming. The spice was kicking but just enough. The charsu pieces were tender and thick! The noodle was ok - not my favorite but it was perfectly cooked & still had chew. The cashier was very friendly and the service was quick despite of busy lunch hour. read more

Yuchan Shokudo - Spicy Tan-Tan Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Davis, California

I have been meaning to try Yuchan Shokudo for quite a while and was really glad I got the chance to this last weekend! Initially, there was a minor hiccup with a new system that led to a longer wait time while ordering, but the team handled it well. We both got pork tonkatsu ramen and was curious to try the kara-miso paste. Presentation was really great! As a green onion lover, I loved how much garnish there was. A personal highlight of the ramen was the chashu. It was very tender with a wonderful smoky taste, one of my favorite chasu! The entire bowl was very enjoyable and I would love to come back to try other offerings, especially the yakitori night next month! read more

Yuchan Shokudo - Pork Tonkatsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Davis, California

On the way back from trip, stop by Davis for dinner and found this place! it was amazing experience! We tried their pasta and ramen with kabocha fries as an appetizer. I personally loved their pasta, how they cook their noodle, al dante! It was my favorite! My partner had their spicy ramen (sorry, couldn't take a picture) and he enjoyed the flavor! Server at the counter was so informative and polite. He explained the menu and recommended some dishes for us as it was our first time. Thank you! Overall, restaurant appeared unique (decor was amazing), cleaned, organized, and they were pretty full of people as it was the weekend. I will definitely comeback back for their food one day! read more

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Wish the menu was bigger and odd that you order and pay at the counter, although it is a sit down. Soup is nice and portions are big. Just not the biggest fan of ramen and this ramen isn't special. For Davis likely threat ramen around, though. read more

Absolutely love this place. My bf and I come here all the time and are always blown away. The food is incredible every single time, the service is always amazing, and vibe is so chill. You order what you want first before you're seated and I love it, it makes turnaround so much faster because people have already paid! The staff are so incredible I rarely see places where it's always consistently amazing and they know what they're doing and talking about all the time. The first time I went our server litterally ran outside to find me after because I had left my keys! 10/10 love coming here read more

Yuchan Shokudo - Pork Tonkatsu Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Davis, California

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Our very first time trying this place and everything was absolutely stellar! Service was friendly and the ambiance was good. Our food came out and everything we tried was so flavorful and fresh. Will definitely recommend this place for those seeking something Japanese but not sushi. Pork Katsu with Curry 10/10 Spicy Mentaiko Pasta 10/10 Gyoza Salad 10/10 read more

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Absolutely one of the best Japanese dining experiences I've had in Sacramento area. The service was top-tier from start to finish! Attentive, knowledgeable, and genuinely warm without being overbearing. You can tell they truly care about the guest experience. Honestly reminds me of being back in Japan. The food? Incredible. Fresh, beautifully presented, and full of authentic flavor. It honestly transported me back to Japan. Every bite tasted intentional and high quality. This is easily some of the best Japanese food I've had outside of Japan. Tan-Tan noddles were good. Needed to be a bit more thicker soup base for that authentic Japanese feel, but the flavor was spot on. The Tomatsu Ramen was delicious and very good and if you wanna add a little extra, try asking for the spicy miso paste to add to the broth. The Wagyu was incredible although I would like a thicker cut of meat. It was still amazing for the price. The rice was a 10 out of 10 and the side soup was very good also. We also enjoyed a couple of drinks and they were delicious. Try the unfiltered sake and the apricot wine. Highly recommend if you're looking for an authentic experience with elevated service. read more

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The food is good but the service could be better. This place is a fast casual restaurant and I feel like they need to switch that. My party of eight walked in and they require a 20% gratuity fee even though this is a fast casual restaurant and you pay at the bar which makes zero sense. Unfortunately even when we were sat down the service was not up to the 20% par. My friend got the Tantan ramen, it was good but it's kind of absurd that he had to pay $2 for half an egg, not even for a whole one.... Unfortunately this is one of the only good ramen spots in Davis. I'm not sure if I would come back. read more

Ikezo Peach Jelly Sake Shot: my partner absolutely loved this, highly recommend Spicy Tantan Ramen: delightful, if you are a spice lover, this has just the right kick and great flavor Tonkotsu Ramen: classic and yummy staple Appetizer - Fried oysters: the crunch of a fried food on the outside, and the juiciness of a raw oyster on the inside. Side salad was actually lightly dressed and this little detail goes a long way First time back since they were Yakitori Yuchan, and they've changed significantly, but overall in good ways. Menu: lots of items from pre-covid gone, now they have a core menu with fewer items but offer various rotating special dishes that are inventive and I'd definitely come back to try. Now, you order and pay first before being seated, which makes things faster. Food came out quickly, and service was very proactive. Ambiance was quiet and romantics, phenomenal date night spot. I will miss the bar seating, the skewers, and the black garlic ramen, but overall the change has been better business wise and food is still absolutely delicious. read more

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I love the spicy tan-tan ramen, and that's all I've ever gotten. The burst of flavor is unforgettable. You walk in, order your meal, and take a seat. Service is friendly and they'll bring you your order. It's my go-to casual night out dinner. read more

service great food great rice and tuna so fresh so flavorful ambiance is great not too cold in here kind workers and servers read more

Yuchan Shokudo - SP Tuna Poke Donburi - Ramen Near Me - Davis, California

This place was great. Was craving some ramen and this spot was recommended by a friend. I agree to an extent with some of the reviews- price/amount of food provided. However, the ramen was excellent. The place is small inside but no issues getting a table. It appears they stay busy. I had the spicy tan-tan ramen with some extra spice on the side. The servers were kind, and I will be back. read more

Yuchan Shokudo - Spicy Tan-Tan Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Davis, California

After spending all day packing and cleaning, I was really craving some soup to rehydrate. I had heard great things about Yuchan Shokudo from a few friends and knew I had to try it out before leaving Davis for the summer. I'm glad the service is amazing because I would've been a bit overwhelmed by the amount of menu options displayed up front. Right when I walked through the door, I was immediately greeted and given a great walkthrough of the menus and specials. The man working at the front was so kind! He paused his meal to get my order and every single party walking through the door afterwards. It's such a good sign too that they have regulars and he was really friendly and upbeat with everyone. I really appreciated how he also took the time to remember my name and checked in with me. Definitely the best service I've had in a long time! I tried pork katsu appetizer for the first time because it was one of their specials. It tasted great and bigger than I was expecting, which is always a nice surprise. The tonkotsu ramen was delicious as well! It hit the spot and was so filling. I also really like how their pepper paste comes on the side so you can adjust the level of spiciness. Overall, this is the best Japanese restaurant in Davis and perhaps even my new fave spot in general. I can see myself coming back again, as it was definitely worth the hassle for downtown parking. read more

Yuchan Shokudo - Menus at the front - Ramen Near Me - Davis, California

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Stopped by for a late lunch during a Davis day trip to meet friends at UCD! We got the tonkotsu ramen and katsu donburi. The ramen was pretty good, but the broth is a bit lacking in flavor in my opinion. The donburi had more flavor and the rice definitely soaked up all the flavor which was delicious! The staff was also so nice and interior is really cool. Just be sure to order before you sit down! read more

Yuchan Shokudo - tonkatsu ramen - Ramen Near Me - Davis, California

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I've visited this place several times before and usually had an okay experience, but this time we came specifically for the ramen and left disappointed. Since they don't offer Yakitori anymore, we started with the fried calamari (ika geso), which was actually the highlight of the meal. It was light, crisp, and not greasy at all -- well done. For ramen, we ordered one soy-sauce-based (shoyu) ramen and one pork-bone broth (tonkotsu) ramen. Unfortunately, both broths lacked depth and richness. There wasn't that layered, savory umami you expect from a good ramen shop, where you can tell multiple ingredients have been simmered together to build flavor. The noodles were just average and not particularly memorable. They present themselves kind of like a student-area "shokudo" -- in Japan, that usually means a casual, cafeteria-style place where you can get simple, home-style food at reasonable prices. With that in mind, I expected comforting food and more budget-friendly pricing. Instead, the prices felt on the higher side for what you get, both in terms of taste and overall experience. The service model is also a bit frustrating. You pay upfront at the counter and are prompted to tip before you've received any service. Aside from someone bringing the food to the table, there really wasn't any additional service, which makes the tipping setup feel awkward. I might stop by again just for small dishes like the fried calamari, but I wouldn't come back specifically for the ramen. read more

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Oh My GOODNESS!!!! SO YUMMY!!!!!! Wow the food is so flavorful. I'm not really a curry fan, but I do really like karage, so I tried the chicken karage curry platter. AND I KILLED IT! The karage was cooked sooo well. Good crispy outer layer with slight juicy inside mmmm. And the curry tasted nice and rich, with a slight aftertaste of some sort of spice (I'm not well-versed in curry my bad). And the cabbage with dressing side was super yummy tangy refreshing. And my friend's pork tonkotsu ramen!! That broth is exactly how I like my tonkotsu... it was really savory and very garlicky. And the meat was good quality, cooked nicely too. I definitely want to come back and try the spicy tantan ramen... The service itself is quite interesting. You walk in and immediately get in line to order with menus to look at on the counter. Along the counter are signs showing special dishes they are offering at the moment, which I assume are rotated out and changed occasionally. My chicken karage curry was a special. It's a liiiiittle sneaky though because the special dishes don't have prices listed next to them (so my plate was more expensive than I expected) but to be fair I could've asked the server LOL. Also, the price does show up on the screen before you pay anyways. Just caught me off guard! I do like this layout though. You can order your food first without having to wait for a server to come around. And once we ordered then were seated, the food came out at a decently quick speed. The overall vibe of the restaurant is a dark, fast-paced place, but the booths are very secluded and cozy. And there was a bowl of peppermints on the way out which I will always happily enjoy! read more

Yuchan Shokudo - Chicken Karage Curry Platter (Special) - Ramen Near Me - Davis, California

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The interior design of the restaurant is super nice. It has a dark atmosphere and it's very well maintained. However, the food was a little bit of a let down. The gyoza was fine, but the ramen I had was slightly lacking in flavor. The servers were super kind and accommodating. read more

Yuchan Shokudo - Pan Fried Gyoza (6pc) - Ramen Near Me - Davis, California

Wow. Excellent food, service, and '80s music (at least the night we were here!). First, the food. I love ramen. But I'm often disappointed by over-hyped, lackluster offerings. This wasn't the case at Yuchan Shokudo. Their tonkatsu broth was both deeply flavorful and balanced. My partner praised the double spicy tuna donburi for its taste and genuine heat. We also thoroughly enjoyed the complexity and consistency of the mentai pasta special. The staff here were out of the world--friendly, professional, and genuine. The host patiently answered our questions about the menu and steered us to the excellent choices above. We were just passing through and lucked out on finding this place. If we lived nearby, I suspect we'd be regulars. Thanks to the whole Yuchan Shokudo team for a satisfying meal. read more

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Easily the best food in Davis, CA. Please do yourself a favor and go to one of their yakitori nights. No shortcuts are taken here, they honor craftsmanship above anything else. I also think they have the best ramen in yolo county. Katsu curry, chicken ramen or mentaiko bowl for the spicy addicts. They never miss. read more

Yuchan Shokudo - Best ramen in Davis. Tan-Tan Ramen. - Ramen Near Me - Davis, California

The place was pretty busy, which wasn't surprising for a Saturday night around 8 PM. My friend and I waited about 20-25 minutes for a table. They have an interesting system where you order your food before getting seated, and then you wait for a table to open up before they officially seat you. It's a bit different, but it worked out fine. When ordering, the cashier was a bit snarky when I asked some clarifying questions about my order, which wasn't the best experience (hence why I deducted a star). That said, the rest of the staff had a much more positive and welcoming energy, which definitely helped balance things out. I ordered the chicken katsu with curry, and it had a really nice balance of flavors. The portion sizes were great, and I liked that there was enough curry to cover both the chicken and rice. The only thing I would have liked to see is some vegetables to add a bit of freshness and lighten up the dish since it was pretty heavy. The servers who brought out our food and refilled our drinks were super nice and hospitable. At one point, my friend asked for a little more rice to go with his chicken, and they actually brought him a full cup. He felt bad for not being able to finish it, but the server was really sweet and even offered to bring out more chicken at no extra cost, which was such a nice gesture. Overall, the food was solid, and most of the staff were really kind and accommodating. I'd come back, but hopefully, the ordering experience is a little better next time! read more

Yuchan Shokudo - Pork - Ramen Near Me - Davis, California

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I was taken aback by one of the staff members. I asked if the curry was made from scratch and the response was "If it was curry from scratch, then we would be a curry restaurant." It was uncalled for. Then please don't make your first option for donburi a curry donburi. Seemed like it was one of the owners responding. The other staff were very nice. Overall, food was actually pretty good. Chicken kaarage was moist and crispy 10/10. Shoyu ramen was flavorful 9/10. I wish there was more. read more

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Had the calamari and pork katsu special, both were very good. The sauce that came with the katsu almost had a cinnamon taste to it, unique but good flavor! read more

First time here! This spot was recommended by my sister-in-law, and I'm glad we gave it a try. Parking was a bit tricky--mostly street parking--but we managed to find a lot about two blocks away. We ordered: * 2 Pork Tonkotsu Ramens * Chicken Kara-Age * Takoyaki The ramen broth was rich, thick, and creamy with a bold garlic flavor. The noodles were perfectly cooked, and the pork slices were tender and flavorful--exactly what I was craving. The Chicken Kara-Age had a nice crisp, but it didn't come with any dipping sauce. I'm used to getting a sauce with kara-age, so I was a little surprised that it cost an extra $1 (plus tax). At $15, I feel like it should be included. The Takoyaki was also solid. The octopus inside wasn't too chewy, which made it easier to enjoy. Service was friendly, and the food came out quickly. Overall, a great first visit--I'd definitely come back to try more dishes! read more

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this place was frickin amazing!!! The service was top tier - so friendly, gave us the whole run down of how to eat our food. Got a cute little booth and felt transported to Japan. We got the Wagyu and it was amazing!!!! $30 for wagyu was a pretty good deal tbh. The rice that was served with the wagyu was also somehow the best rice i've ever had. We also got the pork ramen and it just melted in my mouth. Anytime i'm in davis I will be back!!! read more

We got two chicken katsu curry and one pork tonkotsu ramen. The chicken katsu curry is a little on the spicier side (I eat Jin ramen but don't find it spicy), but nonetheless super tasty. The tonkotsu is on the heavier side but it was also really good. They have easy and accessible menus when waiting in the order line. They were quick with bringing out the food. Would 100000% recommend this restaurant. read more

Yuchan Shokudo - Ramen Near Me - Davis, California

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Food is decent but pretty expensive here. Service is decent but they have some weird surcharges. Wouldn't be my first choice but would definitely give it another visit. Food (6.5/10) - The food here is pretty good! I got the double salmon donburi bowl and I thought it was really tasty. The salmon had a nice coating of sauce and it went well with bites of rice. It had a nice balance of spiciness that was just enough to give you a kick but not enough to overpower your taste buds. There was also a chicken katsu curry which was pretty big. My only complaint was the chicken to rice ratio was extremely off. I'm all for large portions of meat as it makes the dish worth it BUT there was a severe lack of rice. The other thing is that the dish was $30. I am slightly confused because I distinctly asking for a cheaper alternative and I was told that there wasn't one. But on a brief review of the menu, there is a $20 chicken katsu curry. I think I'll pass it off as a communication error so not gonna find much fault there. The only dish that I didn't like was the chili oil dumpling. I was a bit surprised that it was cold but honestly didn't mind it; it was a refreshing dish. However, it was a bit bland so we asked for some chili oil since we would expect the chili oil dumpling to be spicy. However, they told us that they couldn't offer us chili oil because that would be an additional charge. This was just kind of a weird experience since if you design a spicy dish that your customer says isn't spicy enough, you should probably offer something that allows them to eat a spicy dish. It's pretty expensive and the portions aren't incredibly big ($100 dollars w/o tip for 3 people). However, I think we ordered some of the more expensive items so maybe it could be more cost affordable. At the same time though, the portions weren't crazy and still costs quite a lot. Service (7.5/10) - No complaints on service. Pretty efficient and the cashier at the front was very nice. However, I thought it was a bit strange that they put us at a corner booth that was out of sight when the restaurant was largely empty. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that they had a reason for it but it also led to us not being noticed as much. Ambiance (8/10) - It was a nice restaurant and I liked the interior design. Nice wooden booths and I liked the lighting. It was a nice restaurant overall and made the dining experience quite nice. Overall, I think the restaurant was pretty good but not something I would frequent. I think it's worth a try though if you want some Japanese food! read more

Came in for dinner. There was a line when we arrived and they told us that it was going to be a 30 minutes wait. We had to order then wait to be seated. The line moved slow at first. After we ordered, we actually didn't have to wait long. The place is pretty spacious and dimly lit. We still had to wait a bit before our food came out. The portions were fairly big. At first I didn't think I wad going to finish my plate but I devoured it. The katsu had a good crisp. The curry was good. There was a lot more curry than I needed. It was a bit salty. I liked the gourds and shishito pepper add to it. I got the iced green tea which was tastey and not too sweet. read more

Yuchan Shokudo - Chicken Katsu curry platter - Ramen Near Me - Davis, California

Yuchan shokudo is one of my favorite restaurants in town, even back when it was known as Yakitori Yuchan. The staff is kind, courteous and on top of it. We are regulars at this point so they know us and they're always super friendly! The food is always perfectly cooked and thoughtfully prepared, each dish I've eaten here has not disappointed and is soooo satisfying. The attention to detail and the care put into their food is memorable and held to a high standard. The consistency of their food and service quality has always impressed me. I really love this restaurant and will always be a loyal customer! read more

Great spot for hot Japanese food! Order and pay upon entry. I loved the decor and the service was great! The sweetened iced matcha was sooo good! I ordered the yakisoba and it was tasty. The geso was an easy appetizer to order and the tonkatsu did not disappoint. read more

Yuchan Shokudo - Yakisoba and tonkatsu - Ramen Near Me - Davis, California

Been here twice now and the food continues to land well on the taste buds. First time around I tried the Tan-Tan Ramen Soup and really savored the spices. I added an egg to mine to give it the extra protein I was looking for. The portion was not enormous like some other places that only sell Ramen but given the thoughtful spices and fresh ingredients I believe the price is fair. I live in Sacramento but haven't found a spot out here that satisfies my Ramen cravings like Yuchon Shokudo does! The second time I went with a group and we shared three different Ramen noodle entrees, seasonal pork katsu, a side of rice, a side of Japanese curry, and a pitcher of Sapporo. Without going into further detail, I just want to say we cleaned out every dish except the rice! Everyone was very full we barley managed to clean our dishes. read more

I have been a fan of this restaurant since I knew them as Yakitori Yuchan. The medium-sized space has not changed since I've been here for the past few years; there only seemed to be a less few tables. I went here for dinner on a Thursday night around 5:30PM; I followed the line as usual & admire the specials that they offer daily. Our group ordered these items: -Takoyaki -Orion Draft Lager -Pork Tonkotsu Ramen -Kurobata Roast (special item) -Tuna Poke Don (special item) The miso soup given with the Tuna Poke Don and Kurobata Roast was seasoned well and tested fresh. My friends who had the Kurobata Roast stated that they wish there would have been less fatty meat in the tonkatsu, but they enjoyed the crunchiness and crispiness of the fried tonkatsu. In general, we were fans of all the dishes we chose. I love coming here every so often! read more

Yuchan Shokudo - Tuna Poke Don - Ramen Near Me - Davis, California

The restaurant was clean and had a good atmosphere. When you enter the restaurant you stand in line to order then you are seated. We ordered water to drink because my group had plans to get boba at another place after this. I was disappointed that there was no table service for refills. I ordered Tokyo shoyu ramen. It was good but not as flavorful as I hoped. Thankfully I ordered the chili sauce on the side. For the price I expected at least two pieces of chashu--there was only one. I'm glad we went. My husband enjoyed his meal. He ordered the chicken katsu curry. It was super flavorful and a perfect portion. The chicken was crunchy and the squash was a nice touch on the side. read more

Yuchan Shokudo - Tokyo shoyu ramen. - Ramen Near Me - Davis, California

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Was passing through Davis and looking for some late night ramen. Found this place on Yelp and surprisingly it was open until 10:45pm on a Saturday. Luckily it was late enough that we were able to find street parking in front. The restaurant looked and felt like something from Japan. You order your food first before being seated. The food service was fast but we were disappointed when the food arrived that the portions were small. My husband thought my ramen was a kids size. His entree looked like an appetizer. Some other things that we wish they had-egg with my ramen and my son wished there were vegetables in his curry. read more

This place has small portions and high prices. You are to pay up front and tip before you are seated. Coming with a party of 5 or more? They will add a mandatory 18% tip as an item line which is TAXED. Haven't heard of that one before. If you order karaage, you get 6 little nuggets. Sauce is extra at $1+ tax on top of it being $15. I'm all for supporting small businesses but if you nickel and dime your customers, there wont be any returning back. read more

Food was really good here, but sometimes it's really cold. It felt like it was sitting out for a while. The service was really slow. The ambiance was very chaotic. read more

Very friendly service, very good ramen and donburi - I had the vegetable one. Pots steaming in the kitchen. Physically unusual layout and order from counter. Can't recommend Katsu w egg sauce. Ymmv. read more

My husband and I were craving a good katsu spot and decided to drive all the way to Davis to try this spot since Yelp says this was the closest curry katsu spot to us. We walk in and were immediately greeted and guided to the menu as you have to order and pay first before being seated at a table. When we sat at our table, our drinks were already there which was so convenient! Our food then came out with a minimal wait which was very quick service! We ordered the chicken katsu curry platter and chicken katsu donburi.Overall, the place was clean, the service was good timing, and the food was delicious! The only thing I would say is that the food was a bit overpriced especially for the amount of food for the chicken katsu curry platter. read more

Yuchan Shokudo - Chicken Katsu Donburi - $18 - Ramen Near Me - Davis, California

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Chicken Katsu donburi? Say less! The takoyaki were good, but man that chicken Katsu donburi stole my heart here. You start by following a line when you enter and looking through their menus. After you order, they'll bring you to a table where you wait for your food. The restaurant was pretty busy when we came and there were only two people working the front, but they did so well it was impressive to watch them multitask helping us and the already seated tables. Onto the food. The takoyaki were delicious but I don't remember much about it because I was so engrossed in the rice bowl. It was filled the to brim and it didn't take me long to get full. As much as I loved it, it still looked like I didn't touch it when I asked for a to go box. So to the staff that might read this, I loved it and it was good, it just looked like I didn't touch it because there was so much. I'd always go here for Japanese food when I'm in Davis. read more

Yuchan Shokudo - Takoyaki (6pc) - Ramen Near Me - Davis, California

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