Food nails comforting pub-style Japanese. A fun atmosphere, patient, helpful and personable service.

G-San Kitchen was really nice! The staff was super friendly, and the food came out pretty quick. I ordered the tonkotsu ramen, and my partner tried the chicken katsu curry with rice, which I think is a new addition to the menu. For appetizers, we got the takoyaki and the chicken curry bao buns and everything was delicious. I will say, for the price, the portions are really generous, especially for the entrees. Some of the flavors were a bit on the subtle side, the curry chicken katsu rice platter could have used a bit more seasoning or spice. Regardless, the tonkotsu ramen was my personal favorite. I'd say it's absolutely worth a visit if you're looking for a great, cozy meal at a good value! read more

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Came here with a friend for a weeknight dinner without too many expectations and it ended up being a really solid meal. We arrived around 7pm and it wasn't busy at all, just an easy evening. The interior is clean with some fun Japan themed decor, and the space works well for pretty much any occasion whether you're with family, friends, or even dining solo. The waitress was nice overall. One small thing is that the big menus never really got taken away, even after we ordered and even after the food came out. We eventually just handed them over ourselves since they were getting in the way of the table. Nothing major but just a small thing to note. When you sit down they bring out a complimentary little bowl of fried crackers with a spicy seasoning on top. I personally have a low tolerance for spice so it wasn't really for me, maybe a 4 out of 10 on my end, but if you can handle heat you might enjoy it more than I did. The ramen though was really good. We got the donkatsu pork ramen, solid 8 out of 10, and the chicken katsu ramen which was a 9 out of 10. The broth was so deeply flavorful and savory and they add corn to the ramen which I personally loved. We left completely full and satisfied. I'll definitely be back to work my way through the rice plates next. read more

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I went here tonight and everything was great! The food was good, the staff was very patient and kind to my grandparents, and I loved how cozy and quiet the atomosphere was. read more

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Such good service for a party of 7! We dined on a Saturday evening and were seated straight away. Our orders came very quickly, and everyone was pleased, leaving no bowl or plate untouched. My Japanese in-laws remarked the miso soup was too strong, but otherwise enjoyed an authentic Japanese meal away from home! The house sake was excellent, as were the edamame (not pictured because it was already eaten!) and tempura. In addition to groups, this would also be a good place for date night. read more

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Foodie Friyay! Newish spot on the Delmar Loop, G-San Kitchen, is serving up Japanese dishes. Chef-owner Gavin Gao, who likes the casual vibe of izakayas, aims to bring a unique pub experience to University City. Gao owns bubble tea eateries currently but wanted to open a spot offering whiskey, sake, wine, and Japanese beer. G-San offers katsu, skewered meats, ramen and other various veggies, appetizers, rice plates. We started with edamame, shrimp dumplings and spring rolls. I had the shrimp rice plate and shrimp skewers. My shrimp were plump and huge. Our server was knowledgeable about the menu because you know foodies, we have a lot of questions. Ha! read more

G-San Kitchen - Japanese Near Me - University City, Missouri

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If you're looking for delicious food with an extensive menu of Asian dishes, G-San is for you. The Ramen was perfect! The chicken wings were good, the shrimp rice entree was huge and delicious! The menu doesn't have any descriptions but the staff was super helpful! read more

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Delicious! Not crowded at all Friday evening. Food was delicious! I had an amazing beef ramen, my daughter absolutely loved her chicken katsu ramen, and everything came out so quick. Great mood lighting if you're looking for a date night spot read more

G-San Kitchen - Tonkatsu - Japanese Near Me - University City, Missouri

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I've always wanted to try authentic ramen and wanted the experience, the atmosphere, the vibe, and the incredible taste and I can't look anywhere else except G-San if I'm in Missouri! I had the Spicy Pork Katsu Ramen and it was to die for! Everything about this local restaurant, from the sweet waitress, to the music and decoration, to the food made with homestyle cooking, oh this place will always bring me back. read more

Very nice & quiet atmosphere. Decent service. Soup of the tonkatsu ramen was bland with no unami flavor. Chicken yakitori was nothing like what we expected for a yakitori. The chicken meat were poorly seasoned & grilled with butter. Unagi rice platter was good, but there is nothing special about it. read more

G-San Kitchen - Unagi Rice Platter (Eel) - Japanese Near Me - University City, Missouri

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After martial arts practice, some of the group decided to grab late dinner in Delmar Loop. After walking around trying to decide what we truly want, we decided to try this place out. One of the guys pointed out the look from the outside (the flashing lights and decor) so it gave us a reason to go in. We were sat down very quickly, and was able to order quick. I got an order of gyoza and Chicken Katsu Ramen. My friends got Spicy Pork Katsu Ramen. The food all came out at the same time, and they were good. The service was good, they came by periodically asking if everything was good. I will have to return to try other things, and nice to know a spot that is open after a bit of kung fu read more

G-San Kitchen - Chicken Katsu Ramen - Japanese Near Me - University City, Missouri

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Finally got to try out the new Japanese place in the Delmar Loop. This place is an izakaya style restaurant and for those who are not familiar, it offers small plates prepared in the grill. In addition, there are also ramen and katsu rice platters. The space is nice and spacious with cute Japanese decoration. I really enjoyed the vibe. There are plenty of seats so you don't really have to worry about not having a spot. To be honest, the food did not impress me that much. However, for the price, I would say the portion is pretty decent. My favorite is the chicken katsu ramen. The ramen is pretty good compared to other ramen spots in the city. The chicken and pork katsu were a little dry for my taste. The grilled oysters were good and flavorful. I highly recommend you check it out. Overall, I would give it a 3.5 out of 5 and will probably return for the ramen. read more

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This was the worst "Japanese" restaurant I've had out of all that I've tried so far. The egg in the ramen was cold, straight out of the refrigerator, already soft boiled. The "Spicy Pork Katsu" was as mild and bland as can get. The ramen was clearly prepackaged, had no flavor but still left a bad aftertaste. The appetizers must've been prepackaged and microwaved. They tasted artificial and anything but authentic. The staff, all Indian, were very judgmental. They constantly stared at you while eating and talked about you every bite you take. Took two bites of the ramen and left. It was dinner time, I hadn't eaten in 24 hours, and I was hungry. It was that bad. read more

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What a hidden spot on Delmar! The entire staff was so kind and helpful. That was probably my favorite part of our experience. Everyone was quick to help and attentive. The restaurant itself was much dimmer than I'd prefer, but I could still read the menu and see my food--so who can really complain? I got the chicken Katsu Rice Platter and was not really impressed. For the price, I wish my miso soup weren't so overly salty and the side dishes were larger portions. The rice was really cooked and came in a heaping amount. The sauces for the Katsu were delicious. And the chicken Katsu itself was good, but not so memorable that I'd go back for it. The dish that blew me away was the beef rice my friend ordered. The beef was very tender and well seasoned. It was perfectly paired with fluffy rice and lettuce underneath. I will go back specifically for that dish. read more

G-San Kitchen - Beef rice platter - Japanese Near Me - University City, Missouri

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So it's try something new Sunday. So why not try ramen. This place is ideal for anyone who likes to sit and talk. Upon arrival it was music playing that wasn't too loud or anything. I think it would be a great outing if you wanted to sit and enjoy your surroundings. We got the beef ramen and the tonkotsu ramen to go. I love how they seperated the soup and the ramen when you have it to go. If gives you time if you were new to ramen to add as much as you liked or as less as you liked. We tried the soup and immediately poured it into our ramen! Well done indeed. I can't wait to try more. read more

G-San Kitchen - Beef ramen (non spicy) - Japanese Near Me - University City, Missouri

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Let me start with the food quality, so delicious. Pictures is the chicken and pork Katsu. Both are so delicious and made to order! Their kitchen is visible from certain tables and you can see them make it fresh. The presentation of the meal is stunning every time. The restaurant itself is clean and played kpop music on a loop (a non issue if you don't mind). I truly wish this restaurant had more customers because it seems to be family owned. It seems that they are the first choice for Katsu because there is a more modern restaurant with more foot traffic across the street. Don't get me started on the customer service. The waitress who has tended to us has always been nice and attentive. She is very receptive to meal adjustment. Has never made a nasty face when asked to be given extra sauce or no soup. She also will nicely explain what the sides are and give her suggestions on what to get if you ask. I hope this review can get a few people inside, they deserve it. read more

G-San Kitchen - Chicken Katsu - Japanese Near Me - University City, Missouri

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Quick and friendly service! The ambiance is cozy and warm, perfect for a cold autumn evening! The food was well made and tasty - we ordered a lot of different items and enjoyed all of it! Will be coming back to try more! read more

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The service when we walked in the door was great. We were also the only people there at 12:15 pm on a Saturday. So that was a little bit of a red flag but whatever we'll try it. The food was not fantastic. We tried a wide variety of things and nothing hit the mark. Overall the place felt stale, the folks that came in while we were there left before their food arrived. Probably won't return. read more

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Location on the loop. Overall an ok place to get some food. There was no wait getting a table. The menu is quite large so I cannot speak for the quality of everything, but the food we received was just average in quality. Service was fast. We could parked on one of the side streets of the loop and walked for less than 5 min. The restaurant itself was quite empty with some Japanese decorations throughout. Both the dishes were $15 dollars which I think it a little pricy for what it was. The pork katsu dish was decent but the beef dish was somewhat plain. The menu is quite large though there may be some other dishes which are higher in quality on the menu. read more

G-San Kitchen - Pork katsu rice plate - Japanese Near Me - University City, Missouri

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Visited for a late night dinner. The staff were very attentive and polite. The space was cleanly and spacious. Orders placed by QR code which was convenient. Our food was served promptly and plated very nicely. I ordered the chicken Katsu ramen, my partner, the pork Katsu. The chicken was nicely breaded - meal was overall tasty. My favorite was the house dressing on the salad. So delicious!! read more

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I came here couple of days ago, and the overall experience was okay. I was looking for a new Japanese restaurant in the area, and I found this place. From the outside, it looked like a hole-in-a-wall establishment, and I love that kind of vibe cause I know that place serves delicious food! But, when I came here, the floor was passable and overcooked. The chicken karaage and the pork cutlet were both overcooked and dry. The service was good, and the staff was attentive and quickly got my order. The ambiance is cute and exciting. read more

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Amazing ramen and appetizers. This place has some good ramen that is different from other places with delicious appetizers that pairs great with the ramen. read more

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Great fast service! The portion size was HUGE! We had so much left over! Fresh Flavors and hot Ramen on such a cold day. Authentic restaurant with great ambiance! read more

G-San Kitchen - Chicken Ramen - Japanese Near Me - University City, Missouri

this place is both great and terrible. some items are fantastic and others are vomit inducingly bad. It's like a dice roll. The Sapporo is stale, and the garlic skewers are spicy as ghost peppers. Everything is just wrong. If you're looking for authentic Japanese, you'd have better luck with 7/11 sushi. Personally, I'll never come back... Maybe. Maybe I will. the Karage and Tempura is very good... It's WRONG, but it's good. I feel like this is what you'd get if you had a reality show where different chefs looked at a photo of food they never had and tried to replicate it with no info. read more

5 stars because I think this place has potential. The food was good, especially the two platters. Some flavors were more Chinese than Japanese to us, but we really enjoyed this meal. It feels like an Izakaya you can go to with lots of friends to drink beer. Service was decent considering they just opened a couple weeks ago! read more

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I happened to walk by and didn't even realize they were open at first, but upon realizing they were, I figured I'd stop in for dinner. I love Japanese food and this place didn't disappoint. I didn't have a reservation (not sure if they take them) but since I was by myself I sat at one of their bars which was just a two person table against the wall which I didn't mind. I was still able to sit by myself which I prefer unless I'm with friends. Anyways- the whole vibe was pretty cool. Loved the decor. The building was formerly home to Perfect Taste and they've definitely given it a face lift. I like that you can just order online to your table. My favorite items I ordered were the wagyu (melts in your mouth and the flavor is amazing) and the fried matcha ice cream! Can't wait to go back and try more of the menu! read more

G-San Kitchen - Wagyu and zucchini skewers - Japanese Near Me - University City, Missouri

Everything was amazing. Was looking for a Japanese place and we parked right in front of one. We shared the beef rice platter between 3 of us. It was enough for the entire family when combined with 6 gyoza (really good) and 2 fried shrimp (wish they took the shell off for you). They have a homemade chili sauce on the table too that I was really good. We finished up with some fried ice cream wish topped off an incredible meal. Only 60 bucks after tax and tip to feed my fiance and our 5 year old. Highly recommended. read more

G-San Kitchen - Japanese Near Me - University City, Missouri

Woof. This did not taste good. There aren't many options. Super cheap canned (pickled?) bamboo shoots in my ramen kind of permeated everything, the broth was pretty gross. I tasted my husband's chicken and it smelled a little like a wet dog. We couldn't really finish it. Yuck. read more

It is a cute restaurant with lots of posters from Japan. Looks a bit messy as there are a LOT of them. Food is delicious. However the restroom is dirty and floor is sticky. read more

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Overall a fine place to get food. The tonkatsu we order was alright -- it felt reheated since parts of it were cold and not very crispy. We enjoyed the tempura veggies, the ramen was pretty good as well, and the service was normal. I did like the aesthetic plating! read more

G-San Kitchen - pork katsu, tempura veggies, ramen - Japanese Near Me - University City, Missouri

Such a bad experience. (1) we sat and waited 20 minutes to order (2) when we finally ordered, it took them 30 minutes to come tell us that some of the items we ordered were not available. 30 minutes to tell you they don't have what you ordered? Where does this take more than 5 minutes? At that point we did not mind because my friend had to leave. She chewed on a bbq skewer on her way out. It was super dry. (3) we saw other friends there. They waited 30 minutes for ramen. (4) the worst part were the scallops. The smelled and tasted like burnt plastic. I spit them out. (5) then came the check. They never came to pick it up, so I walked it to the cashier myself. People are nice but not trained well. How can you have a team of 5 waiters just sitting around and take 20 minutes to take an order, 30 minutes to tell customers that what you ordered is not available, and not come back for the check?! read more

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This restaurant came up on a STL based page on Instagram and thought the food looked mouthwatering so we decided to try and weren't disappointed! They have a great selection of menu, not the usual/basic japanese restaurant menu for sure. Highly recommend their spicy beef rice platter and spicy beef ramen for mains, and red oil wonton for starter if you're into spicy food like we are. The servers are super friendly. The only downside of this place is that there was only one bathroom light that worked when I was there so it was very dark. Overall, I highly recommend this place! read more

The scallions and the spicy pork katsu ramen are so yummy! I wasn't a huge fan of the spicy beef ramen or the tempura vegetables and seafood. And I thought the chicken curry buns were good-but not enough to get again. Every server I've had has been really nice, but I can tell it's a newer restaurant. I tried to order just a side of ramen broth and they couldn't do that. And I went with a large group and they accidentally gave my spicy ramen to some kids in my party. I feel like that's an easy fix but because they had already choked down as much as they could, it was a confusing issue. But, it was finally resolved. The decor is EVERYTHING. I want to steal all of their anime posters. So cute. Even the bathroom!! read more

Puzzled by the negative reviews. My ramen was superb. Noodles were super fresh and very tasty. Broth was perfect. The pork was flavorful, tender, and with just a slight zing. Veggies were also fresh and sparkling. Service was attentive and careful. (I didn't get to try my friend's dish, but he looked very satisfied, and this dude know his sh*#.) Just one experience, but it was oodles better than a lot of the more trendy spots on the loop. I'll be back and we'll see if this perfection was just a blue moon anomaly. read more

Newly opened resturant Feb 2022. Went here twice already. I like it the first time and brought all my friends here last week. There were 8 of us and we ended up all getting teriyaki beef rice. The beef teriyaki rice is super delicious (best on Delmar imo) and def worth for the price, comes with miso soup. The owner is super nice as well. read more

Food was amazing and atmosphere was great. Definitely will be back over and over. I definitely recommend this place.

Went on a Sunday afternoon. Service was very good. We were greeted quickly and order was taken once we had reviewed the menu. We ordered a variety of plates and shared them. The plates came out randomly which was fine. Only had to remind the server once for a forgotten item. The food.... well hopefully it was just new opening jitters but it was a let down. The Tonkatsu was luke warm. The karage was fried too long. Most of the dishes had a curry flavor to them even when curry was not a flavor profile in the description. I do wish them the best of luck. read more

Service was excellent and the gyozas were fire! I had beef Ramen. Very nice. It was a lovely place.

Ordered the ramen, tasted heavy of dirty dishwater. Broth does not taste anywhere close to authentic ramen; tonkotsu ramen is supposed to be creamy. The ramen I received was extremely watered down. Not my cup of tea. read more

Horrible service. The server did not give a fuck about customer. Waiting time was long and food was extremely mediocre. Won't come back again. read more