Ducks Restaurant

Basic classics for Japanese staples. Enjoyed my cold soba noodles and tempura. Chicken cutlet and curry not bad but next time I'll try the spicier version and unagi, this was bland. Gyozas are too deep fried for my liking, Lotta extra batter.

Friendly service. Food came out fast. But don't go close to closing time. The white rice was on the hard side abd not sticky, tho you get a big beautiful portion. We got the beef curry and the pork cutlet curry. The beef in curry was tender, which was good. And nice big chunks, also good..but..some pieces had large fatty bits. The pork cutlet dish was served with curry on the side, and I loved the red crunchy condiment (ginger??)...I take stars off because there was only half a shrimp in the tempura, the tempura appetizer was greasy, looked like the shrimp was sliced down the center the size of a straw. The other stars off for the fatty bits in the beef and off for the curry itself...while it was great we asked for mild and it was mild...it tasted like an Indian curry...which surprised me...it was dark and thick, and had some bitter notes in the same way Indian curry does. It's good if you like more bitter flavors. There were a few youngish folks dining alone so its comfortable for singletons. I liked the kitty portraits on the wall, and the Japanese kids books...loved the tiny toy ducks lining the place, so a cute quirky atmosphere. But very casual and really not much atmosphere.

This has become one of my favorite restaurants for Japanese comfort food. Very casual interior, but if you’re looking for something delicious on comfortable, this place is it! Katsudon and tempura were great!

Since this restaurant is highly rated, I decided to give it a try. The food was decent but nothing to write home about. Rib eye was tough; katsu was decent but heavily battered; unagi was decent. The service at this restaurant is atrocious. They keep on rushing even though we are not done yet so that they can turnover the table. Every few minutes, they will come by to ask if they can collect used bowls and gave us the check before we are done without us asking for it. I will not be going back based on this service.

Good quick lunch! I wish they had smaller portions because I couldn’t finish the whole thing. I like the egg added to the tonkatsu. Tonkatsu was not the best I have had but good decent fulfilling meal. Cabbage was bitter so I didn’t finish it.

Iconic San Gabriel Japanese soul food. Always busy but worth the wait. Everything is made from scratch. Curry is made from a family recipe and the broth for the ramen is exceptional. I've seen families walk through saying they love it as well because there's something for everyone of all ages. In a small restaurant you wouldn't expect their drink selection but they have about 7 or 8 unique Japanese beers and Sake! Definitely food for the soul in every way.

Quick Summary Finally got a chance to try this long-standing Katsu spot and it was pretty good. Solid Japanese food that is made-to-order. Food- 5 stars Katsudon- this was pretty good. Everything about it was fantastic: the rice, the sauce, and the pork cats. Very solid dish Tempura- pretty good but standard Beef curry and soba noodle lunch special- curry was quite good. Pretty standard as well. It's just well-done home Japanese cooking Service- 5 stars Fast casual spot, but the staff was very attentive. Ambiance- 4 stars Casual spot with a lot of room in between tables. The ventilation could be a bit better though (Some oil fumes on my jacket when leaving) Bottom Line Excellent Katsu spot for a quick meal or delivery

Decent portions and price. I wish their lunch specials didn't all include curry. They have a little more options for their dinner specials. They have a small parking lot which is shared with other businesses. You can park on the street as well.

This was my first time eating at this place. It was actually recommended from the Yelp community. (Thanks everyone!!). Once we walked in, we were greeted and seated right away. It took us a while to look over the menu and the staff was really patient with us. They answered all of our questions with certain dishes. We ended up ordering the Hot Udon/Shrimp Tempura Combination, Miso Ramen and the Ribeye Steak. We thought we over ordered, but as the plates were set on our table, it was just the right amount of food! The miso soup was hot and tasty. The ribeye steak was cooked to perfection. There was just enough char on both sides so when you take a bite, you can feel the texture of the crunch and steak at the same time. The tempura had a crunchy exterior, with warm vegetables on the inside. I will have to come back to this place and try some of their signature dishes like the chicken karage. I will have to add this to the list of restaurants I frequent.

Delicious Japanese restaurant! I was curious why they called themselves Ducks because there was no duck on the menu. But when I entered, I saw duck related decor everywhere and it all made sense. I ordered the katsu oyakodon and it was delicious! Crispy katsu with fluffy rice and a sweet and savory egg on top. It was very well executed. Service was pretty friendly and they have one gender neutral restroom. Parking is free in the parking lot but it's a bit small. I knocked off one star because it was so warm inside when I went (we were literally sweating) and their menu is not very extensive - I wish they had more options!

Went at 1130am and the restaurant was half packed, full by the time we left. Service is a bit on the slower side. - Katsu-don This was VERY salty.. they added too much soy sauce in the don.. I guess it kind of balances out with the rice but on the saltier side. - Cold Soba combo w/ Tempura Um... I was baffled when they came out with my food. CILANTRO TEMPURA? It doesn't taste like anything but the batter... the tempura is a bit over battered. The soba is just regular soba, nothing special. Would I get it again?-no.... Free parking in lot.

Service and availability for seating was great again. I love the personal touch to list if specific tables experience a colder temperature than others. I love that this place is a great mom and pop shop to visit as there are a variety of groups that dine here (family and group of friends). I saw kids would read their manga collection and by the time the meal was done parents would put the book away. Hot soup noodle (Soba) & Tempura Set: Soba set actually fills you up pretty well, broth was light flavor similiar the sauce served with cold soba noodles. Made a mistake and ordered a hot soup on a warm/sunny day. This dish would be perfect for a cloudy day. Tempura Set was crispy and lightly battered. Ordering this set it created a fun way to eat two different textures. Hot Udon and mini katsudon (breaded chicken and rice): Katsudon were nice breaded perfectly not heavy or too light, and it was covered with a scramble egg to give more of a savory flavor.

Pretty decent Japanese food inside a San Gabriel plaza (not sure if the owner is Japanese). Despite the name, there's not a single item with duck on the menu. I got the combination hot udon and donburi bowl. Oddly, their oyako-don is deep fried chicken thigh and not sauteed with sliced onion that I'm accustomed to. It's interesting but I still prefer the traditional oyakodon. The hot udon soup is traditional, meaning plain and very salty.

I came here during lunch around 1pm on a Wednesday. The parking was pretty full but I managed to find a spot to park. The restaurant was not busy, four other tables were occupied, I got seated and served immediately. The restaurant was a little bit warm. I ordered a combination of cold soba and tempura. The cold soba was perfectly done. It's an amazing dish on a hot day. The dipping sauce was flavorful. The texture and temperature of the soba was on point. However, the tempura was kind of disappointing. There was a cilantro tempura? I've never had that before and not a fan of it at all. I guess that's the cheapest veggie, so .... The other tempura was okay but not wow. I had better tempura in the area. The combination after tax and everything was around $25. The food was okay. Does it worth that price? Nah.

Ducks was recommended to us by our good friend and decided to try it. After looking at the menu and pricing, I hoped the juice was worth the squeeze. Unfortunately Ducks didn't live up to my expectations. As you can see, the presentation was nice, but could use a bit of work on the quality. The pork katsu was a little dry and the coating wasn't consistent. The chicken karaage had a little too much breading and it was confirmed from the other reviews I have read. Personally I think too much breading and the chicken needs to be marinated a little longer. The curry was good but nothing to write home about. What this place really needs, ASAP, is to fix the ambiance. The ducks all over the place, I get. But it's a turnoff to see ladders in the corner and cases of take away boxes out in the open. It just ruins the whole vibe of the restaurant. Also, make sure there are paper towels in the restroom. Ambiance 4/10 Service 9/10 Cleanliness 7/10 Food 7/10 Bathrooms 4/10 Value 5/10 Will I Return? Sorry...there are a lot of Japanese restaurants, but maybe not as much in the SGV area.

Our favorite go to restaurant for Japanese comfort food. The place decorated with ducks everywhere just like the restaurant name 'Ducks'. We always get the Katsudon, it was big portion and very comforting. But this visit, we also get the Chicken Karage, Gyoza and Curry Tonkotsu Ramen. They used the same batter for chicken karage and gyoza. It was crispy and huge. Gyoza was decent. I prefer the karage. Curry Tonkotsu Ramen was okay. Came with 4 pieces of slice chashu and bokchoy. Broth was very flavorful and huge portion. Service was quick.

The food here is great! Authentic and always quick service. The restaurant is a bit small and there's a wait on peak days- but the pricing is fair and the service is great. The now-owner is so nice and sweet, we love going here for some udon or just lunch with friends.

I went with a large group so I tried quite a few items. Everything was delicious! I was particularly surprised by the cold soba because I usually don't like soba noodles but the flavor was so refreshing. The place is fairly small and decorated with ducks everywhere. They also have a manga section where you can grab a book to read while you eat. I was told many do that during lunch. Service was great, definitely a new favorite for hot Japanese comfort food!

We didn't get our fill of curry katsu cutlet in Japan so we stopped here! There was a wait at lunch time but once the rush was over around 1:30 many tables cleared up. The tempura is nice and lightly battered! Recommend trying the tempura in combo with soba or curry! The curry can be ordered to desired heat level. The crust is nice and crunchy and held well to the tender meat. The pickled veggies gave a nice acidic complement to the rich gravy. Available parking in the lot.

If you are looking for affordable Japanese comfort food in San Gabriel area, this is one of the hidden gem in the area! The interior is designed to look like a traditional Japanese restaurant, which gives off a very OG vibe in my opinion. Not to mention that staffs are very kind and services are superb. Now let's get to the food! What I usually order is the Pork Katsu Don! Again as I said, it's a comfort food, and the portion is huge! As a big eater, I can only eat half of this nowadays. But that's of course because I always order their karaage appetizer on the side! Personally, their karaage is to die for! It is very different than the other karaages you can find in other Japanese restaurant. Dare I say that the karaage is actually their specialty! It is like and crunchy, and it will not disappoint! Definitely recommend fellow foodies to order the karaage!

Super yummy! I loved the pork cutlet curry rice. The breading was delightful, not soggy and not overly crunchy to the point it will hurt your mouth. It was just right. The cabbage salad was great too. My only gripe is that I think there needs to be more curry and fukujinzuke, but the current ratio of curry / cutlet / rice is probably great for most people. The staff were friendly and answered all my questions kindly. The ambience when I went was not too loud, cozy, and couples, groups of teenagers, grandmothers, all sorts of people were dining there. I felt comfortable dining there solo so the vibes were great! Saw a few people ordering oyakodon and it looked super yummy, will have to visit again to give it a try.

Simple, homey food that soothes the soul. Ducks is always a good idea. I love that I can add mochi to the hot udon to make it my fav mochi udon. Tempura is the only thing hit or miss here. The last couple times I found tempura would have an unpleasant oil aftertaste so we've been skipping out on tempura since.

We got here on a rainy Saturday just before noon and got seated right away. We got the unagi bowl + miso soup and mini katsudon & mini tempura bowl + miso soup. The portion is big and everything looks super appetizing! The unagi felt really fresh and I love how the drizzle the unagi sauce onto the rice, speaking of which we also love the texture of the rice it was just perfect! The unagi bowl also comes with pieces of tempura (super crispy on the outside and not soggy whatsoever)! The katsudon definitely exceeded my expectations - crispy on the outside and extremely tender and juicy on the inside! The dressing was perfect as well - just enough to give it flavor and yet not overpowering. The interior decor is super cute - the windows are lined up with assorted rubber ducks and they have even more (and bigger) ducks around the counter area. There is parking in the plaza and service was amazing! Will definitely be back!

Whenever I come to Ducks, I HAVE to get their oyako don! The chicken is very juicy, and tender. The soft/scrambled egg is made where it's still a bit runny. Not only is their oyako don amazing, but their curry is to die for. The curry is simple, but very flavorful. You are always provided a generous amount of food where you'll be leaving full and satisfied. They also offer wonderful lunch combo special. When you walk into Ducks, you're quickly greeted by the rubber duckies placed along the window ledges and duck decor all around the restaurant. The staff is always so welcoming and helpful! This spot gives off a "hole in the wall"/"mom and pop shop" vibe which I love because you know that the food is going to be delicious!

This quirky Japanese dining spot that's decorated with rubber duckies filled up quickly shortly after opening on a Saturday. Friendly staff who are responsive and quick to tend to you. I tried their gyoza, chicken karagae, their mini katsu don and tempura don. The batter on their gyoza and chicken was eggier than most tempura I've come across so this has a fluffier, softer crunch. I liked this twist. If I had to pick a favorite: the katsu don as it got polished off quickly. Sooo good. Everything was so comforting and tasty. Will come back.

This restaurant is very homey, casual and unique. They have little duck decorations everywhere, duck themed merchandise, and racks of old manga in the back. Very mom and pop feel. The food was tasty. The sets come with a cabbage salad and miso soup. My soba was cooked perfectly and the tempura was very crisp. They have some uncommon ingredients for the tempura like sprouts, carrot, and squid, but it was all very tasty. The place was pretty packed but the staff were attentive and our food came out real fast. There's plenty of parking for the restaurant as well.

Very solid lunch spot. Came here for my lunch break and got the lunch special! Very homey feel as well as the taste. The food taste very homey, reminds me of my Japanese friends mom making me lunch when I was young. Everyone is very kind and friendly. If you need a Japanese spot for a quick lunch definitely come here

Stopped by Ducks for lunch. Although it's during lunch hours, I was able to get seated for two people right away. Parking was easy to find too. I ordered cold soba with tempura bowl. Never had soba here before. It's delicious with dipping sauce. In my opinion "Teishoku" section is a good value. A gem for the local for sure.

Cute mom and pop restaurant. Portion sizes are a little small, but still filling! Staff is very friendly and there is easy parking. The soba noodles are delicious, a good dish on a hot day.

This place was AMAZING. Went here on a whim after seeing on Yelp - we were so happy we did. Ducks is a hidden gem. The curry chicken was delicious. You are served a generous portion of curry alongside wonderfully fried protein of your choice. The value here is insanely great. I have to highlight the unique batter and frying styles of the gyoza + karage. Ive never had it like this and I'm not sure how to refer to it, but it was so good. Juicy chicken and a decent gyoza. Service was so attentive and very polite. Felt right at home. Ducks kinda feels like your eating at a friend's house or a relative's place. Very warm and inviting. Overall, blown away.

Everything you could want in a hole-in-the-wall: no-nonsense prices, comfort food, and full of flavor. It's a great venue for a casual meal, though the interior is a bit small and unpretentious. I really enjoyed the Karaage Bowl. The batter was incredibly savory (though the batter to chicken ratio was a bit uneven). Also tried the Beef Don and Katsudon which didn't disappoint. The Veggie Yaki Soba was just fine. That said, great portions and service all around, so you really can't go wrong here.

Ducks has been a staple hole in the wall with great good and great service Katsudon - I really like their katsudon here. Good amount of flavor in the sauce that it's cooked in and the cut of katsu is thick juicy pork. The only wish would be for more of the sauce to be added onto the rice but that's just me. Curry katsu - got mild curry this time, and the katsu curry was good! Love supporting local authentic family owned businesses and will definitely be back soon!

My bestie and I came here to catch up for dinner because she heard great things about this restaurant. Overall, the Karaage Bowl and Katsu Teishoku was pretty solid with nice portions. The server was also polite and friendly, giving us a heads-up about certain spots being cooler due to the AC to make sure we were comfortable. The overall vibe felt cozy and intimate.

Ducks is a local Japanese comfort food restaurant in San Gabriel. It's a small place, with only 10 small tables at most. The restaurant is decorated with a ton of rubber duckies and duck stuffed animals, hence the restaurant name. We came for lunch and tried the following dishes: - Katsu don: large portion size, katsu was tender, nicely costed with egg and katsu sauce. This was probably my favorite item. - Karaage chicken: the batter was a bit thick. Not what I'm accustomed to for chicken karaage. The chicken was juicy, but the batter was a real miss. - Hot udon with mini tempura bowl: the udon soup had great flavor...I tasted a hint of yuzu which I thought was unique to udon broth. The tempura was only so-so. It was lightly fried, but quickly became soggy with the sauce covering the tempura. It also came with 4 veggie pieces, 3 of 4 were root vegetables and were pretty hard. Not a huge fan. What bothered me the most was I came out of the restaurant smelling like oil/grease. I typically don't get too bothered by this, but it was more noticeable than most restaurants I've been in. Overal, the food was okay. Nothing to rave about, but not bad.

Hands down, this is one of my favorite mom-and-pop restaurants in the SGV. They have great lunch specials but overall, the food and service has always been amazing. I especially enjoy their cold soba and tempura dishes as they're always crisp and fresh. This time, we ordered a side dish of the deep fried gyoza, katsu-don and udon combo, and the cold soba and tempura combo. The restaurant is on a more casual and quiet side which I generally prefer. I would highly recommend this place if you love Japanese cuisine/comfort food!

Finally made it here for lunch after wanting to try this spot for so long. This spot is busy and there's only two people working in the front and two chefs in the back, so service can be a bit slow but they're doing the best they can. The three of us ordered the Cold Soba & Mini Chicken Curry ($14.95), Hot Udon & Mini Beef Curry ($14.50), and Karaage Bowl ($16.95). The food came in a decent time considering there was a large party that ordered just before we did. We were starving, so we were eager to eat. The karaage bowl was good as the chicken was nicely fried, although probably too much breading with minimal chicken. I think I ordered the wrong thing since I was expecting a gyudon-like bowl with egg, oh wells. The lunch sets were solid and good if you're looking for some variety, but flavor was just okay to me. The mini curry were quite sad with just two pieces of meat though. Overall, the food didn't impress me. I felt like I could make everything at home myself. I will say the customer service was superb though and you see how hard they are working though.

My friends and I had dinner at Ducks on a Saturday at 7 PM. Our party of four was seated immediately, but we snatched up the last table. People after us waited outside since it was full house. The dinner menu offers combo specials for $20, donburi bowls, curry plates, ramen, and udon (hot & cold). Personally, I would prefer more vegetables and fewer deep fried options. Everyone was served two small bowl of shredded cabbage topped with salad dressing that tasted like a mix of ketchup, mayo, and sesame oil. - Karaage Chicken ($7.95). Pieces of juicy dark meat enrobed in huge ruffles of tempura batter. While the tempura was airy and light, it was too much batter for me. I thought it obscured the chicken. The dipping sauce tasted similar to the salad dressing, except it had a bit of spice. - Katsu Don ($16.95). Pork cutlet and scrambled eggs cooked in sweet soy sauce, served over rice. The eggs were runny, which is technically the "right" way but not my preference. Apparently, you can ask for the egg well done -- I just saw it on the website. The pork loin(?) was thick and juicy, but I don't recall it being soft. I enjoyed the layer of fluffy scrambled egg between the meat and the breading, which was thick and crispy. - Chicken Cutlet Curry Rice ($16.95). Like the pork, the chicken katsu had a layer of scrambled egg between the meat and batter. The dark meat chicken was juicy and savory. I think the curry was just alright. I ordered it hot and detected the spice plus a slightly pungent flavor. I appreciated the generous pile of fukujinzuke on the plate.

The ambience is less than casual. Like you'd fit right in if you want to pop in after walking your pups, or after the gym. It's def no frills with green walls and have a hole in the wall feel. It is in a strip mall. Service is great. The waiters are highschool students who aim to please and do their jobs promptly. My waiter was super prompt in refilling my water, and I drink like 2 liters during my dinner- so he prolly came like 5 times. And everytime, he asks "how's everything? Can I get you anything else?" And after my food came he asks, "did you like it?" Now the food. I ordered katsu and it's not good. It was flat, bready, tough and dry. The rice was good and fluffy, and the curry was fine. It's... ok. Like I finished it. My friend ordered udon. I don't get udon in general, but it looked good. There was mochi in it and it was intriguingly gooey which piqued my interest but not enough to try it. I think I'd come back if someone insists they want to eat it. Like they've heard of it, and is like "I really heard their curry is good." Ok I can go. But I dunno, I feel like their katsu is slightly not as good as chain fast food joints.. for $16.95. So.. it's not a good value.

I want to give thanks to this small mom and pop shop in the heart of SGV! They have one of THE best katsu curry dishes in SoCal. Food: amazing! The katsu is nicely fried and juicy. Practically melts in your mouth and the curry is so well seasoned and light. I recommend the pork cutlet as the pork matches well with the curry. Service: great! They are super kind and bring everything out for everyone at once. It's night to see their happy faces every time we come in. Thank you again for an amazing and comforting meal!

I usually try to eat at different places when I come down to SoCal, but Ducks was able to satisfy my cravings so well, we ended up coming back two days in a row. Hot Udon and Mini Curry: Great for when you want something soupy and something heavy. The curry was very flavorful, I just wish there was a bit more meat in it. The udon broth was amazing and just a couple sips of it could warm your soul. The udon are also very chewy and soft the way I like them Spicy Spaghetti: The spaghetti choices on the menu looked interesting and my partner was in the mood for something spicy so he picked that. It had a strong gochujang flavor to give it the spice. Katsudon: The best option when you go here. It's a must. If you're only able to go once, you NEED this dish. The eggs were soft and fluffy while the Katsu was so crunchy and crispy. Despite it being such a huge bowl, I couldn't stop eating because it was so good Mochi Udon: Udons indeed resembled udon with their chewiness and bounciness. Then you get to the actual fried mochi that's in there and it adds a fun chew to the dish True to their name, the first thing you'd notice when you step in are all the cute ducks lining every surface of the restaurant. To help warn guests about which tables would be extra cold, the owner also left signs saying specific areas are under the AC and will be cold. These signs were super cute and super helpful when we came in for a fable.

Located in a small strip mall with parking, this small cozy family restaurant has a pretty good size menu with items ranging from cold/hot soba, ramen/udon, curry rices, egg meat bowls, spaghetti, and combo sets. They even have some lunch specials. The service is friendly and quick. The two servers today worked the full room together. Everything was freshly made and came out hot! Tables fill up quickly but the service is quick to turn over. There is a waiting list of needed. Small cabbage salad- standard style, fresh. Karaage chicken- thin strips of chicken with light tempura like batter w dipping sauce. We liked it. Different from others that I've tried that are more like a popcorn chicken style Shrimp & veggie tempura- light and crispy. Had the carrot, sweet potato, some green leafy item and two shrimp. Flavorful dipping sauce. Chicken cutlet curry rice- comes as mild/medium/hot. Medium was mild. I couldn't taste any spice. The breading was a bit thick. I think they use egg between the meat panko layer and it puffs up when fried. Was a bit thick for me, but still good tasting curry. Katsudon- didn't try it, but bowl was so much bigger than I expected. My friend couldn't finish it.

Do not order the ramen! Worst bowl of ramen I have ever eaten from a restaurant. However their other dishes were ok. Namely fried items like the pork katsu. Overall ok food but ramen should be removed from their menu. Rubber ducks lined up along couple window ledges, which I assume inspired the name of this restaurant. Friendly and efficient service.

Cute Japanese homemade meal place with udon, karaage chicken and other dishes. The flavors were good but didn't particularly stand out to me. It's fine to eat here in a pinch and if you don't feel like driving to Little Tokyo. Service is very friendly and had a nice home atmosphere. Be warned that you will leave smelling like food after a meal here, so plan accordingly if you need to head into a meeting afterwards. Small free parking lot is available.

Service can be a little slow at times but when it's good, it's really good. The food is decent, it's a quick fix for and katsu curry or soba craving. Love their chicken karage and the gyoza; it always comes out piping hot and crispy. As for the curry, I always ask for it as spicy as possible and the man who helps us always brings out his special miso hot sauce that I love. The soba is refreshing and light paired with the fried shrimp tempura, the perfect balance. As for the pork katsu curry, it's packed with flavor and crispy. Every time I come here, I have a dilemma of what to get. It's a small little mom and pop restaurant that has a certain kind of homey feeling to it. The inside is decorated from floor to ceiling with different novelties and not to mention, ducks. I wish this place was open more often because I would come everyday if I could! I definitely want to try more items off the menu but I can't help but order the same thing every time. It is consistently satisfying!

I always come here for their soba noodles and they are always so good and tasty. There is also a set where you can get the cold soba noodles with a mini curry bowl as a deal for lunch. They don't ever disappoint. It's always clean and customer service is great. Parking is small, but there is always plenty. If you can't find parking at the parking lot, there is street parking.

Very good japanese fare. The service is great and the staff is friendly. Had the tempura and konkatsu. The miso had great umami taste! Going back for the curry and Katsu- don!

Type of venue: Japanese curry/noodle house Venue Access: Good; venue is directly adjacent a major street but parking lot is small. Time of day good for: Lunch/dinner with several hours in the afternoon closed so look up hours before planning your trip. Wait time: Party of 1-2 usually seated within 5 minutes or immediately when arriving at around noon or 5:30 pm. Service: Good; staff are attentive and polite but they do seem to be mildly understaffed (at least with bussing tables quickly). What was ordered: Pork katsudon, chicken karaage Does it taste good: Yes, food was fried very well and served steaming hot. Ingredients tasted high quality and the portions are large. Any grievance: No Price/Performance: Great; food is high quality and price reflects that, but large portion helps the ratio. Did I get a stomachache after eating here? No Would revisit? Yes Additional Notes: Menu is quite extensive, with many lunch/dinner specials (usually consisting of a smaller entrée and a noodle/miso soup), a la carte options, and a limited beer selection; this allows diners to customize their meal exactly to their liking should they find any of the specials or individual entrees not to their liking.

Everything was good and there were generous portions. People were kind and quick to bring services and our orders. Small but popular shop with duck decoration everywhere. I recommend the cold soba with any of the mini sides. Solid Japanese comfort food!

Prepare for a wait if you're coming during peak dining times, but it moves pretty quickly. They're very efficient. Mochi udon - I loved the broth flavor. It's been awhile since I've had such flavorful broth. The mochi was a unique touch that I haven't seen anywhere. i liked the slight crispiness of it being fried while being gooey in the middle. Chicken katsu Curry - fantastic! It's been awhile since I've been wow'ed by katsu curry. chicken was juicy, a very crispy exterior. Wonderful curry. Service: Very fast and efficient

Ducks is a small casual restaurant that offers comforting Japanese food. It's located in a plaza that has parking spaces, however parking might be difficult to find. (Theres an escape room called ducks escape room in that same plaza) We went on a Friday night around 7pm and had to wait 10-20 mins for an open table- it was completely packed inside! And after tasting their comfort foods, I know why it's so popular: The food (comforting!): We ordered the Karage, curry, udon, and Eel bowl. Everything was delicious and comforting, the dishes taste like a traditional Japanese set dinner that reminds me of my time in Japan. The server recommended the eel (unagi) bowl, and it turned out to be the best unagi I've had so far! Worth it for the price. Service (amazing!): The servers were really nice and attentive. They made jokes and gave out great recommendations. They also checked in with us every frequently despite how busy the restaurant was. Overall: if you're looking for comforting curry and Japanese food, I recommend stopping by Ducks for a soul warming, casual meal.

Traditional Japanese food. But I am not that impressed about it. Heard about this restaurant, decide to give it a try. We came on a Sunday afternoon, pretty crowded for a small restaurant. We ordered couple of their famous item. They Katsudon, karaage bowl, tempura, gyoza. The katsudon is ok taste wise. But the quality of the pork cutlet is only ok. It's thin and dried and pretty soggy on top of the rice. The tempura used some very funny ingredients. Apart from shrimp, they also used fish cake(?) and cilantro (yes the whole plant). It just really feel funny Gyoza, NEVER CAME. We asked about the dish a few times. Each time they said that they checked and it will come in a few minutes. After we all finish the food, we asked them again, this time they said that it's "never been cooked or never started cooking". Anyway, we canceled the dish eventually. Overall, it's not a bad restaurant, maybe we just have a bad experience.

I love ducks. I love that it's family owned. It is a charming mom-and-pop restaurant. The service was great. The staff were spectacular. The chef and owner Natsumi was so nice and hospitable. She's truly the best! If you think... "It's just Japanese curry. I can just buy those blocks of Golden Curry mix and make it at home." STOP. You don't know how wrong you are! It is 100% not the same. You cannot compete with Ducks. I feel like their Chicken Karaage is different and unique compared to other places with Japanese style chicken karaage. The one at Ducks are not overly battered like others. The way it's fried and battered still has the chicken tasting tender and juicy, while giving that crunch in every bite. I love dipping the chicken karaage into my curry. Another one of my favorites from Ducks are their Cold noodles (ramen). It's so refreshing for the summer, but I would even eat this dish on a cold night. The noodles are chewy. Every slurp was so satisfying. My go-to dish that I always order from Ducks is their Pork Cutlet Curry. I love ordering it extra spicy! The dish also comes with red pickles (?). I think they are called Fukujinzuke. I love adding them to the curry as well. Not only that, but I love dipping the pork cutlet and the rice in the curry too. The pork cutlet was not overly fried in batter. It was crisped enough where you still have that crunch when biting into it and still get a chunk of that pork. I recommend savoring every bite and don't rush. Enjoy yourself!

One of my favorite classic Japanese spots in the 626 for their cold soba and dons. I love the dipping sauce provided for the soba noodles not a lot of other places have this so this makes them special. I've had their curry and multiple dons all very exceptional. This place is only opened a few hours everyday and I've seen it get packed for lunch and dinner. Must try if you live in the area

Good food, friendly service. Came here for the first time for lunch on a weekday, got seated right away. I enjoyed my cold soba & mini chicken curry rice combo, my husband enjoyed his karaage bowl (fried chicken with special house made sauce over rice)and tempura. We will definitely return to try more items on the menu. It was a very hot day when we visited Ducks. I recommend requesting a table closer to the back near the AC and fan. It is much hotter near the front door.

Japanese comfort food - known for soba, udon, and Katsu curry! Family-owned Restaurant tucked into a plaza with adequate parking. I ordered the lunch special of hot udon with mini chicken curry and an oyako don. Entrees come with a small side salad. Good spot to satisfy the cravings for "home-cooked" Japanese food.

Little auspicious restaurant but the food is superb. The chicken karage is the perfect blend of crunchy salty and a little spice. The curry is also wonderful if you are in the mood for curry. Service is quick and the food is always great.

Writing this review a few months later and I'm still thinking about the soba lunch special. I'm also wondering if that Escape room is owned by the same owner haha. My friends have frequented Ducks' for to-go on several occassions and we usually get their katsudon (saucy chicken katsu egg rice bowls) or katsu and curry! Hits the spot for delicious Japanese food. However, we finally wanted to dine in while we had some free time during lunch. This place gets filled pretty quickly during lunch and it seems like they have a lot of regulars! Nice homely sort of vibe and it was very comfortable! I sat near the table with the newspaper articles and toy ducks! Since it was a super hot day, I wanted to try their soba set that came with assorted tempura veggies and tempura shrimp. You start off with a sesame dressing salad and then your main meal. I just have to say the soba was AMAZING. Love the bouncy chewy texture, the cold broth with the green onions and wasabi, wow. And then the tempura with the tempura sauce was just perfect. I liked alternating between dipping the tempura in the soba broth or tempura sauce but I think I liked the soba broth more! Also the tempura was light, crispy, and cooked simply but perfectly! There was an array of veggies but I think one of the bundles of veggies was tempura parsley? IT WAS SO GOOD, I was shocked. I love most veggies but this was amazing. I think I also had a piece of tempura fish too which was fall apart good. My partner got the curry and katsu - again fail-proof order! Super delicious curry, definitely made with a lot of love. But if you can get the soba set, I would recommend it!

Here's one of those small, blink & you'll miss it, restaurants that's worth the visit! Don't let the name fool ya, they don't serve Duck here (as far as I could tell). Lol. What they do serve are some Japanese dishes that may or may not be familiar to you but I assure you, they are fantastic! They are known for their curry dishes and Donburi (Pork cutlet, Chicken cutlet, Shrimp or beef served on rice with egg). When I visited, I ordered the Chicken curry dish (their curry is like a heavy gravy-type) and my GF ordered the Pork Donburi. While I definitely enjoyed the Chicken Curry, I REALLY enjoyed her Pork Donburi! That would be my recommendation, order the Donburi, Pork or Chicken (not sure about the Beef or shrimp). Next time I go here, and trust me there WILL be a return visit, I'm gonna order their Chicken Donburi! Check this restaurant out. You will not regret it.