Really didn't know what to expect. I saw from others that they are a bowl place all in takeout containers, but I hadto see it to believe it. Interesting concept... Chanko reminds me of a Hawaiian "plate lunch" takeout setup. Yes, they have more Ghibli decor than a Ghibli store, but the indoor/outdoor, quantity, and takeout vibe are very Hawaiian. Their Hiroshima style okonomiyaki is even better than some of the okonomiyaki that I've had in Japan, because the noodles are toothsome and the toppings more plentiful. I can see why people love their chicken here, it's got a great charred flavor. Still, not my favorite. But, for a kiosk and takeout place, it's decent. read more

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This place never disappoints. I have been a regular since the original Chop Chop Shop location. They have changed the menu several times over the years, but my favorite thing, by far, is their pork belly rice bowl. They've kept most of their original sauces even though they have different names. My go to is the pork belly cooked well with Chicago Lee sauce. The ambiance at their new location is dimly lit and mostly pleasant. They have a self serve model, where you order at a kiosk, grab your own utensils, seat yourself and someone brings your food out to you. There isn't much chance to ask for anything you need aside from going to the pick up counter, but this didn't affect our overall experience at all. read more

Chanko - Pork belly rice bowl - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Recently returned from Japan, where my most memorable meal was at quite an unexpected location. Basically, what could be called a japanese fast food restaurant called CoCoICHI where they served curry dishes. I ordered their Tonkatsu Curry, and it was divine. Having eaten many Indian curries before, but nevering having had Japanese curry, it was not at all what I was expecting. I knew that when I returned to the States, I would need to find a place that served Japanese curry. Luckily, I quickly found Chanko. I ordered the Curry with Veg and Chicken Katsu as the protein. The Chicken Katsu was just okay, a little on the dry side. If it wasn't for this mistake, they would get 5 stars from me. The curry, on the other hand, was almost indiscernable from what I tasted in Japan. It was exactly what I was hoping for. Will definitely be returning for my curry fix in the future. It turned out I had actually been to this restaurant about a year or two ago, but it was a lackluster sandwich place back then. I'm glad to find this new curry place in its spot. One thing to note that some people may not like is the loud music that plays inside the restaurant, as well as the almost indiscernable loud speaker they use to call when your order is ready. If it kinda sounds like they said something that might be your name, your order is probably ready :) When I was there, I found it entertaining :) read more

Chanko - Curry with Vegg, Chicken Katsu, ITO EN Green Tea - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

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The food and service were excellent! One thing I love about this restaurant is the creativity that goes into their food. Many restaurants lack creativity. This restaurant is spot on. I will definitely return. read more

Where else can you order Hiroshima-style Okonomiyake in the Tampa Bay? I liked the Chop Chop Shop, but I was very excited to hear that they were evolving into Chanko. Why? Because I ai Sushi stopped serving (Osaka-styled) okonomiyake years ago, and I wanted to eat non-sushi Japanese food. They have a fast service set up going on right now. You can order online or in the restaurant from touchscreens. Then they cook up your food and put it in takeout containers. You can either dine in or take your food home. I ordered from the touchscreens, and my food was ready in less than 10 minutes. There was plenty of seating available both inside or outside. I tried the traditional okonomiyake with katsu pork. It was a huge portion, way too big for me (and I was hungry and can put away quite a bit of food). It could have fed two easily. There's a thin crepe on the bottom, followed by a layer of cabbage, then a layer of thin noodles, then the meat, and then the sauces and tempura bits. I found everything to be very tasty. The katsu was nicely crispy and kept crispy despite the heavy drenching of Kewpie and house sauce. I generally find that most places use too much sauce and that their sauces are too sweet, and that was the case at Chanko (I felt that way about Chop Chop Shop too), but the savory-ness of the rest of the food helped balance everything. Just drink plenty of water, and you'll be fine. All in all, this is a great addition to Asian foods available in Tampa in general. In addition to the Hiroshima-style okonomiyake, they also have rice plates (should be pretty familiar to most Chop Chop Shop regulars and be a good option for the less adventurous eaters) as well as curry plates. They have a handful of Asian drinks (Calpico anyone?) as well as some beers. I'll happily return. read more

Chanko - Okonomiyake, Hiroshima style - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

The reviews don't lie, this place is amazing! The diner vibe is super cool and the decor was cool to look at. I got the Chicken katsu and japanese curry and both were very delicious! The workers were all very friendly. Will definitely be returning here!! read more

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I've ordered delivery from Chanko several times and the food is absolutely amazing! I usually get the curry with veggies add chicken katsu and it never disappoints! Today I walked in the restaurant for the first time and realized it's a self service restaurant. The vibe is amazing! Love the self service in that place! Definitely going back read more

I work right up the road and needed to kill sometime after I got off, so I decided to give Chanko a try. It's very cute, diner vibes. Watch the door as you go in, it's on the shorter side haha There's no front of house service to speak of. Just the kitchen and you order yourself on a kiosk. It makes it slightly impersonal but also no nonsense haha I ordered curry with chicken katsu. It was ready pretty quickly. They call it out at the end of the counter and all the utensils and stuff are there for you. I will definitely be back. read more

Chanko - Small Curry with Vegg and chicken katsu - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Second time coming here and was impressed with the quality of the food and good ambiance. It's a basic table service concept. Order at the kiosk and they bring your food to the counter. No complaints about the portion size. Wish they would stop serving food in plastic containers. The best sauce is the chanko spicy, it's a spicy mayo aioli with a hot chili sauce base. Impressive and different than other sauces in town. There's an Elvis booth haha supposedly where he sat over 50 years ago when this restaurant was a diner. Cool place with good Asian fusion. read more

Very cute interior and exterior, never would think a Japanese place would be so good in a 50s shell diner. The food was fine, I just with the okonomiyaki wasn't noodles. I would have preferred it more traditionally with cabbage, I found my self eating the toppings and not caring for the noodles. That being said, the chicken was great. The sauces were great. Just disappointed in the okonomiyaki as a whole. read more

They give you so much food for the cost and it was delicious. My favorite is the pork belly. read more

Chanko - Kimchi Mentaiko - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Came here with high expectations but instead literally high failure... It's a self ordering system- I get that .. but absolutely NO service/ nor assistance. Came on a Thursday evening around 8pm. Vibe is great... Cleanliness zero. Most all the tables were / are dirty & sticky. The A/C doesn't work ... Sweat shop torture.. Food taste ? Mediocre.. if you would like to try it go ahead and try for yourself but my pictures attach speak for themselves. No thanks - bye Sad - sorry NOT sorry ... read more

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Where to begin...well we have been frequenting Steve and Olivia's establishments since Chop Chop Shop started in Seminole Heights. Now Chanko- our loyalty has never waivered and neither has the quality of their food. By far Chanko is one of the most consistent restaurants in Seminole Heights. The flavors are fabulous- and fulfilling. Being a creature of habit I always go for the Karaage Rice and my husband loves the pork belly rice - both with egg! Their sauces are out of this world too. Like- amazingly tasty. We opt for the Chanko sauce and the Bangkok (spicy) - both are our faves! Love love love it! The Beef rice is amazing too! Katsu is amazing- Shrimp rice is too! The slaw and pickles are always spot on and add great flavor to whatever you have. You really cannot go wrong with Chanko- there is an enormous amount of love and crafted flavors in their menu. Steve Sera is a force to be reckoned with in Tampa's culinary scene and his commitment to quality is 5 stars itself. If you haven't tried Chanko- what are you waiting for???? read more

This place popped up on one of my socials and knew I needed to check this place out. I didn't realize till I was almost there that it was located where Chop Chop was at. Got my meal to go. I got a Hiro Classic Oko, bf ordered Japanese curry with pork katsu and I got a side order of Menchi katsu. Everything was soooo delicious! Substantial portions too so definitely shareable. Will have to come back and try other plates. Come hungry! read more

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Chanko has replaced Chop Chop, and while it appears some food items will be very similar, some things are very, very different. Because it is a new (to me) concept, I tried the Chop-Chop Style Okonomiyaki, of which there are four different options. The Miyagi I ordered was described as a base of crepes, cabbage, leeks, bean sprouts, fried egg, okonomi sauce, kyurizuke, crushed wasabi peas, Japanese mayo, tempura crisps, furikake, and nori powder. To me, it seemed like a base of a crepe, then shredded cabbage, then noodles, then another crepe, then a fried egg, then topped with chicken, scallions and sauce. It needed a bit more sauce, but other than that it was delicious, and very filling. I've never had anything quite like it, but I would definitely order it again. A couple of notes - if you order online, make sure to order from their site directly, because food delivery services charge more for every item. The restaurant has gone with completely touch screen in-store ordering or online ordering - so place your order ahead of time, and go left when you walk in to the pick-up counter. There are still tables you can eat in at. Parking is available both south and north of the store. read more

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This place was amazing. The food, the music, and the ambiance couldn't have been any better. Everything was so delicious! I tried the: - tiger slaw; this was my favorite item. I should've ordered 2. - Karage; perfectly crunchy and the paired perfectly without making the outside loose it's fried texture. - side noodles had great flavor - pork belly; I wish this was way more crispy The portions were very generous and inexpensive. This is a self-service restaurant. You place your order on the kiosk right when you walk in. They have a really cool retro vibe. There's indoor and outside seating available. I highly recommend checking this place out next time you're in the Seminole heights area. read more

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Excellent...Japan in Tampa. Bring your date,cat ,dog,grandma!!! 101% love it and highly recommend it. Flavor... super yummy Authenticity...It's as close as u get. Cost..Fair Portions...Great Ambiance...Hip and coexist culture. read more

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Pretty good spot. Real unique. The old diner ambiance really makes it feel like how it's always been. Real Tampa type place. The service isn't really present. It's automated. Not necessarily a bad thing but you really have to know what you are getting. Food is unique. Not your average Asian place. Excellent Japanese cuisine. read more

Such a wonderful surprise! Everything was flavorful, hot, and delicious. Loved the ordering on screens and contactless service. Staff were quick and clean. read more

Great, unique food in an old school diner atmosphere. Generous portions. Would go again. read more

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Chanko is in a very old diner, over 50 years old, originally Nicko's, followed by Ayres. Having lived in Tampa for over 50 years, I actually remember this diner! Elvis actually ate here when in Tampa, and the booth has a sign where he dined. It's a very different concept here, with no servers. You place your order on one of four monitors located at the diner counter, with full color pictures of everything on the menu, and the only mode of payment is credit card. It was 'different', but I do prefer a human server to self serve. I ordered the Kimchi Mentaiko Okonomiyaki with fried squid, which I've never had, nor heard of, but reading the ingredients, I knew I would love it. It was layered with a crepe, Yakisobi noodles, cabbage, leeks, bean sprouts, fried egg, furiyaki, seaweed flakes, Tempura crisps, fried kimchi, and mentaiko mayo. The squid was fried baby squid, so was it mostly tentacle, my favorite part. The combination of the numerous ingredients was a taste explosion in my mouth with every bite! The tempura squid was crispy the entire meal. The portion was huge, and I took home over half, easy to do, because the meal is served in a to go container with a lid. My lunch friend ordered grilled chicken Japanese curry with vegetables, medium heat. The curry sauce was served separately in a pint container, and the sliced grilled chicken was over rice with a side of yellow pickled daikon. Again, a very generous serving, and he was happy enough with his meal that he would order it again, and I can say that about mine as well. In one word, delicious! read more

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Omg, I visited just yesterday and I have really bad allergies...I'm allergic to a lot and they have where you can select what you're allergic to...this is 1 of my biggest scares when going out to eat is them takin my allergies seriously bc mine are life and death some of them and I REALLYYYYYY APPRECIATE THIS ‼‼‼‼‼‼ Thank you all so much and THE FOOD IS AMAZINGGGGG WE ARE DEFINITELY COMING BACK THANK YOUUUUUUUU read more

Tried a bit of everything and the food was 10/10. Definitely more of a take out spot because you will leave smelling like food if you stay and eat inside. The prices were amazing for the amount of food you get and the Chanko sauce was also a must! read more

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This place is so unassuming. It's located in a classic diner turned into a Japanese haven. You walk in and there are touch screens to order on. It's straightforward and easy. The menu ordering offers photos of what you are getting and there is a list of sauces to add on. You pay with your card, put a name and you are on your journey to some amazing food. When it's ready, your order is called and you grab it from the end of the counter. There you will find utensils and cups (& saki shot cups). I got the grilled chicken curry and it was amazing. I poured some of the curry broth/sauce over my entree. Wow. The Japanese pickle yellow things are unlike I've ever had before. My kids got a rice plate and didn't want their slaw...I dumped that on top for some extra crunch. This place is seriously good. There is a large assortment of sakis and Japanese style sodas for sale, as well as some beers. We had a Yuzu saki and it was very yummy. It went well to cleanse my palate between bites of deliciousness. We went with our family (13 of us) in the afternoon and we found tables pretty easily together. This place is a gem in Seminole Heights! read more

Chanko - Ordering counter - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

We ordered from this restaurant on DoorDash. We wanted to try something new, and honestly knew nothing about the food. We took chances with the sauces. This was some of the best food we've had in a very long time. We highly recommend it. read more

I'll change this to 5 stars when they start including chopsticks in uber eats orders. I love Chanko but for whatever reason they cannot read notes about including chopsticks. Neither can the uber drivers. ‍ read more

Last weekend, we decided to check out Chanko for their Japanese curry. The curry was very good, the experience left a bit to be desired. We arrived around noon Sunday to grab lunch. We both had never been and had heard good things about the Japanese curry. The automated ordering system was unique. We entered our order and when we went to send it, it disconnected and failed. We retried a few times and it continued to disconnect. There is a service button, which we pressed, but nothing happened. The guys in the back looked at us, but did not come out to assist. We moved over to the next ordering station and reentered our order. This time it worked. We both went with curry w/veg and katsu chicken. I went with spicy and added an egg. I also ordered a fountain drink. We sat down and waited for our food. There were two other tables in the restaurant, so it wasn't busy. One of the cooks came out and called my name and handed me a cup that was already sitting on the counter. Seemed odd as I could have grabbed it easily. I grabbed my drink and he called our name for food shortly after. The order was served in togo containers even though it was to be eaten in the restaurant. This may be for efficiency, but it doesn't highlight the food well. The katsu chicken is steaming with the rice losing its desired crispiness. The egg was fried hard and buried under the chicken. A runny yolk would be a nice option or even a poached egg. The curry itself was very good. It was rich, slightly sweet, and had great depth of flavor. The katsu chicken was good and complimented the curry well. I enjoy the pickled veggies as well. Overall, I enjoyed the food but not the experience. I would order the curry again for take out, but wouldn't eat at the restaurant. The concept is unique, but we just didn't really enjoy it. read more

Delicious food, great Katsu chicken with spicy sauce, the ordering process seem less and fast, and the environment and music is original. I will try Japanese curry next time.Chicken Katsu read more

Chanko - Northeastern looking dinner - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Let me start off by saying the vibes here are nothing short of perfect. Old school diner layout, killer Japanese playlist with a ton of songs from anime outros, moody vibrant lighting and a ton of awesome decor. Ordering is made super easy with these big touch screens on the counter where you first walk in. If you need any help, there are printed descriptions and definitions by the kiosk and a service button should you want to speak to a person. Everything looked so delicious, it was hard not yo add it all to cart! We ordered the karaage, chicken Katsu miyagi okonomiyaki, and chicken Katsu curry. Got these fun canned peach jelly sparkling sake, watermelon soda and yuzu soda to drink. The food... the FOOD! Smelled incredible when we opened the containers. Tasted amazing and the portions were so big. Their signature, the okonomiyaki we ordered was layers of crepe, yakisoba noodles, cabbage, leeks, bean sprouts, egg, furikake, seaweed, tempura crisps, Japanese pickles, wasabi peas topped with chicken Katsu and Japanese mayo. It was incredible delicious, so filling abd the portion was HUGE. Everything comes in plastic lidded containers, perfect to take home all the leftovers there were. The karaage was delightfully crunchy, juicy and flavorful. And a lot of pieces in the order. The chicken Katsu was crispy and paired perfectly with the curry, veg and rice. One of my favorite foods, some of the best I've had. Can't wait to eat leftovers today! read more

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Cool place with Japanese decorations. I believe used to be a dinner and turn into japanese curry/okonomiyaki restaurant. Ordered tofu curry and taste japanese curry flavor with spice that will stay in your mouth. Also pork belly which is also so good. The self serve order, cashless in my opinion will be the future in restaurants business, make them cook good food and let customers judge it. Portion wise is pretty good. Drink selection from sake and sangria is enough for this space. You have to try it ! read more

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This was a gem High quality shrimp Fresh Tasty Chicken Katsu was also great Would def recommend Prices well read more

Spicy the Bangkok sauce is way too spicy and I normally like spicy foods. Yelp said a minimum of 85 words so I am trying to fill space read more

Chanko - Fried Fry Squid Rice Plate - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

My boyfriend and I eat here nearly every weekend now. A friend of mine suggested Chanko recently and it has been one of the best recommendations I have received. The food is overall amazing. I have tried multiple menu items now and every time my expectations have been exceeded. Aside from the delicious food, the atmosphere is equally awesome. I can't recommend this place enough. read more

I've been going to this place since before they were Chanko. They used to be called Chop Chop Shop, and they had a multitude of different amazingly tasty dishes. And although I do miss their old menu, their new menu is just as tasty! Their karage is amazing, their okonomiyaki in this unique style is so tasty it'll leave you wanting more! The dining area is also super cool, in this unique old dine in location. It is a self serve style, which makes me miss the old days where there was someone constantly bustling in and out of the kitchen yelling out orders. It's very fast, delicious, and good portions. If you're in the area you simply cannot miss out on this place. I want to go back and try all their other dishes! Love Chanko so much! Secret tip: do not miss out on their Chanko sauce. Actually to die for. read more

Chanko - Karage Rice Bowl Okonomiyaki - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

This was our first time at Chanko. Pulling into the parking lot, I'm loving the entire scene they've created. The old school diner plus the string lights, it looks great. I wish we had come when the sun was down! Inside, the decor is just as cool and we felt like we could be in a hip hole in the wall in Japan. We ordered 3 different entrees, the portions were great and the flavors were all over the place yet cohesive. We will be back for sure to try some other menu items. We loved the karaage chicken over rice especially. My wife had the Hiroshima classic with shrimp and really enjoyed it. I had the kimchi one with pork belly and it was very good also. Lastly, I love the self service concept and the ability to browse the menu on the giant touchscreen at your leisure. read more

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i wouldn't have thought a diner was this super wholesome japanese street style restaurant! the booths were kept, somewhat hard for larger groups as they call your name for pick up but still very different. there are kiosks tablets once you walk in with menus alongside, very easy to navigate & you can choose add-ons or replacements which was very nice! it's still a pretty small area, enough space for multiple groups & outdoor seating as well as a large parking lot. we ordered a hiro classic okonomiyaki, kaarage rice plate & fried squid rice plate. our items were called around 10-15 minutes & in a box for easy to-go packing up. they had small plastic cups where the pick up are along with chopsticks & napkins while the drinks station had lids & straws. the okonomiyaki was very tasty, the sauce was so flavorful & every bite was just as good as the last one! loved the cabbage & yakisoba combo with the crispy squid & egg. the kaarage was also so tender & seasoned! i tried a bit of the spicy curry & that was also really aromatic & yummy! overall, i really enjoyed my time here with all the cute plushies, stickers, & whole vibe of the restaurant. it's really great for friends & families too! i'd definitely come back to try more when i'm back in tampa! read more

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Food was tasty, I would recommend it. Liked the flavor profiles . Elvis used to frequent this spot as a 1950's diner! Service was fast and friendly. read more

Chanko - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida

Self service kiosks made ordering quick and easy- with pictures and modification options. It is hard to hear the callouts on the microphone inside the diner- sounds like a pilot talking on your flight. We ordered the chicken katsu curry, fried squid rice bowl and two of the okonomiyakis. The okonomiyakis are massive and can definitely feed two people. They do not skimp on any of the protein. I got a side of the Chanko sauce which is a delicious gochujang mayo. Definitely worth going! read more

Such a cool concept! It is a retro diner that is now renovated into modern Japanese cuisine. The juxtaposition of those two concepts make it such a cool dining experience. When you walk in you order from a touch screen self pay system (think Wawa) and the food was fast and delicious. It's all very self serve, you get up and get your own food from the counter and sit yourself. It was soooo yummy- I got the okinomiyaki with tofu and it was HUGE! Enough for two servings. Great value for the price! I can't wait to come back and try other menu items. read more

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100% I love it. I got two dishes and sake and a peach jelly shot for 56 and in my option for how much and the quality I'll happily pay. The atmosphere is a perfect night out very cute. And the staff amazing. This place blew my expectations read more

Chanko - Chicken Kaarage - Japanese Near Me - Tampa, Florida