YESSSSSS SIRRRRR Hear me loud and clear. Found this place just be driving. Cruising. One day rolled the dice and I'm glad I did. This place holds a special place in my heart. I'd come here alone on solo missions and this place makes it so easy to do so. Order at the counter with a kiosk. Pick up your food in a window and just enjoy. I've gotten almost everything on them menu and it just does not miss. The curry with pork belly is my favorite. Goes crazy. Big pot of curry. Give me a break. They are doing things special here. Brought the homies, everybody was happy. How could you not be, look at these photos. Psssh everybody else could learn a thing or two from Chanko. Celebrate birthdays, heartbreak and wins here. I will continue to do this. Chanko you are an anchor in my life. read more

Chanko - Curry No Veg - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Came here for lunch on a whim and it was fantastic! It was a bit crowded during lunch time and is a smaller space but we made it work! It's a self service station so you basically go up to the counter and order your food and pick it up when they call your name. It's a very modern Japanese diner type feel and I loved the decor in there. I was mostly ecstatic that they had my favorite Japanese street food, Okonomiyaki (savory pancake) as I cannot get it back home. They have other street food like beef bowls, katsu, katsu curry, etc and also drinks and sauces too. My husband and I had the following: Beef katsu curry - 8/10 - The beef was grilled well and we loved the smokey taste but it was just a tiny bit dry. The curry was legit!! We've been to Japan and had plenty of curry and the flavor was on point. It had a strong curry taste just how we like it and the potatoes and carrots were tender. I can't tell you how much we loved that curry! The meal came with rice and picked yellow radishes too. The radishes helped cut the heaviness of the curry with it's acidity. They give you a pretty huge portion as well too and we had plenty leftover to take home. Hiro classic okonomiyaki - 9/10 - It had a crepe base, yakisoba noodles, cabbage, leeks, bean sprouts, fried egg, furikake, seaweed flakes (aonoriko), tempura crisps, and house okonomi sauce, and Kewpie Japanese Mayo. I chose to have pork belly as my protein and when I tell you this was one of the most delicious things I've EVER eaten, I'm not lying! The portion size was huge and all the flavors were just WOW! The noodles were tender, the pork belly just melted in my mouth, and the combination of all the fresh, crisp veggies and sauces on top was chef's kiss. Everything worked so well together! I loved how they put tempura crisps on top because it needed that textural element. I loved how I could taste a little bit of acid as well because the okonomiyaki was pretty heavy but the acidity helps with it. Food didn't take long to come out and everything was fresh, hot, and steaming! Portion sizes were pretty huge and the price was worth it. We will definitely be coming back here again when we're in the area! read more

Chanko - Hiro Classic Okonomiyaki - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Love love this place!! As a person who sometimes hates small talk, the self service vibe is amazing. I am vegetarian so my options are limited but what they offer, hits every single time. Check this place out if you're ever in the area. read more

I must say this place has become one of my favorite places to eat at after just one visit. The vibes are so good, with it being a repurposed diner into an Asian restaurant. Not much seating inside but it's manageable and there is also outdoor seating if the weather isn't bad. The parking is also on the smaller side but there is nearby street parking as well. The food was so good at a decent price and we didn't have to wait too long to boot. The service was kind and everyone seemed to have a good time, would highly recommend. read more

Chanko - The inside is so vibey. - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Uhhhh amazing!! This is definitely going to be my new Japanese spot. You walk in and order on a kiosk. Wait maybe 5 minutes and the food is out hot and ready to eat! This is an introverts dream! Don't have to talk to one person if you don't want to. Spicy Karaage rice: 5/5 Beef rice: 5/5 Strawberry matcha soda: 5/5 Usually when I order spicy food I don't assist will actually be spicy but their sauce definitely is! Everything is so flavorful and I'm still thinking about it ever since. The place has all kinda of figurines and anime vibes so if you love anime, you will enjoy looking around! read more

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Situated inside of an old diner, Chanko offers traditional Japanese cuisine. They have an automated ordering by system. As soon as you walk in you'll be met with two screens to place your order. They provide pictures and printed descriptions of their sauces and seasonings. I ordered the katsu with curry and vegetables. It comes with three thick slices of daikon on top of a bed of rice. I haven't had katsu curry that good since I've moved. Seating can be limited as they do get a lot of foot traffic. There are additional seats outside. Beverages include Japanese sodas and regular fountain drinks. Once your order is ready, you go to the pick up window and grab necessary utensils. read more

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This might be known to others but definitely a new find for us. Efficient self-service model in an american dinner setting but serving japanese dishes, great food and more than AAAAMPLE but GENEROUUUUUUS portion. Hindi tinipid especially taking to consideration their prices for each dish. Suulit! We'll not shy away in recommending others to give this place a try if you're at the area. This is Chanko in Tampa. The beef with rice, chicken with noodles and some crispy stuff (dont know what it is called and lazy to look it up) were yum! read more

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This place is super cute and chill. The restaurant has a kiosk to order but if you have questions, the staff is very friendly. The food is very authentic and delicious. I have the Japanese curry with the chicken and it was so creamy and delicious. There is plenary of seating and the vibe was great. I would definitely recommend if you're looking for some great Japanese food. read more

Ordered on Ubereats since the prices were reasonable and the portions looked big! Overall, I would give this place a 3.5 on food but rounded up because of the reasonable prices. - Hiro Classic with chicken katsu: genuinely enjoyed this dish. It was very different from what I was used to and it had great flavor. The chicken katsu was delicious. The slaw and vegetables helped cut through some of the grease. Very big portion which makes it worthwhile ** GET THIS IF YOU COME HERE - Pork Belly Rice: simple and straightforward! Lots of fat and very filling. I really liked the Chanko spicy sauce but the overall dish wasn't memorable - Chicken Karaage on the side: they gave you great portions here! It was crispy and I loved the spicy sauce with it! read more

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There was very limited options when I visited. I don't know if it was the day but after seeing many reviews I was disappointed. The staff were very friendly and the wait time was short. Though my portion was good and the food tasted fine but I was expecting more. My friends' dishes did not turn out great. Their pork they ordered was very dry. I hope to have a different experience when I decided to visit again. read more

Chanko - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Absolutely incredible from start to finish! This place is so dope! Used to be an old diner & has been revamped! Ordering was easy peasy on the screens at the counter & our food came out so quickly! The chicken & rice with Chanko sauce was definitely some of the BEST I've had! Still dreaming about it & will be back when I visit friends in Tampa! Bonus little lore for you is there is a booth there where Elvis used to sit when he dined there! You absolutely have got to check this place out! read more

Chanko - Yumz! - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Oh my goodness. I came here to eat with my Dad (he found this spot!) and I am so impressed and pleased!! I created a vegan veg okonomiyaki with the customizations on the kiosk and my dad got the shrimp rice bowl. I will say, initially I was hesitant because I've made my own Japanese curry at home and I really didn't want this one to just be a copy and paste of the instant curry cubes (because it's not any more unique to me than making it at home) and I am so happy to report, the curry does have a typical Japanese curry flavor profile but it's definitely spiced and zhuzhed up and soo flavorful and spicy! basically, I could not replicate it. I was completely blown away by the vegan oko, it's HUGE (like probably going to take me 3-4 sittings to eat) and it's got crazy textures, cabbage, bean sprouts, noodles, tempura crunchies, the soft crepe, and of course the fried tofu. It comes out fast and hot off the grill. My dad said he liked his meal and would go back, so I would say overall, it was a 10/10 experience! Also I noticed a lot of cool people inside. I will be back to try the tofu katsu. read more

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Excellent food at a great price. Service was excellent. Come hungry. Good location that's close to downtown.

Really great concept, Charles's and self service, you order on the monitor and cashless payments. Grab your utensils, napkins and food as it comes out from pick up counter. You oh do clear your own table and throw out all your used containers, or can pack up left overs yourself. No waits very smooth, easy parking. Cute retro diner look with so many different Japanese / Asian drink options! Also lived the tofu and rice and their sauces! Kiddos loved the drinks and noodles and tofu! Would definitely recommend! read more

Chanko - Seating - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I'm from Orlando and one thing we're lacking is Japanese restaurants that aren't just sushi and ramen. While on a trip to the west coast for a concert I did some searching and Chanko hit 2 of my favorite dishes - curry and okonomiyaki. I wasn't prepared for the sheer awesomeness of the unique design of this place. It's a mullet - brick and mortar in the back and 50's diner party in the front. Stepping in it only gets cooler from there with retro Japanese toys and crazy decor everywhere. I honestly forgot to take pics of food because I was having too much fun staring at the stuff all over the walls. My anti-social self loves the low contact - order at kiosk, food pops out from the back. We ordered a hiroshima style okonomiyaki with a side of spicy veggie curry and mentaiko mayo and my friend got a shrimp rice box with their chanko sauce. All the proteins were cooked to perfection, the rice was fluffy and well furikake'd and that tiger slaw is addictively sour and sweet. The okonomiyaki was a bit more noodle-y than I expected as I really enjoy the cabbage batter more, but it wasn't a problem, more like a blessing in disguise, as it served as the perfect vehicle for the curry which was delicious and not just 'chuck in a roux cube and call it a day' taste. I'd love if they'd open up a location in Orlando but I guess this just means I need to come to Tampa more often! read more

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Stopped by here after a hair appointment close by in Seminole Heights and happy I did! The self service touchscreen order system was one of my favorite parts so I could really look at each menu option as a first timer. The old diner vibe was so cute and the Japanese decor was pretty. They had a very large selection of beers and sake, which I will definitely have to come back to try the lychee wine they had as an option! I decided to get the Hiro Classic Oko with beef and a beer. It came out so quick and the staff that was working the counter was friendly for our interactions. The Okonomiyaki was fantastic!!! The flavors were great, loved the crunchy tempura crisps on top and crepe at the bottom! The beef was also amazing - I loved the way it was prepared and the flavor combo was so good with the Hiro Classic. I'm a person that loves a lot of flavor and different textures in my meal and this did not disappoint!!! read more

Chanko - Hiro Classic Okonomiyaki with Beef - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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I love this place. If I lived in Tampa, I would definitely be a regular. I have stopped twice when in the area and loved it both times. Both of my visits, I ordered the okonomiyaki. It was recommended by one of my co-workers that lives in Tampa. Oh my god, was it delicious. I can eat a lot, but have not been able to to house a full order in one sitting. Sweet, savory, and umami flavors galore. I've gotten it with the teriyaki chicken both times and I loved it so much that it will be hard for me to order something different in the future. Crepe, noodles, chicken, eggs, and veggies make a hearty and delicious meal. read more

Our favorite place in Tampa - super friendly staff and fast service. The food is always consistently good and high quality. I love the rice bowls and the curry. Such a cute restaurant too with parking which is a plus in the area. Love getting takeout or eating in with friends. read more

We love Chanko! The food is delicious, the service is prompt and friendly, and the location is cool and welcoming. I would use the following three words to classify Chanko - "Yummy Manga Diner". We've eaten here roughly six times and the experience has been consistent. You order from a touchscreen at the counter and they call your name when food is ready. Our goto proteins are the chicken and the pork belly. We've tried all the various sauces and prefer the Chanko Sauce If you are getting a bowl, I would suggest noodles over the rice. The okonomiyaki is also a world class bowl. Enjoy! read more

Chanko - Exterior - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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I don't know what it says about me that I love a place where you don't have to talk to anyone to order... Getting to eat at Chanko is my favorite part of trips to Tampa - from the vintage diner vibes, to the quick mobile ordering, I love it all. Food comes out quick and hot, in HUGE portions! I can easily make 2 meals out of an order of their okonomiyaki pancakes or curry. The only way it could get better is if they opened an outpost in Orlando **hint hint** read more

Chanko - Tofu okonomiyaki - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

They changed the way they cook their pork belly. Not crispy now, and the fat was hardly rendered. One piece was only fat- yuck. I would appreciate bringing in some more veg choices as I am low carb and don't do noodles or rice. I love their tiger slaw, but it's got too much sugar for me - but that's why it tastes so good! I usually go for the pork belly- well, the way they USED to cook it. I understand they may not have a lot of call for fresh veggies for salads, but they could at least offer a braised cabbage side since they serve cabbage with the Okonomiyaki - (which I cannot ask for no noodles, or crepe, or rice puffs). I also got a side of karage which I would've liked to be the cutlet pictured with the curry rather than chunks all coated in breading - just because it would be a little less carbs in the cutlet. Still tasty, just needs some changes for us diabetics to enjoy. Maybe offer shirataki noodles? read more

The restaurant had such a cute and charming retro theme, creating a fun and nostalgic atmosphere. It operates with a self-order checkout system, making the process quick and efficient. Once your food is ready, they call you to pick it up. I ordered the Okonomiyaki Hiro Classic with grilled chicken, and while the noodles were absolutely delicious, the grilled chicken was way too salty. The overpowering saltiness made it difficult to enjoy the dish. If you're planning to try it, I'd definitely recommend choosing a different protein for a better experience. read more

Chanko - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Chanko in Tampa is an absolute gem for Japanese comfort food with a fun, retro twist. I ordered the grilled chicken and rice bowl, and my husband had the chicken curry. Both were very flavorful and served in impressively large bowls. The curry had just the right amount of heat, and the grilled chicken was tender and delicious. We also got sake and beer, which were affordable. The vibe is casual and modern with a cool diner-style setting. I loved ordering from the self-serve kiosks. I highly recommend checking this place out if you're in the area. read more

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The food here is incredible. This is easily the best chicken katsu that I have had. You must get it with their spicy Chanko sauce. It is really spicy, but add so much flavor. The katsu is on a bed of jasmine rice, and they even give you excellent pickled veggies on the side to eat with it. Additionally, this restaurant is known for okonomiyaki. Think of it like a pancake with vegetables and noodles and meat and eggs. You can't go wrong with that. Service is average as there is no interactions with anyone. You order your food at a kiosk at the front, sit down, wait for them to call your name, and take your order to your table. Additionally, they do not clean off any tables and you have to clean up your own table. Atmosphere is really nice as it feels like a diner. Seating is limited and it does get very busy at peak meal times. read more

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Amazing food! Great Atmosphere and the Owner seems like a really cool guy! I recommend the Karaage chicken bowl, it's been a staple to me for nearly a decade. read more

I am the Lorax and I speak for the trees. This place is subpar food at best. Don't let the nice decor fool you. The service is better than the food. read more

What a cool spot AND the food is good. I love that it's an old diner so it still looks like a diner inside and outside but with Japanese decor throughout. You order at the bar on computer screens and there are several of them so a bunch of people can order at once. Our food was ready so quickly, I think it barely took a couple minutes for it to be ready. Everything was really good. They have a parking lot and some outdoor picnic tables. read more

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Delicious food, short wait and nice atmosphere This was a last minute choice and well worth it. read more

Finally made it to Chanko, and I can't believe I waited this long to try this Seminole Heights gem! Known for their Japanese curry, this spot combines a cool train car vibe and retro diner decor with the ease of kiosk ordering and a takeout counter--such a laid-back yet fun experience. There's no table service - they'll call your name when your food is ready and you pickup your order from their takeout counter. I went for the vegetarian Japanese curry with fried tofu, and wow--SO good. The aroma was incredible, the flavors were rich, and everything tasted super fresh. Definitely adding this to my go-to list for cozy, delicious eats. If you haven't tried Chanko yet, you're missing out--trust me, this place is a vibe. read more

Chanko - Cool art on the outside of Chanko's building - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Damn, I really wanted to like this place. Katsu chicken is dry. The white rice was dry, the sauce that supposedly go on the hot chicken was cold. The coleslaw or whatever that is tasted stale. I lived in Japan and I was expecting much more. The one thing is the ambience is good. Other than that that one time is all I needed. read more

Never disappointed here! Walk into the old type diner order on the kiosk. It's all cashless pay with your card. A few minutes later your food comes out. Find a seat inside or out. Enjoy it. I got the marinated deep fried Chicken. Chico sauce, Japanese pickles, extra pickled cabbage, delightful. My husband went for the beef, curry, spicy and delicious even on the medium side. Choices of sake as well as fruit drinks, parking all around on the side. read more

Chanko - Karaage chicken - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Food 4/5: I ordered the original classic okonomiyaki. it was very tasty! More on the Americanized side of Japanese food. Flavors are very good though overall. The incorporate traditional Japanese toppings, however, is not cooked in the traditional way. However, still. Service 5/5: food came out very quick! You ordered on a screen. This place has really cool vibes! I like the modern Japanese decor that they had. There are plenty of seating. It's a fun place to visit. read more

Chanko - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Perfect chicken katsu curry. Very comforting meal. Service is good, you order from a kiosk and pick it up. I've been wanting to come to this place for so long because I think the set-up is so cool! The interior is super cool. I love that the restaurant is in a trailer car. I would definitely come again. read more

Chanko - Chicken katsu curry with vegg - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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I came here to treat myself to a solo date and it was perfect. The food was delicious--I ended up stuffing my face and still had plenty of leftovers to take home! The atmosphere is really unique; it has an authentic, retro Japanese vibe that I know my brothers would love. I will be coming back with my brothers to try ! Highly recommend for the cool aesthetic and great portions. read more

Chanko - ^Hiro Classic^ with beef - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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Surpassed expectations! We ordered the chicken katsu and the shrimp with rice for our entrees and then also ordered a side of chicken karaage. Everything we had was so delicious and tasty!!! I would get everything we had again. The entrees are definitely big enough to share between two people or have enough for lunch the next day. Super tasty food would order again would recommend! read more

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The portion size for this okonomiyaki is HUGE. I feel like 2-3 people could share one. It comes with a lot of fix-ins and toppings, so every bite seems different and interesting. I personally wish there was more cabbage, since it is okonomiyaki, but the food was still good. You self-order on their tablets and they call your name to pick up your order. The restaurant itself is so cute and filled with lots of retro Japanese decorations. read more

Chanko - Hiro Classic Okonomiyaki with Chicken Katsu - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

The Rundown: Modern Asian style in a retro diner feel, with self service kiosks and stellar options all around. The Review: Came here on a friend's recommend and Chanko did not disappoint! The old school diner vibe was cozy, perfect for the rainy day we were experiencing. Self-service kiosks were easy enough to use, and the pricing overall was reasonable for what you ended up receiving. The drink variety was very impressive as well! When the food arrived quickly and I was surprised at the size. You definitely get enough to eat and take home (they conveniently serve everything in takeout containers so you're good to go)! And the overall flavor was perfection. Reheating leftovers (I recommend toss in a pan on the stove) I am pleased to say you will still enjoy it. If you're in the area, it's a definite recommend. Come hungry, and for the full experience spend some time eating in it's unique environment. read more

Chanko - Obligatory bathroom photo. - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Nothing more I can say other than great food and not bad prices. I can honestly say for the cost of the food you get an extremely large portion that was absolutely delicious. I also enjoyed the nice Japanese retro theme of the restaurant as well. read more

Chanko - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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This continues to be the best place in town. Always a vibe, good employees, great food. Stoked to have this in the heights! read more

Chanko - Grilled chicken Chanko sauce - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

I am so impressed with this place! it's a Japanese diner style restaurant and when you go inside, you'll see a bunch of computers and this is where you order and pay. They then call your name when your order is ready so you dont have to interact with anyone if you dont want to (love that). The computers have every option you'll need including making any adjustments to what you order. I ordered the Chicken Katsu Rice Plate and a side of a few sauces. The chicken and rice was incredible and all of the sauces I tried with it were amazing as well. My friends all loved their food and we also tried some alcoholic beverages like an apple sake and lychee sake that were delicious! I am so excited to come back here soon! read more

Chanko - Chicken Katsu Rice Plate - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida