Cha-Ya

Adam W.
209 reviews
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Most Excellent Vegan Japanese Food

I ate here just the other week and was very impressed. We went there for a late-ish lunch and there was no wait, which I am told is very abnormal, as the place only has about 8 tables.

The space itself is unimpressive, just some tables in a kinda bland little room with a half-open kitchen in the bank. That being said, I never put much stock in decor anyway.

The first thing i noticed upon sitting down was the breadth of choices on the menu. As someone who tries to eat at least 2 or three vegan meals a week, I am constantly surprised at the myriad ways in which vegan restaurants manage to use the same ingredients. I know it is a failing on my part, since some vegetables are as adaptable as meat, if not even more so, but still, when I am making these meals I always find some combination of the same 10 or 15 dishes, while places like Cha-Ya remind me just how little imagination I have. Add to that the fact that I am so used to having fish in all of my Japanese food that the only thing i would think of to get around it is tofu, and you have a very happily surprised me.

We ordered a TON of food for 5 people, and everything was delish. One other thing for the people who only eat vegan food on occasion - while vegan food CAN be more healthy for you than regular meat fare, it doesn't have to be. Cha-Ya is a good example of how not healthy for you vegan food can be. That being said, it was still amazing, and if we really wanted to eat healthy there we could have. Gotta say though, the fried avocado rolls were steller.

Definitely recommend this place.

Jenn A.
378 reviews
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Brightly lit, homestyle Japanese food

Cha-Ya is probably one of my top 10 favorite restaurants in the SF Bay Area. The San Francisco location is very easy to get to on public transportation and has about four times the capacity of the Berkeley location. However, you may notice, there is a distinctly different ambience - not rather unlike being in a hospital. The walls are bright white and the over head lighting is very bright.

Once you blink, squint and get out your sunglasses, be prepared for a divine meal. My favorites are:
- kinoko (mushroom) udon noodle soup (be sure to ask for the chili pepper);
- agedashi tofu made with a dark, savory, rich mushroom based dashi;
- tempura avocado "inside out" roll (deep fried avocado- who would've thought?)
- Cha-ya roll and Shattuck Roll
- Goma Ae (delicious blanched spinach and mustard greens or broccolini with a peanutty tasting sesame sauce

This place is nearly across the street from Osento -- a women-only public baths with hot pool, cold pool and dry sauna. The combination makes a very good "me" day or "girls night out" as Osento is open pretty late.

Jenn's keywords: vegan sushi vegan japanese restaurant

Abendigo R.
285 reviews
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Best Vegan Sushi Ever

Vegan sushi seems like something of a misnomer, but with all of the problems with mercury and various toxins in sealife, it makes a lot of sense. And I can tell you, Cha-Ya uses organic and sustainable veggies in their sushi, which is fresh and crisp. They’ve got two restaurants, one on Shattuck in Berkeley and another in the Mission.

Abendigo's keywords: cha ya sushi asian cuisine vegetarian vegan

JENNIFER C.
1 review
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Vegan Japanese

This is the second location for Cha Ya (the first being in Berkeley). The new space on Valencia is larger, more open and "cheerful" than the Berkeley location. The bamboo floors and zen aesthetic is lovely. The food is amazing. Tempura, sushi, soup and amazing desserts. Unfortunately, the SF location is not open for lunch (opens at 5:30pm) and does not have the same specials as in Berkeley. Thus, I cannot have my favorite fall special of "Nan Man". The lines get long very quickly any day of the week. It's worth it.

JENNIFER's keywords: Vegan Japanese San Francisco restaurant