Sakura House

Very modest looking place. You would not think twice from the outside looking in, and with the construction around it, it'd be easy to miss. But this place is a hidden gem. It one lady working so she had us pick a seat and came right away to take our order, which we were ready for. The food came in a timely fashion and was savory and tasted fresh. Everything was prepared with care. It was around lunch time and did not have any issue finding a seat. There is free parking around the corner of the building that's paid, but the restaurant will give you a validation for it so it's free.

Food: The food was fantastic and incredibly authentic. The Bento was pricey for lunch, so it was not something I'd get every time. It was very filling and delivered more than advertised on the menu. It unexpectedly came with a shumai, which was tasty. The tempura had two generous pieces of shrimp and many varied veggies. Everything else was fantastic and as expected from the menu. Atmosphere: The decor and layout even felt more like somewhere in japan (despite being bigger than most places you would find there). The radio was just playing a local pop station, which was a reduction to the atmosphere, and I had to hear radio ads occasionally. Service: Arriving a bit after 11, we were probably the first to be seated for the day. We both ordered large set meals with varied items, so I would expect service to take longer. Others who arrived closer to noon had their food out quickly and were treated kindly as regulars. Refills on the tea were attentive enough for me. I will be coming back!

First time trying and glad I found this restaurant. Food was delicious! I got the udon with tempura. Good portions and very filling. Service was great, I will definitely return

Sakura House is surely one of my favorite Japanese restaurants in town. The restaurant is family owned and serves many traditional Japanese staples, such as ramen, udon, don, set meal, bento and curry rice, following the age old recipes. Some of the less commonly seen dishes are korokke, agedashi tofu, mabo ramen, paiko ramen, chanpon, the seasonal hiyashi chuka, tenshin don, maguro don, Aji fry, and nabeyaki udon. The food is authentic and simply delicious. The setting of the restaurant is low key and distinctively Japanese. The service is attentive and cordial. Here are their maguro don and agedashi tofu. The restaurant is at the ground floor of the Sakura Square.

Hidden gem in Denver, I’ve lived a year a block away from this place and accidentally learned about it. Food is 10/10 Eat local, eat in small family businesses, support them, not stupid soulless chains!

Everything about Sakura House is the BEST. My husband and I weekly come in for lunch. I am constantly meeting friends here and having a blast. The service is IMMACULATE! The food is TOP NOTCH. I never not leave feeling full, refreshed, and so so good in my body. I've got my favorite dishes but I always try something new and I'm still pleasantly surprised. This is THE MOST authentic Japanese resturaunt in the entire state. If I could reccomend any resturaunt, it would be this one. Thank you Sakura House. ありがとうございます! (Pictured is the mabo don meal which comes with salad and miso soup!)

Can’t miss, Traditional Japanese food. Just like you would imagine it would be. I had the miso ramen and tempura vegetables/shrimp. The broth was so rich and wonderful. The tempura was perfectly cooked!

A cozy and friendly service place for lunch. The Nabeyaki udon was flavorful. There is a lot of food that came with the delicious Yakiniku bento - seaweed salad, California rolls (imitation crab & avocado), miso soup, tempuras, salad, rice, Yakiniku beef

The section of 19th Street between Lawrence and Larimer called Sakura Square contains numerous noteworthy venues, like the previously reviewed Pacific Mercantile Company. But it's also home to a genial Japanese eatery known as Sakura House. Once of my favorite Japanese starters is Agedashi Tofu, consisting of lightly-fried beancurd cubes bathed in a sauce based on the tuna/kelp broth known as Dashi. SH's version brings a savory - dare I say, umami? - heft while at the same time seeming homey and comforting. The creamy-yet bouncy battered squid orbs called Takoyaki are certainly another possibility to consider, with their springy, sensuous steaminess easily taking center stage. If your doctor has told you yet again that you need to incorporate more vegetables into your diet, you can partake of a colorful and varied Tempura platter. And if you want to get even more healthful, a portion of seaweed salad will provide you with iodine, magnesium, folate, and a bunch of other nutrients we really don't have the space to discuss. Regardless of your particular desires the day you visit, Sakura House will definitely have an appetizer or two to prepare yourself for the pleasures that are soon to come your way. And on that note, enough with the previews - it's time for our feature presentation. What main course looks especially good today? Ramen fans will find they have plenty of choices here, whether their base preferences lean more towards green onions, miso, or even oyster sauce. If you've found yourself craving carbs particularly strongly lately, how about a dense potato croquette (Korokke) in curry sauce over rice? Seafood lovers, I'm not leaving you out either - on the contrary, I think you'll find that some salt-grilled mackerel (Saba Shioyaki) or even teriyaki salmon hits the spot quite nicely. Hmm, what about a big plate of slurpy Udon noodles with chicken and krab instead? (Incidentally, I should point out that many of these come not only with a bowl of miso soup, but also a gingerly-dressed - see what I did there? - salad to make things even more satiating). But you must have dessert too, so be sure to end with some mochi ice cream before saying "sayonara".

Family own nice restaurant, staff very friendly , the food is nice price for the lunch portion. I took some picture has rice soup salad tempura and teriyaki chicken seaweed salad Yummmmm highly recommend

While working downtown can often feel a bit underwhelming these days, Sakura House brings me a lot of joy when I venture out to lunch. It's a quaint establishment, tucked in the Sakura square area. Quiet and clean, and the service is always personal and attentive. I've had the Tenshin Don (shrimp omelette), the Mabo Tofu, and the Katsu Curry. I always like to mix up my order to try something new, but truly everything has been delicious. The plates come with miso soup and salad as well. I got the Takoyaki last time I went too, and it was very tasty with a great springy texture. I like to wash it all down with the verdant green tea. Given what fast casual food costs these days, Sakura House feels like a genuine deal. Check it out, and I'm sure you'll be charmed and leave full and pleasantly satisfied.

Someone recommended their ramen here so I thought I'd check it out. When I arrived a little past 11, the closed sign was still up but fortunately some diners inside waved me in. As soon as I saw the menu, I should have known not to order the ramen. It's a classic Japanese diner spot and this ramen wasn't going to be extraordinary. But, against my better judgment and because it was cold, I ordered the negi (green onion) ramen with egg, bean sprouts, and bamboo shoots. I got the ramen and tasted the broth. Slightly spicy but not a lot of depth. The noodles were the kind you can get at a grocery store. And the bamboo shoots had a weird floral flavor. The highlight was the soft egg which was cooked well and still had that soft center. The server was nice and I think if I came here again it would be for one of their other dishes. I would think Denver has better ramen (I saw a Jinya ramen nearby) but if you want Japanese comfort food this is probably a good spot.

This is an interesting review to write. We drove all the way into downtown to try this place. It's in Sakura Square. A small Japanese area with shops, restaurants and a Buddhist temple. The building itself was a huge let down. I actually thought we were on the wrong place at first. Upon entering, in thought I was inside a 1970s Denny's. Odd colors, run down and desperately in need of upkeep, maintenance and updating. I half debated leaving. We opted to stay and we were glad we did. Our server was a Japanese woman that simply should not have been more pleasant and accommodating. Here is where it gets good... I ordered the seafood Raman and it may have been the best bowl of ramen I've had in my adult life. The noodles, broth and veggies were absolutely perfect. Nobody there knows how yo paint a wall but they can cook the hell out of a bowl of ramen. My wife's oodon noodles were also, flatly perfect. As was our starter that I can't spell not pronounce (see photos). We ended with red bean and strawberry mochi. The mochi was likewise, perfect. Our check was fifty bucks for two people and worth every cent. Ignore the decor and plain surroundings. Ignore the fan falling out of the ceiling in the bathroom. The food is first rate and exceptional.

If you're looking for an unpretentious, no-frills-needed, simply authentic hidden gem, look no further. You've found it. Sakura House is the real deal. Just delicious (humbly so) Japanese dishes. Emphasis on the noodles, but they do have a variety of other things. I've gotten ramen here a handful of times and I've always been happily impressed. Recently I got the tempura udon, and it quickly became my new go-to. The little fried shrimp and veggies were crispy to perfection and the salty broth and slippery udon noodles complemented them like a match made in heaven. I don't mean to overstate this fact, but it bears repeating because I fear places like this are becoming an increasingly rare breed: they're not doing anything fancy here, and it's INCREDIBLY refreshing. I don't have anything against all the fusion-y, inventive, niche, Instagram-worthy places invading the Highlands and RiNo, but sometimes it's a breath of fresh air to return to the tried, true, and trusted classics. Sakura House is one of those. They're not doing anything extra because they don't need to - their food is good enough to speak for itself, and it does. The aesthetic is unembellished, but the people working here are incredibly friendly and kind, and the atmosphere is comfortable and homey. If you're a true food-lover, I can't recommend this place more. Paramount in its simplicity and reliability, Sakura House is a little hidden treasure right in the heart of Denver.

I used to come here every year when I was in Denver for business and it was great. Now in the last 2 years this place has become a joke. They are never open when they say they are, last year and this year I drove all the way from Aurora in a rush after work just to find they closed early again (or never opened that day) and wasted my time and gas driving there. If they are always closed why don't they just close the business instead of waisting peoples time and gas!!!! If I could give them negative stars I would!

A cozy and friendly service place for lunch. The Nabeyaki udon was flavorful. The Yakiniku bento box was also delicious!

We come to this place every time we are in town. Today's visit was a little sad. They didn't have Karaage and that's basically the whole reason we went. We did try the katsu curry though, and it was delicious! Exactly like I remember in Japan.

I was looking for an authentic Japanese restaurant and found this place. the entrance was hidden behind the building, so it was a bit hard for me to find it. However, as soon as I walked in, I knew this place is an authentic Japanese restaurant. The way they decorate the inside, the menu, and the presentation of the dish was so authentic. Since I am so familiar with Japanese food, i will rate the taste 4 out of 5. It wasn't surprisingly good, but wasn't bad. The lady who served the food seemed very nice though. The only reason that I am giving 3 star is because the plates seemed not clean enough. I was even served on a chipped plate. The overall experience was ok, but I don't think I would go back.

Tasty Japanese food at a reasonable price. I recommend you get the bento or "set" for the best value. Later take a walk around Sakura square and check out Pacific mercantile and walk further to union station for more fun. A true hidden gem in growing Denver

I wanted to like this place because of nostalgia to the previous business, but unfortunately I left shaking my head. Sakura House still has that home-y feeling and the foods are very much homemade. But if this is authentic Japanese cooking, then it must be from a region of Japan I don't know how to appreciate. The ramens were flavorless with the pork largely overcooked to the point of rubbery and the eggs were no more than soft boiled (didn't marinate enough to have flavor) The fried chicken and fried calamari helped earn a star but that's about it. We waited for a while to even get water. It's just sad that the place doesn't seem very lively.

Great place to eat in Downtown. The food is amazing, high quality and fresh. The service is prompt and friendly. I always get the Tokoyaki Octopus fried balls, and the Yakiniku set meal. Always amazing and delicious.

Casual place to stop in for comfort food. Curry, ramen, donburi, etc. For the price, this place is on point and you will leave satisfied with your meal. Gentle on the wallet.

Menus, furniture and decorations are out dated but sometimes these types of settings bring better flavor to the ambience and over all characters of the restaurant and a big plus for a place like this. Its definitely a hole in the wall restaurants that serves popular Japanese entries at very reasonable price. Where can you get set meal for under $11? Tokatsu, ramen noodles, rice with curry, soba, udon, teriyaki and so much more. definitely not to forget takoyaki! This restaurant definitely needs revisit and try out the other offerings.

I went back to this place the second day because I liked how the food was like how Japanese moms would cook at home. Comforting, delicious, and simple. I could not believe it took me so long to finally walk in here to try the food.

I wish I could give Sakura House a five star rating and then some. I have rated other restaurants a five but Sakura House, for me, is really a cut above. Not only is the food here homey, flavorful, and delicious, it's *consistent*, a very important quality that I have not found to be true even of some of the tastiest dishes I've had in Denver. I have tried a number of different things from Sakura House and everything is excellent, my favorites being the gyudon and the udon soup. The restaurant itself is no frills and the prices are incredible (for a downtown restaurant or otherwise) and, given its location tucked into a city block with a predominantly Asian population, I'd be willing to bet it's pretty authentic. Plus there's a great little Asian market next door that makes for a great pre- or post-meal wander. This honestly might be my overall favorite place to eat in the city, if not the state, so far. It's not fancy, but it's reliable, and it hits the spot every single time. I'll take that over trendy and hyped up any day.

This restaurant has excellent ramen! We came here after GABF and the food really hit the spot. We got Chashu ramen, which was so flavorful and perfectly cooked. There's really nothing fancy about this place, but good food is good food and this is a place that you want to return to multiple times.

Very tasty food & very reasonable prices. I got chicken Katsu curry and I will definitely go back again for it.

Loved it! Will be coming back to try more. Takomaki was delish. Ramen excellent. The ambiance could use an update but doesn't detract from the experience.

This was a great place to eat. The authentic Japanese food is something to truly behold!

The katsu is crunchy and savory while the pan fried noodles are crunchy and rich, filled with vegetables and juicy beef. Great find in the downtown area!

Back in July 2014, my friend was at work for most of the day. I was being a tourist in Denver. We wanted to get together after we were both done. I felt like ramen, which isn't surprising. It should be my middle name. What is great about my friend is that she feels the same way about ramen as I do. We both like ramen with beef dogs for breakfast. Weird? We don't think so. It's one reason why we are good friends. She recommended Sakura House. it's located in downtown Denver. It got me out and about. I parked just outside the restaurant. It is metered parking along the street. I waited in my car. When I finally saw my friend and her husband park behind my rental (a black Beetle, which was fun to drive, but the door was so heavy), I paid for parking and we all walked in. Sakura isn't the most elegant restaurant that you'll ever visit. At least there are clean tables and chairs, so I can't complain. I got chashu ramen. I love corn. It was extra. I didn't care. I needed it. My friend got the seafood ramen. I don't recall what her husband got. All I remember is that he was happy with his meal. He is a picky eater. My ramen was tasty. I completed devoured my meal. Yummy! Whenever I am back in Denver, I am definitely revisiting this place. Next door, there is a Japanese grocery store. The name escapes me, but it is excellent for all your candy and Asian cookie needs. So, I would recommend eating at this restaurant first. That way, you won't overspend next door. (102)

Don't order ramen here! The miso ramen had an odd color and a pretty weird flavor.. Miso Ramen is not suppose look orange.. However, their curry is amazing!! I would come back just for the curry next time. Karaage is soft and juicy. Please try it !!!

This place was really good and the prices were great too. If I was able to taste their Karrage maybe they woud've had a perfect rating depending on how good it was. So it was confusing because the window more towards the street had a closed sign on it, but I had just called to see if they were open because from the street hubby thought not. Then you walk further in and they are open, but also weird is no one was there and we wondered do we sit or wait? Spicy Miso ramen - it was good, but I wish the boiled egg was soft boild not overcooked. The broth was delicious. Chicken Katsu - I love that it comes with soup and salad, but the salad was lacking the japanese dressing. Chicken was cooked perfect and the sauce makes it delicious of course. Pork egg rice bowl - this was really good, reminded me of ichiza back in vegas. They were out of Karrage so we got:: Agedashi Tofu- this was really good, better than high end Japanese rest. I've been too. All in all we'll be back and glad hubby told me about this place.

Best set tempura set meal around. The tempura is very light and tasty. Shrimp and excellent. Their ramen is very tasty. Glad to support our small neighborhood businesses.

This review is just for take out. I ordered through door dash and the delivery process was fine, but the food was just ok...well actually just blah. The ramen was packaged with the the noddles and they broth making it very mushy and the broth thick. When I do take out from any other ramen or pho restaurant packaging these two components are always in different containers. Really disappointed with this place, I was hoping for more.

Love the food and service! Traditional Japanese. We lived in Japan for 2 years and the food and service takes us back to the place we love.

Oh my gosh this place is bomb! It's kind of a hidden place behind Pacific Mercantile, I honestly wouldn't have been able to find this place on my own had my fiancé not shown me since it's not a very obvious restaurant. First of all, everything we ordered was really delicious. The chicken kaarage, in particular, was outstanding! It was so crunchy on the outside, but super tender on the inside, and flavorful. My fiancé ordered the spicy miso ramen and he really liked it. I ordered the katsu curry, and for a person who tries to avoid fried foods, this was so good, I considered coming back the next day. The curry was so delicious and the pork was nice and tender. I'm not really sure why there are negative reviews about service - I'm wondering it might be slow due to them being short staffed? When we came, there was only one waiter there. However, we had an absolutely wonderful time there. Our waiter was super sweet and attentive. I wanted some extra curry for the next day (because I wanted to bring some into work as my treat for the day), I thought it was premade when I asked but was surprised that we had to wait a bit longer since they were making a fresh extra batch of curry! They make their food to order, so it's fresh and tasty for you! I brought it to work and I honestly felt like it tasted better even though I had to reheat it. Overall, wonderful experience and we will be coming back.

I feel like I'm at restaurant in Japan! Real Japanese food and real nice Japanese service. Very pleased.

Honestly what a hidden gem in the middle of the city. With so many restaurants popping up downtown this little mom and pop really hits the spot. I've been eating here for a while now and it never disappoints. I've had a good chunk of the menu here and everything is great. The food it's simple and delicious with a very homey feel to it. If you don't care about the ritzyness that most restaurants have now and just want solid Japanese food. This is the place to be.

Food: I came here wanting to try their tonkotsu ramen, but they were already out. So I went with the umani ramen and also ordered their karaage. The bowl of ramen overall was ok. The broth and noodles were both decent. Nothing to write home about. The karaage was a bit overcooked and dry. I didn't come to Denver expecting excellent ramen. I would still want to come back to try their tonkotsu broth. Service: It was friendly and appeared to be a family operation. Location: The restaurant was sort of tuck away in a corner. Not very noticeable from the street. It is located north of the downtown cluster of restaurants. A great place if you want a quiet place away from all of the action.

Quick-ish and easy-ish asian food in the middle of downtown. The staff is generally overworked and understaffed. Food is tasty and just the right amount, not gonna be much leftovers. A nice change of pace from sandwiches during the week.

Really solid lunch place! My boyfriend doesn't eat curry and took a chance and got the Chicken Katsu curry and he cleaned his plate! I opted for the spicy miso ramen which was really good. Service was a bit slow so I think we'll be sure and go earlier next time. We'll definitely be back to try some more dishes.

Wow! I've been here a few times now and it never fails me! The ramen is super flavorful and I love all the toppings. This little gem is hidden in the Sakura square off 19th and larimer! I've never been when it's busy.. I don't know if I'm just lucky or no one knows about this place! It's a must try!! I'm half Japanese from southern CA, I know good ramen.

Very good ramen! I really loved the traditional taste and we also tried the takoyaki (octopus dumplings). The egg and meat and bamboo shoots were all cooked into the ramen just perfectly. The takoyaki was a bit too crunchy for my taste. I think they should be a little more doughy like a pancake. Delicious, nevertheless. Service was pretty good. The waiter dealt with us in a timely manner. He was a little shaky and seemed unsure about the menu. Still good service. Overall the restaurant has a nice and quiet feel. Very low key. Nothing exciting, but I would definitely come back.

Authentic Japanese! Great ramen and very filling! The gyozo was excellent. I had the spicy miso ramen with beef and added an egg. Good amount of spice but I like extra spicy so they gave me a side of red chili paste. Unfortunately, the egg was boiled hard instead of the traditional soft boiled egg...they only give you half an egg. The wait is LONG because there is only one server, but it's worth it if you are not in a rush. This plaza has great Japanese cultural heritage (was built right after WWII). It's tucked away in what was considered Denver's Japantown. There's a Japanese grocery store and Buddhist temple within the plaza as well. New development is on it's way...enjoy it before it changes.

Wow! This was a pleasant surprise! I was in town and was searching for nearby restaurants and found Sakura House. Since I'm Japanese, I am always looking for authentic Japanese food. This hit the spot. I had the Saba bento box, which included a healthy portion of shrimp and vegetable tempura, pieces of ahi sashimi (shaped as a rose), seaweed salad, miso soup, tossed salad and rice. The rice was perfect. The Saba was a small portion. Which is appropriate considering al the other food in the bento. Everything was delicious! The woman behind the counter is Japanese and so is the cook/chef. So happy to have found this restaurant and satisfy my desire for authentic Japanese food. It's nothing special to look at and the inside seating during the pandemic is limited to the take out side but the prices are very reasonable for such good food.

Went inside because we were at the Cherry Blossom Festival and wanted to escape the mid afternoon rain shower that started soon after we we arrived to the festival. We were seated in the corner on the right side of the restaurant. They had a shorter menu for the festival- just a sheet of paper front and back showing about ten to twelve entrees, five to six appetizers, and simple drink options. We figured that since there was a special menu, the service would be faster due to the limited options. My husband and I waited about five minutes for someone to address us and ask for our order. We asked for two glasses of water and two beef bowls. The waiter never wrote anything down. We waited another ten minutes to ask our waiter about the water, then about five more for another staff member to hand us 3/4 filled cups and no straws. As the second staff member gave us our waters, he asked if we had already ordered, and we said yes. It wasn't until we saw another table get up and leave when started to realize what was going on. I'm not as patient as my husband, so when I saw this first table get up and leave he asked for me to wait a little longer. We were there a total of 45 minutes, sitting and waiting for food that I suspect was never ordered. We saw a second table get up and leave, and that's when we also had enough and left. I never saw any of the staff refill drinks at any table. Will never return to this place, and that's a shame because I really enjoy Japanese cuisine. Bad service is never an excuse, however.

This is one of the few places in Colorado that has good authentic food that takes me back to when I visited Japan. The staff is friendly, the restaurant is very clean, and the food is delicious. Reasonably priced! Get away from the boring food on 16th street and walk down a couple blocks to Sakura house. Just make sure to check their hours before you go.

Been here on several trips with the family. Staff is friendly and courteous. In addition they speak Japanese if you are inclined to try your Japanese. We have both their chashu ramen and breaded chicken bento dish. Each time the food was pleasant, but most importantly worth a return. I gave the four stars not based on the food, but the overall experience. Look to return again with the family.

I've been here over the years, but a recent visit reminded me of how good it is. It's not stylish or hip, but they serve up solid Japanese diner food. The ramen is as good, if not better, than some of the trendy shops that have popped up. It's also cheaper than the others. I don't understand why it's never crowded when I go. It's inexpensive and delicious.

Amazing food! Ordered the kastu curry and loved every bite. Atmosphere was nice, server was quick, restaurant was clean, definitely 10/10

My friend and coworker and I bopped on down to Sakura Square today, with the ultimate goal of finding a cool lucky bamboo plant for another coworker. We decided to stop in Sakura House for a quick bite -- er, "slurp" -- to eat before visiting Pacific Mercantile. I had the Chashu Ramen; a HUGE steaming bowl of tender sliced pork in a delicious broth, scrumptious noodles, green onions, sliced bamboo shoots and half a hard-boiled egg. It was wonderful. My lunch date had the Katsu Curry; breaded strips of chicken cutlet in a creamy curry sauce, with a side salad and a cup of yummy miso soup. I tasted it, and it was lovely. I'll definitely be back to Sakura House soon!

This place is by far my favorite favorite ramen place! I wish it was closer to me though, but its a great place to get good ramen. Their broth in the Ma-bo Ramen is rich, their japanese fried chicken is crispy and delicious, and its usually pretty good service. I brought 4 different people here, on 4 different times to try it out. They love this place so much more then Uncle or numerous other places. This isnt a hipster, overly priced, one dimensional ramen bowl. If you come here, its great for a cold or snowy day when you just need some warm soupy goodness.

My friend and I went here for lunch today. It was decent, definitely looks like a family owned business. We were promptly greeted. We ordered the Japanese fried chicken and it was really good. Probably my favorite part of the meal. It was really crispy and delicious and I wish we would have ordered more and had it as a meal. I got the spicy miso ramen and also the portion was huge, it wasn't my favorite. It was decent. It was missing something. It was steaming hot so I had to let it cool down for a little bit. It definitely had a lot of veggies, which kind of over powered the dish. That's what was left and it looked like I didn't even eat much of the ramen. My friend got a rice dish (forgot the name of it) and he said it was really good, he also got a salad and miso soup with it The service was fine, nothing out of the ordinary. I will be back but definitely to try something else. Maybe, I should have gone with the curry udon, maybe that would have been better than the spicy miso ramen. I would recommend this place just not the spicy miso ramen. It's decently priced for lunch.

Dropped in on New Year's Eve with my brother and they were packed. The wait was a bit long for the food but it was expected that day. They were all very friendly there and the service was good. We had the Kara Age and Korokke to start, which was a good start to our meal. I ordered the Mabo Tofu Ramen and my brother ordered the Chashu Ramen. Both came out steaming and the noodles were just the right texture. Enjoyed mine with a bit more spice with Sriracha but overall a good ramen. Love Sakura Square and it's been a long time since I've been down there but I'll be back for more simple eats!

I'm familiar with the establishment when it was still Yoko's, and I have to say I enjoy it much more now. I come here usually on Tuesday nights around 5pm with my Japanese study group, and at that time it's mostly dead with the occasional stragglers or small groups. The service hasn't been as slow for me as it seems it has been for others, but then again I think the food is worth a small wait. It definitely has a comfortable, mom-and-pop feel and they've always been really pleasant to myself and the people I go with. The food is pretty delicious and the closest you'll get to authentic Japanese. They do ramen as well, which is a rarity in this town. I really enjoy their tempura and hot tea, and their portion sizes are definitely filling. I would try going later in the day if you're worried about waiting long, but if you want to really take your time and enjoy your meal, this is a great place to do that.

Shoot -- we went back and realized that all of the dishes are made with meat broth, so even the vegetarian curry is not actually vegetarian. Dropping this to a 4 for our veggie friends.