i had been wanting to try sobakatsu for awhile, and i did not realize it was such a small establishment. it only seats 11 -- two 4-tops and three bar seats -- so be ready to be in close quarters with other patrons! the entire restaurant is self-serve with clear instructions in the front. find a table, order from the tablet, pick up your order once your number is called, and clean up after yourself after your meal. because of the limited seating, be prepared for a wait. from the time when i arrived to when i received my food was about 40 minutes. the decor, setup, and entire ambiance made it feel very authentic. while i've never been to japan, this is certainly what i would imagine a soba shop in japan to be like! there is also soba-yu on the side to enjoy as a hot drink or to pour into the cold concentrated soba after. this is a very unique thing that i've never seen at other japanese places. now for the food! i ordered a hot soba with assorted tempura, which came with 1 jumbo shrimp, 3 normal shrimp, 1 yam, 1 mushroom, 1 shishito pepper, and 1 imitation crabmeat. the tempura was light and not too doughy. perfect for dipping in the broth! the soba noodles were absolutely delicious in texture and taste, and the broth was perfectly seasoned. as garnish, there is a fish cake, yuzu, and some leafy vegetables which i thought was a great touch. i also got surimi as a side, and this blew me away. it came with four assorted surimi -- mushroom, shrimp, corn, and vegetable. all were incredibly yummy, flavorful, and amazing. i highly recommend sobakatsu and can't wait to come back. next time, i'll come right at opening to ensure i don't have to wait! thank you for the wonderful meal! read more

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I came here on a rainy Saturday about 30 minutes before opening and was able to make it in the first wave of seating since we were the second party. They open right at 12, and you put in your order on the kiosk before taking a seat. We received our food after about 20 minutes of our order. Overall, the soba was refreshing and the tempura was light and crispy! The noodles were very fresh and the texture was perfect. I enjoyed the whole experience, but I don't think it was necessarily anything super special or worth any longer than an hour wait, personally. There was a long line after we left, so we definitely felt a little rushed to finish our food and leave to make room for others to dine. It is indeed very tiny (literally 11 seats). read more

Sobakatsu - Tenzaru (shrimp + veg) - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Solid soba. Tasty tempura. Cute authentic 11 seater restaurant. Try to get here early; there's a line around the corner. read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I love this authentic little spot in Japan town. The soba was earthy and delicate. The tempura are fried with a gluten-free powder that gave a interesting texture. One can put a generous amount of spice powder to the tempura to give it more flavor. The dipping sauce was perfectly complementary to the chilled soba. You can add your preferred amount to wasabi and spring onions in the sauce - I put all of the wasabi in the sauce and it was still excellent. I love the fried the scallop tempura, and all of the vegetable tempura. This is the ultimate comfort food on a rainy day. I came around 5pm and left as round 6pm on a Tuesday There was space for singles/couples but harder to find table for 4 given the space. No wait for table and I got my food in 15 minutes. Great value and love this spot for a simple, authentic and nuanced dinner. I also tried the soba warabimochi, a gelatin chewy rectangular pieces of dessert dusted in sesame powder. It was solid but the soba is the winner here. I would love to come back to try the hot soba as well. read more

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This is a great place, but not worth the almost 3 hour wait! I found this randomly on my maps and decided to try it out on a weekend. I happened to arrive right at opening, not knowing this is a ridiculously sought after place. I ended up waiting almost 3 (!!!!) hours. It looked too good to pass up and line actually didn't seem that long. Turns out there's only a handful of seats inside and line moves very very slow. The service is great! The cooks are very sweet and friendly. There are a couple options. I got the additional spicy dipping sauce add on. The spicy is fine, no need to order. The tempura is fantastic. It's light and airy and well flavored. The noodles are good. The normal dipping sauce is a little fishy, but not bad. The experience is nice but not worth the line! read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Hard to find soba at all, let alone at this level. Was so excited to hear sobakatsu had opened but hard to get a seat! Our second attempt dining here was a success! 1st time we came at 3-4ish on a Friday and they'd just sold out early. This time we arrived 1:45 Friday, waited with about 10 people in front of us in line for 45 mins, the maybe another 15 for food. On our way out, saw the line was maybe half as long. If you're willing to chance a sell-out and try them around 3 that's probably still a good bet. Single diners should peek in and try to snag a single seat open at the bar - save like 30min wait. While the clam and duck hot sobas caught my eye, it was a warm day so we both opted for cold soba. We tried both the jumbo shrimp and shrimp/veg tenzarus. I preferred the jumbo shrimp (typical with tempura), both came with veggies. I could have eaten a lot more tempura! Light batter, so fresh. The soba was so simple but satisfying, comforting and .. pure? So much restraint on this plate. You can dip your tempura in the broth and finish it with the sobayu. I typically would but I was honestly too stuffed - it's a hearty amount of soba! We also tried the ume chicken tempura which was moist and super interesting - I love shiso so was a great surprise! The sobawarachimochi was a delightful dessert (hubby ate his throughout the meal), combining the buckwheat with kinako and kuromitsu. Softer and lighter than rice mochi. It's a small spot, so you may feel pressure to eat quickly and vacate your seat (maybe that's just me) instead of slow down and enjoy the meal, the time and passion and expertise put into it. You bus your own table - the bar we sat at was pretty sticky even after we wiped it down with the wipes they provided. But sometimes wipes themselves could be sticky! Prices feel reasonable, and despite the wait and stickiness we are already plotting to come back! read more

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I heard of Sobakatsu from my friend from NYC who found it on TikTok and suggested going when she was visited SF last year. We ended up elsewhere; however, I alway kept Sobakatsu bookmarked for another time. An opportunity presented itself when my local friend and I decided to grab an early weeknight dinner. It was great because we were able to avoid crowds, and there was no queue to order. While I'm not typically inclined toward cold food, I decided to give it a go here rather than default to soup. I got the tenzaru with shrimp kakiage and vegetables. The kakiage was perfect! Not greasy at all and the flavor was on point. As for the noodles, there were certainly a lot of them. I thought they were alright, but the amount was disproportionate to the amount of protein, and I couldn't finish them all. I really debated giving this place 3 or 4 stars, and honestly, I'd say it's a decent 3.5, but I'm rounding down because I think the volume of noodles to kakiage could be more balanced. read more

Sobakatsu - menu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Popular and small soba noodle spot located near Japantown. The line is notoriously long but today it looked shorter than usual so decided to give it a shot. Despite having only six people in front of us, we still waited about 45 minutes to get seated. The inside is very small. There is a small counter sitting for 2-3 people. Another 3 to 4 tables sitting maybe 8 to 10 people. You prepay and order at a Kiosk and than wait for your meal to be served. the menu is limited -- the main decision is do you want to go down the cold soba noodle path or the hot noodle with soup path. From there, you pick from a variety of tempura or kakiage options. The tempura is a little lighter and the kakiage is also deep fried but more of a corn fritter texture and look. We ordered one of each and ultimately I prefer the cold noodles for its more chewy texture but the hot version provides a nice fish broth. I found the dishes satisfying, tasty, and delicious. The tempura had a nice crunch but was not as light as others I have had. The noodles were al dente and good, but overall, nothing was spectacular enough for me to wait 45 minutes to 1.5 hours for, especially when it's $20 to $25 a bowl. Probably 3.5 stars for me... read more

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We arrived at 11:08 AM on a Saturday and were already the 6th party in line which didn't make the cut for the first wave of seating. If the food is truly good though, I don't usually mind a wait. I ordered the hot soba with surumi tempura which was essentially an assortment of 5 different fishcakes. My husband got the same but with the special tempura. Right off the bat, the tempura lacked salt. The hot soba broth leaned on the sweeter side as well. There is salt provided in the container on the table, so maybe the lack of salt was intentional? I've just never had to personally add more salt to any tempura. Portions also run a bit small, especially with the surumi tempura, but this, I expected. Overall, the food was mid. You do have to grab your own order after it is ready from the counter, which can be a bit precarious since the restaurant is extremely compact. For waiting a total of 2 hours before seeing food, I'd say Sobakatsu wasn't worth it and didn't live up the hype. read more

Sobakatsu - hot soba with surimi tempura - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

No wait on a Tuesday 6pm! Order on the tablet and the seat yourself. As you already know, the space is small. In terms of the item, order one cold tenzaru with surimi tempera ($22) and one hot, tenkake ($20) soba. Asked for a small bowl for sharing and was declined unfortunately. The surimi tempera consists of scallop and shrimp tempera, it was good, but I wished the pieces were larger. The veggie tempera is contains good variety and fried in fresh oil. Simple meal. I prefer chewier noodles, so I like the cold noodles, but the broth of the hot soup. read more

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The food is very good and tasty. Nice portions . I ordered the cold Soba with the Tempura. It comes with a dipping sauce that really adds flavor to the dish. I also ordered the Omakase fish cake. That dish is very flavorful and delicious.,They do not offer drinks just water and the water from the noodles, it is quite comforting. It is more like self service . The ordering is done on an IPad before you sit down. They do not have to go boxes so either bring one or just order enough., there is a line so make sure you come early. The place is small so it is hard to go around. I was so entertained by the Billiken. Look for it when you visit. I was going to give it a 5 star but the table was sticky, so I hope they will do something about it. read more

Sobakatsu - Fish cake Omakase - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Small restaurant with two cooks and a tablet POS to order. I arrived a few minutes after opening on a Tuesday and had to wait for the first wave of customers to eat and leave - about 45 minutes, so I'd plan to arrive before opening next time if you want to be the first seating, or come after the lunch rush around 2 or 3, but risk their closing early for selling out. Authentic refreshing cold soba and exceptionally well fried light crispy tempura. Warabimochi was nice and chewy but a lot of the powder got on my backpack - eater beware. Cute restaurant and enjoyed the cozy vibe and authentic food but wouldn't wait hours for it read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Intimate Ambiance. Lengthy Lines. Generous Portions for Price. Cold & Warm Menu, Including Seasonal Special. Decadent Food. Paid Metered & Lots Around Area. See Below for More Details: Intimate Ambiance: Sobakatsu has an intimate ambiance with twelve seats. There are two tables of four and then four bar stools. The space is cozy. Thus, Sobakatsu is best for smaller groups or solo diners. Lengthy Lines: Lines can be long, as shared by other reviewers. However, this was not my experience. Serendipitously, I found myself in Japantown during my day off, and I was able to find a seat, order, and get my food within ten minutes. I am super grateful. Generous Portions for Price: Sobakatsu has generous portions for the price, relative to other San Francisco restaurants. I have a hearty appetite and was full for hours following my meal at Sobakatsu. Cold & Warm Menu, Including Seasonal Special: Sobakatsu has an expansive menu consisting of cold and warm noodles. The restaurant even offers a seasonal special. For instance, I had the Niku Noodles special during my December 2025 visit. Decadent Food: Sobakatsu has decadent food. I had the Niku Noodles, and what a delicious meal, my favorite for fall 2025. The broth was warm and nicely seasoned. The noodles were soft. The eggs was complimentary to the noodles and meat, gooey and mixed well with the broth. I am counting down the days until I am able to return to have noodles at Sobakatsu. Paid Meters & Lots Around Area: Sobakatsu is in San Francisco's Japantown. There is parking in the perimeter including paid street meters that you can pay with quarters or a card as well as private lots, such as the Japan Center Garage. If you want to get steps and take in San Francisco weather, there is two-hour residential parking several blocks out from Japantown. However, be cautious about street cleaning and signs. Overall, I had an incredible experience at Sobakatsu, and I am joyous to return soon! read more

Sobakatsu - Niku Noodles ($25, December 2025) - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

There are similarly tiny noodle shops in Japan, so many that I find it amusing that this spot is so popular among the SF Gen Y-to-Z crowd, enough for them to queue up on the sidewalk. In fact, on one weekday afternoon, I was so shocked at the absence of a line of young foodies that I decided to make my long delayed virginal visit. As I suspected, not a single silver-haired J-Town senior was to be found on any of the eleven seats. I believe my presence must've shot up the age median significantly. It looked to be a two-man operation, and I found out ordering needed to be done on a tablet. Thanks to the mouthy couple waiting behind me, I felt pressure to order quickly and mindlessly selected items à la carte. I was corrected by one of the men who backed out my order and had me place a combo order for the $20 Tenzaru Meal of Shrimp Kakiage and Cold Zarusoba Noodles. That saved me $8. Thank you sir. Fortunately I was able to seize a counter seat when it opened and didn't wait long for the arrival of my traditional meal (Photo 7). The chilled soba noodles were piled neatly on a bamboo tray accompanied by a light soy dipping sauce, some fresh wasabi, and a bit of green onion. The deliciously crispy shrimp kakiage was served on its own laquer dish and presented as a lightly battered fritter of roughly chopped shrimp. I'm usually allergic to buckwheat, but the noodles went down quite smoothly. I also added a dessert, the $6 Sobawaramochi, which was a serving of the jelly- like warabi mochi coated in kinako (roasted soybean powder) and sitting in a pool of kuromitsu (brown sugar syrup). What a treat as it's more of a regional sweet treat in Japan often sold off mobile carts. Now I understand why people wait in lines here. I just may do that next time with Jamie W. FOOD - 5 stars...authentic tenzaru meals executed flawlessly AMBIANCE - 4 stars...tight quarters for sure SERVICE - 5 stars...he didn't have to save me money TOTAL - 5 stars...a little soba never killed anyone (thank goodness) RELATED - Exploring Japantown? Here's a collection of places l've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/l1AAkI4i6h read more

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Yum! Worth the wait if you're craving soba and some tempura! There's about 10ish seats inside so the wait might take a bit. You order at the kiosk then your food should be out shortly after being seated. We tried the soba with scallop and fish tempura. I would say the fish tempura is a must try! The batter is light and the fish is flakey. There's a nice citrus flavor. The scallop tempura is a bunch of baby scallops fried into a patty of sorts. The shrimp tempura was also solid but nothing outstanding. To finish we had the warabi mochi which we found to have an interesting texture. It was more hard and solid than what I was expecting, I had thought it would be more jiggly and melty. Defiantly a fun spot to try out if you're near by and the line looks short! read more

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Writing this feels really weird since A) I actually liked what I tried here and B) this is far from a negative review. Yet, after seeing all of the glowing five star reviews that so many folks have given Sobakatsu, I can't help but feel a little sheepish giving "only" four stars since it puts me in the clear minority! Now, as so many others have already noted, it really is striking just how small Sobakatsu is. In all, there are just eleven seats inside - a four-top, a couple of two-tops, and three counter seats. Despite their size, though, this place is no less mighty and, not surprisingly, quite efficient. Once you've made it to the front of the line and see a space open up, enter your order at the tablet and grab your seat(s). As for the menu, while it may be similarly modest, everything on it looks great. Obviously, soba is their specialty, of which they have over a half dozen hot and cold varieties, but they also have a nice assortment of tempura, kakiage, and small sides as well! -- SCALLOP KAKIAGE This was terrific! The batter was perfect and I loved how flavorful the bay scallops were. Plus, it was a nice surprise to get a few pieces of tempura as well. The snap pea was okay, and both the mushroom and kabocha were good, but my favorite was the surimi. -- BRAISED PORK BELLY DISH I was a little worried when I saw how big and fatty these were, but this was so good! Although each piece had a bit of fat on them, they didn't have a super fatty taste to them and were oh so tender. Plus, the sauce was rich and delicious! -- TENZARU SOBA SET - Cold Soba with Mixed Tempura A bit disappointing, to be honest. Mostly, both the soba and the sauce didn't taste different from what I've had at legit Japanese restaurants elsewhere. As for the tempura, the batter was really thin, but I loved that the portion was generous (five pieces of shrimp!). Sadly, since we missed the first wave of seating when they opened (we got here at about 11:40am on a Friday), my friend and I ended up having to wait about an hour and a half before we finally got in (it was a little after 1pm by the time we ordered and sat down). That being said, I have to admit it didn't feel that long since they're good about churning our orders (and groups) quickly. All in all, I definitely wouldn't mind coming back to check out more of Sobakatsu's offerings, especially one of their hot soba options, but I'm not sure I would wait as long as we did again to do it. Don't get me wrong - I was happy to do it to finally come here and the food is certainly worth checking out. It's just that while what I had was good, I don't know if it's wait-in-line-for-90-minutes-again good. If I only had to wait for half of that time, though? Absolutely. FOUR AND A HALF STARS rounded down. read more

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Third time's a charm! Finally got to try here after several failed attempts. We went for lunch and despite arriving at 11:45am before it opened, there was already a huge line and still had to wait over an hour. You order on the screen and there's 2 men furiously popping out soba and tempura. I got the veggie set and my friend got the combo. We both got hot soba. The soba was slightly soft for me, but otherwise the tempura was good. While I probably would not wait again for over an hour, definitely worth checking out and if the line ever dies down I'd come back when I'm in town! read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

A not-so-hidden gem! We arrived at 11:45am on a Tuesday thinking there wouldn't be anyone in line but there were already multiple parties ahead of us. Inside there are only two tables of four and three bar seats, so it's definitely cozy (but nice because the whole experience ends up feeling quite communal). Standing in the tiny interior and getting a glimpse into the kitchen where everything was being swiftly and expertly made, it truly felt reminiscent of a hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Japan. Total time from getting in line to receiving our order was about an hour, but it passed quickly! I had the cold soba with veggie and scallop kakiage. The soba had the perfect fresh bounce and chew and the broth provided just the right amount of salt and savoriness. I loved the kakiage, especially the kabocha squash and the scallops (lil baby bites that were so tender and sweet). We also got the warabi mochi which were plump and perfectly dusted with kinako. Simple and unpretentious, the food speaking for itself, Sobakatsu is a must try! read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Sobakatsu has been on my list to try for a while and I finally had the chance to visit. The space inside is very small with only about 10 seats, so wait times can get pretty long. I arrived about 45 minutes before opening and was first in line. Once inside, you order using the kiosk and get a receipt. They call your number when your food is ready, and after finishing you return your tray to the front. I ordered the hot soba kamonanban, which comes with sliced duck breast and leek. Personally, I thought it was just okay and not really worth the long wait. I also recently tried Sora Dining Soba and ended up liking that one a lot more in comparison. read more

This was the first time I've ever tried soba and I was not disappointed. I tried both hot and cold versions. The cold version was very refreshing, and perfect for hotter days. The hot version was very good and perfect for colder days. For the hot soba, I tried the limited time Niku yuzu, it was very good with a light citrus taste and came with a poached egg which was so creamy and delicious. As for the tempuras, they were lightly coated and tasted very light. I'm usually not a huge fan of tempuras but these were so good. The portions are a lot larger than it looks! I felt very full halfway through eating, but instead of getting a food coma, I felt energized after because it's healthy. This restaurant is very small, only having two 2-top tables, one 4-top, and 3 bar seatings. They opened at 12, but we came at 11:20 and a line was already starting. I recommend coming here as early as 11 if you want to make it into the first seating. We self order at the kiosk and the kitchen will call for the number when it's ready. After eating, you bring your tray to the counter so the next people can seat. It does take a while for them to cook as it's made fresh right after you order so waiting can take some time. It took us 20 minutes to get our food when we ordered at 12:05. read more

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After first hearing about this little spot on Tiktok I knew I had to check it out. I absolutely love soba noodles as well as tempura so I ventured out to Japantown to give it a try. When I went there was already a long line that I ended up waiting an hour an ten minutes. Luckily I had already grabbed a matcha from maruwu seicha so that held me over a bit while I waited. The inside seating is incredibly small only seating roughly 15 people with a small kiosk up front to pay and a broth refill station. I decided to get the cold soba noodle set with tempura and it was so incredibly refreshing and delicious. The soba was chewy and bouncy while the broth was chilled and tangy. The tempura was also perfectly crunchy and delicate. My absolute favorite item however was the warabi mochi. This was hands down some of the best mochi I have ever had and it was dusted with soy bean powder and topped with a sweet glaze. Absolutely recommend getting this in addition to the soba noods! read more

Sobakatsu - Cold soba noodles + tempura + mochi - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

The food itself is super refreshing and flavorful. The only thing that makes me less likely to come back would be the seating system and how small the actual space is. You have to find a table before ordering which means if there are no tables then you probably cannot order:,) Very quiet ambiance, definitely not a sit down and chat type of restaurant. Would still highly recommend the food! read more

Sobakatsu - sobanoodles - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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What an interesting little shop. I waited about an hour even though there were only five people in front of me. There are only around 8 seats in the restaurant and you don't really interact with any staff. You order at a kiosk and pick up your food when it's ready. I ordered the Tenzaru cold soba meal and was very impressed with the shrimp tempura. I could easily eat 6 of them. The batter was light and crisp and the flavor was perfect. However I wish the soba had more flavor or that I had ordered it with a broth. It was quite bland, even with the dipping sauce. I would try a different soba dish next time, and make sure to order more shrimp tempura! read more

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While its hard to find seating because Sobakatsu is small, once inside it's about as authentic (to Japan) as you can find. The soba is chewy and good, the dipping sauce (dashi) is solid, and the tempura was light and as good as I've had, including in Japan at a good tempura spot. Order ahead on a screen, get a ticket, find a seat, and wait for your lunch, as it's made-to-order. Turn around times were fairly quick, but I did come after the lunch rush. Limited seating, so you'll need to time your a visit to best enjoy it. I recommend coming at off hours and not at peak times, if possible. read more

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I had heard about the hype for Sobakatsu for months and was fortunate enough to snag a walk-in seat in their intimate dining space during off-hours for lunch! price: ~$20 We got the shrimp tempura cold soba set to share. Everything tasted super fresh and delicate, and the soba noodles had a good texture. Flavors were overall pretty light, which you can control with the togarashi at the table. Prices are fairly steep for the set menu, but the story of gluten-free buckwheat soba noodles and freshly prepared, unique tempura is compelling. Probably not worth waiting too long in line for, in my opinion -- but still a good option for lunch if you're in the area! read more

Sobakatsu - Shrimp Tempura Set - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Waited in line for about 1.5 hours before ordering. Ordered the Ten Kake, which comes with a bowl of hot soba and your choice of tempura. I opted for the scallops kikiage with vegetable tempura, and my friend got the shrimp tempura. The hot soba broth was tasty and the noodles had good texture. My favorite bite was eating the broth with the one bit of yuzu zest that was in the bowl (wish there was more zest!). I was not really a fan of the tempura - the scallop and shrimp tempura was coated with batter that tasted very coconut-y, and even for the vegetables, the batter was rather heavy and greasy. Would not wait in line for that long again, but it was a solid bowl of soba. There are only two tables that seat 4 and 3 counter seats, so this place would be more optimal for smaller parties. read more

Sobakatsu - Ten Kake with Scallops Kikiage & Vegetable Tempura - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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I visited Sobakatsu on a Wednesday at 11:30am and there were already 4 people in front of me in line! I definitely recommend arriving at 11:30am latest on the weekdays and likely much earlier on the weekend to avoid waiting in line. There are only 11 seats in the entire restaurant. Keep in mind this also means you may need to share a table with strangers. I ordered the Zaru cold soba with special kakiage and warabi mochi. The soba was refreshing and chewy. I liked it but I LOVED the warabi mochi. It's really hard to find in the city and I'd be tempted to line up just to grab this to go! For $6, it's a very generous portion and the entire meal left me very full as a solo diner. read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

What a relief! I thought I wouldn't have a unique opportunity from Sobakatsu! After more than half an hour of standing and waiting, I finally got to have one empty seating near the bar after the young Asian customer finished her meal. Can't believe I be sitting in front of the small golden lucky deity; but no, I won't rub its feet for good luck. I paid and dine quickly before heading into downtown market. For starters, I went for a nice bowl of plain-as-day Kakesoba. I once had cold soba in any ramen cafés, but this one was hot, which was good for cold weather. No veggie tempura nor kitsune (fried tofu) needed since they're added to the price. Gluten free, crunchy, fresh, and delicate, it's no wonder none of us afford to go for takeout, nor shall reservations be taken. And its clear, clean broth felt like a lukewarm tub for relaxation. Every time I came into any authentic Japanese ramen cafés, the smell of umami lingers with excitement the moment I get close. With over two tables, each with four seats, while three seats near the soba bar. That's a total of eleven seats, which can be quite a challenge to people waiting for hours in a very long snake line. Just when we think the number of people reduced in the late afternoon, there'll be no snowball's chance once Sobakatsu ran out of soba for the rest of the day. So be sure to arrive very early for a unique experience, or go elsewhere. This family owned soba bar café made such good soba meals with love that never disappoints. read more

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Solid 4 stars - The line did wrap around the building but I respect the owners/cooks taking their time and making sure everything is perfect. I think this place is a tiny bit over hyped as I wouldn't wait in line for 1.5 hours again, but the food was def very good. Havnt had soba this tasty in a while! Small inside , only seats a handful of people and you need a seat before you order. The food comes out fast tho, but what makes it long is people eating slowly/talking - some people have 0 self awareness. The restaurant feels very authentic, and the food was pretty good. They give you a LOT of noodles ! The noodles were good, but the fried pieces were bomb. Preso 10/10 read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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If youre in SF and on the hunt for authentic Soba, this is the place. Ive heard about this small soba spot in SF's japan town and finally got the opportunity to give it a try. Showed up for late lunch around 2/3 and was able to get a seat without any line in sight. The vibes here will transport you to a tiny soba mom and pop shop in japan, with about only 10/12 seats. You order up on the tablet, and wait for your order to be called out. I ordered the zaru soba tempura set, and i've gotta say this soba is right there with the great ones in japan. Definitely a hidden gem and I see why people love the soba here. The tempura was nicely battered without being heavy. Solid meal, and my top pick for best soba in SF. Definitely lived up to the hype! read more

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I love this place!! If you have the time to wait, definitely come check this out. Me and 3 other friends waited about an hour and a half on a Friday around noon. I suggest going early as they do close early for the day if they sell out of their soba noodles! The two old men running the shop were super sweet and like to check in and see if you enjoyed the meal. They're really happy when they see that you finish everything. c: Parking in this area is really tough. If you have time, park in a japantown structure and walk over. This is probably the best soba I've ever had! I got a combo with scallop tempura and the combo also came with assorted veggie tempura. The texture of the soba was perfectly chewy! The dining area can only seat 11 people and you might have to sit next to a stranger with the way the dining system works. The warabi mochi was also sooo good! a must try for a sweet treat. read more

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Honestly a great spot that specializes in soba! (My opinion still stands even after waiting over 2 hours) We ordered Tenzaru (cold soba) with shrimp tempura Tenzaru with special kakiage Spicy dipping sauce Warubimochi The cold soba was amazing and really did taste just like the ones we had in Japan, and so far the best we've had in California. They also get extra points for their spicy dipping sauce. It's not very spicy, but it's very flavorful. It reminded us of a mala flavor, and there were bits of braised beef (?) in the sauce, it was worth the extra $5 for us, but the original dipping sauce was also very good too. Also, the special kakiage is basically just a little bit of everything, which was perfect for me since I like to try everything. If I had to choose between the tempura and kakiage, I think I would get kakiage again. The tempura and the kakiage were both solid, but there were other soba spots where we liked the tempura and kakiage better, but this place definitely wins for their soba, so we'll definitely be back! Long wait on the weekends, we waited for 2 hours (arrived at 12:05, seated around 2:30) on a Saturday. The line was already wrapped around the corner even 5 min after opening. Even if there doesn't look like a lot of people, keep in mind that there's only 11 seats, and also some people hold spots in line for their party. I'd say a good estimate of the wait is probably about 30 min-1 hour for every 11 people in line. I'd say it would be worth a 1 hour wait to try if you're missing soba from Japan and can't afford to go on a weekday (like if there's 11 ppl in line or less). Really did feel like it was bringing us back to Japan from the small storefront with just 2 people in the kitchen, seating for 11 and long lines. There's no shade, so highly recommend bringing a portable stool to sit on, water, sun hats, etc if you're planning to wait! read more

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I've been wanting to try Sobakatsu since it opened last year but decided to wait until the initial excitement died down because I loathe long lines. Had lunch here yesterday and it was delicious! I ordered the Asari clam soba and a side of scallop tempura. The both was light but flavorful and the clams were cooked perfectly. The noodles were bouncy with the perfect chew, zero complaints about the soba. The scallop tempura was just ok, it could benefit from some onions and maybe carrots being added for the texture and sweetness. The space is the smallest I've ever seen for a sit down restaurant. It's very cramped but the soba was 100% worth it and I will be going back. read more

Sobakatsu - Asari soba and scallop kakiage - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Very uniquely Japanese, you look at menu, choose and pay for thr items you want, then wait for a seat to become available, and by that time, you be able to sit and enjoy your bowl of perfectly temp noodles... . I do understand about what others stated about the waiting situation. However, you have to see each placendifferently and why it took longer for you to be seated here than other spots inside Japantown. Smaller more intimate location equals to limited seating. People still come because the food quality and taste are excellent. Then if you all didn't know, the owner and chef is also the owner of Belly Good Cafe & Crepe's! First time I came here and i was like, wait, that's and i immediately recognized him. And I said to myself, no wonder i haven't seen him for a long time! Me and my now wife have gotten Crepe's from him a long long time and everytime, he greets with a smile and just makes you feel very welcomed! He carries that same energy here, just different cuisine and clientele. I would recommend you go here and try his food, you can literally see him and the other chef concentrating in the quality and craft when they are preparing your food. I have to say, if your in the area, you have to try Sobakatsu! Thank you! read more

Sobakatsu - Different view! - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Went here around 2 or so on a Saturday and they were almost sold out! I thought overall it was pretty good! The highlight here has to be their kakiage, I loved how crispy and fresh it was. They had a vegetable one w/ corn that was sooo delicious. They have salt packets since the kakiage isnt salted itself. If I ever have a soba craving I would definitely go here and I love that they have self-serve broth for after you're done with your noodles :) read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

I didn't envision needing to stand in line on a weekday for nearly an hour for lunch, but I had to try it. Really wish they had a bench or some water available for the outdoor patrons because on a warm day, it's a rough wait on the sunny side of the street with no awning. Luckily I made the first seating, snagging the last seat. Once you enter, you'll be greeted by the scent of a heavy dashi broth that just gets your appetite going. Unfortunately all orders are made to order so you'll just have to be teased by that smell while you wait. It took about 15 minutes for my meal to be made. I had the zaru soba with surimi and overall, the meal was extremely filling with really nice sweet bites from the fish cakes and a nice bounciness from the soba noodles. I agree with another Yelper that a good amount of the noodles were broken so maybe they just toss it too hard in the colander? Still, there was enough to still enjoy some proper slurping though! For the fish cakes, my favorite was the seaweed and corn one followed by the shiitake mushroom one...mmm! I could eat those all day! To round out my meal, of course I needed to get the warabi mochi and this was my favorite. It was generously dusted with kinako and drizzled with kuromitsu, just how I like it! As you finish, don't be surprised that other patrons will snag the seat readily. This concept is pretty interesting - it's a restaurant, but functions like a food court cafeteria. read more

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best soba in the Bay Area and it's pretty common knowledge by a lot of real ones that it's the best soba here (and honestly one of the best restaurants in general) the fried stuff don't make me feel bad after Shop is small so be prepared to wait but everyone that does eat here is courteous and tends to eat fast haha read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Lunch review. Soba. Ordered: Cold Scallops kakiage & veg Hot Kamo Nanban Pork belly Sobawarabimochi Overall, "as good as it gets." read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Came here on a Friday for a very early dinner. My party arrived ~4:45pm, and I could see there were 4-5 seats open. However we were lucky enough to get the last two portions, and some people walked in 10-15 minutes later only to be turned away. Would recommend to come as early as you can to avoid missing out! I got the cold soba with scallop and vegetable kakiage. Although the kakiage portion was smaller than I expected, the soba portion size was solid! Next time I'd try their other kakiage/tempura options (the shrimp one actually seemed to be generous with the number of shrimp!). I don't know how often I'll be coming here just because it seems difficult to go if not for lunch or early dinner. But if I get the chance I'd love to come back. read more

Sobakatsu - Cold soba with scallop kakiage and veg - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California

Let me scratch the itch for you here and to save you 3+ hours of your life and some calories. Naturally, I had high hopes for Sobakatsu especially after hearing all the praises about this place. Little did I know, my dreams of eating a glorious bowl of glistening and perfectly cooked al dente soba yum yum chew would be smashed. As all the reviews say, come before opening time to avoid the long wait or if you're feeling courageous and are a determined diner, expect to wait 2+ hours and if not dining solo, make sure that your dining partners are patient, not easily irritable and someone you'd wait in the Rise of the Resistance ride line with, no hesitations. I came in the later afternoon (with the expectation that I would be hangry by the time I ate, but would soon be satiated with supposedly amazing noods). Boy, was I wrong. I ordered the Ten Zaru and thoroughly enjoyed the special kakiage, which was perfectly fried and oh so crunchy. I just wished that the soba noodles were in long uniform pieces versus the broken noodles that were plopped in a mound of sad soba. I'm not sure how this happened, but it was like a little critter decided to attack my soba mountain and only got to eat 30% of it before being served. Definitely a huge disappointment for me especially since my home boiled store bought soba noodles exceeded the quality of these greatly. This does not compute in my brain. Perhaps I came on an off day. I'm not sure I'm willing to wait in line for mediocre noodles again and rather drive across the bridge to Soba Ichi to get some guaranteed solid soba noodles without the wait. read more

Sobakatsu - Japanese Near Me - San Francisco, California