Taro San Japanese Noodle Bar

Decent food, but nothing special. The Unagi Ebi Don was ridiculously tiny for a don (and I have eaten quite a few around). The Wagyu Niku Udon had a good flavor, but barely any meat at all. The noodles also felt subpar. At the end of the day it comes down to the price. Overpriced, no doubts. Despite the location being cute and service polite, it just doesn't deliver on what you are paying for.

This was our first visit — and likely the last. We ordered two bowls of hot udon, with sashimi and gyoza as appetizers. Unfortunately, the appetizers arrived only after we had finished our noodles. At that point, I honestly wanted to cancel them. The sashimi was not fresh, and the gyoza were tiny with a strong oily aftertaste. As for the udon, the broth was decent and I appreciated the generous amount of vegetables, but the noodles themselves lacked chewiness and didn’t feel authentic at all. The staff were friendly, which I appreciated, but if you’re looking for high-quality udon, I wouldn’t recommend this place — especially given the higher-than-average prices.

Came for a weekend lunch and since a couple of years ago the quality has declined. The salmon donburi was so small and not filling, not worth the price. The salmon was fresh but included only 3 thin slices, roe was not fresh- had sour taste and the rice was mushy and too sweet. Udon noodles are good but the flavor lacks depth it used to have and the quality of ingredients is not great. Again, not with the price. The karaage was the best out of these three items.

Great food, excellent location and cool interior. The food is definitely prepared thoughtfully and with love. The udon noodles (their specialty) are great and come with different meat options. Both the chicken and the cauliflower karaage are delicious. Finally, the mixed-mushroom truffle risotto is outstanding. Really delicious and savory and we just couldn't get enough. It's one of those dishes you dream about for a long time.

Hand made udon is pretty good. Niku udon is recommended. Ingredients are fresh. The beef is very high quality. However the duck udon is strongly not recommended. Price is very high but the duck meat is just one bite. I feel I have been robbed.

Pretty good restaurant The noodles there were delicious The portions are very big so I’d recommend you share The staff were nice and helpful and the food came quickly The place is a bit dark Good experience

flavors and freshness are great hut portions are ridiculous. i ordered a salmon bento as delivery and it was paper thin lol check out the images - the salmon thickness is about as thick as a disposable spoon and as long as maybe two edamame hahahaha and literally u get only one “filet” if thats what u wanna call it lol

Quick service, which is exactly what we needed since we were starving when we came in for a late dinner. It was almost a bit too quick… The restaurant was clean and the staff was nice, but the food was just ok. The tori udon was nice and light, while the niku udon was more flavorful, but neither were great.

I tried this place years ago and I thought the udon was good, chewy, and bouncy! I decided to check them out again recently and I got the duck tsuke udon. Udon stilllll great!! Duck was good and the soup was rich and flavorful. Presentation was nice. Bf really liked it as well! Would come back for this. Service was quick

Though the hours listed on Yelp indicates they close at 9pm, they were already cleaning up and putting chairs on top of tables when we walked in by 8pm. They informed us that the kitchen closes at 8:30pm. In terms of food, we got the duck tsuke udon which seemed to be one of the most popular dishes there. The duck had hint of sweetness which I liked, and the udon seemed a little undercooked/on the harder side but it was nice and chewy. The duck was cold but was alright when dipped in room-temperature tsuke sauce. If you're in the Stanford shopping center looking for convenient asian food, I would recommend, but not sure if I'd go out of my way to be back since there are higher quality, more affordable udon places out there.

(Overall: D) - Conceptually intriguing contents on an expansive menu, but I feel like there are some technical fall throughs that does not make their food necessarily pleasant to consume. Not exactly a fan. (Niku Udon: D) - Not poor value being discounted for takeout at $14, but the udon has quite the unpleasant texture for it being an udon bar. The beef is borderline not tender and the broth is not a very comforting one, which is rare for an udon. Although plentiful, I just felt like it was not food that I particularly would've clamored to eat. (Bento: C) - Chicken was tender and crispy -- paired well with the mayo for creaminess and mentaiko for color; the salad dressing was pleasantly citrus forward; the california roll had a nice blend of flavor coming from that comfort surimi crab taste that got carried through with the elevated real crab; the edamame sounds interesting, and the few of the pieces of the edamame that were actually seasoned with the garlic soy was good, but the rest was quite bland. Food: -1 Presentation: E Price: E Overall: 2 stars Insta/Beli/TikTok: @amei_eats

I've dined in and usually get the duck udon but decided to get a takeout order tonight. I got the mushroom truffle and the mentaiko uni cream, and the vegan scallops. The scallops (which are actually mushroom) were really flavorful but a tad on the salty side. The quality of the udon noodle is really good but I think both udons could use slightly more salt or flavor. Or maybe it was the mushroom that messed with my taste buds. Overall, quality takeout meal!

Had lunch at this restaurant on one of the weekday. There was not a lot of people inside so no wait is needed. We ordered the Salmon Ikura Don and Zaru Udon. Both of them are pretty small but the cost is high. We wanted to order tempura shrimp with the Udon but found that it is not available. The food is so so, nothing special. Will only come back if I am in the area and couldn't find any alternatives.

Every time I come here, the food is just alright, there's nothing super special about it, but it also doesn't taste bad. The service is always pretty good. They always bring my food fast. It's definitely a very simple and clean aesthetic inside. I usually sit at the bar.

Stopped by Taro San on sunday after walking around the mall and wanted something warm on a cold day. I usually go for udon noodles here but wanted to change it up and saw that they had very appetizing sounding bento boxes. Service was nice and friendly with helpful people walking by in case we needed anything. It was nice and quiet inside and offers a quiet reprieve from the bustling shopping outside Miso salmon was incredibly tender and juicy. And the salmon avocado roll was fresh and tasty. The chicken karaage was juicy and delicious as well. Overall, a great experience for a quick dinner.

Had the opportunity to try Taro San with my family on a Sunday afternoon around 12 pm for lunch! A part of the Stanford shopping center that's a bit hidden. We were sat immediately for a table for 3 the moment we walked in. Great interior that's clean and classy. We ordered two bento boxes, one with a classic California Roll and a Salmon Skin Roll, a Niku Udon, and Cauliflower kaarage. The cauliflower had a great golden brown color from the light fry, crunch, light, and deliciously well with the lemon and mayo. The Niku Udon had a rich broth with soft noodles and tender slices of beef. Very filling and hearty on a cold morning. The bento boxes had lots of edamame, a great Asian salad, and the rolls were a bit smaller than expected... Service was quick and easy! Good experience over all.

Good vegan sushi! I ordered from a work lunch delivery service, I got the vegan roll and the avocado roll. I think they actually mistakenly gave me the more expensive vegan miso trumpet roll ($17) when I ordered and paid for a basic vegan roll ($7). Either way the roll was delicious, tasted fresh. Kind of pricey since the rolls are only 8 small pieces.

Sadly, this wasn't quite the place for me. It's cute and fun and they have a really good happy hour so I'd definitely recommend going then. The karage chicken was good yet nothing noteworthy. For some reason, I really didn't like the flavor of the udon and I typically love udon! Even with the simplest of broths. The noodles were perfectly cooked but there was something about the soup that tasted weird to me. This was just the plain udon from the Happy Hour menu. The service was decent and everyone was friendly.

Lunch with friends on a Sunday afternoon - 5 adults, 1 toddler and a baby. * Uni Ikura Udon - uni mentaiko creom souce, topped with uni, ikura, nori $35 * Classic Bento Box - 8 pieces of California roll with roasted garlic edamame, house salad with fried udon crisps, and fried chicken karaage $21 * Japanese Potato Salad - Topped with salmon skin and tobiko $11 * Salmon Wing Tips - charbroiled salmon wings, green onion, ponzu sauce 5 for $14 x 2 * Duck Tsuke Udon - Seared duck breast, chives, with a rich duck and dashi dipping broth $21 * Cold Uni Ikura Udon - dashi and soy ponzu citrus cold soup with uni, Ikura, shiso, neri, ond thin cut udon $32 I'm only knocking a star down because service was ok - didn't refill our waters but they were busy. Don't forget that they charge gratuity for a party of 6+ which does include kids. We forgot and didn't realize afterwards that where we added an additional gratuity - our fault. Overall would still come back here amd recommend!

I like going here for their baked miso salmon bento. The perfect small amounts of salmon, salad, karaage, and edamame. I like their karaage and aioli dipping sauce. I have eaten here in person and takeout. Sometimes you can be seated within 15 minutes or maybe up to an hour depending how busy they are. It's a small restaurant. So there's a table for two or more. Depending on how many are eating with you.

First time I came here was like 2 years ago. I wanted to try their duck but I was denied due to it only being served for dinner. Now, I was able to try it and sadly it was disappointing. You can see how tiny the duck pieces are and I personally did not like the sauce on the duck. Noodles were fine. The broth was just ok. I prefer Taishoken for tsukemen. Also, the tables are so low and the chairs are high. Definitely did not like it.

Love their homemade udon noodle!. The duck Tsuke udon with dipping broth was so tasty while their seared salmon shrimp roll, unagi shrimp roll and salmon avocado roll were delicious. My lychee drink tasted great but little light on alcohol to my liking. Service was ok but no body showed up after food was delivered...therefore deducted one star.

The best thing to get here are any of the sets with the chicken karaage or that on its own. They probably make one of the better versions of it. That being said, I tried their udon and that wasn't anything amazing. I'd avoid the udon and go for the bento. Service here is pretty good and it can be a somewhat popular spot.

Quick service, which is exactly what we needed since we were starving when we came in for a late dinner. It was almost a bit too quick... The restaurant was clean and the staff was nice, but the food was just ok. The tori udon was nice and light, while the niku udon was more flavorful, but neither were great.

Decent udon and Japanese fusion foods. Pretty average. Udon you get a lot of noodles and serving, not much meat. The noodles aren't as soft and chewy, more dense and tough. Nice service, can get busy. Easier for smaller parties or party of two.

Looking for freshly made soup noodles on a cold day or a refreshing noodle salad filled with vibrant flavors? Look no further than Taro San situated at the heart of the Stanford shopping center! Al dente house made noodles topped with fresh uni & ikura, truffle infused mushroom noodles, or crispy rice topped with the perfect blend of spicy salmon & avocado - you really can't go wrong with any of the Japanese fusion flavors in this noodle house. This is a beautifully designed fast casual fusion restaurant with great prices, fast & friendly service, & amazing food.

It located close to the market and next to a pearl milk tea place. Went here with some friends for lunch. Since there were 7 of us, it did take about 20-30 min to get a table. They have a good variety of foods so if you're not in the mood for noodles they also have some sushi, rice bowls or bentos. Service was a bit slow that day and we found out at the end that they were short staffed. Prices are a bit higher than other Japanese noodle shops but that's the price you pay for convenience for being at the mall. I got the duck tsukemen and the kids ordered the niku udon. We also ordered a hayashi chuka and tea. The tsukemen is pretty tasty. The portion is a bit small and the amount of duck is also small. I wasn't still hungry but a little more would have been satisfying. The niku udon was also pretty good. A nice bowl of noodles The food does take some time to come out and they came out at different times. We got the tsukemen amd the niku udon but the hayashi chuka didn't come out yet. After some more time, we had to flag down the server to ask about it and turns out he forgot about that dish and didn't put in the order. When he took the order he tried to memorize instead of writing it down. After our meal my wife had to let him know that it was a bad experience because of the slow service and forgetting the food. He did apologize and own up to the mistake which is good to see. He mentioned he's not usually a server but trying to help out the front. He also didn't charge for an extra bowl of udon noodles we asked for. My hot tea never arrived but it was on the receipt. I had to get that removed. The food overall was pretty good but it was a poor experience.

3.5 stars rounded down to 3. Really the only reason to come here is if you happen to be at Stanford Shopping Center and you want to eat udon. Also when I stepped inside the restaurant, it was quite stuffy and smelled a little funny, like some sort of cleaning agent. I got the niku udon (sorry for the picture) and it was good but not good enough to be almost $20, so really it's the price of a bowl of udon being served for the area I guess. Fried chicken karaage and edamame appetizers were okay. Unagi shrimp roll sushi was pretty good! I also got a matcha cheesecake for dessert but omg it was so small like $8 for three bites is insane lol! I would say I still enjoyed my meal overall. I think I wouldn't make a trip out of eating here specifically, this is more of one of those places where you're shopping and you just need to pick somewhere to eat.

We stopped by just before noon on MLKJ Day and the poor host was running around hosting, serving and cleaning. I felt so bad for the young worker! He needed help aside from one person helping him to bust and serve. Server was attentive as he could be with a full house when we came in. We ordered the risotto, two drinks, Wagyu niku udon and the dipping duck udon. The risotto came out within 3 minutes and our drinks another 8 to 15 minutes with one drink being served at a time as the host/server was running around. After awhile, I noticed the back half of the restaurant had all finished their food and left. People that arrived 10 to 15 minutes after us had their food already and were paying to leave. At this point, there were maybe 5 tables left and we still didn't have our entrees, so we flagged our poor server around 33 minutes after we ordered to check in on our food and the kitchen unfortunately forgot or missed our food.... Our food came promptly afterwards one by one within 4 minutes with an apology from the kitchen staff. Almost 40 minutes later! Food wasn't that hot and by then, I had lost my appetite waiting around after we had finished our risotto. The duck plate had small pieces of meat while the Wagyu had some hard cartilage pieces that we couldn't chew and that ruined the meal. The drinks were good, well the lychee one at least and I'd pass on the raspberry one. I don't think we'll be back unfortunately after this. But I truly felt bad for our host/server though. I'm just disappointed at our forgotten food and then a so so meal.

A damn good place for japanese food near stanford. I was running an errand during my lunch and stopped in here - I ordered a bento per previous review recommendations and it didn't disappoint. The chicken karaage was amazing, as well as the salmon. I can see myself coming back here when i'm in the area. I guess I got lucky because there was no wait!

Was in the mall and wanted to give this a place a try. It was a clean and modern decorated restaurant. In terms of food, it tasted more like fast food. The sushi rice had no vinegar taste and was a tad dry. The cold udon was decent but the sauce was off.

We had salmon Bento, tori (chicken) udon, crab and cucumber salad, and karaage. The dishes were flavorful yet subtle like Japan. Service was excellent Sarah was welcoming and made our visit personable and special. The restaurant is neat clean and tastefully appointed. Highly recommended.

I came in on a Friday at 7 for dinner. I ordered the Niku Udon. It tasted okay. I was getting bored partially through. The noodles were okay and the meat was okay. The meat was sweet but there wasn't enough. There was much more udon compared to meat. They did not go well together and are not worth the price. The waiters were attentive, frequently asking how I was doing. The restaurant was well lit and had a lot of space. This is a good place to meet up with friends. There is a lot of parking in the plaza but it usually is full around dinnertime.

Went here for lunch with friends while wandering the Stanford Shopping Center and was delighted with my meal. The interior is welcoming with inside and outside seating alongside a long counter facing the kitchen. Service was the deciding factor for us since there was no wait for counter seating. The highlight for me was the Duck and Mushroom Udon noodles. The udon noodles were perfectly cooked, offering a satisfying texture, and the combination of tender duck and earthy mushrooms in the broth was a delightful fusion of flavors. We opted for the vegetarian sushi rolls which were flavorful, yet to be honest they felt lacking from a carnivore such as myself. I will come back to try more of the menu on my next excursion to the Stanford Shopping center. To be continued...

Stopped here for a nice afternoon brunch on a Sunday morning (they open at 11am) before I started my walk/shopping around the plaza. I've read and seen online of people raving about their duck udon, so I gave it a try! It's a cold dish with a dip on the side (which I ended up dropping most of my udon in to eat out of anyway) & paired it with the duck meat. For my taste palette, I thought it was ok. My duck meat was pretty chewy and nothing really 'awed' me, but at least the meal filled me up! I also ordered the baked salmon bento which you can never go wrong when there's rice, protein, & veggies in front of you. It was worth it! All in all, I'd come back to try other dishes if ever in the area.

Service was good, ambience and seating is spaced out nicely and it wasn't too crowded. It's a nice spot to grab a quick bite if you are shopping around the mall. Food wise, the photos looked better than it tasted! I was excited to try their signature Wagyu Niku Udon, but was quickly disappointed. I liked the touch on the handmade udon, but the combination of toppings and the soup fell short of expectations for a $26 bowl. There were definitely other items on the menu that look good to try, but after the udon being a huge disappointment I might deter from coming back. Flavor wise it was a 3/10, nothing special despite being a "specialty dish" .

My friend and I went to get dinner here and we both immediately thought the interior was super aesthetically pleasing. It's located inside Stanford shopping mall. We sat at the bar to be away from the door because it was cold and windy. Our server took our order but it was busy.   We got takoyaki as our appetizer and it was really yummy and crispy. I got the salmon ikura mini don and my friend got the niku udon. I thought the donburi was a little underwhelming and put some soy sauce to add flavor. My friend didn't like her udon that much either. Maybe we need to try the other dishes and give it a second chance next time.

Came here after a long day of shopping at the Stanford Shopping Center and wanted some comfort food. It was about 6:30pm on a Sunday and we barely had to wait for a table. The staff are efficient and were able to take our order and bring out our food in a pretty quick manner. Everything was delicious and we didn't have any complaints. I also liked how easy it was to pay because they came to check in on us and processed our payment via tablet.

This is my favorite restaurant in the Stanford shopping mall because I'm obsessed with chicken karaage and theirs is the best I've had in the area. I always order the Classic Bento box with the salmon, cucumber, and avocado roll and chicken karaage. It also comes with a nice salad and the most delicious garlic friend edamame ever. It's $20 which I think is great value. Service is really great and there are lots of seating options including a bar.

If you're in the mood for udon, check this place out. They make the udon in-house. And if udon isn't what's top on your list, Taro San also has a menu covering a variety of items like donburi, sushi, izakaya shareables, and "from the garden". Didn't see alcohol offered on the menu. Recommend the pork belly kakuni don. Pork Belly was tender & generous, and the rice was delicious with the sauce. Also would recommend the Duck and Japanese Mushroom Udon. The udon is (hate to use the cliché but true) bouncy and smooth. The dashi and duck broth blend was full of umami. The charred negi was a nice touch. Prices are going to be higher just because it's in the Stanford Shopping Center, but if you got the late night munchies on a Friday or Saturday, they're open until midnight.

11/25/23 We arrived back in Redwood City around 9pm. Really wanted ramen or Japanese noodles..,none to be found. Whomever was still open was closing before we could get there. Turned to Yelp. Only place was Taro San Japanese Noodles. I called Taro San to see if we could get in. The gentleman who answered was very polite and assured me they could accommodate us. Drove over to Stanford Mall... Place was pretty empty... guessing since is Saturday night after Thanksgiving everyone is still eating leftovers. Juan was very nice and made a couple of suggestions explaining the menu. Look for yourself. The bowls of done generous and filling. I enjoyed my chicken udon and hubby had the spicy shortrib udon. Udon noodles were nice and for. And cooked perfectly! They had a mistaken order of panko fried oysters and kindly gave it to us at no charge. It was good. Restaurant is clean and pleasant. Service excellent and people really nice.

A solid dining option at the Stanford Shopping Center. Taro San offers a variety of Japanese items - from sushi, to izakaya and small bites, to handmade udon. Portions are large and worth it for the price. Sushi was fresh. Takoyaki was spot on in flavor but mostly comprised of dough. I tried bacon mochi at other izakayas and was excited to see it on their menu. Sadly it wasn't up to par, as the pieces of bacon were overcooked/dry and disproportionately small in comparison to the large pieces of mochi. The udon noodle soups were the highlights of our meal. Al dente handmade noodles with generous toppings in well-seasoned broths. Proteins were cooked inconsistently though, some tender some dry. Food is decent given it's mall food. I wouldn't mind going back for their udon and sushi. I would also give their smaller bites another chance.

In the Stanford shopping mall so there's plenty of parking. Came around 1ish so the lunch crowd was dying down. Was seated immediately. Got the spicy short rib udon. I looove udon! So I really enjoyed this place. The short rib was tender and the broth was tasty. It wasn't that spicy. Large portion, I couldn't finish my bowl and I came hungry. They make their udon in house! Quick service Everything on the menu looked delicious! Will come back to try the other udon and sushi! Two bowls was $67! With tip. For udon though.... Idk

The price to food is not justified. The karaage was oily, not drained well. The duck is over priced, as in how they cooked the duck and the seasoning did not make up for how expensive it was. The tsukemen broth was cold. The Tori udon chicken was overcooked and did not match the broth. The broth was actually diluted. As a Cantonese, it's pretty clear to taste if the broth was cooked down and then added water and that was what it was. I would give it a 2 because the workers was nice enough to warm up my soup when it was served room temperature.

We enjoyed our meal at Taro San. We arrived at the end of the lunch rush and a hostess greeted us and seated us within minutes. I was excited to see the udon machine and love how spacious and clean ambiance. I ordered a duck and mushroom udon bowl, it was delicious. The broth had a lot of umami flavors and not too salty. The pieces of duck were tasty and tender and I love the fresh udon and veggie packed bowl. DS ordered the niku udon, looks great! The cauliflower karage is a must try. I want to give a huge shout out for being so food allergy friendly, love the allergen statement and that they do not use any nuts on the menu.

Taro San has become one of my favorite restaurants at Stanford shopping center. The menu is extensive and creative with something for everyone in your the family (including my picky eater) to enjoy! I've enjoyed everything I've tried thus far. Some of my favorites: Crispy spicy salmon Ebi fry Takoyaki Hiyashi chuka (udon salad for when I want something a little lighter) Truffle udon (so delicious and indulgent) Curry udon (my hubby's fave) Looking forward to our next trip back!!

I'm sad to say that I have to dock off some stars for Taro San based on my most recent experience. Starting off with the good - their udon noodles are still handmade and deliciously chewy. They are firm and cooked al dente, just the way I like my noodles. I ordered the Duck and Japanese Mushroom udon and it was okay, I enjoyed the noodles and the mushrooms, but the duck was pretty thin and the broth wasn't hot enough for my liking. It also came looking pretty bland without garnishes such as green onion or seaweed so I had to ask for it on the side. My boyfriend ordered the Wagyu Niku Udon and it was pretty good, probably better of the two udons in terms of flavor. There was a lot of wagyu! To share, we initially wanted to order the salmon wing tips but they just ran out by the time we ordered. We opted for the hamachi kama instead and unfortunately it was one of the worst hamachi kamas that I've had. The cut was way too thick and it was very dry. The sauce that it came with didn't have much flavor so we ended up mixing it with soy sauce. Overall, our meal was pretty average. For the price we paid, I think we could have gotten better elsewhere.

We came for a quick bite and got some small reasonably priced rolls They definitely also have options if you want something heavy, so you can just order how much you're craving Restaurant itself is also really pretty and service was pretty quick

This is my favorite udon place! The texture of their udon is by far the best I've tried in california!! The flavors of the broths are also impressive! I've tried several udons here and they are all amazing! I am not sure why the average rating is below 4. Service can be a bit slow at times, but understandable as the volume of customers can be high during peak times.

Decided to eat here while shopping at Stanford Mall. We ordered the Hiyashi Chuka, Spicy Salmon Roll and Chicken Karaage. Everything was delicious. Service was quick and restaurant was clean. Server was attentive and overall good experience.

We visited on a Friday for happy hour. We ordered their pork belly kakuni don, fried chicken karaage, crispy brussel sprouts, and takoyaki (not pictured). Each of the items were $8. Their portion sizes are on the smaller side in my opinion. It was definitely not enough to fill two adults up, may need to order something else with it if this is your dinner. :)

Fresh made udon. No waiting is necessary! You can choose to eat udon or sushi. My kid likes sushi but i want udon so its a best place to go. The udon soup is very nice. Best udon i had ever tried. The only problem is the music is too loud.

Good yummy food and nice setting! First time visiting this place in Stanford mall. Good experience

I came to the restaurant for a dinner with the girls and the food did not disappoint! I love that when we came in on a Sunday evening for dinner, we didn't have to wait for a table. We all got the duck udons, the soup and dipping sauce. I loved the duck and japanese mushroom udon. The flavors were rich but not too heavy. The soup was delicious! The udon was amazing and super chewy. I believe they make their noodles in house and it tasted really fresh. The server was extremely nice and helpful in giving recommendations. This restaurant is located at the Stanford mall so it's super convenient for you to go shopping before or after.

I love this place! It's one of my go-to spots in the Bay! The food is always delicious and the service is fast. We're usually able to get a seat for 2 pretty much immediately and the food comes out in a timely manner too (we never wait too long). The restaurant itself is a narrow building, but there's seating in the back. The restaurant is a mix of modern with a homey and warm vibe, so it's also a good place to take friends. Some of the portions are a bit small (ex: salmon ikura don for $22) so it can be a bit pricey for the volume, but I think the food is quality. Their signature Duck tsuke udon is so savory and delicious. I've also recently discovered Hiyashi Chuka is a nice Asian-style upgrade from a Cesar salad. My boyfriend loves their pork belly rice bowl and their chicken karaage

My friend and I came here for dinner on a Thursday evening. It wasn't a little busy, but we were seated upon arrival. Food: Even though this is a noodle bar, my friend and I both did not order noodles. I ordered the vegetarian bento and a vegan california roll. The bento had a good variety, and I enjoyed the roll and the salad. The brussel sprouts were the best part though. The vegan california roll was pretty tasty. I hadn't had one in a long time, so I was happy to eat it. My friend ordered a pork belly rice bowl and takoyaki. She enjoyed both items! The rice bowl came with a deep fried soft boiled egg, which is pretty different. Service: The service was quick and friendly. The food came out a little sporadically instead of all at once. It wasn't too bad though. The workers were pretty attentive. TL;DR - I'll come back to try noodles, but I enjoyed my food with the friendly service.

Restaurant has udon and various Japanese rice bowls, appetizers available. Stopped by for a quick bite and was able to snag the outdoor seating where our pups were allowed. (Total 4 seats) noodles ranges $ 20-30 each. Tbe portion, taste were all so-so. Service is relatively fast. Ambiance was a little squishy since we were outdoors where others were waiting for their table. Will return only when shopping and need to eat at Stanford mall. Otherwise, plenty of other good japanese options in the area.