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Katana-Ya
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Restaurants Sushi Bars Japanese, Sushi Bars [Edit]
430 Geary St(at Mason St)
San Francisco, CA 94102
Neighborhoods: Union Square, Civic Center/Tenderloin
(415) 771-1280
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 1 am
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
2361 reviews for Katana-Ya
Review Highlights
"The fried chicken was lip smackingly good."
(in 397 reviews)
"i highly recommend getting the spicy tofu."
(in 126 reviews)
"I had the BBQ pork and it was perfect."
(in 206 reviews)
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2361 reviews in English
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Review from Gwen T.
San Jose, CA
2/8/2012
Surprisingly busy at 2pm on Superbowl Sunday, but the 20-minute wait wasn't bad, and there was plenty of people-watching to be had!
Had the Spicy Tofu Ramen which was scrumptious, although not as spicy as I expected. Still top-notch ramen at an excellent price!
One downside, the wait staff were quite inattentive, but the taste made up for it! -
Review from Jacqueline C.
Sacramento, CA
2/8/2012 1 photo
I checked this place out for lunch and there was actually no wait even though this place is small. I tried their Katana-ya Ramen which has corn, bbq pork, egg, spinach, fried chicken, and fried gyoza in it. I got the miso broth light. You can get light or rich and I chose light.
The ramen itself was good with the right chewy but firm texture. The broth was good but not quite as flavorful as I am used to. My favorite place for ramen right now is Shoki II in Sacramento. My brother-in-law, who had never had ramen from a restaurant before thought it was good.
I would say the light versions of their broth still need a little more flavor. I also don't like that they charge you $1.90 to make it spicy. Most places don't charge you to make it regular spicy or hot spicy.
I plan to return and try their rich Miso broth as well. If I like the rich miso broth better than the light, I will consider bumping this to a 4 star review. I might be a little harsh here but really ramen is all about the broth. This is definitely a good place for lunch or a quick dinner and you get pretty good value for your bowl of ramen. -
Review from Ryan L.
2/5/2012 1 Check-in Here
Upon my arrival to SF, I immediately started yelping in order to find a lunch spot that could satisfy my appetite for something that made me feel warm and fuzzy. Katana-Ya did just that. We only waited for about 15 minutes to be seated in the very minimalistic dining room, no fluff, no BS, no elegance, just phenomenal food.
I knew I had to order the signature dish, Katana-Ya Ramen, with 2 handmade gyoza, BBQ pork, boiled egg, wakame seaweed, chives, corn, fried chicken, and of course, the ramen. I ordered the soy base and asked for it moderately spicy. It was PERFECT! The noodles were cooked to perfection, and the broth was just spicy enough to break a light sweat.
Needless to say, I finished my entire bowl (about 50oz.).
I didn't have the guts to ask where the bathrooms were but I am willing to bet they were nothing to write home about.
Go here for good ramen! -
Review from Barbara N.
San Francisco, CA
2/3/2012
The ramen here was okay, nothing remarkable. The karaage (on the side), gyoza, and salmon don were disappointing. The waitress was kind of rude, and really abrupt with taking our orders - and we knew what we wanted before she got to us! We didn't ask any questions or delay her by staring at the menu, yet, she seemed annoyed that we were ordering more than just ramen. Uhhhh...
I can't believe the line to get into this place was as long as it was now that I've tried the food. Don't believe the hype.Listed in: Ramen Obsessed
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Review from Liana L.
Daly City, CA
1/31/2012
My first time trying ramen was at Katana-Ya and I looooved it. I used to come here all the time and would only get their spicy tofu ramen in rich miso broth. The soup is full of yummy msg goodness and the bowls are HUGE. Their Katana-Ya ramen comes with a little bit of everything but the soup isn't as flavorful. Nowadays, I've been spoiled with other more easily accessible ramen joints and only come when I've got shopping to do or tailoring to drop off in Union Square. And for some reason, the noodles have changed. They were a lot harder to chew through the last time I came here... had to take one star away for that. Did they change owners? The original waitresses no longer work there either.
It's a hole-in-the-wall type of place with tables separated by 2-3 inches or less. Get there a little before it opens and you won't have to wait too long. -
Review from Jenn Y.
San Francisco, CA
1/29/2012
Katana-Ya does not care...
If their waitress has the plague and is sneezing directly onto people's food.
If they seat people out of order. A 2 top that arrived first may have to wait 45 minutes, while a party of 3 or 4 may be seated much faster. Hey, they're buying more food!
If the sign in sheet is missing, and chaos breaks out at their doorstep because people start lying about who got there first. I've seen punches thrown, true story.
If angry angry bums come in and start heckling clients for money.
If the waiter mixes up tables and puts down a bowl of ramen in front of the wrong person. Rest assured, if the incorrect owner of the bowl of ramen has touched your noodles, Katana-Ya does not care. Once the mistake is sorted out, you will NOT be getting a fresh bowl of noodles, you will be getting the bowl that has been poked by someone else's chopsticks.
Katana-Ya does not care. They don't have to care about customer service, because their ramen is very good, and their system is very efficient for the restaurant.
Most dinners cause me to seethe silently in my chair, but somehow I always keep going back for more. That's got to mean something right? Try the extra spicy extra rich ramen, yum. -
Review from Matt G.
Katana-ya has been my intended target forever. And every time I passed by here, there is a ton of people waiting to be seated. The long wait with all those people deters me from dining here.
Until a few days ago, I finally made it here for my early dinner before my trip to Oracle Arena. When I see the size of the tiny restaurant, I can tell why the long wait. I don't think this place can hold more than thirty occupants.
On my long-awaited debut, I ordered the Katana-ya's Noodle combo. Ranging from $11.00-15.00, I get a noodle soup with a side dish. I chose the Soba Noodle soup with a side of Spicy Tuna sushi. The thick buckwheat noodle and seaweed in a milky broth was the best way to warm me up. Soup: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
The spicy tuna sushi was really good with fresh ingredients. Sushi: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
As I was enjoying my meal, more people arriving for dinner and the wait was on for others later on. I also like the Sapporo beer on tap with the cool silver Sapporo can knob for the beer. 'Will a $14.00 pitcher of Sapporo beer mess you up?" Beer: http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Many of my followers know I'm not a Japanese food expert. But I wanted to try something different. Mission accomplished on my part to finally eat here.
Will I eat here again?
Only I come around the same time and lesser people.Listed in: Mission "Finally"…
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Review from Bhanie C.
I really thought this place was going to be good. But I like Shoki way better than katana-ya.
Waited outside for 40 mins for a table, the ambiance is so dim in there i could barley see my menu.
I was debating between the extra spicy ramen and the extra spicy ramen with tofu and kimchi, i asked the girl which was better and she said the ramen wit with the tofu and kimichi is their popular one, so i went with that. Our other plate was the curry dish. which i actually really liked, id come back for that. But when my ramen finally came out, it looked so over done. The noodles were way too soggy for me and there were way too much kimchi which made the ramen extra salty and not spicy at all.
I'd come back and give them a try again. -
Review from Janet L.
Hercules, CA
1/26/2012 1 Check-in Here
Nice restaurant in the area. Cozy TINY restaurant with WARM ramen and fried chicken. They haven't done me wrong yet. And I haven't waited in those crazy long lines I've seen in the evenings...so I'm a happy patron for now.
=) -
Review from Tom T.
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
One of my friends from Walnut Creek left me the choice of finding a place to eat. I mentioned this to my good friend. Going over my limit of how much I could spend and what kind of food I might want to eat, he suggested this place. Funny thing, my Walnut Creek friend asked me if this place was okay, without me telling her about this place! (Great minds think alike, no?)
Tucked away in-between hotels and shops on Geary, Katana-Ya is a true hole-in-the-wall, in comparison to Daikokuya, like 3/4 of the size of the Little Tokyo branch, or maybe the same size as the Monterey Park branch. Getting seated by a cute waiter, I already knew that I wanted to try out the ramen, being the Japanese foodie fanatic I am.
Not really knowing what ramen to get (and not reading any reviews of the place, but noticing the LARGE amount of reviews), the regular ramen in miso called for me.
Not mind-blowing, like Daikokuya or Orochan, but not cheaply made like Ajisan, Katana-Ya wasn't bad. The broth and toppings were just your typical ramen toppings, but the ramen itself, I have to say, it's does hold a candle to other places. Not broth-soaking, not broth-repelling, but just enough porous surface to soak up SOME of the flavoring but not enough to lose its texture/elasticity, if that makes any sense. -
Review from Chris S.
Manhattan, NY
1/23/2012
I want to emphatically write this review for Katana-Ya, because IMO it totally does not deserve the hype that it gets (7x7 top 100, I'm looking at you).
Personal credentials:
-In SF/Bay Area, I've been to Izakaya Sozai, Genki Ramen, Suzu Noodle House, Hotei, Saiwaii Ramen, Halu Ramen, Maru Ichi.
-In NY, I've been to Kombi, Ippudo, Setagaya, Naruto, Totto, Momofuku.
-I also lived in Tokyo for a month and visited Japan ~12 times in my life.
I visited Katana-ya 3 times: 1) Deep fried chicken ramen, 2) Katanaya ramen, 3) BBQ-pork ramen. Each time as a combo with a small sushi-don.
Katana-ya's broth is on the lighter side to ramen broths, which is a plus for some, but it lacks the distinction to make it a savory enough broth to merit repeated visits (Ippudo and Izakaya Sozai are outstanding in this regard). Before you fault me on the fact that Ippudo and Izakaya's best broths are tonkatsu based and the comparison might be unfair, I point to Naruto's Shoyu and Halu's Shoyu as examples of lighter ramen broths that are memorable. Even Suzu's Shoyu, although not outstanding, is tastier compared to Katana-ya.
The perfect broth is a delicate balance between saltiness and the umami factor - it is salty, but not overwhelming. The umami taste should blossom at the end on the tongue, after the broth is swallowed.
My assessment of Katana-Ya is that the saltiness is there, but after that it falls flat and doesn't redeem itself. It's a decent broth with ramen, but does not "go places" with it. In fact, it is probably only a few steps better than broth that comes with instant noodles (which generally all salt + MSG).
I've tried Katana-Ya's rich broth, expecting more of the umami flavor, but all I got was more saltiness.
The BBQ pork is unremarkable, and the noodles are alright - I generally don't feel like the texture of the noodle should be faulted because this is a personal pref and can be changed on request. They do have pretty good fried chicken, however.
Surprisingly, their sushi bowls (salmon don esp.) are super! The rice is a perfect balance of sour/sweetness, and the fish is extremely fresh.
I feel really silly for saying this, but if you must come to Katana-Ya, I recommend skipping the ramen and getting the sushi instead. In my 3 visits there the sushi has consistently been the highlight. -
Review from Bobby l.
1/22/2012
late night eat near the union square area, super close to Ruby Skye, this is the only reason to come here. I'm not really sure why it's on the7x7 list, it's not that great considering all the better ramen places in SF and South bay.
Likes: the combo of ramen and entree for about $15? options for light or heavy broth, variety of food such as sushi, udon, soba, etc.
Dislikes: Ramen is too chewy, broth isn't that great. pretty expensive for sub-par ramen (understandable since its in union square area).
Not recommended, pass. -
Review from Tracy T.
San Francisco, CA
I've been here a few years back and I honestly did not remember my experience, except that it was a very tiny restaurant and I disliked fried soggy chicken in my broth. I drive past this restaurant on a daily basis and was lured into giving this place a second try after seeing so many patrons outside each time and re-experiencing why this is listed as a 7X7 Big Eats restaurant. The wait was about 30 minutes or so and a friend and I just missed the cut-off for the first wave of people already inside (not too bad considering that some people have waited a lot longer).
Jot down your name on the clipboard outside and be prepared to wait...OUTSIDE. The restaurant is a hole in the wall with just enough space for the waitresses to walk through one at a time.
- Asahi: Only the large sized bottle available to order.
- Sapporo light: the small bottle size is available for this beer.
- Katanaya Ramen with "light" miso broth: Love that you are able to customize your soup (miso, soy sauce, or salt) and the flavor intensity (light or heavy). This big bowl consisted of fried potstickers, fried chicken, corn, bamboo shoots, green scallions, half a boiled egg, bean sprouts, and seaweed. All for the price of one, unlike some other ramen places that I've been to where additional toppings = additional $. Ramen was cooked to perfection and the broth was surprisingly just the right amount of flavor, thank you for giving the "light" broth option!
4 stars for the ramen, but I'll have to minus one star for the service. The waiter called our name on the list for a table, then immediately went back in without saying anything and came back out 10 minutes later to tell us that our seat was ready. At least he could have notified us that he was checking to make sure we were present rather than giving us a slither of hope that we were about to be seated. What made it a worst experience was when the waitress never brought us water when we inquired about 2 times and still never brought us water in the end...I'm being too generous with the rating. Your ramen is good, but service also makes or breaks the deal.
P.S. Open until 1AM. Go early during dinner time to beat the rush. -
Review from Annie S.
1/16/2012 1 Check-in Here
I just found out about this place today, and I ate dinner here with my roommates. While looking through Yelp reviews to figure out what to order, I kept reading that this place is way too hyped up... and I agree.
My roommates and I waited 20 minutes to get seated in this super small restaurant. The waiter gave us a menu to look at while we were outside waiting. Once we got seated, a waitress quickly came over to take our order O_O. She probably assumed that we made our decision outside, but I was still surprised by how fast she came over. I ordered the Katana-Ya Ramen, which the waitress recommended. Our orders came out pretty fast, and I went for my first bite... and I was soooooooo disappointed. Wow. I could make better ramen at home. Although it was filling, it didn't have much flavor, and it just wasn't that delicious so I was forcing myself to finish... -
Review from Sam H.
San Francisco, CA
1/13/2012
Before I forget, adding another review to this popular ramen place.
It's a small restaurant in the middle of the bustle of union square that usually has a waiting list. Usually any place with a constant waiting list sets me up to expect amazing food. Half the time it is, the rest it's just good.
This is definitely in the 'good' category. Both times the broth was yummy and the noodles stood out from other joints but it's not my favorite place. I like my broths more fragrant and strong and these were more delicate if not slightly bland. You definitely get huge portions and that is a plus when you're super hungry, great price for ratio I would say.
They're fast and the service is good. I would come here for a ramen craving or when it's cold and you want something warm and cozy. I just wouldn't set too high an expectation and you'll end up perfectly happy. -
Review from Valerie P.
Pearland, TX
1/24/2012
My girlfriend took me here for dinner because she said it's definitely the place to go for tasty ramen in that particular area of San Francisco. I'm going to deduct a star right away for the wait time -- we had to wait nearly twenty minutes (if not more, I don't quite remember) for a table, but at the same time, the place is small and was very busy. It wasn't really that bad, I suppose, but I do question why tables were cleared off and empty without being utilized again for the next customers all that promptly. In any case, when we did sit down, the service was pretty decent and friendly. Most of my stars go to the food -- my unagi don was amazing! The unagi (eel) was absolutely melting in my mouth, which is a sure sign of fantastic eel. I can' even recall the last time I had eel that good. The miso soup was also tasty, and my girlfriend loved her ramen as well. Great broth.
They are open 'til 1 AM, so if you need to go somewhere for a late dinner, this is a recommended choice. I'm not sure how busy they are later on into the night, though; I went at about 7 PM. -
Review from Teena Marie T.
San Francisco, CA
1/23/2012 6 Check-ins Here
This is the "Mix & Match" Menu of Ramen joints....
WHO... Myself & the boyfriend(my usual late night Katana-Ya dining date)
- - and the 20 other people waiting outside in line - -
WHAT...We frequent this spot pretty often as it's only walking distance from us &
hardly ever deviate from our usual picks. I always get the udon with fried
gyoza in it.(pretty straight forward udon) As for the BF; the Katanaya Ramen
which as a whole gang of munchies in it... Egg/Pork/Fried Chicken/Fried
Gyoza/etc. And sometimes we'll even spring for a Ca roll or a fried rice.
(Yummy fried rice...)
WHEN... I've be here for lunch... dinner.. and late night
WHERE.. What ever seat you can get... Small spot with only about 8-10 tables and a
sushi bar. I have been here multiple times, and there is always a sign up
sheet.
WHY... Why not.... I can not think of a reason you wouldn't want a warm, tasty bowl of
ramen goodness. -
Review from Brittany B.
San Francisco, CA
1/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Overall my favorite ramen joint ever! I've been to Santa ramen, Dojo, and a chain in skyline plaza and nothing comes close to here! For the small whole in the wall feeling, to the authentic Japanese service and taste you can't go wrong!
Definiately try the katana-ya ramen or the deep fried chicken ramen! Two of my favorites!!! -
Review from Yuki K.
San Diego, CA
1/14/2012
Sukiyaki rice bowl was awesome!!!
Tried the ramen but it wasn't anything special...
Noodles were too soft and not thin enough, broth wasn't clinging to the noodles well, and the combination of toppings didn't really compliment the whole thing. -
Review from Christine L.
Wellesley Hills, MA
1/23/2012
My brother took me here, saying it's the best ramen place in SF. I was really excited and the Katanaya Ramen sounded pretty good (egg, beef, dumplings, pork and who knows what else). We waited an hour outside, there were five names before ours.
It was quite good. Good. But not amazing; something about the broth smell was weird to me from the beginning, and although the taste was nice it wasn't the best ramen broth I've ever had.
Too small to bring big parties, but ones, twos and threes are okay. -
Review from Minh D.
If you're wandering around Union Square late at night and craving Japanese, this is probably the closest option. It's open late and about 2 blocks from Union Square. After a day of shooting photos and looking at Xmas trees, it's time to chow down.
Like most Japanese restaurants, it's tiny inside. You find yourself sitting about 2 feet from the table next to you. It's great of eavesdropping. Good thing I don't have long elbows!
Katanaya Ramen - A large $13 bowl of ramen with fried chicken, fried potstickers, corn, seaweed, pork, eggs, and scallions. All the protein in it made it one of the most filling bowls of ramen I've ever devoured. It was a bit much though, as the fried items got soggy. The ramen texture was a tad harder than what I prefer. The miso broth wasn't too bad. Being the hungry man I am, I inhaled it of course. It better be filling for $13!
Service was very good which I liked. It was near closing time so the crowds were dying down. -
Review from LH J.
Newark, CA
1/18/2012
I liked this place a lot. The soup was really flavorful while not too salty. The wait is pretty long though and the place is super tiny.
I would only come here once in a while given the long wait and that there are other comparable places to eat around the area. -
Review from Diane N.
1/9/2012
I was thankful to catch a seat, in this tiny establishment, but the ramen did not fulfill the expectations that a crowded hole-in-the-wall promises. I appreciate that the bowls were huge and the soups were piping hot. The noodles were also no different than other ramen joints. But the broth's flavors were in desperate need of more OOMPH! I like oomph! The line outside may have made me feel happy about my endeavor, but the ramen did not. Now, off to find more oomph!
FYI- on a busy evening, you will be booted if you're done eating. -
Review from Christopher P.
San Francisco, CA
2/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came across this place after a long search of places to dine in after work during the later hours of night. This place was open after 12 so I was all about it. I been turned on to the ramen craze recently so I had to see what they had to offer; and I was pleased. I always go for whatever they suggest or what they put their name on it for, so of course I tried the Katana-ya Ramen, spicy!. It had pork, fried chicken, fried gyoza (appears to be homemade), wakame, bamboo, boiled egg and corn. Great combo considering I'm sucker for fried food, and in soup on a cold night cut the cake. The portions are great and I was filled to content. I've had this combination at other ramen places so I can see why they put their name on it, but wheres the originality? I'll will probably be back after another long night of work, and maybe for some sushi next time ;)
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Review from Kelly M.
San Juan Capistrano, CA
Updated - 1/18/2012
1/18/2012 -- I want noodles. Why does Katana-Ya have to be so far away now?
1/26/2009 -- I had their curry pork rice plate for lunch the other day. It was very good. The brown gravy was light and sweat with potatoes, carrots and onions in it. The pork was crisp and fresh tasting. The rice was fresh tasting as well. A little pricey for lunch, but the taste is good and the portion size is large.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/26/2009
I had their curry pork rice plate for lunch the other day. It was very good. The brown gravy was… Read more »
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Review from Jake m.
San Francisco, CA
1/2/2012
Short version: delicious ramen (the kimchi and the cilantro both are my favorites) in enormous portions, really good fresh sushi and nigiri, and attentive service (surprising considering how busy it can get). Long waits (though not in off-times) due to its small size and popularity. Cozy, tourist-friendly décor.
Long version: the first time I had Katana-ya was actually Thanksgiving weekend and I helped compose a group of five, which is probably larger than the typical group size there. As such, and because its location is so close to Union Square which was packed that and every weekend, the wait time ended up being about an hour, if not slightly more. The servers cleverly addressed this problem of overwhelming popularity by asking those next to be seated to go ahead and choose their selections (menu is posted by the door), with any questions being answered warmly and adequately. Puts a bit of pressure on you, the eater, but it did streamline the experience and process. And you can always order more or modify the order once inside.
The food is delicious and you have quite a bit of control over the character of your ramen (oil level, spiciness, etc.), though not as much as other ramen places I've been to. The noodles are standardly at a level closer to soft than to hard, which is perfectly fine with me. The broth is unctuous and delightful, and if you order the cilantro ramen you get a ton of it! Great value! And for being a ramen-centric restaurant, the sushi is good and fresh and tasty. Nothing like an order of saba nigiri to go with your noodle-y elixir.
This is hardly a complaint, but I do wish this restaurant were located in Japantown, or at least closer to the Kabuki hotel and Sundance Theater. -
Review from Lovetoeat A.
Outer Sunset, San Francisco, CA
2/2/2012
This is my fav ramen place in the city; however, I really HATE to wait in line. The wait is just ridiculous. I haven't been there for a while but I used to always get the Ramen with Fried Chicken Wings on the side. Hhmmm yummy. Writing this review makes me wanna go there now.
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Review from Daniel B.
San Francisco, CA
12/31/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Conveniently located and consistent food if you don't mind waiting.
And waiting.
And while you're still waiting, my friends and I will already be chowing down elsewhere nearby. Holla! -
Review from Anthony N.
Bordentown, NJ
1/2/2012 1 photo
I was absolutely satisfied when I ate here. Ordered the Katana-Ya ramen and it was great! This is the ramen I recommend to everyone.
The place is pretty small and cramp but the food was worth it. I would say a lot better than Santa Ramen. The big downside is the long wait (2 hrs) but its in Union Square so you can be like me and show up 2 hrs before when you want to eat and shop around and come back. -
Review from Erin L.
1/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Believe the hype. The ramen is deliciousness in a bowl that will fill your tummy and leave you needing a nap.
Perfection! -
Review from Daneca V.
Daly City, CA
1/12/2012
I went once last year, on a first date and I'll just say that both my date and the ramen left a lot to be desired. I forgot what type of ramen I ordered exactly, but it was very meh, the broth was decent, wasn't amazed by it, the ramen didn't have any particularly outstanding taste or texture. I felt like I emptied half the jar of spice powder trying to give it some sort of flavor.
It was my date's first time ever experiencing ramen that didn't come from a plastic package and maybe he's just a hick whiteboy from up North, but he wasn't impressed either.
Only plus when I went though was we scored the last table, no epic wait for us! -
Review from Stanley L.
Oakland, CA
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
Location, location, location! That's what makes this restaurant so popular. That and Yelp-induced inertia.
I came early in the night with 3 small groups ahead of me ~30 min wait. I had the Katana-ya ramen w/Ikura-uni don.
KATANA-YA RAMEN: has chicken karaage, fried dumplings, chashu, and egg.. soo BOSS! Unfortunately, they failed at making any of those appetizing.
The noodles were decent. Good noodles are of the thicker variety IMO and has a good al dente bite. Their ramen... was better than instant noodles. Their broth was also not memorable.
The kicker of the dish were the toppings -- but they were poorly done. It's a shame and an irony that the flagship/name-bearing dish sucks.
The key to having fried ingredients in a soup is to fry to perfection and serve IMMEDIATELY. Katana-ya got the latter half right. However, the fried pot-stickers tasted like hollow nothingness - no substance.
The chicken was a poor excuse for karaage - was this pan fried or pan-reheated?
The egg was plain and hard-boiled -- no flavor/not soft boiled? What ramen style is this?
The chashu was overly lean and borderline tough. Seriously, what kinda style is this? Lean chashu? Show me the FAT!
IKURA/UNI DON: The idea of this is awesome. Ikura-don is one of the richest side-dishes for ramen. Top that off with uni? Heaveeen right? Somehow, this rubbed my taste buds in the wrong way. Was it the uni? The ikura? Something had a metallic aftertaste. *puts bowl down*
NOTE: Don't come in large parties. The group that left after we got seated looked disappointed. The restaurant is too small and understaffed for them to make you guys happy.
CONCLUSION: Although I went with no expectations, I still found this place sub-par and not very memorable. This might taste better if you've already got a good buzz going late night. I don't know why it was on 7x7, but hey, if you're around, might as well try it. -
Review from Emmy L.
San Francisco, CA
1/12/2012
I live within walking distance so I have gone here a few times. It is pretty good, but it does not blow my socks off. I would not take an out of town guest here, or proclaim it best food in the city. The atmosphere is casual, nothing spectacular.
The ramen is the clear highlight of the menu, although the basic offerings will not disappoint. The fact that I cannot even remember what I order besides ramen should be an indication that this place lacks the wow-factor.
Mehhh? -
Review from Cali H.
Updated - 12/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
I went here in May 2010 and I went back again in Dec. 2010. I tried alot of places in Texas and can't find a good ramen place. I felt like I was so deprived and definitely needed to go back! BBQ ramen is my favorite, but I got to try the Katana-Ya ramen. All time favorite ramen place for now.
Seating 2 people is faster so just leave your other friend home. LOL1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/31/2011
The place is small and is a character. Neon lights, outdated interior, and tiny sushi bar. Open late… Read more »
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Review from Jaclyn A.
Brooklyn, NY
1/4/2012
I cannot believe I haven't given Katana-Ya a review yet. Whenever I'm in the vicinity, I always come to Katana-Ya for good ol' ramen. I don't mind the wait. But just to inform you, it's a small place and the wait can be anywhere from 10 minutes to 45 minutes. I don't think wait has ever reached an hour because service is very fast. Best not to come in groups larger than 4 or you'll sit in separate tables.
Honestly, I've never looked at other menu choices except for the ramen. I went with my dad once and he ordered a rice meal with his ramen and split it with me. But I honestly cannot remember what the rice meal tasted because I was focused on the ramen.
I always order the miso ramen, which is exactly what you need on an especially cold day. Toppings are never scrimped on and they are absolutely tasty. Service is always good and staff is always friendly. They rush you with your food but gently so you can still enjoy it.
It's best to arrive during non-peak hours, right when they open at 11:30am and after 2:30pm and probably anytime after 9pm. -
Review from Whitney W.
San Francisco, CA
12/19/2011
Came here the second time yesterday and ordered butter corn ramen with soy base soup. It was good but I've had better. I can't really say that it's special because I've had better at other places. The first time I came here I shared a katana ya ramen with a friend, and it was good. We probably got the extra dense soup base but I can't really recall. So this review will only based on my experience from last night.
They do give you a good portion of everything, good amount of seaweed, bamboo shoot, relatively big piece of BBQ pork, and a lot of corn. It isn't cheap (~9-10 dollars) but acceptable for the portion. Soup base is good but again not super special..I can't say I had a memorable experience here...though I remember I seemed to like it a lot better the first time I came.
One thing that sort of bothered me was that the waitress seem to be in a hurry for us to order our food. They weren't too pushy but it'll be nice if they don't come check on us every 2 minutes when we're still looking at the menu. The bf added an egg to his ramen, that costed 1 dollar...not worth it unless you're really craving for an egg.
Note: Go 30 mins to an hour BEFORE you actually want to eat around dinner time (between 6-9pm). There is usually a line. It's located near union square so there's plenty to do while you wait. -
Review from Sandy L.
12/21/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Where do you go when you have a show at The Curran? KATANA-YA! This place always has a line and the restaurant is small.
We got here early, 5:30 and the restaurant was completely full. We got lucky and a table was just getting up and leaving so we were seated within 5 minutes once they cleaned the table. The interior is dark and a bit grungy but they deliver A-OK ramen and QUICK!
I actually think in terms of quality of ramen I prefer Izakaya Sozai in the inner Sunset or Himawari in San Mateo but when you're feening for ramen and getting off work DT, there isn't really any replacement except for Katana-Ya. We ordered the Katana-Ya Ramen with miso and seawood. The food came within 10 minutes of ordering hot and ready to be gobbled up. The boyfriend isn't a fan of this place because the taste isn't there for him but I think you get a lot of quantity and an overall decent bowl of soup. I've been there a handful of times and they have some inconsistencies but overall I keep coming back. The soup comes out hot and brothy, the noodles are OK and all of their meats and sides are given in generous quantities.
I think my 3 star is because theyre so concerned about getting people in and out that they start to lose the quality of the food. The broth was a bit too greasy, the seaweed salad while the taste was there, they just threw it onto the plate and had bits of seaweed dripping off the platter and some areas of the salad was more salty than others. There have been some days where I think theyve done an amazing job and others just OK. This night we went it was just OK.
Definitely worth going at least once since I do feel that this is one of the GOOD places IN San Francisco to have ramen, but if you're able to venture out there's GREAT places to have ramen. Feel me? -
Review from D C.
San Francisco, CA
1/7/2012
I've been here quite a few times and it has been very good. I've tried the Miso, Shio and Shoyu ramen. The Shio is definitely my favorite. Although there is usually a pretty good line, I've never waited that long. My favorite dish is the Katana-Ya ramen, since they have lots of different ingredients.
Be prepared - ramen here is a bit pricier, so if you have a few add-ons, the bowl can get up to $15. I'll continue to come here, but price-wise, I've definitely seen better. -
Review from Amy L.
Oakland, CA
12/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Ramen is pretty decent, nice and simple. Kind of disappointed at getting only one piece of meat in my big bowl of ramen though. I like their combination menu, where you can choose your noodle, (ramen, soba or udon) then your sides depending on the price etc. There's a pretty good selection. I think they have pretty authentic Japanese dishes, this is only based on what I have tried in Japan during a vacation I took with my friends. I am not Japanese, so take that was a grain of salt.
I have been here twice and both times really liked it. Their sashimi tastes pretty fresh. Food comes out quick. Can get super packed since its such a tiny place. There is usually a wait and since its in downtown, expect to wait somewhere between 15-30+ minutes. I'd recommend going early to beat the crowd or later...I've been wanting to try their fish gill dish, but they always seem to run out. =( -
Review from Vicky P.
San Francisco, CA
1/3/2012 3 photos
I went on Yelp to look for a good restaurant to eat at. Finally I saw that Katana-Ya had pretty good reviews and decided to see what the hubub was all about. Seeing that the reviews were very praising, I decided to go here the next day. It was small, but I didn't expect it to actually be that small. We came early so there were still some seats, but I noticed that the place was almost already filled up. Got seated by the window, and proceeded to choose our orders. The waitress (she's slightly older than the rest of the waitresses) sort of scared me with her "hurry-up-and-choose" tone... I ordered the Spicy Tofu Ramen. I leeched off of my parents' dishes. Mom got a Sukiyaki and Dad got he fried chicken and boy, was the fried chicken G-O-O-D. I enjoyed my ramen, although it was REALLY spicy for me, I still finished it because I ordered it. I mostly leeched off the fried chicken dish...
By the way, I didn't know that there were sizes for the bowls. The Sukiyaki came in a Large and the Spicy Tofu came in a Medium. Didn't know until we saw the check. It seems a bit pricy for a teenage girl like me, but the chicken was tasty. If I get another chance, I'd like to try the other ramen dishes. I'm willing to give it a try.
