Kajiken

Always love coming here. There is almost always a line at any time of the day any day of the week. Be prepared to wait between 15 to 20 minutes. I think they get people seated pretty quickly and sometimes can take pre-orders prior to seating. For appetizers, we Share one order the fried calamari: ika geso karaage, delicious. I usually get the mushroom aburasoba, a vegetarian mushroom option, which is absolutely delicious. Very flavorful and generous with the toppings. I love adding chili sauce and vinegar to give it a nice tanginess.

I’m not sure if they are authentic Japanese ramen restaurant. The waiters are trained to say a certain phrase in Japanese, though like “the customer is arriving.” The noodle was good. I believe it’s homemade. But, they should let you replace the toppings. Not everyone likes me ma etc. in Japan you would never put bonito flakes on ramen but this store does:). I like the raw yolk on the top. The price is a little too high for want it is.

I visited on a Friday night fully expecting a long wait considering what I've heard about this place, and ended up standing outside for about 45 minutes. With all the hype from friends, I was eager to see if it lived up to the praise. Unfortunately, while the meal was decent, it didn’t leave a lasting impression or give me a strong reason to return. I'd come back if there wasn't a long wait. I ordered: Chicken Karaage Ponzu (3/5) – The chicken was a bit bland, and I wish it were seasoned a bit more or had a dipping sauce of some sort. Homura Aburasoba (3.5/5) – This brothless ramen with spicy minced pork had a solid flavor balance, not too overpowering. I swapped the raw egg for ajitama and added a piece of chashu on the side. While tasty, the portion wasn’t particularly filling, and the chashu was disappointingly small. It’s nice to have a brothless ramen option in the Bay Area, but overall, the experience didn’t quite justify the wait. I might consider stopping by again, but I wouldn’t go out of my way for it. Glad I tried it, but I’m still on the hunt for a more memorable aburasoba spot.

Solid joint for Aburasoba although not completely authentic, does live up to the hype with small rooms to improve. I have her so many amazing things about this joint from my friends that loved ramen so I had to try it out. Got the homura which was their signature.brothless ramen (it says it is spicy but not really at all) - wow, it was a surprisingly balanced profile I will highly recommend adding some of the vinegar on the table cuz it really brightens the dish, without it I think it would be a bit too oily for my taste. Of course they also had the fried garlic flakes on the table which I absolutely devoured cuz I'm a garlic lover. So overall I enjoy the food and I will bring friends over if they are ramen lovers. I would love to see this style of brothless ramen spread more in the Bay Area so that they can have some competition so that they don't have a long wait anymore. However, it could be really hard to get people to your table for anything you need such as water. I don't know why they didn't provide a spoon by default. I have to ask every time. The portion was also tiny for the price. My friend ordered a side of vegetable and chashu to go with it and when the dishes came it literally was one single piece of vegetable (bok choy) and one tiny thin slice of chashu. I was laughing so bad given how much they charge. So if you're looking for the bang for your buck... Chief this ain't it.

Kajiken is what happens when you want to master one thing, and stay focused on it, no matter what the distractions or allure there is to venture into new things. Kajiken is the first of its kind in the Bay Area where they exclusively focus on abura soba - a soupless noodle mixed with minced meat and egg yolk. Eating dry noodles is not your frequent meal. Sometimes you just need that broth. But Kajiken chooses to differentiate and massive kudos to this. Thus they may not have customers coming back week over week, but would have an endless line to serve that want to experience abura soba occasionally. Now this unapologetic approach to what you serve also translates to how it treats the customers. There's no reservation nor signing up sheet. You just wait in front of the restaurant in a line until someone comes out and confirms your party size and takes you in. Thank god we went during less popular hours but I can easily see how this line can build up fast and get frustrating. Also, the service takes a huge hit as the servers are trained to take you in, and rush you out as fast as you suck in the last strand of your soba. No mercy there and they don't try hide this. Okay, understandable as the place is hugely popular. On the positive, food comes out super fast. But once again, we are here for the abura soba. Simply speaking, they are wonderful. There's not that many concoctions but they are diverse enough for you to try out a variety. The spicy original (#1) was phenomenal. Due to the dyness though, especially with the egg yolk, it can get a little muddy. But you can absolutely power through with delight. I highly recommend ordering a side of kimchi to help you wash it through. The appetizers were also awesome such as the takoyaki and the chicken karaage. But again, don't judge Kajiken for anything but the soba. I have massive respect for Kajiken for getting it right. Getting the food right is the primary objective of a restaurant and they do this with unapologetic precision. Don't go here on a date, a business meal, or even a family meal. Go here because you crave a great bowl of dry noodles. Set your expectations low on everything else but the food and you'll be good. Giving it 5 stars for being laser focused and delivering an experience not common in the Bay Area.

I've been to Kajiken four or five times now, so I figured it was finally time to write a review. My wife and I stopped by for lunch a few days ago. I was surprised at how busy it was for a weekday afternoon, but we were seated within a few minutes, which was great. This visit, I noticed a tofu option on the menu—the Megami Aburasoba—which I don’t recall seeing before. I gave it a try, and it was excellent. However, I did feel the portion size was on the smaller side for the price. The atmosphere is clean, modern, and minimalistic. We sat at the counter this time, which gave us a view of the noodle preparation—a nice touch. That said, I found the tables to offer a more comfortable and relaxed dining experience overall, including slightly better service.

I’ve eaten here twice in the past 2-3 months. The first time I visited was at night. There was no line to get in, and I ate the original aburasoba with Karaage and a beer. Decent I thought. The second time I visited, I waited in line for 25 minutes ate the homura soba with “spicy” meat. This was also yummy. I probably added too much fried garlic, because I was tasting it all day and the next day. Lol. Overall, it’s a nice place with a great atmosphere with the paper lanterns. I’d like to try the other ones on the menu like the keema curry aburasoba.

Kajiken is worth the hype! We went on a Sunday right around 5:30. Even though we were early, there was still a line but it went quickly. Service is fast! It’s also on a closed street so there’s space out front to eat as well. The food was delicious. The original aburasoba is flavorful and filling. The chashu, bamboo shoots and seaweed complement the sauce and noodles perfectly. You can even see them making the noodles through the window into the kitchen. The Homura Aburasoba was creamy and delicious but heavier and more filling. I like the lightness of the original. We also got a rice dish and tofu appetizer but you’re really here for the dry ramen. I made sure to add all the toppings that they provide on the tables and made sure to stir the noodles for at least 30 seconds. I left a happy customer. Great for a quick meal!

Finished the whole thing (which is rare). Not for everyone though, I think the taste is not for usual Ramen enjoyers

There are no shortage of good ramen spots in San Mateo. However, when you think of great ramen spots then I think Kajiken is in contention. Some places are worthy of trying once or twice but I might find myself here on a few more occasions. The thing that separates Kajiken from the rest is the dry ramen. There's no soup involved. Not even a drip. It's simply ramen, bamboo shoots, green onions, spicy minced pork and a raw egg yolk to top it all off. Optional spices and garnishes are available on the side if you want to spice it up. Yes, this is the Homura Aburasoba order. I just found out why it's the number one choice on the menu. Everything in the bowl complimented all the ingredients well. The first bite takes you to flavor town. The last bite makes you wonder why you didn't order another one that might potentially put you in a food coma. For $16.95 it's really not bad at all. Everything in the Bay Area is equivalent to that price these days. It's certainly not stopping anyone from lining up here at 11 in the morning on a Saturday. When the line is out the door in San Mateo it's usually a good sign. For the young ones that wonder if the vibe is vibing... It's vibing enough for me to want to go back. I was so busy enjoying my noodles that I didn't care about the four walls and ceiling lights.

Came in on a Sunday night for dinner and there wasn't a wait at all, we got seated with counter seating right away. The menus were clear cut and had a good variety of things to order. We hadn't even sat down for one min and someone already wanted to take our order, the timing was a little rushed for me. We ordered the original karage, #1 homura and #3 roast beef with yogurt sauce. The karage was juicy but I thought the mayo and wasabi mayo was lacking in potency. I enjoyed the roast beef with yogurt sauce ramen better than the more traditional one. There were extra condiments on the table to adjust the bowls to your liking. I felt like the initial flavor of the bowls were lackluster and found myself adding a lot of the condiments to build up the flavor. It also came out lukewarm, I wasn't sure if that was how things were meant to come out. This is definitely an eat and go type of restaurant, best for if you're looking for a quick meal. I'm glad I got to try it because I heard so many good things but I can't say I'd return anytime soon.

michelin??? is the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the trendy kajiken. I've been avoiding this place because of the long lines, but today we ordered online for pickup. Skipped the line and immediately picked up our dishes: - Roast Beef Aburasoba - homura aburasoba - original karaage since its a dry noodle, everything was pretty fresh when we got home -- not soggy, but def takes some effort to break up the noodles and mix it all up. bird flu is here so all the eggs are hard boiled instead of the raw yolk -- look how golden those yolks are tho! my fav was the homura because the minced pork was easy to mix in and get all the flavors in every bite. the roast beef was a little tough and hard to eat. at the end of our bowls, we combined both together for more flavor and noodles. these bites were my favorite. this place is still busy a year after opening, and for good reason -- these noodles were flavor bombs in every bite and easy to eat. def would return to eat in person or another take out order

I've been here a few times over the years. It's much easier to get in, now that all the hype died down... When Kajiken first opened the wait to eat here was over an hour long easy... There are still lines if you go during peak times, but the wait is not that bad. If you come a bit later into the evening there is no wait. I believe they even added an outdoor seating area since they get to busy. The staff is friendly and efficient. The seating is interesting, sometimes you get seated next to strangers in a communal style seating. I'm not the biggest fan of such arrangements, I'm a fairly private person, so I find it awkward when I'm privy to strangers conversations. Kajiken specializes in Aburasoba: "a noodle dish similar to ramen, but instead of broth, the flavors come from our special blend of oils and sauces." - https://www.kajikenusa.com/ Basically DRY RAMEN #SendNoods: ~ OROSHI PONZU KARAAGE - 4.5/5 A brilliant Chicken Karaage; tender and juicy...just as described. Don't expect it to be Crispy. It's different, yet amazing. ~ IKA GESO KARAAGE - 3.5/5 A perfectly fried Ika Geso (deep fried squid tentacles). Just not any flavor in it, and the sauce that accompanies is OK, not a lot of flavor. ~ TOP 1 HOMURA ABURASOBA - 4.5/5 This is definitely a great introduction to Aburasoba. It's got a little bit of everything. Slightly spicy, yet well balanced. ~ TOP 2: NIKUMORI ABUROSOBA - 4.5/5 More meat...yes please! Another well balanced Aburasoba with slightly less veggies. Delish...none the less! ~ TOP 3: ROAST BEEF ABUROSOBA - 3.5/5 I'm not so sure about this one. The combination of the sauces threw me off... I found the flavor to be a bit eccentric... ~ TANTAN ABURASOBA - 4/5 The Tantan sesame flavor is brilliant. Hopefully you aren't allergic and get to enjoy this dish. Sesame Noodles! ~ SOBORO ABURASOBA - 3.5/5 Not offered with raw egg yolk rn (Feb 2025) due to the Bird Flew and shortage of eggs, substituted with ajitama. The flavor is OK, it's on the milder side. I believe this is one of the slower selling dishes and may possibly leave the menu in the coming months according to the staff. #special: ~ SWEET & SALTY KARAAGE - 4.5/5 (Nov. 2023) This was amazing! A perfect Chicken Karaage with a mild sweet & Salty profile! Bring it Back!! ~ HAIYAYAKKO COLD TOFU - 4.5/5 (Nov. 2023) I think this is a regular item on the menu as an appetizer now, instead of a special. Probably one of the best Cold Tofu dishes I had. Perfect texture with a mild Sweet and Spicy flavor. It is a bit on the pricier side for what you get... Overall, a great spot to get some Aburasoba. New items coming over the next few months...can't wait to try them out.

Had this place bookmarked for a while and got a chance to check it out a few months ago. Line was out the door. We waited a good 45 minutes. We were seated at the counter. We ordered: Original aburasoba: 4/5 my noodles had a good texture and were tasty, definitely added some side sauce to give it flavor. Roast beef aburasoba: 4/5 hubby liked this one. I preferred the original. Good to try but not worth the long wait.

We got here around 8pm and got seated right away! It was quite packed still despite it being later in the evening. Our food also came out pretty quickly; the one thing that we noticed though is that they seemed to want us to pay right away despite there not being more people in line so felt a bit rushed. Regardless, the ramen was delicious. I got the most popular one and loved how many different ingredients there were, and the noodles themselves were so chewy. The portions were also huge, and I left feeling super bloated haha!

We really enjoy Kajiken and while there is often a line, you can get food pretty quickly. Even our kids like it so it's good for the whole family. We've tried a variety of their noodles but I think my preference or favorite is one of their top 3 here. The one time we dined in we opted for the window seats that were available. If you're a little shy and don't want people watching you eat while they're waiting outside, perhaps skip those seats. But overall we like having Kajiken close by as a go to.

Yes there is still a line at Kajiken but the line goes by quickly and it's worth a short wait to get a delicious bowl of comforting noodles. The whole concept here is aburasoba which is basically freshly made noodles without broth. Instead it's all about the meat, veggies, and chili oil here. I got the veggie one since they weren't able to do substitutions on the meat and it was honestly delicious! I got a jammy egg on the side which was cooked to perfection. I'd come back here for lunch or dinner any day, especially when I'm seeking a warm bowl of noodles.

Such a unique experience! Never heard or tried Aburasoba -- broth less ramen -- so had to try it! While in town, my sis in law suggested this place and warned that there is usually a wait because it's pretty popular. Got here on a weeknight around 6:30p and yep, a long line it was! It was about an hour wait as most parties there were 3-5 people per group. Apparently the restaurant was small and therefore space was limited. Our group of 8 was split between two tables which was a bummer, but we were across from each other so it was fine. It was definitely worth the wait though! Being that this was our first time, I went with the signature dish, the Homura Aburasoba. She came out so pretty with the pops of colors and that golden yolk in the middle. After snapping a pic, I immediately began to stir it all up making sure the hot noodles cooked the yolk to a creamy consistency. It was so bomb, savory, creamy, chewy, with a little kick from the spicy minced pork. My Husby got the Roast Beef, the only difference is the added yogurt which gave it a subtle tang to balance out the savory flavors, and the beef was tender! so so good! We also tried their Ponzu Karaage which was topped with grated daikon and onions and loved it! Hope they open one up here in Portland Metro area!

Been here 5x now. Each time is delicious!! I get the soboro aburasoba because I don't eat pork, but the chicken is great! The sauce & noodle texture is perfect & the portions are quite generous for the price. My boyfriend ordered the homura aburasoba and he loved it as well. Ordered the takoyaki & it was warm and delicious. Will definitely be back. Great value & great meal. Try to get here early to not have to wait in line.

Finally checking this spot off my list. Kajiken serves aburasoba which is basically noodles without broth, but it still has plenty of flavor. The noodles are thick and chewy, perfectly cooked al dente. Plenty of toppings and the portions are a great size. You can add on toppings and I got the yogurt sauce which definitely added another depth of flavor with creaminess. The place isn't too big but service is fast. Went around 11am and had no wait. By the time we left around noon, there was more than 20 people waiting in line! HOMURA ABURASOBA - Their #1 dish. Loved the minced pork and bamboo. NIKUMORI ABURASOBA - Pretty similar to homura but also has added pork slices. They give you chili oil and vinegar on the side so you can add more spice as preferred. Sadly did not get to try the raw egg due to a salmonella outbreak so they only had the cooked egg. Looking forward to trying the raw egg at future visits.

Very solid noodle spot, bowls are packed with flavor and noodles have a nice texture. Noodles were well cooked and had a nice chew. The sauce and all the toppings harmonize really well in terms of flavor & texture. Really rich and salty meat / sauce coats the noodles and is balanced out very well with the sharpness of the raw vegetables. The egg yolk brings everything together with a very creamy texture. Also really enjoyed that they have additional sauces / spices / vinegar at each seat so you can customize your bowl a bit. It does seem like this place gets crowded quickly, there was a decently large line 20 mins before they opened. We we're able to get seated within ~15 mins after they opened but can imagine there would be longer wait times during weekends / busy hours.

Updated 1/20/2025 I have visited there four times! I have taken my family and friends there four times as well. I discovered a brothless ramen dish that has become my favorite. I enjoy trying different brothless ramen dishes whenever I go. The appetizers are also delicious and make for a great extra meal if I am feeling a bit more hungry. 2024: I always try the brothless ramen in the downtown San Mateo. I used to eat broth ramen many years ago. Why not? The dry ramen is tasty and spicy! I recommend the original aburasoba for the first time. Mix at least 20 seconds. Add the vinegar, spices, and sauce in the bowl. When we order it, the waiter brings us for 5 min. It's fast to order! The place is nice and simply. I see pictures of the topping food. I don't mind trying to eat different aburasoba again!

Finally got to try this place. Line was only a few minutes wait at opening, but the entire party must be present. Fast and pleasant service. Decent sized place with counter and table spaces, Inside and out. I really was skeptical about it, and was hoping there would be a side of broth. I got the original for the first time, to stay on the safe side. Plus not too much going on. Raw egg on the side to make it creamy. Instructions say to mix the bowl and eat it while the noodles are hot. It was really tasty. Noodles were perfectly chewy and firm. I used some vinegar at the end, which was complementary. It's different but a good different, and would love to come back.

Located in San Mateo, parking is plentiful and easy to find. However it's paid only. There was also a wait which is pretty common for this restaurant. Typically about 15 minutes though. The interior is nicely decorated. Homura aburasoba (5/5): the first bite was absolutely heavenly. The noodles had a good balance of texture in terms of firm vs soft. Bamboo was a good firmness too. It was also quite spicy but not overwhelmingly. Overall, Kajiken is a delicious restaurant. The food is so yummy but getting the check took some time which I found fairly odd.

Finally tried Kajiken's aburasoba for the first time and was blown away! I ordered the #1 Homura Aburasoba with a raw egg and it was the best meal I had all week. The noodles are perfectly firm with great texture and have a nice savory flavor from the spicy minced pork. The raw egg also adds a creaminess and the bamboo strips, green onion, and seaweed flakes really complete the flavor and texture of the bowl. I heard the line can get pretty long but from my experience, there's never been a wait during lunch time on weekdays.

After Z went to dinner with his friends at Kajiken in downtown San Mateo, he persuaded a group of us to go with him again to check them out. We arrived on Friday night of the first of November, 2024 shortly before 8 PM. There was a line outside, but after queuing up, we were seated after a very short wait. The venue was brightly lit, tidy, and clean. Almost every table and counter space, if not all of them, was occupied. Although the house was packed, service appeared to be flowing efficiently without any servers appearing to be rushed nor stressed. The patient and friendly waiter who took our orders was very informative, answering all of our questions, and happily gave his recommendations for best experience for first timers. Below are the items that we have ordered. TAKOYAKI ($8.50) - Good, according to Z and Cielo. PAN FRIED GYOZA ($7.50) - This kids liked these Japanese dumplings filled with pork & vegetable. I thought that they were ok. I wasn't a big fan of the dipping sauce. ORIGINAL ABURASOBA ($14.95) - Z ordered the original, adding MOZZARELLA CHEESE ($1.25), TOFU ($1.25), and POACHED EGG ($2.50). It did not disappoint. NIKUMORI ABUROSA ($17.95) - Cielo ordered this and after a taste, Z decided that this was the best bowl of the night. He liked it so much that he ordered this for his dinner when we got take-out on January 3, 2025. TANTAN ABURASOBA ($14.95) - This was my order which I got with a side of CORN ($1.25) as well as NORI (SEAWEED, $1.25). I was immediately pleased by my bowl of soupless ramen, especially by the PERFECTLY al dente noodles. Unfortunately, they didn't remain very al dente when ordered for to-go on January 3, 2025. SOBORO ABURASOBA with poached egg ($15.95) - This was V's order which left a great first impression of Kajiken on him. He fully enjoyed his bowl. MUSHROOM ABURASOBA ($15.95) - DJ claimed that his bowl of noodles was bland in flavour and not super filling. HOT TEA (FREE) - YAY for hot tea, especially at no charge!! Heads-up - no dessert offerings here, but there are plenty of neighbouring shoppes that serve sweets. Prices are really reasonable here. In summary, despite DJ finding the MUSHROOM ABURASOBA as lacking in flavour and substantial portion, the kids and I think that Kajiken is a solid food destination for delicious bowls of Japanese noodles. We liked the food here so much that we ordered take-out from them just two months after our first visit. We have already decided that this place will be one of our regular spots.

Tldr is good for what it is Sometimes I miss mazesoba from Japan and Kajiken is a great alternative. There is a parking structure nearby but it's usually pretty full so I try to go at less busy times and so far haven't had a problem with parking yet. I ordered the karaage and roast beef soba and my friend got the homura aburasoba. The flavor for both were really rich and full. Hearing about the Costco egg recall made me nervous but the raw egg is worth! It makes the sauce nice and creamy and I personally think it made a big difference in the taste. The karaage was also pleasantly juicy and I would definitely be willing to order it again. All in all even though I'm not the biggest fan of aburasoba because of how rich it is, I would still come back to Kajiken.

This was my first time trying dry noodles, and I was excited to see what the experience was all about. I ordered the Top 1, and it didn't disappoint--the flavors were bold and well-balanced, making it a great introduction to this style of noodles. My boyfriend chose the Top 3, which featured roast beef. While the dish had potential, the roast beef was unfortunately too chewy, which made it less enjoyable for him. One of the highlights for me was the variety of toppings available. The vinegar added a nice tang, the chili sauce brought just the right amount of heat, and the garlic enhanced everything with its rich aroma and flavor. It was fun to customize the dish to my liking, and it's clear that the toppings are thoughtfully curated to complement the noodles. Overall, it was a solid first experience with dry noodles. While there's room for improvement with the roast beef, I'd come back to try more from the menu, especially with such flavorful options and toppings.

3.5 stars ish. A free day and we were in the area so decided to eat some ramen. Came right around opening and were able to snag a seat easily. I tried the original version and I love the thick chewy noodles. They tell you to make sure to mix really well since all the sauce is at the bottom. I added a marinated egg and that was yummy. It was overall a good dish but just missing something to cut that sorta fatty/heaviness? A yuzu version would be real yummy lol. Husband tried the Homura and it has a nice kick for those that want spicy. We also tried the ponzu karaage but I wasn't a big fan of it. The topping made it sorta soggy or something but the flavor missed the mark for me. Service was quick and attentive. The interior was clean and simple. I thought it was good but unsure if it was THAT good. I don't think it'd be a first choice of thought if in the area.

As a Japanese food lover, I've never had aburasoba before and was excited to try. I arrived around 11:30 on a weekend and was surprised to find that we got the last open seats in the restaurant, and a line was starting to form. Service is pretty quick and we got our food quickly. I got the Homura Aburasoba with a soft boiled egg, which came with some minced pork, bamboo shoots, and green onion. Aburasoba is like a dry ramen, but packed with lots of flavor. The pork was definitely on the spicy side for me as I have low spice tolerance, but it was very flavorful. I could see why people would line up for this place, though the portions are a bit small for the price. I haven't seen aburasoba being sold anywhere else in the Bay Area yet, but overall I think this is definitely worth trying!

I don't understand the hype. I even went on a weekday to avoid the long line. Even without the wait, the experience and food were quite subpar. We got a #1 (most popular) and #3 (roast beef). Along with agedashi tofu and fried octopus. The tofu was delicious. Chilled, firm and a perfect balance with the sauce. That was my favorite dish. #1 was quite underwhelming. I like the chewy noodle texture but wasn't a fan of the sauce. It was overall too dry for my liking. You can add soy sauce and vinegar to make it saucier but I felt that was diminish the original flavor. #3 took us by surprise. I liked the acidity and almost ponzu like flavor in the sauce. If I were to go back, I'd order #3 next time. I think I just prefer soup ramen or dipping ramen. Service was very fast! We sat down right away. They took our order quickly and food started showing up soon after. Homey decor and easy parking on a Monday. I may come back on a weekday if a friend wanted to check it out; otherwise, don't think Kajiken will come to mind for me.

Passed on the Ponzu Karaage since I know I don't like the Karaage here. Got the Roast Beef Aburasoba this time which has roast beef, crispy onions, green onions, chaliapin sauce, yogurt sauce, and raw egg yolk. You can request non raw egg yolk like sunny side up or over easy etc. I decided to get the raw egg yolk. I gave the Roast Beef Aburasoba a good mix and started digging in. The roast beef this time was soooo tough and I just kept chewing and chewing and chewing. I had to spit some out because it was so tough. I like to start eat the aburasoba after a mix, but start adding in some vinegar, chili oil, and chili peppers every few bites. I'm always surprised how much vinegar I end up adding in the end, but helps cut the creaminess. I like to add in bits of the sauces and vinegar instead of all at once to taste the difference. The service was horrible. Took forever to get someone to order and also to pay, but the food is definitely more important than the service!

My school roommate told me she had been to Kajiken twice in two months and she begged me to meet up here so we could eat good food and yap at the same time. I got the homura aburasoba -- which is very similar in terms of contents to Menya Hanabi's original Nagoya mazesoba. This stuff is *so* flavorful and all of the parts mix together homogeneously. It doesn't feel heavy at all! The noodles were spectacularly chewy and there are so many toppings that you simply mix together and enjoy without thinking too hard. The wait can be long on the weekends but I am willing to wait for this stuff. There are a few paid parking structures in the area and downtown San Mateo is pretty cute!

Pretty tasty meal and very filling, but not something I'd wait in line for though. The thicc noodles were probably my favorite part, and all the toppings were good too. I wish the flavors were a little more balanced though - the Top 1 aburasoba was very flavorful but it was a little much for the full duration of a meal in my opinion, and the original aburasoba lacked a bit of the punch - good thing they have more sauces and toppings at every table. Really clean inside and nice staff!

This was my first time having brothless ramen, and it was pretty good. It was my 3rd date with this guy that I was seeing, and he suggested this spot for dinner. I got the Nikumori Minced Pork Aburasoba with a poached egg. I'm too scared to do the raw egg. Sowwy... Lol He got the ... I honestly forgot what he ordered. But he liked it. I liked mine. It was flavorful and pretty yummy. Good portions. He also got the Mentaiko Rice which I tried, and it was very salty. Too salty. He also got the edamame, which you can never go wrong with edamame. Service was quick and friendly. The place decorated a touch of Japanese and modern, I want to say.

I've come to Kajiken multiple times and have always loved it. I noticed there is a sign in the window regarding how the raw egg will not be served due to salmonella concerns. It is nice to know that health concerns are taken seriously. There is usually a line out the door with long wait on weekends. On a Tuesday afternoon, there wasn't a line and we were quickly seated at the bar area. I ordered the roast beef aburasoba. I was told the raw egg would be substituted by an ajitama, which was nice to hear. The pieces of roast beef are tender and noodles are al dente. If you like green onions, they are plentiful. It is one of those bowls that you remember and come back for! Tea is complimentary. Extra garlic flakes, vinegar, spicy oil, chili flakes, and sesame seeds are available at each table. Only downside is the wooden chopsticks are definitely showing wear and tear after being used over the years. The food is memorable and that's what matters most. As one of the only places to get aburasoba in the bay area, I hope everyone tries it at least once!

Kaijiken in San Mateo is a must-try for anyone craving something unique! I'm glad the hype died down, but depending on what time of day you go, there still can be a wait. We ordered: * Roast beef aburasoba - literally my favorite. The yogurt sauce goes so well with the meat and garlic. It's the perfect creamy, umami dry ramen. * Homura aburasoba - if you've ever had dry ramen, it tastes standard like most spicy, minced pork dry ramens. * Nikumori aburasoba - tastes exactly like the first most popular option, but with whole pork slices. They do give a generous amount of pork There are extra containers of vinegar, garlic, and sesame seeds that you can add to perfect your noodles to taste. The oroshi ponzu karaage and ika geso karaage are also good appetizers that come out relatively quick if you're extra hungry.

I've been meaning to try this place forever and finally got the opportunity when I was coming down from SF to South Bay around dinnertime! Came here on a Sunday evening as a party of two and was seated immediately. This place was quite busy, but service was quick. We ordered the homura aburasoba and roast beef aburasoba since we wanted to try both the chashu pork and beef here. I ended up preferring the homura, I can tell why it's the most popular! It's the right amount of spicy without getting in the way of being able to taste the fresh ingredients. The earthiness of the bamboo shoots and creaminess of the raw egg stood out to me a lot! I also liked that the bowls were large enough to mix the ingredients in, the presentation in the beginning was very pretty but it can be stressful when the ramen bowl provided is too small to mix everything around in. The roast beef aburasoba was fine, I just wanted something spicier and wasn't a big fan of the yogurt sauce personally. They offer chili oil, vinegar, sesame seeds, garlic, and chili paste as condiments which is nice! I added a bit of chili paste to my homura aburasoba since it wasn't as spicy as I would've liked it. I really liked that both bowls weren't too salty, the flavors weren't overwhelming and the noodles here are the right amount of QQ.

Came here on a Saturday morning right when they opened and there was already a line outside! I'm a HUGE noodle soup fanatic and I've ever tried dry ramen/aburasoba before aside from instant noodles lol. We quickly got seated, and I ordered the Nikumori Aburasoba and it did not disappoint! The bowl was huge! Very big portion size and the presentation was amazing. They really load up your bowl with thinly sliced spicy pork slices which were very flavorful and drenched in their spicy seasoning and oils. The minced pork was also very coated in the spices and adds a good texture. Raw egg yolk added a nice creaminess to the overall dish and helped bind all the flavors together in that perfect bite. You can add chili flakes and oil, sesame seeds, peanut flakes, and vinegar from the little condiment containers next to you to your dish to your liking. I absolutely LOVED the noodles, they were thinner than udon but thinner than ramen noodles and I love a good hefty noodle. The space inside the restaurant isn't massive, and the hosts will seat you next to other people at the same table. We were a party of 2 at a table of 4 and they seated 2 people next to us. We were in and out of the restaurant in less than an hour, service was quick. So quick that they did come back 3 or 4 times to ask if I was ready to order even though I've only just sat down 5 mins ago. They also have an outdoor seating area. Massive line of people waiting as we were leaving and I wholeheartedly believe this place is absolutely well worth the hype, and very much deserved! Instant hit for me; Kaijiken made it to one of my top food places in the Bay Area and I will definitely be back to try other things on their menu.

This seemed like a popular restaurant on Yelp and social media so my friends and I came here to try their aburasoba. We got there a little before opening on Sunday morning and were surprised to see a small line already formed. It didn't take too long to get seated though but the indoor and outdoor seating filled up pretty quickly. Takoyaki (5/5): The takoyaki was nice and fluffy. Good amount of sauce. Original aburasoba (4/5): This had chashu, bamboo shoots, tokyo onions, and seaweed. I liked this more than the homura abruasoba. It was nice and light tasting. It wasn't too oily. Homura aburasoba (4/5): This is their top pick with spicy minced pork, green onions, bamboo shoots, seaweed, fish powder, chives, raw egg yolk. The egg can be subbed with a poached egg or half of a marinated egg. This was definitely good! Could've been spicier but still had good flavor. The interior was nice and spacious. Service was good and attentive. This is a good lunch or dinner spot. Definitely go early to avoid the rush.

Enjoying Michelin Rated @kajikensanmateo Homura Aburasoba: ramen noodles with toppings, but no broth! Raw egg yolk, spicy ground pork Roast beef aburasoba: thin slices of roast beef with a savory gravy, once again no broth. I highly recommend their oroshi ponzu chicken karaage. Delicious hiyayakko good tofu - one of the best tofu dishes that I have tried!

Decided to try this spot for dinner on a Saturday night and there was a long line out the door, but it went by pretty quickly. We ordered the nikumori aburasoba and the homura aburasoba. Loved both and I can't wait to come back again!

Kajiken in downtown San Mateo is a favorite for noodles. Absolutely love their aburasobaa (brothless ramen)! You'll often see a line on weekends and sometimes weekday evenings. This is worth the hype (if you wait less than 30 min)! The noodles are perfectly cooked, with a nice chew. I have tried almost all of the options. My favorite is the Roast Beef, Nikumori, and Keema Curry. We come here so often so it's nice to rotate my order. Very umami-packed in flavor. I also like that you can season as you'd like with chili oil/vinegar/garlic, etc. Service is great, as attentive as can be for a popular restaurant. Casual vibes. Sometimes, you place your order while in line and then get seated, so the food comes fairly quickly.

The first time I tried this place, I was thinking about it all week! I've tried this place at the restaurant and also as takeout and both are still amazing. I highly recommend the roast beef aburasoba. My first time trying aburasoba was here! The sauce pairs well with the noodles and the roast beef is the perfect cook. Make sure you mix all the seasonings and toppings together really well to really enjoy it. The homura aburasoba is also good but a tad spicy for my weak spice tolerance. I'm always looking forward to eating here. Come early or off peak hours because there is always a line out the door. Service is quick tho. Street parking or parking garages only.

This is a meal that brought back all of the great tastes from a recent Japan trip. It can get a bit busy at times but they have a ton of seating (indoor and outdoor) so the wait typically isn't too long that I've experienced. I've only got the tantan but all of the options look and sound amazing as well. I love adding an egg to mine as well.

My hubby and I finally decided to try Kajiken after a round of golf at Crystal Springs on a Thursday night! I was nervous about the line but luckily, we got there and we were only the second party waiting, yayyy. Aburasoba/soupless ramen is my new favorite way to eat ramen because I don't feel as full as I do after drinking all the soup in a normal ramen, lol! I got the homura aburasoba and hubs got the original aburasoba. I loved having the little condiment bar right in front of us so we could add as much garlic, vinegar, chili oil, and sesame seeds as we wanted! I don't know if I would wait over 30 minutes for this, but I did love the meal and can't wait to come back!

I enjoy this place a lot. I think it is clean, the service is great, and the food is exactly what you would expect from the descriptions and even the pictures. As other reviews confirm, there generally is a wait for this restaurant which may be a drawback to most customers; unfortunately, if you were to order takeout, the noodles tend to stick together and clump when they get cold--which makes it a little hard to eat if not enjoyed promptly. I would happily return here as I greatly enjoy their homura aburasoba, but perhaps only for dine-in.

Decided to try this place out.Food was tasty and flavorful. No wonder people line up and willing to stand in the cold for their noodles. Of course, I had to try their Top 1 in the menu, while hubby got the recommended one for first timers. Both taste so good! Will be coming back to try others in the menu and will be bringing our fam with us!

I purchased the original and my friend ordered the homura! Pretty delectable. Essentially it's a dry ramen with oil and sauces on the bottom of the bowl. You have to mix the noodles and sauce together and it creates a flavorful blend. Per my order, the original, it was very light and delicious. It wasn't too oily or heavy which I liked! The oil and sauce blended together tasted really good. I didn't have to add anymore seasoning than it already had. However, I wish there were more noodles because I was still hungry after finishing my bowl, haha. My friend purchased the homura. I thought this was an acquired taste. It was similar to tajin. Although, I enjoyed how the noodles came with lots of toppings, and it wasn't too spicy. However, it was an acquired taste for him as well. I guess tajin isn't something we're a big fan of. Luckily, they had sauces on the table to craft it to his liking. This place was very popular so we waited roughly around 30 minutes, which isn't too bad. The inside was nicely decorated but small. We shared a table with a couple. Overall, 4/5 experience!

Suuuuper unlucky :/ I wasn't too hungry when I came with friends, so I ordered something smaller and did NOT enjoy the beef rice bowl at all -- it severely lacked flavor, the beef was unbelievably dry and tough, and the yogurt sauce made the little flavor it did have taste spoiled/rancid. Detailed breakdown below: **Service, 5/5** The line is super long but the staff is super efficient. They even take your order in line so you're waiting just a few minutes once seated for your food. **Price & portion, 3/5** Ramen itself seems worth it! My rice bowl was inedible and not worth it at all. **Taste, 2.5/5** I had a taste of my partner's #3, which was very solid and what brought this review to 3 stars. However, my roast beef rice bowl was probably one of the worst bowls I've had. While it looked promising, nothing worked for me. The roast beef was seriously dry and unpleasantly tough. The entire bowl was packed with ingredients and even after adding nearly ALL the extra toppings on the table, the bowl was SO bland and was begging for some salt. And lastly, I'm not sure if the yogurt sauce I was served had gone bad but the only flavor that came through was slightly sour like spoiled milk. I didn't want to waste so much food, so I packed the rest of my food to go. I heated it up the next afternoon after an evening in the fridge and it was *definitely* spoiled. The sour, stinky smell wafted through the whole kitchen. I feel like fresh food hardly ever spoils overnight after proper refrigeration, so it literally left more of an unpleasant taste in my mouth that I was likely served a sauce that was either already spoiled or on the brink of spoilage. Ended up tossing 80-90% of the bowl bc I simply found it inedible :(

I loveeee Kajiken! There is always a line but it's worth it in my opinion. Service here is fast as they will take your order before you sit and there's plenty of workers in the kitchen and wait staff. Everyone's super nice and friendly as well. I've only tried their roast beef aburasoba and it's a 10/10. I absolutely love the creamy noodles with the roast beef. They have vinegar, chilli oil, sesame seeds, etc you can add as they are all on the table so I love to load mine up to make it my style although nothings necessary. Overall, I personally do think it's worth the hype. I love the dry noodle aspect with the creamy sauce. Super delicious!

Let me first begin with my caveat that my review is based purely on a take-out experience. The good: convenience in online ordering and readiness of order in the time advised (but I'm guessing it was ready even sooner). Areas for improvement: ordered the original abura soba (again as takeout) and while I recognize it's supposed to be a minimal broth dish, the broth and flavor was completely lacking and hence noodles were really dry (leading to my conclusion that perhaps it was ready and sitting out prior to the designated pick-up time). Will try dine-in next time for an experience commensurate of their 4+ star review, but will need to find the arrival window that doesn't result in a 40- or more minute wait.

First, I wanna say there is ALWAYS a line whenever I walk by this place so when I saw there was no line at 1:40pm on a Saturday, we just had to try! (They close the line at 1:45pm I think) When we got in line, we received a paper informing anyone behind us that the line is closed; however, there were 2 groups that joined but were luckily still able to be sat. I would suggest maybe there is a better way of informing the people behind us that the line is closed instead of leaving it on the customer to tell other people. Perhaps physically closing the line and putting a sign up will be better. We had to wait about 7 minutes before we were seated but while we were in line, our order was already taken which was nice. Once we finally sat down, it only took a couple minutes for our food to come out. Overall, it was delicious! Their takoyaki might be the best takoyaki I've had in the Bay Area. It's a cool take on a soupless ramen. The noodles are pretty flavorful and filling. For the price, I would say the portion size is pretty good. There were 3 of us and we still had food to take home. Overall, I would come back if there was little to no line. I would not wait more than 5 minutes in my opinion. If the line is 20+ minutes, I would say it's not worth the wait. But if you catch it at a good time, you gotta go and try!

On a quick weekend trip to the Bay Area, our friends introduced us to this spot specializing in aburasoba, which is a unique style of ramen that's brothless but packed with flavor. Instead of soup, the noodles are served with a rich sauce and toppings that you mix together. On a Sunday morning around 11:30am, the line was pretty long. Our group of 5 took turns holding our spot while some of us explored the charming San Mateo area, which is full of great coffee shops, dessert spots, and little retail stores. After about a 60-minute wait, we finally got seated. Most of us ordered the Original Aburasoba, topped with chashu, bamboo shoots, green onions, and seaweed, and it was absolutely delicious. The flavors were bold, the noodles had a perfect chewy texture, and the mix of toppings brought everything together. We also shared an order of karaage chicken, which was crispy, juicy, and just as tasty. The portions were hefty, and by the end of the meal, we were all stuffed. While I hate long waits for food, this place was definitely worth it. If you're ever in the area, you must try Kajiken!

We were glad to be in the area around 1pm on a Wednesday because we were able to get seated right away with no wait. I was debating if i should try the roast beef aburasoba or stick with the classics but i was so glad i tried the roast beef! the flavors were delicious and the yogurt sauce added a nice creamy texture as well as the raw egg mixed in. i think my husband did the homura aburasoba and enjoyed his and we both really liked their takoyaki here. i look forward to coming back!

Waited around 15-20 mins to get seated on a busy Saturday evening. The line looked a bit daunting but it went by faster than I expected! They took our orders in line and the food was served pretty quickly after sitting down. Indoor and outdoor dining both available. We ordered the homura aburasoba (listed as top 1) and roast beef aburasoba (listed as top 3). The homura aburasoba was pretty good. Noodle chewiness level was solid and flavors were there. I added a ton of vinegar which was the move. Roast beef aburasoba was alright. The meat was dry and I wasn't the biggest fan of the yogurt sauce. It made the bowl too sweet for me and I felt like I was just eating a yogurt pasta. A bit hard to flag down servers too since it's so busy. No regrets trying this place once but can't say I'd be enthusiastically coming back.

I am kind of obsessed with aburasoba and it seems like everyone else is, too. Kajiken has been our go-to spot lately! I appreciate that they have pretty comfortable outdoor seating with heat lamps. I have a 6 month-old daughter that I usually bring along with me in a stroller, so I prefer not to take up too much space indoors. The patio area here is roomy enough that the stroller doesn't feel enormously in the way. I haven't tried anything other than the Homura Aburasoba because it is fantastic. I've had friends order the Roast Beef Aburasoba and it looks good, but I haven't felt adventurous enough to branch out yet. Keep in mind that there are NO noodles with soup here! Why not 5 stars? The last time I was there with a group of 4 adults and 1 baby on the patio, it felt like we waited a long time to be served & have our orders taken (~10-15 minutes) after we were initially seated. It got to a point where we had to consciously wave our hands to be assisted. I was surprised given that there were still some people waiting in line to be seated. Nonetheless, Kajiken is still a fave for us. Someday I'll venture inside for an indoor dining experience to see what it's like in there.