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    Yo Yo's

    4.4 (665 reviews)
    InexpensiveJapanese
    Closed 9:00 am - 3:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Yo Yo's Photos

    Business Info

    YO YO'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

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    Chicken curry
    Ying Z.

    Incredibly huge portions at an extremely competitive price point! This whole container cost me maybe $14. You don't see prices like these in SF often, especially close to FiDi where most restaurants charge an $25+ for a weekday office lunch. It's takeout only since it's a small counter space. The couple running this restaurant is so sweet and warm. There will definitely be a line during lunch rush, but they are fast and diligent so the wait goes by quick. I really enjoyed my chicken curry also. The carrot was so sweet and flavorful. Office lunches are a little less bleak with Yo Yo's around.

    Udon
    Landon S.

    What a great little shop in San Francisco! Very close to the pier walk and is in close proximity to many things in San Francisco. The two owners were extremely friendly and helpful. Our food was made extremely fast and is such a great price for the giant portion size. I got the full size udon with a dumpling and some chili sauce which was $12, or $9 without the dumpling. It got me pretty full. The udon noodles itself was delicious and the toppings added on it was great. Extremely great service and I will be returning next week!

    Outside open only weekdays
    Priscilla L.

    Before I was into Yelp, in my college days, I had intern at a business downtown that exposed me to hidden restaurants down here like Sai's Vietnamese which now has closed its original location and Old Ship Saloon for some good burgers which I think is still open and this Yo Yo's has been my personal favorite since 20 years ago. So on my day off work I came back to this part of town I haven't visited in years! New business taken places of old storefronts or vacant buildings are kinda sad. Yo Yo's a simple mom and pop, hole in the wall place you won't know about unless you work here weekdays. It doesn't open weekends. They are quick fast preparing your food and personal. It's like having your parents cook for you feeling. . You know the food will be comforting and good. You just have to find a place to eat it, like the park across the street or I went to the TransAmerica Redwoods garden building across the street to eat it. Yummy in my tummy. I am pleased and if I take another trek down here again, I'll surely be back and get the beef curry for $15. Looks good.

    Half chicken curry plate was $7 (2 chicken legs in there) plus egg, potato, and carrots
    Melissa W.

    Super small hole in the wall, mom and pop type spot, great for lunch near FiDi. Cash only, but I think they take Venmo now too (?) The owners take your order while the line builds. They have daily specials like a curry chicken plate with rice. You can order a half size which is $7, and I think the full size is $12. The half size is plenty as they give 1-2 chicken legs. (Mine had 2.) They also have udon options with dumplings. Can't beat this spot for cheap lunch in the neighborhood! Plus the owners are super friendly! Support local businesses!

    Beef curry (not available everyday)
    Kevin Y.

    Great place for an affordable and filling lunch near jackson square. love the couple that own and run this place. they dont accept credit card but they now accept venmo for those that dont have cold cash. work lunches have gotten so expensive in SF, but this place keeps it reasonably priced. they have great soba noodles as well as curry plates. There is typically somewhat of a line if you come during lunch time tues-thur, but not too bad.

    Soba and Chicken Teriyaki
    Lynn N.

    Stopped for lunch here with my brother and the owner greeted us warmly and put a smile on our faces! We got the soba noodles (hot) and chicken teriyaki and liked that we had the option to pay via Venmo. The owner suggested a nearby park to eat at but my brother had a different spot in mind but it was nice to have the suggestion. The food was delicious and we shared both dishes but the soba noodles was our favorite of the two! I'd eat those soba noodles everyday if I liked or worked nearby! The broth is perfectly salty and savory and the noodles and fillings are the perfect complement. The lunch left is feeling satisfied and was perfect. None of the post lunch slump after this nice meal! This place is a gem!

    Vegetarian plate (brown rice, dumpling, tofu, seaweed, and orange slice) at $10
    Sha G.

    The fastest service in town and the prices can't be beat. This family owned to-go counter has you in and out in less than 10 minutes. It's Venmo or cash only and the menu is small but there's something for everyone. Pre-made sushi rolls (fish or veggie), warm dumplings (veggie or chicken), and a few hot plates. I've heard great things about the fried chicken. There's nothing much to the space, but the greeting was warm. There were jokes made, laughter, and love to go around. My vegetarian plate was prepared right in front of me. It was piled high with rice, salad, tofu, dumplings and brown rice soaked in a tasty teriyaki sauce. Everything was topped with tempura crunchies for texture. There was a slice of orange to round things out as well. I had leftovers because it was too much food. All this was for $10! You need to stop here if you're in the area and need food fast, cheap, and tasty.

    Curry
    Ethan W.

    I was first introduced to Yo Yo's on my first day of working in the city. Since then, I've been going back at least once a week now! The owners are soo soo nice and accommodating and are very genuine with every customer they serve. My favorite is their beef curry and they always give you a huuuge portion size so you definitely will have leftovers. They also have very affordable sushi and other sides that are great for snacks or light meals! Many people get their udon or soba which are very popular but if you're looking for something that will fill you up, I highly recommend the curry! Please support this local business anytime you are in the area! The owners are so sweet!

    Avocado Maki and Chicken Teriyaki (half portion)
    Tiffany T.

    Food: Avocado maki: 3.5/5. The overall quality (especially the seaweed) was a bit lacking. Rice was a little squishier/softer than I was expecting for a maki. Chicken teriyaki (half portion): 4/5 It tasted just as advertised, nothing crazy. The rice was cooked just right, the chicken was juicy and flavorful with the teriyaki sauce. The side salad was also delicious. The portion is pretty big considering its a "half portion" so you really get a bang outta your buck here! Ambiance + service: 4/5 Only because there is no seating. Service was super fast and the owners are super nice! Parking: Very difficult.. Good luck finding a spot within walking distance. Overall: You get what you pay for and these prices truly cannot be beat in SF. I would definitely come again if I could!

    Soba noodles soup with tempura flavor, wakame and bean curd toppings.
    Reuben N.

    Last time I was here was in 1999, when I was still working at Keker & Van Nest. Today, I was at 630 Sansome for my client's USCIS interview. On the way to the BART station, I saw something familiar and decided to walk-in. The two owners are still there happily serving their noodle soup and sushi rolls. Prices have significantly changed, yet still a great value for lunch. I opted for my usual--sobe noodles with wakame, tempura flavor and bean curd as toppings. Still hits the spot!

    1/2 California 1/2 Smoked Salmon Roll

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    8 months ago

    Real people, the sweetest couple. You're going to get authentic, fairly priced food here. I got the chicken curry and it was delicious

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    1 year ago

    Love this place with all my heart - tasty, affordable, and the kindest souls working here

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    Yo Yo's Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Yo Yo's

    Do they use halal meat?

    From what I have heard, yes. The owners happen to be from Indonesia.

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    HINODEYA Ramen & Bar Downtown - Pork Donburi "Chashu Don" 2.0

    HINODEYA Ramen & Bar Downtown

    4.3(717 reviews)
    0.3 miFinancial District
    $$

    Solid spot for a comforting, satisfying meal. I got the fried chicken over rice with curry, and it…read morereally hit the mark. The chicken was crispy on the outside and juicy inside, with a nice light seasoning that didn't overpower the dish. The curry sauce was rich, slightly sweet, and had just enough depth to keep you going back for another bite. Portion size was great for the price, and everything came out hot and fresh. The vibe felt cozy and laid-back--nothing fancy, but definitely the kind of place you'd come back to when you're craving something reliable and filling. Only reason it's not a full 5 stars is I wish the curry had a bit more spice or complexity, but that's personal preference. Still, a really enjoyable meal overall and worth checking out.

    Came with friends to get a quick dinner before heading to North Beach!…read more The service was great, as the servers checked up on us and took our order swiftly. The ambiance was also quite nice. I enjoyed the wall decor, and the ambiance is a bit darker. As for food, two of my friends got the creamy vegan ramen (they're vegan and vegetarian). My other friend for a pork don with a spicy miso ramen, and I got the gyu-don with a spicy miso ramen. The food was very delicious - everything was cooked well, perfectly flavored. I like the rice plates as they come with a tiny bowl of ramen of your choice :) Overall, we would definitely come back again as we thoroughly enjoyed the dining experience!

    Photos
    HINODEYA Ramen & Bar Downtown - Interior

    Interior

    HINODEYA Ramen & Bar Downtown - Shrimp Tempura (5 pcs)

    Shrimp Tempura (5 pcs)

    HINODEYA Ramen & Bar Downtown - Interior

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    Interior

    KUSAKABE

    KUSAKABE

    4.6(1.2k reviews)
    0.2 miFinancial District
    $$$$

    What an experience! We were celebrating an anniversary and planned a bit last minute, but were able…read moreto snag a reservation here pretty easily. Immediately, the ambiance and service was quite nice. We were seated at the table, but typically I enjoy sitting at the bar to watch the chefs make our food. The service was amazing and they were very attentive. They also offered to take photos and gave us a little gift of hojicha tea since we were celebrating. We got the omakase, which was massive and had 18 courses. They gave us a menu so we knew what to expect for each course, and we ordered some sake. The omakase was delicious and more traditional than other places, each course was so beautiful and delicately made. This is definitely a lot of food, I would recommend the petite omakase in the future as I was stuffed, but it was a great experience if you come hungry! Courses: - Chawan-mushi - super tasty and every bite was delicious and umami forward! - Otsumami - 7 seasonal appetizers presented in a beautiful box, there was a stuffed crab claw in there that was delicious - 4 kinds of sushi - each piece came out one at a time, the first piece was my absolute favorite and blew me away, it was a seared chutoro that immediately melts in your mouth and tastes smokey - Hamachi soup - very tasty and warming soup with hamachi inside, was perfect in between the sushi course - 4 kinds of sushi - A5 Waguyu shabu - this course was extra $10 pp but was so delicious, the wagyu was melt in your mouth and had some grated daikon on top in a ponzu dashi, the toppings help balance the meat so it's overwhelming since it does melt in your mouth, one of my favorite bites! - 4 kind of sushi - they brought out some really great sushis, including more chutoro and an unagi handroll, but I was so stuffed at this point that I felt I couldn't enjoy it as much - miso soup - this soup was so tasty and kind of revived me after all that food, it felt comforting and a great way to end - dessert- I got the hojicha ice cream in a waffle like cookie and it was delicious!

    WOW!!! That's it,…read morethat's the review. No, but in all seriousness, I visited Kusakabe for the 18 course Omakase (my first) and it was such a fantastic experience. Our server was so attentive and thoughtful and really helped make the entire experience so much fun. This was also some of - if not the best - sushi I have ever had. Everything was extremely fresh and the fish melted like butter in my mouth. Every course was extremely flavorful and just truly deliberate; there was a story behind everything. They also have a really great sake list and our server recommended delicious pairings that went well with each course. I genuinely cannot wait to go back and experience another Omakase here!

    Photos
    KUSAKABE - Zen bathroom

    Zen bathroom

    KUSAKABE - Otsumami...

    Otsumami...

    KUSAKABE - Eight Kinds of Sushi

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    Eight Kinds of Sushi

    Sanraku

    Sanraku

    3.9(2k reviews)
    0.9 miLower Nob Hill
    $$

    Very good Japanese food right in the heart of downtown San Francisco! We stopped in for lunch on a…read moreTuesday and hit the jackpot with their lunch box special. For $18, you get an incredible spread: * your choice of gyoza, shumai, or tofu * a California roll or avocado roll * a protein of your choice Plus it all comes with edamame, miso soup, and seaweed salad. Honestly? That's my kind of deal. Everything we tried was delicious. In addition to the lunch box, we ordered a dragon roll and a dynamite roll, both of which were fresh, flavorful, and beautifully done. My husband went with the Una Ten Donburi. It was tasty, but at $30, it did feel a bit steep compared to the rest of the menu. The restaurant looked like your typical Japanese style space with the sushi rollers at the entrance and simple tables and decor. I do have two minor negatives worth mentioning. First, the edamame was cold and unsalted. I'm an edamame lover, and nothing beats it hot, freshly steamed, and generously showered in salt. So that was a little disappointing. Second, our server (I believe his name was Kayz) seemed visibly annoyed when we asked to split the check. As a server myself, I know this isn't rocket science, and guests should never be made to feel uncomfortable for something so standard, especially after there had already been a small mix-up with our roll order (we received two dynamite rolls instead of one dynamite and one dragon). We didn't make a fuss at the time because mistakes happen, but the attitude at the end definitely stood out. That said, the food itself was solid, the lunch special is a fantastic value, and overall we still had a good experience. I would absolutely return and would recommend this spot, just hoping for a smoother service experience next time.

    According to what I wrote on Yelp, I had a decent meal at their sister restaurant in the Metreon…read morewell before it shuttered, like over a decade ago. My meal apparently wasn't memorable enough to motivate me to visit this location, that is, until quite recently. I decided to have lunch here after a nearby medical appointment. It wasn't crowded at all. Only a couple of solo diners and a loud senior couple. I wasn't in a sushi mood and thought I'd go healthy with the saba shioyaki. However, at the last minute, I went with the $19 Ika Yaki, a whole BBQ squid sliced and saturated in teriyaki sauce with a dab of shichimi mayo (Photo 8). The portion was generous and the texture was firm with enough elasticity. Unfortunately the teriyaki sauce did nothing to enhance the dish, and I wished they served it on the side. I also ordered the $8 Agedashi Tofu, usually a foolproof appetizer for me. It certainly looked right (Photo 9), but I was unpleasantly surprised how tongue-burning hot it was. The cubes of tofu must've just come right out of the deep fryer. The dashi broth helped calm the heat down but a little too late. I'm sure glad I sprung for the $3 bowl of Rice (Photo 10). That calmed what was left of my tongue down. FOOD - 3 stars...execution errors mar the dishes here AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...spacious enough since it was empty, sushi bar seating was available SERVICE - 3.5 stars...attentive enough TOTAL - 3 stars...not my favorite Japanese spot RELATED - Exploring the Tenderloin? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/hu44dWMabs

    Photos
    Sanraku
    Sanraku
    Sanraku

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    Katsuya - Chicken katsu.

    Katsuya

    4.1(326 reviews)
    0.4 miFinancial District
    $$

    Truthfully, I didn't know what I was in for in visiting Katsuya. Apparently I wasn't alone…read more Arriving for a work lunch during lunch hours, one thing we did know, as a group of 5, is that we immediately needed to grab a seat while we figured it out. From there, I definitely felt like I was in some sort of clue based, escape room style, "figure-it-out" gameshow. Once settled, my group struggled to find a menu apart from one on the wall above the order kiosk (which was difficult to view from our table). We also had a time deciphering that not one but two restaurants occupied the space, each with their own menu. Woohoo, clue unlocked! Apparently we missed out on complimentary miso, but after ordering, and a short wait, we were rewarded with sandwiches! Although these sandwiches were beautiful and fragrant, the vibe at the table was sheer surprise! These meals are huge, and in addition to your sandwich, they arrive with multiple sides. All things said and done, they offer an impressive meal at a competitive price. Just make sure to read the Yelp reviews first so you're in the know!

    Coming here was really simple. There was no line. Food came out fast…read more They almost gave someone else my food. The server gave me the wrong order initially. I wish both kiosks served both businesses menus.

    Photos
    Katsuya - Plenty of seats, usually empty apart from the workday lunch rush

    Plenty of seats, usually empty apart from the workday lunch rush

    Katsuya - Chicken Katsu

    Chicken Katsu

    Katsuya - Cheese Katsu Sandō

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    Cheese Katsu Sandō

    Muracci's Japanese Curry & Grill - Katsu Curry

    Muracci's Japanese Curry & Grill

    4.0(1.8k reviews)
    0.5 miChinatown
    $$

    Used to be a must and go to almost a decade ago when I used to visit SF more often (meaning it was…read morea fav of one of my ex's). The first couple of times was great and then it started to fall off later on. Including the texture and flavor not hitting as hard and the fact that it's closed on weekends now. Impossible for non wagies to go there, meaning I can't have any when I'm there on weekend vacation I guess, but with how everything closes early and is dying in Bay Area, I'm somehow not surprised. Very tiny spot and not much seating, so you're either taking it to go or you're praying there's a chair and a counter that's free. No big deal since I've been to other Japanese curry places like this. I've had a mix bag where the katsu was deliciously crispy and moist on the inside and days where the meat inside is dry, even drenched in curry. Hot curry sauce is Japanese hot, so it has spices in it but not spicy at all. The workers do their best for the lunch rush, so that's a plus at least. Overall, it was okay, but man the times sure have changed.

    Got a medium spicy katsu curry and was fairly spicy! So if you are unsure, err on the lower side!…read moreFood tasted good, nothing super special. Not the worst curry I've had, but also not the best. Fairly liquidly curry, not thick at all. This is also one of those pick-up only locations, so don't expect to be able to sit down and eat. You order and pick up at the window.

    Photos
    Muracci's Japanese Curry & Grill - Inside, takeout with a small area on the right to eat

    Inside, takeout with a small area on the right to eat

    Muracci's Japanese Curry & Grill - Katsu curry with rice and pickles 9/14/23! Yum

    Katsu curry with rice and pickles 9/14/23! Yum

    Muracci's Japanese Curry & Grill - Cute art wall

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    Cute art wall

    Yo Yo's - japanese - Updated May 2026

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