It's a very good choice if you want to stop by Japantown in San Jose and try an authentic Japanese cuisine. Prices are fair and taste is great!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Davide Tartaglia
Great place, great food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Z Xue
Very cozy place. The chicken teriyaki tasted great. It has the smell of charcoal. Be sure to arrive early. The waiting line is about 15-30 mins. Also, they have daily specials menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Teriyaki Don
James Ting
Good traditional Japanese cooking. Nothing fancy. Portions are good. Food comes quickly.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Sunny
If you like Japanese food this place is a must try! I got the hot pot soup and it was absolutely delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Doug Washburn
A bit crowded inside but with additional tables outside on sidewalk. Service is prompt and food arrived quickly.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mariana Solis
I tried the chicken cutlet curry and it was amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mark Hoang
Been going to Gombei for over 10 years and it’s easily the best Japanese restaurant in Japan town. Awesome quick service and food is delicious and reasonable. This place is a must if you are in the area!Cash only!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork Cutlet
Kyna Ng
Delicious food and very attentive service. Very tasty tofu and teriyaki tofu set. Tastes very home-style to me! Would definitely come back. Still tastes awesome even after many years.
Two ladies working there always boldly ask for tips for take out orders. One day I was not in the mood to tip the lady who used to be rude. She yelled "No tip?!" and rolled her eyes. The new owner is good, but the ladies working are definitely the rudest and condescending people I ever encountered. I won't go in if these two ladies are there.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
Aaron Lee
My parents have been going to the location in Menlo Park since before I was born and they were even married. It's a long time family favorite for good value Japanese food. I grew up eating there all the time and finally got a chance to come to the San Jose location after ours closed down a few years ago. The Gombei dinner is always a good option for variety. Also check the special entrees and sides on the board.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Japanese Curry, Gombei Dinner Combo Set Deep Fried Pork Cutlet Chicken Teriyaki and Curry Croquette, Curry Rice with Pork Cutlet, Salad, Pork Cutlet, Miso Soup
Mathew Y.
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.
Samantha W.
Very homey, comfortable Japanese interior. Food is average.. we ordered fried shrimp udon, Gombei lunch special, and stuffed tofu. Nothing special or particularly good (or bad!). Service was prompt and friendly. Would come back if I'm in the area, but wouldn't go out of my way.
Priscilla C.
I like coming here for an easy, affordable, and good dinner. Been coming by every so often since I moved to the neighborhood. Every time I order, the food here is fresh and hot! It's well seasoned and tasty. The service is quick and polite, and my water or tea are never empty for long. This is a great place with a neighborly vibe. Overall, would recommend!
The lunch special was so good!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It's a very good choice if you want to stop by Japantown in San Jose and try an authentic Japanese cuisine. Prices are fair and taste is great!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great place, great food
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Very cozy place. The chicken teriyaki tasted great. It has the smell of charcoal. Be sure to arrive early. The waiting line is about 15-30 mins. Also, they have daily specials menu.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chicken Teriyaki Don
Good traditional Japanese cooking. Nothing fancy. Portions are good. Food comes quickly.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
If you like Japanese food this place is a must try! I got the hot pot soup and it was absolutely delicious!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A bit crowded inside but with additional tables outside on sidewalk. Service is prompt and food arrived quickly.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
I tried the chicken cutlet curry and it was amazing!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Been going to Gombei for over 10 years and it’s easily the best Japanese restaurant in Japan town. Awesome quick service and food is delicious and reasonable. This place is a must if you are in the area!Cash only!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Pork Cutlet
Delicious food and very attentive service. Very tasty tofu and teriyaki tofu set. Tastes very home-style to me! Would definitely come back. Still tastes awesome even after many years.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Two ladies working there always boldly ask for tips for take out orders. One day I was not in the mood to tip the lady who used to be rude. She yelled "No tip?!" and rolled her eyes. The new owner is good, but the ladies working are definitely the rudest and condescending people I ever encountered. I won't go in if these two ladies are there.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 1
My parents have been going to the location in Menlo Park since before I was born and they were even married. It's a long time family favorite for good value Japanese food. I grew up eating there all the time and finally got a chance to come to the San Jose location after ours closed down a few years ago. The Gombei dinner is always a good option for variety. Also check the special entrees and sides on the board.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Japanese Curry, Gombei Dinner Combo Set Deep Fried Pork Cutlet Chicken Teriyaki and Curry Croquette, Curry Rice with Pork Cutlet, Salad, Pork Cutlet, Miso Soup
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.
Very homey, comfortable Japanese interior. Food is average.. we ordered fried shrimp udon, Gombei lunch special, and stuffed tofu. Nothing special or particularly good (or bad!). Service was prompt and friendly. Would come back if I'm in the area, but wouldn't go out of my way.
I like coming here for an easy, affordable, and good dinner. Been coming by every so often since I moved to the neighborhood. Every time I order, the food here is fresh and hot! It's well seasoned and tasty. The service is quick and polite, and my water or tea are never empty for long. This is a great place with a neighborly vibe. Overall, would recommend!