Katsuo + Kombu

Decent, but not perfect given the price point. Fukuoka-style handmade noodles, rare-find and wonderfully chewy. Flavor highly concentrated in katsuo (dried bonito) and kombu (sea kelp) broth, with a trace of citrus to help cut through the savory. Kakiage Udon, tempura comes served atop a metal rack hovering above the bowl — a novel means of preventing mushy texture, yet the fry was not extra crisp. A great neighborhood Japanese spot along Divisadero; but if in search of the authentic, may be better served by a Japantown option.

This place is an underrated gem on divisadero. 1 - the udon is world class. I’ve eaten all over Japan and the West Coast and this is my favorite udon spot. The freshness and consistency of the noodles, the flavors, the variety of dishes - both cold and hot, and the execution are excellent. Try the pesto - absolutely incredible display of skill. 2 - the staff remembers us and always takes care of our family with great service. 3 - this is our go-to daddy-daughter date spot. Highly recommend.

3.8 ⭐ The udon here look traditional, beautifully presented, and high quality for sure. But unfortunately the taste left something to be desired. It's a shame cause I want to like this place, as I love Udon. I think one reason is the shape of the noodles. They're skinny and flat which reminds me of dry instant udon noodles which are shaped like that. Not saying that these noodles aren't freshly made, just saying I don't like how they feel as far as preferences go. Maybe I should come back and try other flavors. I still recommend anyone who likes Udon to come and try this place. The ingredients are high quality, and you may enjoy it.

Noodles had a great chew with tender pork and umami broth - what’s not to love? I’m usually not the biggest fan of eggplant but had no problem eating the eggplant soaked in the broth. Others at my table tried the cold udon and the tan tan udon and everyone thought it was pretty good! Small dining area means that a line will form outside during busy times (for a Saturday night close to opening time we waited ~30 min) but once you order the food comes out pretty quickly. They are very transparent about trying to get people in as efficiently as possible too so maybe not the best place for a longer meal.

This a little gem. From the small inviting space to the flavored water to the little baskets to hold your stuff to the kind staff, I feel so welcomed in. And then I get the first taste of the udon, and I am comforted. The flavors are deep and inviting. So I keep coming back for more, and each time is as good as the last.