“ I was excited to try Katsuo + Kombu with some friends after work. Great for casual dining or takeout since it's counter-service and has very few tables. Since we dined in on a weekday around 8pm, there was no wait! Katsuo + Kombu specializes in fresh/handmade udon noodles. Lots of broth choices, but I went with the Sesame Miso Pork. Firstly, the udon noodles were DELICIOUS!!! Personally, I've never been crazy about Udon, but maybe that's because I never had Katsuo + Kombu. The broth was rich and comforting after a long day at work. I finished every last drop! I could have used a little more spice, but was able to add some chili flakes. Friendly & quick service! Would definitely recommend checking this restaurant out, I know I'll be coming back. ”

“ Had come by on a Saturday night to find a line outside so changed plans and got some bbq instead that night. Decided to come back to see if it would be busy on a Monday night right after work and it was almost empty around a quarter after 5. Ordered the niku udon and listened to a podcast of a Japanese radio show while waiting for the bowl of noodles. I watched the cashier/server reattaching the blinking Christmas lights to the front window which was fogged up from the warmth inside. The noodles had a small ball of grated ginger, sliced green onions, thin pieces of beef and slices of tempura burdock root. Overall, the flavors seemed a little less sweet than the last time I tried the niku which I enjoyed. Halfway through, I added a little spice with the yuzu shichimi and was done and headed home with a warm belly. Gochisosamadeshita. ”

“ It was my first time trying this udon spot in NoPa and I was pleasantly surprised! Katsuo + Kombu is a busy spot on the Divisadero corridor. The interior is cozy with just a few tables. On Friday nights, I usually see a line of several parties (probably 20-40min wait). You first order at the counter and then sit at a table. Overall I enjoyed their udon, I did find it a little bit salty. The vegetable tempura was good and had a fun variety including lotus root, which I haven't had in tempura form before. Overall, I would come back, but it's not the most convenient spot given its smaller capacity. ”

“ I came here with a friend for dinner the other night and I think I have found my new favorite udon place in the city. Despite it being a cold rainy day, I ordered the Mentai Yamakake, which comes with grated Japanese mountain yam, spicy cod roe, shiso, and Nori seaweed. The broth was flavorful and the noodles had a perfect texture. (Disclaimer: I would make sure you know what this is before ordering it; the mountain yam has a slimy texture). I came here on Saturday night at 5 pm, and we got seated very quickly; by the time we finished our meal, the line was quite a bit longer so I recommend coming early if possible. The service was fast and friendly and the interior was simple and clean. Will definitely be back! ”

“ It's my go to udon place in the city! Although there's usually a short wait, there's fast service one you're in and it's decently priced. Seating for small- med parties. Wouldn't recommend for 6+ unless you want to split tables. Noodles are soft, light and fresh. The variety is great and loved that they switched out for some new dishes recently! Our go tos are the spicy tan tan, the niku, the pork miso. We had the mentai roe one and that was ok, wouldn't get again. We also normally get the karaage or veggie tempura. We'll be back! Seriously we come here every 2 weeks! ”

“ I think my partner and I got lucky on a Saturday evening. Only had to wait for one party to order and easily found seating for 2. But 30 minutes after we sat down- not the case. This spot may not be great for large parties since seating is VERY limited. That said, the food did not disappoint! We got the fukuoka signature and niku beef. The presentation of the fukuoka signature is so cute! And loved that tempura stayed crispy since the broth was separate. The niku beef felt very classic and homey, great for a cold evening. ”

“ On a Tuesday night, my friend and I had to wait in line outside for half an hour. The place was seemed quite popular among my demographic; I ran into two separate friends within the time span of two hours. The chilly weather only made our udon taste that much better once we finally got it. Once we were inside, we came to the cashier and counter to order. I ordered a non-spicy Sesame Miso Pork Udon and Vegetable Tempura. I enjoyed the tight space that seated around 20 people and there was no need to yell loudly to talk. They were also kind to give us bibs to prevent mess. When I received my order, the coloring of the broth showed me that it was spicy. When I asked if this was the non-spicy udon that I ordered, they took it back and brought me back a non-spicy udon (which ended up still being slightly spicy). While the broth was tasty & the noodle texture was nice, I was disappointed with the amount of pork in the udon. The tempura was delicious and crunchy. While I would give a lower rating for my experience with the Sesame Miso Pork Udon itself, I would like to give this place another try and try another udon. ”

“ Came here with a friend at around 5:30pm on a Wednesday, and it was relatively empty at the time. You order at the counter, and seat yourself. Its quite clean and modern inside, and there's a surprisingly good amount of tables and seating available despite how small it looks from outside. Fukuoka Signature ($19): it was a hot day, so I opted for a cold ramen, which is relatively novel to me. The tempura gobo was pretty interesting, and tasted somewhat like a yucca chip. The cold broth was served on the side and was a light umami kombu broth which was nice and refreshing. With a squeeze of the wedge of lemon provided, and mixing in the yuzu paste on the side of the bowl this was a fun way to have a bowl of udon without overheating on a hot day. Katsuo + Kombu offers some unique and fun udon dishes that I have yet to see at the other classic udon places in the city; I'll definitely be back to try some of the other options! ”

“ Had the pleasure of trying this spot on Thursday evening around 6 pm with a friend! We got there at the right time before it was packed and a queue formed outside. We walked up the counter and ordered two niku beef ramen with a side of veggie tempura! Very compact seating with a 1-2 larger tables for 4+ with a majority of two seater tables. Our order arrived in 10-15 minutes fresh from the kitchen. Beautiful presentation of the tempura with a medley of vegetables like shisho, lotus root, and eggplant. Crunchy and great golden batter all around. The niku beef was stunning! The spring egg was poached well and had a beautiful gooey texture when the egg burst open. Delicious broth, soft noodles, and crunchy vegetables on top! I would definitely come to this place again! ”