Food is delicious but eating here is like Russian roulette with diarrhea; you never know when they've slipped or neglected proper food storage and prep. Chicken karaage is hit or miss but when it hits, it's phenomenal.
Don't order the soboro aburasoba. You're guaranteed to get diarrhea or worse. It's probably because nobody orders it so it's sitting around in the fridge for ages. Or they just don't know how to fully cook chicken.
Staff are 50/50 delightful/miserable. The half that is miserable acts shocked when you want to order food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
Bernard Woo
First time trying today and was an amazing experience. The hostess was very patient with us and answered our questions about the menu.
Now I know why this is a Michelin recommended restaurant. Will definitely be coming back soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Abby Ho
Due to my background of being a Christmas fan, and my lingering holiday spirit, I’m renaming Kajiken to “Miracle on Elk Grove Blvd (street)”
This restaurant has never failed me, and I don’t think they ever will. The staff is always kind, friendly, and helpful. The food is very reasonably priced, especially because it tastes so scrumptious and high quality. I’ve had the “Soboro Aburasoba” and most recently I’ve had the “Mushroom Aburasoba” and I added a poached egg and bok choy :)
I’ve always been pleased by this restaurant, and I finally decided to leave a review! Yum yum
“It was good. It was great. It was amazing.” -My friend, who had the “Roast Beef Aburasoba”
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Roast Beef Aburasoba, Raw Egg Yolk, Original Aburasoba, Soboro Aburasoba
Jesse Yang
Both me and my wife had food poisoning at this restaurant, we dined at it twice and each time we had diarrhea after coming here. Our bad for keep coming despite it (one of the few places you can get decent tonkotsu ramen) but I would caution you to not get their tonkotsu ramen because I think that is what gave us the food poisoning.
Will Lew
Super tasty but not your normal ramen style. Definitely worth checking out
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Sean H
Very limited seating. Very attentive staff. Had calamari for appetizer and their spiciest dry ramen, Karamen. The spice had me sweating, but it didn't overpower the flavor of the food. Wife was not happy with Tonkastu. Son enjoyed number 3 roast beef dry ramen.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Rob H
Unimpressive glorified ramen. It's not good value. Poor service. Nobody came by to see if I wanted more tea, needed another napkin, etc. So many better choices in EG.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 2
R P (AKrunner907)
Great little shop. Food is tasty. If you are looking for traditional broth ramen this place has three dishes, but it is mainly for dry ramen, meaning little bit of broth to coat the noodles but not a soup. Good taste and good portions. I would go again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Original Aburasoba, Soboro Aburasoba, Ika Karaage
Thelma Baron
If you like soba style noodles you are going to love Kajiken. Its a kind of brothless ramen style with lots of choices, especially a long list of delicious optionally available additions. There are also rice bowls and other choices if you are not into noodles. Everything is freshly prepared and quickly served. My photo does not show how nicely the food was presented as I was so eager to dig in that I forgot to take a photo until after I started eating. I had the Tantan Aburasoba and it was delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chassidy T
I went to Kajiken on a Sunday afternoon a little before their mid-day close at 1PM and it was a packed house. It was initially unclear whether you're supposed to go up and order first or if you're supposed to wait to be seated, but I walked up to the cashier to ask and she kindly placed us at a seat in front of the window.
Once my boyfriend and I decided on our order, it was again unclear if she's going to come back or if we need to walk up and order considering we waited for some time to place our order. So I walk up to the register and ask if I should place my order with her up there which we end up doing.
I order the Oroshi Ponzu Karaage & Nikumori Aburasoba (with a poached egg, which was recommended by the cashier).
The Oroshi Ponzu Karaage was good, but not exciting. The chicken was good, but the dish definitely could have used more flavor or crunch (to be fair though, the menu does say this karaage is not crunchy so I was prepared at least).
The Nikumori Aburasoba (aka Top 2) was good, but not super exciting either. The pork slices were tough, I probably would have enjoyed the dish if it was tender. By this point, I (respectfully) concluded that this is as a Japanese chow mein.
I personally feel like the ingredients could have been fresher, it was as if the meal lacked texture.
With all that said, the experience & ambiance felt like a fast food restaurant by the way it operates - to the point where it feels like a chain restaurant. I'd say it's a good place to go to if you're looking to fix that noodle craving.
I acknowledge that I came here right after trying a couple pastries from the local Japanese bakery so maybe that may have impacted my appetite.
I'm not sure I'd return to try more but if you're looking to try this place out, I would say these bowls can be split as I shared this meal with my boyfriend and we are still leaving with left overs.
If I could give one feedback to the restaurant around operations, it would be to put a yelp waitlist tablet outside or a sign up sheet as it can get confusing - especially when people are waiting out front to be seated outside which can be perceived as a line.
While in Elk Grove, we looked for a lunch spot to hit. We stumbled upon Kajiken, sure glad we were able to eat here. My wife ordered the Roast Beef Arubasoba and i got the the Original. We also ordered the Pozu Karaage. Very unique way to have Ramen and i have to say it was so good. Next time we will definitely try the other options.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Kobe wan Shinobi
But it's a language barrier
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chicken Karaage
Jin
Raw egg imported from Japan.
Kajiken New York brought chefs to teach this location how to cook Ramen.
Happy to have something great here in Elk Grove.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Abdulhadi Altahan
This place was absolutely delicious and tasted authentic and perfect. I will be very honest however, I wasn’t really “feeling” this type of food but a friend of mine misunderstood and there we went. However, the noodles tasted perfectly chewy and cooked, the chicken was interesting but delicious, the egg yolk was perfect and the bowl was just right.
The outdoor seating was also nice because of the breeze and the staff were respectful, it isn’t super expensive and for the quality I’d say it’s worth it. Would come again, would recommend. Only good things to say (thus far 👀)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Janine Wong
The food was really tasty! This restaurant has been on our list of places to try for awhile and I’m glad we did. We came around 8pm on a Friday and we were seated right away. The karaage portion was a little small but had great flavor. The chicken was juicy and slightly crispy on the outside. The noodles were bouncy and had a large portion and delicious flavor
Food is delicious but eating here is like Russian roulette with diarrhea; you never know when they've slipped or neglected proper food storage and prep. Chicken karaage is hit or miss but when it hits, it's phenomenal.
Don't order the soboro aburasoba. You're guaranteed to get diarrhea or worse. It's probably because nobody orders it so it's sitting around in the fridge for ages. Or they just don't know how to fully cook chicken.
Staff are 50/50 delightful/miserable. The half that is miserable acts shocked when you want to order food.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 1
First time trying today and was an amazing experience. The hostess was very patient with us and answered our questions about the menu.
Now I know why this is a Michelin recommended restaurant. Will definitely be coming back soon.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Due to my background of being a Christmas fan, and my lingering holiday spirit, I’m renaming Kajiken to “Miracle on Elk Grove Blvd (street)”
This restaurant has never failed me, and I don’t think they ever will. The staff is always kind, friendly, and helpful. The food is very reasonably priced, especially because it tastes so scrumptious and high quality.
I’ve had the “Soboro Aburasoba” and most recently I’ve had the “Mushroom Aburasoba” and I added a poached egg and bok choy :)
I’ve always been pleased by this restaurant, and I finally decided to leave a review!
Yum yum
“It was good. It was great. It was amazing.”
-My friend, who had the “Roast Beef Aburasoba”
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Roast Beef Aburasoba, Raw Egg Yolk, Original Aburasoba, Soboro Aburasoba
Both me and my wife had food poisoning at this restaurant, we dined at it twice and each time we had diarrhea after coming here. Our bad for keep coming despite it (one of the few places you can get decent tonkotsu ramen) but I would caution you to not get their tonkotsu ramen because I think that is what gave us the food poisoning.
Super tasty but not your normal ramen style. Definitely worth checking out
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 4
Very limited seating. Very attentive staff. Had calamari for appetizer and their spiciest dry ramen, Karamen. The spice had me sweating, but it didn't overpower the flavor of the food. Wife was not happy with Tonkastu. Son enjoyed number 3 roast beef dry ramen.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Unimpressive glorified ramen. It's not good value. Poor service. Nobody came by to see if I wanted more tea, needed another napkin, etc. So many better choices in EG.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 2
Great little shop. Food is tasty. If you are looking for traditional broth ramen this place has three dishes, but it is mainly for dry ramen, meaning little bit of broth to coat the noodles but not a soup. Good taste and good portions. I would go again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Original Aburasoba, Soboro Aburasoba, Ika Karaage
If you like soba style noodles you are going to love Kajiken. Its a kind of brothless ramen style with lots of choices, especially a long list of delicious optionally available additions. There are also rice bowls and other choices if you are not into noodles. Everything is freshly prepared and quickly served. My photo does not show how nicely the food was presented as I was so eager to dig in that I forgot to take a photo until after I started eating. I had the Tantan Aburasoba and it was delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I went to Kajiken on a Sunday afternoon a little before their mid-day close at 1PM and it was a packed house. It was initially unclear whether you're supposed to go up and order first or if you're supposed to wait to be seated, but I walked up to the cashier to ask and she kindly placed us at a seat in front of the window.
Once my boyfriend and I decided on our order, it was again unclear if she's going to come back or if we need to walk up and order considering we waited for some time to place our order. So I walk up to the register and ask if I should place my order with her up there which we end up doing.
I order the Oroshi Ponzu Karaage & Nikumori Aburasoba (with a poached egg, which was recommended by the cashier).
The Oroshi Ponzu Karaage was good, but not exciting. The chicken was good, but the dish definitely could have used more flavor or crunch (to be fair though, the menu does say this karaage is not crunchy so I was prepared at least).
The Nikumori Aburasoba (aka Top 2) was good, but not super exciting either. The pork slices were tough, I probably would have enjoyed the dish if it was tender. By this point, I (respectfully) concluded that this is as a Japanese chow mein.
I personally feel like the ingredients could have been fresher, it was as if the meal lacked texture.
With all that said, the experience & ambiance felt like a fast food restaurant by the way it operates - to the point where it feels like a chain restaurant. I'd say it's a good place to go to if you're looking to fix that noodle craving.
I acknowledge that I came here right after trying a couple pastries from the local Japanese bakery so maybe that may have impacted my appetite.
I'm not sure I'd return to try more but if you're looking to try this place out, I would say these bowls can be split as I shared this meal with my boyfriend and we are still leaving with left overs.
If I could give one feedback to the restaurant around operations, it would be to put a yelp waitlist tablet outside or a sign up sheet as it can get confusing - especially when people are waiting out front to be seated outside which can be perceived as a line.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Restaurantji Recommends
While in Elk Grove, we looked for a lunch spot to hit. We stumbled upon Kajiken, sure glad we were able to eat here. My wife ordered the Roast Beef Arubasoba and i got the the Original. We also ordered the Pozu Karaage. Very unique way to have Ramen and i have to say it was so good. Next time we will definitely try the other options.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
But it's a language barrier
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chicken Karaage
Raw egg imported from Japan.
Kajiken New York brought chefs to teach this location how to cook Ramen.
Happy to have something great here in Elk Grove.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This place was absolutely delicious and tasted authentic and perfect. I will be very honest however, I wasn’t really “feeling” this type of food but a friend of mine misunderstood and there we went. However, the noodles tasted perfectly chewy and cooked, the chicken was interesting but delicious, the egg yolk was perfect and the bowl was just right.
The outdoor seating was also nice because of the breeze and the staff were respectful, it isn’t super expensive and for the quality I’d say it’s worth it. Would come again, would recommend. Only good things to say (thus far 👀)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The food was really tasty! This restaurant has been on our list of places to try for awhile and I’m glad we did. We came around 8pm on a Friday and we were seated right away. The karaage portion was a little small but had great flavor. The chicken was juicy and slightly crispy on the outside. The noodles were bouncy and had a large portion and delicious flavor
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Homura Aburasoba, Chicken Karaage, Soboro Aburasoba
Loading...