japanese non-sushi, non-sashimi

[miltk]

i was wondering if anyone can recommend reasonably priced japanese,,preferably peasant-type,,,don-buri/oden etc etc in areas other than j-town and preferably north and east of it.

also japanese-style fried rice...the really fried, darker, soyu laced stuff.

thanks all :):)

[ML8000]

I guess since comments are about places outside of SF, I'll add in Kaimuki Grill (San Mateo) reasonably priced, very good...well it was about 3 years ago.

[VirgoBlue]

If you're ever interested in coming down to the Peninsula, Hotaru on 3rd Ave. and El Camino in San Mateo offers all sorts of "homestyle" Japanese dishes. They do them very well and portions are large. But the wait can be long, so come early or come late. But it's very tasty.

I don't know if they're any relation to Hotaru on Powell in SF, though.

[sgwood415]

Santa Ramen in San Mateo. It's a very good noodle bar, three types of broth and several differnt topping options.

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Santa Ramen Japanese Restaurant
1944 South El Camino Real, San Mateo, CA

[K K]

Ryowa in Berkeley likely has a kind of Japanese style fried rice you may enjoy.

[Robert Lauriston]

Ryowa has fried rice? I don't remember seeing anything on the menu but a dozen kinds of ramen and two kinds of gyoza. But the "special noodles" I always get aren't on the menu either.

[K K]

The one in Mountain View does, at least it comes with combo lunches so I would assume you can get it a la carte. Can't remember about Berkeley, guess it doesn't hurt to ask.

[IanW]

Berkeley branch has fried rice- I usually get it with my lunch combo. It definately is a Japanese style fried rice.

[lintygmom]

Gombei in Menlo Park. Can't be beat for hearty, peasant-style Japanese.

[katg]

Love gombei.

[mlucier]

Ten Ichi on Fillmore and Clay have wonderful donburi, sukiyaki etc.

[shortexact]

For ramen, check out Katana-ya. They have donburi and other stuff, but I've heard that stuff isn't as good. I've never been to Dojima An on O'Farrell, but they're supposed to have pretty good renditions of donburi and other cooked comfort dishes.

Mikaku (Grant, just south of Bush St. Chinatown gate) is in a touristy location but has a nice list of specials only offered at dinner. Recent offerings have included chawanmushi, a couple kabocha dishes, cold daikon soup, and of course their housemade soba noodles (served as zaru soba).

I've really been wanting to visit Hotaru on Powell, which looks to be the style that you're looking for. I haven't been yet, but hope to soon. Maybe you can check it out and report back. It's not showing up in Chowhound's list of places, so I can't link to it, but it's on Powell right near Washington.

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Katana-Ya
430 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Dojima
219 Ofarrell St, San Francisco, CA 94102

Mikaku Restaurant
323 Grant Ave, San Francisco, CA 94108

[david kaplan]

I liked Hotaru on Powell the two times I've been. They had a special of gindara kasu-zuke, nicely caramelized on the edges with a rich, boozy taste. Haven't tried their donburi, but I have a good feeling about it.

[shortexact]

Nice, thanks! I love this dish. Definitely will have to make it there soon...

[zooksten]

Sanmi (Geary & Parker) has salmon and gindara kasuzuke also. sometimes gindara misoyaki too.

[Robert Lauriston]

Well east of Japantown: Norikonoko in Berkeley.

http://www.chow.com/topics/37063

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Norikonoko Japanese Rstrnt
2556 Telegraph Ave, Berkeley, CA 94704