Iroha Restaurant

I am a very pleased kitty today, and that is because of the wonderful time me and some unique friends had at this restaurant.
So I want you to imagine the following scenario.
A large group of people, say about 25 ish, walking around Japantown, feeling like getting some food, and one of this group recommends Iroha. We all decide to follow his judgement and head over, which ended up taking quite a while from the peace plaza to the restaurant because people kept wanting to take out picture every few steps. I should mention, about 7 of our group were in full animal costumes. ^ ^
This made me worry as we headed over on how the restaurant would react to some large anthro animals walking into their restaurant, nonetheless a sudden group of such size during lunch hours.
So I reluctantly followed along to the restaurant with our strange little brigade of people, led by a large dog. I was worried we might be yelled at, or given scowels, but I was pleasantly surprised.
The workers were delighted by the sudden influx of animal people, and all smiled and joked with us. They even took pictures themselves! Despite our large group size, they accommodated us wonderfully and the service was extremely quick and pleasant.
The whole time, we never felt that we were causing any trouble, and they were very very friendly the whole time.
The food was wonderful, their sushi taste very fresh, and the different cooked dishes were very good. We honestly felt as if we were getting special treatment the whole time.
I have not experienced such a welcoming restaurant experience, and given the circumstances of who we were, I was very surprised.
After our meal and our group left, we all were talking about how awesome it was and how we would love to go back again.
I have since gone back once and plan to again, as the food is great, the service is superb, and this was easily one of my all time favorite restaurant experiences.
*Chirp!* ^ ^

I enjoy their late lunch menu. It is a wonderful deal. I usually order their salmon and tempura bento box for dinner. They have the most delicious and authentic tempura meal. I have been coming here for years with my best friend. We always look forward coming back here. Money is not the factor. We always order their potstickers every time. It is a good thing that they hired more workers now.

If you are looking for a good Japanese restaurant in SF’s Japantown, I would not recommend coming here. On a busy weekend evening, while many of the other restaurants in JTown were packed, this place was a ghost town. My friends and I were in a rush to get over to the Fillmore for a concert, so just picked this place to get in and out quickly.
We ordered some bento boxes and roll sushi as well as udon. The food came quickly, but it’s pretty below average compared to the other establishments around it. I really would not come back here unless I was truly looking to eat and run.

Years ago, before SF’s more recent ramen joints opened up (Men Oh Tokushima, Saiwaii, Ken Ken Ramen, Hisago, Underground Ramen, etc.), Iroha was my divider between above and below average places. Back then, there weren’t nearly as many options to choose from, and the food here was practically the epitome of average — never amazing, yet never bad.
With so many more choices available in SF though, either these newer spots are all pretty good, or Iroha has gotten worse since my last visit years ago. Or perhaps my standards have just changed… or maybe even all of the above.
While Iroha has never excited me, their TORI (Fried Chicken) RAMEN with Tonkotsu broth from this last trip really left me wanting (
). The noodles were still okay and I liked the fried chicken (moist), but I don’t remember their broth tasting so generic — no richness or depth to round it out. Plus, while simplicity isn’t necessarily a bad thing, you don’t get much beyond the basics (noodles and your main item, plus fish cake, green onions, and bamboo shoots).
For what it’s worth, I also remember their other entrees being pretty okay, but I can’t say if that’s still the case or not. The DOUBLE HAMACHI ROLL, however, wasn’t very good (
). The cuts of hamachi were generous, but fish didn’t seem all that fresh. And at $ 14.50, it felt a little pricey as well.
The one thing about Iroha that does make them stand out is the view. Being on the second floor, you have a great vantage point for people watching. That is, if you’re at a table by the windows. Otherwise, it’s like eating at any other quaint Japanese restaurant out there. Sorry Iroha — as much as I’d like to support you guys, I’d rather save the trip upstairs and eat at Tanpopo right next door.

Mediocre food.
I ordered a chasu (pork) ramen with shoyu broth. Though the noodles had a nice degree of firmness/​texture, I wasn’t that impressed with the rest of the dish. The pork was way overcooked. The broth wasn’t as rich as I would have liked.
Salmon nigiri = bleh. Salmon wans’t fresh. Rice wasn’t flavored properly (rice wine vinegar + sugar).

I much prefer the food here rather than in the mall. I remember eating at Ozakaya and refusing to eat because 1. I was sick and 2. it was just disgusting.
We had a nice late lunch here. My father, sister and I got the ramen and my mom got the yakisoba. If my mom likes something, then hallelujah! She never likes anything. Not much to say other than it was great. Not many people in there today and we got great service! Thanks!

Sad to say this place has nothing really going for it. Only things I found tasty were the gyoza (very thin skin, kinda wish the bottom was crispy, but oh well) and that the nigiri was decent. (
)
The ramen broth was not very flavorful, the chasu was also on the dry side. Ramen at Maru Ichi is definitely better. (
)
The udon broth on the other hand was rather salty, and the noodles also nothing special. (
) It was a good thing we got the lunch specials so the noodles came with something else (gyoza, nigiri)
The décor is very cute, but I don’t like that the table is so sticky.
The service though is very polite and quite attentive, but I really can’t say I’ll be back when there are so many other options.

I love the ramen here.
My recommendations:
— Gyoza
— Chicken karaage
— Chasu ramen with shoyu broth: Not salty, just perfect. The chasu pork isn’t fat, so it’s delicious.
The service is pretty good since the restaurant wasn’t packed. We came here on a Sunday around 6pm and there was only one other party besides us. The food came out quick and they frequently refilled our tea.
I will definitely return back for more of their ramen whenever I’m visiting Japantown!

Menu is almost just like Tanpopo’s except they have lunch specials that include sushi with ramen. It’s around $ 12 – 13 I think for the lunch combo. And they have least ramen choices as well since they offer other things like udon and such.
Although the ramen is similar to Tanpopo, Iroha’s ramen doesn’t really have me begging for more. I just came here randomly one day when Tanpopo was closed and I was hungry. The prices are also very similar so you’re barely spending anymore than you would at Tanpopo. This place is pretty big and there’s a lot of tables. I came here about 3 times now (usually around 1) and all three times, this place was empty except for one or two tables.
The ladies here are nice and quick to refill tea which is good because eating ramen really works up a thirst. They’re also quick to give you the bill, though. You don’t even have to tell them. They’re so unbusy that they have so much time to come around and just check up on things.
I prefer Tanpopo, though. Sorry Iroha!

I’m pretty bummed about giving Iroha a 2 star rating. I used to love it here. when the lunch combos from 12 – 5 were only 9.70. Recession called and forced them to raise it to 11.90. Still a deal, but the food is not worth that money.
I always get the ramen and california roll combo. Except my allergies to fish got worse, my throat literally closed after Old Town Sushi, but that was completely my b. So this time I went the smart route and ordered ramen and gyoza. The gyoza was surprisingly delish. The miso ramen was good, but the noodles got mushy real quick. And I got reallllly thirsty. I can usually handle LARGE amounts of MSG. Water was filled at a good rate. That lady was bussing all these tables herself and did a great job. Im really happy iroha is right next to Benkyodo! Probably one of the reasons why I still come around. I just wish their prices were back to the way they were. Maybe I should have purchased the
coupon.
Btw, my water, although it had lemons inside, tasted like sharpie?

Some friends and I were hungry so we went out to eat. One wanted ramen the most so he directed us to Iroha in Japantown. He told me it was cheaper than the ramen place inside the mall so I was okay with it.
I’ve never eaten ramen outside of the instant noodle variety (which I hate) so I was curious to try something more authentic. Unfortunately, this means I don’t have much basis for comparison.
The inside of the restaurant is pretty cool. Decorated and fashioned to look very «traditional Japanese.» I thought it was cute enough. We got seats by the window so we had a nice view of the street below.
My friend ordered miso ramen while I ordered miso ramen with beef slices (niku) and we were given hot green tea to enjoy it with. I thought the tea was pretty good. The ramen didn’t look very impressive when we got it (in my opinion). It looked average. When I finally tasted it, I thought it tasted average too. I was expecting more from the meat and I expected a deliciously subtle taste in the broth (which I thought was a little salty). I liked the noodles and the bamboo shoots though. It was a pretty good portion of ramen for $ 8. I do suggest, however, that if you have a little extra, you should try their lunch specials. It seemed like it would be the same quality, but you get more for your money (food quantity wise).
Our service that day was nice enough although a bit awkward, quiet, and meek. It didn’t bother me that much.
The place was okay, but not my favorite. I’ll try other ramen shops for comparison.

Sometimes you’ll just have to settle or something else if Tanpopo isn’t open. nevermind, I take that back!
Came here with my girlfriend in the late afternoon with records of dining here a few times in the past. What brought us back here today? Perhaps a nostalgic memory of good food? Doubt it, but it was probably the decent little street view of Benkyodo to the Pagoda while sitting along side the windows. who knows.
Edamame — [
I can’t go too in depth on Iroha’s edamame because. well, it’s JUST edamame. Just plain ol’ green peas (and we had to add the Togarashi ourselves).
Udon and Unagi (lunch special) — [
The carbohydrate special. Literally, this will possibly fulfill your carb intake for the day — a BIG bowl of rice with your Unagi and a load of Udon in a watered down soy sauce broth. Of course, there were at least some veggies swimming in the bowl but it felt more like inedible décor because it all tasted very rubbery. Furthermore, the Udon noodles were under cooked (but I’ve found out that they always undercook noodles on a daily basis, so you’ll have to personally request any chances beforehand). I pretty much just ate the Udon and the two pieces of Unagi and called for the check. It was just too overwhelming and bland.
Anything more details might diminish what stars Iroha still has.
Overall, the price wasn’t too bad for a «lunch special» compared to the $ 17+ dinners, our server was very friendly (so I’ll give em’ that), but the food was a huge disappointment. a 2 Star «Meh. I’ve experienced better», [which I definitely have] seems to serve Iroha justice.

Well, it’s been quite a while since I went here, but I took lots of notes!
I’d always wondered what Iroha was like back when I lived up in Northern California, but never got around to actually eating there until this past April. It was okay. Not awesome, not horrible… just okay.
My first impression wasn’t all that great — I walked in and saw the «We have an 88% cleanliness rating» sign, which granted, isn’t terrible, but for some reason it set off a «warning, mediocre experience ahead» light… Followed by waiting at the front for someone to notice us/​take us to a table for almost 10 minutes.
After we got seated, I noticed the incredibly sticky tables — I think it was either teriyaki or soy sauce — that would not come off the table no matter how hard I tried to clean it. Bummer.
My friend ordered ramen, which wasn’t that great, but I get the feeling they aren’t really known for their ramen, so it wasn’t a huge deal. I ordered the katsu curry, of which the katsu was great. The curry had one piece of chicken and one piece of potato and NOTHING else in it (onion, carrot, etc…), which was kind of weird, but it still tasted good, so not a terrible thing.
My other friend ordered the teriyaki bowl which was supposed to come w/​a side of vegges that ended up being IN the bowl, and they had a weird creamy dressing on it that didn’t mix well with the taste of the teriyaki sauce, so he was kind of disappointed.
I guess this place is just kind of dingy and old, but that’s part of the charm. I’d go back again… it’s a solid place, but nothing stellar.

Hmmm. this is really a 3.5 star place for me but it gets docked a little bit because the atmosphere was mediocre and the bathrooms were gross. The food, however was great. I think if they make an effort to clean or update the bathrooms and make a more fun/​festive atmosphere that would go a long way.
Iroha is one of many many Japanese restaurants all crammed into the little area referred to as «japantown.» I wanted to eat at one but was agonzing over the seemingly infinate choices. I ended up choosing iroha because I liked the name, and it was one of the last restaurants of all the ones I looked at.
For $ 17, I had a sapporo, a huge bowl of udon noodles and a long plate of nigiri. The nigiri was delicious, though I was so full I couldn’t finish it all. I had slurped up the soup first. This also was extremely good. The service was prompt and friendly.
I wish I could have sat near the window, but the three other patrons of the restaurant had gotten there first. Maybe if I had I would have rounded up to 4 stars. All in all, it was a solid place for the food and that is mostly what counts.

Came here for a quick snack on my lunch break from work. They have lunch specials everyday, even on weekends. I had the creamy crunchy California roll. It was alright– they used imitation crab but I expected that for the price.
My friend ordered the yakisoba. The portion was HUGE! It was probably good enough for two people.
The service was fast. I told them I was in a rush. We were in & out of there in ½ hour.

My friend suggested this resto as she had been there years ago and food being good. We were hungry after some volunteering and hoping that service would be fast. But it was just the opposite. We went around 1230, lunch hour and the resto is filled with empty tables. We got seated and decided what to order from the lunch specials. It looked like the waitress forgot about seating us and we have to wave and do tricks to get their attention lol. Finally after ordering the food, it took another 15 minutes to get our food.
My friend ordered yakitori (the one with sushi and beef skewer combo), tempura and salmon teriyaki combo and myself yakitori (mushroom and chicken teriyaki skewer). All of the lunch specials comes with miso soup. We were surprised to see a mini grilling pot that came with my order. It was cute. Don’t know its coz of the fact we were hungry or the food really tasted good, but we devoured all of it. –2 stars for slow service, over pricey (lunch combo salmon+tempura is $ 17!!!).

I’m sure there are better Ramen houses out there… but Ive never been to Japan, so I could really care less. I love it here, they NEVER disappoint! There’s a few lunch specials– for 10.50– I can feed my family of three on! I suggest you try the miso ramen with gyoza! The tea is always freshly steeped, and wait staff is super nice and accommodating– so see if you can grab the corner seat with a fantastic vew of Peace Plaza!

Iroha provides a very comfortable setting for a weekday dinner. Located upstairs on Buchanan, it’s quieter and more intimate than the restaurants in the strip mall. Five of us comfortably sat in the traditional Japanese style booth and had a really good time dining.
The food is okay. Most of us had some variety of teishoku, a bento-​box style meal. It comes with protein, rice, miso soup, salad, pickles. I had mine with sashimi which came in 9 large pieces. The rice was disappointing, a little too hard. Soup and salad and pickles were decent. We also shared assorted tempura which was good, but much like all the other dishes, not very memorable.
That’s the problem with Iroha — nothing really sets it apart from the other generic Japanese eateries in Japantown. Good service and pricing but unmemorable food. I wouldn’t mind going back and try other things, that is, if I still remember this place in a month or so.

3.5 Stars
+ Accepts Credit Cards
+ $ 25 off $ 45 certificates available online
+ Friendly Service
— Pretty Pricey
A review way way wayyyy over due! My girlfriends and I came here dinner a few months ago. I purchased a gift certificate from online so basically, a $ 25 off $ 45 certificate could get you:
1. Tenpura Udon
2. Sashimi Plate
3. 2 Unagi Nigiri
4. Oyako Donburi
⁵⁄₆. Hiyashi Ramen + Seaweed Salad
I believe we walked away by paying around $ 26 including tax and tip! The food was pretty decent but I wouldn’t come again if we were to pay full price. 3.5 Stars!

Gee, what happened to Iroha? They don’t seem to be trying very hard these days. Like a lot of people, I tend to forget it’s there since it’s on top of Shabusen, the kinda-​pricey shabu-​shabu place my dad really likes. I think nostalgia drew me back. Oh, who am I kidding? I went because Tanpopo was full up on Saturday afternoon.
It was actually crowded, but for some odd reason, I was seated in one of the big window-​side booths with no view. Nobu is right about the sticky tables. It’s kinda like eating on a crusty BART seat… on your knees. Not that I would know. But we all know why they’re crusty and well… ewww. I do have to admit I never thought the Japanese-​style booths were ever comfortable since I really need Naugahyde on my butt so I can slip my ample derrière in and out with ease.
But I digress. I went for one of their $ 9.30 lunch specials — the Shoyu Ramen and Califonia Rolls (see my photo). It was somewhere between meh and flogging. The ramen was bland and unforgivably skimpy on the pork slices. The noodles tasted strangely like an overcooked package of Sapporo Ichiban… hmmm. The California rolls were unmemorable. I was in and out of there in half an hour, something worth knowing if you have a need, a need for speed. I’d write more… but honestly I am forgetting the experience already.
FOOD — 2 stars… between meh and flogging lies Obsession… no, wait, that’s Calvin Klein cologne
AMBIANCE — 2 stars… really tired-​looking, needs a face-​lift if you ask me
SERVICE — 2.5 stars… well, they came by every once and a while to fill my tea cup
TOTAL — 2 stars… nostalgia ain’t what it used to be