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Kissako Tea

4.1 (493 reviews)
Closed 11:00 am - 6:30 pm
Updated 1 week ago

Kissako Tea Photos

KISSAKO TEA ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Classy
Moderate noise
Good for working

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Recommended Reviews - Kissako Tea

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Haru Mochi and Matcha Mochi ($4.35 each) = delish
Peg C.

Thank you, Yelpers, for steering us to this yummy onigiri spot on the first floor of the Japan Center Kinokuniya Mall in Japantown. My hubs and I were tired, hot, and needed sustenance quick. We ordered two spam onigiri ($3.35 each), one chicken teriyaki onigiri ($3.15), and one beef sukiyaki onigiri ($3.15). We also got two skewers of three little mochi each ($4.35 per skewer). We sat down at one of the tables next to the place. (Many places in the mall are takeout but some restaurants have their own seating.) Our order came out in about five minutes since there was hardly anyone in line (surprising for a Friday around 12:25 pm). When I opened the box, I was amazed at Japanese ingenuity once again. The plastic wrap around the onigiri is so the toasted seaweed doesn't touch the rice ball and it stays crisp. So great. The spam onigiri was salty, fatty, yummy. If you don't like spam, don't get it, but if you know, you know. The beef sukiyaki was a flavorful chipped beef and onion filling. The chicken teriyaki was less flavorful but I liked it because I needed something plain after having the spam. I ate two of the matcha mochi, one with red bean and one with white bean mixed with green tea. Both were fresh, soft, delicious. Saved the rest for a treat later. Kissako Tea was affordable and tasty. We will definitely come back here next time we're in SF!

Elaine C.

Just popped in for a small snack but the mochi here is so soft and chewy and delicious! I recommend both the sakura and kinako. Great treat in between browsing the cutesy shops at Japantown.

Certificate in display at the window
Dianna W.

This is the Japanese cafe inside Japan town , San Francisco. It sells freshly made rice snacks and drinks . We ordered a spam onigri and a beef sukiyaki onigri one hour before dinner . They were perfect because the portion was a small snack that would solve the hunger immediately but not ruin the appetite for the dinner . It has table and chair to rest and eat next to the shop. There is always a line . Since the snacks are handmade when orders are placed so it has 5 minute waiting time . The onigri is very hot and the rice tastes good and lots of spam in it . We did not find much beef until we ate half of the onigri and discovered the beef was inside the other half of the rice ball . Taste was good and fulfilling. Like to come back and try other menu items.

Serena L.

Cute little stand in Japantown that sells drinks and onigiris I think i got a roe and tuna onigiri. Great flavor on both! Not sure if it's mostly just the sauce or if they gave a decent amount of filling, but I would get it again.

Menu
Jennifer T.

I bought the red bean snack. I also tried a piece of mango mochi because my friend bought fruit mochi. It was very yummy. I would like to come back to try other items on their menu. There are tables and seats next to this food vendor stand inside the mall to sit down.

Onigiri
Kamy T.

Fresh onigiris made to order. There's something about having hot rice that makes it worth getting as a snack. It is true that there a high ratio of rice to filling, but there is a reasonable amount of filling nonetheless. Crispy seaweed to surround the rice. The onigiris are only a few bucks each, so it's hard to ask for too much. My favorite was the unagi eel!

Nirsh A.

Honestly, I was super disappointed with the onigiri here, there was barely any filling inside. I feel like they totally ripped me off. The reviews generally looked good, so I was excited to try this place but then when I got my order, I was really disappointed as there was barely any beef in it. I felt like I was eating straight rice. I definitely like onigilly downtown better.

Onigiri
Sally C.

Came by on a Saturday in the late afternoon and the place was busy. There was a pretty long line, and since the rice balls are made to order, be prepared for a bit of a wait. It took about 10 minutes to order and another 20 minutes for our food to be ready. I tried three flavors: Spicy Tuna, Spicy Salmon, and Beef Sukiyaki. All were solid, especially for the price. The spicy tuna had a little too much mayo for my taste, but the flavor was still good. The fillings aren't super generous, but for how affordable everything is, I really can't complain. What I love most is that the rice balls come out hot and fresh--definitely worth the wait. I'll be back for sure to try more flavors!

Menu
Kevin C.

This place is a great little spot right in the middle of the Kinokuniya Mall in Japantown. It is super easy to find, and there are plenty of tables in the public seating area right next to it, which makes it perfect for grabbing a quick bite. They have a really nice mix of sweet and savory options, plus drinks and even full meals that are made to order, all at very affordable prices. The staff are always friendly and helpful, and the ordering process is simple. You place your order at the front window and pick up your food at the side, which keeps things moving smoothly even when it gets busy. I love their onigiri, and the beef sukiyaki one is my favorite so far. I also tried the haru mochi and thought it was delicious with the sweet red bean inside. Everything comes out hot, fresh, and fast, which is always a plus. Whether you are looking for a quick snack or something more filling, Kissako Tea is a great choice. It has become one of my favorite places to stop by whenever I am in Japantown.

Mitarashi Dango
Jacqueline N.

My mom and I have been coming here for their handmade onigiri since middle school. The mentaiko was super yummy but it could have had more filling. The spicy shrimp mayo onigiri was also good but it could have had more shrimp. The dango was quite delicious and chewy. The melon cream soda was good too although melon soda has a unique flavor so be wary! Their prices have increased over the years but the quality has stayed pretty consistent. Also expect to wait for your food to come out because there's only 1-2 people manning the stall at all times.

Jenny H.

Mochi was so soft, sweet, and delicious! Would pair nicely with tea. I love this place. They ran out of the dango which is my FAVORITE!!!!! Their dango is the best!! I always get it when I'm in Japantown.

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Kissako Tea Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Kissako Tea

Do you have sitdown area?

There is public seating in the court area for all visitors in the Kinokuniya Mall. Unfortunately, we do not have exclusive reserved seating.

Past couple times I came by they were closed... including today which says open on google & here. Does anyone know why they're closed & when they'll reopen?

Sorry we missed you. We posted a sign to key everyone know we were closed on wed. 6/1 for our sons' graduation. We are back to regular hours. Wed-Mon 11-6:30. Closed Tuesdays. If you are coming after 5:30- call ahead to order since sometimes… Read more

Do they make their own taiyaki or is it already pre-made?

Our taiyaki is pre-made from Japan.

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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This is my favorite dessert house, which I recommend to all my friends who need a good date spot, a…read moreplace to meet up with friends, or to friends who are visiting the city and have never had bingsoo or dessert style toasts. I absolutely love everything mango from here and their affogato is to die for! The best affogato I've ever had. Definitely try this place!

Although they don't serve variations of buttercups, A Buttercup is one of the few dessert houses…read moreoffering Taiwanese-style treats like Bingsoo, Milk Bread Toast, and other Asian fusion creations. I'm always hunting for spots like this because I have a weakness for those over-the-top, Instagram-worthy desserts that look like diabetes in a dish. Like most places in this genre, A Buttercup is small, modern, and minimalist with limited seating. If you plan to go, aim for off-hours unless you enjoy waiting in line for sugar. The decor is cute and trendy, perfect for photos if that's part of your dessert ritual. As they say, "you eat with your eyes first," and when it comes to presentation, this place definitely gets an A+. The desserts look stunning and set high expectations. Unfortunately, that's where things started to crumble. It's like going to see your favorite artist live. You've watched the videos, memorized the songs, and paid for the experience. But instead of the electric performance you imagined, you get someone lip-syncing and barely connecting with the crowd. That was this place in dessert form. We ordered the Mango Bingsoo on our first visit, and when it arrived, we were surprised by how small the portion was. The guy next to us even looked over and said, "Whatever that is, I'm getting that next time." He shouldn't have. The Bingsoo looked great but was bland, and the "snow" was more chunky ice than soft shave. The Thai Tea Roti was also not what I expected. It came with Thai tea ice cream and sauce alongside a roti that was fried to a crunch. Interesting idea, just not the best execution. The sauce and ice cream needed a stronger Thai tea flavor to balance the crispy roti, and the flavors never quite came together. Overall, A Buttercup nails the aesthetics but misses the flavor. If you're here for the photos, you'll be happy. If you're here for the taste, you'll leave with a full camera roll and an unsatisfied sweet tooth.

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A Buttercup Dessert House - Menu 1 of 2

Menu 1 of 2

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NaYa Dessert Cafe

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The best way to cool off on a warm day! We visited NaYa for dessert after brunch at aMano. It's not…read morea big space & was pretty full but the host/server had a 2 top table available. It was kinda hot & stuffy inside even with the door open because it was a warm day. We were told in advance that orders would take approximately 20-30 minutes to arrive because they were short staffed at the time (additional staff arrived after an hour). My friend had to Thai tea crepe cake & I had the mango tango (because I looooove mangoes). The Thai tea crepe was pretty good, lots of Thai tea flavor, and not too sweet. The Thai tea custard sauce added a bit of sweetness to it. The mango tango was sooo good! I loved the coconut ice cream (it's a shaved from a block of ice cream so it's really fluffy). The fresh mango was served on the side in addition to a small bowl of coconut, sticky rice and additional mango sauce. Service was as efficient as possible. Server was helpful too.

Felt like dessert after a day in the city, thought we'd try NaYa in Hayes Valley. Local hangout…read more Young crowd and good vibes. Our eyes were bigger than our stomachs - but what a great surprise. We started our evening with the Mango Tango. That Sticky Rice was the Main Wow! Not to take anything away from the coconut & mango, just that rice. I could have had that on its own. We then ended the night with the Toasted Kaya. Warm Bread with the right crunchiness. Another fun & tasty surprise. All in all - we will probably share just one dish next time - but definitely coming back

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NaYa Dessert Cafe - Chocolate Toasted  cr. foodswithyu

Chocolate Toasted cr. foodswithyu

NaYa Dessert Cafe - Mango Tango  Cr. mitzifood

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The chocolate salted egg lava cake, served warm with a center that gushes out once you cut it open. Cr. janeejaneee

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