Osakaya Restaurant

This was our first visit to a restaurant in Japantown. We were craving a noodle bowl and with so many choices, we just picked the first one we saw, Mifune. \r \r Although the restaurant is unassuming and the service was so/so, the food was very good and portions very large. We also tried some of the sushi rolls which were very good. I would recommend this restaurant for a quick bite after shopping or a movie. Pros: Large portions more

I've tried all of the very similar looking Japanese restaurants over the years in the Japantown mall, and Osakaya is my go-to favorite. Very consistent quality and service, at least for my experience of the last 5 years. I'm a fan of their yakinuku, yakisoba, hiyashi ramen. I like that most combos come with potato salad and pickles, and hot green tea. I do not recommend any of their sushi, even California rolls, though...lots of better places for that. But for the comfort foods, they do a nice job. The service is typical casual Japanese -- you get dishes as the kitchen finishes them, in any order, and you might be done eating when someone else at the table gets their food. Typical in my experience, and no big deal for me, but I understand how it could be annoying to some. I go at least twice a month. Give them a shot! Pros: Great noodles, karaage, yakinuku Cons: Warm inside, mediocre sushi more

For traditional soba and udon, Mifune in the Kintetsu Mall in Japantown is the place to go. They have... more

For traditional soba and udon, Mifune in the Kintetsu Mall in Japantown is the place to go. They have slurpable bowls of noodles in tasty broth wit... more

I think things are going on a heck in a handbasket (is that the proper expression?) at Japantown. I swear!\r \r My wife usually has the curried katsu pork at this place, I their tanin soup. The food is a relaible ok.\r \r Last time we were there though, the service was one of the most horrific I had in a while. And I seem to be getting really lousy customer service nowadays and I don't have any idea why either. The waitstaff was slow, forgot a lot of things and was just uninterested in general. more

Oyako donburi with tons of broken egg shell, missing dishes that had been ordered, dirty tables, unfriendly lackadaisical service, I wouldn't recommend this restaurant to my worst enemy.\r Do yourself a favor and stay away.\r Next time I will try one of the restaurants on either side of Mifune, they couldn't be worse! Pros: None to speak of Cons: Eating and dining at this restaurant more

I walked out of Isobune sushi because they were not children friendly . I went across the way to Mifune we were seated right away, food was alright. Once the server took our order and brought our food we never see her again... on a Saturday 5:30pm. ..I walked to the register to pay and then I see the server coming running. She told the guy behind the register our table # .. That was it... My husband was kind enough to tip? Nothing to rave about .. If you decide to eat at Mifune just make sure you ask for extra water or tea when ordering , you will not see your waiter again... Pros: easy parking Cons: staff not very attentive more

This was my grandmother's favorite Japanese restaurant in SF. (she's 2nd generation Japanese American/Nissei and lived in SF for all but 2 years of her life) She loved it because of the udon broth and I agree, that I've never tasted better. The service is generally very good, and the food is always a good deal. It's not flashy, it's a genuine place. My favorite restaurant in SF's Japantown. more

The food at Mifune is usually good, though definitely not exceptional. Prices are very reasonable, but you don't get many extras here either. I once asked for water several times and never did receive it. I find the udon, soba, and rice dishes all good. The pork cutlet on rice is very good.\r \r Service. as I pointed out with the water incident, is erratic. They certainly don't seem to emphasize service at Mifune. And, yes, the cashier does seem rather disinterested when taking payment, almost as if customers paying were a distraction. Pros: Good food, reasonable prices Cons: Lackluster service more

It was our first time in SF. We were using CitySearch to go to the best places around town and japanese was our last stop. I love japanese food, especially ramen. \r \r First the Service: When we got there, we were seated promptly, but when we sat down, we sat for a good while before anyone came to us. After sitting there, another table was seated next to us. Then a woman came up with tea for both tables. When she came to us afterwards, she asked if we were ready to order and then left. My boyfriend and I looked at eachother a bit shocked and confused. She then came back and got the order of the table that got seated after us and then us. She came up to us and just looked at us for our order, my boyfriend had to ask me what I wanted. The food came to us by another server and that was the last time we saw any employees. The waitress never verbally communicated with us...we were never asked if we would like anything to drink. After we were done with our meal, we wanted to get something to drink. She finally came to our back corner, but only serviced the other table and she started to walk away and I had to almost yell to ask her ""Could we get 2 glasses of water and the check?"" The check came first by the person who sat us and then the server came with 2 waters. \r \r Second the Food: I've been to many establishments that serve ramen and this was by far a waste of time and effort to go to this restaurant. The ramen tasted as if it was made from the store brand ramen, where it takes 3 mins. to boil and has powder for the flavor for the soup. The menu said that it was made from a pork broth and it tasted nothing like it. My boyfriend had the beef udon, it was too salty and didn't have much flavor b/c of the salt. We both got the lunch special and I had the sushi, the sushi rice tasted either spoiled or had too much rice vinegar. \r \r There were other places inside this mall that looks like they offered better food. Cons: Servers & Ramen more

I've been going to Mifune for many years and they have always been consistant with respect to the quality of the food and the service. Recently however their service has been horrible and downright rude. Their udon is also of a lesser quality and quantity. The broth seems too salty and tasteless. When I mentioned this to the cashier, he just nodded and continued to count his money. It would be a shame if Mifune lost its charm and authenticity! Pros: was great Cons: seems to be slipping more

Bare-bones interior, but always great noodle bowls. Good, prompt service, and cozy atmosphere that authentically recreate the atmosphere of a restaurant in Asia. They use MSG, though, which does enhance the flavor -- but if you're allergic, you may have to request broth and noodles separately and put limited amounts of broth onto your noodles. more

I went to this place after reading all the great reviews.\r \r Disappointment is the only word that comes to mind. The udon noodles were hard (they're supposed to be soft and chewy) and the broth was salty. The ramen soup tasted like water with a bit of salt, completely tasteless. \r \r Service was surprisingly bad, which is rare for a Japanese establishment, but hey, what can you expect from a noodle joint. \r Pros: Parking is right next door. Cons: Food, service. more

But it always moves fast as Mifune efficiently turns out some really good Japanese food in hearty portions and with friendly service. You never have to wait long but there is no rush to leave either. The lunch special where you can pick two dishes for under $10.00 is a bargain! Pros: Really Good Food, Hearty Portions, Friendly Fast Service more

Mifune has the best noodles I've had outside of Japan, and I've tried a lot. My favorite dishes are (the spelling will be horrendous) nabeyaki udon and zaru cha soba. The pickled herring is also surprisingly delicious. We come here whenever we want healthy comfort food. Pros: Awesome noodles! Cons: Parking downstairs more

I haven't been here in a few years but was in the neighborhood with friends this weekend & dropped in for some late night udon. We were the last customers in as they were getting ready to close for the evening, so the service was a bit rushed as they probably all wanted to clean up and go home. I had the ebi/egg udon which was reasonable in cost but wouldn't recommend it. The shrimp were these tiny things much like the kind you find in small shrimp cocktails. Perhaps I'll try the nabeyaki udon next time as recommended by other reviewers. They even have large metal pot udons which cost $12 compared to the usual $6 ones. Pros: fast service, good udon, can seat 6 or more more

This is the best bet for people who like to eat home made soba buckwheat noodles. I strongly recommend you try the Tempura soba, on a cold day, and Tenzaru soba, on a hot day. This can be changed to Yasai tempura or Yasai Tenzaru soba for those who can't eat or don't like shrimp. Pros: Inexpensive, Noodles, Fast more

Going off prior recommendations, I ordered the Nabeyaki Udon and it did not disappoint! The Udon was brought out in a steaming hot steel bowl. The broth was excellent, noodles were definitely made fresh, and the chicken was very tender. Portion was enough to fill even the hungriest person. Pros: Nabeyaki Udon, Good Value more

The nabeyaki udon is the best in town, very hearty and tons of good stuff thrown in...if you have a cold this is better than chicken soup! I've tried almost everything else, and the only other thing I would order is the zaru soba (cold noodles), though they are missing one step in serving this (the hot broth at the end that you pour into your dipping bowl to make it drinkable). Anyway, if you order anything but the nabeyaki udon you are really missing out. Pros: best nabeyaki udon more

This is an authentic, nice Japanese noodle shop. The service is prompt and the price is reasonable. The food quality is purely Japanese and good. more