Gombei - San Jose

If you can steer clear of those busy hours, your experience will be much more enjoyable. Please note that they only accept cash, and don’t forget to check out t... read more If you can steer clear of those busy hours, your experience will be much more enjoyable. Please note that they only accept cash, and don’t forget to check out the daily specials in the back area — they often have five unique items available. However, I would suggest avoiding the Poke Mackerel, as it’s quite tricky to eat and can have bones and occasional bitter bits. The restaurant is closed on Sundays, so plan accordingly. If you do visit when it’s closed, you might find yourself at Sushi Maru, only to discover that everyone else had the same idea, leading to long waits. Not sure what to order? Go for the Beef Tonkatsu combo. For the beef, I recommend having it cooked medium rare. The atmosphere is very welcoming, even if you're dining solo; sitting at the counter allows you to watch the chefs in action while you wait. As for the staff, they are generally friendly, though the oldest waitress can be a bit brusque. Still, everyone does their job well, and the cooks in the back work quickly to get your food ready. They excel at beef, chicken, pork, and anything fried. The rice is perfectly cooked, the miso soup is great, and the fried katsu has the perfect crunch! Just a tip about the salad: it usually comes heavily dressed, so be sure to ask for the dressing on the side. Also, I'd recommend skipping the udon, yakiniku, or tofu soups (available only during dinner) as they are not particularly good — the udon noodles are too soft for my liking.

This is a great neighborhood restaurant for classic Japanese fare. The menu is short and sweet, which allows them to focus on quality. We sat at the bar and the... read more This is a great neighborhood restaurant for classic Japanese fare. The menu is short and sweet, which allows them to focus on quality. We sat at the bar and the chefs were impressive to watch. The gyoza were perfectly crispy and delicious, so I would definitely start there and work your way through the menu.

Gombei has been in the Japantown district of San Jose for quite some time (like 40+ years). If you're looking for traditional Japanese food, this is the spot fo... read more Gombei has been in the Japantown district of San Jose for quite some time (like 40+ years). If you're looking for traditional Japanese food, this is the spot for it. Think vintage diner (with bar stools) within a Japanese setting. The staff are very polite and patient as you go through the menu, answering any questions you may have. We ordered a (ton)katsu-don and a tonkatsu croquette combo. The miso soup and the salad were both decent. The star of the meal was the fantastic fry on the tonkatsu and croquettes. They are perfectly crispy with a panko coating and very flavorful. I really should eat here more often, but I'm so rarely in this district outside of visits to the optomitrist across the intersection. Expert tips: 1) They now take credit cards (which they didn't used to do). 2) The restaurant can get packed quickly at lunch; so, keep that in mind if you've a post-lunch meeting.

Gombei is still amazing but the prices have risen so much since visiting and have increased each time I went. The food is still great especially the beef teriya... read more Gombei is still amazing but the prices have risen so much since visiting and have increased each time I went. The food is still great especially the beef teriyaki and the calamari with the sauce, with the salad, however, the tuna sashimi was not as good as I remembered. The beef teriyaki is still cooked to a beautiful medium rare and the calamari is as crunchy as ever. My tuna sashimi came out really pink and tasted thawed. The fried oysters were slightly over cooked and the karaage was a bit over-fried. Overall, I'd recommend Gombei for a once a 4 month meal due to the price hike with the quality staying relatively the same now, but as always, a great spot for lunch or dinner to talk with your personal stakeholders.

Delicious food right in the heart of JapanTown! Be prepared for generous portions! The staff was fantastic as well! read more Delicious food right in the heart of JapanTown! Be prepared for generous portions! The staff was fantastic as well!