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Good place. My wife got the Gombei Dinner Special with the mackerel, my son got the Gombei Dinner Special with the beef teriyaki and I had the Salmon Teriyaki. Japantown is pretty far from where we live but the quality of Gombei's food is excellent and it more than justifies the trek. The croquettes in the dinner specials were particularly great this time. The Gombei staff is always kind, and parking, while usually tough nearby, was wide open on this visit. My only minor frustration on this order was that I usually love Japanese salad dressings and the dressing here isn't my favorite. That's a minor issue. Will be back!
Had a great meal here with a childhood friend. He praised their fried tofu, so I had to try it. The portion was huge and honestly, could have just eaten this as a meal. Also loved that my shrimp udon was not made with a pork broth, which made it more accessible for everyone.
This place has been a go-to for my family for probably 20 years. They provide a quality, condensed menu that hits every single time. I think it's my mom's fav Japanese restaurant in SJ, based on how many times she suggests coming here every time we drive down to visit my aunt in SJ. The service is great, quick and concise. On our last visit, I had tofu curry udon and it was fire. There is seating indoors and out and I recommend bringing cash or debit cards to avoid a CC fee. Highly suggest!
Gombei in Japantown is my go-to spot for homestyle Japanese comfort food. They've been around a long time, and it shows in the consistently tasty food. I enjoyed the pork cutlet donburi most this time, but the fish kama and chicken cutlet + spicy chicken combo were also solid picks from my party. The vibe is cozy and unpretentious, the portions generous, and the service friendly even when it's busy. Daily specials on the handwritten board add some fun variety, making it a reliable, no-fuss spot whenever you're craving good neighborhood Japanese food.
We waited about 10 mins for a table to open up so we spent some time catching up with friends outside. Seating was quick and we our drink orders were taken as soon as we sat down and settled in. I got the fried shrimp udon noodle soup and my friends got one of the specials that's written on the whiteboard in the back. The udon came out with perfectly golden crispy fried goodies and steaming hot soup. My friends' specials looked stacked and I stole some of the poki from my husband's order which tasted fresh. The girls got hot tea and the boys got their large Japanese beer. This place is where we go when this set of friends come into town so it's definitely a favorite spot in the friend group. They do great takeout too which we've done for family lunch in the past. This was my first time dining in and I loved the cozy diner feel! This is definitely one of those spots we'll keep coming back to.
My friend and I came here on a Saturday for an early lunch. Food: I ordered the tofu curry rice plate. It came with a good amount of tofu, and it was pretty good! I would order it again. Service: Service was quick. My friend and I came at opening and were seated in the first group of folks. Our food came promptly after ordering. TL;DR - Good food and quick service!
Stopped in for weekend lunch with a friend, curry was the perfect fit! * Location: On Jackson in heart of Japantown, plenty of street & lot parking * Ambiance: Compact but cozy with indoor & outdoor seating * Service: Kind staff sat us quickly, took our order, & got our dishes out quickly. Very on top of things & great service! * Food: I got the Tofu Curry, friend tried the Chicken Cutlet Curry. Sauce was tasty - not too sweet, not too salty, good balance. Will definitely be back!
A semi-traditional Japanese restaurant in downtown San Jose. I have been a patron for over 30 years and the meals are authentic with the taste being the same year after year. The restaurant is small, has a few tables that seat four and an old fashion counter to eat at. The service is always impeccable, pleasant and fast. Highly recommend.
My friends also asked me if there is a Japanese restaurant in San Jose that you can visit again and again without thinking too much, and I think Gombei Japanese Restaurant is really this kind of place. This restaurant is more like real Japanese home style food, not fancy, but very solid. Dishes like teriyaki, tonkatsu, udon, and spicy chicken are our favorites. The taste is comfortable and familiar, portions are good, and the price is reasonable for Bay Area standards. That is why we keep coming back for years. Gombei feels like a neighborhood Japanese restaurant, not for special occasions, but for regular meals you can rely on. If you like simple, classic Japanese food and a relaxed atmosphere, this is a place you will probably return to many times.
Pork Cutlet Curry was: was decent. The smell was spot on but the pork wasn't to my liking and the curry was pretty basic, no lumps of vegetables. Basically, not to my preference and a little lacking.
Dined here on a weekend night! The servers were very friendly and felt like a very comfortable spot for a low-key dinner. While the food was decent, it wasn't anything that I'd rave about. The combo was good, the sashimi was fresh and miso soup was flavorful. The steak itself was pretty tough and felt still a bit hungry after.
My wife and I stopped by Gombei for dinner because it had been recommended by a friend for having good value. Overall, while the food was fine, it wasn't special enough that I'd go out of my way to dine there again. That said, if I worked in the area and was looking for a quick filling lunch, I could see myself stopping by. My wife ordered a dinner special with grilled mackerel, a potato croquette, a chicken cutlet, while I got the cold soba and pork cutlet from their whiteboard special menu. After we placed our order, our food was prepared quickly and we received both entrees in less than 10 minutes. The chicken cutlet -- although well-fried and not very oily, is pounded very thin, so it ends up being not particularly juicy, nor tender. The soba noodles had a good bite to it and you get a mountain size portion of it. It's definitely more than a single serving and is suitable for sharing. In summary, food is probably a three star for me, but the friendly staff bumps my rating up to a four. Cash only.
I picked up some takeout. Salmon Teriyaki Dinner - served with salad and steamed rice. Croquettes - deep fried curried potatoes. My mom really enjoyed them. The service was excellent!
Good grief, I thought I did a review already, but clearly I did not! This is now a few months late, but I still remember a lot! We discovered Gombei while in San Jose for a conference and wanted legit Japanese, not things near the hotel. And very glad we found this small restaurant. And it's as authentic as you'd expect. Family owned, the staff was friendly and helpful, and clearly popular with local people...everyone in there were regulars that knew the owners! Food was delicious and fresh, simple and very much like comfort food. I got their special, with grilled mackerel & salmon. Very tasty, though the salmon was more well done than I liked. My husband had the katsu curry which was delicious. The gyoza was also great and nicely pan fried. We loved the family atmosphere, and how comfortable it felt. Restaurant is cheery and bright, but cozy. Will come again when I'm in the San Jose area! Thank you for the comfort food experience! read more
As someone who's visited Tokyo not too long ago, Gombei definitely satisfied the Japanese comfort food craving. Paid street parking is fairly easy to find, and there was thankfully not a long wait on weekend afternoons. I stopped by for a teriyaki chicken and tempura plate, which also came with salad, rice, miso soup, and potato croquettes. I started the meal with the miso soup, which was indeed fairly salty. The teriyaki chicken and rice though - ooh this slapped! The potato croquettes were also fluffy and delicious, although it was a tad difficult to eat since it was fairly large. (Half thickness sized portions would be preferred if possible.) The shrimp and imitation crab tempura were a good break form the chicken, and they were both tasty. For a full Japanese experience, the dining room here is indeed a little on the tighter side, which really fits the theme. Service was efficient, though note that there's a small surcharge with credit card. 8/10, would come again! read more
21 days ago
Good place. My wife got the Gombei Dinner Special with the mackerel, my son got the Gombei Dinner Special with the beef teriyaki and I had the Salmon Teriyaki. Japantown is pretty far from where we live but the quality of Gombei's food is excellent and it more than justifies the trek. The croquettes in the dinner specials were particularly great this time. The Gombei staff is always kind, and parking, while usually tough nearby, was wide open on this visit. My only minor frustration on this order was that I usually love Japanese salad dressings and the dressing here isn't my favorite. That's a minor issue. Will be back! read more
Had a great meal here with a childhood friend. He praised their fried tofu, so I had to try it. The portion was huge and honestly, could have just eaten this as a meal. Also loved that my shrimp udon was not made with a pork broth, which made it more accessible for everyone. read more
8 months ago
This place has been a go-to for my family for probably 20 years. They provide a quality, condensed menu that hits every single time. I think it's my mom's fav Japanese restaurant in SJ, based on how many times she suggests coming here every time we drive down to visit my aunt in SJ. The service is great, quick and concise. On our last visit, I had tofu curry udon and it was fire. There is seating indoors and out and I recommend bringing cash or debit cards to avoid a CC fee. Highly suggest! read more
Gombei in Japantown is my go-to spot for homestyle Japanese comfort food. They've been around a long time, and it shows in the consistently tasty food. I enjoyed the pork cutlet donburi most this time, but the fish kama and chicken cutlet + spicy chicken combo were also solid picks from my party. The vibe is cozy and unpretentious, the portions generous, and the service friendly even when it's busy. Daily specials on the handwritten board add some fun variety, making it a reliable, no-fuss spot whenever you're craving good neighborhood Japanese food. read more
We waited about 10 mins for a table to open up so we spent some time catching up with friends outside. Seating was quick and we our drink orders were taken as soon as we sat down and settled in. I got the fried shrimp udon noodle soup and my friends got one of the specials that's written on the whiteboard in the back. The udon came out with perfectly golden crispy fried goodies and steaming hot soup. My friends' specials looked stacked and I stole some of the poki from my husband's order which tasted fresh. The girls got hot tea and the boys got their large Japanese beer. This place is where we go when this set of friends come into town so it's definitely a favorite spot in the friend group. They do great takeout too which we've done for family lunch in the past. This was my first time dining in and I loved the cozy diner feel! This is definitely one of those spots we'll keep coming back to. read more
My friend and I came here on a Saturday for an early lunch. Food: I ordered the tofu curry rice plate. It came with a good amount of tofu, and it was pretty good! I would order it again. Service: Service was quick. My friend and I came at opening and were seated in the first group of folks. Our food came promptly after ordering. TL;DR - Good food and quick service! read more
8 months ago
Stopped in for weekend lunch with a friend, curry was the perfect fit! * Location: On Jackson in heart of Japantown, plenty of street & lot parking * Ambiance: Compact but cozy with indoor & outdoor seating * Service: Kind staff sat us quickly, took our order, & got our dishes out quickly. Very on top of things & great service! * Food: I got the Tofu Curry, friend tried the Chicken Cutlet Curry. Sauce was tasty - not too sweet, not too salty, good balance. Will definitely be back! read more
8 months ago
A semi-traditional Japanese restaurant in downtown San Jose. I have been a patron for over 30 years and the meals are authentic with the taste being the same year after year. The restaurant is small, has a few tables that seat four and an old fashion counter to eat at. The service is always impeccable, pleasant and fast. Highly recommend. read more
My friends also asked me if there is a Japanese restaurant in San Jose that you can visit again and again without thinking too much, and I think Gombei Japanese Restaurant is really this kind of place. This restaurant is more like real Japanese home style food, not fancy, but very solid. Dishes like teriyaki, tonkatsu, udon, and spicy chicken are our favorites. The taste is comfortable and familiar, portions are good, and the price is reasonable for Bay Area standards. That is why we keep coming back for years. Gombei feels like a neighborhood Japanese restaurant, not for special occasions, but for regular meals you can rely on. If you like simple, classic Japanese food and a relaxed atmosphere, this is a place you will probably return to many times. read more
Dined here on a weekend night! The servers were very friendly and felt like a very comfortable spot for a low-key dinner. While the food was decent, it wasn't anything that I'd rave about. The combo was good, the sashimi was fresh and miso soup was flavorful. The steak itself was pretty tough and felt still a bit hungry after. read more
12 days ago
My wife and I stopped by Gombei for dinner because it had been recommended by a friend for having good value. Overall, while the food was fine, it wasn't special enough that I'd go out of my way to dine there again. That said, if I worked in the area and was looking for a quick filling lunch, I could see myself stopping by. My wife ordered a dinner special with grilled mackerel, a potato croquette, a chicken cutlet, while I got the cold soba and pork cutlet from their whiteboard special menu. After we placed our order, our food was prepared quickly and we received both entrees in less than 10 minutes. The chicken cutlet -- although well-fried and not very oily, is pounded very thin, so it ends up being not particularly juicy, nor tender. The soba noodles had a good bite to it and you get a mountain size portion of it. It's definitely more than a single serving and is suitable for sharing. In summary, food is probably a three star for me, but the friendly staff bumps my rating up to a four. Cash only. read more
9 months ago
I've been to Gombei twice so far and both times have been impressed by the quality of their food and efficient service. While the interior is old-school, it's also clean and welcoming. The first time I visited, it was a crowded Saturday night and we were seated at the bar, where we watched chefs take their callouts and cook their dishes in a timely and organized manner. The second time I visited after Christmas, it was much quieter and we received our food in about the same time, in under ~15 minutes. Their beef is fresh and their fried cutlets aren't overly greasy. Prices are quite reasonable as well, though I'd recommend bringing a debit card to avoid extra credit card fees. We always tip a bit higher than usual here because service is great and their food is consistently high quality and satisfying, despite how simple it is. Highly recommend trying Gombei whenever you're in Japantown. read more
Had a great lunch experience here today! I ordered one of the beef and fish specials. The beef was super tender and had great flavoring. I'm pregnant, so they were accommodating on ensuring the meat wasn't raw or undercooked. I also love the dressing on their salad, light and refreshing. It is usually packed until it closes at 1:30pm. I'm surprised they close so early Friday afternoons as there are usually a ton of people grabbing lunch around that time. Will be back for more specials in the future! read more
This is my daughter's god father's fave joint to eat in SJ so whenever we link up, Gombei is usually his requested meal. I attempted to come here for dinner a few times and ended up leaving due to the long wait times. Standing in the cold with a young toddler was just not feasible. Come here fully prepared to be patient due to the large crowds, especially during dinner time. The establishment itself is on the small side so getting seated takes time. Food is great, hence the large following that religiously comes back for more. I've had the beef & chicken teriyaki, deep fried shrimp, as well as the shrimp udon noodle soup. Flavors are always on point- never bland, flavorfully balanced, and extremely tasty. 4 stars. I eagerly look forward to coming back so I can try the beef dofu. read more
Small Japanese restaurant in Japan town. Good for parties of around 4 as they don't have a lot of seating for large groups. Most of their meals are bento box sets. I got the #1 special that came with poki and friend chicken. The poki was good but I think they went a little heavy with the sauce on the fried chicken read more
Gombei in Japantown San Jose is as authentic as it gets. The menu immediately stood out with its home-style Japanese dishes, and I knew we were in for a treat. What got my attention right away was the Japanese curry, so we had to try the pork curry, and it did not disappoint. We also shared the beef yakiniku and panko Spanish mackerel, both packed with flavor and cooked to perfection. And just when we thought we were done, we got carried away and added tuna sashimi to the mix, fresh and satisfying. A couple of beers later, we were stuffed and happy. Will definitely be back! read more
I came to Gombei for lunch with some coworkers, and their lunch specials are unmatched. The portions are incredibly generous, and you definitely get your money's worth here. The poke was so fresh and full of flavor, while the chicken karaage was perfectly crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. I also enjoyed the little side salad they provided, the freshness and dressing added a nice balance to the meal. My colleague didn't like her curry too much. The rice wasn't the freshest, for both meals but it wasn't a big deal to me given how amazing everything else was. read more
1 year ago
We both got the chicken teriyaki but I got Tuna Sashimi with my combo. The chicken was flavorful and cooked just right. It was just the right enough of sauce. The dressing on the salad was tasty. I would not get the Tuna again. It didn't seem too fresh. They give you a lot of food. My husband had to ask them to take it back because they gave the wrong item. Service is great. It is a typical mom & pop restaurant with traditional Japanese decor. Busy when we got there. Parking can be a challenge. read more
Love their donburi. The set looks fun with soup and salad. Their eggs are moist, food is so yummy. Good price. The place is cozy. Fast service, but it feels like you gotta get out fast too since people seem to ready to clean up your table for the next guests lol. read more
2 years ago
I've heard great things about this place from my family and friends and checked it out with my fiancé. It did not disappoint! Sometime when I'm home, I find myself wondering if I should just order curry from here. It's becoming a go-to for lunch and dinner! Food: I ordered the Chicken Cutlet Curry and my fiancé got the Beef Teriyaki dinner plate. It was perfect. The meal is what you imagine before you eat it. Love! No complaints. The portion is perfect for one person. If you decide to share a plate, I recommend ordering an appetizer in case you're still hungry. They also have cool specials that I want to try when I'm back! Service: It was good. It's a small restaurant, so I believe there's only one or two people who are taking orders, refilling waters, and giving you your check. I would just be a little bit more patient with them. They are all nice people. Location: Located in Japantown, there's ample street parking, but this location does share with the rest of the restaurants. If you're coming during peak hours, you may have to circle a block or so to find parking, but it's not too bad. Overall a great restaurant in Japantown. A go-to for me if I'm craving curry. Does not disappoint. read more
I came here on a Saturday around 1230 and it was just a great experience. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side and it's busy. ALWAYS. There is almost always a wait, though it's usually 15-20 minutes depending on your party size. There's maybe less 60 seats in total, a tough tight, but there are seats outside as well, keeping it well lit. The service is great as well and the servers moved very quickly, even though every seat was taken. The menu is a single page and there are daily items so the options are limited - but the food is quite delicious. I had the Curry with Chicken Cutlet and the curry was pretty good (though it did NOT have potatoes or carrots in it). The salad was ok and the gyoza was pretty as well. That said, the portion size on the curry was REALLY big. You get two full cutlets, several scoops of rice and a generous helping of curry. It's tasty and enough to take home or split with someone else, so it's very worth the wait. read more
2 years ago
I ordered the Pork Cutlet Curry and it was super delicious and yummy! The flavor of the Curry complimented the Pork Cutlet so well and this is a great place to go to for lunch! We were seated immediately and got our food within 5 minutes. The vibe of this local San Jose spot was great as it felt very homey! I can't wait to try other items on the menu! read more
4 months ago
My fiance and I came here for the second time on a Friday around 5. The restaurant was over halfway full by 5:10 so definitely come here early or be prepared to wait. I ordered the chicken nan ban from the regular menu. It comes with some sort of tartar sauce, salad, rice, cucumbers, and soup. My fiance ordered from the special's menu and got the fried chicken (which is the same as the nan ban chicken) with poke. The chicken is cooked perfectly and the sauce compliments it well. The salad has like a miso or sesame dressing on it which we both loved. The poke is well flavored and it's a pretty generous portion. The cucumbers are also a nice touch to eat with the fried chicken. They taste salty, sweet, and a little vinegary. We also ordered the croquettes which were just okay. We put some bulldog sauce on it and thought they were decent. We probably won't order them again. The service is fast and efficient. It seems like the waitresses try and make you order fast so they can turn the tables quicker. It can be a little intimidating but I guess it's because they are just so busy! The restaurant itself is comfortable and clean. Overall, I would recommend this place! read more
2 years ago
Gombei is just the best. Such a unique restaurant with a homey retro feel you can't get anywhere else. They've been here since 1980! I will say I think Gombei was more popular pre-pandemmy when I always had to wait a little bit. I recently came here for weekend lunch with no wait, though it was mostly full inside. I always get one of the specials here, you can't go wrong with any of them. They also have a menu with entrees like udon and curry. The portions are actually huge and I always can only finish half and I keep the rest for dinner. I believe all the specials come with salad, and they have this incredible creamy light dressing. All the specials are super balanced and clean-tasting, as in they don't leave you feeling gross after at all. Tastes like Japanese grandma's home cooking. Service is super quick. There's both bar and table seating, and at the bar you can see their whole kitchen workflow. read more
1 year ago
Highly recommend stoping by this Japanese restaurant if you are looking for authentic, homemade style food. Everything was great and this was our second time here. Our first time, it was super late and we wanted to eat something before all the restaurant closes. I remember this being one of the few places still open, and we were pleasantly surprised how fast our food came out. We order a special that came with Yakitori beef and pork cutlet. This set came with salad, miso soup and rice. I splinted this with my friend, so I recommend ordering a second bowl. This is great if you were looking for something to eat but don't want something to filling or that you can't complete. The second time, with the same friend, we order our own meals. She got the curry chicken cutlet that came with a salad. Don't be fooled by the picture, there is two layers of cutlet (great portion size). Great for taking home for later or sharing with one other person. Depending on how hungry you are I order a daily special which was the pork cutlet and a dipping noodle base dish. It came with salad and soup, along with the side dishes seen in the photos. Pretty filling and great since I wanted something cold after a long day of work. The atmosphere was really cozy with plenty of seats. Either sitting at a table or sitting by the bar to watch the chef make the dishes. Overall we always hit this spot when we are in town and can't wait to come again! read more
After standing around waiting for a long while at a different nearby restaurant without being greeted, approached, or in any way acknowledged by the wait staff, we (and a couple of other parties) walked out and decided to try some of the other nearby restaurants. My party of four decided to check out Gombei, which still had a wait about an hour prior to closing. This place is incredibly popular -- plan accordingly. When we were finally seated less than an hour to closing, we quickly made up our minds on what to order but eventually had to flag down a waiter because we hadn't even received any water, let alone any service beyond being handed menus. He seemed a bit overwhelmed and stressed, but was very nice. There was only one waitress helping with guests. The menu is focused on Japanese comfort food dishes (think curry, donburi, bentos, udon, etc.). I went with the pork cutlet don and was not disappointed. Not only was it a generous serving of food, but it was absolutely delicious. Nothing fancy or unique, just downright good, satisfying, flavorful food that leaves you full and happy. Gombei has specials that change out regularly, so we decided to try their fried chicken with vinegar with tartar sauce. The pieces of chicken were bigger than I was expecting, juicy, and very hot and fresh. Everyone else was really pleased with their dishes, which included the shrimp udon and couple different combination bentos. We got a lot of food for the money, and even though service was rocky at the start, it smoothed out in the end and our waiter was nice throughout the meal. Food came out fast after ordering, too. I'd love to come back here again and order a number of other dishes on the menu. A simple, unpretentious meal. read more
pretty average imo, nothing too special got seated pretty fast - opened the door & almost every table was filled so I was a lil surprised water cups were kinda not cleaned well? or like, there were water stains & some film that I could feel on my fingers when I lifted the cup tbh I don't like the salad being on the same plate as the main dish - I know some places do this but I just like my food separated - especially if they're diff temperatures lol cus my salad was kindaaaaa warm got my beef teriyaki medium rare (surprised they asked for a temp) but it came back kinda medium & also the grill marks were pretty strong & burnt - all the meat just tasted burnt as a result even tho it was just the scorch marks (maybe I have a sensitive tongue? idk) katsu was also okay - a little more watery than I'm used to but the meat wasn't dry so that's good read more
TLDR: Gombei never misses. Bangers only. I've been coming here since I was a little kid and it's definitely a South Bay staple. They always have quality ingredients, authentic flavors and prompt service. I can't stress this enough: if you live in the bay and you haven't been you're missing out!! They have a set menu which is fantastic but I always recommend getting one of the daily specials they have on the white board (you never know when they might be back again, it's always a better deal than the menu in my opinion and they balance the flavors so well). I've literally never been disappointed and I've ordered so many different specials. It's a small restaurant but they turn tables quickly and get people in and out so you're never waiting long. If you're curious about the food in the photos, the salmon teriyaki is from the set menu (allergy reasons for my friend) and compares to home made. The soba was perfect for the summer weather we're having right now, the noodles were definitely homemade and the katsu was beautifully fried. The stuffed tofu was hearty and flavorful which balanced the Cod Kama perfectly. read more
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More info about Gombei
193 Jackson St
San Jose, CA 95112
Downtown
Directions
(408) 279-4311
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http://gombei.com/
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Ask the Community - Gombei
Can you get the chicken teriyaki with white meat only?
Has Gombei opened up for indoor dining?
Yes, but spaced out. As of a week ago no counter seating.
Are they still open from Monday through Saturday?
Only open Tuesday to Saturday. Closed on Sunday and Monday.
Is the location closed? We went on 1/7/19 and it looked like construction and a new business was prepping to move in.
From what it looks like is they are expanding into the previous Tofu shop
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