Kobuta & Ookami Katsu and Sake house

Located across the street from Bear Creek Villiage shopping mall and less than a 10 minute drive from the Redmond Town Center, come here for authentic Japanese Donkatsu (pork cutlet). They offer a variety of options, katsu dry, with curry & also in soup. A wide selection of sake is another reason to come after work or in the evening for a casual gathering or fun date night. Parking is very limited and expect a wait during peak hours. Service is attentive and the vibe is casual & energetic. Cash is accepted but they do not offer change. Go figure? I've been here a few times. First time everything was excellent. Second time, I removed 3 hairs from my food. Overall, recommended but watch your food closely.

The katsu here is honestly some of the best I’ve ever had. Kobuta & Ookami totally lives up to the hype—huge portions, super juicy and tender katsu, and really friendly service. Totally worth the wait in every way. I tried the Iberico pork katsu with mustard and pickles, the Kurobuta katsu with grated daikon, the chicken curry katsu, and the fried oysters. The Iberico was insanely tender without being too fatty or greasy. All the katsu had this perfect crunchy panko crust, and you can tell they use fresh oil for frying. The oysters were huge, crispy on the outside, and super juicy on the inside. The space is modern and clean. Expect to wait around 30 minutes to an hour, but it’s so worth it. Prices are on the higher side, but totally fair for the quality, portions, and experience. Kobuta & Ookami is officially my new go to.

Such a lovely and serene place to have a meal! Warm, inviting, and modern aesthetics; it makes for such a wonderful dining experience. Warm lighting, clean wood, industrial yet comfy furniture. And they’re so friendly and knowledgeable here. The menu seemed a little daunting, but they helped to explain things. I got the kurobuta katsu plate. The katsu was so delicious! Tastes very authentic; light and crispy. The pork was so juicy and tender…It just melts in your mouth! The veggies are fresh and you get to make your own katsu sauce. It was kind of fun because you grind the sesame seeds with a mini pestle and mix in the amount of sauce you want. Felt very interactive and personalized. My friend got the unagi katsu and oh my, was it to die for! Flavor bomb in your mouth! I’d love to come back here to try their other dishes. My only gripe is that the parking lot is very small. It’s limited as most of the spots are reserved for the other businesses in the plaza and the available spots are kind of tight.

Best katsu in Seattle! We ordered the Katsu Nanban and the Katsu Don. The Katsu were thick, juicy, and tender, and coated in a crunchy coating that’s not too thick or greasy. We love ordering a curry sauce on the side, which is deep, savoury, and not too sweet the way some Japanese curries can be. It’s definitely on the pricier side but the quality and taste is well worth the money. 9.5/10

Nabe was great for chilly day, but next time I would try katsu itself to enjoy the real ✨crispy-ness✨! I had to wait for 25-30mins for walk in on Friday night, and totally worth it. & Servers are so kind!

Came for an early dinner, kind of struggled to find parking in the parking lot provided but luckily we did get a spot. We got in and got sat on their high chairs, but it felt uncomfortable so we asked to sit somewhere else and we got to sit by the bar. They were being cognizant about the amount of people in your party as the place got full quick! The atmosphere was very japanese, sitting by the bar made me thought for a second that we were in Japan. Very kid-friendly as we saw a few families with young kids. We ordered nabe kurobuta and special unagi katsu. Both has amazing flavor and generous portion. The amount of broth in nabe was a lot, and it was filled with egg, napa cabbage, seaweed, and yu choy. The unagi katsu came with the unagi sauce on the side, it was absolutely delicious! Wonderful experience, friendly service, amazing food! We would recommend to anyone who wants Katsu and would definitely come back in the future!

Best katsu I’ve ever had. Extremely nice service staff. It’s the first place I take friends who are visiting, whether they’re foodies or not they are impressed. You can really only get katsu, but that’s fine. Just don’t go if you don’t want katsu and are surprised there aren’t alternatives

I always love going to Kobuta & Ookami for the Miso Hire Katsu! It comes with a hacho miso based sauce which is different from the normal tonkatsu sauce. The sauce has a slightly sweet flavor (not too sweet!!) but savory as well which goes really well with the katsu. Though when I visited recently, my party and I noticed that the size of our tonkatsus was noticeably smaller than previous times we would visit T^T Fyi if you plan on going on a Friday evening or a weekend evening, expect to wait at least 30 minutes, so come early!

If you're looking for the best Japanese katsu in town, this place is an absolute gem! The katsu is perfectly crispy on the outside, yet tender and juicy on the inside--cooked to perfection every time. You can tell they use high-quality ingredients, and the panko coating is light, airy, and never greasy. The menu offers a great selection, from chicken katsu to cheese-filled katsu, and even some creative twists that are absolutely delicious. But the standout for me was their Tomato Parmesan Katsu--a unique fusion that combines the crispiness of traditional katsu with a rich, savory tomato sauce and a perfect sprinkle of Parmesan. It's like the best mix of Japanese and Italian flavors, and it works incredibly well! Another highlight was their exceptional hot mustard, which adds the perfect kick to every bite. It's bold, flavorful, and pairs amazingly with the crispy katsu, making each bite even more exciting. The house-made katsu sauce is rich and flavorful, and the sides--miso soup, fresh shredded cabbage with tangy dressing, and perfectly steamed rice--complete the meal beautifully. The service is warm and attentive, and the atmosphere is cozy yet modern, making it a great spot for both casual dining and special occasions. Whether you're a katsu lover or trying it for the first time, this restaurant delivers an authentic and unforgettable experience. Highly recommend!

Pros: food is delicious and staff is friendly Cons: parking can be difficult, waiting area is very small and seating is quite limited.

Wow! It's busy! Wifey and I made reservations for us and some friends...6 total and they did a great job of getting us in even tho the website said they were full. The ambiance, decor and layout are much more than you would expect from a strip mall location. It was our first time here and the menu has a lot of choices considering that it's mostly Katsu. Based on some staff recommendations we started with a couple of appetizers...fried potatoes and karaage. Both were delicious and large portions, well worth the price! I ordered the Katsudon set with Kurobuta and it was SOOOO GOOOOOD! Very different from any other Katsu dish I have ever experienced. Wifey had the Katsu Curry with Iberico and she liked it but was distracted by all of the other delicious looking dishes our group had ordered, including a Katsu Nabe and a beautiful Tomato and Cheese! The service was spot on and everyone that came by our table was very friendly and accommodating. Highly recommended and we will be returning to try more menus items for sure!

What I appreciate about this location is that it has a small parking lot however during rush hour, it will be hard to find parking. Kobuta in Redmond has the same quality as the one in Cap Hill which was good. Staff were very friendly expect for one who was rude and rushing everyone. I will note that their health rating is "OK" which means they had several unsafe food handling practices over the last 4 inspections. Nothing was alarming during my visit.

I was walking around SLU at 4pm, thinking that maybe I could avoid the queue if I visited Kobuta tonight when it was open? When we arrived at around 5:20, the restaurant was already full, with 4 groups of guests still on the waitlist. The advantage of dining alone is that you can get a seat at the bar 30 minutes ahead of the waitlist. Hire Katsu Nabe did not disappoint at all. Hire was neither fat nor dry. The pork chop was dipped in the salty and sweet miso soup. It was so satisfying to take a big bite! There are cabbage, eggs, mushrooms, kelp... in the pot, the portion is quite enough. The standard pork chop comes with shredded lettuce and sesame sauce. I personally was very satisfied with the meal. I have already told R that I will visit him again when he comes back

This is a hidden gem that should be on everyone's radar. If you like Katsu and curious how it tastes in different varieties, this place is for you. They have 13 different kinds of katsus ranging from pork from Japan to iberico ham to beef so you can go wild. I had the miso Pork Katsu. Personally I don't think you need to get the miso option unless you love miso. It's the same thing as the regular, just with the miso on the side. The Katsu sauce is good enough for me and it's fun to grind the sesame seeds up for the Katsu sauce. The Katsu itself was fantastic. The breading is light yet crunchy, and the pork was juicy and tender. Definitely a big fan. The cabbage salad is the the dressing was refreshing to pair with the fatty Katsu. Definitely recommend checking this place out and trying your favorite Katsu option!

Happy we found this. We lived in Japan and when we saw they had miso katsu we had to try. It's pretty good and comparable to what we usually have had in Nagoya (miso katsu Yabaton). Satisfied our craving. I will say the portion is not Japanese portion, so I probably would have shared our dish (definitely American portion, but the price is also American... of course. Not surprising.) would come beach the next time we crave miso katsu.

This restaurant be bustling pretty hard during the lunch hour. Place was pretty packed with customers and I've known about this restaurant for a while and really thought I've been to their other location in Capitol Hill. This one in Redmond is not the best-est lot for parking, but it'll be worth it once you get in and try the food. So I made the mistake (if you can call it a mistake) of getting the Katsu Nabe Iberico. They call it a sauce, but it felt more like a broth with vegetables, mushrooms, an egg, and your katsu all dumped into a heat claypot with a side of rice and salad. This seems to be what a lot of people get and love, but I honestly was expecting to get more of a Katsu-don style with onions and egg and no broth, but a light sauce. They do have this option on their menu, I was just stupid and didn't know how to order since everything on their menu had Katsu on it. My bad. The Katsu Nabe was still very enjoyable for the cold weather we were having that day and the Katsu itself did not disappoint. The crispy battered skin was done very nicely and the meat was thick, juicy, and flavorful. And nothing goes better than some nice alcohol to go with the Katsu which they did have. It was a solid selection of sake options, cocktails, and draft beers. I'm a simple man, so I like to have my katsu with a Sapporo draft beer. They had a great bar area which we ended up sitting at since all the tables were full. Definitely will need to come back and get the right order next time. Very much looking forward to eating at any of their locations in the near future.

We came here on a Saturday for a late lunch. The restaurant was very popular when we arrived, but we only waited about 15 minutes before getting seats at the bar. The decor was cute and inviting. The staff was friendly and served our dishes efficiently. Although we stayed a bit longer than planned and they were preparing to take their break before reopening for dinner, the staff never asked us to leave, which we greatly appreciated. We ordered the Iberico Katsu Nabe and the Jidori Chicken Katsu Nabe, both of which were perfect for the cold weather. The appetizer, C-Los Fried Potatoes, was generously portioned. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals. Parking was convenient, thanks to the on-site parking lot.

If you love Japanese katsu, definitely try this place. They have many varieties of katsu dishes! Visited for lunch during a weekday to give this place a try. I love oroshi, so I got the Kurobuta Oroshi platter. We also got the Kurobuta Miso Katsu and Nabe Katsu. They all came with a large portion of cabbage salad, bowl of rice, small dish of pickles, miso soup, and specific sauces for their respective dish. The Katsu was crispy! And we all enjoyed our different dishes. But I personally don't think I'd get the Kurobuta next time.

MAKE A RESERVATION if you come on the weekends even at opening time! A line started forming 20 minutes before they opened and some people at the end of the line were not able to eat in the first wave of customers at lunch. We were able to get a reservation as a group of 9. They also have a very small parking lot, so be prepared to park on the street or walk. The menu is super varied despite being a katsu restaurant! The service is also very friendly but they did mess up our orders and never brought some drinks to our table, maybe because it was busy or since we were a large party. Highly recommend coming if it is at an off-peak time! The katsu is all cooked very well with many different choices for cuts and types of meat.

Very tasty. Highly recommend. Get there before the lunch rush! Lots of items to explore on the menu and they're all delightful

This restaurant had a wonderful casual setting with amazing service. Our server was very attentive and consistently came over to make sure things were okay. I had a katsu curry the pork was cooked well and the curry was very rich. I would recommend the set as the salad was one of the highlights of the meal. The only complaint would be the parking situation as it extremely difficult to find parking and the wait can sometimes be long.

Best Katsu I've had in the Seattle area. Three of us walked in on a Saturday during lunch, and waited for about 15-20 minutes before we were seated. The inside is spacious and clean, I especially like the decor in the booths area. We tried the Nanban (Katsu topped with omelette and runny yolk) and Katsu Nabe (light broth, feels like a healthy version of hot pot with Katsu). Both came with a side of shredded cabbage salad. I will definitely be back if I'm craving Katsu again!

Well-made katsu! Yummy, great taste. Reasonable price. I had Tomato & Cheese, but seems like you can't go wrong with any choice. Will definitely come back to try the Miso and Nabe options! Be prepared to wait around normal peak meal hours.

This place is a cozy place with food that resembles food like my grandma used to make. The presentation of the meal is quite breathtaking. I had the miso katsu and my daughter had the mozzarella-tomato katsu. The portions are large and flavors are very complementary with each other on the tray. The service was fantastic with the right amount of visitation to the table to let you enjoy the meal. The parking situation is a little tight but it is well worth it. Everyone should definitely stop in and try this place.

This time I am rating only 4 stars because we discovered the curry sauce had a sour taste. We asked the staff if that was normal and they said there is apple in it making it sour. It was much more sour than you'd expect however and the curry wasn't very hot when it came out. All of your party needs to be present to be seated.

My friends recommended Kobuta and Ookami to me saying it was the best katsu in Washington and one of their top restaurant recommendations in the area. I found it to just be okay. The katsu is pretty standard. I actually do not prefer the curry at this restaurant, I would recommend you just get the plain katsu. They have a lot of variety at this restaurant and the place is modern and clean, so it's a nice place to go with friends.

The service was great! The host was super friendly and also helped around with taking orders. Loved the potato appetizer. I got the mozzarella and tomato plate. I would say I wish I got one with more meat than the choice I made to have with the tomato sauce. It was still really good but too much cheese for me. Come early. I do not believe they do to go orders. We waited about 15 min or so but once we were seated a bigger crowd showed and waits were longer and remember to have your whole party with you. Would recommend trying this place out the soups looked really good too.

Such a cute little shop. The parking situation is a little bad with the tiny lot in front but the food is sooo worth it! We got the Kurobuta Katsu curry and the Kurobuta oroshi Katsu both of which were fireee!! They add chocolate in the curry for a richer taste (a great choice)! The katsu is nice and crispy and the serving portion is just right. They also seemed to have a wide variety of sake and other drinks. Didn't get any this time but will def go back for the flights next time :) Highly recommend honestly! Big fan of the katsu dishes

- delicious but pricy - Food: 5 stars Service: 4 stars Ambiance: 2 stars Price: 3 stars Overall: 3.5 stars This is my fourth time here, and the wait is as long as usual, even for a small party of two. It can't be helped, though--no other tonkatsu place on the Eastside is as good, despite all the staff seeming to be non-Japanese. We put our names down at 6:37 pm on the waitlist for a Friday night, and by 7:09 pm, we were seated and had our orders in. The wait wasn't too bad, but all the tables were occupied, and 6-7 groups were still waiting. Their estimated wait time is pretty accurate, so it's safe to head across the street to the shops and return when they text you. I ordered the tomato cheese sauce mozzarella katsu for $24, and my husband got the miso katsu with Jidori chicken for $26. He wanted kurobuta, but I misheard him. Honestly, you have to order pork here... The chicken katsu was fine, but it just wasn't as good. You need to have some fat with your meal here--otherwise, you might as well stay home and eat chicken breast. At least that's how I felt since the chicken katsu wasn't nearly as satisfying as the pork. The miso sauce was supposed to be sweet, but I could barely taste the sweetness (though maybe we're just used to the higher sweetness levels in the U.S.). The mozzarella katsu is still my favorite, though it came with only four pieces. It's different from before--they flattened the meat and shaped it into a bowl for the cheese. To be honest, I preferred how it was served before, but it's still good because, well, you can't go wrong with melted mozzarella. The tomato sauce gave it a pasta vibe, which was nothing special. I wish they'd offer the mozzarella katsu with a different sauce or at least have an option to add melted mozzarella to other dishes. The shredded cabbage isn't refillable, even though it always is in Japan. The small side dishes that came with the set included ginger, and I doubt most people enjoy that. The service seems to have improved, probably because they hired more staff. The ambiance is just okay--I don't recall hearing any nice music, and you're seated quite close to other groups. Overall, it's a good restaurant, but I wish there were more katsu places on the Eastside, especially given the high prices here.

Was in Seattle for a break away from the Vegas heat and found myself craving some Japanese food. Did a quick search around the Bellevue area and found Kobuta and Ookami pop up on the feed. This joint is focused on Tonkatsu and while I know my favorites in Vegas and Japan I realized I had not had any good tonkatsu in Seattle yet so made my way over at open time. The parking lot is a tad tiny so just be wary and adjust accordingly. I showed up 15 minutes before open time and there were already quite a few cars with folks sitting in them waiting for the door to open. The line felt long but moved quickly as the inside of this joint is on the spacious side with many styles of seating including " bar style" seats facing into the kitchen and also actual bar seats. The service was efficient/friendly. The menu was broken down by a specials menu (rotates), katsu, miso katsu (Nagoya style), katsu nabe, Oroshi katsu (grated radish), tomato and cheese (house tomato miso sauce and grated parmesan katsu), katsu don, katsu curry... and oof out of breath for the variety here. Each style of dish would typically use the Hire/Iberico/Rosu/Kurobuta/Chicken/Ebi/Menchi so its just a matter of what type of style you want. Loved the breadth of menu vs just the typical one type of katsu with 3 cuts. After doing summersaults to figure out which exact item I wanted (as it all looked so good), we went with a bottle of Junmai sake (which I think they also mentioned I could take it if I didn't finish... but we did =) ), the tsukune (special menu item), the Kara age (special menu item), Kurobuta katsu, and a rosu katsu nabe. For the punch line, all the items are cooked well, good ingredients, light frying for the right crisp without overdoing it. The tsukune was good... odd to see it in a square shape but the flavor profiles were all there and it was a good take on a tsukune. The kara age was good, lightly crispy the accompanied sauce was good. The Katsu was well done. Enjoyed the flavor profiles and it executed on a good traditional style of katsu. The nabe was also a pleaser for the table. Packed with ingredients and the katsu also showcased well. Honestly finding some good Japanese food in Seattle has proven difficult but this place nails the authenticity and the flavor profiles. Definitely the best katsu place ive had in the seattle area so far and they also have another restaurant near capital hill for those looking on that side of the map. While my favorite is still in vegas this is definitely the best ones ive had in seattle. I will be back when im in the area.

Food was pretty good. They had different types of katsu meat and pricing is different as well. I got the more expensive one (more tender?) I should have just got the cheaper one lol. The salad was super good. Service was great, they know the menu and what to recommend! Nice ambiance in the restaurant! The parking lot is very small and shares with other stores so you may have to find parking on the street which is also limited. I would definitely make a reservation next time coming here.

The Unagi and egg special was the way to go! It was so exciting receiving a wooden tray with all of these fun bowls, full of different items like sauces, miso soup, pickled veggies, and what presentation on the main dish! This dish came with rice on the bottom with little fried crunchy pieces. The egg was in very thin strips, almost looking like a thin noodle and the fried Unagi on top. This was the order of the table. About the curry, it looked beautiful, and this is a personal choice situation, but we did not prefer chocolate in the curry. It made it really rich and gave it a better aftertaste so we would have like the option of a regular curry. We did not know it was chocolate curry here which I could be describing it Wrong, but that's what I understood from the menu. That said, the presentation was amazing with the sauce being so rich. We just wish we could've eaten a little bit more. We couldn't be seated until our whole party was there which is fair but the parking to this place was horrible. Luckily, we found parking in the apartment complex next-door. I could tell parking was a problem because on the door of the restaurant there's a sign specifying that people have been towed for parking in other establishments nearby. The service was great, and the presentation of the food was very memorable. The menu was easy to read, and we really appreciated the key that had definitions of menu items we were familiar with. We possibly would try the hot pot next time other than that since the curry wasn't our jam, not sure if there would be a lot for us here to come back. Really appreciated the cute decor the cute name down to the font they used for their sign.

Make sure to come hungry because the portions are huge (and heavy!). Whenever I want to satisfy my katsu cravings this place is my first pick and they don't disappoint. Each bite is deliciously crunchy and the atmosphere makes it feel like I'm tucked away in a corner of Japan. I prefer the Redmond location over the Seattle one because they offer another special menu. The seafood teshoku set is my fav and comes with fried king salmon, oyster, ebi, miso soup, rice, cabbage and a side of picked veggies. Don't forget to use the sesame and katsu sauces they have at the table! The nabe clay pots are good too- hearty with a warm broth that's perfect for cold weather. They also have a variety of options, sets with curry, miso, cheese, tomato and cheese, don bowls and nabe clay pots. The employees are always super sweet and nice! [11/17/2024]

Let me start off with that the food was good, but my friend chewed on a piece of glass and had to spit out his food. Came here on a random Friday night for dinner. Got seated pretty quickly so that was nice. They also have a parking lot. Nice service and clean space. Nanban: 3/5 Crispy but i feel like it was lacking something. I liked the egg yolk and addition of the egg. I think the rice could have used some type of flavoring or maybe more sauce for the chicken? idk. not my favorite katsu Unagi Katsu Donburri: 3.5/5 i really liked this dish! i've never had something like this but unfortunately, this dish did have the piece of glass. dish itself is good. but execution failed there. They did comp our whole meal which was nice. But glass in food? at least we think it was glass. he chomped on it with his back teeth and i saw him spit the food out. small piece but it looked like glass to me. ‍

Finally made it here and felt slightly letdown. The service was nice and friendly, the katsu options are presented well visually, but my gripe was the lackluster taste for the cost and reputation. While the texture of everything was on point, the main proteins just appeared under-seasoned and not memorable, while the accompanying curry we opted for wasn't savory; in fact it was as if someone dropped a lemon in the batch and made it too tangy. I've had cheaper, better fast casual Japanese curry places on the East coast that outshines the meal here. Forewarning there's a wait at peak meal times, and the parking lot is small and crowded, while street parking is tough to find even in neighboring residential areas.

I have a google map with a massive list of places to try and this place has been on there for quite a bit. So, I went here with a friend to celebrate the New Year. It was super busy during lunch, and if you have less than 6 people, it's first come first served (at least right now), so bare that in mind and make sure your whole party is with you. Still, we were seated pretty quickly. As for the food, It was VERY good. I got the Hire Katsu curry. The curry was rich and I loved having my rice with it. And the pickles were good too. I could say the Katsu pork gives you that really crispy crunch texture and sound we all love, and the pork was exceptional. Very tender and juicy. I would have liked a bit more salt, but it wasn't bland. The side of katsu sauce was pretty good. Things were a bit slow to come out, but sometimes we need to slow down and forget our instant gratification brains. Regardless, keep that in mind if that's important to you. I'll be coming back here again. I just need more of that curry in my life.

Parking is a nightmare!!!! We tried parking near it but not enough luck. People are parking in the mall across the street. I don't know if that's allowed. When we finally got a spot and got it, there was no one at the front. Wait for somebody to appear. A very nice lady told me they could accommodate us wherever we wanted. Luckily there was a table with enough space for my stroller. There was another party that had to leave it by the entrance as their booth have no space for it. Menu was a bit complicated to read the first time. Our server yold us we could mix. When I asked about mixing pork with one of their dishes she told No. So a bit confusing. The worst part was they way she said it. Something like "it's not the way" or "you are not allowed to do that". I was thinking: "Who is the one who allows me to do or don't do?!" Anyway, we didn't say anything, but she caught right away she messed it. She tried to save it by being over polite afterwards, but we all knew what happened. Of course we thought she is young and she is still learning how to socialize, and learning about the job :) Other staff also helped and they were friendly and helpful. Good flavour for the food. Nicely plated. Different. Good experience to feel like in another country :) (Music was very loud by the way. Great mix though :D) But if you ask for the plum paste one, you are going to miss the plum. Just a dot of the paste. I think overpriced. Dish looks big but it's mostly salad or rice. Not too much meat.

This place is spacious and service was great. The parking not so much. As other reviewers stated parking lot is small but you could park across the street. We ordered the kurobuta katsu and the pork was moist and tasty. My daughter enjoyed it. As for me I needed the crunch more crispier. The cabbage and soup is a very accompaniment to the katsu. The sauces are also yummy. We also ordered a side of ebi and the shrimp was very tasty. We also tried the katsu don all kurobuta and that was very good. There are lots of different options to try so we'll be back!

This location is just as good as the one in Cap Hill! Kobuta and Ookami is a delicious katsu spot that had hour long lines when they opened. The hype has died down and with a second location, wait times are drastically decreased and more open for everyone. Regardless, it's hands down the best katsu spot in Washington currently. We don't have many katsu specialty spots so competition isn't crazy, but Kobuta and Ookami puts up a fight against some Vancouver spots. They don't allow takeout orders because that drastically reduces the quality of the katsu. Tomato and Cheese Kurobuta - my go-to because I grew up a baked tomato pork chop in rice kid and this feels like a spin on that. This option and the curry are the more flavorful options, providing extra to pair with the rice but honestly, can't go wrong with anything. Kurobuta is one of the premium options and it's so fatty, nearly melting. Like wagyu for pork!

I've been to the original Kobuta and Ookami location in Capitol Hill several times before, but am glad they opened a location on the Eastside. My friend and I came here this past week for a late dinner at around 7:30pm. Although this location is bigger than the Capitol Hill location, it was surprisingly crowded for a late Thursday night. We were lucky to get a seat for two by the window when we arrived. My usual go to is the Nabe (Claypot), but I've also tried their curry at the Capitol Hill location which was alright, but slightly too vinegary for my taste. My friend and I thus decided to try something different and both opted for the TOMATO & CHEESE katsu. She chose the rosuru katsu (+$24) and I opted for the hire Katsu (+$22). The katsu was EXCELLENT with the perfect flaky and light tempura outside, hot out of the fryer. However, the creamy tomato sauce was room temperature and not as hot as I would've preferred. Also, while the tomato & cheese was different, the dish as a whole reminded me of chicken parmesan (obviously with pork subbed for the chicken). I honestly think I would've preferred the Katsu without the sauce, but it was worth a try! The side cabbage salad, rice, pickled veggies, and miso soup were fresh. They have tonkatsu sauce and salad dressing already on the table for you so that you can put as much or as little of it on as you like. Personally, I didn't use any tonkatsu sauce for my Katsu (as it was already drenched in tomato sauce), but I enjoyed a drizzle of it on my stick rice. The pickled veggies were a great palette cleanser as well. Service was decent as we got our food right away. Our waitress also came by to refill our waters. My only complaint was that they were unable to separate the bill between my friend and me. She said that they could only accept one card which was weird to me, but I just Venmoed my friend later. In terms of atmosphere, this place is again, bigger than their Capitol Hill location, but you may still need to wait in line if you come during the dinner rush. It is trendy and casual. One last note is that their parking lot is rather tight and small, but there's plenty of residential street parking nearby, which is where we ended up parking. Overall: 4/5 for food, 4/5 for service, 4/5 for atmosphere

What a lovely restaurant! The menu has lots of variety, so there is something for everyone here! We got the Kurobuta Miso Katsu and the Iberico Katsu Nabe - both were fantastic! The Katsu Nabe is basically a personal hot pot with katsu on it. Perfect for a chilly day. If you're choosing between the Kurobuta and Iberico, I would recommend the Iberico! It's just a bit fattier and more flavorful in my opinion. Portions are HUGE. The tonkatsu and sesame sauces were both delish ~ perfect on the shredded cabbage. I'm not sure what it is about shredded cabbage with katsu, but it always slaps! On the pricey side, and the rice was slightly overcooked, but definitely worth a try. I'd love to go back and try a few more things!

Exactly as described. Great service - no wait on a Sat at 1:00. We had the classic katsu and the prawn katsu soup dish. Super light, soup was delish. Pricey but you get what you pay for. Super big servings.

Crispy, golden, amazing katsu tucked away in the corner of an unassuming building near downtown Redmond. Starting with the ambiance - very cozy Japanese pub vibes with lots of booth seating. Service was efficient, professional, and warm. There are a lot of options for katsu outside of just pork - including chicken, shrimp, eel, etc. That being said, this place is NOT veggie friendly. I can't speak to the authenticity but I love how there were don (over rice) options as well as more of a stew option (katsu nabe). Katsu was perfectly crispy without an overly greasy mouthfeel. Sauces were tasteful and overall presentation was beautiful. I don't have all the words to describe how much I loved this place but I am planning to bring friends and family to visit here for sure! Do be aware that parking is extremely limited and that the wait can be long - either make a reservation (6 people or more though) or come before 6pm to have the best chance of getting a table.

Kubota and Ookami in Redmond is a gem for Japanese katsu lovers, introduced to us by a friend. Located near Redmond downtown, the main downside is the limited parking in front of the building. You might have to drive around to find street parking or use the mall parking lot across the street. Reservations are only for large parties, so if you're going with a smaller group, expect a bit of a wait. Arriving early around their opening time can help you get seated right away. The decor is Japanese-inspired, and the menu focuses on their specialty: katsu. There are various types of katsu with different sauces and meat choices. We've tried several, and each has its unique flavor and specialty, so don't hesitate to explore the menu. The katsu portions are quite generous, often too much for my partner to finish, so we usually share multiple dishes. Each katsu dish comes with rice and shredded cabbage, and the sauces complement the meat perfectly. During our last visit, we tried the Kurobuta Tsukune combo, which includes five skewers of meat and tamago tare. This dish was less impressive, especially as a combo since the quantity of meat became overwhelming and less enjoyable after a while. I would recommend trying just one skewer instead. The hot green tea is a delightful addition to the meal, with refills available. Overall, Kubota and Ookami offer a unique dining experience with excellent food. If you haven't tried katsu before, I highly recommend it. The prices aren't on the cheap side, but the quality and experience make it worth it.

First time today. Ordered pork curry and chicken hot pot 5/5. Will order again. Ambience 5/5. Service 5/5. Our server Nuit took time to explain the menu and gave us reccs. We felt very welcomed. Lucked out we found parking right in front.

Absolutely delicious Japanese curry & katsu! We came in on a weekend for dinner and were seated at the bar after about a 30 minute wait. I ordered the orochi chicken katsu -- the chicken was super tender and not dry at all, and the fry was super crispy. The tangy ponzu sauce and the sesame sauce definitely also added a lot the experience, so definitely try those! Also, the rice was really good for no reason. One thing to note is that the parking is very limited at the actual restaurant. It'll be easier to park in the shopping area nearby (we parked in front of the Marshalls), and you can also walk around there while you wait for seating.

Very busy place, so try to make a reservation or expect a wait. The katsu is made to order so there is a short wait in getting your food but it tastes so fresh and delicious! They were very well organized and kept tables clean so minimize wait times too.

Had Tomato & Cheese Rosu Katsu. Food was delicious, good service and ambiance. Waiters/waitresses are friendly and nice. The Katsu was exceptional, crispy outside and Katsu was soft.

A very cute katsu shop that focuses on katsu, but can be prepared in a variety of ways with different types of meat. I got the Iberico katsu set, and I really liked the yuzu sauce on the side. There are other options like curry, miso, etc. however, the curry doesn't come with the rest of the set, but you can add on. I thought the curry was only alright, but they do give you a lot of it. Another friend of ours got the tomato set, and if you're in the mood for a chicken parm (substituted with whichever katsu you get), then that would be for you, but I just preferred the Iberico Oroshi Katsu Set

Kurobuta Curry Set (5/5): I really enjoyed this dish. The pork was cooked well and was not to dry. It was very crunchy. I liked the flavoring of the house-made curry that had dark chocolate. It was very rich but a great pairing with a bowl of rice. I think the set is worth it because the shredded cabbage was nicely shredded like salad you would eat in Japan. I always love a salad with sesame seed dressing. Kurobuta Katsu Nabe (5/5): I have never had a Nabe dish but it was delicious. It is a dish in a clay pot where there is a savory sauce simmering with vegetables and eggs with the Kurobuta pork cutlet on top. It is a great dish to have on a cold day when you are craving some warm soup. I would totally come again to eat the Katsu Nabe. The employees are very nice and attentive. They are always filling your water and seeing if you need anything. This is a great sit down for when you have a date night or groups sizes between 3-8. They are able to accommodate for large groups. We went on a weekday for dinner so the wait was about 20-30 minutes for a group of 5 people. I will say that the pricing is on the $$$ end but if you have not been here before you should come at least one time to try the curry and nabe dishes. My friend got the Katsu Don and was said it was underwhelming. She wished she got the curry or nabe dish instead.

Absolutely love this katsu place. You really can't go wrong with any of their different cuts of pork. There's a different texture and flavor to each of them and I think it's worth trying all of them. There is almost always a line but it's worth it, and the service is prompt and friendly. I love the ambience of this place and it really feels like you're in Japan

I've been to the Cap Hill location a couple times and always left happy with my meal, so I knew the Redmond location would be great as well. As expected, the katsu was delicious and filling and the matcha tiramisu I ordered was also super yummy. I don't order katsu very often at a restaurant, but I'd say this is the best katsu place I've been to in the United States. The katsu is so juicy and all the sides are flavorful, if anything, a bit too flavorful and on the sour side but I don't mind it. Will definitely be back for more!

This restaurant is all about Katsu. Interesting & unusual sauces in one dish. The presentation is amazing. It definitely will boost your appetite. I love the concept, but the sauces ~ can be pleasing or displeasing for you. It's really hard to describe in words. I may be going to request the sauces on the side next time. My opinion katsu soup dishes and simple Katsu plate dishes are really good, but not so much with the rest. The ambience was pretty nice inside. The staff were willingly explaining all what we would like to know about the menu. The parking can be really challenging. Small parking lot, very limited.

Absolutely the best katsu I've tried, and I'm beyond thrilled that there's a location on the Eastside. The katsu was perfectly crispy but juicy, and the curry was super flavorful and filling. This parking lot is tiny, so I suggest parking in the Safeway lot across the street and walking over. Also not an ideal place for a larger group since the seating is limited. But a perfect dining spot for date night or a small group!

Good God. This was excellent. So much better than their Capitol Hill location. Even the space is much larger and service is slightly better too. Parking is super tiny and is very limited. This part of Redmond can get quite congested during rush hour (i.e. dinner time) so plan accordingly. I ordered the Mozzarella Katsu which was great but the lean meat Katsu (I believe it's called "Hi Re") was hands down the best. Their curry is excellent as well and you can add to any of your dishes for 6 dollars (and it comes on the side so you can share with your party). The restaurant closes after lunch time and reopens at 5pm. If you show up right at 5pm during weekdays, you will get seated right away. For a party over 6 people, they add 20% gratuity (which is ridiculous but seems to be a standard practice these days everywhere). Highly recommended. It is not cheap. Around 20 to 30 dollars per person before tip and tax without drinks. They accept cash but they do not give change. Very odd (shady!). Just pay with a credit card.

I unintentionally showed up about 10 minutes before they opened for dinner on a Sunday and was surprised to find that when they open, every table filled up immediately If you don't arrive right when they open, you'll probably have to wait quite a bit. The parking lot is very very small and fills up quickly, but it's across the street from a grocery store plaza with a much larger lot. Overall, the food quality is solid, but the pricing is a bit high - expect to spend over thirty bucks per person. They have delicious, custom sesame dressing and tonkatsu sauce; both of which I thoroughly enjoyed even though I'm typically a tonkatsu sauce hater. Mozzarella Katsu (4.25/5): Stretchy mozzarella inside crunchy fried pork is always going to be delicious. Felt a little bad though because over 20 bucks only gets you 4 pieces and a stack of cabbage. Katsu Don (3.5/5): This one was not my favorite because it ended up steaming the katsu, so it completely lost any of the crunch. It was especially sad because the crust is so delicate here and couldn't hold up. However, the egg sauce was quite delicious with the rice. Fried Oyster (4.25/5): Fresh out of the fryer with a nice crunch and high quality seafood that isn't too fishy. Thoroughly enjoyed the tangy avocado lime sauce as well and ended up dipping my entree katsu into it as well.

TL;DR: lines at opening. The curry is really good! Try the Kabocha Fries. On the spendy side, good date night spot. Parking: very small shared lot. Expect to street park during peak hours--you may have to walk a ways. Atmosphere: cozy diner feel with bar, bar tables, booths, dining tables. Not really accommodating for extra large parties. Service: pretty popular space so expect lines to form before opening. Wait to be seated, you will be watered, menu brought to you, check brought to you, box your own leftovers upon request. Menu: two descriptive pages with minimal images. There are different cuts of pork to choose from so read the descriptions carefully before choosing which one to go with your meal. Plates are a bit on the spendy side but it is very filling. Kid Friendliness: not very accommodating in terms of entertainment for little kids, high chairs available upon request, no kids menu. Kabocha Fries: it's pumpkin-like squash slices that are breaded, fried and seasoned. Very tasty! Katsu Curry Set: the meal set comes with shredded cabbage, miso soup, and a tiny dish of pickled veggies. Oh man the curry is really good. It's not spicy at all and the pickled veggies go really well with it! Who knew dark chocolate could add so much richness?! The cabbage that it comes with goes really well with the provided dressings on the table (I like the light brown sesame dressing best). Miso soup wasn't really anything to write home about but it is a nice palate cleanser along with the shredded cabbage. Kurobuta: tasty cut of pork that isn't chewy and is not dry at all! Excellent with the curry! Love the crunch and dipping it in curry.