Kajiken was the perfect Michelin-recommended lunch stop before my flight out of SFO! There was a short line when I arrived, but the staff turned tables quickly and kept everything moving efficiently, so the wait wasn't long at all. I ordered their #1 recommendation, the Homura Aburasoba, and immediately scarfed it down. Popping the perfectly runny egg yolk into the noodles was incredibly satisfying, and every bite was packed with rich, savory umami. The noodles themselves were thick, chewy, and had a great bite that held up well to the sauce. I also tried the Wagyu dish, but it arrived more cooked than it appeared in the photos, which made the texture and overall experience a bit underwhelming. The sauce also leaned on the creamier side, which isn't my favorite pairing with Wagyu, so I'd probably skip that one next time. That said, the Homura Aburasoba alone is worth coming back for and easily earns Kajiken a well-deserved 5/5. read more

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Found another great ramen spot in downtown San Mateo. I had seen this place several times before and simply assumed it was trendy by all the youngsters lined up out front. This guy likes to let the hype die down before trying the latest "cool place". Kajiken specializes in Arubasoba, which is like a dry ramen. I haven't had it here in the U.S., but tried it in Tokyo and loved it. I was excited to learn that is what Kajiken was all about. I tried their signature dish Homura Aburasoba with two poached eggs. It was absolutely fantastic. I think I might have found a solid challenger to my favorite ramen place in the downtown. This dish was an incredible blend of soba noodles, spicy minced pork, fresh vegatables and egg. Wow. I am a huge fan. Just thinking about it now makes me want to jump in MINI and race down to them Italian Job-style. I also had the ponzu karaage and it too was simple delicious. The ponzu gave the wonderful fried chicken an added zip. Oh, yeah. Service was good and our service kept refilling out water carafe, which as appreciated. I needed it cool down the spiciness of the soba. Okay, time for the iPhone snaps. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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TLDR: go to taishoken for better food and service My experience here has gotten exceedingly worse: - for the last two times, they tried to seat us at a two seater even though we're a party of three. So one time we ran out of table space. - they hover over us like vultures, I was mid bite when they snuck up behind me and said "are you done?" - I've also had to repeat my orders multiple times and they've had to repeatedly ask me what I ordered - they've messed up when putting plates down (knocking other plates over etc) - I tried to bring this up to a manager but the person they sent me to talk to me wasn't even the manager Do yourself a favor and go to taishoken instead because they actually treat their regulars well. We come here almost every week and the experience has gotten worse and worse. read more

This was our first time coming here so we weren't familiar with the menu. I went to the restroom and came back and was immediately asked if i knew what i wanted to order. We had just arrived so we said no. My parner said that while i was in the bathroom he too was asked about 4 times if he was ready to order. Overall the food was okay, interesting noodle dish that I would try again, but the service was not it... We felt very rushed and pushed to place our orders, which didn't make sense as the restaurant wasnt very busy at that time. And they had plenty of staff just standing around the back so it wasn't like they were short staffed trying to stay afloat on orders or something. I also don't recommend ordering your appetizer and main dish together, as they all came at the same time and made it hard to eat our main dish as it gets cold quick which it also says on the instructions on how to eat these noodles. After all the rushing to place our orders we never even received one of our appetizers yet we were being charged for it.... -Long story short, food was okay -Dont order your apps and meal together unless you want it all at the same time - Service needs work... stop rushing your customers... read more

I've heard amazing things about Kajiken, and it definitely lived up to the hype! I tried the soboro aburasoba, and it was absolutely delicious - so flavorful! The keema curry arubasoba was also tasty if you like more of a curry taste - just a tad spicy, but nothing too bad. Our waitress was very nice - service is great. There was no line when we went on a Wednesday for lunch, but dinner & weekends usually almost always have one. I would return for the soboro arubasoba! read more

Kajiken - SOBORO ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Does not take reservations but is also pretty big for seating. Highly recommend the "top 1" Very nice flavours and the vinegar just makes it taste so much more flavourful. It does feel a bit crowded and parking is rough. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Whenever we have a noodle fix we come here. We get there early around 5 to avoid the lines. Service usually fast, appreciate they do payments at the table instead of waiting for cash register Noodles are chewy and flavorful. I like to add a zing with every bite with a dash of vinegar from the bottles of condiments they have at the table Noodles go down well with a cold beer The cold tofu has nice acidity read more

TLDR: Worth the wait. The noodles are excellent. This is a different kind of Japanese Noodle Place. Not soup-based, but noodles barely coated in a simple soy infused oil. SPEEDY SERVICE While daunting in appearance, the long line out in front moves surprisingly quickly - only 12 minutes for us to get seated! Friendly enthusiastic attentive staff. Given the queue, they really move you through here in a friendly sort of way, so it's not a place to sit and linger after consuming your meal. There's tons of dessert places just outside.. =) [[HIGHLIGHT]]Inside you'll find airy high ceilings and a busy energetic vibe with music that is almost kinda loud![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]Tables are pretty close together to accommodate everyone. Understandable given the constant lines outside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] We came here on a late afternoon midweek. We ordered the: CHASU RICE Appearing almost immediately after ordering, you get a good sized bowl of your basic bits of pork belly-infused Japanese rice - tender and most throughout. It could use a tiny pinch of salt to dial it in, but it worked well with the Aburasoba. Generous serving - enough for both of us. ORIGINAL ABURASOBA オリジナル油そば Aburasoba basically means "oil noodles". Not "oily" in a bad sense, but supple and smooth and superb! With this you get two pieces of 1/8" thick chashu, bamboo shoots, green onions, and nori (seaweed.) The star of the show here are the noodles - supple, al-dente with every bite and such an delightful texture. Served warm. Suggested for first timers, I split this with my light-eating wife. Between us, and the side of rice it was enough for a light lunch after a big breakfast we had earlier. I definitely look forward to coming back here at the first opportunity. Worth the wait. read more

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4.5/5! The karaage was nice and tender. The tofu tasted good but wish it was the agedashi type, which I think would elevate the dish! Homura aburasoba was the highlight of the meal. The noodles were nice and bouncy, and the sauce, ground pork, and garnishes were a perfect harmony. read more

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Food good, service was really bad today. Like empty tables buys food came out 30 min after ordering. Dirty cups. Food came out apart and no one checks in on us read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Great chewy noodle texture and very flavourful!! Would definitely come again. There was a line but short wait for the outdoor seating. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Chill ambience, the space between tables was reasonable but you could clearly hear your neighbor's conversations at very loud volume.. we overheard a very spicy and shocking conversation from the table adjacent to us.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] At first it seemed like a lot of onions and chives but after mixing it was a good ratio of sauce noodles and toppings. Friend ordered the mozzarella cheese add-on topping and it was literally just a little bowl of the shredded mozzarella cheese you can get at the grocery store... so we joked that next time we can just bring our own cheese (BYOC) I ordered the homura aburasoba (spicy minced pork, green onions, bamboo shoots, seaweed, fish powder, chives with ajitama (soft-boiled eggs marinated in soy sauce, ramen egg)). Highly recommend this place to anyone who likes noodles !! read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Located in San Mateo I would rate this place a 3/5 [[HIGHLIGHT]]Interior design is nice an beautiful.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Service was okay most likely due to the large amount of customers coming in and out. A lot of the workers are busy so you have to flag them down and they rarely come check in on you Homura ABURASOBA 7/10 Chicken Marage 7/10 The food here definitely is packed with flavor but the portion sizing is significantly smaller than Elk Grove location. [[HIGHLIGHT]]JD Big Back tip: if you get seated near the door you may be interested in bringing a jacket because it does get very windy and cold.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Also if you want a spoon you will have to go to the front to request for one. read more

Kajiken - Karage - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Fast, delicious and filling!! Their original was super umami, and the portion sizes are pretty big. I loved their marinated egg as a replacement for the raw egg yolk. The service is super fast, we got seated right away and our order came out in minutes. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have a lot of seating too.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Great place to go to in San Mateo! read more

Kajiken - ORIGINAL ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Forgot to take a photo before mixing, but it did look very aesthetic. Ordered the wagyu roast beef abura soba with raw egg yolk off delivery. I've seen the line in person and it's normally very long. With the yogurt, and other mix ins, it was very flavorful and creamy. The noodles are great texture and they give a big portion. I recommend this and want to try it in person read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

We arrived on a Sunday at 6:20pm and waited 10 minutes for a table. Meanwhile our order was taken so after sitting down our bowls were served within 5 minutes. Besides inside seating they also have counter seating and outdoor seating. They offer 9 different dry ramen variations plus a monthly special. You can add additional toppings for an extra charge. They also serve appetizers and rice bowls. It's a very casual dining experience with Japanese pop music playing in the background. The dry ramen is a very hearty meal with various condiments on the table including garlic, sesame seeds, chili, sesame oil and vinegar to adjust to your taste. The noodles were cooked al dente. I tried both the original and the Homura aburasoba and liked them both. The spicy pork wasn't spicy at all and the char siu was very tender. Had a bit of leftover and took it home. read more

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One of my favorite restaurants in DTSM! Kaijken specializes in aburasoba, which I had no idea about before I found this place. Aburasoba is brothless ramen that instead uses a mix of oils and sauces to create a savory sauce. I've tried almost everything on the menu and my favorite is the Homura Aburasoba (their #1 seller), which comes with minced pork and a raw egg yolk. The pork and egg yolk create a rich, creamy sauce that pairs with the chewy ramen noodles. If I'm feeling something lighter/less saucy, I get the original aburasoba, which comes with chashu instead of the minced pork. I've also tried all the various karaage, takoyaki, and gyoza. Nothing insanely special, but great to pair with the ramen. [[HIGHLIGHT]]It's a small spot and there's usually a wait, but they do also have an outdoor seating area that's open when the weather allows.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Plan to wait in line if you're going on a weekend! The servers are very friendly and attentive, I always appreciate never having to ask for a water refill here. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Came for dinner with my girlfriends on a Thursday at 7pm-- there will be a line outside but it moves fairly quickly. They ask for your order while you're waiting in line so that when you are seated, the food comes out very quick. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The inside of the restaurant was packed but it didn't seem too loud![[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I got the waygu roast beef aburasoba! This is the first time I tried the brothless ramen & it definitely was super delicious! The egg mixed in makes it super creamy. My bowl was seasoned great! I would definitely come back again to try some appetizers. My friend who ordered the unagi loved her bowl except there were large bones that were hard to pick out. read more

Kajiken - WAGYU ROAST BEEF ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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One of my favorite noods places in the bay area! I've never tried dry ramen before Kajiken, but now it's one of my go-tos when I'm craving something saucy and carb-y and delicious! Sometimes the line can get long, especially during weekend rush hour, so I recommend going a little before they open and snagging a table early. [[HIGHLIGHT]]They have both indoor and outdoor seating, casual nice.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Ive tried their top 3 most popular ones, and they're all delicious! Highly recommend dining in as they have vinegar and spicy sauces and garlic chips you can add to your bowl. Definitely worth a visit, especially if you stop by on a day there's no wait! read more

Kajiken - Homura aburasoba - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This place was soooooo goood. The reviews didn't lie. I tried their homura aburasoba, wagyu rice and original. I was skeptical of the yogurt sauce but I definitely would get it again. The food is definitely hearty, but I love all the fix-ins they give you. The bamboo is definitely my favorite. Would reccomend the aburasoba as the original is a little bit more basic in comparison. read more

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I always love this place. This was the third time I've been by and always astounded by how good their food is. I always love to bring more people to experience their food. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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No wait, got in immediately on a Saturday 1PM. Waited about 10 min until our food came. [[HIGHLIGHT]]We sat outside which was nice on a hot day.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Good portion, good level of spice, added some vinegar. Tasted deliciousssss and hit the spot. read more

Kajiken - HOMURA ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Second visit: I returned to Kajiken for lunch today. A Wednesday - No line! I walked in and got to sit at a street side tall seat. My order was Soboro Aburasoba noodles with green onions and ground chicken. I substituted the raw for a poached egg. First off, these noodles have no soup. You mix up the egg with the melange of ingredients resulting in a pasta sauce of sorts. My dish was sweet since the ground chicken seems to have been cooked in a teriyaki-type sauce. After a few bites, I added in some sesame seeds and garlic seasoning. After a little more time, I added in some vinegar - this helped balance the flavor more. For me, this dish was disappointing. The noodles were okay. But after half a bowl, the dish was really boring. It's like eating a big bowl of pasta Bolognese. A few bites if the same flavor and I wanted to have something else. The service was so-so. I was not offered the free tea (unlike my neighbors who were both males). I had to ask for it. At the end, I had to flag a server for my bill. The food here at Kajiken is not inexpensive. The line must be due to the dishes being different from traditional ramen with soup. But for me, I will likely stay on the savory ramen-with-soup-fan side rather be a sweet-dry-noodle fan side. read more

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We got their top 1 and it was def filling! Adding the vinegar and spice added so much extra flavor to balance out the saltiness from everything else. Wish I ordered the chashu but there's always a next time! read more

Kajiken - HOMURA ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Kajiken hits the spot between comfort and pure gluttony! I typically do not love noodle places, but this is on another level. I have been to Kajiken twice now, and it has been absolutely delicious each time. It is located in downtown San Mateo, so it does not have its own dedicated parking lot. If you come on the weekend, it can be harder to find parking, and the likelihood of a wait is high. When it gets busy, there is a section outside for you to line up. The servers typically come out to the folks closest to the front of the line and hand them menus so they can decide what they want before being seated. When it is not as busy, you can walk in directly and request a table. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The shop itself actually has a lot of seating, but there is always an influx of people, so it fills up quickly.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior gives off a nice modern Japanese chic vibe.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] :) [[HIGHLIGHT]]They also offer outdoor patio seating, which is great if you are trying to enjoy a nice day outside.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I have tried both their Wagyu Roast Beef Aburasoba and their Soboro Aburasoba. The roast beef is tender and adds a nice chew against the silky noodles, while the soboro chicken is juicy and coats your mouth with a savory soy flavor. Additionally, I've had their karaage on both occasions I visited, and it was succulent! I love how the juice from the chicken balances with the generous amount of grated ginger and green onion. This place is definitely worth a try! If you can go on a weekday before the dinner rush from people getting off their 9-5 jobs, that would probably be the optimal time frame. I came here on a Wednesday around 6:15 PM, and it was not too bad until around 7 PM when it started getting busy. read more

Kajiken - SOBORO ABURASOBA and HOMURA ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Loved Kajiken every time we've been! There was a line when we went on the weekend, but the wait wasn't too bad. I've tried ordering a different noodle each visit, but I always end up wishing I'd just gotten the Homura Aburasoba again. The combination of fish powder seasoning, raw egg yolk, and savory meat sauce makes the noodles incredibly rich, flavorful, and packed with umami. The other noodle dishes without the fish powder tasted more like Chinese dan dan noodles to me. They're still good, but they don't have the same unique flavor that makes Kajiken stand out. We also ordered the chicken karaage, takoyaki, and agedashi tofu for the kids, and everything was delicious. The menu recommends the Original Aburasoba for first-time visitors, but if you don't mind the fish powder taste, I'd actually recommend the Homura Aburasoba. It's the dish that really offers the best experience! read more

I was in San Mateo, and I was hungry. I checked Yelp and Google, and there were so many places to choose from, I didn't know what to pick. I checked Michelin, and it help me narrow it down to Kajiken. As I walked to Kajiken, I knew I was getting close because it was the only place that had a line-up outside. There were probably 12-14 people waiting, and I wondering if I should find another place because I didn't want to wait. Fortunately, as a single diner, they sat me right away. I ended up ordering the Original Aburasoba and it came in about 5 minutes. It was good. Great texture, good flavours, and a reasonable serving size. Service was fine but minimal. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Dining area is typical of modern ramen places.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] Overall, a nice quick meal. Maybe closer to a 3.5 or 3.75 as it was good, but I was also very hungry. I would consider returning. read more

Kajiken - ORIGINAL ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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I've come 4 times now and it still hits every single time. Almost always a line, but it moves extremely quickly. Service is good, interior is well-lit and clean, and the food is just amazing. Make sure you get the hot tea as well! Noodles are so fresh and perfectly cooked. FOOD: Wagyu Roast Beef Aburasoba (9/10) - My personal favorite! The roast beef is extremely tender, and the yogurt sauce pairs perfectly with her. Pro-tip, add a little bit of vinegar - tastes even better Nikumori Aburasoba (9/10) - Slightly spicy with a ton of pork inside. The sauce coats the noodles perfectly - amazing! read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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This place is solid, but can get really busy at nights so it took us a while to try it! We came on a late Saturday afternoon and sat outside. The outdoor seating is pretty nice and inside is even nicer. Good vibes all around. Service was fantastic and very attentive too. Prices are very fair for the portion sizes and quality!! The aburasoba was good and had a lot of components. I always appreciate an array of condiments on the table too for making the bowl taste exactly how you like! I added a lot of vinegar and it was really yummy! The ponzu karaage was really good! Super tender and the grated daikon mixture on top added great freshness! I'll be back to try some other dishes (as long as the wait isn't long haha)! read more

Kajiken - OROSHI PONZU KARAAGE - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Came here on Sunday around 3:45PM and there was no line. There were plenty of outside and indoor seating. We opted for inside since it was so cold. On the menu, there were so many great options to choose from along with appetizers and toppings to add into the noodles as well. I got the keene curry aburasoba with a seasoned egg and my friend got the homura aburasoba. I added chili oil and garlic to my curry noodles for more flavor. The noodles here are so soft and chewy. I can't wait for them to open a location in south bay :) read more

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I love this place so much! It's easily one of my favorite spots for ramen. The aburasoba (soupless ramen) is amazing, the noodles are always fresh and have the perfect chew The San Mateo location is great because they have outdoor seating, and they even have heaters to keep you warm if it gets too cold. Definitely a must-visit! read more

Kajiken - ORIGINAL ABURASOBA NIKUMORI ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

The line here is fairly long, but they have it organized so you can look up the menu while waiting. When you get close to seating, they start on your order. The food comes out fairly quickly by the time you get to your seat. The problem is near the end, but patience is key. They appear understaffed since the space is crowded (full seats!). The food is delicious. The noodles are perfectly cooked. The sauce is wonderfully done (spicy is mild to me). I think it was a good call not to have an appetizer since the portion on the bowl was just right to fill you up. I am curious on the appetizers next time. I saw other tables having them and they looked great. read more

Soupless ramen? First time having aburasoba and I'm a fan. The noodles are served dried with sauce and oil. Then you add additional toppings like vinegar, chili oil, chili sauce, sesame seeds. Most of their aburasoba comes with an egg yolk. It makes the noodles thick and creamy like carbonara. read more

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Nood Awakening Japan-based chain of restaurants that features brothless ramen, known as "Abura soba," which translates to "oil noodles." Basically, instead of a broth, the noodles are coated in a flavorful oil-based sauce and then topped with an almost limitless variety of toppings. Kajiken is probably the foremost purveyor of this type of cuisine, as they now have over 100 restaurants worldwide, with this San Mateo location being one of their best performers--as it's been Michelin recommended three years in a row ('23-'25), as well as being ranked #14 on the Yelp Top-100 Places to Eat in the Bay Area** 2024 & #10 on the 2025 list*** The Good: * Great location in Downtown San Mateo surrounded by tons of other restaurants and shops. * Service was fast, efficient, and friendly. * Excellent pricing, as we both had our own Abura Soba and shared an app for less than $50! This is unheard of in these trying times of exorbitant housing, gas prices, and tariffs. *Housemade soba noodles were just fantastic. They were packed with flavor, great texture, and are my favorite thicccness. *The sauces on the noodles were both really terrific, and I just couldn't get enough. I definitely could've downed another whole bowl of this stuff just because. The Meh: *No outdoor dining *We enjoyed the crispiness and flavor of the Karaage, but didn't really get much of any of the Ponzu flavor. The Ugly: *Downtown equals street parking only, so be prepared to fight for it and have to shell out a few bucks, as well. Even on a random Wed afternoon, we found ourselves having to circle the block a few times before landing a spot. Conclusion: I realize we're a few years behind on discovering this place, but it's always better late than never! Run--don't walk here the next time you get a craving for noodles. Highly, highly recommended. **https://www.yelp.com/collection/VYiUdPIDvoQ9FOLPfGgJMw/Top-100-Places-to-Eat-in-the-Bay-Area ***https://yelp.to/lANpqKw4Ah read more

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Finally got to try Kajiken, an aburasoba spot in the Bay Area that I've been wanting to visit. Overall I liked it! Just something to keep in mind, the noodles are pretty thick and chewy, so it feels quite heavy and filling. I was definitely full pretty quickly. The flavor was really enjoyable for me, but my husband is a bit sensitive to fishy tastes and he didn't love it as much. So I think it depends on your preference. We also got the karaage on the side, which was okay but nothing super memorable. I'd come back again when I'm specifically craving aburasoba, but just be ready for something on the heavier side. read more

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There was a line of about 6 people ahead of us but I don't think we waited more than 10 minutes. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Very busy inside and a bit crowded, we ended up sitting at one of the bar tables.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] I usually don't like thicker noodles but I really enjoyed these! Mixing the noddles can cause some mess so be careful. I got the regular pork one and added an egg. The ajitama was very sweet and I didn't care for that but it was cooked beautifully jammy. read more

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What a hoppin' place! It's packed on a Wednesday evening and the food is delish! They give you directions on how to enjoy the soba with all the condiments, and it was so yummy to taste before and then after with chilli oil, garlic, red peppers, sesame seeds, and vinegar. Wagyu beef was really good. The mix of small bites and a few slices was cooked just right. Service is solid and just expect a little waiting due to how busy they are. I'll be recommending this place to my friends! read more

Kajiken - WAGYU ROAST BEEF ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

Kajiken has been on my to-try list for awhile. Two of us ordered: oroshi ponzu karaage $10 homura aburasoba $17.50 half ajitama + cheese $1.50 homura aburasoba $17.50 raw egg yolk Chicken needed some mayo/sauce of some sort, but fried well. Had high hopes for flavor profile, but a bit mushy. Bonito flake fishiness overpowers the bowl quite a bit. No need to add the cheese as it didn't melt. Came in around 1PM and no wait. Street parking and garage parking available. read more

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It was a great day to be in downtown San Mateo for the boutique fair in B st. and come lunch time was craving for noodles and came across this spot. Decided to try. The place is packed so I waitied Lined up. but truly the wait wasn't long. I was seated only a few mins from waiting in line. so they are pretty proficient. The staff are friendly and accommodating. I elected to Oder an appetizer and a bowl of my choice and I also didnt wait long to be served my meal. Presentation was good and the aroma and look of it were mouth watering, seriously! I must have been starving. lol. Anyhow overall, it tasted so delicious and I was content. enjoyed my meal to the fullest. read more

Kajiken - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Super dope!!!!!! My ultimate favorite aburasoba of all time! Brought my mom here to try Wagyu roast beef aburasoba and she approved this place! Some personal thoughts: If you want something light, or try to order for the elders, wagyu aburasoba is a better choice, since the meat is more lean and yogurt sauce help balance the richness. Homura aburasoba is also great, but minced pork is a bit fatty, and traditional sauce is also rich, so I normally find it hard to finish a bowl because I'm too full. Nevertheless, I don't say it's not great, do not order. What I meant is that if you have a preference for light food (like me), hate something too oily/ greasy or afraid of fat, wagyu aburasoba is always a better choice! read more

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Being a woman who considered ramen to be "glorified noodle soup" (as stated in my ramen nagi review), my better half suggested that I try dry ramen. I, of course, wasn't aware of such a thing. Abura soba it's called. Huh. Sounded brilliant to me, but for hardcore ramen enthusiasts though, where the broth plays a significant role in the execution, the omission of it seems counterintuitive. Am I right? Sigh. My better half then told me about Kajiken. They specialize in abura soba. He then went on to inform me that Kajiken is even recognized in the Michelin Guide. Intrigued as all get out, we made our way over to San Mateo. No reservations, so yes there will be a line. But it moves quickly. Both visits we only waited about 15-20 minutes tops. It's a bustling small space, very high ceiling, very minimalist. A clean aesthetic. Nikumori (ground & sliced pork) for me, wagyu roast beef for him. I don't know ramen, but I do know pasta. With the latter, it's important that it's cooked al dente. This transfers over to ramen noodles for me; I need them to be al dente. And they were. Both visits. Hubby's too. You're supposed to mix the noodles w/ the raw egg & everything all together, then add your seasonings. I'm a purist, so I didn't add anything other than some chili oil. Delicious! Next time I'll try adding some vinegar. After we were served, we had to flag a server down for napkins, & then again when we were finished for a takeout box. Not meant to be a complaint; it's a packed house. We loved our meals here, & I love the concept. Service: 4 stars Food: 5 stars 4 & 1/2 stars read more

Kajiken - WAGYU ROAST BEEF ABURASOBA - Japanese Near Me - San Mateo, California

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